New to Dine My Way™: How to Choose Dining Room?

[phroggie]

It's been quite a while since our last cruise. I seem to recall that back then you were assigned a dinning room and a time for the whole cruise which you could change.

 

I see that Discovery Princess has three dinning rooms. So how does one choose which one? Randomly pick?

 

I'm guessing they try to keep them as consistent as possible but are there any differences?

[Kay S]

The menu will be the same in each DR.  There will be subtle differences in the decor.  My advice is to choose the one you an get to most easily.

[Cruise Raider]

There is always a dining room in the far aft of the ship that I try to avoid.  It has many more vibrations while at sea and I just don’t find that relaxing.  Plus, you have to go to the aft stairs or elevators to get there.  From midship, you have to go to deck 7, walk aft and then get there by going down to deck six.  We oftentimes travel with those with mobility challenges so, we ask for the dining room on deck 5 or 6 midship.  I think the Skagway is on deck 6 midship and that one is just fine with us.  
 

 

 

[rjack22]

Now I prefer the aft dining room myself.   It is surrounded by windows on three sides and because it is harder to get to I don't think it is as busy.   I could be wrong.    If you have a cabin in mid-aft or aft it might be more convenient for you to use the aft dining room.   On the other hand if your cabin is more forward then the mid-ship dining rooms make more sense.  In the end it personal preference.

But you don't have to choose just one.   You can try them all!

Edited May 8, 2023 by rjack22

[wowzz]

We choose the MDR nearest to Vines  (Soleil on deck 5 on Sky).  Less far to carry your wine. 

[RedEarth]

Currently on the 3rd night on Enchanted and have now dined in all 3 MDR's. Noise/vibrations were most noticeable in Santorini, which is deck 5 midships, which surprised us because we were expecting it to be worst in Amalfi (deck 6 aft). Hardly any noticeable engine noise/vibrations in the two deck 6 MDR's at all.

[Torfamm]

3 hours ago, phroggie said:

It's been quite a while since our last cruise. I seem to recall that back then you were assigned a dinning room and a time for the whole cruise which you could change.

 

I see that Discovery Princess has three dinning rooms. So how does one choose which one? Randomly pick?

 

I'm guessing they try to keep them as consistent as possible but are there any differences?

For me it is only about location. I think the aft MDR’s on deck 6 are inconvenient on any ship. I prefer the mid-ship locations 

[waltd]

We like the midship dining rooms.  Takes less time to walk to the shows after diner.   They are all nice.

[shipsealand]

The mid ship ones are closer to the smoke smell of the casino.  Deck 6 restaurant on same level as the casino. Deck 5 restaurant with the open Piazza allowing smoke to travel to it.  The deck 6 aft restaurant is completely separated from the casino.

[Kay S]

1 hour ago, shipsealand said:

The mid ship ones are closer to the smoke smell of the casino.  Deck 6 restaurant on same level as the casino. Deck 5 restaurant with the open Piazza allowing smoke to travel to it.  The deck 6 aft restaurant is completely separated from the casino.

I have never noticed that.  Is this on both Grand class and Royal class ships?

[shipsealand]

The mid ship ones are closer to the smoke smell of the casino.  Deck 6 restaurant on same level as the casino. Deck 5 restaurant with the open Piazza allowing smoke to travel to it.  The deck 6 aft restaurant is completely separated from the casino.

[shipsealand]

Yes, for both classes

[wowzz]

7 hours ago, Kay S said:

I have never noticed that.  Is this on both Grand class and Royal class ships?

I've sailed on both Regal and Sky, and never noticed any smell of smoke either in the mid ship dining rooms, or the Piazza.

[Torfamm]

1 hour ago, wowzz said:

I've sailed on both Regal and Sky, and never noticed any smell of smoke either in the mid ship dining rooms, or the Piazza.

I definitely noticed the smell of smoke in the Piazza on Sky, Discovery and Enchanted. Enchanted seemed the worst. It never was noticeable to me in the MDR though.

[Moondogy]

As a reformed smoker I am very sensitive to the smoke, I have never smelled any smoke in those areas on the Regal or Discovery. As far as the Grand class ships, it's been too long since I've been on one of them. I will find out for sure in less than 2 weeks though 😎

[MissP22]

Smoke? In the DR?

Not in the last 25 years.

Edited May 9, 2023 by MissP22

[Cruise Raider]

3 hours ago, Moondogy said:

As a reformed smoker I am very sensitive to the smoke, I have never smelled any smoke in those areas on the Regal or Discovery. As far as the Grand class ships, it's been too long since I've been on one of them. I will find out for sure in less than 2 weeks though 😎

I’ve never sailed on the new Regal but on the Discovery, the smoke could easily be detected in Crooners.  Never in the dining rooms or the piazza, though.  
The Grand class ships, it can waft down to the piazza and was definitely noticeable in Crooners.  Again, I’ve never noticed it in any of the dining areas.  Like you, I’m very sensitive to smoke.  

[Doug R.]

5 hours ago, wowzz said:

I've sailed on both Regal and Sky, and never noticed any smell of smoke either in the mid ship dining rooms, or the Piazza.

I concur having sailed on the Caribbean, Crown, Regal and Enchanted. I am a born-again former smoker and hate the smell and certainly would have noticed.

[Rick&Jeannie]

We try to always pick the aft (i.e. "hidden") MDR for the first couple of nights.  Many people get confused in trying to figure out how to get there and just go elsewhere.  That means that the aft MDR is "relatively" quiet until everybody figures it out!

[Moondogy]

10 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

I’ve never sailed on the new Regal but on the Discovery, the smoke could easily be detected in Crooners.  Never in the dining rooms or the piazza, though.  
The Grand class ships, it can waft down to the piazza and was definitely noticeable in Crooners.  Again, I’ve never noticed it in any of the dining areas.  Like you, I’m very sensitive to smoke.  

Guess that's why I never noticed it....I don't really hang out in crooners, I kinda like the good spirit bar. 🤣