Question on open seating at dinner.

[outowrk]

When you are seated in the dinning rooms at dinner is your party seated at your own table or seated at a larger tables with others?

[psbtrvlr]

When you are seated in the dinning rooms at dinner is your party seated at your own table or seated at a larger tables with others?

 

You are given those options to choose from.

[Spikesgirl]

The last time we crusied, there were five of us and we had our own table, which worked out well as we spent much of the day doing different things and it gave us a chance to reconnect at the end and talk about what we'd done and seen.

 

Traditionally, just the two of us travel and we like to sit at an eight-top - more chances that you will find someone with similar tastes. So far, save one cruise, we've had excellent tablemates.

 

Both choices have good and bad points.

[bhopal21]

The last time we crusied, there were five of us and we had our own table, which worked out well as we spent much of the day doing different things and it gave us a chance to reconnect at the end and talk about what we'd done and seen.

 

That's what we do as well. We usually travel with another couple so we always request a table for four and then that gives us a chance to recount the day's activities.

 

Mike:)

[paul929207]

When you get to the Anyime Dining restuarant, the Head Waiter will ask if you want to dine alone or with others.

[WNT]

On our recent 9 day cruise of the Eastern Caribbean, our family of 4 had our own table for every lunch and dinner except for one night. That one night was shared with a nice family of 4 which provided a pleasant change from the norm.

[litehouz70]

If there are just 2 of you (a couple), could you request a table for two only (every night of the cruise), when choosing anytime dining? :confused:

[Barbie075]

If there are just 2 of you (a couple), could you request a table for two only (every night of the cruise), when choosing anytime dining? :confused:

In anytime dining you can choose to do whatever you like. You can ask for a table for two or more, depending on your group size, or join others. There are no limitations.:D :D :D

[cruzinchris]

If there are just 2 of you (a couple), could you request a table for two only (every night of the cruise), when choosing anytime dining? :confused:

 

Absolutely! DH and I enjoy having breakfast and/or lunch at larger tables with other passengers but prefer dinners just for the two of us :)

 

Bon Voyage!

Chris

[Treven]

I certainly prefer dining alone.

[Sandytoes]

When you are seated in the dinning rooms at dinner is your party seated at your own table or seated at a larger tables with others?

You are seated at your own table.

 

If they run out of say table of 4 - they will place you at a table of 6 and remove the 2 extra place settings. (seen this done several times)

[bburns]

Getting a table in anytime dining can be an issue. We've been on many Princess cruises. Anytime dining was fabulous in the beginning. Its a pain now. They advertise you can go to the dining room any time, but that is not true, so be prepared to wait.

 

In our recent cruise, after having problems getting into anytime dining the 1st day, I resorted to reservations. They wouldn't allow us to make reservations until 8am each day and reservations could only be made for that day. I called right at 8am, was put on hold for quite some time, and then once the live person finally answered, was told all tables were taken until 8:15pm. This happened on more than one day.

 

We went to the dining room at 5:30 (when it opened) and were turned away until 8:15pm because we didn't have reservations. To be able to see the show, we had no choice but to go to the buffet. It was formal night. Do you think the buffet was serving lobster? No. So, Princess turns me away from Anytime dining and then won't serve me the same meal, which I paid for.

 

Its not a matter of starvation. Its a matter of being able to do the other things you want to do on that cruise. If they won't let you in anytime dining until 8pm, you can't go see the 8-9pm entertainment. That was a part of my cruise purchase price, I ought to be able to go see it. You could wait for the really late entertainment at 11 to midnight, but when the ship is scheduling shore excursions for 6/7am the next day, its not a viable option.

 

On a different nite when we couldn't get reservations, we went to the dining room at 6:15pm. As usual, the line for people with reservations was longer than the line of people without reservations trying to get in. How those people got the reservations is puzzling given the rules on reservations and the fact we called 1st thing that morning and couldn't get one.

 

So, it just depends. You might easily get a table for just your group, and you might be waiting for quite some time. Wish they'd just go back to "any time"/in other words no reservations!

[Posaune]

I agree with the previous post. I really would be happy if Princess would do away with reservations in the Anytime dining rooms. It is just not right for someone to reserve the same window table for the entire cruise. I could maybe understand taking reservations for family groups of 10 or more. I can see the logic behind that, but reserving 2 and 4 tops usually means that they sit empty for more than an hour between seatings. It just does not take 2 hours or more to eat at a 2 top.

 

I applaud Princess for "carding" people at the door on our last cruise to keep the Traditional diners out of the Anytime dining room. If you don't want to eat at the same time every night, don't sign up for traditional.

 

Richard

[Colo Cruiser]

When you are seated in the dinning rooms at dinner is your party seated at your own table or seated at a larger tables with others?

 

You can have it either way. :)

[rcacace]

 

I applaud Princess for "carding" people at the door on our last cruise to keep the Traditional diners out of the Anytime dining room. If you don't want to eat at the same time every night, don't sign up for traditional.

 

Richard

 

I was under the assumption that traditional diners could switch to anytime if they wanted.

[hughdm]

I was under the assumption that traditional diners could switch to anytime if they wanted.

You can switch, but they change your status. You can't bounce back and forth at will. There will be people wait-listed for your traditional table. If you switch, they will offer your seats to someone waiting.

[Pam in CA]

I was under the assumption that traditional diners could switch to anytime if they wanted.

Yes, you can switch but it's a one-time/one-way switch. In other words, you can't go back to your Traditional assigned table. If people from Traditional dining went back and forth to Anytime, leaving their seats in Traditional unused, that makes it a lot harder and the waits a lot longer for those who have Anytime, not Traditional. It's really not fair to them.

[Pam in CA]

Getting a table in anytime dining can be an issue. We've been on many Princess cruises. Anytime dining was fabulous in the beginning. Its a pain now. They advertise you can go to the dining room any time, but that is not true, so be prepared to wait.

Agreed. On our Crown cruise in July, the wait for Anytime dining every night was 40 minutes at about 8PM, according to the Maitre D. On our Sapphire cruise in April/May, we often went to the lounge outside the Anytime dining room for our pre-dinner drink and it appeared that the wait at about 7PM was 20 - 30 minutes most nights.

[rcacace]

Yes, you can switch but it's a one-time/one-way switch. In other words, you can't go back to your Traditional assigned table. If people from Traditional dining went back and forth to Anytime, leaving their seats in Traditional unused, that makes it a lot harder and the waits a lot longer for those who have Anytime, not Traditional. It's really not fair to them.

 

You say it's a one time/one way switch but supposing I go to the Alternative restaurant on evening? I do agree that's not fair to reserve a traditional table & not use it- it's probably the cause of all the delays in anytime seating. I've only seen them check cards in anytime seating at the beginning of the cruises. During the middle of the cruise they didn't seem to be doing any checking. (or I didn't notice)