Can you be late for dinner?

[HarleyChick]

Does everyone enter the dining room at exactly the same time? Once you know where your table is, do you just go directly to it or does a host escort you?

 

What happens if you're running a little bit late for dinner in the dining room? Do they refuse to seat you after a certain amount of time?

 

What happens if you're there on time and the rest of your table is not? Do they wait a few minutes for them before serving the ones who are there?

 

Thanks for any input!

[Muumuu]

I have seen them close the doors once dining has begun. Did not pay attention as to how long after the dinner hour they did this.

[hstrybuf]

I have never seen the staff refuse to seat anyone who was running late, even those people who stroll in 30 minutes late or more. :rolleyes: That being said, please make every effort to be on time for your seating. If you haven't located your table by checking with the Maitre 'D before dinner, you will be shown to your table on the first night. After that, just get in line and head to your table. Being late can throw off the entire serving team as they have several tables for which they are responsible. Also, your tablemates will appreciate it if you are on time. If for some reason you're running more than 15 minutes late, skip the dining room. And if you have plans to eat elsewhere, it would be considerate to let the dining staff and/or your tablemates know of it in advance. On the Legend, our waiters did not delay our dinner if we or our tablemates did not arrive together, which we never did. We were asked for our drink orders and presented with the menus almost immediately after we were seated.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

I feel being there no later than 10-15 minutes after the dining room opens is reasonable... I have seen some walk in up to an HOUR late (rude! - go to alternative dining!), and they will usually be rushed through their meal - because, at least with early seating, they will need to set up again for the late dining crowd.

 

We are typically there within 5 minutes of the doors opening - this way we also avoid the feeling of being herded in like cattle with those waiting outside the doors prior to opening.

 

Tom

 

(Gravlaks, Escargot, Roast Duckling... Y U M M Y... I have given up on Carnival's red meats (other than prime rib) due to repeated TOUGHNESS:( )

[KristiFree]

I was never late for formal dining in the dining room....and I was only late once for breakfast in the dining room (about 10 mins) ... however, my waiter was so gracious and didn't even mention it...just smiled, said hello and talked to me like all the other mornings. He took my order and my food came out about the same time everyone else's did. He was great and I felt SOOO bad for being late but I overestimated my getting ready to go in the morning time!

Really try to be there on time...esp in the evenings...it just makes the whole experience for everyone alot more pleasant! have fun!

[halos]

I totally agree with everything Histry said!!

Our wait staff was thrown off all week by one of the tables they were serving (It didn't hamper my service noticeably because I was thrilled with my service) but the waiter did make apologies on several occasions to us and explained that he could have been more efficient if those other folks would have gotten there on time.

[NinaCO]

Does everyone enter the dining room at exactly the same time? Once you know where your table is, do you just go directly to it or does a host escort you?

 

What happens if you're running a little bit late for dinner in the dining room? Do they refuse to seat you after a certain amount of time?

 

What happens if you're there on time and the rest of your table is not? Do they wait a few minutes for them before serving the ones who are there?

 

Thanks for any input!

There will be lots of people there the first night to direct you to your table, and after that too if you need assistance.

 

Seems I'm always running late, but I do think it's rude to be late for dinner in the dining room. I've never seen anyone refused when they got to their table late. But, it not only impacts their meal, but those of their tablemates, and the people sitting at the other tables served by the waiters. I've eaten in alternative dining a few times because I was going to be more than a few minutes late.

 

If you're there on time and your tablemates are not, the waiter will wait a few minutes and then take your order. With alternative dining options, it's possible your tablemates won't be eating in the regular dining room.

[shirleygr]

In my experience, they close the dining room doors about 45 min after the start of the dining time. On our last cruise, my 4 yo daughter crashed before dinner and we just couldn't wake her up. I called the dining room and they said we had until 6:30 to be seated (we had 5:45 dining time). Since our family was seated at a table by ourselves, we let her sleep until 6:20, then went to the dining room. Our servers were very gracious and understanding. However, I would never have done this if we were seated with others. As others have stated, that is just rude. Have a great cruise!

[HarleyChick]

Thanks for all the replies. Believe me, we're not planning on being late for dinner, my husband is looking forward to meals more than anything else on this cruise, and neither of us is a meal-missing type.;)

 

I was just curious how they get a boatload of 2,400 hundred people (that's potentially 600 hundred people in one dining session) to do things on time. Especially when people get dining times that don't mesh with their lifestyles.

 

Thanks again.

[serene56]

Shirley: by being almost 45 minutes late for dinner you set your waiter a little behind. Did you notice if he had a hard time keeping up with waiting on your table and keeping up with the others he was waiting on?

Did you feel rushed throughout your meal?

[dalech]

Why would you want to be late for dinner?

[sea-cruise]

It's so nice of you to inquire about this before you did it. Wish everyone did that. We had a booth for four, as did the family seated near us. They arrived about 45 minutes late each night. We know for a fact that they & others like them, threw off the entire galley preparations, not to mention inconveniencing the waitstaff.:mad: I know I would have been fired :eek: because I would have asked them to be more courteous and considerate.

[HarleyChick]

It's so nice of you to inquire about this before you did it. Wish everyone did that.

Not planning to do this, merely curious. But thanks so much for your words of appreciation. :)

[HOSKI]

I have seen people nicely being told that the dining room is closed and that they could go to the lido for dinner. I've usually seen the 20 minute rule being applied. Breakfast and lunch were not as strict.

[Jacqui Z]

We arrived about 15 minutes late one time for dinner, and it was fine. Though this was not intentional. I think it does make it difficult on the staff if people wander in at random times.

 

We were directed to our table the first time we dined there, and then went straight to our table every time after that.

 

Have a great cruise!

 

~J

[L2J]

I think (MO) that it would be rude to be late for dinner or just not show. I'd suggest informing your table mates and the waiter if you are going to be late or decide to dine elsewhere.

[candigirl41]

Just to let you know. I was late one time by about 30 minutes and was told I had to skip a course or two as I was too late and they were already onto the next course. This was fine for me. It was also before they had casual dinner and 24 hour pizza. I wouldn't have gone had those options been available.

 

Candi

[Terre]

I think even 15 minutes late is too late. The waiters are on a schedule and they try not to take any orders until the whole table is seated. This put everyone behind schedule and is inconsiderate to their tablemates who were on time and would like to see the show afterward (late seating) and I think it's extremely inconsiderate to the wait staff.

Yes, they do close the doors, but I'm not sure at what time.

[Cotton]

It was also before they had casual dinner and 24 hour pizza. I wouldn't have gone had those options been available.

That must have been a LONG time ago!:D

 

I think being late by even 10 minutes is rude. I wish it was a practice for the Maitre d' to refuse entry to anyone past 10 minutes. It's not like there is no other way to have dinner. It's common courtesy for your tablemates AND the waitstaff to be on time for dinner.

[tef43]

I wish it was a practice for the Maitre d' to refuse entry to anyone past 10 minutes.

Back in the day, before alternative dining options, it was. They closed the doors to the dining room after 10 minutes or so.

 

Now that there are multiple dining venues, there should be *NO* excuse for them not to return to that practice.

[Cotton]

I remember those days, too, Tom. Alas, SO many other things have changed, as well, and not necessarily for the better. :rolleyes:

[cruzrdi]

I was on the Triumph in May, and we had a couple that arrived 25 to 30 minutes late every single night. It threw off timing for the whole table, as the rest of the table was forced to have long waits between courses. We were always the last table out of the dining room. Our servers were never anything but polite and gracious, but the other guests at our table (us included) were very annoyed by the end of the week. Some of our tablemates sent out little hints about the couple's tardiness, but it seemed to sail right over their heads. I know that my dining experience would have been much nicer if they had made an effort to be on time, or eat somewhere else. Just my thoughts!

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Just one of the reasons why we always have a private table...!

 

Tom

[pholter]

Can you approach the Maitre'D to have to habitual late arrivals moved to a different table?? Maybe the 6 or 8 folks on time could be moved to an empty table if the ship isn't completely booked?? I'd give it 2 nights for people to arrive at the right time, after that- they can just move so everyone at my table isn't inconvenienced. I'll be happy to tell them to their faces as well !!!