Anytime dining vs Specific Seating Time

[kellyrnh]

I've only cruised once before on RCCL (over 5 years ago) and there was no choice on the seatings as far as an anytime choice. I had heard mixed reviews on other cruiselines about it, so my group (2 couples in our mid 30's) picked the late seating. I am now wondering what is really better? Opinions? Thanks!!!

[okgirl]

My opinion is that YTD is the better option for me (mid 50's) and the 4 of you as well. At your age I'm sure that you will be doing a lot of activities and shore excursions making early dining inconvenient and late dining can cut into the evening nightclub scene.

 

But that's just my opinion.

 

You can go see the Maitre'D on embarkation day to see if it's possible to switch to one of the other dining times.

[79BlueSC]

I went in July with a friend of mine and we did YTD. We did not enjoy it as much because we often felt as if we were forgotten about and didn't get the service in the MDR that I remember when I cruised in the past.

 

This Feb I am going with my girlfriend and we decided to go with late seating this time hopping that it is better. We are 23 and I wouldn't worry about it cutting into too much of the late activities as I am up till 2 or 3am everyday and all shows have early and late shows and are geared around the different seating times.

[Froufie]

I've only cruised once before on RCCL (over 5 years ago) and there was no choice on the seatings as far as an anytime choice. I had heard mixed reviews on other cruiselines about it, so my group (2 couples in our mid 30's) picked the late seating. I am now wondering what is really better? Opinions? Thanks!!!

 

You might want to check out this similar thread: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1545154

[T. Advisor King]

I think there are two factors. One, which has already been mentioned, is what your other plans are. Will shore excursions cut into the early seating time and will late seating cut into your evening plans?

 

The other issue is what priority you give to the "main dining room" experience. I could take it or leave it. I don't care about having the same waiter every day. I don't care if the assistant remembers that last time I picked the French roll from the basket of buns. I don't care about sitting at the same table and with the same tablemates each night (well, on the last point our family always gets a table for four).

 

If I'm on a regular vacation for a week, the number of times I'd go to dinner at a place as fancy and formal as the MDR is probably 1 or zero. I don't mind a nice meal every once in a while, but burning 90 minutes of precious vacation time on dinner seven times in a week is just a waste as far as I'm concerned.

 

As a result, I would prefer YTD over fixed seating. I can go when I'm hungry, get in and get out. I'd probably opt right out of the MDR if I could get a corresponding discount on the fare.

[cdamion]

I highly prefer fixed dining. Part of my cruise experience is the MDR - the nice food, the great service by waiters that get to know you, and above all meeting interesting table mates that you get to know over the course of the cruise.

 

I pick early or late based upon the particular sailing and schedule.

 

I have only tried anytime dining once and did not like it. I don't want to wonder if there is going to be a wait - I want to know my table is there waiting for me.

 

Also, in my opinion the food seemed fresher and hot for traditional dining, but that may have just been my attitude about anytime dining.

[cdamion]

 

If I'm on a regular vacation for a week, the number of times I'd go to dinner at a place as fancy and formal as the MDR is probably 1 or zero. I don't mind a nice meal every once in a while, but burning 90 minutes of precious vacation time on dinner seven times in a week is just a waste as far as I'm concerned.

 

 

This point got me thinking because when I cruise, the MDR is an integral part of the cruise. You will not find me eat at any other venue for dinner.

 

On the other hand, when I go land based, I tend not to eat in a place as nice as the MDR. Like you, maybe once per trip, but probably not at all. We like to find local hole-in-the-wall places to eat - and I certainly don't bring clothes to dress up in on land based trips.

 

Different expectations for different types of trips I suppose.

[kellyrnh]

Thanks for the replies! We are mid 30's and won't be afraid to stay up late, so we figured the late dining would work for us. We want to explore the islands, so I'm sure we'll be on the island fairly late, and would want time to get ready for the night. I think my group is going to enjoy the MDR, we don't do the formal thing often and are looking forward to it. :)

[ray98]

YTD was a blessing for us. We don't always end up on same schedule throughout the cruise depending on our activities. Sometimes a late breakfast followed by a late lunch was a nightmare with an early dinner. OTOH go early on both and you are starving with the late seating. YTD fixed all that.

[T. Advisor King]

This point got me thinking because when I cruise, the MDR is an integral part of the cruise. You will not find me eat at any other venue for dinner.

 

On the other hand, when I go land based, I tend not to eat in a place as nice as the MDR. Like you, maybe once per trip, but probably not at all. We like to find local hole-in-the-wall places to eat - and I certainly don't bring clothes to dress up in on land based trips.

 

Different expectations for different types of trips I suppose.

 

And I think this difference is often what leads to the conflicts between the attitudes of those who prefer more dressy attire and those who prefer more casual attire. There are those who see the whole MDR thing, including "elegant night" as part of the cruise experience, even though they wouldn't likely do the same type of thing on a regular vacation. And there are those who look forward to the fact that vacation means not having to dress up. They won't choose to dress up and eat fancy on a regular vacation so why feel forced to do it on a cruise vacation.

 

Neither of those is right or wrong. It's just a different preference and perspective.

[amillard222]

I've only cruised once before on RCCL (over 5 years ago) and there was no choice on the seatings as far as an anytime choice. I had heard mixed reviews on other cruiselines about it, so my group (2 couples in our mid 30's) picked the late seating. I am now wondering what is really better? Opinions? Thanks!!!

 

What time do you normally eat? On our first cruise dh and I did late seating and that was a big mistake for us since we are usually finished eating dinner by 5:30pm. Having late seating and starting dinner at 8:30, we were still eating at 10:30 at night:eek: It was just way too late for us but we learned a lesson, our upcoming cruise is early seating

[glrounds]

In the past I've always had LATE SEATING because of the ports and wanting to spend as much time as possible at the ports and I was cruising solo and loved meeting new people.

 

My last cruise on the SPLENDOR, however, I along with my cabin mate decided on Your Time Dining. Loved it. Seldom had to wait (once for maybe 20 minutes) and always got to sit alone if we wanted to. The one time we had to wait we just went to the Atrium Bar (short distance away) and waited for the buzzer to zap us. Excellent service, eat when you're ready to, requested an got the same waiter each time, and none of the yahoo dogn'pony show in the MDR. Will do it all the time now.:)

 

 

[mzloolue]

DH and I tried YTD.

I thought it might be good, but we did not really like it.

 

And the table set up was odd.

They took the big tables and just divided them into sections.

So it's a table for two but it is 12 inches from another table for two.

Akward to me.

Could not really just talk to DH without every word being heard, but was reluctant to talk to the other tables as they might not want to be disturbed at their "table for two" that was just inches away.

[terisu10]

We always do the late seating. It gives us plenty of time to linger in port, come back to our cabin, nap and get ready for dinner. Once dinner is finished, around 9:30 or 10:00, we have plenty of time to go to the after dinner show, casino, disco, late night deck parties, visit the ice cream machine:p etc. And we're older than 30! LOL