M78fl370

Hope its okay to piggy back on this thread. I am trying to decide between anytime dining and the early seating. Other than being able to sit with our friends if we choose the early dining, whats the perk to having a set time? It seems anytime would be the way to go. What am I missing?

We recently went back to assigned seating after about 4 cruises of doing anytime dining. There are a few things that we like about assigned. First, it's fun to get to know your servers over the course of a week, and always have "your table" every night guaranteed without a wait. Just walk in, sit down, and your servers are waiting for you, calling you by name, and already knowing everything you like.

Second, and this is just me, I like having a set time to plan the rest of the evening around. With anytime, for us, it was always this conversation: "Well what time do you want to eat? If we eat now, we can go do this. Or wait till later, and we can go do that. I don't care, whatever you want to do. No, whatever you want to do" and It was always hard to get everyone on the same page. With assigned seating, it's already scheduled, and something to look forward to and plan on during the day.

Thirdly, an ideal time for us to eat is around 7. This is right between the assigned dining times though, which most of the entertainment is based around. We would always end up planning to eat around 7, so we'd get ready and head out around 6 to take a few pictures maybe, and listen to some music in the lobby. Unfortunately, at 6 the early seating just started, so the musicians were always on break, the photographers were always on break, and there was nothing to do. It's a very awkward time for the usual milling about and entertainment before dinner.

The downside to assigned, although some actually see it as a positive, is being seated with strangers. That was ok for a while, and we were usually seated with a compatible couple, but I'm tired of making small talk with people I don't know. I have to do that all the time at work, and I just want a meal with my wife and whoever else we're traveling with. The last few cruises have been with either a large group, or with my wife and two small children, so we've had our own table the last few years, so it hasn't been an issue.

But the problem with that is they are royally screwing their customers. Many flights and hotels need 48 hours to be canceled. People in my party have their vacation days set and can't change them, so if they don't get to go here, they don't get a vacation at all this year. Carnival has been going downhill for years now and after this debacle, I doubt I will ever cruise with them again. They need to man the f**k up and make a decision.

Agreed, it's unaccapetable at this point to not make a decision. They have no regard for their customers. I would be livid if I had a cruise scheduled this weekend.

Just got off the Breeze on last Sunday. Our elegant nights were Monday and Thursday. Thursday made sense since we pulled out of Grand Cayman about 4pm vs pulling out of Cozumel about 6pm on Friday.

 

Less than 10% of the men were wearing anything better than a shirt/tie on Monday, and even less on Thursday. In fact, two guys sitting at tables either side of us were wearing shorts on Thursday. I saw another that was hilarious...shorts, leather flip flops, golf shirt and sport jacket. But I guess he made an effort.

 

They just need to forget about elegant night and call it lobster night, and only one night. But they probably have good revenue from all the formal pictures so likely here to stay.

I was on the same cruise and I'll have to disagree. We were at the late seating, but I was impressed at how many were dressed up. I'd say over 50% of the men were wearing jackets, and I saw hardly anyone without at least a nice shirt and tie.

Just off the Valor a week ago, and yes, no Makers. But Woodford Reserve replaced it, so I was happy.

If you've been on Conquest and Valor, then you will be right at home on Triumph. The Conquest ships are just lengthened versions of it. The lido deck is almost identical, the promenade, everything. The Triumph just doesn't have the steakhouse and a few other things that the Conquest class has. Ive been on the Triumph twice, once before the incident in the gulf and once after, but it's been a couple of years since he most recent time. Greatly enjoyed both cruises, and the decor on the Triumph is one of my favorites. Would go on it again in a heartbeat.