Traditional Dining - Why so important to some?

[serene sea]

I am about to decide on taking my first cruise. I have always been leary on cruising because most cruise lines have traditional seating so I have chosen Princess because of their Anytime Dining. What I do not understand is what exactly is so exciting to sit with "strangers" at dinner? If you were on a restaurant on land, you do not sit with anyone nor would anyone want to sit with you. What is the big deal about your waiter knowing your drink preferences by the second or third day, so the rest of your 4 to 5 days you have your drink waiting? Who really cares if you wait 5 minutes for it? Sitting in the same exact table, same exact dining room every night seems a bit boring. With so many different personalities, I can't imagine a table for 6 or 8 clicking. Does anyone else have these thoughts? Am I missing something because I have not cruised yet?

[bcs819]

I love traditional dining, but never sit with strangers. We always get a table for the size of our party. What's so appealing about it to me is the convenience. I am the social director for our relationship which includes making dinner reservations, etc. Traditional dining makes me actually get a vacation. Once I get on a ship I have to do nothing. My table is always ready, I know who I am sitting with, and the same waiter gives me the familiarity of a good restaurant at home. The menu changes every night so there is never anything to be bored with. Just my two cents, but I think all those folks on Anytime dining are nuts http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Bernie


"so many cruises, so little vacation time"
Diamond Princess - September 2004
Grand Princess - March 2003
Carnival Pride - June 2002
Carnival Victory - June 2001

[srphnx]

People love traditional for many reasons, rarely do the "strangers" remain so, I have made many friends that lasted a long while by taking traditional, the same time and place is comforting and the service can be much more specific to you and your desires if the staff sees you again and again. I noticed that my waiter stopped asking me the temp I liked my meat after the third time, because he knew.

That being said, we also like PC which we are doing on Diamond four times this year, but I am not trying to convert anyone here, more room for me if they don't.

BOTH have advantages, and people will heatedly "discuss" anything on these boards it seems.

Traditional is what most of us learned on and it has a sentimental place in my heart.

Life is at it's best when your address floats
<FONT color=red>Alaska</FONT>
Diamond Princess 05/04 ~~ Mercury 06/02
Rhapsody o.t. Seas 05/98 ~~ Legend o.t. Seas 09/95
<FONT color=red>Mexican Riviera</FONT>
Diamond Princess 12/04
Diamond Princess 11/04 ~~ Diamond Princess 04/04
Sea Princess 01/02 ~~ Vision o.t. Seas 04/02<FONT color=red>
West Coast-Baja Mexico</FONT>
Ecstacy 09/01
<FONT color=red>Eastern Carribean</FONT>
Century 12/97
<FONT color=red>Western Carribean</FONT>
Century 9/96

[sue d. miller]

I love tradional. I love interacting with our waiters. For me over the week, they become friends. I do love being pampered, but they are equal to us. We are not finger snappers or impatient. We make them laugh, enjoy their time with us, and understand if we hear rude passengers try to ask fot something, one at a time, at a table for ten, and then not show up on tip night. At the end of the week, we always tipp extra, aside from the automatic tip, and we get pictures of us, with the waiters. We look forward to dinner on each cruise. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Sue
7 days on Star Princess 10/24

[ANNIEMAMA1]

hi serene sea we have always done pc dining with the exception of (2) cruises and LOVE pc it gives you the freedom to do what you want and when you want would have it no other way your on vacation afterall you should be able to eat, sleep, drink and whatever when you please. is that not what a pleasure vaca. is all about?

[SissyG]

When we first cruised of course we did traditional seating, but since PC came to be we have found it to be best for us. When we are on a cruise we really find it hard to be anywhere at a certain time...we get into vacation mode and run on vacation time....anywhere, anytime, no demands. I could never go back to a rigid timetable for dinner. We love stopping in at crooners on the way to dinner for a martini and sometimes linger a little longer than we thought we would so making dinner at at a specific time just wouldn't work for us. To each his own when you cruise. I always get a laugh at the group that forms at the PC dining room entrance all dressed up even before the PC dining room opens at 5:00, maybe they are afraid all the food will be gone if they are not there first. LOL Sissy



A dream comes true on the Sapphire Princess in
<IMG SRC="http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;11;22;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800"

UP NEXT...
Sapphire Princess 30 day LA to Sydney 11/22/04

Grand Princess 12 day Barcelona/Greek Isles/Venice 10/17/05

BEEN THERE..DONE THAT
Island Princess W. Caribbean/Panama Canal 4/04
Coral Princess Alaska 8/03
Stardancer Mexican Riviera 11/88
Independence Hawaii 8/85
Countess S. Caribbean 8/80

[Crowsie]

We're traditional diners for the exact same reasons as Bernie.
We like having the waiters know our preferences..it just seems to make it more special...and we also get a table just for the size of our party.
It's not that we don't like to meet other folks..it's that the dinners are our "family time" while on vacation.

Sky Princess 01/1999 Australia and New Zealand
Sky Princess 03/2000 China
Royal Princess 02/2002 South America
Golden Princess 05/2003 Med
Sapphire Princess 03/2005 Sydney to Bangkok


March 2005 - Sydney to Bangkok on the Sapphire
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=191970&cdt=2005;3;7;20;00;00&timezone=GMT+1030

[spongerob]

We've made many great friends via traditional dining. It makes dining an event for us. We don't consider our tablemates strangers at all, just new friends to get to know. It isn't boring at all, in fact, the same 'where are you from, what do you do, how many times have you cruised' conversations are what we find tiresome after a while.

If you have a favorite restaurant, isn't it nice to have a staff that knows you and your preferences? It makes dining out just that much more enjoyable.

Completed:
Sea Princess, Royal Princess, Grand Princess (3X), Caribbean Princess, Golden Princess
Coming up:
Tahitian Princess Oct 14/04
Caribbean Princess redux 6/25/05

[BJS]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>I love tradional. I love interacting with our waiters. For me over the week, they become friends. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>We love PC. We find many waiters who become friends and that we interact with. If there is one table, waiter or time we especially enjoy a standing reservation is made. The added benefit of a flexible time is also possible with the same wait staff. I know everyone in traditional has the best waiter at their table BUT... should you not care for that waiter, it has happened with traditional on more than one occasion, the option of changing tables is almost impossible.

It all comes down to what a person prefers but unless you have tried both on more than one occasion you really won't know what benefits are with either. Have talked to so many who were totally against PC but had no idea the same table mates, waiters, table or time were options nor that flexible times with same waiters or a table for two some nights or all nights were also options.

Future cruises:
5/04 HAL-Amsterdam-Alaska
9/04 Star Princess-Med.x2 Venice to Barcelona/ Barcelona to Rome
Jan. 05 Diamond Princess-Mexican Riviera
July 05 Star Princess-Baltics
Aug. 05 Star Princess-Baltics
Past cruises:
04 Dawn Princess- Southern Caribbean x2
03 Grand Princess-W.Caribbean
03 Sun Princess -Mexico
03-Tahitian Princess-Tahiti/ Cook Islands
03 Royal Princess-x2 British Isles & Norwegian Fjords/ Iceland
03 Island Princess-Panama Canal
01 HAL Ryndam x 2-S. America San Diego to Valpariso/ & around Cape Horn to Rio
00 Sky Princess-China/Orient
79 Sitmar's Fairwind- Caribbean/Panama Canal

[Haven]

I love traditional dining and I agree with Spongerob, dinner becomes an event. The wait staff has always been wonderful..friendly, funny, and so willing to make any culinary whim a reality (a big plus for a worn out mother of two http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif. Also, not to sound rude, but you're really missing out if you don't take the time to meet some of the other strangers-soon-to-be-friends, whether they be crew or passengers. I've done traditional dining each time I've cruised and always come home with the best souvenirs...names and addresses of some of the coolest folks. I'm still in touch with many of them. Each evening is a chance to peel back the layers and get to know some really interesting people. For most folks, the international flavor that cruising offers is an experience tough to come by when we're all tucked back into our little corners of the world. Traditional dining makes it so obvious that the world truly is a tiny place populated by folks who have so much more in common than different. And that's why I love traditional dining.

[bbqman]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by serene sea:
I am about to decide on taking my first cruise. I have always been leary on cruising because most cruise lines have traditional seating so I have chosen Princess because of their Anytime Dining. What I do not understand is what exactly is so exciting to sit with "strangers" at dinner? If you were on a restaurant on land, you do not sit with anyone nor would anyone want to sit with you. What is the big deal about your waiter knowing your drink preferences by the second or third day, so the rest of your 4 to 5 days you have your drink waiting? Who really cares if you wait 5 minutes for it? Sitting in the same exact table, same exact dining room every night seems a bit boring. With so many different personalities, I can't imagine a table for 6 or 8 clicking. Does anyone else have these thoughts? Am I missing something because I have not cruised yet?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

serene sea - It looks like you are a prime candidate for PC dining and I agree with you.

Stan http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif
<marquee> So many places to go and no money to get there <marquee>

Grand from Galveston
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800000&cdt=2004;11;13;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0600

[Ghost]

We have been on 20 cruises and ALWAYS choose traditional late seating dinner. We have made so many wonderful friends and this dining option is one of the high points of our cruise. We always ask for a large table of 6-8 other people and have only had to change tables twice. We enjoy getting to know our tablemates and have made many life long friends that way - people we have visited and cruised with again. To us, it's part of the cruise experience. Although we sit at the same table every night, we always change seats so we're sitting next to someone different each night. We just enjoy this comradierie with our tablemates and waiters that we wouldn't change - PC just isn't for us. We meet plenty of new people during other times of our cruise - the same tablemates at dinner and the relaxed, no rush of second seating traditional just works best for us. But that's another great thing about cruising - there are dining choices to suit everyone!

Kathy

[soccermommie]

I think it all boils down to personality. My husband and I are both fairly reserved and are not very social people. we are not snobbish nor rude or unfriendly, we just prefer quiet solitude. In our jobs, we are both required to interact with numerous people (mostly "strangers") all day long, so on our vacation time, we cherish not doing so. In addition, our professions tend to inspire a lot of questions of advice, etc. We vacation to get away from work not continue it in another locale.

On one cruise, DH and I had a table for two - awesome experience. On our family cruise, we were seated with another family and none of us (our children included) enjoyed eating with "strangers". We will be cruising for the first time with Princess later on this year, and a big reason we picked this line is the PC dining. Having a different waitstaff every night will not bother us in the least. We are not high maintenance-type diners and do not require the level of service you may receive from someone who knows and anticipates all of your preferences and requests in order to enjoy our meals to the fullest.

I don't fault or criticize those who love traditional dining. They just have different preferences than me. Thank goodness there are options to accomodate all of us!

soccermommie

[Aberharp]

My dw and I were on the Golden in April for our 1st cruise and absolutely loved PC dining. We dined with a couple from the CC board one night, we joined a table another night, and we dined just the two of us the other nights. We like the flexiblity of choosing our time to dine. I liked being in a new location each night in the two PC dining rooms and getting to people watch different groups each night. I liked meeting/observing new wait teams each night so that I could compare styles and efficiency. We never waited more that 15 minutes for a table, so we barely had time to finish a cocktail before being seated. All in all, PC dining for us was the least stressful and most enjoyable dining "event" we ever had on a vacation. Plus, we didn't have an audience watch us devour all those lobster tails. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif
Bill

Golden Princess 04/10/04

[pg.]

We cruised three times with traditional dining , and our last cruise( our fourth) was with "Anytime dining".
We will NEVER do tradional again.We love pc dining, we never waited more thatn a few minutes, we sat at large tables and met many interesting people, we did CHOOSE to sit at a table of two one night as I was feeling a little seasick( and wasn't feeling social) and we were happy to have that CHOICE! We don't care to form a relationship with the servers, we enjoy chatting with them, but we enjoy meeting many of them , not just " ours" . We don't mind if we have to order our drink preference each evening( as opposed to having the waiter memorize it)

We can't say enough about PC, we just loved it!! Yeah Princess!!!!

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>I am about to decide on taking my first cruise. I have always been leary on cruising because most cruise lines have traditional seating so I have chosen Princess because of their Anytime Dining. What I do not understand is what exactly is so exciting to sit with "strangers" at dinner? If you were on a restaurant on land, you do not sit with anyone nor would anyone want to sit with you. What is the big deal about your waiter knowing your drink preferences by the second or third day, so the rest of your 4 to 5 days you have your drink waiting? Who really cares if you wait 5 minutes for it? Sitting in the same exact table, same exact dining room every night seems a bit boring. With so many different personalities, I can't imagine a table for 6 or 8 clicking. Does anyone else have these thoughts? Am I missing something because I have not cruised yet?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Yes, I think you’re missing something because you’ve not cruised yet – and you won’t understand it if you choose Anytime Dining. A cruise is different than spending a week at a land-based resort where people are coming and going throughout the week. On a cruise, the complement of passengers become traveling companions – whether you realize it or not – and this complement can greatly influence the energy that makes up a particular cruise. I’ve sailed back to back cruises a few times and it’s remarkable how the energy on a ship changes with a new load of passengers.

That being said, Traditional Dining adds to the camaraderie one can achieve on a ship. Instead of being on a vacation by yourselves, you have the chance to meet others, and as ‘rob pointed out, dinner becomes a social event. Not only do your tablemates become friends, but so you do your wait staff. This is, unfortunately, one of the pleasant parts of a cruise that is lost with anytime dining. Dinner for many now is no longer a way to meet people, understand new cultures and socialize. For many, dinner is a chance to eat – and get me in and out of the dining room as fast as possible.

Of course, if you meet people who you’d like to spend time with, the plus is the Anytime Dining room allows you to sit with whom you’d like.

Based on the original post, I would agree that you’re a candidate for Anytime Dining – and I guess that it’s a good thing that the cruise line now offers this option.

Having a wait staff that understands your needs is a plus to the whole experience, but really is of less importance than that social experience…in my opinion.

-------------------------
Sun Princess, 03/2004; Pacific Princess, 07/2003; Star Princess, 05/2003; Grand Princess, 10/2002; Grand Princess, 10/2002; Sun Princess, 05/2001; Sun Princess, 04/2001; Sun Princess, 09/2000; Sun Princess, 09/2000; Regal Princess, 10/1999; Sun Princess, 08/1998; Holiday, 05/1998; Westerdam, 09/1997; Regal Princess, 11/1996; Royal Odyssey, 09/1995; Starward, 11/1993

[Taters]

We love traditional dining for many reasons. Making new friends and trading stories at the end of each cruise day is the best! Also, our youngest is a teenager now and on days at sea, this is the best way for us to make sure we catch up with her at some point during the day! We love having our preferences known by the second or third day and hearing about the lives, families and traditions of our waiters. Dinnertime is classified an an EVENT for us also!

Taters http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Song of Norway, 1971
Imagination, 1/1996
Imagination, 1/1998
Song of America, 1/1999
Jubilee, 1/2000
Inspiration, 1/2001
Enchantment of the Seas, 11/2002 - Back to back!
Carnival Conquest, 9/2003
Island Princess, 12/2004

[Travelingal]

PC dining was the big selling point for us selecting Princess this time around. The ability to choose when - 6:00 one evening, or 9:00 the next - and having the opportunity to NOT be seated with strangers - really appealed to us. IF we make friends on the cruise, we can join together for dinner IF we so choose. IF not, a table for two will be wonderful. This said, it all comes down to personalities. If you enjoy socializing or cocktail party type small talk or don't have much left to say to your SO, then traditional would be the way to go. But with PC dining you can get both - table for two or table for 10, and at any time you wish. To me, seems like best of both worlds.

Golden 2004
Wind 2002
Grandeur 1999

[Commodore Suzy]

I'm a huge fan of Anytime Dining and dread the dining on cruises other than Princess. In traditional, I've had one great set of people, and two not so great. I'm glad I wasn't stuck with the "not so greats" any longer than I had to be. In the future, I hope to only have to do traditional on a cruise with a group of family or friends where we can get a table the size of our group.

I love Anytime (PC) dining because I can CHOOSE so many things. I'm very socialble and love meeting new people, so I like a table of more than two to make new friends usually. If I really like them, we make plans to have dinner another night as well. If they're not really our type, its just one dinner. We also like the "table for two" option every once in a while, especially on days when we're really tired or want to get to a show at a particular time afterwards. I've also planned lots of dinners or lunches on ships with folks I've 'met' on CC first. Some of them have become really great friends and the flexibility of Anytime dining really makes it easier to get to know these people better.

Anyway, Anytime Dining is ABSOLUTELY the thing I love the most about Princess. Sounds like you'll enjoy it as well!

Cheers!

Suzy

NEXT --> Monarch family weekend 10/15/04 & Grand Galveston 12/11/04
Diamond Princess http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif 5/1/04
Star Princess http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif 10/18/03 -- Wind Star Honeymoon http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif 11/14/03
Star Princess Wedding http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif 9/24/03 -- Mercury http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif 10/5/03
Vision of the Seas http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif 10/28/02 -- Amsterdam http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif 4/22/03
Sun Princess http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif 5/10/02 -- Star Princess http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif 6/15/02
Carnival Holiday http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif 9/8/00

[Toto2Kansas]

We have never thought much of regular assigned dining. We always can meet and make new friends onboard without the hassle of having to dine with the same people each and every night. Variey is the spice of life and this way we never disappoint anyone at our table if we choose to dine alone or with other friends we have met along the way.
I have heard people say that they like to 'bond' with their tablemates and to us, this is just something that doesn't interest us in the least.
Having the same waiter is great, if he is also great, but there have been times when we have drawn one that was just not the best. Would rather take our chances each night and get to know a variety of people/staff then just a small group every evening.

Tahitian Princess 10/14/04
RCI-Legend of the Seas 3/27/05 Panama Canal.
One Phantom Booking still open with Princess.

[Druke I]

Traditional dining for my wife and I.

Isn't it wonderful we have so many choices?

Michael

If one thinks of dinner on a cruise ship as a opportunity to meet people then "Anytime Dining" seems to be the best choice to me...I certainly wish that choice was available when I stated crusing 40 years ago...With "Traditional" one was somewhat limited to your original assigned table...Now one can meet new "friends" each night...But it's all about "Personal Choice".

[Layla]

My husband and I prefer traditional because we like to know that we will be dining at a specific time every evening. We always get the late seating so we can return from the pool or shore excursions and have lots of time to relax and get ready at a leisurely pace. We also really like to get to know our waiter and enjoy visiting with them throughout the cruise. We have always enjoyed meeting and visiting with new people and it's nice to exchange stories every day about what we've been doing. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Yours in Cruising, Layla

[guardhouse]

I'm not so sure that Serene Sea will even like cruising......

09/87 Old Rotterdam
10/89 Noordam
9/90 Noordam
9/92 Star Princess (old)
4/94 Regal Princess
3/04 Dawn Princess

[serene sea]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by guardhouse:
I'm not so sure that Serene Sea will even like cruising......

09/87 Old Rotterdam
10/89 Noordam
9/90 Noordam
9/92 Star Princess (old)
4/94 Regal Princess
3/04 Dawn Princess<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I knew there would be at least one sarcastic reply. What is your one reason to cruise? Traditional Dining!

[woodofpine]

Viva la difference!

PC is nice, but make mine Trad! They each have their merits.

Having tried both on Princess, one thing I do believe is that service is a little better in trad because the servers aren't dealing with a variety of tables at different stages of their meal. For the staff there is more rythem to their work, and I think pax will note that a trad dining room seems to be less frenetic than a PC - more sedate all the way around. In trad, it's a "dining room"; in PC, it's a restaurant.

Some folks claim the galley crew gives trad a bit of timing preference too since the volumes are predictable so that food platters are a bit fresher-hotter.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> I'm not so sure that Serene Sea will even like cruising...... <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> I knew there would be at least one sarcastic reply. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I think it was the tone of your original post - it was almost argumentative. I thought the same thing but tailored my response a little differently.

-------------------------
Sun Princess, 03/2004; Pacific Princess, 07/2003; Star Princess, 05/2003; Grand Princess, 10/2002; Grand Princess, 10/2002; Sun Princess, 05/2001; Sun Princess, 04/2001; Sun Princess, 09/2000; Sun Princess, 09/2000; Regal Princess, 10/1999; Sun Princess, 08/1998; Holiday, 05/1998; Westerdam, 09/1997; Regal Princess, 11/1996; Royal Odyssey, 09/1995; Starward, 11/1993

[spongerob]

Actually, you get the best of both worlds if you eat breakfast or lunch in the dining room. Those meals are open seating, so you get potluck for tablemates anyway.

This is just an observation, but it seems those who eschew any socialization in favor of dining alone all the time end up making the majority of the complaints about the food and service. I wonder why that is so?

Completed:
Sea Princess, Royal Princess, Grand Princess (3X), Caribbean Princess, Golden Princess
Coming up:
Tahitian Princess Oct 14/04
Caribbean Princess redux 6/25/05

[demisod]

But the traditional diners make the most complaints about the lack of adherence to the dress code, so I guess it evens out. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[memoak]

Traditional dining is the only way to go in my book. As a middle aged single who travels with a small group of other singles (3-4 each cruise) we love to have an 8 top table with usally several others in our general age range (Princess seems to do a good job of placing same ages at the same tables) In fact some of the people I travel with on a regular basis are people who I have met at "dinner". I not only have more cruise mates but also now have aquaintences all over the US and UK.

Will be crusing on the Regal in August and September and look forward to meeting even more great friends.

[rogerpl]

On our Celebrity cruise we dined tradtional with two other couples and it was the best part of the cruise. They were strangers the first night but not for long. Also getting to know the wait staff makes for a great cruise experience. Granted if you don't get along with your tablemates it could be disaster. We look forward to talking with new people. You don't have to make friends for life but for a week or 10 days they can be great shipmates.

Roger - Caribbean Princess -May 15, 2004.
Marco Polo 1999
Sensation 2001
Galaxy 2002
Pride 2003

[spongerob]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by demisod:
But the traditional diners make the most complaints about the lack of adherence to the dress code, so I guess it evens out. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Good one! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Completed:
Sea Princess, Royal Princess, Grand Princess (3X), Caribbean Princess, Golden Princess
Coming up:
Tahitian Princess Oct 14/04
Caribbean Princess redux 6/25/05

[Pam in CA]

My preference is for traditional for the reasons cited above. Also, we had a bad experience with PC dining on the Grand where they made us wait every night for 20 minutes to 1/2 hour, even at 9:30PM. We tried making reservations but they told us we couldn't.

We're trying PC dining again on the Caribbean Princess over New years but it's back to traditional on the Royal next year since we'll be a good-sized group and we want to eat together without worrying whether we have to wait for a table.

Serene Sea -- sounds like you've already made up your mind that the things we traditionalists prefer you don't like. As others have said, you'll probably enjoy PC dining.

I do urge you to approach your cruise without preconceived ideas and keep an open mind. Your cruise will be more enjoyable that way.

Song of Norway & Song of America, 1986-88; Royal Princess 2/99; Sun Princess 1/00; Ocean Princess 12/00; Royal Princess 4/01; Grand Princess 12/23/01; Sea Princess 2/9/02; Explorer of the Seas 12/21/02; Coral Princess 8/9/03; Nordic Empress 12/27/03.

-- Regal Princess (4/20/04) -- Roll Call (http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=4763056957&m=2573008957)
-- Caribbean Princess (12/26/04) -- Roll Call (http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=4763056957&m=9323078957)
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0099FF&cdt=2004;12;26;12;0;00&timezone=GMT-0800
-- Royal Princess (4/21/05)
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0099FF&cdt=2005;04;21;12;0;00&timezone=GMT-0800

[sue d. miller]

That was my thought, but I just let it go. Now I wiil ask, since it was brought up. You say this is your first cruise but was leary because you didn't like traditional. On Princess you found PC. I am very happy you found what you were looking for.But why are we explaining our enjoyment of traditional, if you wanted no part of it. I would think you would be thrilled to have found a dining premise of your choice and not care why anyone would like what you don't!! Curious post!! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif I do hope you enjoy your cruise. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Sue
7 days on Star Princess 10/24

[JacquieP]

We enjoy traditional because we enjoy actually getting to know new people, as well as the waiters. It's impossible to do in an hour and a half. It is very easy to have a large table click, as we just experienced in March. We had never met any of the people, but our table for 8 and the table for 10 next to us became good friends. Personal Choice is just what it says. It's your choice, if that is what you want, just as traditional is our choice.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> But the traditional diners make the most complaints about the lack of adherence to the dress code, so I guess it evens out. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I don't think so - did you see my unscientific poll? The numbers demonstrate otherwise.

It's interesting that NCL offers freestyle dining AND no formal nights and yet people continue to knowingly book Princess when they don't want one or both. Is a cruise more pleasurable when you buck the established traditions? Seems it would be a lot of work and would ruin the experience...but maybe I'm the crazy one.

-------------------------
Sun Princess, 03/2004; Pacific Princess, 07/2003; Star Princess, 05/2003; Grand Princess, 10/2002; Grand Princess, 10/2002; Sun Princess, 05/2001; Sun Princess, 04/2001; Sun Princess, 09/2000; Sun Princess, 09/2000; Regal Princess, 10/1999; Sun Princess, 08/1998; Holiday, 05/1998; Westerdam, 09/1997; Regal Princess, 11/1996; Royal Odyssey, 09/1995; Starward, 11/1993

[twocats]

This is a little off subject but how does one figure the tips with Personal Choice?
Do you tip each night at the finish of the meal? What if you never see the waiter again?

until we sail away....Panama Canal
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=4169e1&cdt=2005;4;27;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500

[mikenstef]

I enjoy both PC and traditional dining. I like traditional dining when traveling with our family group. Dinner is usually the only time we are all together to share the day's experience, plan the next day and decide on the evening entertainment. It is our only structured activity together and it works really well for us.

When my husband and I have cruised without family, we have enjoyed getting to know most of our assigned table mates in traditional dining. It is just enough social interaction. We may opt out for a night and go at a more convenient time or to a specialty retaurant. Also opt out if we don't want to get dressed up. Nothing says you need to go traditional every night. I do find it uncomfortable to sit with new strangers every night though.

It really comes down to what you want to do, it's your vacation. Enjoy whatever you decide!

[serene sea]

Thanks to all for your replies. To those of you who think I made up my mind, yes I did NOW. Some of you stated your party (friends or family you already came with) is large enough to sit at traditional. I would too in this case. Another post has singles traveling. Again, I would too. And there are others who may just be couples without families, or have children who are long gone and really need to socialize with other people because their everyday lives are just the two of them. I find it interesting that some of you wanted to see this as a debate (PC diners complain more, formal night was brought up) It is about choice, but yet it seems like some (and only some) have something against PC diners.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> It is about choice, but yet it seems like some (and only some) have something against PC diners <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Is it something against PC diners? I don’t think so – I don’t have any issue with people who choose a different style of vacation than me. So far, Princess has done a great job for me – offering the options that some of you can choose and others that I prefer to choose.

The problem comes in when it’s easier to no longer offer the choice. While I don’t think that Princess will change the cruise experience it offers based on the posts on this board, there are a number of people supporting Anytime Dining based on the idea they won’t like Traditional. Its fine to put that opinion out there, but it’s difficult to bet the farm on that opinion when there’s no experience to back it up.

And while many think the Traditional experience is staid and, “traditional” in the negative sense of the word, there are advantages to the experience that some can’t be convinced of because they won’t give it a try. Again, it’s your vacation and I’d rather you choose to spend it the way you want so you’ll be happy rather than to hear you complain because you’re forced into something that you don’t want. I just find it unfortunate that the ideas about traditional cruising are sometimes being shaped without regard for the opinions of those who have experienced it – or by those without the experience itself.

-------------------------
Sun Princess, 03/2004; Pacific Princess, 07/2003; Star Princess, 05/2003; Grand Princess, 10/2002; Grand Princess, 10/2002; Sun Princess, 05/2001; Sun Princess, 04/2001; Sun Princess, 09/2000; Sun Princess, 09/2000; Regal Princess, 10/1999; Sun Princess, 08/1998; Holiday, 05/1998; Westerdam, 09/1997; Regal Princess, 11/1996; Royal Odyssey, 09/1995; Starward, 11/1993

[Cruisin'Chris]

I'm a traditional late person. On our Alaska cruise last May on Sun Princess, in traditional late, our tablemates only showed for dinner on night 5 for crab. They never came before or after. My mother and I dined at our table for 6 alone. While our wonderful waiter and all the headwaiters in the dining room doted on us, I found this cruise to be one of the most isolating. There's something about meeting up each evening with your dinner partners to review the day, hear what excursions they took, their impressions of the port that really enhances the cruise experience. Alternatively, you can chat with random folks on tour, in lounges, or by the pool but you don't really get to build the same relationship with them. This is what I would miss in Personal Choice.

For me dining aboard ship is different than going to a restaurant at home. I don't want to dine alone. And you know, in many places in the world, in restaurants you're not seated along. Many places in Europe for example seat multiple parties at the same table.

All the above said, sometimes you want to be isolated, so PC gives you an option to do that.

Cruisin' Chris


http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=dc143c&cdt=2004;5;19;17;0;00&timezone=GMT+0000 &nbsp;5/19/04 Grand Princess Baltic Heritage

<center>
<a href="http://www.escati.com/counter98/free_time_codes.htm">
http://escati.linkopp.net/logos/time98.gif</center>