Dinner times on Millennium - 12 night Mediterranean?

[vicgiz]

Could someone who has been on Millennium in the Mediterranean please fill me in on the early and late seating times? We're really struggling to decide between being rushed after port days and trying to get to early seating, or pushing our evenings later but still having to get up for early excursions. If we knew what the times were, it would be helpful!

 

Also, how does the main evening's entertainment fit in around the two dinner times? Do they have two shows, one after each dinner?

 

Thank you SO much for any help you can provide!:)

[Rev22:17]

vicgiz,

 

Could someone who has been on Millennium in the Mediterranean please fill me in on the early and late seating times? We're really struggling to decide between being rushed after port days and trying to get to early seating, or pushing our evenings later but still having to get up for early excursions. If we knew what the times were, it would be helpful!

 

On most Celebrity cruises, first seating is at 6:00 PM and second seating is at 8:30 PM. The times on a specific cruise may vary by fifteen minutes one way or the other.

 

On any cruise to Europe, I strongly recommend second seating. Many shore excursions return to the ship between 5:30 and 6:00 PM, so those who have first seating come back from a full day ashore and go directly to dinner. Those who have second seating have a chance to unwind, stow souvenirs, shower, change clothes, and perhaps have a drink in one or another of the lounges if they skip the show.

 

Also, how does the main evening's entertainment fit in around the two dinner times? Do they have two shows, one after each dinner?

 

They perform the evening show twice, once for first seating and once for second seating. The show for first seating is always after dinner (8:15 PM IIRC). The show for second seating usually is after dinner (10:45 PM) on "formal" evenings and before dinner (either 7:00 PM or 7:15 PM) on other evenings.

 

Norm.

[vicgiz]

I appreciate the insights, Norm. Thanks very much!

[Piepkorn]

During our trip on Millie in mid-July, early seating was 6:30p and late seating was 9:00p. On later cruises on the same itinerary, I was reading it changed to 6:00p and 8:30p, then to 6:15p and 8:45p Not quite sure why. The shows (for the most part) were 9:00p and 11:15p. The trip is VERY port intensive, so we only saw a couple of shows...we were simply too tired. No 'big names' on our trip. I will 'second' that suggestion regarding the second seating for exactly the reasons stated.

 

Dave

[Susan-M]

We were on Millennium in the Med in Sept. 05 - dinner times were 6:15 and 8:45. Normally we would choose late seating, but with this trip being so port intensive and the fact that we up at the crack of dawn and on our feet most of the day (as we did almost all ports on our own) - early seating was a blessing for us. Some evenings it was a bit of a rush to get showered and changed for dinner, but once there, we were able to really relax and enjoy a leisurely meal without worrying about staying awake during dinner and going to bed on a full stomach.

 

Two of the nights we arranged for late seating, which the maitre 'd was happy to do for us if we gave him a day's notice.

[vicgiz]

It is so nice to know that others are willing to share their experiences and opinions. We'll keep all of the advice in mind as we struggle to make a decision.

 

I suppose that any time we really wanted to see the show but thought we'd be too tired after late seating, we could order room service or eat at alternative dining, too, but we like to eat in the dining room most of the time.

 

Thanks so much for the help!:)

[lucky white heather]

We've been on Med cruises several times..... we eat early at home so regularly plump for early seating despite a cruise being port intensive and we have been rushed to get to dinner on time.

Generally continental PAX seem to want to eat late as they do at home.Because of this the times of dinner seatings as printed in the brochure are not always exactly what happens when you board ship. For example dinner at 9pm is very late for us but not for continental PAX, so it might depend on the ship PAX listings when your meal will be scheduled. First seating will also be correspondingly later if they delay the second seating to 9pm.

[theswimmer]

We went on the Millenium to the Med August 2004 and chose the late seating. I think it was 8:30 or 8:45 pm. It would have been way too rushed and tiring to get back from a day of sightseeing and have to get ready for

dinner right away. Some of my favourite memories of that cruise were watching the ship leave port while relaxing on my balcony. They played this awesome version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by the pool when the ship left port (I could hear it from my balcony) and everytime I hear that song, I think of my trip and the beautiful places I visited and a big smile comes to my face. Had I been rushing to get ready for an early dinner I would have missed the opportunity to enjoy those beautiful moments.

 

That being said, we didn't see most of the shows. Partly because of the timing of the shows at 10:30 or 10:45 pm, and partly because we would go for an after-dinner drink or to the casino with our tablemates.

 

My impression of cruises was that the early seating for dinner would be more popular, but on the Med cruises, I think the late seating is more popular. So maybe you should choose the late seating to secure a spot, and you can always change it to the earlier seating if you find the late seating doesn't work for you.

 

Enjoy your trip! It's glorious.

[vicgiz]

I really appreciate the advice! :)

[pcur]

We have sailed a 7 night Med, plus 15 night Transatlantic, and another 12 night Barcelona-Venice-Barcelona cruise. On both these cruises in Europe we had late seating. You are pretty tired when you get back on board, and it's very nice to have 2 - 3 hours to relax.

 

Also, you can be on deck for the sailaway.

 

We are on the Millie in April this year, and have late seating again.

 

Our previous cruises were 8:30 and 9:00 for late seating.

[Loracpin2]

On our Sept. 23, 2006 sailing, dinner times were 6:15 and 8:45.

 

Carol

[BrendaJ]

Times were 6:15 and 8:45 on our Millie Med cruise. We chose late, but really did regret doing so.

 

Although the ship may actually leave port 5 to 7 pm, we certainly always try to get back to the ship in plenty of time. Many of our excursions were with private drivers, and our biggest fear was missing the ship due to traffic or mechanical problems. We had no problems getting back to the ship, but since we planned our excursions to depart pretty much as soon as we could get off the ship, we had a full day in by the time we got back around 4pm each day. Our cruise was in late Oct/early Nov and it was often getting dark in the port areas by the time we got back to the ship anyways.

 

Our schedule would have left us plenty of time to relax and get ready for dinner. We found each evening that were were ready and hungry by the time early seating was taking place, and by 8:45, we had had a snack at the sushi bar or through room service, and were not even hungry for late dinner. Not to mention, on such a port-intensive trip, we were going to bed right after dinner (not good for digestion) just so we could get up bright eyed and bushy tailed for the next morning's tour.

 

For us, early seating is definitely the way to go. If the ship is in port late (as in Santorini till 11pm), Celebrity puts on a buffet for those who miss their dinner seating due to staying out late, which is nice.

 

We eat early at home, and early is definitely the best way to go for us, especially on a port-intensive cruise.

 

Brenda