Early vs. late dinning?

[producegirl]

This is going to be my first Med Cruise and I am undecided about what seating to book for dinner? We are on the "Brilliance" sailing on 8/15/06. Is first seating around 6-6:30? What time is second seating? Will we return from our tours in time to make the first seating? Right now, I am booked for 2nd seating...but having second thoughts about eating that late and then going to bed soon thereafter. Any thoughts would be helpful!

[vacationhappy]

Sailaway in the Med is spectacular - there are only sites that can be seen from the water. Sailing down the Almafi cast during sunset or pulling away from Mykonos or Santori is not to be missed. If you are in the early seating you will be rushed to get back from port to dress and be readyand most tours don't get back until 5:30ish or later.

 

Early diners also miss sailaway - it turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip. So, my vote is to have a snack and cocktail at sailaway and dine late. Some people will say that you will miss the shows but IMHO the entainment on a Med cruise is not as good as on a Caribbean cruise because people are exhausted from touring and I don't think the cruise lines invest as much in that aspect of the cruise.

[ts548]

I could not agree more...although I have never been on a Med. cruise...I have been on many others & I do not like the rushed feeling of early dinner seating. We always eat late seating. I think you have to decide if you want more day time or more night time...if you want long relaxing days ...go late...if you want long relaxing evenings go early. Personal choice IMHO.

[cb at sea]

You really need to stick as close to your regular dinner time as possible--your body will thank you! Whatever dining time is closest to when you eat at home is the one for you!

[Philly Steve]

You really need to stick as close to your regular dinner time as possible--your body will thank you! Whatever dining time is closest to when you eat at home is the one for you!

 

Good point. But, at eleven meals a day my body is just giving up! :)

[dougp26364]

I respectfully disagree about needing to have late seating in order to enjoy the sailaway. You would only need to have late seating if you're absolutely stuck on only taking dinner in the dinning room. Brilliance has more options than the main dining room. Windjammer, Seaview Cafe, Portifino's and Chops are all options for the evening meal.

 

We choose late seating based upon statements as above and regretted it almost fromt he begging. Late seating was 9:00 and 9:30 on our sailing (early was 7:00 and 7:30) and service seemed to be at a slower pace than on other cruises. It was not unusual for us to finish our meal after 11:00 and, when you have an all day shore excursion the next day it's tuff to A. get up that early for your shore excursion and B. stay up that late to eat dinner.

 

We found ourselves often eating at one of the alternatives and skipping late seating. It wouldn't have made a difference if we had early seating and missed our dining time because we were eating at the alternatives in order to enjoy the evening AND get plenty of sleep for the next day.

 

When we sail the med. again, we'll choose early seating. That way on nights when we are back on the ship early we can enjoy our dinner and relax for the rest of the evening. On days when we're in port and the port days run later than our dining time, we'll utilize the alternative dining options. It's what we ended up doing anyway.

[producegirl]

I respectfully disagree about needing to have late seating in order to enjoy the sailaway. You would only need to have late seating if you're absolutely stuck on only taking dinner in the dinning room. Brilliance has more options than the main dining room. Windjammer, Seaview Cafe, Portifino's and Chops are all options for the evening meal.

 

We choose late seating based upon statements as above and regretted it almost fromt he begging. Late seating was 9:00 and 9:30 on our sailing (early was 7:00 and 7:30) and service seemed to be at a slower pace than on other cruises. It was not unusual for us to finish our meal after 11:00 and, when you have an all day shore excursion the next day it's tuff to A. get up that early for your shore excursion and B. stay up that late to eat dinner.

 

We found ourselves often eating at one of the alternatives and skipping late seating. It wouldn't have made a difference if we had early seating and missed our dining time because we were eating at the alternatives in order to enjoy the evening AND get plenty of sleep for the next day.

 

When we sail the med. again, we'll choose early seating. That way on nights when we are back on the ship early we can enjoy our dinner and relax for the rest of the evening. On days when we're in port and the port days run later than our dining time, we'll utilize the alternative dining options. It's what we ended up doing anyway.

Thank you all so much for your feedback! I kinda of agree with DougP.

I don't want to eat at 9 at night. I am going with early seating if I can change it. Thanks again for all your help!

[Inshape]

I love late seating and finish up eating late and it is fine. With so much to do all day the early seating feels like you are running to the dining room all day with lunch and then dinner so soon. I like to come back from a tour and head to the hot tubs. Nice to have a quick little snack late --feels so decadent too!

[Bruin Steve]

Early versus Late Seating

 

Probably the most debated and most polar question on the board...

 

Some people prefer late, others early...and both groups seem to be convinced they are absolutely right...

 

There are arguments pro and con both seatings...though most may be rationalizations...Most folks could probably adapt well to either seating...but it really is a matter of personal preference...

 

Here's the basic rundown:

 

Late seating afficianados claim:

 

--Late seating has fewer kids (I guess they don't like kids)...

The argument counter to this is that they usually don't seat you at a table with kids unless you yourself have kids...and, depending on time of year and itinerary, most cruises don't have a lot of kids anyway...Also, on some European cruises with a large European contingent, the European families --with kids--are all at the late seating

 

--You don't have to rush through dinner to make way for the next seating...

Counter argument: This is total hogwash...They leave about a 2 to 2-1/4 hour window for EACH seating...plenty of time...and the wait staff wants you out of second seating so they can get their very short sleep time before breakfast...They move you along at BOTH seatings on a very similar schedule...

 

--You don't have to rush back from port to get ready for dinner...

There's sometimes some truth to this one, though far from the absolute some would have you think. Check your itinerary...If the ship sets sail at 5 pm in most ports, you've got to be back on board by maybe 4:30...There's plenty of time to get ready for dinner by 6 (remember "Formal nights" are typically on "at sea days")...unless. of course, you're married to that woman who "needs" 3 hours to dress for dinner...It only really becomes a problem for most of us when a ship is in port very late...and that's where it makes great sense to avail oneself of Specialty restaurants and alternative dining...Last cruise, we were in LeHavre late and merely arranged with the Maitre d' to have ourselves accommodated at late seating in that one port--no problem...

 

--They like to have a lot of time pre-dinner to drink martinis and go up on deck and watch the ship shove off from the dock...

This is important, I guess, for some people...not important at all for others...it's a lifestyle choice at best...

 

The arguments for Early Seating:

 

--It leaves a longer window for more nighttime activities...You're done with Dinner by 8:30, you can go to a show, then Karaoke or dancing or the casino...there's a longer night to enjoy the amenities of the ship...

The late seating argument is that there's always a later show...or a pre-dinner show (But, somehow, doesn't that counter the more time to get ready, drink martinis and watch the sailaway argument?)...or that the shows aren't that good or who gives a dang about the Karaoke or the Piano Bar or whatever...Again, it's a lifestyle choice...

 

--You don't go to bed on a full stomach...

I guess it depends on when you go to bed...

 

--You aren't still full for the Midnight Buffet

Well, most ships don't do many Midnight Buffets anymore...and, who can eat again even if you ate back at 6 to 8:30? But, of course, it does leave room for a little late night pizza or other snack...

 

--You don't come back from port hungry and have to wait around several hours before you can eat...

Of course, the Late Seating crowd will tell you they come back and go to the buffet or sushi or wherever for a bite to tide them over while waiting for dinner...

 

Personally, we prefer Early seating because we're accustomed to eating a little earlier while home and don't need much time to get ready for dinner...We also enjoy all of the nighttime activities on the ship...We've often been lucky and have been seated at tables near windows where we can watch the ship shove off while enjoying appetizers and the company of tablemates...

 

But, the real answer is....Whatever works for you...

[producegirl]

Early versus Late Seating

 

Probably the most debated and most polar question on the board...

 

Some people prefer late, others early...and both groups seem to be convinced they are absolutely right...

 

There are arguments pro and con both seatings...though most may be rationalizations...Most folks could probably adapt well to either seating...but it really is a matter of personal preference...

 

Here's the basic rundown:

 

Late seating afficianados claim:

 

--Late seating has fewer kids (I guess they don't like kids)...

The argument counter to this is that they usually don't seat you at a table with kids unless you yourself have kids...and, depending on time of year and itinerary, most cruises don't have a lot of kids anyway...Also, on some European cruises with a large European contingent, the European families --with kids--are all at the late seating

 

--You don't have to rush through dinner to make way for the next seating...

Counter argument: This is total hogwash...They leave about a 2 to 2-1/4 hour window for EACH seating...plenty of time...and the wait staff wants you out of second seating so they can get their very short sleep time before breakfast...They move you along at BOTH seatings on a very similar schedule...

 

--You don't have to rush back from port to get ready for dinner...

There's sometimes some truth to this one, though far from the absolute some would have you think. Check your itinerary...If the ship sets sail at 5 pm in most ports, you've got to be back on board by maybe 4:30...There's plenty of time to get ready for dinner by 6 (remember "Formal nights" are typically on "at sea days")...unless. of course, you're married to that woman who "needs" 3 hours to dress for dinner...It only really becomes a problem for most of us when a ship is in port very late...and that's where it makes great sense to avail oneself of Specialty restaurants and alternative dining...Last cruise, we were in LeHavre late and merely arranged with the Maitre d' to have ourselves accommodated at late seating in that one port--no problem...

 

--They like to have a lot of time pre-dinner to drink martinis and go up on deck and watch the ship shove off from the dock...

This is important, I guess, for some people...not important at all for others...it's a lifestyle choice at best...

 

The arguments for Early Seating:

 

--It leaves a longer window for more nighttime activities...You're done with Dinner by 8:30, you can go to a show, then Karaoke or dancing or the casino...there's a longer night to enjoy the amenities of the ship...

The late seating argument is that there's always a later show...or a pre-dinner show (But, somehow, doesn't that counter the more time to get ready, drink martinis and watch the sailaway argument?)...or that the shows aren't that good or who gives a dang about the Karaoke or the Piano Bar or whatever...Again, it's a lifestyle choice...

 

--You don't go to bed on a full stomach...

I guess it depends on when you go to bed...

 

--You aren't still full for the Midnight Buffet

Well, most ships don't do many Midnight Buffets anymore...and, who can eat again even if you ate back at 6 to 8:30? But, of course, it does leave room for a little late night pizza or other snack...

 

--You don't come back from port hungry and have to wait around several hours before you can eat...

Of course, the Late Seating crowd will tell you they come back and go to the buffet or sushi or wherever for a bite to tide them over while waiting for dinner...

 

Personally, we prefer Early seating because we're accustomed to eating a little earlier while home and don't need much time to get ready for dinner...We also enjoy all of the nighttime activities on the ship...We've often been lucky and have been seated at tables near windows where we can watch the ship shove off while enjoying appetizers and the company of tablemates...

 

But, the real answer is....Whatever works for you...

I feel exactly as you do...I love all the night time activites on the ship. Getting ready to do them before dinner is the same as getting ready for early seating. I changed my late to early because we this trip we will be going to bed early...full tour days; and I don't want to sleep on a full stomach.

But I loved all your thoughts and info.