Not do dining room?

[bonnie&clydecruzers]

Duplicate post...

[bonnie&clydecruzers]

Well for our first cruise we didn't go to the MDR not once. We actually enjoyed it. We could hit up the buffet at any time, not at a precise time. The buffet was actually pretty empty so we found a nice corner seat and had a very enjoyable romantic dinner practically all alone. Also taking our time eating we were out of there in 30 min. I dont like how the MDR draws things out to 1 1/2 - 2 hrs. Theres so many things to do around the ship, I don't like to be stuck at a dinner table for that long on vacation. But ultimately it would be up to you if you actually feel like your missing something by not going to the MDR. We didn't mind it one bit and actually really liked it.

[woodey]

This will only be our second cruise and first for the kids ages 10 & 12. We are cruising on the Fascination in 10 days, I am thinking of not doing the dining room and maybe just do the buffet every night. I am thinking it may be easier with the kids and the hubby is not too excited about getting dressed up every evening. Have you ever done this? Will we miss out?

How can you go on a cruise and not do the dining room....I mean you can but why would you not ...for me getting (well not dressed up) but dressed up ( not talking about formal night) and having a formal dinner is part of the reason why i cruise....I enjoy the nice food and the great company as well as meeting new people...and the Dinning experience is part of that...My Cruise next month i will not be doing Elegant night because we don't want to pack formal wear...but we will be cruise casual every other night.....I also think it will help your family Socialise and meet People on the Ship with you

[PreciousCruiser]

I absolutely love the dining room and can't wait to eat there (probably every night-"My Time Dining") next month. I'm sure it will work out fine for both you and your kids.

 

Happy Cruising.............

[jolyroger]

Our favorite part of our cruises have always been dinner in the dining room. My daughters have always loved it too. Treated like royalty, something I don't get anywhere else. It's the best.

 

Yeah my hubby is'nt to fond of the dressing up but he does it anyway , we would not want to miss out on the MDR! Andas far as the kids,

Our little princesses (Ages 6 and 9) love it too!!! Only bad thing is when they get home they expect the same thing!!! LOL:)

[Skywench]

Personally, I've done several cruises where we never ate in the MDR. I only go now because the people I cruise with want to. I don't cruise for the dining experience anyway and I don't like to be on a schedule, I don't care to sit at a large table with strangers and I don't care about being waited on. The buffet is fine with me. On my next cruise we chose anytime dining and I think that souds like it will suit us perfectly, although I don't know if we'll do the MDR each night.

[beach410]

My kids really enjoy the MDR experience, getting to order off the adults menu is a plus, my youngest eats steak everynight. I could not cruise without dining in the MDR for dinner at least. I do the breakfast and lunch at the buffet, after that, I want to be served, I wait all year to be waited on hand and foot. Also, our waiters have always been wonderful to our children, quite the entertainers, I wouldnt want my kids to miss out on that experience either.

 

But do what your up to. Whats nice is they have relaxed the dress code.

[onthehighseas606]

We always go to the MDR, but on this next cruise, I think we'll just go to the buffet and wear whatever we want--more casual. Less stuff to pack, and more choices of food. I won't miss interacting with other people at the dinner table.

[Nunu]

If you're going to the dining room for dinner dress like you would if you were going to a nice steakhouse, not Denny's. PLEASE.

 

I love it when Peter Luger's does the dancing waiters.

[falconfan]

We use dinner in the MDR as a way to get together with our son, and the rest of those in our group, and catch up on what happened throughout the day. Our son would spend most of his time at Circle C and we would not really see him until dinner and when turning in at night. It really worked out well since the other members of our group could also catch us up on what exciting adventures they had throughout the day.

 

All-in-all I avoid the buffet at all costs. I try to eat all three meals in the MDR. I enjoy the service, the peach and the quality of the food. I can actually carry on a conversation with my wife, and whomever else happens to be dining with us, in peach and quiet. Don't have to wander around looking for a table with a tray in my hands.

[Nunu]

We use dinner in the MDR as a way to get together with our son, and the rest of those in our group, and catch up on what happened throughout the day. Our son would spend most of his time at Circle C and we would not really see him until dinner and when turning in at night. It really worked out well since the other members of our group could also catch us up on what exciting adventures they had throughout the day.

 

All-in-all I avoid the buffet at all costs. I try to eat all three meals in the MDR. I enjoy the service, the peach and the quality of the food. I can actually carry on a conversation with my wife, and whomever else happens to be dining with us, in peach and quiet. Don't have to wander around looking for a table with a tray in my hands.

 

You georgia dudes really love that peach word huh? :p

[falconfan]

We use dinner in the MDR as a way to get together with our son, and the rest of those in our group, and catch up on what happened throughout the day. Our son would spend most of his time at Circle C and we would not really see him until dinner and when turning in at night. It really worked out well since the other members of our group could also catch us up on what exciting adventures they had throughout the day.

 

All-in-all I avoid the buffet at all costs. I try to eat all three meals in the MDR. I enjoy the service, the peace, and the quality of the food. I can actually carry on a conversation with my wife, and whomever else happens to be dining with us, in peace and quiet. Don't have to wander around looking for a table with a tray in my hands like I would in the buffet.

[VentureForth]

Do any of y'all eat in the MDR for Breakfast and Lunch every day, too (even on shore days)?

[sailawayandplay]

You will be eating at the buffet for breakfast and lunch most days... go to the dinning room for dinner. the service is great and you have paid to have a nice meal. After 7 days on the ship you will be so tired of the buffet food. I honestly think that your children will enjoy going to a nice restaurant for dinner. It is part of the experience! Let us know what you think when you get back from your cruise!

[Travel*Diva]

I have small children 6 and 7 and they love dining in the DR and so do we. I find the MD really do treat children so nice and we feel so comfortable in the DR.

 

I would say try it out and go with the flow.

[MargaritaPlease]

We like the MDR but give our kids the option to eat on their own at the buffet on all but the first formal night. (We like to all get dressed up for pictures.) They usually split the remaining nights about half and half so we end up with a few nights to just the two of us and everyone stays happy!

[jerseyjjs]

I agree with you. We just cruised in December on RCI and we ate in the buffet every night. Never made it to the dining room at all.

 

Way too drawn out and then right before dessert the singing waiters and the dancing on tables. It was fun the first few times but now it's old hat.

 

Bill

 

 

 

I also agree. My g/f and I both think the MDR is "ok". We don't cruise with the MDR as the focal point of our vacation. With Traditional dining, there's a "schedule" which one has to adhere to. You could be having the time of your life and cut it short because of "whoops, we have to go get ready for dinner!!" I DO like the anytime dining much more, but even then, I can get pretty much the same menu at the buffet without having to "prepare" myself. But, all that is just my personal take on the MDR. If it's your thing, then have fun. :)

[LemurCat]

I love it when Peter Luger's does the dancing waiters.

 

+5 internets

[bamaphotopro]

This will only be our second cruise and first for the kids ages 10 & 12. We are cruising on the Fascination in 10 days, I am thinking of not doing the dining room and maybe just do the buffet every night. I am thinking it may be easier with the kids and the hubby is not too excited about getting dressed up every evening. Have you ever done this? Will we miss out?

 

 

Okay, just my $.02 ... the dining room is a nice experience, but I don't feel compelled to do it. The food on the Freedom during our February cruise was just okay ... there was nothing on the menu that had the WOW factor. The service was, again, adequate ... nothing exceptional.

 

But ... as a relatively young family, I'd say do it. Make some memories in the dining room. You don't have to do it every night ... but a nice, sit down meal would be a change of pace, right? Maybe even request a table for 4 instead of having tablemates. Food for thought ...

[LemurCat]

I also agree. My g/f and I both think the MDR is "ok". We don't cruise with the MDR as the focal point of our vacation.

 

Couldn't agree more. It's "okay" at best. The food is just a cut above TGIMcFunsters.

[buckirj1]

It usually works out to half in the dining room and half at the buffet. Both are great. There are a lot of advantages to eating in the buffet: you can wear whatever you like, eat at your own pace, you're at your own table by yourselves, the lines are short but the place isn't deserted. And the food's great! Sometimes they'll have some of what's being served in main dining, along with other foods. What I like to do is mosey to the DR at some point during the day to check out the menu, and then mosey up to the buffet to see see what they're having (there are menus posted at each venue) and base my decision partly on that. And sometimes you just want pizza and beer for supper!

 

Don't want to give away all my secrets, but what often works for me is eating breakfast and lunch in th e MDR (mostly to avoid crowds) and dinner in the buffet (mostly to avoid crowds).

 

Oh, before I forget...it's courteous to inform your DR tablemates and/or wait staff not to hold dinner for you if you're late becasue it means you're not coming to dinner

[jerseyjjs]

I love it when Peter Luger's does the dancing waiters.

 

 

 

LOL Though my dinner was ruined when my blue team lost to the red team.

[WayTooCool]

The warm chocolate melting cake is worth any effort!!!

[GlendaleCruiser]

I wouldn't miss dinner in the MDR. I love the soups, desserts, and many of my faves which are not going to be at the buffet. Also, I hear stories on here of people waiting for a table at anytime dining and if I want to do that I will go to Claim Jumper on a Saturday night. I love having my place waiting for me and I love to be waited on. I love that my espresso always comes with dessert and I never have to ask after the first night.

[Sugar67]

In my opinion, taking the kids to the Main Dining Room would be a wonderful opportunity for them to "expand their culinary tastes". They'd be able to "try" so many things that they might not have had before...and they don't have to finish them if they don't like them. At least, try it a few times. : )

 

I have to agree with Amberkin here. Our 18 year old daughter tried so many new things in the MDR. She certainly isn't a picky eater anymore.