ChuckL88

Ive been on a lot of cruises and almost never have i seen people taking food into shows other than maybe a dessert or a snack. yes drinks, they cost money but food is plentifull.

 

For instance movies under the stars there is popcorn, and I've been known to grab some and bring it to a show... but I've never brought the kind of food that requires silverware except to my cabin.

 

for one thing shows don't have a place to sit and eat food. maybe a little pull out place where you could sit a drink, but I've never seen someone eating serious food in a show. just not space IMO. and the smell to me would bother the people crowded up near me. So if you mean eating dinner in a show, i would say I've never seen it. a snack, stopping to get some soft serve ice cream or dessert yes, dinner or a meal no.

Thanks Firefly

Exactly what I thought, I would only take snacks like popcorn or a small dessert

People have said they have taken food to the main show room and comedy club, I wouldn't do it because the seating isn't really good for trying to eat food. Drinks absolutely.

 

Candi

Thanks Candi

That is what I thought, just wanted to know if you were allowed to bring any food at all like a snack

I think YTD is great, as I like flexibility as well. But please don't think that your group needs to be connected at the hip to each other. You have a diverse age grouping so there will be evenings or tour times when each might want to go off and do their own thing. Dining might be one of these times, the toddler/infant will dictate more of what its parents will do, as such make it clear to everyone that there is no need to be together the whole time. '

Have a great time!

Thanks for the help Sauer Kraut, that is why I want YTD so flexible and easy to manage. Dinner might be one of the only times we come together as a whole group but who knows.

To make sure that you are assigned to the same table or at least tables close to one another, link your reservations.

 

DON

Thanks for your reply Don

Can't comment on the casino, but I have never seen anybody walk into a show lounge/theatre with a plate full of food from the MDR or buffet. However, I have seen them bringing snacks, fruit, etc.

Thank you Heidi,

That is exactly what I wanted to know wouldn't think about eating my whole meal in there just wanted to know for snacks and a small dessert.

"Just wondering are you allowed to take food into the main show room, comedy club and casino."

God I hope not. Let there be some places on the ship we can go without having people bringing in food.

Sorry to offend Barbara, wanted to know if it was allowed

There is a fourum on CC dedicated to Carnival.

You might want to rad there and post your questions there.

Thanks for the advice NMLady

Chuck; I have never seen anybody eating in Showroom, Comedy club or Casino on any type of cruise. Eat on balcony if you have one or any where up on lido deck 9....

Thanks Hunter

What about the pubs and bars is there food available there, even just snacks?

Maybe you could have a practise on the cruise before you get to Paris!! Guys and iguana I have only done at lunchtime and I'm assuming they open dinner but not sure about breakfast. You will get a daily newsletter in your cabin and it will list all the opening hours for the next day. Happy to help, I remember being the same before my first cruise! I hope you're ready to become addicted to cruising!

 

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Also wanted to note that Guy's Burgers and Blue Iguana do sound more like lunch time eats, as does Fat Jimmy's. May I ask what you didn't find appealing about the BBQ at Fat Jimmy's?

Maybe you could have a practise on the cruise before you get to Paris!! Guys and iguana I have only done at lunchtime and I'm assuming they open dinner but not sure about breakfast. You will get a daily newsletter in your cabin and it will list all the opening hours for the next day. Happy to help, I remember being the same before my first cruise! I hope you're ready to become addicted to cruising!

 

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Great idea a trial run sounds smart and if I don't like it I can get something else or just order two starters or what have you straight away.

Yeah I know about the fun times aka my new collectors item, I will actually be using the Carnival hub app which I have already downloaded ready.

I am definitely a planner and want to know everything I can, than I can be a source of knowledge to my travelling party. I am so ready, sign me up to cruisers anonymous meetings now will need them next year :)

I am also wondering about taking food around the ship, I have read it is pretty common to move from place to place with your food and drink.

Just wondering are you allowed to take food into the main show room, comedy club and casino.

If so is there anywhere you can not take your food and drinks? e.g. arcade, gym or library.

No idea on that.

Thanks again Ray, I would assume that is how they would do it but not sure on space for things like that.

I am also wondering about taking food around the ship, I have read it is pretty common to move from place to place with your food and drink.

Just wondering are you allowed to take food into the main show room, comedy club and casino.

If so is there anywhere you can not take your food and drinks? e.g. arcade, gym or library.

I am also wondering about taking food around the ship, I have read it is pretty common to move from place to place with your food and drink.

Just wondering are you allowed to take food into the main show room, comedy club and casino.

If so is there anywhere you can not take your food and drinks? e.g. arcade, gym or library.

Cruising is all about being relaxed so whatever you're comfortable with is the way to go. They have escargots in the MDR so you might get to try some new things there and the beauty is if you order something and don't like it you can just tell your waiter and they will happily bring you something else.

 

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Yes I have read that you can order as much or as little as you would like in the MDR, I would love to try escargot not sure if I will gain the courage though always said I would try when I eventually get to Paris.

I have also seen that the soft serve ice cream and pizza pirate are 24/7, but when are places like Guy's Burgers and Blue Iguana Cantina open for breakfast/lunch/dinner?

Thanks again for all your help Suz :)

Nouveau is actually really good and pretty good value for what you get. The buffet is available for all meals. I'm not a fan of it for dinner but its fine for breakfast and lunch especially on port days. Guys burgers is good as is the blue iguana Mexican and the pizzas are delicious. I don't really like the BBQ place. People can be a bit funny about carnival but I like the relaxed nature of the Spirit.

 

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Don't get me wrong Nouveau sounds amazing and great value for money compared to land based restaurants of its calibre, but I have not tried things like escargot or even lobster yet and wouldn't even have a clue what steak to get. I am not very refined and feel that places like the MDR, buffet and Guy's burgers are more my style.

The MDR is pretty accommodating. You'll get the hang of it pretty quickly. The alternate dining areas are more flexible if you feel like something more casual. MDR do a good sea day brunch and you don't need a booking for that.

 

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Thank you for the help Suzanne :)

What else is open for dinner apart from Nouveau which seems a little swanky for my taste?

Also thank you for the heads up about sea day brunch, it sounds like a delight :)

I would suggest traditional, based on the size of your group. It gives the staff time to plan for your large group.

 

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Thanks for the advice Broadwaybaby, I will take this into consideration.

The reason I am leaning towards "Your Time Dining" is because we like the flexibility of it.

10 is the biggest table on most ships so 11 will probably require splitting the group.

 

The rest depends on your dining selection. If you choose early or late assigned times you will eat at the same time and same table nightly with the group you are paired with. If you choose to eat elsewhere have others in your party notify the servers so they don't delay the group waiting on you.

 

If you do Anytime Dining people can eat whatever time they wish or you can show up as a group and they will seat you accordingly. The wait will be dependent on time and availability.

Thank you Ray :)

Considering one of my table mates will be in a high chair, do they just set this up at the end of the table and we will all fit then being 10 chairs and 1 high chair?

Hi Chuck. I was on the Spirit in July - here’s what I can tell you...

1. Tables are big enough - they will make up a table for your party.

2. There can be a long wait depending upon the time you go, especially as you will want a table for 9.

3. You do not have to inform MDR if you are dining elsewhere.

4. You have the choice of dining when, where and how you want - not necessarily all together all the time.

Don’t worry too much about this - enjoy the cruise, there’s always plenty to eat, no matter where you are seated, who you are with or what time [emoji1].

 

 

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Thanks for your reply Jandex and all your help, I hope you liked your cruise on the Spirit in July. I can not wait for December 2019 to finally arrive :)

Plenty more questions to come I am sure.

If you have "Your Time Dining", you may be a large group, or break into smaller one. YTD is like a regular restaurant..Larger parties are harder to seat than 2 or 4. You can call the dining room and make reservations for the nights you will be dining as a large group. As long as everyone has YTD, you may eat separately or together...your choice.

 

If you do "traditional" seating, then your table is waiting for YOU.... since you will be seated as a group there, someone not showing won't affect anyone else except your own party!

Thanks CB for your help in clarifying this all, I like the idea of "Your Time Dining" because of its flexibility and just wanted some clarity into how it would work with a group of my size :)

Plenty more questions to come

1. Yes.

2. Not sure.

3. No need to.

4. Yes.

 

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

Hi Paul, thanks for your answers and welcome.

Just wanted to cover all basis as travelling with a larger group, will probably have lots more questions for you :)

Hi all

I am currently planning my first cruise and have plenty of questions.

I will be sailing on Carnival Spirit for a 9 night cruise, from Sydney Australia to New Caledonia on the 9th of December 2019.

I will be travelling as part of a group of 11 if all goes according to plan.

We are considering your time dining. The youngest will be in a high chair.

1. Are there tables on board this ship big enough for all of us?

2. Is there normally a long wait for a table this size?

3. If we decide to eat somewhere else for dinner do we still inform the MDR?

4. Can we all eat at different times or separately if some want to dine elsewhere?

Hi all

I am currently planning my first cruise and have plenty of questions.

I will be sailing on Carnival Spirit for a 9 night cruise, from Sydney Australia to New Caledonia on the 9th of December 2019.

I will be travelling as part of a group of 11 if all goes according to plan.

We are considering your time dining. The youngest will be in a high chair.

1. Are there tables on board this ship big enough for all of us?

2. Is there normally a long wait for a table this size?

3. If we decide to eat somewhere else for dinner do we still inform the MDR?

4. Can we all eat at different times or separately if some want to dine elsewhere?

Hi all

I am currently planning my first cruise and have plenty of questions.

I will be sailing on Carnival Spirit for a 9 night cruise, from Sydney Australia to New Caledonia on the 9th of December 2019.

I will be travelling as part of a group of 11 if all goes according to plan.

We are considering your time dining. The youngest will be in a high chair.

1. Are there tables on board this ship big enough for all of us?

2. Is there normally a long wait for a table this size?

3. If we decide to eat somewhere else for dinner do we still inform the MDR?

4. Can we all eat at different times or separately if some want to dine elsewhere?