"Table Hopping" in the MDR (FOS)

[LeCricket]

Does anyone know if you can "table hop" in the MDR (or even do MTD a couple of nights? We have 5:30 dining on the FOS because we have two girls, ages 11 and 14 that don't do well waiting until 8pm for dinner. We requested and were reserved a 4 top table. Knowing the girls, they will NOT want to sit for a long meal every night, and we don't mind that at all. Figured they could hang out in the room and do room service a couple of nights a week. Is it frowned upon to ask to be seated with a larger group on those nights or should we just eat dinner alone at the same table? Personally, I liked the large group on the last (and only) cruise I've been on, but I don't think it's something my girls would like, so I requested our own table. I think DH and I would have fun meeting people and having (hopefully) good dinner conversation on our two or three nights in the MDR without them. What do you think? I know I could ask, but I don't want to be rude to the waitstaff.

[Clarea]

There's no changing tables on a nightly basis with traditional dining.

 

You should change to My Time dining if you want flexibility.

[spookwife]

if you are on fixed that is it there is no table hopping or switching to MTD on select days.

 

just go MTD. the days the kids join you, ask for a table for 4. on the days they don't, ask to be seated with others.

 

or stick with Traditional and use the program that gets the kids served faster and then get escorted to the kid's club and the adults can finish desert and coffee in peace

[RoamingRetirees]

Does anyone know if you can "table hop" in the MDR (or even do MTD a couple of nights? We have 5:30 dining on the FOS because we have two girls, ages 11 and 14 that don't do well waiting until 8pm for dinner. We requested and were reserved a 4 top table. Knowing the girls, they will NOT want to sit for a long meal every night, and we don't mind that at all. Figured they could hang out in the room and do room service a couple of nights a week. Is it frowned upon to ask to be seated with a larger group on those nights or should we just eat dinner alone at the same table? Personally, I liked the large group on the last (and only) cruise I've been on, but I don't think it's something my girls would like, so I requested our own table. I think DH and I would have fun meeting people and having (hopefully) good dinner conversation on our two or three nights in the MDR without them. What do you think? I know I could ask, but I don't want to be rude to the waitstaff.

 

As Bob recommended, switch to MTD. On those nights the girls eat with you, ask for a 4-top. On the other nights you can ask for a larger table. Everyone's happy. :)

[LeCricket]

Thanks. We thought about MTD, but last cruise, when we did MDR, my friend and I really enjoyed having the same waiter every night (he was excellent). If, on the first night we get an awesome waiter, is it possible to request their section when we are dining with the girls? It's not a deal-breaker, but I thought it was fun.

 

If I switch us to MTD, do I need to do that now, and have to pre-pay grats (which I don't mind), or can I do that on board? Grats are the same for both, right?

 

Thanks for the help. Couldn't do it without you all. :)

[phoenix1181]

Thanks. We thought about MTD, but last cruise, when we did MDR, my friend and I really enjoyed having the same waiter every night (he was excellent). If, on the first night we get an awesome waiter, is it possible to request their section when we are dining with the girls? It's not a deal-breaker, but I thought it was fun.

 

If I switch us to MTD, do I need to do that now, and have to pre-pay grats (which I don't mind), or can I do that on board? Grats are the same for both, right?

 

Thanks for the help. Couldn't do it without you all. :)

 

I'd switch now so you're sure to get MTD. If it's full, ask to be put on a waiting list. If you switch now, the grats need to be paid with final payment. The cost is the same.

[handbellplayer]

We've done MTD for our last several cruises and have always been able to request the same waitstaff, even when dining at different times - you just may have to wait a little longer. If you switch to MTD now, which you probably should do so you can reserve your preferred dining time, they will add your gratuities to your final payment amount.

[RoamingRetirees]

Thanks. We thought about MTD, but last cruise, when we did MDR, my friend and I really enjoyed having the same waiter every night (he was excellent). If, on the first night we get an awesome waiter, is it possible to request their section when we are dining with the girls? It's not a deal-breaker, but I thought it was fun.

 

If I switch us to MTD, do I need to do that now, and have to pre-pay grats (which I don't mind), or can I do that on board? Grats are the same for both, right?

 

Thanks for the help. Couldn't do it without you all. :)

 

I've only done MTD once. It was on a cruise with my sisters. We really liked the waiter we got the first night and requested him for the rest of the cruise. It was no problem--they gave us the same table, although we had to be a little flexible on the time (but within 15 or 30 minutes of our requested time). Just ask the head waiter as soon as you know. You can wait until you board to change to MTD, but you run the risk of it being all booked up. If that's what you want to do and don't mind prepaying gratuities, I would do it now. Gratuities are the same regardless.

[kc320]

Thanks. We thought about MTD, but last cruise, when we did MDR, my friend and I really enjoyed having the same waiter every night (he was excellent). If, on the first night we get an awesome waiter, is it possible to request their section when we are dining with the girls? It's not a deal-breaker, but I thought it was fun.

 

If I switch us to MTD, do I need to do that now, and have to pre-pay grats (which I don't mind), or can I do that on board? Grats are the same for both, right?

 

Thanks for the help. Couldn't do it without you all. :)

 

Yes, if you find a waiter that you really like you can ask to be seated in their section each night...most of the time they will be able to accomodate you...I would go ahead & make the switch now if you want MTD...you may get onboard & find out it is full...grat's are the same either way...

[LeCricket]

Awesome! I'm so glad I asked. MTD sounds perfect for us. We (mostly *I*) don't mind waiting a little while for dinner. I'm going to see if I can change our reservations. We're less than 2 weeks out. Hope I can!

[sailor05]

Awesome! I'm so glad I asked. MTD sounds perfect for us. We (mostly *I*) don't mind waiting a little while for dinner. I'm going to see if I can change our reservations. We're less than 2 weeks out. Hope I can!

 

If not then it's not a big deal at all to keep your table for 4 and have 2 seats empty on some nights or all for that matter. It's not like they can use it for MTD as they have their own.

[RoamingRetirees]

If not then it's not a big deal at all to keep your table for 4 and have 2 seats empty on some nights or all for that matter. It's not like they can use it for MTD as they have their own.

 

That's true, but they would like to have a larger table when the girls don't eat with them. The only way to do that is with MTD>

[skyking]

Another option is you can go to the dinning room upon boarding and see if you can switch all 4 of you to a LARGE table. Then you will have a larger group to sit with if your daughters dont go with you, however you can never guarantee the other groups will either.

[serene56]

For us on our cruise- dinner together was mandatory. They can do their stuff with the kids club all day-- so on vacation its my time at dinner.

 

And i was pleasantly surprised that the kids stayed for the entire meal.

Granted some nights they wanted to leave before dessert and that was fine with me.

 

I think this worked well because they knew ahead of time what was expected of them

[jc24cruiser]

The first 2 cruises I went on we did Traditional Dining and enjoyed having the same wait staff each night. So on my first MTD (as traditional was full) we requested the same staff each night. Our waiter was amazing, remembered all our preferences, had our favourite drinks waiting for us and always remembered where we had mentioned we would be visiting the next day and then asked us about it the following day (he even missed us when one evening we didn't book as we were full from a Johnny Rockets lunch).

 

The next time we tried doing this we did not like the wait staff so much, but gave it a couple of days to see how things went. We were then sat in a different section one night as the wait was going to be longer than we had hoped and we loved them so requested them instead until the end of the cruise.

 

Make sure you book early for formal night as that is when you are likely to have to wait the most if you want a specific waiter/table....this is usually the second night on shorter cruises so if you like the waiter on evening 1 book your table asap :) However if you go down and your table is not ready or if you have not booked one night and just turn up and there is a bit of a wait, some (maybe not all, don;t quote me on that) ships have buzzers that they give you so you can go and sit at a bar/in a lounge and then when the table is ready the buzzer goes off....the kids loved that!

[Jiffymom]

MTD is designed for you

[mspink98]

If, on the first night we get an awesome waiter, is it possible to request their section when we are dining with the girls? It's not a deal-breaker, but I thought it was fun.

 

Yes! We hit the jackpot in February with the most amazing waiter/assistant we've probably ever had, and we were MTD. We reserved a 4 top with our group for the rest of the cruise at the same time every night that same night, and just cancelled on a night by night basis one or two times as needed. Our traveling companions also went as a two top one night because DH and I had been snorkeling all day and were DONE by dinner time (almost fell asleep in our Windjammer dinners, lol).

 

Request MTD now, because it will likely be full before you get onboard, and even if it wasn't you the have it or you don't-no MTD some nights and traditional the others.

[awhcruiser]

Is this the same as the dining room?

Another option is you can go to the dinning room upon boarding and see if you can switch all 4 of you to a LARGE table. Then you will have a larger group to sit with if your daughters dont go with you, however you can never guarantee the other groups will either.

[spookwife]

If, on the first night we get an awesome waiter, is it possible to request their section when we are dining with the girls? It's not a deal-breaker, but I thought it was fun.

 

:)

 

True story: even if you end up being sat in the 'wrong' section'; your wait staff will hurriedly have a whispered conversation with the hostess and get you moved over one table to be in the 'right' section

 

we didn't care one way or the other( we weren't thrilled with them but didn't feel any need to have a different team) but I imagine there could be awkwardness if you actually had requested a new section.

[loopner]

or stick with Traditional and use the program that gets the kids served faster and then get escorted to the kid's club and the adults can finish desert and coffee in peace

 

What program is this?? And is it for only a specific age of kids?

[Clarea]

What program is this?? And is it for only a specific age of kids?

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/experiencetypes/product.do?pagename=onboard_prod_my_family_time_dining

[loopner]

Do the regular program and MTD have different tables?

 

Could she say something upon entering the MDR that there would only be two of them and they would love the company of another couple? (perhaps someone from MTD?)

 

I don't know if its possible ... just thinking ...

[Clarea]

Do the regular program and MTD have different tables?

 

Could she say something upon entering the MDR that there would only be two of them and they would love the company of another couple? (perhaps someone from MTD?)

 

I don't know if its possible ... just thinking ...

MTD and traditional are in different sections.

[loopner]

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/experiencetypes/product.do?pagename=onboard_prod_my_family_time_dining

 

 

Thanks Bob.

 

The My Family Time Dining program looks perfect - except I have a teenager. I don't want to rush him, but sitting for an extended dinner each night will not be good. (I need to add here, he's not just a teen wrapped in himself -- he's autistic. I don't know how he'll handle the extended dining.)

 

I know there's a "special needs" form which I've alrady started looking at. I think I'm going to request that we have access to this for dining -- even if he's not going to the AO program with the little ones. By the time dinner is over, my guess is he is just going to want to go back to his room - decompress for the day and go to sleep. Mind you, should he choose to go to the Teen Club, I'll be shouting HOORAY from the rooftops!

 

Well, I guess I won't know if I don't ask. It's worth a shot at least.

 

Thanks for the link to the info!

[LeCricket]

Thanks for all the input!