Dinning Prefernces

[Ziggy7]

Here's a poll I saw on another board and thought it would be good for us, so we all can see everyones dinning:)Be sure to post after voting your choice please:)


We eat early upper or lower as DH has medical reason and has to eat early, besides it gives us time to work off some of those dessert calories hehehe :)

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Debbie, What a great Poll.

Well we definitely prefer the 6:15 early lower. It really is the perfect time for us. First off on a cruise we tend to be early risers and go to bed fairly early. Thr 5:30 would be too early and 8 PM is just too late.

Just like the 3 bears the 6:15 is just right:p

[bcc99]

Hi, Debbie...
Interesting question! Being new to HAL, I was wondering if there were any patterns--Zuiderdam's main upper for 9/3 was already waitlisted by the time I booked.
I've been seated in the balcony on my last three cruises, and I always feel a little disconnected and out of the action up there. As for early vs. main, I usually eat dinner later at home anyway, and my experiences with early sittings have been too rushed (rush to get back to the cabin and get ready, rush to get out of the way in time for the next sitting). Before midnight buffets started to fade away, I liked early seating because it gave me some time to build the appetite back up!

[CanadianMAG]

What does upper and lower mean? We are confirmed upper at 8:30 ( I think that means on the 2nd floor? )

[Ziggy7]

What does upper and lower mean? We are confirmed upper at 8:30 ( I think that means on the 2nd floor? )Upper is second floor seating at the latest time, either 6:15 or 8:30 seating, lower is first floor dinningroom and earliest seatings 5:45 ot 8:00. :)

[Pete Jackson]

Actually, I prefer drums and cymbals for dinning.

For dining, it's lower main. :D

[LizB1]

[/color]Upper is second floor seating at the latest time, either 6:15 or 8:30 seating, lower is first floor dinningroom and earliest seatings 5:45 ot 8:00.[/size][/font] :)

Ziggy, the last I knew it was just the opposite. Upper Dining level was early first and second, either 5:45 or 8:00, and the lower level dining was the late first or second sittings, 6:15 or 8:30. Has this changed??

[gizmo]

Ziggy,

I have the same question as Liz. Did this change? If so, when?

[user8]

DW and I prefer the First Lower dinner seating as we are both diabetic and must eat early. Should we be assigned to one of the later seatings and be unable to get it changed, we would be forced to eat in the Lido.

[jazzsea]

Actually, I prefer table 78, a table for two on the upper balcony railing. However, I'm not yet ready to eat at 5:45 PM. So I would opt for early-lower or main upper. The new dining times are still a little strange to me.

[Esme]

Ziggy - as far as I know Liz is right. Our last three cruises, we had the 8:00pm seating and it's on the Upper Level. When did this change?

I think at one time, when they first started the 4 seatings, it was the opposite but they changed it.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Upper early - 5:45 - due DH many medications that he has to take.

One medication is 2 hours before dinner, another is during his meal, and 2 more about 2 hours after completing dinner. Rough to get them in we were to eat at 8 or 8:30.

[trubey]

And I'd chose 9 p.m. if that were an option. susan.

[kruzkeen]

I prefer Main Upper which was at 8:00 on the Statendam in December. We were assigned Main Lower for 8:30 which is just 30 minutes too late. Went to the card room and were waitlisted for 8:00 which came through the next day.

I think that you must book months in advance to get the early sittings. They always fill up first. I wonder if they keep some tables in reserve in case Suite passengers want to change. I always book late and since the four dining times have been in effect get 8:30. The next day we get new cards for 8:00.

On the recent cruise the lower section had lots of empty tables at 8:30 and I think many of them were for people who ate in the Lido as 8:30 was too late for them. I wonder how many passengers feel that the food and service has improved with the four dining times.

[discjoker]

I was tempted to select, "I don't eat, just drink on the cruise" to be a wiseguy but I selected my actual preference. That would be Main Upper. :)

[Druke I]

Early lower for us.

We eat early at home, and prefer to eat early at sea. We are not night people, and it works for us.

[george@sea]

Here's a poll I saw on another board and thought it would be good for us,

I prefur the main upper for dinner.

George

[Sweetdreams]

Interesting poll Ziggy-you have the greatest ideas as a seasoned cruiser.
I didn't vote because I have not cruised for 30 yrs. Leaving next weekend with DH and we were originally waitlisted for 8PM but found out this week that we are now confirmed. However, I not sure that we are gauranteed a table for two. Hopefully, we will be given our preference. We look forward to socializing with other cruisers at breakfast & lunch but would like to enjoy a more romantic "dinner for two". We choose the 8PM because we liked the idea of having more time to relax after a full day in ports & it's the closest time available to our schedule at home. However, if they offered 7:30PM that would be perfect.

[Ziggy7]

I may have the later seating wrong but On the Zuiderdam last Aug. we ate at 5:45pm and were on the lower :) So if they changed, I dont know when :) Our friends had the 6:15 seating and they were upper, we all tried to change but couldnt.

[peaches from georgia]

Don't know about the Zuiderdam, but on the Volendam just 2 weeks ago Upper Level was the first Early and Main seatings and Lower was the last of each seating. In other words Upper was at 5:45 and 8:00; Lower was at 6:15 and 8:30.

Same was true on the Maasdam last June and Oosterdam the previous December. Don't know why the Zuiderdam would be the reverse times. :confused:

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Our last 3 cruises have been with the split dining times and all of them were the same. Early Upper 5:45, Early Lower 6:15. Main Upper 8:00, Main Lower 8:30

Those were on the Oosterdam, Ryndam and Westerdam.

[fireofficer5]

I'm the wise guy. I perfer to0 drink. But dinner the later the better. I'm 46 and loved the Zui.

[dakrewser]

I find myself in agreement with the plurality, Main Upper. That's not a position I'm used to! :rolleyes:
-dave
"I argue very well. Ask any of my remaining friends. I can win an argument on any topic, against any opponent. People know this, and steer clear of me at parties. Often, as a sign of their great respect, they don't even invite me." - Dave Barry

[RuthC]

Main Upper.
Before the change to four sittings I always took second sitting (8:15); now I find the 8:00 sitting perfect---lots of time to finish my day, nap, dress and cocktail before a delicious meal with new friends.
Then there's still plenty of time for the show and a full evening before toddling in at 2:00-ish.

[cruznon]

Well, after viewing this poll I can understand why we've been waited listed for the main upper seating.

Presently we're at 8:30 which is much too late and 5:45 is too early!
6:15 and 8:00 BOTH waitlisted the past two months for July 30 cruise. Hopefully we'll be able to get one of the times we want.

[bobpatj]

Main upper for us, 8 pm.

[BCEagle78]

Here is a quote from the Holland America web site (http://hollandamerica.com/onboard/dining.do)

"Dinner times are 5:45 pm (First Upper), 6:15 pm (First Lower), 8:00 pm (Main Upper) and 8:30 pm (Main Lower)."

5:45 = First Upper
6:15 = First Lower
8:00 = Main Upper
8:30 = Main Lower

Our preference has been for the "First Lower". Early enough to get to the early show, late enough for us to get back from our excursions, most of the time at least. Close to our normal dining time at home.

Hope this helps.

[Ziggy7]

hahaha ok ok, I just had to go find my paperwork for our Zuiderdam cruise, I thought for sure we ate at 5:45 lower, nope I was wrong, we at lower but it was 6:15 pm eeeks I'm loosing it, somebody send me on a cruise!!!!!! hehehehe :)

[CLapple]

Am I the only one that hates the staggered dining times? Wish they would go back to just Early and Late!

[gizmo]

Am I the only one that hates the staggered dining times? Wish they would go back to just Early and Late!

You are not alone. I hate them too and wish they would go back to two seatings, early and late.

[Himself]

Call me anything you want but don't call me late for dinner.

[jhannah]

Just one more great benefit of sailing the Prinsendam ... no upper and lower. Just first and second seatings.

[blackbird71]

Just one more great benefit of sailing the Prinsendam ... no upper and lower. Just first and second seatings.

More reason to love that ship.... I like it's size too.

Add me to the list of two seating only group..

As for early or late, depends on the cruise and tours. :p Europe - Late, Caribbean - Early....

since I am looking at the Cooper Canyon cruise,,,, there is the midnight meal option... :D:D I also had that once on the Statendam in St. Petersburg.

[papadave]

Initially, when we could only get the early upper seating, I was concerned that 5:45 was too early for dinner. In reality, I seldom had more than a glass of water by 6:00, and the main course seemed to come around 7:00. In the future, either early seating will be fine for us (with a 6 year old daughter) and I would not be upset with the early upper seating.

[K&RCurt]

We prefer the Main Upper (8:00pm).

On our Westerdam cruise we had the Main Lower and it wasn't an issue getting to the shows etc., but as I was very hungry by the time the food arrived on our first night in the dining room. As a result, I started having a snack (ok...more like a 4th meal) right before the lido closed for the switch to dinner.....thus I ate too much!

[kelmac]

Up stairs, on the railing, early seating, table for two. The crew is fresh, the food is fresh and their is some chance I might digest a little before going to bed.:D :p :D
My wife and I are teachers and we always eat dinner late afternoon after school.

Enjoy!
Kel

[HeatherInFlorida]

I love the 8:00 dining time ... wouldn't matter if it was upper or lower. I like the staggered times because it gives us a little bit more of a choice. The early sitting messes up the day, but 8:00 works perfect for us.

But you knew that Ziggy!!!;)

[SueOverend]

We're confirmed for Main Upper (8.00 pm) on the Westerdam in December, but once on board and going to try and switch to the 8.30pm if we can. If were given the early seatings i.e. 5.45 / 6.30 , we wouldn't eat in the dining room at all - would never be ready by that time of day. Would end up eating in the Pinnacle, the Lido or Room Service.

Thank goodness we are all different!

[Odd Ball]

Count us in with the people that would like to go back to 2 seatings.

We like Upper Main but do not like having the 4 dining times. Two seatings was so much better. I would like to see 5:45 and 8:00 for two seatings.

I think the 4 seating plan is nothing but a marketing ploy to compete with Personal Choice and Free Style. I have heard complaints from those that received the 8:30 seating. They all wanted the 8:00 and felt the 8:30 was too late.

I haven't seen a post from anyone who preferred the 8:30. Is anyone out there who actually preferrs 8:30?

[kruzkeen]

May I ask a secondary question?

Since going to the staggered times, does anyone think that the service or quality of the food has improved?

On a recent cruise at the 8:00 sitting there were several empty tables. Although the wait staff were as friendly and gracious as ever, the food still did not arrive hot and the beef and fish were usually overcooked.

I am neither a gourmet nor do I ‘live to eat’. Therefore, this did not bother me greatly as this is usually the case with banquet or convention food. I just thought that there was no marked improvement.

[gizmo]

May I ask a secondary question?

Since going to the staggered times, does anyone think that the service or quality of the food has improved?

On a recent cruise at the 8:00 sitting there were several empty tables. Although the wait staff were as friendly and gracious as ever, the food still did not arrive hot and the beef and fish were usually overcooked.

I am neither a gourmet nor do I ‘live to eat’. Therefore, this did not bother me greatly as this is usually the case with banquet or convention food. I just thought that there was no marked improvement.

No. I think the service got worse.

I haver no complaints about the quality of food on my last cruise but plenty about the service.

[HeatherInFlorida]

When I posted, I wasn't clear. It's not the 4 sittings I like ... it's the 8:00 choice. I really didn't care for 8:30, just too late for us because we really drag out the entire experience so often didn't leave the table until almost 10:30.

I've been on HAL ships with the 2 and the 4 sittings. I noticed no difference in service. On both occasions the service was okay, but not superlative.

I can't say the number of sittings makes the difference. I still believe any lessening in the quality of service directly relates to the number of tables assigned to each Steward ... not on how many sittings there are.

[papadave]

There was never a line at the door outside the dining room on our HAL cruise. On a previous cruise (RCL) we frequently were behind dozens of people waiting for the doors to open at dinner time.

[heartofamerica]

When I was on the Zuiderdam last year, I ate at 6:15 and was on the lower dining room. I prefer the 6:15 seating - I usually eat about that time at home,, and it lets me catch the early shows or just stroll the decks in the early evening hours.

[gizmo]

There was never a line at the door outside the dining room on our HAL cruise. On a previous cruise (RCL) we frequently were behind dozens of people waiting for the doors to open at dinner time.

On my last cruise which had the 4 seating, there was a line at least on one night, and maybe 2. We were not early, they were just running late.

Previous cruises with the 2 seatings, I found the same thing, 1 or 2 nights there was a line and they were also just running late.

I never found it to be a problem. The wait was not that long. People were civilized and there was never any pushing or shoving when the doors opened.

[sail7seas]

For those who don't like having the four seatings, what is it that you don't like about it?

The interruption for the lower level diners from the Baked Alaska Parade and the 'Goodbye Song"? I can't think of another negative.

We like 8:00 Upper Dining. We'e always dined on the upper level late seating so the 8:00 works fine for us.

[bookworm0911]

For those who don't like having the four seatings, what is it that you don't like about it?

The interruption for the lower level diners from the Baked Alaska Parade and the 'Goodbye Song"? I can't think of another negative.

We like 8:00 Upper Dining. We'e always dined on the upper level late seating so the 8:00 works fine for us.










Sure, the 4 seatings are fine if you are lucky enough to get what your preference is. I'm sure those who don't like it are those passengers who wanted the 8 pm time, but since there are only so many chairs on upper level at that time, well not everybody could be placed there and some had to take the later lower level time, like it or not.

4 times are fine IF you get what you want, like you have. But if there were only 2 times and downstairs was also at 8, then a lot more people who wanted 8 o'clock dining could be accomodated, too, with the more popular time.

[sail7seas]

Sure, the 4 seatings are fine if you are lucky enough to get what your preference is. I'm sure those who don't like it are those passengers who wanted the 8 pm time, but since there are only so many chairs on upper level at that time, well not everybody could be placed there and some had to take the later lower level time, like it or not.

4 times are fine IF you get what you want, like you have. But if there were only 2 times and downstairs was also at 8, then a lot more people who wanted 8 o'clock dining could be accomodated, too, with the more popular time.


I see your point, of course, but the same thing happens when there are only two seatings. There were always some who wanted early dining but got late and vice versa.

I don't think any more folks are not getting their choice than happened in the past with two seatings. Do you think that is the case?

I think the best way to get the dining hour of your choice is to book as early as you can. As the cruise gets closer, certain seatings become filled and are no longer available to be booked.

[bookworm0911]

I don't think any more folks are not getting their choice than happened in the past with two seatings. Do you think that is the case?


Yes, I do. I think 5:45 is extremely early and 8:30 is extremely late for most people and both these times are outside what most people would prefer. So I think most people eating in either of these times would prefer a time either a little later or a little earlier than what they got- in other words would prefer what the times were when there were only the 2 dining choices.

[gizmo]

I agree with Bookworm. I think more people are not getting their choice. Very few seem to like the 8:30.

With the 2 seatings there were a number of people who got assigned late seating and did not like it.

Now you have those people plus many from the 8:30 seating thus more unhappy people.

Sails,
I can think of a couple more negatives.

I always enjoyed the music. Now it is only a couple of nights instead of every night. Canned music in now pumped in. :(

We sat along the railing. The banging of silverware and plates from the lower level was horrible.

Service went down hill with the 4 seatings. We sailed early Dec. after 911 and service was still better than what we had with the 4 seatings.

[gizmo]

Sorry about that folks. I meant "Canned music IS now pumped in. "

[sail7seas]

Sails,
I can think of a couple more negatives.

I always enjoyed the music. Now it is only a couple of nights instead of every night. Canned music in now pumped in. :(

We sat along the railing. The banging of silverware and plates from the lower level was horrible.

Service went down hill with the 4 seatings. We sailed early Dec. after 911 and service was still better than what we had with the 4 seatings.

We sailed November on Zaandam....2001. That was a 10 day Thanksgiving cruise. WE had great service then and we still have great service. I cannot speak for anyone but us but we have never once experienced bad service in the dining room. There have been a few nights here and there when it was not AS good as other nights but not what I would call anything to complain about. Guess we are simply VERY lucky. :) I am sure others have been dissatisfied. I'm happy we've been satisfied. Hope it continues. We've been on 7, 10, 12 day cruises and not the real lengthy ones. We've been on Zaandam, Volendam, Maasdam, Zuiderdam, Veendam, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam since 9-11 so I look at that as a very fair representation. (Some of those ships, we have had as many five and more cruises on.....a fair sampling I would say.)

I also enjoyed the music in the dining room. I do not necessarily attribute the current lack of it to four seatings. It had already been drastically cut back when there were still only two seatings. When the Rosario Strings started to disappear so did the live music.

[ekerr19]

Very few seem to like the 8:30.

With the 2 seatings there were a number of people who got assigned late seating and did not like it.


On the Volendam last month we changed from 8:00 to 8:30 pm in order to have a quiet dining experience. Originally, we were assigned to #22, I think, and though by the window it was extemely noisy and I just don't care all that much for the upper level lighting.

We found the 8:30 to be very relaxed and unhurried - we had a great table and very intimate ambiance...

We are booking 8:30 on our upcoming Amsterdam cruise because we enjoyed it so much and we found it provided the ambiance we had grown accustomed to in the past.

In my opinion, because 8:00pm is now the "preferred" seating - it is now FAR too hectic to really be enjoyable.

[Bill S]

We like early, up, down, right, left, whatever! :)

[bepsf]

I love my center-aft table against the windows in the lower dining room...

[2rg]

We like the later seating but no later than 8. The 8:30 seating we had on the last cruise was the pits. Obviously the bean counters at corporate don't mind that we are eating so late as long as they can save a few dining room staff.

[Taters]

We prefer the main/late dining... Who wants to get dressed for dinner at 4:30 in the afternoon? JMHO

Taters

[kgjg]

Most of the time I prefer the Lido or room service. I enjoy the company for the first couple of nights, but after that I want to eat on my schedule.

[Bookish Angel]

I like the flexibility.

[DEL67]

We like the Main Upper (8 PM) seating. It gives us time to relax before dinner, but we do not have to rush to make the show.

[Robin7]

We like 6:15pm, followed by 5:45pm. I have both hypoglycemia and reflux. I can't eat after 7pm, or I SUFFER all night. I do have a small snack before bed, but nothing heavy--usually a slice of chicken or a small glass of milk at home. If we ate at 8pm or 8:30pm I'd be sick all night!

Robin

[gizmo]

We sailed November on Zaandam....2001. That was a 10 day Thanksgiving cruise. WE had great service then and we still have great service. I cannot speak for anyone but us but we have never once experienced bad service in the dining room. There have been a few nights here and there when it was not AS good as other nights but not what I would call anything to complain about. Guess we are simply VERY lucky. :) I am sure others have been dissatisfied. I'm happy we've been satisfied. Hope it continues. We've been on 7, 10, 12 day cruises and not the real lengthy ones. We've been on Zaandam, Volendam, Maasdam, Zuiderdam, Veendam, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam since 9-11 so I look at that as a very fair representation. (Some of those ships, we have had as many five and more cruises on.....a fair sampling I would say.)




My complaint about service stems from too many tables being assigned to a given steward. Someone has to be at the bottom of the cycle.

After a couple of nights of this we did get it handled and got moved to the top.

This is an example of what I am referring to after we got it handled.
We had drinks with the people at the table next to us. We all entered the dining room together. They were being served salad when we were ordering dessert. We are by no means fast eaters.

The other thing I noticed was some serving stations had been removed. There was no need for them since they cut back on staff. We brought this up and were told the 4 dining times would be more efficeint.


We NEVER had a problem before this and thought the service was outstanding. We have been on the Veendam, Amsterdam, Statendam, Volendam and Rotterdam since 911. We sailed early Dec right after 911. There were problems with staff returning to the ship and things were a little slow at times but nothing like what we encountered on the 4 dining times change.

This is an area Hal needs to fix.

[cruzngal]

We definitely prefer the later seating. It makes it more of an evening for us, and we still have some steam left to go dancing. If we eat such a big meal that early, we'll be asleep by 9 PM!

[sail7seas]

My complaint about service stems from too many tables being assigned to a given steward. Someone has to be at the bottom of the cycle.

After a couple of nights of this we did get it handled and got moved to the top.

This is an example of what I am referring to after we got it handled.
We had drinks with the people at the table next to us. We all entered the dining room together. They were being served salad when we were ordering dessert. We are by no means fast eaters.

The other thing I noticed was some serving stations had been removed. There was no need for them since they cut back on staff. We brought this up and were told the 4 dining times would be more efficeint.


We NEVER had a problem before this and thought the service was outstanding. We have been on the Veendam, Amsterdam, Statendam, Volendam and Rotterdam since 911. We sailed early Dec right after 911. There were problems with staff returning to the ship and things were a little slow at times but nothing like what we encountered on the 4 dining times change.

This is an area Hal needs to fix.


I certainly have read how a number of people are not pleased with the service they have had in the dining rooms. I also have read how a great many have been very satisified.

We, to date, have had consistently really good service. I wonder why? Are we just that lucky? It's just luck of the draw whichever dining stewards people are assigned. Stewards move from one station to another at regular intervals. We are always seated in the same dining section on all the ships (that have same layout ----Vista ships being different) and always have had good service. Hope our good luck continues. ;)

[gizmo]

Sails,

IMO it is not the stewards that cause the "bad service". I believe the stewards all do the best they can. I never had a bad one. The "bad service" issue is too many tables assigned to any given steward.

Those that have complained were more than likely at the bottom of the cycle.

Those that have had great service were closer to the top.

Before we addressed the problem we were waiting a half hour and better to have our orders taken. One night it was 50 minutes before our order was taken. That is when we decided enough is enough and had the problem taken care of.

We are not into waiting 50 minutes just to have our order taken. The steward did not forget us or anything like that, the people behind us were also waiting. We were at the bottom of the cycle.

Since you and others have not experienced this I would have to stay you and the others were closer to the top of the "order taking cycle".

Like I said before, we always had outstanding service prior to the 4 dining time change.

[sail7seas]

Your 'top of the cycle' description is probably the accurate as to why we always get good service.


We are ALWAYS at the same table which will ALWAYS be in the same order in the cycle.

If it is first or second on one cruise, it will be the same first or second on all cruises. The table doesn't move. Only the people who are seated there change from cruise to cruise.

No....I'm not giving out 'our' table number. ;) There might be a run on requests for it and we won't be able to get it.

[rodree]

We must have first seating for medical reasons and prefer the upper on the rail.However we`re willing to go anywhwere if it`s early.
However our next in Oct. we could not get early so I guess this trip it`s the Lido.

[LizB1]

rodree...I suggest you have your TA write a letter to Ship Services stating that because of medical reasons you must eat at the early seating.

[seadrifter]

I like the flexibility.

I agree with you and Princess does it well. -G

[Annivgal]

My travel documents arrived and even though we requested early seating which is written on the invoice from our TA, they state Main Lower. Is there a painless way of getting that changed? Should we ask to be put on a wait list?

Thanks! :o

[cruisingbuckeye]

You could also talk to the dining steward once you get on the ship - they can sometimes make changes then.

We picked the earlier seating so that we could have time after dinner and still get to bed early enough to be up & at it the next morning - - we had a table for two by the window that was just perfect.

[HAL92]

I like to dine at the main seating. I don't really care if it is upper or lower, but I like lower if I can be near the aft windows. If I'm not there, I prefer the upper level.

[cruznon]

It's interesting that approx 65 % of those on poll prefer 6:15 or 8:00 seating--two very nice dinner times. (ME TOO!)
Unfortunately, we eat at 5:45--the EARLY BIRD SPECIAL--UGH! Obviously NOT what we wanted. (More than 200+ on each of the waitlists for 6:15 and 8:00!) We were told we could eat at 8:30, but, gee, you don't get out of the dining room until around 9:30-10:00-- depending on service. So we'll have room service or do the Lido a lot. That's a shame because we have always enjoyed the dining room experience--we love dressing for dinner and all the ambience of dining room. After reading recent posts from Zuiderdam, I really dread early, early seating.
HAL needs to serious look at two dining times again:EARLY and LATE--period.

[dippy]

Ziggy, the last I knew it was just the opposite. Upper Dining level was early first and second, either 5:45 or 8:00, and the lower level dining was the late first or second sittings, 6:15 or 8:30. Has this changed??

You are correct!

[Celestia]

Late Seating, Upper Dining Room, at a window, please.

I've only had the misfortune to eat in the Lower Dining Room twice. The tables are too close together and I could hear the 'gentleman' behind me gulping his beverage and chewing *loudly* every meal. Garrrrrrrrrh.

FW & FS,

Celestia

[awwusa]

Sailing July 2nd (yeah! almost time)...my cruise documents just show confirmed dining: early
waitlisted dining: requested main

I thought we were already confirmed for later seating since all the original booking correspondence with the TA stated confirmed late seating. Does anyone know which "early" seating this would be since it doesn't state upper or lower seating? We will try to change it once on board, but there are six of us (all family) so might not be so easy. I just hope it's not 5:45....actually 5:30 in Alaska according to HAL's "know before you go" booklet...we never eat before 7:00 at home!