Every night Traditional Dining

[cs4225]

We always choose anytime dining and many nights during the cruise we end up eating dinner at the buffet instead of the main dining room. I was wondering if you choose the traditional dining are you required to eat at the dining room every night?

[Coracii]

No, if you choose traditional you're not required to be there. However, if you're assigned to a table with additional people it's nice to notify the servers the day before if you're not planning on being there. That way they aren't waiting for your arrival before beginning dinner service for the others. We always get a 2-top and even then we let them know if we're not going to be there.

[Colo Cruiser]

No,you don't have to eat in the DR everynight but as stated let the head waiter now you won't be in. ;)

[paul929207]

You are not required to eat in the MDR when you have TD. It is polite to let your tablemates or waiter know if you will not be there. That way they do not have to wait for you.

[Morgsmom]

Indeed! Especially if you know a day in advance that you will be doing speciality dining the next night it's just common courtesy. Otherwise we have phoned the MDR or sent someone down to let the maitre d' know and they are always pleased that we took the minute to tell them.

[cruzinchris]

In light of the long waits that are being incurred in the anytime dining venues, notifying traditional waitstaff or head waiter of your absence is a courteous gesture because your table could be given to someone who is in line for AT dining.

 

DH and I were seated in the traditional dining room on the Dawn when we had celebrated our vow renewal and were in line for anytime dining. Since it was a special occasion, the head waiter didn't want us to wait to be seated and made arrangements for us to be escorted to a table for two in the other dining room :)

 

Bon Appetit!

Chris

[Pam in CA]

In light of the long waits that are being incurred in the anytime dining venues, notifying traditional waitstaff or head waiter of your absence is a courteous gesture because your table could be given to someone who is in line for AT dining.

Technically, the Maitre d' cannot use an assigned seat in the Traditional dining room unless the person has changed their dining preference. That is their seat no matter what. If they eat in the buffet and choose to have dessert in the dining room, they may do so. Sometimes, for a special occasion or if the lines for Antime are way too long (over an hour), they will use an unused table in the Traditional dining room. I've seen that happen several times, but it's not the norm.

[califgary]

We always choose anytime dining and many nights during the cruise we end up eating dinner at the buffet instead of the main dining room. I was wondering if you choose the traditional dining are you required to eat at the dining room every night?

 

You are free to dine whereever just make sure to tell your wait staff and any table mates if you know in advance so they dont wait for you....

One time we had some table mates call the maitre-D and he came over to tell us they wouldnt be coming to dinner that evening - talk about considerate!

[cb at sea]

Yes, inform the dining room IF YOU KNOW IN ADVANCE that you won't be there....otherwise, you are under no obligation to run around "informing" folks of your change of plans!

[shepp]

If you anticipate dining at the HC "many" nights, I'd think it only considerate for you to choose anytime, not traditional. First, because traditional spots, especially early, fill up, and it's thoughtful to cede those places to folks who'll us them consistently. Second because I (and many others) choose traditional, multi-person tables because we enjoy eating with tablemates every night. An occasional absemce may be unavoidable; arranging things so your tablemates sit staring at empty chairs night after night is less than polite.

[1 HappyCruiser]

If you anticipate dining at the HC "many" nights, I'd think it only considerate for you to choose anytime, not traditional. First, because traditional spots, especially early, fill up, and it's thoughtful to cede those places to folks who'll us them consistently. Second because I (and many others) choose traditional, multi-person tables because we enjoy eating with tablemates every night. An occasional absemce may be unavoidable; arranging things so your tablemates sit staring at empty chairs night after night is less than polite.

 

Who's to say how many nights can be missed and not be inconsiderate? They might eat at the buffet 2 nights, Specialty restaurants 2 nights, and eat only three nights in the TD room. It's their choice to decide without any obligation to anyone.

[Coracii]

If you anticipate dining at the HC "many" nights, I'd think it only considerate for you to choose anytime, not traditional. First, because traditional spots, especially early, fill up, and it's thoughtful to cede those places to folks who'll us them consistently. Second because I (and many others) choose traditional, multi-person tables because we enjoy eating with tablemates every night. An occasional absemce may be unavoidable; arranging things so your tablemates sit staring at empty chairs night after night is less than polite.

 

I have to disagree with you here, no matter how many nights they choose to eat at a location other than in the traditional MDR they have just as much right to choose traditional over anytime as someone that eats every meal there. There are no qualifiers to determine who should be allowed to choose traditional versus anytime other than when you book.

[shepp]

I have to disagree with you here, no matter how many nights they choose to eat at a location other than in the traditional MDR they have just as much right to choose traditional over anytime as someone that eats every meal there. There are no qualifiers to determine who should be allowed to choose traditional versus anytime other than when you book.

 

I never said people who expect to be absent for "many" (the OP's word, not mine) nights do not have the right to book traditional. That's the thing about manners vs. rules. Manners are voluntarily adhered to, so as to make things nicer all around. I simply said that it's thoughtful for pax not to grab traditional seating that other people could and would use. Thoughtful.

 

Isn't the whole point of choosing traditional dining to establish an ongoing relationship with waitstaff and tablemates who expect to see you there most nights? So why choose traditional if you have no intention of doing that? Just so you don't miss the Baked Alaska Parade? It would be different if trad seating, particularly early seating, did not fill up long before most cruises set sail...but it does. I'm betting that some of the folks on the dining waitlist would be only too happy to fill those often-empty seats.

 

I wasn't criticizing the OP here, and so I'm rather surprised at the vehement responses I got. I mean, chair hogs at the pool certainly have the intention to return to their seats, too...eventually.

[Shogun]

Hi There,

 

On our last cruise there were so many empty seats in the TD MDR, like more empty than full tables some tables of 8 were empty others had only 2 people, within days. I called over a supervisor and invited other couples who were sitting alone to join us which they did, they did this most nights, some times others would turn up at their tables so they went back and joined them.

 

yours Shogun

[Coracii]

I never said people who expect to be absent for "many" (the OP's word, not mine) nights do not have the right to book traditional. That's the thing about manners vs. rules. Manners are voluntarily adhered to, so as to make things nicer all around. I simply said that it's thoughtful for pax not to grab traditional seating that other people could and would use. Thoughtful.

 

If the OP (or anyone else) prefers traditional and only intends on using it for 3, 4, 5 or however many nights of the cruise there's absolutely nothing in that action that would be poor manners. On the nights that they do choose to eat in the MDR they choose to have assigned seating and a designated wait staff. That's their choice to make and those that are on the waitlist should have booked earlier to avoid that situation.

 

Isn't the whole point of choosing traditional dining to establish an ongoing relationship with waitstaff and tablemates who expect to see you there most nights? So why choose traditional if you have no intention of doing that? Just so you don't miss the Baked Alaska Parade? It would be different if trad seating, particularly early seating, did not fill up long before most cruises set sail...but it does. I'm betting that some of the folks on the dining waitlist would be only too happy to fill those often-empty seats.

 

For some people maybe it's related to tablemates or waitstaff, for others it may be just to have the knowledge that for the nights they wish to use it their table is available at the time that they've chosen in advance. If those on the waitlist needed traditional so badly they should have planned ahead better.

 

I wasn't criticizing the OP here, and so I'm rather surprised at the vehement responses I got. I mean, chair hogs at the pool certainly have the intention to return to their seats, too...eventually.

 

No relation between chair hogs (violating Princess policy) and people choosing traditional dining and eating in another venue any given number of nights (well within Princess policy). It's not a viable analogy.

You may have had no intention of criticizing the OP, but you made the inference that the decision of people to choose traditional if they weren't planting their butts in that seat was rude or inconsiderate. How many nights on a 7-night cruise would you allow people to eat elsewhere without considering it poor manners? Isn't that what the buffet and specialty restaurants exist on the ship for?

[Astro Flyer]

UH, OH...one of those topics filled with "landmines" with strong feelings on both sides that always seems to end up in a heated debate when the "mines" blow. :(

 

Just trying to lighten up the tone...something I learned to do months ago. I previously stepped on this "mine" & know that sometimes there's an agreement but other times it is confrontational with no agreement.

 

C'est la vie...hope all of you have a great cruise...I'm staying out of the specifics on this tread! :)

[Diana68]

I hope that I don't step on any mines here, but I probably will. I was confused when I read a review last week.

 

I have cruised many times, but always with either freestyle or traditional dining. I am a Princess newbee, sailing in January. In the review, the passenger had early traditional seating, but when they missed their seating time on a few port days, they just went to the anytime line??? I am really surprised that this was allowed, and thought that you picked one or the other? Doesn't your ship card specify your dining assignment? Do they not look at your card while seating? NCL swipes your card as you enter the dining room...this helps them keep track of how full the dining rooms are I think.

 

I'm going to enjoy my late seating on my sailing, but am just wondering how anytime can work if the traditional seating are just getting in line too... :confused:

[RickEk]

I hope that I don't step on any mines here, but I probably will. I was confused when I read a review last week.

 

I have cruised many times, but always with either freestyle or traditional dining. I am a Princess newbee, sailing in January. In the review, the passenger had early traditional seating, but when they missed their seating time on a few port days, they just went to the anytime line??? I am really surprised that this was allowed, and thought that you picked one or the other? Doesn't your ship card specify your dining assignment? Do they not look at your card while seating? NCL swipes your card as you enter the dining room...this helps them keep track of how full the dining rooms are I think.

 

I'm going to enjoy my late seating on my sailing, but am just wondering how anytime can work if the traditional seating are just getting in line too... :confused:

 

This appears to depend on the maitre'd on whether they enforce the Anytime dining rules. I've been told that, in Alaska, these rules are relaxed because the ships stay in port longer and many people miss dinner because they are on excursions.

 

And to just chime in, we've sat at a table of eight in traditional and there were 4 empty seats the entire voyage. Thankfully we enjoyed the company of the other couple who we sat with... :)

[Pam in CA]

I hope that I don't step on any mines here, but I probably will. I was confused when I read a review last week.

 

I have cruised many times, but always with either freestyle or traditional dining. I am a Princess newbee, sailing in January. In the review, the passenger had early traditional seating, but when they missed their seating time on a few port days, they just went to the anytime line??? I am really surprised that this was allowed, and thought that you picked one or the other? Doesn't your ship card specify your dining assignment? Do they not look at your card while seating? NCL swipes your card as you enter the dining room...this helps them keep track of how full the dining rooms are I think.

 

I'm going to enjoy my late seating on my sailing, but am just wondering how anytime can work if the traditional seating are just getting in line too... :confused:

You can be tip-toeing through the tulips and still land on a mine. :)

 

The reality is that if you have early Tradtional dining and miss your seating, you may go to the Anytime dining room and you will be seated. You can have late Traditional dining and if you feel like eating earlier, go to the Anytime dining room instead. I agree that it's not the right thing to do but there you are. And yes, it has a big impact on Anytime dining, not just on port days but pretty much all the time. Instead of planning one's day accordingly, people want to be free to do what they want regardless of the impact it has on others. This is happening more and more, unfortunately, and the Princess Maitre d's allow it because they're afraid of offending anyone. Where is Super Nanny when you need her? :)

[bozemanman]

OK..so my personal feeling is....traditional dining is the best. You get familiar with the staff, have wonderful service, don't have to worry about a wait to be seated, and eat the best food. We always spend a night or two at a different venue on a 7 day cruise. that might be a night in a specialty restaurant, might be a late excursion and therefor the buffet, might mean a dinner in port.

 

We PERSONALLY believe more than 2 planned nights out of trad dining (on a 7 day) means WE would opt for anytime dining instead. Plans can change on a cruise...but if we wanted to do the extras on so many multiple nights going into it...we would do anytime dining.

 

That all said we much prefer traditional dining....clear as mud???:D

[Diana68]

This appears to depend on the maitre'd on whether they enforce the Anytime dining rules. I've been told that, in Alaska, these rules are relaxed because the ships stay in port longer and many people miss dinner because they are on excursions.

 

And to just chime in, we've sat at a table of eight in traditional and there were 4 empty seats the entire voyage. Thankfully we enjoyed the company of the other couple who we sat with... :)

Thank you! I've always enjoyed the flexability of freestyle when we are on those ships, but also love traditional dining when it's availible, so I'm pretty easy to please. :)

We've always had wonderful dining companions, but I can't imagine being at a half empty table all sailing???

You can be tip-toeing through the tulips and still land on a mine. :)

Love this!

 

Where is Super Nanny when you need her? :)

:D

[shepp]

[/color]

You may have had no intention of criticizing the OP, but you made the inference that the decision of people to choose traditional if they weren't planting their butts in that seat was rude or inconsiderate.

 

No relation between chair hogs (violating Princess policy) and people choosing traditional dining and eating in another venue any given number of nights (well within Princess policy). It's not a viable analogy.

 

Well, I don't want to worry this to death, but...

 

Let's go back to rules vs. manners. You're telling me that if it weren't against Princess' rules, it would be thoroughly fine to monopolize a usually scarce resource (poolside seating) by dropping your book on a lounger, going off for lunch and a trivia game, and coming back a few hours later, likely depriving someone else of that chair in the meantime? Really?

 

And the viable difference between that and depriving someone else of a (usually scarce) seat at early traditional - though one intends from the outset not to be there on "many" nights - is what, exactly?

 

Whenever there arises the topic of traditional diners going to anytime instead, thereby making those who've either chosen anytime or been forced into it wait longer, I'd say that most people have agreed that - though unexpected stuff certainly happens - if you can't make your traditional seating, you should choose the buffet or an alternative venue, rather than delaying others' dinner for the sake of your own convenience. (As Pam says, whether you can get away with it or not, "it's not the right thing to do.") To me, same difference. I'm just surprised that people are getting so vehement about the righteousness of "I got here first, so it's mine whether I'm going to use it or not." Whatever. Life's too short, and I'm done with the topic.

 

Oh, and you meant "implication," not "inference." Though, as we all know, it's considered rude to correct someone's online grammar. ;)

[iluvcruzin]

Gesh.. the dining room monitors are out. I think the OP is wondering if they have the flexibiltiy to go to the buffet on occasion if they book Traditional. The answer is yes.

 

The responses of notification out of courtesy is fine. All the other stuff about how it works between traditional and anytime - This can vary depending on the sailing. I've been on cruises where Anytime was filled up and people were forced into Traditional. The opposite has happened too. So the throught of "usually scarce" Traditional is purely an opinion based on one's experience and not necessarly representative of the norm.

[shepp]

So the throught of "usually scarce" Traditional is purely an opinion based on one's experience and not necessarly representative of the norm.

 

Well - not to argue further, just to clarify - my view of early traditional dining filling up was based not on my experience, as I usually ask for late trad early in the game. It was based on a number of threads on this very website, often of the "I'm number 43 on the traditional dining waitlist; what are my chances?" variety. But I could easily be wrong.

[Coracii]

Oh, and you meant "implication," not "inference." Though, as we all know, it's considered rude to correct someone's online grammar. ;)

 

No, I meant inference. Yes, implication would have worked in the sentence as well (as would about a dozen other words). They're what's called synonyms. If you're going to correct someone, at least be correct when you make the attempt. From Dictionary.com:

 

Inference - the process of arriving at some conclusion that, though it is not logically derivable from the assumed premise, possesses some degree of probability relative to the premise.

 

Implication - something implied or suggested as naturally to be inferred or understood.