Carnival Dinner option - so much information - how to navigate!

We will be sailing on Carnival Freedom soon. I am trying to read up and there is so much information that you can say that I am reading all but retaining very little!

I noticed someone mentioning that we have to choose our own dinner time. I am assuming this is for the main dining restaurant. When do we do that? Once we are on board or before we sail? Can we choose our time or do we have to agree with what they assign to us? Is there any suggestion that you might have for a family of four? We are easygoing people and just want to relax and have a good time.

You chose what type of dining you wanted when you booked. Early seating, late seating, or your time dining. Which did you choose when you booked?

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Yes, go back at look at your booking to see what dining choice you made. If you don't like the choice you made, you might be able to change it if the time/type you want is still available. If the time/type of dining you want (early seating, late seating or anytime dining) is no longer available, you can go see the Maitre D' on the afternoon of the day you board and he will try to get you what you want. Check the Fun Times when you get to your cabin to see when the Maitre D' will be available in the Dining Room for changes.

Personally, we find a fixed dining time is more relaxing than anytime dining. You know exactly when you will be seated and your dining staff is ready and waiting for you. Unlike with Anytime Dining, you don't have to wait around for a table to become available. With some ships, the wait is minimal with ATD, but we had some very long waits (30 - 45 min) with ATD on our Carnival cruise in August.

The way the OP is talking he has not booked a cruise yet. One of the first things the TA or CCL rep will talk about is your dinner seating. It has been clearly stated on every cruise I have sailed. Since the inception of YTD, for us, it's the only way to go.

My bad - I didn't mention that I was not aware that the cruise was booked - its a surprise from my husband! He is out of the country now while I am trying to get in touch with you all and figure out what choices I have. Now that you mentioned, I will be sure to ask him what time he chose!

I am in a semi-panic mode because I have so much to plan with so little time :)

Panic less, enjoy more. Either will be fine. We prefer early seating but had few complaints with anytime dining.

There is something really special about a first cruise. Hope you will become addicted first and refine to your own taste later.

If he selected Early or Late seating, when you board the ship your Sign & Sail card will say where you are seated.

If he selected Any Time Dining, you need to go put your name on the list every day and will be called when table is available. On Vista last summer, we tried ATD the first night and didn't enjoy it. You had to go to a certain little desk to get your name put on the list, they gave you a little buzzer disc that would go off when a table was free...we had to wait 35 minutes for the buzzer to go off...friends of ours waited 2 hours...

From then on we reverted to our usual practice of Late Seating.

:)

If he chose a fixed dining time, you just show up at that time everyday. Same table, same waitstaff. Generally makes for good service and a pleasant experience.

If he chose any time dining, you can show up for dinner when you please, but it's like a restaurant on land. First come, first served.

If you choose not to eat in the main dining room, you can also eat at the Lido buffet or one of the free dining options (like pizza or room service, which are available 24 hours a day). The daily newsletter that comes to your room will include all the dining venues and hours.

The steakhouse is an extra charge but many, myself included, feel it is well worth it. You should make reservations if you'd like to dine there.

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You used the word "relax" so I would think you would enjoy ATD. You can get ready for dinner when you want and not feel rushed by a fixed dining time.

We used to always do early dining, but have started using anytime dining. I think we had about a 20 minute wait on a formal night for a party of 6 on Magic. The rest of the times, we have never waited for more than 5 minutes, if that. We tend to eat anywhere between 5:30 and 7pm. Even if you have anytime dining, you can request the same waitstaff every night. That could cause an increased wait time, but if you really like your waitstaff, it may be worth it.

Welcome new cruiser! Main dining room dining every night is one our most enjoyable experiences. We know when to show up, we get to know and enjoy our waitstaff, and have a very good meal amongst friendly folks every night. As others have said, initial dining time selection is done when one books and can be changed online or by calling Carnival with your reservation number. Enjoy your first cruise.

On Vista last summer, we tried ATD the first night and didn't enjoy it. You had to go to a certain little desk to get your name put on the list, they gave you a little buzzer disc that would go off when a table was free...we had to wait 35 minutes for the buzzer to go off...friends of ours waited 2 hours...

 

From then on we reverted to our usual practice of Late Seating.

 

:)

Don't know if we've been lucky or you were unlucky, but every one of our 25 sailing evenings we have dined YTD in the MDR and we've never had to wait more than ten minutes in a fast moving line. Never seen a little buzzer disc on ship, nor have we heard of a certain little desk.

Yes, we love YTD.

We enjoy fixed seating....we like tablemates...and we don't mind having a set time to eat....takes all the guesswork out of it!

Just my 2 cents. I detest late dinner, and if they assign you to it, it's almost impossible to change. They "try" to give you what you ask for, but that's not always possible. So, for us, anytime dining is GREAT! We just wonder down to the dining room any time we want, check in, and are seated withing seconds. That way, if we're in a port with a late departure, we stay ashore and eat later. Some enjoy being served by the same waiters each nite. I've NEVER had a bad waiter so it really makes no difference to me.

Don't know if we've been lucky or you were unlucky, but every one of our 25 sailing evenings we have dined YTD in the MDR and we've never had to wait more than ten minutes in a fast moving line. Never seen a little buzzer disc on ship, nor have we heard of a certain little desk.

 

Yes, we love YTD.

The sign up desk is on the Vista.

Just my 2 cents. I detest late dinner, and if they assign you to it, it's almost impossible to change. They "try" to give you what you ask for, but that's not always possible. So, for us, anytime dining is GREAT! We just wonder down to the dining room any time we want, check in, and are seated withing seconds. That way, if we're in a port with a late departure, we stay ashore and eat later. Some enjoy being served by the same waiters each nite. I've NEVER had a bad waiter so it really makes no difference to me.

Just my 2 cents, but I always choose late dining. I can stay as long as I want on excursions, grab a snack at the taste bar, relax after a sea day, or visit the casino without having to rush to 6 PM or 6:15 dinner.

There are usually very few youngsters in late dining, and one does not have to clear out the room while the next session is waiting to come in.

Whatever floats YOUR boat is your best dining option, and don't forget to try the Steakhouse if your ship has one.

Thank You so much for all the feedback! I found out that we will be sitting for the late dinner. Looking forward to it! Appreciate all the responses - I am with you guys, just want to relax and have fun and looking forward to some good time!

We have always done YTD and rarely have had to wait whether we had 2 people or 10 people and when we did it was at most 10 minutes.

The Sunshine was the exception. She also has a little desk where you have to wait in line on one deck, get a buzzer and then hang out until your buzzer goes off. Then walk down to the deck below to access the dining room and be seated. Fortunately the waiting area is the lounge next to the Taste Bar and Alchemy Bar and there are lots of alternative dining options on the Sunshine for dinner. However, my DH and I did not like the set up and tended to skip the MDR for nights other than elegant night.