Suggestion re: anytime dinning

[jerseagal]

Suggestion: Offer shared tables at anytime dinning similar to breakfast open seating. For many cruisers the mealtime conversation is as fulfilling as the food.

Just sailed the Victory 11/29-12/6 solo. Was assigned anytime dinning although late dinning was requested. The first day I stood on line for a full hour to speak with the very harried maitre d. My question was since I was sailing solo would I be seated at an open table similar to breakfast open seating choice? I was told no. If it is a party of 2 they are seated at a table for 2 4 a table for 4 6 a table for 6 and so on. I would be seated at a table for 1. How sad that felt. I told him. I was offered a table with a couple. I reluctantly accepted that late seating assignment. As the cruise progressed a met a mother and daughter switched back to anytime and dined with them a few nights. I ate at the buffet a night or two sitting next to and opening up conversations then inviting myself to sit others. This worked well I met some interesting people and had delightful conversations about the days activities and such.
On Saturday evening when seated at the anytime dinning at a table for one the waiter sympathetically asked if I was dining alone? I replied yes, Oooh,…,he said, I will have to keep you company. He went out of his way to smile or nod as he rushed from table to table. The anytime dinning is a much faster paced situation then large scheduled dinning as food for each table is ordered comes out individually. Perfect for some diners but not all.

Is there anyone else who has had anytime dinning, solo or not, that feels that open seating would be a nice choice?

[SoFetch]

I am surprised that they told you that...

We had anytime dining on the Spirit in July. We were a party of 2. Although we opted to sit by ourselves every night, every night we were asked if we wanted to sit by ourselves or if we wanted to share with another couple. In fact, a couple times our choice was to either wait for a table for two, or to be seated right away and sit with another couple.

We were across from a row of 4-tops (we were pretty much in the same area every night) and we did see lots of parties of 2 sitting together at a table for four.

[uppitycats]

I've not done anytime dining on Carnival ..yet..but have done it on another line. The hostess always asked my husband and I if we wanted to "share a table" before seating us. Sometimes we did, often we didn't, but we always had the choice. I'd think that would be an easy way to resolve this issue.

[zellers]

Same here - We always were asked if we would like to join another table which we did, and we never sat with the same people twice and on a 14 day cruise! We made a lot of friends this way! I thoroughly enjoyed anytime dining!

[jerseagal]

Strange isn't it? Always asked if I want to share a table at breakfast but never asked at dinner. I was told it was not a dinner option. Do you think it is particular to the Victory?

[cascole]

On Spirit & on Elation we have been asked if we would like to dine alone or with others. On Elation, it was just my son & I one evening so they did sit a solo with us. We had a great conversation & a nice meal. Not sure why they aren't doing this on the Victory.

[jerseagal]

I agree It is sad that they don't offer shared tables at the main dining room anytime dining on the Victory even when it has been requested.

[cb at sea]

Most folks who choose the anytime option WANT to be alone....if you want to have tablemates, the traditional dining option is the one to choose!

[Birdiegirl]

Originally Posted by cb at sea

Most folks who choose the anytime option WANT to be alone....if you want to have tablemates, the traditional dining option is the one to choose!

I agree with you!

[shipty2]

Originally Posted by cb at sea

Most folks who choose the anytime option WANT to be alone....if you want to have tablemates, the traditional dining option is the one to choose!

I have to agree. We will be trying out anytime dining on our next cruise this month so that we will not have to sit with others. We always request a table with only our traveling companions anyway but sometimes we have to line up and speak to the Maitre d' to have it changed.


For a solo cruiser I imagine it would be difficult to be matched at anytime to other solos. They would have to show up at the same time as you.

[uppitycats]

Originally Posted by cb at sea

Most folks who choose the anytime option WANT to be alone....if you want to have tablemates, the traditional dining option is the one to choose!

For us, it's not so much that we "WANT to be alone", but more, we WANT to choose when we eat, and with whom we eat! We'll often find folks on the cruise that we like -- and who like us -- and we'll spend part of the day together, but then when it comes to dinner we'd have to break up (if it was a "traditional dining" situation). With the anytime dining option, we can -- and often do -- go to dinner together. Makes for a much more enjoyable meal.

[cascole]

Originally Posted by cb at sea

Most folks who choose the anytime option WANT to be alone....if you want to have tablemates, the traditional dining option is the one to choose!

I disagree... I don't choose the anytime option because I don't want to eat with others. I choose anytime because I have port activities or other factors (ie camp activities etc...) that make traditional dining times difficult. I enjoy the flexibility.

[jerseagal]

I had requested the traditonal late seating but was given anytime dinning because I was solo and the M D said he could not seat me with groups. I understand he was harried The lineup to speak with him was extremely long and the wait was an hour.

[Mokey]

My sister and I returned from a cruise on the Legend where we had chosen the anytime dining option. It was passed off as "dine when you want with whom you want." We felt that this would be the best for us since we wanted to just chat and enjoya meal with each other rather than socializing with others this cruise. They seated us with wherever they had an opening just like the open seating at lunch and breakfast. We asked to wait for a table for two and were told no. Fortunately they had a table 4-tops for us at the late searing and we took it.

[gargoyle999]

Originally Posted by Mokey

They seated us with wherever they had an opening just like the open seating at lunch and breakfast. We asked to wait for a table for two and were told no. Fortunately they had a table 4-tops for us at the late searing and we took it.

DW and I had Your Time and ate breakfast in the MDR a couple times and lunch once last week on the Spirit. Asked for and was given a table for two every time! Glad I don't have any plans to sail on the Legend!