Dining Question, Millie, July 17th

[Mrs. PB]

My husband are first time cruisers, cruising from Seward to Vancouver on July 17th. We are not sure which dining time is the best-early or late. We have discussed pros and cons for both. We plan on doing excursions at each port, if that makes a difference. Does anybody have any insights? If one time doesn't work for us, can we change our seatings in the middle of our cruise? We don't care whether we have a table for two or a table for 10. Thank you for any input you may have!:)

[Napi's Mom]

My husband are first time cruisers, cruising from Seward to Vancouver on July 17th. We are not sure which dining time is the best-early or late. We have discussed pros and cons for both. We plan on doing excursions at each port, if that makes a difference. Does anybody have any insights? If one time doesn't work for us, can we change our seatings in the middle of our cruise? We don't care whether we have a table for two or a table for 10. Thank you for any input you may have!:)

You may not have a choice this late in the game...on our 6/19 cruise we were told 1 1/2 months ago already, that there was only "late" dining available. Now as we are people who like to tour, this is better than our early dining in Jan. for our Mille cruise. As it is at 6 or 6:30pm, you must rush to get back to the ship, to get ready to go to eat and if you are late more than 15 min., you aren't seated (tho some of our tablemates thought our 6 was at 6:30 and for the first 2 nights arrived late, VERY late and were served anyway. In Alaska it is light out VERY late in June & July, and our port times run late too...many we don't sail until 8-9pm. I'm not sure you can change halfway thru, but some changed tables right after arrival.

[The_Big_M]

My husband are first time cruisers, cruising from Seward to Vancouver on July 17th. We are not sure which dining time is the best-early or late. We have discussed pros and cons for both. We plan on doing excursions at each port, if that makes a difference. Does anybody have any insights? If one time doesn't work for us, can we change our seatings in the middle of our cruise?

 

Those aren't commonly available options as there may not be capacity where you wish to switch to (unless you happen to tee up some exchange of your own, which is usually unlikely). If you wish to see what is available, you should check with the Maitre D' who has a roster of placements.

 

However, if you find a time doesn't suit you, either on a particular day or for the remainder of the cruise, you do have other dining options. There is the specialty restaurant, at a $30 per person/seating charge starting from around 6 p.m - 10 p.m., although it does take bookings so a specific time/availability cannot be guaranteed if made at the last minute.

 

There is also the choice of informal dining in a separate dining area in the evenings on the Ocean Cafe. This has a $2 person gratuity associated with it (separate to main dining) and a menu choice similar to the main dining area.

 

Lastly, there is the general buffet which is open throughout the evening without bookings so can be used any time you wish.

 

As a courtesy if you cannot make your scheduled dining session, please let your waiter know so he knows he doesn't need to wait for you to arrive, particularly if you have tablemates as courses are typically served together.

[Shirley and Les]

Since your bodies are normally on Pacific Time, either dining time should be suitable. I think there may be a one hour time change to Alaska time from Pacific time. Therefore, dining at 8:30 pm would be the same as dinner at 9:30 for your internal clock. Not too bad a change! It's more dramatic for us Eastern Time people.

 

Personally, I would opt for late dining. After a day ashore, it is nice to have an hour or two unwinding time before a show and dinner. A few minutes in the T-pool, a hot tub or on your balcony with a glass of wine is very restorative. I am not sure of the structure of the last sentence but I am NOT advocating drink glasses ;) in the pool.

 

The disadvantage of late dining is you have to stay awake a few hours after dinner to work off dinner. Since they normally have the post-dinner show as a pre-dinner :confused: event for late diners, this means you have to take a walk, go to the casino, Michael's Club, or the Rendevous Lounge after dinner. Life is tough!

 

The downside to this is you have to be able to sleep fast. You also want to be up at the break of dawn to watch the entrance into the next port or the activity at the glacier. Sea life and onshore wildlife abound in Alaska and these creatures are up early looking for breakfast since they don't have the choice of dining room, buffet or cabin service. :rolleyes:

[Napi's Mom]

Just checked a site from another thread....On June 20th, the sun sets...at 10:08...stays light until 11:26pm~~then starts to lighten up again...2:30am...giving a grand total of...3 hrs of dark!!Dawn is at 3:51am..(.I won't be trying to beat the dawn to the deck.) So sleep might not be too easy to get anyway:eek: