Downside to Anytime Dining?

[lazydayz]

On the Mardi Gras, we do anytime as there are more choices available than the MDR.  However, the one night we tried to eat in the MDR, it was awful.  Tables were too close together, everything was too loud, and the servers ignored us for 20 minutes.  No thank you.  

 

On other ships, we choose late dining and like that we get the same table, the same team and don't have to make a reservation or check in on the app.  We eat late at home, so this works well for us. 

[TerReuv]

On 7/20/2022 at 12:07 PM, mz-s said:

 

The problem these days is you can't just go up to the desk and check in and ask for the same table. You have to do it on the app. But yes, if you ask they will do their best to seat you with the same staff (if not the same table) although you might have to wait depending on how busy things are.

 

You can check in at the desk instead of using the app.  Many people don't carry their phones around or use the app, yet they are able to go to YTD and check in and make a request for specific staff.  Not sure why you were told you had to use the app as I know many who don't use their phones on a cruise, so don't use the app.

[TheSeagoer]

6 minutes ago, TerReuv said:

 

You can check in at the desk instead of using the app.  Many people don't carry their phones around or use the app, yet they are able to go to YTD and check in and make a request for specific staff.  Not sure why you were told you had to use the app as I know many who don't use their phones on a cruise, so don't use the app.

I never use the app. I just ask politely. Never had a problem .  They have always accommodated us

[MistyRo76]

I have personally never done anytime dining - 19th cruise coming up and 18 times we've had late dining and once we had early (not by choice!). Of course, quite a few of those cruises were before anytime dining was an option, but even since it was rolled out, we've continued to select late dining. 

 

We usually are traveling with larger groups 10+ and up to 20-25 people. Dinner is a time for our group to get together and talk about our days since we often do our own things during port calls or even on sea days. No one is obligated to dine with us...but most of our group usually shows up most nights. It would be difficult to agree to a specific dining time with a larger group and there could be quite a wait trying to accommodate a group of our size. So assigned dining just works for us! 

 

And FWIW - late dining works for us as we like to enjoy as much of our days in port and on the ship as possible. I don't want to go in at 4:00-4:30 to start getting ready for dinner. And we like to stay out late - so things are just ramping up by the time late dining is wrapping up! 

[ray98]

None at all.  Eat when you are hungry just like you do in real life.

[TheSeagoer]

22 hours ago, MistyRo76 said:

I have personally never done anytime dining - 19th cruise coming up and 18 times we've had late dining and once we had early (not by choice!). Of course, quite a few of those cruises were before anytime dining was an option, but even since it was rolled out, we've continued to select late dining. 

 

We usually are traveling with larger groups 10+ and up to 20-25 people. Dinner is a time for our group to get together and talk about our days since we often do our own things during port calls or even on sea days. No one is obligated to dine with us...but most of our group usually shows up most nights. It would be difficult to agree to a specific dining time with a larger group and there could be quite a wait trying to accommodate a group of our size. So assigned dining just works for us! 

 

And FWIW - late dining works for us as we like to enjoy as much of our days in port and on the ship as possible. I don't want to go in at 4:00-4:30 to start getting ready for dinner. And we like to stay out late - so things are just ramping up by the time late dining is wrapping up! 

How do you to talk to 25 people at dinner on a noisy venue?

[lazydayz]

15 minutes ago, TheSeagoer said:

How do you to talk to 25 people at dinner on a noisy venue?

 

They break up the group into reasonably sized tables.  Makes conversation much more enjoyable. 

[Joe817]

17 minutes ago, TheSeagoer said:

How do you to talk to 25 people at dinner on a noisy venue?

Take turns talking? 

[TheSeagoer]

23 minutes ago, Joe817 said:

Take turns talking? 

Hahaha

[MistyRo76]

4 hours ago, TheSeagoer said:

How do you to talk to 25 people at dinner on a noisy venue?

Well, obviously, we don't all talk at the same time. But we will switch up who we sit next to each evening. And believe me, we've had plenty of good and entertaining conversations around a large dinner table on the cruise ship! We love our big dinners! 

And 25 is the max - we are usually in the 10-15 range...but still a larger group! 

[Drew B 58]

I’m doing YTD for the first time on my upcoming Panorama cruise.  My question is, do they automatically seat you at a table with just your party?  Or do you have the option to share a table with random others the way it used to be for MDR breakfast and lunch?  Because that is something I actually LIKE!  If I’m spending every dinner with the same person I just spent the whole day with, I’m afraid we’re going to run out of things to talk about and it’s gonna be boring…. 😉

[TheSeagoer]

11 minutes ago, Drew B 58 said:

I’m doing YTD for the first time on my upcoming Panorama cruise.  My question is, do they automatically seat you at a table with just your party?  Or do you have the option to share a table with random others the way it used to be for MDR breakfast and lunch?  Because that is something I actually LIKE!  If I’m spending every dinner with the same person I just spent the whole day with, I’m afraid we’re going to run out of things to talk about and it’s gonna be boring…. 😉

I think it’s just who is in your room unless you attach another cabin to your reservation 

[jetsfan58]

We switched from the formalized 6:00 PM early seating to the more traditional anytime dining because family members all have different dining preferences. Those with small children preferred the early seating, the family millennials preferred the later seating and the remaining members had no preference.  

 

So we all compromised (try to get 20 to 30 cruisers to do that task) and now we eat when we eat!

[stephen@stoneyard.co.uk]

We often requested a table  in the Carnival app just after 7pm. About an hours wait. We were often called or out table at the same time as late sitting and sat in the area for late sitting. We did not mind but it is not really Your Time Dinning. 
 

it is join the queue at your time but eat but eat at Carnivals choice of time. 

[staceyglow]

2 hours ago, stephen@stoneyard.co.uk said:

We often requested a table  in the Carnival app just after 7pm. About an hours wait. We were often called or out table at the same time as late sitting and sat in the area for late sitting. We did not mind but it is not really Your Time Dinning. 
 

it is join the queue at your time but eat but eat at Carnivals choice of time. 

That must have been peak seating time.  We have had YTD for the past ten cruises or so.  We go on the early side and have never had to wait more than ten or fifteen minutes for a table.

[Corby114]

My family prefers Late Seating Dinner in the Main Dining Room. We sit at the same table during the cruise and get to know our waiter and assistant waiter. Regarding Anytime Seating we normally ask to be seated at the same table during the entire cruise.

[TheSeagoer]

2 hours ago, staceyglow said:

That must have been peak seating time.  We have had YTD for the past ten cruises or so.  We go on the early side and have never had to wait more than ten or fifteen minutes for a table.

Our maitre d gave us a great table the first night. I tipped him. He told never check in as our table would always be ready. Next night we were told a ten minute wait. He walks by and waived us in. He said your table is always ready for us and Never checked in again 

[Shannydayle]

14 hours ago, Drew B 58 said:

I’m doing YTD for the first time on my upcoming Panorama cruise.  My question is, do they automatically seat you at a table with just your party?  Or do you have the option to share a table with random others the way it used to be for MDR breakfast and lunch?  Because that is something I actually LIKE!  If I’m spending every dinner with the same person I just spent the whole day with, I’m afraid we’re going to run out of things to talk about and it’s gonna be boring…. 😉

On the Spendor last month there was a button on the app you could push and get assigned a table with strangers. I never did it, but it was there and this was anytime dining.

[WhiteOptima]

Have done YTD since they started.  6 is too early and 8:30 is sometimes too late.  Usually eat around 7-7:30 depending on the day.  
 

The main reason is if we choose not to eat in MDR which basically is 85% of the time, there isn’t a set table for us.  If we cruise with friends who only eat in MDR we will sit with them some nights but they do YTD too.  Honestly we do the buffet many nights.
 

Many times they have sat us in the same sections if we asked and they could accommodate.  

[Velvetwater]

We just booked really late and got ytd thank goodness. 

 

I don't understand why anyone would book set dining unless in a big group.

[Drazil65]

We (family of 3) have been doing YTD since it has been offered, we are regular ( between 5 and 6 pm) /traditional dinner eaters (it also works well for planning the rest of our night after dinner).  We have never had an issue with getting a table (yes, only our family and are usually in booth type or round table layout) and have never been seated with anyone else.  We also like that we can easily make other venue reservations if required for the dinner time we prefer, no issues with that as well.  

 

This all works out very well for us as we love to do some of the shows and comedy club or hang out in the casino when many others are having dinner later.  

[deepfry]

We were on the glory last month did YTD was at a different table every night and had wonderful service each night never waited more than 10 minutes after we checked in,  the food was hit or miss but i see no difference in service from YTD or assigned dining 

[Velvetwater]

We usually like to eat around 7 but it depends. I don't mind getting a beeper and wandering off to get another drink.

 

We'll also happily share a table....especially if it means instant seating.

[Colorado Cruzer]

I think the MDR is just a normal restuarant. For me, it's not a place to chit chat, meet friends, see a dance show (lol), dine for 3 hours, etc so YTD is perfect for us!  We go when we want and very rarely wait becasue we go outside of prime time which is usually around 6-7:30pm, order and hopefuly we're out of there in 1.5 hours at the most. 

Although, we've skipped the dining room and chose specialty dining on the last 2 cruises due to the food just not looking appealing for the 1.5 hour experience.  Not sure how long it takes these days with all their staffing issues.