Menus, Traditional vs. Anytime

[cyberfilly]

I understand that there are seperate dining locations for Traditional vs. Anytime dinner dining. Was wondering a few things:

 

1) Is the menu for Traditional the same as the menu for Anytime?

 

2) If the menus are the same, do they chage each night or is it the same menu each night?

 

3) Can you do both, some Traditional and some Anytime or do you have to commit to one or the other when you book your cruise?

 

Thanks!

[cjh]

Menus are the same and yes they change everynight. No you can't go back and forth.

[FredS]

If you read the boards you will find a variety of experience depending on cruise and ship. Generally you state which dining you want when you make your cruise reservation; Traditional or Anytime. Some people that select Traditional will use Anytime for some reason during the cruise but Anytime cannot use Traditional dining. They are set up to use one or the other but not both. That does not stop some people from switching back and forth at their convenience. Menus are all the same for all non-specialty dining rooms and a new menu each day. Although, there are some dishes you can always get and these are listed at the bottom of the menu. You get a chance to try dishes you would probably not get to try at home.

[Pam in CA]

I understand that there are seperate dining locations for Traditional vs. Anytime dinner dining. Was wondering a few things:

 

1) Is the menu for Traditional the same as the menu for Anytime? -- yes, exactly the same.

 

2) If the menus are the same, do they chage each night or is it the same menu each night? -- yes, the menus change daily. If you're on a longer cruise, there might be some entree or dish repeats but no menu repeats.

 

3) Can you do both, some Traditional and some Anytime or do you have to commit to one or the other when you book your cruise?

There's no going back and forth. If you're in Traditional dining, you can switch to Anytime but it's a one-way switch, i.e., you'll lose your seats in the Traditional dining room. If you're doing Anytime, you cannot go to the Traditional dining room. If you're in either, you can go to the buffet or to one of the specialty restaurants at any time.

[britsbest]

Fred has it just about correct. Many will disagree about changing from Traditional to anytime for the odd night but as long as you tell your tablemates its not a problem. (You don't want them waiting for you! You could also tell the waitstaff or maitre d')

[Pam in CA]

Fred has it just about correct. Many will disagree about changing from Traditional to anytime for the odd night but as long as you tell your tablemates its not a problem. (You don't want them waiting for you! You could also tell the waitstaff or maitre d')

But you cannot switch/change from Traditional to Anytime other than a one-way change. That's the policy and is not fair to those waiting for tables in Anytime, many of whom were waitlisted for Traditional but never cleared the list. Unfortunately, it's a policy that some Maitre D's enforce, others don't. There's no consistency. You might be able to get away with going to Anytime one night or so but that doesn't make it right or fair.

[britsbest]

In your opinion !

:eek:

Its quite OK . I know coz we did it.

 

We were on CB when Bert was having his DVD recorded.

 

As I said we informed every one that needed to know and changed for that night, then went back to trad.

 

No one even suggested it was a problem.

[TravelnAl]

In your opinion !

:eek:

Its quite OK . I know coz we did it.

 

We were on CB when Bert was having his DVD recorded.

 

As I said we informed every one that needed to know and changed for that night, then went back to trad.

 

No one even suggested it was a problem.

 

But it is still not fair to the people how had Anytime booked. They CANNOT use Traditional and you took one of their places. How inconsiderate!

[Snowbird]

Funny thing about switching back and forth. We were doing a Panama Canal cruise on the Island Princess in Oct 07. This ship has 2 dining rooms, one for traditional and one for anytime. We were assigned anytime; it always seems to work out well for us. One evening we went to the anytime dining room (don't remember what time it was) and the maitre'd informed us that we were going to be taken up to the traditional dining room. They rode the elevator with us and showed us to a table for 8; no one else was seated there yet. Well, wouldn't you know, they never brought anyone else to that table so there the 2 of us were, all alone at a table for 8. So, while it may be true that you can't voluntarily switch from anytime to traditional, that doesn't mean Princess won't switch you to traditional for one night.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Funny thing about switching back and forth. We were doing a Panama Canal cruise on the Island Princess in Oct 07. This ship has 2 dining rooms, one for traditional and one for anytime. We were assigned anytime; it always seems to work out well for us. One evening we went to the anytime dining room (don't remember what time it was) and the maitre'd informed us that we were going to be taken up to the traditional dining room. They rode the elevator with us and showed us to a table for 8; no one else was seated there yet. Well, wouldn't you know, they never brought anyone else to that table so there the 2 of us were, all alone at a table for 8. So, while it may be true that you can't voluntarily switch from anytime to traditional, that doesn't mean Princess won't switch you to traditional for one night.

 

That happened to us also. There was a wait at the anytime dining rooms. They took us to traditional as there was an empty table as the people assigned to that table went to Sterlings for that nights dinner.

 

Britsbest,

Just because you did it doesn't make it right. When you said you informed everyone that needed to know, did that include the maitre'd?

 

Bill

[downundercruisers]

Now I'm really confused guys!!!

 

This is only our second cruise (Royal Princess), and don't want to stuff things up (suspected we could have caused offense on our first cruise- HAL's Rotterdam due to being newbies).

 

We are booked for the dining room for the first sitting. We're actually on a table of 6 (I think), last time it was just DH and I. Anyway, we thought we would use the dining room most nights, and the buffet on nights when we're too exhausted after shore excursions.

 

Is this ok? Von

[Pam in CA]

We are booked for the dining room for the first sitting. We're actually on a table of 6 (I think), last time it was just DH and I. Anyway, we thought we would use the dining room most nights, and the buffet on nights when we're too exhausted after shore excursions.

This is fine and there's no problem doing this. As a consideration to the others at the table, you might let someone know that you won't be there since otherwise, the waitstaff will hold up taking orders until they're sure you're not coming.

[downundercruisers]

Thanks Pam, will take your advice and inform wait staff and fellow guests :D Von

[chasetf]

That happened to us also. There was a wait at the anytime dining rooms. They took us to traditional as there was an empty table as the people assigned to that table went to Sterlings for that nights dinner.....Bill

There was probably a long wait because a lot of the Traditional Diners decided to eat in Anytime that evening.

[SHIPMEOUT]

But you cannot switch/change from Traditional to Anytime other than a one-way change. That's the policy and is not fair to those waiting for tables in Anytime, many of whom were waitlisted for Traditional but never cleared the list. Unfortunately, it's a policy that some Maitre D's enforce, others don't. There's no consistency. You might be able to get away with going to Anytime one night or so but that doesn't make it right or fair.

 

I totally agree. We chose Anytime dining on the Island and loved it. Of course there were a few nights where we were given a pager and had to wait for a table. I would hate to think we had to wait because people from Traditional were taking our spots. :mad:

 

In my opinion, whether you book Traditional or Anytime, that's what you booked...so respect that the others have made a choice too. What would happen if we "Anytime" diners walked into the Trad dining room and plopped ourselves down at someone's table, saying "hmmm, we changed our minds tonight, we thought we'd eat in here".

 

If some nights you don't want to eat where you are booked, then go to the buffet or one of the alternative restaurants. That's what they're there for.

[britsbest]

You may all agree till the cows come home. The question was CAN you do it to which the answer is YES. Its another question whether or not you should do it.

 

If I have paid $10,000 for the cruise on Island I will do the things I want to, after all Princess moto is Personal Choice Cruising

[itf]

OK, so what about people like us - I was never offered anytime by my TA, just early or late. We took late, which is fine and is showing as confirmed on the Princess site - and is what we'll do unless we pay the cover for one of the specialist restaurants, but I would never have even known about Anytime if it wasn't for the Princess site / forums ike these. Others may be in a similar position who would have chosen Anytime had it been offered.

[JPRLHR]

OK, so what about people like us - I was never offered anytime by my TA, just early or late. We took late, which is fine and is showing as confirmed on the Princess site - and is what we'll do unless we pay the cover for one of the specialist restaurants, but I would never have even known about Anytime if it wasn't for the Princess site / forums ike these. Others may be in a similar position who would have chosen Anytime had it been offered.

 

Just get back on to your T/A. Tell them what you think of their lack of product knowledge. It won't be any problem at all for them to change you over to anytime if that's what you'd prefer.

[san diego sue]

To Von:

On the Royal Princess there is only traditional dining, no anytime.

there is also the buffet. So there is no problem on your (our) cruise.

Gloria

[IWanttocruisenow]

The last cruise, we had traditional dining. One night we did the balcony dining and 1 night we went to the buffet. We told the M'd that we would not be attending trad. dining those nights, and out tablemates said they sat another couple from anytime dining in our place on the nights we were not there.

everyone wins!

[BJS]

OK, so what about people like us - I was never offered anytime by my TA, just early or late. We took late, which is fine and is showing as confirmed on the Princess site - and is what we'll do unless we pay the cover for one of the specialist restaurants, but I would never have even known about Anytime if it wasn't for the Princess site / forums ike these. Others may be in a similar position who would have chosen Anytime had it been offered.

 

What ship are you sailing on?

Tahitian, Pacific and Royal do not have anytime dining.

 

Princess web site has an entire section that tells about the features of each of the ships. They will list the dining rooms and tell if there are ones for Anytime dining. It is always advisable to check out information on the Princess web site because many TAs have never sailed Princess nor have they sailed on each one of the ships.

 

.

[itf]

What ship are you sailing on?

Tahitian, Pacific and Royal do not have anytime dining.

 

.

 

Emerald. It definitely does have the anytime dining. :)

[downundercruisers]

To Von:

On the Royal Princess there is only traditional dining, no anytime.

there is also the buffet. So there is no problem on your (our) cruise.

Gloria

 

Thanks Gloria, so this anytime dining is only for the big ships?! Too many choices just looks too hard for this small time Aussie :D Von

[chasetf]

You may all agree till the cows come home. The question was CAN you do it to which the answer is YES. Its another question whether or not you should do it.

 

If I have paid $10,000 for the cruise on Island I will do the things I want to, after all Princess moto is Personal Choice Cruising

That's like saying "Yes.. I can hold up a bank.. the answer is YES.... but should I". And just because you paid $10K doesn't give you the right to inconvenience others and ignore common courtesy.

 

Oh... as far as "Personal Choice Cruising"... to me it would mean make your choice and stick to it.

[Pam in CA]

Thanks Gloria, so this anytime dining is only for the big ships?! Too many choices just looks too hard for this small time Aussie :D Von

Anytime dining is on all Princess ships EXCEPT for the very small (750 passengers) Royal / Pacific / Tahitian Princess which have only one dining room.