Late or early dining

[PoppyandNana]

For the over 65 group, on a Caribbean itinerary, which is the most popular dining time early or late and why?

[mskaufman]

I like late so I never have to run back from a port stop. If I'm hungry, I can always grab a snack (or appetizer) in another venue.

[az_tchr]

Most choose early as late seating is truly late. Often 10pm before dinner is over. Early seating usually books quickly. If on a cruise with lots of port calls I prefer late otherwise early.

[eandj]

When do you eat at home? We eat dinner by 6:30 at home. And stick to around there while traveling.

Because dh tends to have reflux if eating and drinking too near bedtime, we prefer eating at early seating. We enjoy a more leisurely drink and dinner. Then we have the evening to let the meals settle before calling it a night.

 

It's a personal choice.

[gsb]

We like select and eat around 7 after frequenting the Martini Bar.

If we ate late, we'd be asleep at the table before the meal was over--

as it is, we finish around 8:45, go to the show and sleep there:o

[sleepless]

We prefer early seating. That way we have the evening to do what we want. We usually go to the evening entertainment in the theater, take a walk along the pool deck, visit a club or two, take in the late show if offered, grab a snack and maybe visit the casino. This 60+ year old couple is seldom in their storeroom before midnight and enjoys the night time activities. Late dining would interfere with our activities. Oh, and I am usually up before 7:00 am.

[wallie5446]

They must be equally popular since early and late traditional both seem to be wait listed for every sailing months in advance, and lots of folk have to take select.

[bottomfeeder]

They must be equally popular since early and late traditional both seem to be wait listed for every sailing months in advance, and lots of folk have to take select.

 

Is it really that they are popular, or is it people avoiding Select because they would have to pay their gratuities in advance, and then switching to Select when they get onboard? I have seen posts here that make me think people do that so they can better control their gratuities (and lower them if they are really cheap....err, I mean if they get poor service.)

 

And no, I never do that. I always book Select right away, because I wouldn't want to be stuck in a fixed seating.

[drakes2]

I prefer late seating and I am in my mid 60's, only because I don't like to rush when returning from a shore excursion. I like to sit on my balcony and enjoy a glass of wine prior to dinner and not feel rushed. Does anyone know if there is a theatre show after the late dining time or would we have to go before dinner? I really can't remember from my previous cruises.

Is it really that they are popular, or is it people avoiding Select because they would have to pay their gratuities in advance, and then switching to Select when they get onboard? I have seen posts here that make me think people do that so they can better control their gratuities (and lower them if they are really cheap....err, I mean if they get poor service.)

 

And no, I never do that. I always book Select right away, because I wouldn't want to be stuck in a fixed seating.

[sylmack]

I prefer late seating and I am in my mid 60's, only because I don't like to rush when returning from a shore excursion. I like to sit on my balcony and enjoy a glass of wine prior to dinner and not feel rushed. Does anyone know if there is a theatre show after the late dining time or would we have to go before dinner? I really can't remember from my previous cruises.

 

The shows were before dinner. 7 PM

 

We always took late seating but we found on Celebrity there was very little to do on board once dinner was done. It may be the older crowd, or because of the long, port intensive itinerary, but things were shut down early. We would finish dinner, wander around a bit looking for some dancing, find none, and end up heading back to our cabin.

 

We didn't find this on RCCL.

 

Next Celebrity cruise we may choose early seating or Select.

[AtleeH]

Our group did late sitting last January, and are doing the same this coming January.

 

But we are a little unique. In Jan 2015, we had 10 in our group so we had 1 10 person table we ate at for the entire cruise.

 

This year, we'll have 13, so we'll be sitting at the same 2 tables this year.

 

I liked the late sitting because it allowed me to not be in a rush as a day ashore. I could relax a little, take a leisurely shower, dress for dinner, take in the show, then stroll the ship to the Martini bar, then go down and eat.

 

And never having to get in a hurry.

 

And our group this year spans 3 decades. 40's, 50's, and 60's.

Edited November 18, 2015 by AtleeH

[capecodder2]

We prefer Select (I know that wasn't the question) because we like to eat around 7PM. It works well for us. We also prefer a table for 2 at dinner (having shared for breakfast and lunch). Who would make a dinner choice to avoid prepaying the gratuities? In the grand scheme of things, it is pittance. Those folks work really hard for what they get.

[CABINET]

Much prefer Select. Early is too early, late is too late.

 

Anyway we like to decide on the day what time we eat depending on how we feel at the time.

[PoppyandNana]

Is it really that they are popular, or is it people avoiding Select because they would have to pay their gratuities in advance, and then switching to Select when they get onboard? I have seen posts here that make me think people do that so they can better control their gratuities (and lower them if they are really cheap....err, I mean if they get poor service.)

 

And no, I never do that. I always book Select right away, because I wouldn't want to be stuck in a fixed seating.

 

I don't disagree and on the surface select dining would be perfect. However, the one aspect of cruising we look forward to is meeting people at our dinner table. If it clicks, and more often than not it does, we end up going to shows together, meeting for pre dinner cocktails and the like. We still correspond with folks we met on a cruise ten years ago. I know this might happen on select but odds are against it.

[kenevenpar]

It seems most in our age group and up prefer early. We prefer late, but have started using select, and have eaten as late as 9:00. We normally eat between 8:00 and 8:30 at home.

[K.T.B.]

This is how I book it: If I am sailing on the East coast, I book a later dinner. If I am on the west coast, I book an early dinner. I also look at the itinerary to see what the port times are going to be. If we're in port late most of the time (i.e. after 7), then I'll book a late dinner to enjoy the port fully.

 

As far as most popular time, based on my experience, they're both about the same. Far more families with children on the earlier seating though.

 

Hopefully that helps a little! :)

[mskaufman]

While I answered "late" earlier on my last five cruises we had select and are big fans of showing up when we want to.

[wieslaw]

as it is, we finish around 8:45, go to the show and sleep there:o

 

Hi,

'me' too ....... except wife is interfering with my 'resting' ..... when I start snoring (I never hear it).

Edited November 18, 2015 by wieslaw

[CruisingChick]

We always choose late, but that's not the question.

 

In our experience most cruises early seating seems to be the most popular with the 65 and older crowd. As a matter of fact most of the cruises we book we cannot even get early or select dining as they are already sold out by the time we book. As for why they are so popular I guess it's because they are use to eating early at home (?).

 

This is different on European sailings and South America sailings where late seems to sell out first.

[stratixman]

Late is too late if one is concened about digestive issues. Early is too early if one is concerned about getting back from excursions and having to rush like crazy to get ready for dinner. Personally we have come to like select as it provides the best of all options. We get to choose a different time each day depending on our schedule. If we ore out on excursions we really enjoy relaxing in one of the lounges with a pre-dinner cocktail before rushing to the main dining room for dinner. Yes, if one doesn't do regular dining and really wants to socialize with a group of cruisers then select may not be the answer. We habe had many enjoyable dinners in regular dining at group tables. But, I point out that you are not guaranteed to be seated at a group table with others you find amenable either. My vote is select.

[Ordinary Chef]

We like the early dining. Although I agree that makes getting back from an excursion rather rushed to make the 6:00 seating. However, we enjoy having the evening to enjoy the theater production, music venues or the casino after dinner. Dining at 8:00 to 8:30 tends to limit the after dinner options. Also, we tend to feel much better (digestive wise) if we eat earlier in the evening. We also like getting to know our servers and Somalia with the fixed dining VS the select where you may not have that option.

[drakes2]

I'm with you on that. Travelling solo again on this trip so having the same tablemates every night gives me the opportunity to get to know the same people every evening. Select does not provide that experience. I also enjoyed the company of three lovely couples, went to shows with one every evening, and on the last night one couple invited all of us back to their suite for cocktails. I hope my experience this time is equally pleasant. You really have to put yourself out there and be nice and friendly and people will respond.

I don't disagree and on the surface select dining would be perfect. However, the one aspect of cruising we look forward to is meeting people at our dinner table. If it clicks, and more often than not it does, we end up going to shows together, meeting for pre dinner cocktails and the like. We still correspond with folks we met on a cruise ten years ago. I know this might happen on select but odds are against it.