First or Second Seating for Dinner?

[bride and groom]

Overall, what's better First or Second Seating for dinner? We're thinking of joining a group that's forming on Explorer next year. It would be a Bermuda/Caribbean cruise, 9 nights out of NJ. Any thoughts?

[Dockman123]

Overall, what's better First or Second Seating for dinner? We're thinking of joining a group that's forming on Explorer next year. It would be a Bermuda/Caribbean cruise, 9 nights out of NJ. Any thoughts?

 

You will probably get a mix of opinions. Some people prefer early because the late seating is to late for dinner. With dinner taking approx. 2 hours they dont want to finish dinner at 10 pm. Others prefer late so they don't have to hurry back from port and rush to get ready for dinner. It all depends on what you are used to and what is more important to you.

 

For us we prefer early. We generally eat between 5 and 6 at home so we prefer to stay as close to that time as possible.

[Married on Enchantment]

I personally find that early seating is better. I find that eating that late forces you to have a mid day snack after lunch, and a snack for me is usually a meal on a cruise. I prefer not to stay up after 11-12 and I would be going to bed on a full stomach with late seating, which doesn't help with weight gain. I do say to each there own preference.

[cb at sea]

I agree--try and eat at the same time (or close to it) that you're used to at home. Realize that with the 2nd seating, you won't be finished til close to 10-10:15!! That kind of takes away the fun of any late night buffets and treats they serve. (most of those start around 11:30)

As far as hurrying back from port--I haven't found a port yet that begged me to stay ashore for 8-10 hours!!!

[Mike & Sue]

We've done one early and one late. Late seemed to be better for us. No rush getting back to the ship. Maybe then take a nap in late afternoon. Then we would order light sandwiches or a fruit and cheese tray and have cocktails/happy hour on the balcony. After that we usually went to the Schooner for a drink before dinner. We usually would eat light and just enjoy the conversation and company. Agree stuffing yourself at 9pm is not a good idea. Just depends on your style. We usually have dinner about 7:30pm at home and the relaxed vacation atmosphere makes it easy to push dinner to a little later.

[lmerr1955]

We Have Done Both Seatings On Several Cruises> As Previously Said, It Will Depend On How Active You Might Want To Be Into The Late Nite. On Our Next Cruise Next April, We Will Be Doing The Early Seating, But Thats Only Because We Will Be In The Ports For Well Over 8-10 Hrs, And Will Have Plenty Of Time To Do As We Want.

 

If You Feel Rushed With An Early Seating, There's Always The Buffet Style Dining.

[johnjen]

TWO main reasons for early dining:

 

1. My stomach can't take late night eating.

 

2. I've timed the sunsets. We won't miss a single sunset because we're out from the dining room just before it sets.

[phillyg]

We like late seating as we seem more relaxed not having to rush to first seating. Of course, our eating schedule is 10am, 1pm, 5pm, 830pm, and then the late night buffet, thus making us sleep in late the next morning. Oh, I forgot, there are also those in-between snacks...! Seriously though, if you are on a late shorex you might miss early seating.

[Nliedel]

Toss a dice, opinions run abouy 50/50 here. I like late. I never feel rushed and it seems there are less disruptions.

[chrisx3mom]

Definately second seating!!!!!!!!! We've been on 7 cruises and find the late seating the best. First of all, there are less children around. I go on vacation to get away from the kids. Next reason. When in port, there is no rush to get back to the ship to get ready for dinner. Even when at sea, you have more time at the pool, etc. I've watched people leaving the pool by 4:00 to go in and get ready for dinner. Great for me. I still have two more hours out there. Besides. when you have a late dinner, you're not tempted to go to the buffet.

[TRadle]

We like early because we like to go to the shows after dinner. Then we go up on deck for whatever is going on in the evenings. It makes for a very nice evening.

[LDinCT]

We've never had early, but I was thinking about it for our upcoming cruise. Only because the teen programs start at 8, and that means our DS doesn't eat with us most nights. Of course, that isn't always a bad thing. It does mean we are having a snack around 5:00 though. I am not a gambler at all and rarely go to the Shows, so we are usually one of the last out of the dining room. Then we have a night cap and I retire, while my DH goes to the Casino. Don't know if I could possibly be dressed by early seating, at least not on formal night. I usually need a short nap after a day on the beach. We usually book Portofino's earlier to dine with the DS at least once and he might join us for a dinner or two or meet us for dessert in the dining room.

[second honeymoon]

I asked this same question, If you look on Page 5 you will find all the great answers I received.

 

We decided to take the Early seating!!

[intentionaltourist]

Please note someone said that if you dine early you won't miss the shows.

There is a show after each seating, you do not have to worry about missing any shows.

We find that we like the late seating because we are on vacation and there is no need to rush to eat early. We prefer that there are few children around during these usually wonderful evening experiences with adult conversation. We have raised our kids, and will look forward to taking our grandchildren to the early seatings in the future.

good luck!

[Sue L]

We always choose the late seating. On port days we get up have a good breakfast, we don't eat on the islands and then when we reboard we have our late lunch, have time to catch a few winks and then get ready for dinner. When we get back from tours we are usually so tired that I think if I didn't have time for my nap I would fall asleep at early sitting.

[Aubiecruiser]

Second seating only. I can't tell you how many times we've been sitting around the pool, having a drink after returning from shore and thinking, gee, look at all those people leaving (around 5ish) to get ready for dinner. We usually do eat something while on shore since we both like to try different things that we just can't get at home, and usually don't eat before 8:00 or 8:30 anyway.

Aubie

p.s. - I'm one of those people that can't sleep on an empty stomach to boot.

[wrp96]

Late seating, that way I have plenty of food in my body to fuel late night partying.

[mringenoldus]

What time does the first seating begin on the Voyager in the Med? (my reservation only says "main seating")

 

I'm assuming around 5:30 or 6PM.

[DeepWaterMariner]

We've done both early and late many times. Always late when we were younger but now that we are older we prefer early sitting, especially on Royal Caribbean. The reason is that many (not all but most) of the shows for late sitting are before dinner which left us without a lot to do after late sitting dinner. It seemed like we would finish dinner and go back to our room for the night within an hour or two. With early sitting the shows always follow dinner which makes for a nice evening. It isn't a perfect option since you end up getting ready for dinner when you would rather be sitting by the pool.

 

The best dinner choice for us lately has been personal choice dinning on Princess, where we can choose a time that isn't too early or too late while still fitting into the entertainment schedule.