Traditional Dining First Night

[Netnurse31]

How does traditional dining work out on the evening of the first night on Princess? Is it open seating or will you be seated with your assigned table mates? Do most opt to do the buffet that evening or is the traditional dining room the norm?

[Tom O.]

How does traditional dining work out on the evening of the first night on Princess? Is it open seating or will you be seated with your assigned table mates? Do most opt to do the buffet that evening or is the traditional dining room the norm?

 

If everything goes the way it is supposed to, your table number will be on your cruise card - the card that is issued to you when you check-in.

[tequilasunrise]

Most people who normally go to the dining rooms do so the first night. It might be a bit more casual, as some people don't have their luggage yet, but otherwise is like other nights. I

[Pam in CA]

Unless you are embarking in a port where the ship leaves after dinner (such as San Juan or Manaus), you would go to your assigned traditional dining table. Most people will have their luggage so it's the same dress code as other "smart casual" evenings.

[holton]

Unless you are embarking in a port where the ship leaves after dinner (such as San Juan or Manaus), you would go to your assigned traditional dining table. Most people will have their luggage so it's the same dress code as other "smart casual" evenings.

 

On our cruise last week from Whittier on the Island the ship was not leaving port until after 9pm and both dining rooms were open for 'anytime dining' that first night. Traditional dining began the following night in the Provence Dining room.

[Pam in CA]

On our cruise last week from Whittier on the Island the ship was not leaving port until after 9pm and both dining rooms were open for 'anytime dining' that first night. Traditional dining began the following night in the Provence Dining room.

Right... if the ship is leaving after dinner, it's "open" seating.

[Joy2Day]

On our cruise last week from Whittier on the Island the ship was not leaving port until after 9pm and both dining rooms were open for 'anytime dining' that first night. Traditional dining began the following night in the Provence Dining room.

 

Last June on the Dawn Princess, we still had traditional sittings at our assigned tables, even tho' the ship was leaving Whittier at 9 pm. Guess it depends.

[LonghornKJK]

Our Princess Patter specifically said "Casual" on the first night on the Grand Princess out of Galveston. Out of our party of 14 -- seven cabins -- about one-third were missing all or part of their luggage by our late seating dining time. We were supposed to sail at 4 p.m. but did not leave until about 6:30 due to late-arriving passengers. However, we did sit at our assigned tables.

 

Have a great cruise! :)

[Cruisin' Chick]

Except for those times that the ship leaves late, here's how traditional works:

 

You go to the traditional dining room at the designated time. There will be quite a crowd so it's quite okay to be five minutes late (that's what we usually do). One of the waitstaff will look at your room card and escort your party to your table. Your waiter will introduce himself as he's placing the napkin on your lap and handing you the menu. After a few minutes, he or she will ask you for your choices for appetizer thru main course (you'll get the menu back after the dinner dishes are cleared so you can select your dessert).

[bdjam]

Our Princess Patter specifically said "Casual" on the first night on the Grand Princess out of Galveston.

Galveston sailings are different. The only time I've ever seen a "casual" dress code for evenings is when the ship is in port during the dinner hours. Otherwise it's Smart.

[Spikesgirl]

and you could sit anywhere you wanted in the dining room. It was opened at the specific times, but there were so many people ashore sampling "Les Roullettes" that the dining room was only about half full. You could sit at your assigned table if you wanted to, but didn't have to. The dress code was very casual and it was fun to sit and chat with our new friends. The next night, we had a 'sail-away' dinner and smart casual at your assigned table was the order of the day.

 

Charlie

[Pam in CA]

and you could sit anywhere you wanted in the dining room. It was opened at the specific times, but there were so many people ashore sampling "Les Roullettes" that the dining room was only about half full. You could sit at your assigned table if you wanted to, but didn't have to. The dress code was very casual and it was fun to sit and chat with our new friends. The next night, we had a 'sail-away' dinner and smart casual at your assigned table was the order of the day.

Right. That is similar to what we had on the Royal Princess last year where we had an overnight in Manaus and weren't leaving until the next night. It was completely open seating. People were still nicely dressed and didn't show up in jeans.