Early seating, will this ruin our cruise?

[Happy ks]

... do you really need an hour and a half to get ready for dinner? Early seating has been 6 pm on most of our cruises so far. ONCE it was 5:45 and that was a little extreme. But even for formal night, half an hour max to get ready! and that's all three of us, including helping our sprout with his suit and tie :) But maybe that's because I gave up most makeup years ago (does nothing but clog pores, really) and don't do much with the hair beyond put it back with a barrette ... Seriously, I have seen people post before that they need an hour-plus to get ready for dinner. What do you do? C'mon, tell all, make me feel like a slobby sloth who really should get her act together and look NICE on behalf of all those of you who go to the trouble to do so :) Would love to hear the secrets -- TR, with TWELVE dinners looming on Galaxy 4/1/06, woo hoo

 

Well, no matter how much I hurry, it takes me a minimum of an hour to get ready, then add at least another half hour (see Suzannes post, mom needs to organize the rest of the family). Shower 10 minutes, after shower stuff (dry off, moisturize, deodorant, powder, body lotion etc...) 5 minutes, makeup 15 minutes on a ship (10 at home), dry hair (can't stand the no effort look of barrette clipped in the back, but then I was a hairstylist for 15 years in my earlier life) 20 minutes, dress, put jewelry on 10 minutes. Most women who get ready in less than a half hour usually look like it, I envy anyone who can looked great and pulled together that quickly!

 

We've done both early and late and really do prefer the later seating. After eating a big dinner, we're done for the night. We force ourselves to go up on deck and walk, getting some fresh air and a bit of excercise, there's no way I could sit through a show after eating. I'm asleep in minutes if I sit down. The couple of cruises where we had early seating, we were in bed asleep by 10 pm at the latest.

 

Try to change your time, if you can.

[lisiamc]

There IS a bright side - when they have a midnight buffet, you might actually have enough room to eat something! We always have late seating, and I've never eaten anything from a midnight buffet or those gourmet bites they bring around - still too full from dinner!

 

If you like to gamble, you'll be able to spend longer in the casino after dinner.

 

If you prefer dancing, there's more time to do that after dinner too.

 

And if it all gets too much, you can have the occasional late dinner at the alternative dining, or in the speciality restaurant (if there is one on your ship.)

 

Have a great time anyway

 

Lisa

[Nibby1]

If you haven't already tried it, call the Captains Club and ask if they can get you changed now, rather than waiting to request a change once you board the ship. We did this once, and they changed it right on the spot for us. (Of course, for us it was a change from late to early, since we prefer the early for many of the reasons mentioned above.) We have been on late seating several times, particularly when with a group and the majority wanted late seating. We enjoyed that, too, but when we have the choice, we choose early. As others have said, just go with the flow and enjoy!

[RickandAnne]

We used to always get the late seating because we're late eaters at home, too. Then a couple of years ago our group decided to do the early sitting and something kind of changed for me. Dinner broke up the day into daytime/shore and nightime ship. We usually are back on ship midafternoon anyway, so we hit the pool and then we do early sitting, then shows and clubs. Now a seven day cruise now feels more like 12 or 14. Different levels of activity each day.

 

Of course everybody has different tastes. Canderson said it right...depends on YOUR schedule. Do as she recommends, board as early as you can, find the maitre d' (usually near the restaurant preparing the seating chart - ask, they know where he is), and ask for a change. We do so every time in order to sit at the railing near the back window on the second level of the restaurant (our favorite spot).

[canderson]

Canderson said it right...depends on YOUR schedule. Do as she recommends...

She? One of us is gender confused, and it isn't me!:p

 

Alaska was particularly tough, as we had one shore excursion that actually ran late enough to cause us to return just in time for LATE seating! We gave up that night, and did the casual dining thing. It seems that a lot of departures are earlier than they used to be, though, making early seating a bit more practical than it once was.

[stoshman]

It's usually easy enough to meet with the Maitre de' on the first day and request a change, especially if it's only the two of you.

 

Even if nothing is available, he may open up a new table for you; they did for us on our last cruise.

 

In addition, some changes happen after the first night, so ask to be wait-listed in case any people change their seating time.

[Kay and Hal]

We've always had late seating, for the simple reason that we didn't want to rush from our shore excursions to dress for dinner. However, we are going to try early seating on our Constellation cruise next fall, for the simple reason that we'd like to be awake to enjoy entertainment, etc. AFTER dinner. Getting out of the dining room @ 10:30 with a full belly hasn't exactly made us feel like party animals. :D

 

Karen

[dmarch@islc.net]

With the "second" show running during the early seating dining time, aren't you getting dressed relatively early anyway? We chose early this time because late was just too late for our DD on our last cruise. We might have made a mistake, but we will just deal with it.

Seems to me that's just on some of the nights. Most nights your show is after your late dinner.

 

To be honest with you the only down side was feeling a little more rushed getting ready for dinner. But half my problem was getting myself, DD and DS ready for dinner all at the same time. Also DH, Our closet was so crowede, only I knew where things were, I would pull clothes for everyone.

Thanks Suzanne,

Your husband sounds like me! Instead of helping with the kids, he's become the biggest one. Trust me when I say, we know where the clothes are, it's just easier to let someone else lay them out for us. Please don't tell my wife.

 

But even for formal night, half an hour max to get ready!

Do you wanna get married? Oops I already am. I don't think I could get my wife to the pool without makeup, much less dinner.

 

I disagree with the majority, your cruise is ruined, you're screwed, get out the 38 and end it now, there's nothing worse than first seating, babies crying and pooping at the table, Mom's, how should I say this, feeding the little ones without a bottle, having to leave the pool at 1:30 in the afternoon so the wifester has her 3 hours to get ready for dinner, late seating, early seating, blow my brains out, enjoy the cruise, that's all I have to say about this!

newt, I thought you were my friend! Guess not, a true friend would of recommended a 45...I'm so disappointed.

 

I like everyone's thoughts on scheduling. Think we'll try it for a night or two. This is probably our 8th Carib cruise so we've already taken most of the excursions that interest us. As someone said after late dinner it's all we can do to stay awake for the show. As I said before, we hang out in our cabin until 11 or so, but we're up at 7:30. We just need to get moving a little faster in the AM. Who knows might be a good thing.

 

Thanks again Yall,

David

[canderson]

Seems to me that's just on some of the nights. Most nights your show is after your late dinner.

Not always, as we discovered recently. This was an element of our recent Galaxy cruise that came as quite a surprise. We had late seating and only late shows we experienced on the at-sea days!

 

Monday, Departure, 7:15pm show

Tuesday, at Sea, 10:30pm show

Wednesday, Cozumel, 7:15pm show

Thursday, Costa Maya: 7:00pm show

Friday, at Sea, 10:30pm show

Saturday, Puerto Limon, 7:15pm show

Sunday, Panama, 7:15pm show

Monday, at Sea, 10:30pm show

Tuesday, Jamaica, 7:15 show

Wednesday, Grand Cayman, 7:15pm show

Thursday, at Sea, 10:30pm show

Friday, at Sea, 7:15pm show

[joseywales]

we took our first cruise several weeks ago and were advised to get late seating. it was full and we got early seating at 6. it turned out to be the best way to go. it keeps you from wasting a lot of time getting ready (my wife gets dressed in 10 minutes!) plus, you get to see the shows. i doubt we would have gone to the early theater show at 7 or whenever it was. plus, it gives you the whole evening to hang out and get a midnight snack. if we finished dinner at 10 pm, theres no way we would have gone to the seaview cafe on the serenade at midnight. although, maybe if i hadnt done that i would have gained a few less pounds....

[MopedMama]

If you don't have a large party, you can probably get it changed. We did. We were waitlisted for late seating, but since there were only 2 of us, the Maitre de got us in. Go see him asap after boarding if the Captains Club can't do it.

 

If you get stuck in main, its not the end of the world. You get to see more shows and eat more at midnight buffet. I've done both and prefer late seating because we're not ready to end our "daytime" day at 6pm. We don't do much nightlife, so we're ready to snooze after dinner.

[CAKER]

We always request early seating. On our Baltic Capitals/St. Petersburg cruise we were rushed only once on the 14-day cruise, and that was for the ballet on the first night in St. Pete (after 2 one-half day tours).

 

We have trouble sleeping whenever we eat later than 8 p.m., even at home. (Indigestion, reflux, etc.) Also, we find it more relaxing to enjoy the shows after dining, and a more natural sequence. Further, we can better control when we want to go to bed, or dance, converse with others, etc. We're in our mid-60s.

 

Also, take a lok at yopur shore excursion schedules, especially if you have any early ones. The 2nd day in St. Pete we left at 7 a.m., AFTER THE LATE NIGHT AT THE BALLET. We ordered breakfast in our room to eat while getting dresed, and to sdave time going to and from the breakfast area.

[RickandAnne]

She? One of us is gender confused, and it isn't me!:p

 

Sorry 'bout that. Seems I got a little consonant crazy there.:o

[hshowalter]

I would think you should have no trouble switching to late sitting since from 53 cruises experience I have had to fight to get early sitting. Talking to Celebrity before sailing was a waste of time.

[motherchic]

as many have said... if you request a late seating for only two I believe you will get it.On our last cruise we were wait listed for late seating so we also called thru Captains Club , ahead of time, requested late and had no problem at all getting it.

we dont get to cruise often and though it sounds silly to others " will it ruin my cruise" that is just how we felt. Listening to everyones reasons for enjoying the early seating. It sounds like you will have a glorious time and that a good attitude does means allot.

I love the thallo pool- after a day ashore, I love to relax in the thallo pool, leisurely dress, enjoy sushi in the aft of the ship and then go to dinner. Then perhaps enjoy a show, do a little gambling, take a walk on deck and then a good nights sleep. The only thing i would really have to give up is the before pool time. I have a back problem and the relaxing time means allot to me- so that i can then sit thru dinner and a show.

Enjoy your cruise and best of luck getting the late seating

[MayrMN]

I got off the Connie earlier this month, and I'll admit, I let early seating get under my skin. I didn't want it. I tried for the late seating, but a huge group we were sailing with hogged late seating.

 

Go into it with a more open attitude, that is all I can say.

 

To be honest, you have a lot of time to kill after dinner, and the shows start getting a bet repetative after a while.

 

Just remember to have fun.

[SoonerDog]

I know it isn't for everyone, but I usually go for early seating. I am late 40's and active. I typically do my own thing ashore and avoid the organized ship tours. Here are a couple of considerations that I feel make early seating attractive:

 

1) In my opinion, it makes the evening shows more enjoyable. For one thing, it is more natural to eat before a show than after. Furthermore, if you do have late seating, you will still be dressing early on for the pre-dinner show. Following the early seating meal, you have plenty of time to have an after-dinner drink and still get settled in the theatre or lounge in time to stake out good seats.

 

2) If you eat early, you will be more apt to take advantage of the food offerings later on, and some of those can be quite nice, particularly the late buffets.

 

3) If you do have a shore excursion booked that will cause you to be short on time before the early seating, you can always book one of the alternative dining options ahead of time.

[Lmack]

Even though we stay out late, we've always done early. We just returned from sailing on the Zenith last wk and we tried late seating. We were never through with dinner until 10:15-10:30pm. We always felt so so stuffed. Even though we went dancing, etc. we still had full stomachs when going to bed.

 

We'll go back to early seating. At least we tried late seating & now we know we definitely prefer early seating.

 

The good thing is that they offer early & late seating to accomodate everyone's preferences!

 

Lynn