assigned seating and open seating on Eurodam

[Stevero2]

If I have accepted assigned seating, do I also have the option of choosing open seating for dinner when I feel like it?

[Essiesmom]

No. One or the other, not both. EM

[pepsigirl64]

:D Essiesmom....why not??

We had fixed early and were in port, when we returned we went to Open Seating...no problem.

[jtl513]

:D Essiesmom....why not??

 

We had fixed early and were in port, when we returned we went to Open Seating...no problem.

It's not fair to the Open seating folks, who may have to wait longer for a table if many Fixed people are using them. Sometimes a maitre d' will allow this if a ship's excursion returns late, but if you miss your early seating time through your own fault you should eat in the Lido or use room service,

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have never tried using the Open Seating but I do know that a couple of people who were traveling with us did get back from a tour late because we were in port until 11 PM asked the dining room manager if they could eat there just the one time. He agreed.

But the majority of the time the dining room managers will tell you to use the Lido or room service.

You can not flip dlop between the 2 dining venues.

[josie724]

I believe I have read here, that you are allowed to change your dining preference once through the cruise, but you have to stick with you new selection. For instance if you chose fixed upon booking, once you board you may be able to change to open seating, but then you are locked into that option.

[Boytjie]

If I have accepted assigned seating, do I also have the option of choosing open seating on one or two nights?

 

It sounds like what you really want is open seating. ;) Remember, you can always make reservations for specific times with open seating and apparently you can sometimes also ask for the same table.

[cruz chic]

:D Essiesmom....why not??

 

We had fixed early and were in port, when we returned we went to Open Seating...no problem.

Would you mind if I took your seating in fixed when you were trying to use it? No wonder the open is so slow.

[luvcruisn']

I also thought that one had either fixed or open seating. However, on my last cruise on the Veendam, two people at our fixed seating, found some friends that they knew onboard and decided to eat with them. Most nights this couple were in open seating, however, their names were never taken off of our fixed dining table, as I found out when I wanted to add someone to our table. One night the couple came back to our table also, as their friends were dining elsewhere. So in this instance the couple did do both open and fixed dining.

[jtl513]

... and apparently you can sometimes also ask for the same table.

Our first night on the Maasdam our area head waiter overheard me telling our waiter that we would ask for the same table the next night. He then gave us a reservation for the same table the next 3 nights, and after that for the rest of the cruise. Had we wanted to dine elsewhere any night we would have told someone, just as if we were in Fixed.

 

Fixed people eating in Open is unfair not only to the Open diners, but also to the staff who have extra work.

 

I believe I have read here, that you are allowed to change your dining preference once through the cruise, but you have to stick with you new selection.

Correct.

 

So in this instance the couple did do both open and fixed dining.

They should have been permanently switched to Open.

[RuthC]

No. You choose one or the other. During the course of the cruise, you are allowed to switch your choice, once, but that is final.

This is not to say that on a given night, the Dining Room Manager may, if there is sufficient space, allow a fixed seating party to dine in open seating. But I would not count on it.

[jtl513]

This is a duplicate thread. See

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1806023

[RuthC]

I also thought that one had either fixed or open seating. However' date=' on my last cruise on the Veendam, two people at our fixed seating, found some friends that they knew onboard and decided to eat with them. Most nights this couple were in open seating, however, their names were never taken off of our fixed dining table, as I found out when I wanted to add someone to our table. One night the couple came back to our table also, as their friends were dining elsewhere. So in this instance the couple did do both open and fixed dining.[/quote']

That was terribly rude of them.

Not only did the fixed seating people have to deal with an incomplete table most nights, but on the night the couple returned, it threw off the dynamic.

I'm surprised the Dining Room Manager allowed that to continue.

[RuthC]

This is a duplicate thread. See

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1806023

After I saw there's a duplicate, I asked that the two threads be combined.

Your post should prevent additional replies to this thread, though, so thanks for that.

[innlady1]

I believe I have read here, that you are allowed to change your dining preference once through the cruise, but you have to stick with you new selection. For instance if you chose fixed upon booking, once you board you may be able to change to open seating, but then you are locked into that option.

 

That's correct, Josie.

[pepsigirl64]

Would you mind if I took your seating in fixed when you were trying to use it? No wonder the open is so slow.

 

Well, if I was using it, how would you take my seat?? We prefer open seating and on our last cruise we were placed upstairs in fixed seating as the table was unused. So, it really depends on the guy in charge and table availability. I just answered the question regarding what has happened to us in the past. So the answer to the OP's question shouldn't be a hard NO, it should be check with the powers that be, it is their ultimate decision.

[sevenseasnomad]

We always have fixed seating, but on the nights when we do not plan to eat in MDR, we let our wait staff know at least 1 day in advance. It's my understanding that our table for two was offered to someone else for those evenings. Not sure if it's open seating couple or not.

[cruz chic]

Well, if I was using it, how would you take my seat?? We prefer open seating and on our last cruise we were placed upstairs in fixed seating as the table was unused. So, it really depends on the guy in charge and table availability. I just answered the question regarding what has happened to us in the past. So the answer to the OP's question shouldn't be a hard NO, it should be check with the powers that be, it is their ultimate decision.

You can sit on half, and I'll sit on the other half:D. I just don't understand why people think that they s/b able to jump back and forth. That's just odd.

[Typhoon1]

It can be done a few nights. Technically, you should be eating at your designated dining time.

[trvlcrzy]

snip...Remember, you can always make reservations for specific times with open seating...snip

 

Just to clarify, on all of our cruises with HAL, we have only been in fixed once (and I believe that was before Open was implemented!).

 

The reservations are limited

a) to specific time ranges (you can't reserve at 7:15 pm, for example; I'll still be sitting there eating my dessert from my 5:45 reservation, so the two time windows are basically early vs. late... If I recall, opening until 6:15 or so... then after 8:00 or so... but none in between)

and

b) to a limited number of tables so that walkins may still be accommodated (DH has difficulty with conversation in crowds in noisy spaces, so we aim for a 2-top. Couldn't get one due to all the reserved ones already having been reserved... so we did walk-up... and got a table quickly each night by arriving early.)

 

Just wanted to make sure people know there are "limits" to the ability to reserve tables in "open seating."

 

...and yes, we were escorted upstairs to fixed once on Christmas night. Apparently the party of two had chosen to dine in specialty dining, so their table was available.

[josie724]

Well, if I was using it, how would you take my seat?? We prefer open seating and on our last cruise we were placed upstairs in fixed seating as the table was unused. So, it really depends on the guy in charge and table availability. I just answered the question regarding what has happened to us in the past. So the answer to the OP's question shouldn't be a hard NO, it should be check with the powers that be, it is their ultimate decision.

 

That doesn't mean you did both dinning options, it only means they sat you upstairs. We had open seating on our cruise and they sat us upstairs as well. I guess they knew that the table would be empty, but you didn't "take" a table away from someone.

[pepsigirl64]

That doesn't mean you did both dinning options, it only means they sat you upstairs. We had open seating on our cruise and they sat us upstairs as well. I guess they knew that the table would be empty, but you didn't "take" a table away from someone.

:D Yes, I know that, Thank you. If a person from fixed seating eats in open seating, they are not taking a seat from me because as we have said, they will seat us in fixed seating using the seats that they have not used for the evening. It is a switch, I sit in their seats and they will sit in mine. As I have said before, it is up to the guy in charge...we can talk about it forever, but it is their decision as to who will sit where.:D

[kiwicruiser55]

As this is only our 2nd cruise I am still not clear on dining.

 

When I booked I asked for 'As you wish' dining but after reading about the MDR decided we would be better dining there and have asked for a table for 2.

 

Can anyone use the MDR for breakast and lunch? Do you have to reserve a table?

 

One of the reason's for taking a cruise is that I do not have to think about what I am going to cook!! And isn't it great being waited on.

 

Stevero hope you do not mind me asking some questions in your post.

[Krazy Kruizers]

As this is only our 2nd cruise I am still not clear on dining.

 

When I booked I asked for 'As you wish' dining but after reading about the MDR decided we would be better dining there and have asked for a table for 2.

 

Can anyone use the MDR for breakast and lunch? Do you have to reserve a table?

 

One of the reason's for taking a cruise is that I do not have to think about what I am going to cook!! And isn't it great being waited on.

 

Stevero hope you do not mind me asking some questions in your post.

 

 

You do not need to make reservations for either breakfast or lunch in the main dining room. You just show up.

On sea days the breakfast time is from 8 AM - 9:30 AM. On port days the time is 7:30 - 9.

The dining room is not always open for lunch. When it is open for lunch the time is from Noon until 1:30. Check your daily Explorer program each day to determine if it will be open that day.

As You Wish Dining is all dining options for dinner:

Fixed seating at 5:45 and 8 (some ships are 5:30 and 7:45) - Upper Level of the dining room.

Open seating from 5:15 - 9 -- you can either show up whenever you are ready to eat or you can make reservations for certain times -- Lower Level of the dining room.

Lido buffet from 5:30 - 8.

In Cabin service -- place your order within an hour of the main dining room openinng for dinner (this can vary by ship) for what time you wish to have dinner in your cabin. The menus are posted outside the dining room starting around Noon and they are in all bars/lounges in the afternoon.

Or you can choose to dine in one of the speciality restaurants -- not free.

[RuthC]

If a person from fixed seating eats in open seating, they are not taking a seat from me because as we have said, they will seat us in fixed seating using the seats that they have not used for the evening. It is a switch, I sit in their seats and they will sit in mine.

That only works if an entire fixed seating table wants to sit in open one night. But if a couple from a larger table wants to sit in open, then their seats are not available for two other people that night.

Open seating people are not put at a table when there are already fixed seating passengers sitting there.