I took the plunge and booked on the Noordam. Now I have questions about dining.

[Once a year]

I understand that there are 4 sittings for dinner, 2 early and 2 late. We usually go for the early sitting.

 

Wondering what the pros/cons are for the upper and lower dining room?

 

Thanks in advance for any info.

[Guest LoveMyBoxer]

The only postings I've seen about the upper dining room is the noise level. We were on the lower level and had a table right by a window and we were able to see the wake/waves, which was wonderful. On the upper level, there is a deck outside the windows, so you don't get a view of the ocean.

[RuthC]

Right now the Noordam is under the "Leisure Dining" test. There are two "windows" and you may arrive at your assigned table any time during your "window".

Early sitting may arrive between 5:30-6:00, and Main sitting arrival is 8:00-9:00.

To access the upper level you need to negotiate through the photo gallery, but you have the advantage of being on the same deck as those pre-dinner cocktail ;) lounges.

The lower level is the main level for the post-dinner show, casino, Piano Bar, Sports Bar.

It was nice and cool on the upper level. :)

[sab490]

The dining arrangements are changing to half traditional, half "as you wish." Someone on another thread said it will happen starting with Alaska itineraries in May.

[Welovetokruze]

My wife and I ate the 8:30 seating last March, and we enjoyed it very much. We are going again March 10 on the Noordam and they are having a modified seating on that cruise. It will be : Early seating, from 5:30 to 6:00 PM ,arrive anytime during that period. Late seating : Arrive anytime from 8:00 to 9:00 pm. You should enjoy the ship very much. It's very nice.:cool:

[Rahi]

Why is there a bigger window of time for later seating to arrive than the earlier?

[RuthC]

Why is there a bigger window of time for later seating to arrive than the earlier?

The Early window needs to be cut off to allow service and clean-up before the Main sitting diners come. To start Early at 5:00 probably wouldn't be effective as few passengers would be ready by then.

There are so few people coming close to 9:00 that closing down the dining room for the night isn't an issue.

In practice this schedule comes as close to the old two-sittings as anything not two-sittings can! Main sitting diners tend to arrive within a few minutes after 8:00---just like the old days!

[Hlitner]

This "window" policy seems like a big loser. They tell you that you have a regularly assigned table, but that if you arrive and some are already eating at your table (they came earlier) you may be moved to a different table for that meal. For those of us who enjoy meeting folks at larger tables, it can be conterproductive if you have a table with 4 couples and each couple arrives at a totally different time. The waiter either serves each couple as they arrive, or they delay serving until everyone arrives. Either way, it does not sound like a great policy.

 

Hank

[gentlemancruiser]

This new systems sounds very confusing.

We are sailing on Feb 28th and our TA sent us a confirmation this week. It indicated the early seating, which we've never had, so we asked him to call HAL and change it to the later seating. He contacted us a couple of hours later to say we are confirmed for the late seating at a table for 4. Now, I'm a bit concerned because we've never had any dining arrangements "confirmed" before a cruise, it's always been on a "request" basis....

Did HAL change this too????? or are we going to find out that nothing was changed by our TA.

We like the late seating, and we've tried dining at larger tables but it's never worked out for us, so we prefer to dine with our traveling companions.

Thanks,

Bruce