Which dinner seating? <yawn.....>

[Esk]

Hi all,

 

I know, I know this question must of been asked a million times before, but which dinner seating is it best to go for? 1st seating seems to early, late seating apparently may not finish till around 10:30!

My husband and I are young(ish!) have cruised with Princess and NCL which do the anytime dining, 1st time on RCI, and don't want to miss a thing, like all the shows, discos and casinos and bars.

We're going on a 4 night cruise on the Independence of the Seas, so not much time to look round this massive ship! Can!t wait!

 

Cheers!:)

[FitzLA]

This really is a subjective question that no one can really answer for you. It depends on when you want to eat. You will not miss shows as they are done twice a night, once for each seating. If the early seating seems early to you, then go for late. Simple.;) ;)

[sailawayjack]

Hi all,

 

I know, I know this question must of been asked a million times before, but which dinner seating is it best to go for? 1st seating seems to early, late seating apparently may not finish till around 10:30!

My husband and I are young(ish!) have cruised with Princess and NCL which do the anytime dining, 1st time on RCI, and don't want to miss a thing, like all the shows, discos and casinos and bars.

We're going on a 4 night cruise on the Independence of the Seas, so not much time to look round this massive ship! Can!t wait!

 

Cheers!:)

:cool: it depends on what you do during the day. If you are back on board by 4:00 or so, then you can have early seating without being rushed. If cruise is "shore/excursion" extensive, then I like to come back, relax, have a drink, or snack, and not be rushed getting to dinner. Last cruise I found that after a late meal, that I was getting ready to go to bed earlier. Tough getting old. LOL. Maybe being young, no kids, early seating is for you.:cool:

[goneclear]

For caribbean cruises I always go for late seating. Reason is that ships usually leave the ports somewhere around 5 and 6 pm and there is usually a good sail away party going on at the pool deck and I love to be outside on top deck with a cocktail in hand enjoying the sunsets. Early seating you would most likely be in your cabin getting ready while all this is going on.

[Dianek0977]

We've always picked the late seating. My husband and I are both in our early 30's. We really like having time for a snack, nap, and shower after a port. It seems to work out really well, and then we are able to go to the shows after dinner. I'm usually a early bird, so this gets us to bed around midnight and works out well.

 

The only drawback is that I'm usually too stuffed to enjoy the midnight buffets....

[Giorgi-one]

We've always picked the late seating. My husband and I are both in our early 30's. We really like having time for a snack, nap, and shower after a port. It seems to work out really well, and then we are able to go to the shows after dinner. I'm usually a early bird, so this gets us to bed around midnight and works out well.

 

The only drawback is that I'm usually too stuffed to enjoy the midnight buffets....

 

We found that most of the shows for late seating on Freedom of the seas were before dinner - trying to get more people into the bars and casino after dinner. Also, I do not believe they have any more midnight buffets.

[icruiz2]

We always choose the late seating. I don't like to be rushed before dinner and since we like to stay up late anyway, finishing up at 10:30 still gives us plenty of time to hit some of the shows, and all of the bars, "discos", etc.

[karena1]

We also always do the late dining. By the time you get back on the ship, relax, have a drink, watch sail away, get ready, usually we have no more than an hour before dinner. And like others have said, many times the shows are before dinner, so by the time you get ready and go to the show, dinner is here. 8:30 is a little late, but there is just no way I want to be rushed and have to be ready for dinner by 6ish. So late works much better for us.

[bdoster]

We love late seating, as yo do not have to hurry back when in port, you can take in the hot tub...usually is empty 5-6 time spot and have the early evening to take your time dressing...then the pre-dinner cocktails...

[fpcruiser]

I personally like late seating. Our last cruise we were with my mil and she insisted on early seating. Most days were were very rushed to try to get ready for dinner. If this would stress you out then go for late and enjoy a relaxing evening getting ready.

[petesweet]

Could someone please tell me what the early seating time is on Serenade of the Seas? If it matters, I need to know both Alaska and Hawaii. Not sure if they change the time when they change the itinerary. Thanks.

[RetireeWannabee]

We like late because we don't get up early (9 am would be about right for me, but DH could sleep till noon). Early seating is way too early and late is close enuf. Still some evening left afterwards, cuz we don't go to bed very early either.

[ScottC4746]

My advise is late seating for four reasons:

1. Top reason, it is usually too late for the kids so less kids in the main dining room.

2. First seating they push you through because they have to "turn the table over" for the next seating.

3. On port days, you are not rushed to get ready for dinner for the early seating. We still leave the ports before the rush for early seating hits, and then we sit on our balcony and watch everyone rush to get in on time.

4. Not really a reason, but our preference: You can sip a drink on the deck watching the sunset before the later dinner. With early seating you can do that after dinner, but you are usually so stuffed, you are not ready for a drink right afterwards.

Hi all,

 

I know, I know this question must of been asked a million times before, but which dinner seating is it best to go for? 1st seating seems to early, late seating apparently may not finish till around 10:30!

My husband and I are young(ish!) have cruised with Princess and NCL which do the anytime dining, 1st time on RCI, and don't want to miss a thing, like all the shows, discos and casinos and bars.

We're going on a 4 night cruise on the Independence of the Seas, so not much time to look round this massive ship! Can!t wait!

 

Cheers!:)

[Rey323]

ESk,

Dh and I have always preferred the late seating. We prefer to have the late seating for many reasons. These reasons are:

1. Not as many kids in the late seating.
   
2. We dont feel rushed coming back from our excursions
   
3. You can take a nice hot shower and relax before dinner on excursion days
   
4. You can take a nap before dinner
   
5. You have the options of enjoying the hot tubs while others are dining
   
6. You can get ready and enjoy a before dinner drink
   
7. You always make a show one way of another. The ships accomodate to both seatings.
   
8. You can even take a stroll around deck while they are not as busy
   
9. If pictures are you thing you can take your pictures early

There are many reasons to select the late seating. It comes down to what you prefer. It is all up to you. Whatever you decide I am sure that you will be happy. Enjoy you cruise.

Happy Sailing! :D

[Bell Ringer]

I believe that should be more important so you can stick to your regular body schedule. ( Of course that may be more true for us older folks!). Since we usually eat between 6 and 7 pm, we prefer early seating. If we were like one of our DD and DSIL's who rarely eat till 8 or 9pm, they would prefer late seating.

The few times we have taken our adult children on cruises, they abided by our wishes for dining times, and never even griped ( free passage is better than staying home):)

[ScottC4746]

I believe that should be more important so you can stick to your regular body schedule. ( Of course that may be more true for us older folks!). Since we usually eat between 6 and 7 pm, we prefer early seating. If we were like one of our DD and DSIL's who rarely eat till 8 or 9pm, they would prefer late seating.

The few times we have taken our adult children on cruises, they abided by our wishes for dining times, and never even griped ( free passage is better than staying home):)

That is true. There is no hard set rule on when to dine. Everyone has their reasons for early or late. Some have reasons to offset the other. I am one who just hates being rushed so that is one of the reasons I like late seating. I also do not like unruley children in the main dining room another reason I go for late. There are some, but not nearly as many.

[Happy ks]

We usually choose late seating...perfect would be 7:30 for us, but that's not gonna happen because early seating would have to be about 4:30 then :p

 

Contrary to what others have stated, every cruise we've been on with late seating we always have a bunch of young children around us.

 

When we've had early seating, we've never been rushed out of the dining room by the servers. The biggest downside to early seating is the rush to get ready in time. We've only chosen it a couple of times and feel like we lost half the cruise because we have to stop what we're doing to prepare.

 

We love to be able to get back from an excursion, have a little snack and take a short nap, get ready at our leisure and meet up for pre-dinner cocktails. Early seating just doesn't allow for this. After eating dinner, we're kind of done for the day, no matter what time we eat. We take a stroll around deck and go to bed probably within 2 hours of eating. When we've had early seating, we'll be in bed asleep by 9:30-10 pm.

[JackieH]

We have always had the earlier seating. Now granted we do have 3 kids, and its easier for us not to be eating so late at night..BUT..even if we didnt travel with kids, we would still dine early. We eat between 5-6 at home. Plus, I am no night owl;) ,and I cant stand going to bed on a full stomach. With the early seating, it gives us time to go to a show, stroll around awhile before picking up kids at AO, then off to the bedtime routine with the kids..I feel by then, my food is somewhat digested and easier for me to sleep that way...

 

But each of us is different, this is just what works for our family.:)