Pros and Cons of Dining Times?

[sexyaznboy]

Hey guys, we were booked at the late dining session even though we asked for the early dining session. Do you think that we have a chance if we go to the Maitre D the first day to ask him to switch to early? We asked our TA to put us on a wait list but it doesn't look like it is showing up on the Celebrity website. I don't like to personally eat so late as I find it is hard to digest so much food!

 

I think most people like the early session, can you tell me the pros and cons of each? The shows are before dinner at the late session and after dinner for the early session, correct?

[DeltaOne]

I think most people like the early session, can you tell me the pros and cons of each? The shows are before dinner at the late session and after dinner for the early session, correct?

We prefer late dining. No need to rush back to the ship and get ready for dinner. It gives you plenty of time to be up on deck for sail-away.

 

We prefer the show to be after dinner. Each cruise might have one or two before dinner, but most are after dinner.

[Lois R]

Hey guys, we were booked at the late dining session even though we asked for the early dining session. Do you think that we have a chance if we go to the Maitre D the first day to ask him to switch to early? We asked our TA to put us on a wait list but it doesn't look like it is showing up on the Celebrity website. I don't like to personally eat so late as I find it is hard to digest so much food!

 

I think most people like the early session, can you tell me the pros and cons of each? The shows are before dinner at the late session and after dinner for the early session, correct?

 

Yes, go see the Maitr'd after you board. Usually they are set up

outside of the dining room in the Rende-Veux Lounge starting

about 12:30 on the day you sail and they try to be as accomdating

as possible:)

 

Not sure why you think most people like eating early.

I prefer late and always have.......when you go to dinner

at 6, I am still relaxing and haven't even showered yet:)

I also enjoy drinks in the Martini Bar before dinner and

no matter what type of vacation, land or sea, 6:00 is just

a bit too early for me to have dinner. You can have the main seating

and I will take the late:)

 

You will probably get all sorts of replies to your question.

If you do a search you will probably find lots of old

threads about this topic.

[Kathie44]

Definitely early for us. We don't book excursions that get back late. Usually the ship sails at 5 and we have to be back by 4:30 anyway. We eat between 6 and 6:30 at home and with our diabetic schedule, we like to keep to our regular time. Plus, there's no way I could lie down, let alone sleep on a full stomach. Most late diners don't get finished much before 10. New friends of ours on our last cruise tried the late seating and hated it because it was sooo late and they were late or missed some of the evening activities. Some nights the show was at 7 for late seating, but someitmes it was at 11--waaay to late for me. It seems that people who normally eat late are the ones who like late seating on a ship.

We were waitlisted for early seating on our last cruise and saw on the final payment receipt that we had been switched. if you haven't been notified before you board, go ASAP to talk to the M'D.

[BILLP1]

For us , I could not imagine eating dinner at 630P. That would mean The Martini Bar at 5P .. Not happening..

[Lois R]

For us , I could not imagine eating dinner at 630P. That would mean The Martini Bar at 5P .. Not happening..

 

Bill, same here:) I am in the Martini Bar most every night in the

7:00--7:30 time frame...I can't imagine getting there at 5:eek:

[tuggers]

Late for me, too. 6 PM is just too early for me.

As to the shows, some may be at 7 for late seating but usually more than half are at 10:45 or 11. Who wants to do late dinner and then have to be ready for a show at 7?

Just different strokes.

[greeneg]

Same here. I do not like to have to rush back from a shore excursion and hurry to have to get ready for dinner. I'd much rather relax, kick back, have a drink, that sort of thing and then have a leisurely dinner.

 

Given the option, I might well prefer a 7:30 seating to one at 8:30, but 6:00 is just too early for me.

[JRMEL]

Late seating for us. Love the time from 6:00 until 8:00. The ship is so peacefull at that time, it's like your own private cruise.

[brigittetom]

Late seating for us. Love the time from 6:00 until 8:00. The ship is so peacefull at that time, it's like your own private cruise.

It only takes you half an hour to get ready. Good for you. :D

 

I agree. Even on sea days there is no way I'm ready to leave the pool area at 5:00 to get ready for dinner. I will admit though as I'm lying on the lounge reading and seeing these well dressed couples walk by dressed for dinner at 6:00 I really wish I were already at that point. Oh well, I just keep reading and eventually make my way to the cabin, do the makeup, hair routine and evolve also.

 

Obviously it just depends on your preference. We personally like late dining for many reasons. We also eat late at home. We stay up late at home and also on cruises where we close the Casino so we never feel eating late is going to bed after a full meal. :)

 

Hi Lois......................

[Lois R]

Hi BT........:)

[judyfssw]

We've always preferred early seating but this last cruise, we were late seating to be with our friends. I can definitely see positives for both seatings now. Our friends went to the Martini Bar every evening and it was a nice entry to dinner. But, we really didn't go to any of the shows and I do enjoy them. I had a hard time sleeping - probably the food so late and I didn't eat desserts most of the time - just the sherberts. Maybe this was just because I was so full.

We will be back on early seating for our next cruise - maybe. I do enjoy not having to rush from the pool to get dressed, etc.

 

Hi Lois.

[bububr]

For us it seems to attract fewer families with children, and people that adhear to the dress codes a bit better.

 

And I don't feel rushed to get out before the next seating comes in.

 

Dave:eek:

[kruisecat]

Put us in for late as well! We like those late afternoon naps ;) as well as a pre-dinner drink. This next cruise however we're doing early and I'll be interested to see how that is. Majority ruled on this one and I was the lone voice for late seating :o .

[jojun24]

We've tried both early and late. We like the feel of the emptiness of the ship as the early seaters leave the pool deck and other areas to get ready for dinner. This gives us time to enjoy the ship a little longer before we get ready for the late seating.

 

We prefer shows after dinner.

 

I think early seating is preferred by more people than late seating. There seems to be a wait list for early seating, while the are generally open tables at late seating.

[lblk]

For our first several cruises, we chose and were given early seating. Then a couple of cruises ago in order to get the size table we wanted, we switched to late seating, loved it, and now request it. As stated earlier, the feeling that you are on a private cruise really sets in as so many people head inside to get ready for early seating. And you can't beat the sunsets that you might miss if you're already at dinner. Keep in mind there is no right or wrong answer to this question, just different preferences for different people.

[sexyaznboy]

Thanks for everyone's responses! I'll be up late anyways, no sense sleeping through my cruise! But I don't sleep well when I eat too late, I'll see if there is a waiting list for early sitting when I get on board. I would like to see the early show as well so we can putz around on board after dinner/show for a few hours before we head to bed.

[usha]

We prefer early seating. We had late seating once, and while it did give us a lot more time to enjoy lazing around before getting ready for dinner, I found that I was practically face-down in my entree a few nights. Eating that late was just TOO late for me.

We also like to dance the night away, and we just didn't have the energy left after finishing a big meal at 10:30 pm!

[ATLfuzzy]

Most people I know prefer the late seating. It is just a matter of preference. Remember you will be at port, to get to the earlier seating and have time to take a shower and get changed, you will have to return to the ship much earlier than if you had the later seating. Does time in port mean much to you?

[sexyaznboy]

Most people I know prefer the late seating. It is just a matter of preference. Remember you will be at port, to get to the earlier seating and have time to take a shower and get changed, you will have to return to the ship much earlier than if you had the later seating. Does time in port mean much to you?

 

 

From what our TA told us ATLfuzzy, the early seating was booked up, so based on that, it seems the early sitting is more popular on our cruise. We probably will only go on two tours at most and will probably be exhausted walking around most of the day anyways at port, so likely we'd prefer the earlier sitting. I just hope we can make it to the MaitreD on time and get the sitting.

[Ma Bell]

We've tried both and much prefer late seating. There's nothing like relaxing at sailaway instead of rushing to get cleaned up for dinner. Then there's time to spend with friends with a nice cocktail before dinner. At home we eat early, but never on a cruise.

[caviargal]

I would not book a cruise unless late dining is available. I hate to rush through my afternoon, preferring to take nap, dress for dinner in a leisurely fashion, then head out for a pre dinner martini.

 

I agree with Dave about less kids and better adherence to the dress code for late dining as well, both important to me.:)

[spencerdrivecruiser]

If you eat a heavy meal late like a Lamb Shank or a big steak and go to bed within 2 hours you can get acid reflex.

 

Plan on staying up til 1 or 2 after a heavy meal that ends at 10:30 pm.

 

If we dont digest it we have problems later on.

 

 

Spencer

[gracecarmo]

for us. After 37 cruises, I learned that we like to be assigned in the early seating. Starting a meal at 8:30 is just too late for us, and we found that we did not enjoy eating that late.

At home, we eat at 7:00. So....I have designed an eating schedule that allows us never to be rushed if ashore on an all day tour (rarely), and also allows us to see an interesting sailaway, have cocktails, and dine the way we want to.

We just do not go into the dining room if we want to eat later, but prefer the alternative dining on 10, or a res in the Specialty Restaurant at 7:15. Even if we are not in port, and do not feel like eating early, we just go to one of the other eating venues, and we like them all. We like the variety. We request a large table, and the first night we explain this to our tablemates, and also to our waiter. He knows not to wait for us. We always adhere to the dress codes too. Formal evenings are always at our main seating table, and are usually on a sea day, so we do prepare for the early dressing etc. and it has never been a problem.

I would equate this scheduling to the "anytime dining" on other lines.

We also like more of an evening after our dinner, and also the shows.

 

So....I guess this could be the "Best of Both Dining Options"? There's something for everyone.

[Smitty24]

For us , I could not imagine eating dinner at 630P. That would mean The Martini Bar at 5P .. Not happening..

 

Oh yeah it is!:D I LOVE my martini bars..heh.

I like the early seating. I like the feeling of being on your own ship AFTER dinner. We have martinis at 5, then dinner, then off to Cova for an after dinner coffee. Sometimes we hit the casino where we can actually get a seat at the tables. By now we're 'rested & digested' and it's off to dancing with all the late seaters!

 

Seriously, though...it's just a personal preference. I've done late seating and it too, has it's benefits.

Like someone said...7 would be about perfect, but I think most everyone thinks that!:)