anytime dining vs. fixed cruise like dining?

[sonomaphil]

huh? What's your rationale for that presumption? :rolleyes:

 

 

Working in the restaurant industry for 20 years. :rolleyes:

[seamwoman]

On several cruises I would call the dine line early in the morning to make a reservation. I have always been told that the only times available were 5:30 or 8:30! With large groups we have been able to get a standing reservation.

Karen

[eandj]

Working in the restaurant industry for 20 years. :rolleyes:

 

So because we don't like how Princess handles their anytime dining program, means we don't go out to dinner? Actually it's the opposite. We dine out often and enjoy fine dining at restaurants that utilize reservations, offer wonderful service and make us feel welcome. That wasn't what we found when trying anytime dining.

Still don't get your rationale for the generalization. Guess I'll remain confused.;)

[Ready to Sail!]

One reason we are excited about our upcoming cruise on the Royal is the great options for dining. We have Anytime, but if we can't get in when we want, and don't want to wait, then we will go to the HC, IC, Alfredo's or wherever else. Getting into a dining room when or whichever we want is sure not a priority.

 

Our first experience with anytime was on NCL and it worked great. Maybe times have changed. I do understand the frustration because it is not what it used to be, but not sure what the answer is. Hopefully the cruise lines will figure it out.

[bdjam]

Is the AT Dining Room that is used for early Traditional exclusively used for TD during those hours or is part of it still left for AT?

 

Thanks,

The Anytime Dining room used for early Traditional is exclusively for Traditional. From what I can tell, the dining room used for early Traditional opens to Anytime about 7:30

BDJAM - I think you and I would get on fine, although I might prefer 2 or 3 drinks before dinner! As you say - relaxation is the main objective. I've been in restaurants in the US/Europe where customers have waited 20 minutes or more for a table, so why should they expect anything different on a cruise.

My view is that 'Anytime' means just that. if you feel like eating about 8, you go to the MDR at 7:45 and if you eat in the next hour you've got a result. Also, the later you eat, the less time there is before the B1G1F drinks promotion!

:D Like! That is one thing that's good about Anytime Dining is that you can plan your meal around whatever you want, including the buy one get one :) But you're right...I'm not sure why people think they can just walk into a restaurant when it's peak time and get an instant seat. The restaurant would have to sit 2000 people for that to work on a ship. In my part of the SF Bay Area, you either have a reservation or you wait...and I love a nice martini during that wait time. You and I would do just fine.

We dine out often and enjoy fine dining at restaurants that utilize reservations, offer wonderful service and make us feel welcome. That wasn't what we found when trying anytime dining.

The key to this is that reservations are available...if you show up at the dining room 'anytime' during peak serving times, you're going to have to wait. The dining rooms can't physically accommodate the crowd of people who eat at the same time. The same thing goes to restaurants on land. So should Princess establish a reservation system for Anytime Dining - which then means it's not a drop in system? Lots of complaints but I'm not seeing many suggestions. And as Princess already knows, they can't satisfy everyone.

Edited May 27, 2015 by bdjam

[eandj]

 

 

Lots of complaints but I'm not seeing many suggestions. And as Princess already knows, they can't satisfy everyone.[/font]

 

Actually if Princess would run their anytime like Celebrity, they'd have less complaining. Princess allows for traditional diners to go back and forth willy nilly. This causes seating during peak hours much worse than if the assigned dinner styles were held to. Service suffers too when more people are showing up than staff can handle. Meanwhile tables sit empty many nights in the tradtional. Makes no sense..ESPECIALLY on Regal and Royal with so many options for dining. A fixed diner can choose one of those or be allowed to fill in the earlier or later anytime hours.

It isn't rocket science.;)

[sonomaphil]

Actually if Princess would run their anytime like Celebrity, they'd have less complaining. Princess allows for traditional diners to go back and forth willy nilly. This causes seating during peak hours much worse than if the assigned dinner styles were held to. Service suffers too when more people are showing up than staff can handle. Meanwhile tables sit empty many nights in the tradtional. Makes no sense..ESPECIALLY on Regal and Royal with so many options for dining. A fixed diner can choose one of those or be allowed to fill in the earlier or later anytime hours.

It isn't rocket science.;)

 

I do agree that Princess should be checking cards at the door of the Anytime Dining rooms and turning away Traditional guests. You picked Traditional so you must eat at your time in your dining room not creating longer waits for the people following the rules. I'd be turned away at the Traditional dining room door, same should happen in reverse.

[paul929207]

I do agree that Princess should be checking cards at the door of the Anytime Dining rooms and turning away Traditional guests. You picked Traditional so you must eat at your time in your dining room not creating longer waits for the people following the rules. I'd be turned away at the Traditional dining room door, same should happen in reverse.

I agree. If you pick traditional, you have seats there. If you don't show up, these seats are empty waiting for you. You should not be allowed to go to AD.

[eandj]

I agree. If you pick traditional, you have seats there. If you don't show up, these seats are empty waiting for you. You should not be allowed to go to AD.

 

This is why you don't hear grumbling cruisers on X ships. Room cards are checked. And unless you come very early or very late, traditional diners aren't allowed for the anytime seating. You are directed to other venues. It is an easy solution that helps back ups.. Not sure why Princess doesn't get it.

[Colo Cruiser]

Yes that's a good idea.

[FritzG]

The evening before ask your headwaiter what you should do.

 

Chances are he will say one of the following (depending on when your excursions ends).

 

o It is OK to come a little late to your scheduled time.

o If you want, you can attend the late seating.

o You have permission to use an anytime dining room that evening.

 

By the way, if this is a port where many excursions run into the normally scheduled early dining times, then the traditional dining room will be anytime that evening. You use the same dining room when you can get there, but will likely have a different table and waitstaff than normal. You will be told this the evening before.

 

We've always had our waiters in td tell us to come late. Even on an evening when the td dining room was turned into anytime our waiter assured us that he would "save" our regular table for us.

[Agua-azul]

I'm a bit of an introvert and without a little push, I'm not likely to reach out and make new friends and acquaintances. And for this reason, we always choose the counter intuitive choice of Traditional dining requesting the largest table possible. It forces me to overcome my initial reluctance to meet new people and the result has always been great. It seems each cruise we really enjoy the company of our table, hearing about everyones day and plans for the next, and in addition we find someone (or two) we inevitably become friends with and have even planned future cruises together.

 

In addition to the above, I like the formality of going to dinner at a set time and place and the structure it gives the day. We always take the late seating so we can enjoy a cocktail while getting dressed, and have time to socialize in whatever bar has become our favorite prior to shuffling off to the dining room. We usually finish dinner just in time for a bet or two in the casino and then the late show.

 

Reading some of the comments here, it seems that some of what the anytime diners are saying they like, making a standing reservation for the same time, or showing up at the dining room at the same time every day, are exactly the reason we choose traditional. Only our table is always waiting, no lines. And we usually enjoy a good relationship with the servers. They almost always laugh at my jokes. They're paid too my partner tells me.

Edited May 27, 2015 by Agua-azul

[eandj]

We've always had our waiters in td tell us to come late. Even on an evening when the td dining room was turned into anytime our waiter assured us that he would "save" our regular table for us.

 

This is common for traditional diners. When we've asked the servers which they'd rather serve, they have always responded traditional dining. They too enjoy knowing their diners and being able to count on the same people each night.

We like a slower meal. So at the first night we let our waiters know they can serve their larger tables first and keep our table for two at a slower pace. We often are told to feel free to arrive 15 min. late and they can have their larger groups attended to so they have more time to spend with us. It works well for us. Our dinner then is being served around 6:30 which is more normal for us than 6.

[abisha]

On the Regal, we entered the MDR around 5:30 and got seated immediately. another evening, we got seated around 7:00 and also got seated immediately. Maybe it depends on having to do with not going during peak time.

[PescadoAmarillo]

Dinner at 5:30???????? If you have lunch at 1:00 and afternoon tea at 4:00 how can you possibly be hungry at 5:30? I assume you must want to eat supper at 8:30, when I am just sitting down to dinner.

I think the idea of dining so early is a particularly North American trait. I can't think of any European country where dinner would be eaten so early. Living in Spain it was quite normal for us to be eating dinner at 11:00.

Geesh, at home we typically eat dinner around 4pm. Of course, at home or on a cruise, we don't often have lunch (sea days excepted). And we have had tea perhaps 5 times in our lives. So, 8 hours after having a light breakfast, we are hungry!

 

What I can't figure out, as I get older, is how the Europeans can eat dinner at 11pm and then go to sleep. My ability to do that left me years ago. And, as for supper...that's what we used to call dinner. It was not the opportunity for another meal.

 

We finally cried "uncle" when it came to Princess' Anytime Dining and now get a table for 2 at 5:30pm traditional. This helps us to avoid the aft dining rooms (I do NOT like them!) and locks us in to a table/server without wait. No, there are days when I'd certainly prefer dining a little later (like 6:30pm), but we work within the framework Princess has established and, in the end, it's the best solution for us.

[Elevatorman]

I have read many comments about long lines and waiting for tables and being handed a beeper at the anytime dining venue. We always see the Maître d, and tip him $35 or more and end tell him what time we want to dine for the week and we have never had a problem. On formal night we sail by the long line, and and on other nights we just arrive and get seated. We are accustomed to this, coming from NYC originally. It doesn't make sense to tip the Maître d at the end of the cruise. Also the reservation system is not fool proof.

[eandj]

So now, to get thru the lines faster, a suggestion to pay your way in.... and tell the maître d what you want. Great.:rolleyes:

 

That's the way Princess will handle their inept handling of the anytime dining program?

 

Ah....the almighty dollar.

Edited May 27, 2015 by eandj

[PrincessLuver]

I have read many comments about long lines and waiting for tables and being handed a beeper at the anytime dining venue. We always see the Maître d, and tip him $35 or more and end tell him what time we want to dine for the week and we have never had a problem. On formal night we sail by the long line, and and on other nights we just arrive and get seated. We are accustomed to this, coming from NYC originally. It doesn't make sense to tip the Maître d at the end of the cruise. Also the reservation system is not fool proof.

 

 

This is exactly one of the problems with Princess's Anything Goes Dining.....this approach is part of the problem not the solution.....:rolleyes:

[Northender]

This is exactly one of the problems with Princess's Anything Goes Dining.....this approach is part of the problem not the solution.....:rolleyes:

 

You hit the nail on the head. I find that more and more with Princess. I can only say Princess because that is the cruise line of my choice. A couple of not so good things happened on our cruise (not only to us but plenty of others). When you try to talk to someone about it and suggest that something needs to be done, you get excuses. And that is exactly what I said to a few of the Officers, stop being part of the problem,:( be part of the solution.:) I am sure it fell on deaf ears.

 

The only person that was approachable was Neil our Cruise Director. He was willing to run stuff up the flagpole, not only from me, but from others.

 

And darn it, if I like to eat around 5:30 to 6:00pm, what is the problem?:D:D

[donaldsc]

We have dabbled with the anytime dining concepts on several cruise lines and find universally that it just isn't true to the name. Unless you want a lengthy (30 min) wait you will have to make reservations. If I have to make reservations daily I would just rather pick a traditional fixed time and not have to spend my hard-earned vacation time making reservations. On NCL where fixed is not an actual option we made standing reservations after the first dinner when we found a wonderful server. Some lines do not allow making reservations for the entire cruise at one time though.

 

 

 

Susan

 

I have not had long waits for anytime dining. After all, you also get waits on land based restaurants.

 

BTW - you say that you do not want to spend your hard earned vacation time making reservations. How long does it take - maybe 5 minutes?

 

DON

[smellycruzer]

Whenever we go the route of AD, we ALWAYS pick up a courtesy phone and let them know we're on our way. Although I prefer having the same wait staff so they know my specific needs as to food temperature, highest quality ingredients, allergens, ice cube to beverage ratio, silverware placement, etc.

[provencedelsol]

But why should I when late traditional is what we prefer? My cruise, my choice.

[Colo Cruiser]

Whenever we go the route of AD, we ALWAYS pick up a courtesy phone and let them know we're on our way. Although I prefer having the same wait staff so they know my specific needs as to food temperature, highest quality ingredients, allergens, ice cube to beverage ratio, silverware placement, etc.

 

What number do you call? I have never seen a number advertised for any DR on any Princess cruise that we have been on. :confused:

[PescadoAmarillo]

What number do you call? I have never seen a number advertised for any DR on any Princess cruise that we have been on. :confused:

Not advertised, but there is a phone at the greeter desk in each dining room and they can be called directly. We call when we're not going to be using our table on a particular evening.

[Colo Cruiser]

Not advertised, but there is a phone at the greeter desk in each dining room and they can be called directly. We call when we're not going to be using our table on a particular evening.

 

 

I am sure the reason its not advertised is they don't want passengers calling it. :(

If I was to miss dinner/table/time I would run down and let them know. But that's just me.

Edited May 28, 2015 by Colo Cruiser