ATD....how long should we allow to get seats for shows?

[SakeDad]

I have read REPEATEDLY about people having to get to the theatres 1/2 hour before the shows to get seats. So my question is how long should I allow in MDR to eat (we have ATD) either before first or 2nd shows so we still have plenty of time to get seats for the shows? Or is this hopeless and we should just plan on seeing the 1st show and got to MDR after so we have no time crush? THANKS :D

[paul929207]

The length of the dinner will be influenced by two main factors - number at the table and how much push you put on the staff.

 

With AD, when you arrive, you will be asked if you would like to share a table. Saying yes will increase the number of people at the table and may slow the meal For instance, someone may order more course than you or eat slower.

 

Saying you want a table for two may put you on the waitlist. Often there is a delay getting a table for 2.

[john watson]

I should aim to start eating twenty minutes before the scheduled second sitting time as these guys are the ones you need to beat to the theatre on a second performance.

 

Regards John

[Colo Cruiser]

We head to the theater 20-30 minutes early.

[riclop]

We arrive at least 30-35 min early.

[john watson]

You will be able to nab Colo Cruisers seat riclop.

 

Regards John

Edited February 9, 2016 by john watson

[arizonaperson]

We almost always do anytime dining late or traditional fixed late and we have never had a problem getting to the show at 10 PM ,when we have 8 p.m. dinner. (We show up maybe 10min. Early to the show)Never seems to matter if we have a large table or a small table and there's plenty of seats usually at the 10 PM show. (We go to almost all the "acts" in the theatre so have a pretty good say on this)While I understand not everybody likes to eat late we have found that the 10 PM show there are always plenty of seats on all the Princess ships that we have been on. So even if you like to eat

early go ahead and eat early and then do the 10 PM show .do something in between .

Julie

Edited February 9, 2016 by arizonaperson

[freetocruise]

We always choose late TD and have never had a problem getting a good seat for the second show (usually 10pm). You should have no problem walking in just before the show, so time your ATD that you are finished with dinner by 9:45 pm and you'll be good to go.

[Colo Cruiser]

You will be able to nab Colo Cruisers seat riclop.

 

Regards John

 

 

 

No I will do a towel drop before dinner. :rolleyes:

[ellie1145]

On our recent Regal cruise we never had a problem with finding a seat in the theatre, but things like the Love and Marriage Game were held in the show lounge and it was standing room only. This was most unsatisfactory as not only were there no seats, but people standing made it difficult to see anything, especially with the way the seats are arranged.

 

We were on second sitting and had to rush to get to these shows and never got a seat.

 

Hope you have more luck!

[Javacruiser]

Just off the Ruby Mexican Riviera cruise. We did ATD and we had a table for 4 each night. Always got there at open and got right in. Your service may be affected by others around you (big tables, high maintenance tables), especially on lobster night......... We found the early shows filled quickly. If we were there 30 minutes ahead we found 4 seats together but we had to get people to move around a bit. 40 minutes early we had no issues at all. If we had gone in 15-20 minutes early, it would have been slim pickings. Late shows were not as full and never an issue

[AKman2495]

We usually get to the theater about 1/2 an hour early for the first show. The late show is usually a lot quieter and easier to get into.

 

We eat early in ATD and almost always share a table so we often have little to no wait.

 

Depending on the show time and what else is going on, we sometimes go to the early show and eat later-but that is not typical.

 

For example, one night they had a 6:45 show. We went to that and had dinner afterwards.

 

Sometimes there are two shows we are interested in inn two different venues so we may opt for the late show in the theater and have had no problems getting a good seat without a long wait.

 

As I said, we usually always share a table and the head waiters know this so they sometimes set us up at a table for 2 without us having to ask.

 

When we do eat early it is usually around 5:30 when we hit the MDR. We are usually out by 7 or so.

 

We like to keep things flexible

[Relax Cruiser]

Just off The Emerald last week and had ATD. We always opted to share a table and even though we used to go to mealtime at 7:15pm hoping to make the 8:30pm show our dinner usually ended around 9:15pm on most days; why? Because of great tablemates :) Conversations would go on well past dinner/dessert and wouldn't stop unless 2 or more of us wanted to go to 10pm show. We once went to the 8pm show and it got over by 9pm and went to dinner. It was close to closing time so we couldn't share a table, after that we always went early.

So bottom line is: If you want to make the 8:15pm show opt to have a table for 2 (don't share) and you'll be able to make it. If you want to share a table then more likely or not you'll miss the first show but will make it in plenty of time for the 2nd 10pm show.

Edited February 9, 2016 by Relax Cruiser

[ccruisequeen]

on the Crown, we grabbed something at the international cafe, went to the first show when the theater opened, then ate afterwards.

 

 

 

I no longer see carnival from my condo front porch :(