What dining time do you prefer?

[Orcrone]

I prefer either early lower (6:15) or main upper (8:00). I usually don't like eating too late, but I also don't like having to return early from ports.

[jhannah]

We don't like to eat too late, so either early seating would do. Slight preference for the 6:15, though.

[jazzsea]

I never wanted to believe that I was too old for late seating as I used to be the last one back to the ship when we were in port. I wanted to shower and dress and have a little cocktail before dinner.

Now I want to get back to the ship in time to take a nap before dinner so I can stay up past 9:00 PM.

[peaches from georgia]

Absolutely Main Upper- 8 PM. We definetely don't want to eat 6ish upper or lower level- never do eat that early at home, we would never be hungry that early, we like to relax before dinner dressing leisurely and having a drink and hors d'ouevres, and I think there could be way too many younguns in the dining room at the early seating if it was that kind of a cruise. Not snobbish but we've been there and done that with kids and prefer adult dinner company. We love upper level and 8. So HAL has staggered the times and levels perfectly for us. :D

[Orcrone]

I never wanted to believe that I was too old for late seating as I used to be the last one back to the ship when we were in port. I wanted to shower and dress and have a little cocktail before dinner.

Now I want to get back to the ship in time to take a nap before dinner so I can stay up past 9:00 PM.Carol - that would be hilarious if it didn't hit so close to home.;)

[bombero]

We like the 6:15 lower.. It's the best time for us, for the same reasons stated by Orcrone...

[DFD1]

Upper, early sitting. Makes the evening on board seem longer....time for walking about, having a cigar and letting dinner settle before turning in for the night. Just writing this makes me want to go pack my bags!

[RuthC]

I have always eaten at later sitting; this last cruise was the first that there was a choice even then.

At home it's always early to bed/early to rise to go to work. When I'm on vacation I like to stay up and play. So, it's back to the ship to take a nap, shower and change, and have a leisurely cocktail before dinner.
With the 8:00 dining time there's plenty of evening left.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Count us in for the Early Lower 6:15. Kinda of like the 3 Bears Story. It is just right:p 5:45 is too early and 8 is too late.

[localady]

Despite my 40-something age, my DH and I prefer the earlier seating. The 6:15 is the best for us if we are travelling by ourselves. On the Dec. Rotterdam cruise, we have requested an 8:00pm dinner as the friends joining us prefer that!! I prefer to eat a bit earlier and let my food settle before bed. But then again I was always told I was "old at heart".:cool:

[Charlie2na]

Like the early upper as thats the time we usually eat at home . Also gives you plenty of time to get to the shows then maybe some casino action and the maybe some room for the midnite buffet and then finally bed at a decent hour so i'm rested enough to start at 6:00 a.m and do it all again !

[O2cruise]

We prefer the 8:00 dining as it gives us a chance for a nap, or an afternoon excursion without having to rush to get ready for dinner. And since we are three females that extra time is absolutely necessary.

[the2ofus]

At home we are used to eating dinner around 6 p.m. so we like to stay pretty much with the same schedule. We aren't cocktail-before-dinner people so generally don't feel rushed getting back from shore and getting ready for dinner.

Even with a leisurely meal, we still feel full at 10 p.m.from a 5 course dinner at 6 p.m. Would really be uncomfortable trying to sleep at midnight on a still-full stomach if we ate at the later dinner times.

We very much enjoy the shows in the main lounge and dancing in the Ocean Bar so we prefer having the evening free for these activities.

[Tatka]

It would depend on itinerary and ship...

During port intensive cruises I like to eat later so I don't have to run back to the ship. (7:30 or 8 is OK)

If it's Caribbeans and ship's pools are open after dinner...I probably will choose early dinner. If pool are closed after dinner than I want to spend more time there before the dinner.

For this Z cruise I picked 8:00 PM upper so I can swim longer. (Plus I heard about some problems in the lower level)

[ASM]

Upcoming cruise will be our first time to try 6:15. Decided last time that so much food at 8:00 just made us uncomfortable. We'll see if we like this better.

[OCruisers]

We like the Main/Late Seating! Really doesn't matter to us if it's 8:00 or 8:30!

That's our normal "Dinner Time" so it works for us!

Happy Sailing! OCruisers :)

[Druke I]

6:15 Lower best fits my body clock, although I could go with 5:45pm Upper.

The two late seatings are much too late for me!

Michael

[Lynzchat]

Gosh, I hate to always sound stupid, but can someone tell me the difference between 'upper' and 'lower'? I think we got the 8:30seating, because we like to eat late, but I don't know what upper and lower really mean? Are there 2 dining areas?

[joeinwpb]

The time of year effects my biochemistry. My normal preference would be 6:15 pm.

However if I were to sail within a month of the summer Solstices 8:00 O’clock would be my preference.

It would be hard for me to acclimate to an 8:00 o’clock dinner, anytime around the earth’s Perihelion, especially given the fact that after October they revert back to standard time. Thus compounding the effect.

Given the fact that the earth regresses one day every 58 years, from it’s Perihelion
I would definitely feel obligated to amend that statement, in another 10,000 to 11,000 years. :D

[Lois R]

Hi:) I have always been a late eater on vacations...whether it is a cruise or land vacation.....
I don't care if I eat lunch closer to the 2:00 hour.....and dinner at 8 or 8:30 is fine.
And if I should eat closer to the 1:00 hour....and want to nosh on something later I can.....and still eat late.
And for me....(can't speak for anyone else;) ) it is just too early to be getting ready for dinner at 4:45-5:00......If it is nice outside...I am still sitting at one of the pool bars at that time:)

[ASM]

I know, Lois, and that's why I'm still uncertain about the 6:15 choice. We'll give it a try though.

[ASM]

Lynzchat, the Vista class ships have two-tiered dining rooms and 4 seatings. So early upper is 5:45, early lower is 6:15. The main seatings are 8:00 and 8:30.

[Lois R]

I have never been on HAL before....but....most of the cruiselines really try to accomodate requests.....why not try 6:15 on your first evening....if it is awful for you, immediately after dinner go see the Maitr'd. I know on Celebrity there are MANY MANY changes made after the first night.....
I am pretty sure they will try to help on HAL as well:)

[elmorejj]

We always had the late seating when there were only 2 choices. Like Peaches, HAL made it perfect for us as we prefer to sit upstairs...so, 8pm is our choice....jean :cool:

[ASM]

Good advice, Lois. Thanks! Actually, if I had a little more self-control, maybe I wouldn't be so stuffed after dinner!!!
Ann

[mhshapiro]

Both my wife and I prefer the earlier seatings. I tend to have trouble getting to sleep if I eat too late in the evening. So, I really appreciate having the early dining choices. I haven't had an opportunity to try the 5:45 seating yet, but that may be a bit too early to mesh with some shore excursions.

[Krazy Kruizers]

:)

Because of Husband's medication we have to eat early. And as we like to sit by the rail, that means we have to eat at 5:45.

:)

[bobpatj]

We've always chosen late seating, and on our last cruise were assigned the 8:30 time. Even though it was only 1/2 hour later than before, we're going to try 8:00, next cruise and think we'll like it better.

[gliles]

This is awful but we always request early because we know if we change our minds, we can always switch to late. When we took DD for her graduation, we did late and by the time we got done with dinner, she didn't have much time in the disco before they threw her out (she was 2 weeks from her 18th BD). This time, this DD, we are doing early although this DD is already 18 so it shouldn't be an issue but I want her to have some good evening time.

Also with early you can consider some of the late night food but who knows, we may board and change to late anyway!

[MandyGirl]

Upcoming Zuiderdam cruise: we will do late upstairs, mostly due to port times (leaving port at 4:00, 11:00P, 6:00, and 7:00). Chose upstairs on Zuiderdam due to postings on this message board. We'll just have to stay up a little later to give food time to digest well before going to bed.

We did late dining on two cruises, and one one cruise, it was usually 10:30 before walking out of the dining room (loved our tablemates - they were a hoot!). That was late to us though, so we thought we would try early dining on cruise #4 (Maasdam) - especially since it was around sunset time that time of year for that itinerary. It was fine, but we did feel a little rushed getting dressed for dinner after a day in port. Of course on our first cruise with Freestyle dining (NCL) time was never an issue - we could vary it each evening depending on what we were in the mood for that day.

[Roadwork]

We have done both, but we prefer a late seating on most cruises. The 8:00 is our choice.

[iluvcruzin]

I prefer late but my friend who I sail with often likes early so we rotate. 8pm is the max though. When it gets to 8:30-9pm I choose early.

I find it funny that there's so many like me who like to take a nap before dinner. On my last cruise in April we had early seating. I ended up coming back to the room a few nights and falling asleep early because I was tuckered out. I like that little 45 min cat-nap.

[Orcrone]

I would definitely feel obligated to amend that statement, in another 10,000 to 11,000 years. :DSo I guess what's said about the age of HAL passengers is true.:D

Sorry, couldn't let that one go.

[JohnR49er]

Have always had late seating. This will be the first time with the 4 dining choices. We are going to try the 8pm seating. Seemed like a happy medium.

[FlamingoT]

We like to eat at 8 - gives us plenty of time to relax, shower and dress after a shore excursion, but by 8:30 I'm too hungry and would need a late afternoon snack. Oh NO more calories!! Also gives us more time between lunch and dinner so we are hungrier and can eat more:D . We enjoy a late night stroll around the deck and like to stretch out the day as long as possible, helps to make the cruise seem longer!

[CLapple]

6:15 Lower best fits my body clock, although I could go with 5:45pm Upper.

The two late seatings are much too late for me!

Michael

What I would really like, is to go back to the two dining times. As we got our 6:15 entrees, they turned out the lights, because 5:45 were having their Baked Alaska. This 4 dining time system SUCKS!

[bepsf]

I always dine late here at home - usually at 8 or later. I don't like being rushed - whether its at home or on vacation.

Since I like sitting in the lower dining room next to the windows - its the 8.30 seating for me.

[jdrblue]

bobpatj - I agree. We like the late seating but 8:30 is too late. We were leaving the dining room at 10:15 to 10:30 and just making it to the late show.

We like to watch the sail away from the deck and also don't want to have to rush back to the ship and change for early dinner. We also like a cocktail before dinner. Well okay, maybe two. We were on the Westerdam in May. We thought we had the 8:00 seating but found we were moved to 8:30 when we got to our cabin.

[Joedog]

On our cruise on the Zui we had originally asked for the early lower but after the first night we changed to the main lower (8:30). We found this to be good for us for a couple of reasons, first there are shows that are only scheduled at 7 - 7:45PM (Not so Newlywed Game, etc) and if you have early seating you will miss them. Also, we found that we normally eat lunch later in the afternoon and 6:15 just came too soon following lunch and we just werent hungry.

[joeinwpb]

So I guess what's said about the age of HAL passengers is true.:D

Sorry, couldn't let that one go.

That was in response to my statement "I would definitely feel obligated to amend that statement, in another 10,000 to 11,000 years."

Good one Ocrone. It was begining to look like no one was going to catch that one.

Of course the full Aphelion/Perihelion cycle is 21,000 years. That would put it out of the range any of the HAL cruisers. :D

[Gypsy025]

I realize that the thread is "What time do you prefer", and I hate to burst everyone's bubble, but realistically the result (getting what you prefer) of this unscientific and small sample poll is unworkable on an Holland America vessel (with the possible exception of the Prinsendam).

As of this writing, 10.1% prefer the 5.45pm sitting, 25.7% the 6.15pm sitting, 49.5% 8.0pm and the rest (14.7%) on the 8.30pm sitting.

Let's assume that this ship is the 'ms. Gooddam' (with 2 o's) with a capacity (for simplistic sake) of 1,000 passengers, and on this sailing ,the ship is booked to capacity - 1,000 (not unusual these days). The 'ms Gooddam' has an upper dining room capacity of 250 and the lower 250 - in other words the ship can seat all 1,000 passengers. Am not too sure that the upper and lower dining rooms can seat the same amount of passengers, but I think they are close.

Using the ratios above, 101 passengers are requesting the 5.45pm sitting, 257 the 6.15pm sitting, 495 the 8.0pm and 147 the 8.30pm sitting. Obviously, not all passengers will get their desired dining times.

About 245 of the passengers (on our imaginary ship) who desire the 8.0pm sitting are going to be 'assigned' to either the 5.45pm or the 8.30pm dining times (most to the early, early sitting).

I realize that dining time assignments are on a first booked basis, but nevertheless, there will probably be a long line at maitre d's 'desk' on boarding day hoping to be reassigned. This was my experience on a recent cruise.

In my opinion, the 4 different dining times offered sounds very appealing, but in practice more passengers are unhappy with the result. If you are on a ship with a large group, which normally book well in advance, your chance of getting your desired dining time can be greatly reduced.

[elmorejj]

Kind of reminds me of when we were on our last cruise, a 21 day repo on the Zaandam. Met a couple one evening and I asked them which seating they had. He, a Baptist Minister was very upset, he wanted either of the 2 early seatings but had been assigned the 8.30pm seating. They ate every night of the cruise in the lido because they couldn`t get their seating changed. Just goes to show, that booking early counts for something.....jean :cool: :cool:

[blndee77]

We prefer to eat later so that we can go at a leisurely pace, but we chose the early dinner for this cruise as we now have our daughter with us and we assumed that children should be at one of the early seatings so as not to disturb those who prefer to eat without children at the later seatings.

[Slinkiecat]

We signed up for the 8:30 dinner because we get back at 5 or later from excursions and like to have plenty of time for dressing, especially on formal nights, and when photographers are at work before dinner. If we want to take in the show we eat in the buffet instead.

slinkie

[HeatherInFlorida]

I try to switch my body clock completely because I like to have more of the day in port or whatever else I am doing. At home we eat at 7:00, but out there on the sea I prefer the 8:00. Like Carol, I now make sure to get a little nap in the late afternoon. That way, I can stay up until midnight (at home 11:00 and lights are out;) )

For some reason, I feel by doing this I'm getting more "bang for my buck":D .

[kruzkeen]

I prefer late.

If I have had enough sun, I like to go to the movies in the late afternoon. Sometimes I nip up to the Lido for a slice of pizza if lunch has been a little lite.

[Nasmas]

I never wanted to believe that I was too old for late seating as I used to be the last one back to the ship when we were in port. I wanted to shower and dress and have a little cocktail before dinner.

Now I want to get back to the ship in time to take a nap before dinner so I can stay up past 9:00 PM.
I can relate to that. We've always booked late seating. Now I'm reconsidering. We have the 8:30 seating on the 09/04 Zuiderdam and I'm wondering how in the world hubby & I are going stay awake thru dessert. This is the first time we've cruised since the new times are in place. 8:15 used to be the latest and now that seems a lot earlier than 8:30. DH wanted the lower dining because the deck plans don't show a restroom near the upper level. I can't believe this is the case. Can anyone tell me if there is a public restroom near the upper level dining room?

[ron46936]

We would prefer to eat around 7, but I hate to pay extra to do so. We eat earlier at home but we don't have islands outside our front door.

[HeatherInFlorida]

........DH wanted the lower dining because the deck plans don't show a restroom near the upper level. I can't believe this is the case. Can anyone tell me if there is a public restroom near the upper level dining room?
I'm looking at the deck plan and I don't see any just outside. It appears you have walk to midships by the glass elevators. Or simply walk downstairs. Maybe someone else will know for sure and post. Good luck.

[Lovebirds]

We choose late seating, which has been 8pm on all of my cruises. We don't want to be hurried getting back from shore excursions. We normally don't eat that late at home, but it works best for us on cruises.

[Lisa63]

We normally eat at about 7:00 at home, but we go for the early seating onboard as we travel as a family. As we enjoy the evening shows, the 5:45 would likely work best for us. I'll let you all know in a couple of weeks, after we return from our first HAL cruise.

I am a very early riser on board, so by the time the show is over in the evening, I'm ready for some zzzzzzz....

[BJ + RM]

I choose the early dinner so later I could go to the chocolate buffet!! is there such a thing(1st timer)

[gizmo]

Hi BJ + RM,

It depends on which ship you are sailing on as to when the dessert extravaganza is held. Some ships have it at night around 11:00PM but the Zuiderdam has it in the afternoon. I am not sure about the times on the Oosterdam or Westerdam but it might also be in the afternoon. Someone on this board could verify it if you are sailing on one of these ships.

Have a great cruise.

[Smoky]

From this survey it would appear that about 65% of the respondants of the poll prefer the main seating, Then how come the early seating is usually the first to be waitlisted.

Is HAL fooling with us or is it the higher level of sophistication and experience of the Cruise Critic group that is skewing the results??

Hm!!

[trubey]

We prefer to eat later so that we can go at a leisurely pace, but we chose the early dinner for this cruise as we now have our daughter with us and we assumed that children should be at one of the early seatings so as not to disturb those who prefer to eat without children at the later seatings.
Bless you, bless you, may your house be safe from tigers!

Lane

[barefootguy]

We really prefer early dining as then you have the evening to enjoy, sunsets, uncrowded strolling of the decks & the early shows if we're so inclined. Your're also early to bed so sunrises can also be captured!

[bepsf]

Strangely, Amsterdam seated its lower dining room first, the upper dining room later:

5.45 - Early Lower
6.15 - Early Upper
7.45 - Main Lower
8.15 - Main Upper

Is this an overall change for the line? A fluke? An Alaska thing...? :confused:

Of course, as long as I have my table for 6 at the center windows in the lower dining room (# 128 on Amsterdam) for Main Seating, I'm a happy guy...:D

[CrazyforCruisin]

We prefer to eat later so that we can go at a leisurely pace, but we chose the early dinner for this cruise as we now have our daughter with us and we assumed that children should be at one of the early seatings so as not to disturb those who prefer to eat without children at the later seatings.What a wonderful considerate set of parents! Bless You.
Later Seating 8pm for us. We like cocktails and taking our time gettig ready and eating.

[kent4489]

Strangely, Amsterdam seated its lower dining room first, the upper dining room later:

5.45 - Early Lower
6.15 - Early Upper
7.45 - Main Lower
8.15 - Main Upper

Is this an overall change for the line? A fluke? An Alaska thing...? :confused:


Hmmm...they must have changed time again...just got off the Amsterdam yesterday. We had 8:30 Upper Level...I would prefer 8:00, but I like Upper Level.

[BonnieSeattle]

Of course, as long as I have my table for 6 at the center windows in the lower dining room (# 128 on Amsterdam) for Main Seating, I'm a happy guy...:D

Brian... you already know your table assignment? We're both first time cruisers, and have requested an upper level later seating, at a table for 8 people. I assumed we wouldn't know which table we're assigned to, until we boarded the ship (Volendam). A table with a nice view sounds wonderful, but I thought we'd have to leave that to chance.

We're planning to make Pinnacle reservations for the first night, but thanks to the wonderful advice here, will be stopping by to introduce ourselves to our tablemates!

Bonnie

[SueOverend]

Could not imagine having dinner at 6.15. We like to have at least 3 hours in our cabin to unwind before going to dinner. We always have a nap, sit on the balcony with a drink, read etc. If I couldn't get into a late seating dinner, I would not do the cruise.