early or late seating for dinner?

[etexfam]

We're going on our family's first cruise in July. RCCL. Mom, Dad, sis (13) and bro (9). Any thoughts about early or late seating? wife and i went on one in 1990, but things have sure changed since then.

[tomko2]

It truly depends on your normal pattern and likely with children the better option is early seating. My DH and I choose early seating because we usually get back on the ship by 4:00 anyway so we have plenty of time to relax and get ready for dinner at 6:30. When we last cruised, the shows for people with late seating were held while we early diners were eating, hence those people had to be dressed for dinner early anyway (if they wanted to catch the shows).

Enjoy your cruise.

[etexfam]

Excellent point. Thanks. My kids are real troopers, and early or late won't bother them any more than me. My only thought about going with the late dinner was to give us time to rest, but i'd much rather go to a show after dinner.I'm new to this site. Boy, the internet has sure changed my preparation for trips. i imagine I'll be researching this trip for the next six months. For me, the planning and research is almost as much fun as the trip itself.

[Cotton]

....but i'd much rather go to a show after dinner.

 

Hi Etex! Since you're new, welcome. Also - knowing which ship and/or cruiseline would help us answer your questions. For instance, if you will be on Carnival, early diners see the early shows at 8:30pm, and late diners see the late shows at 10:30pm. This varies line to line.

 

Cruise Critic is a wonderful place to gather all kinds of info. Planning your cruise is always such a fun part of the process, as you said. Each line has their own little forums.... IF you will be cruising on Carnival, here's a site to get you started::)

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=215&page=1&sort=lastpost&order=&pp=25&daysprune=-1

[katisdale]

I'd check the daily patters to see what time the kids activities are in the PM. If they are scheduled from 7 to 10 PM and your 9 year old really wants to go, then the 8:30 dinner cuts into his time there. (Whether the 13 year old will have any interest??? Even a young teen may want to be with new friends rather than a program and the friends availability in the PM will depend on what their families have chosen and who can even put that into the equation).

[ineedacruise]

I would check and see what times you will be leaving your ports. Late seating may give you extra time ashore.

 

We have taken both early and late. I like late better because you can get quiet time at the pool area, something more time ashore. The downfall... you may not be hungry by the time midnight buffets open.

[Loki_77573]

I have tried both and there is a huge difference not considering the show. What I have found as far as the pros and cons to late seating are:

 

Pros -

 

*you have more time to unwind, relax after a day in port and the option to skip the show should you chose, because if your are a foodie, you would never opt to skip dinner

 

*the wait staff are more relaxed because they do not have to rush you out to accommodate another seating

 

*you are more apt to get seconds or thirds of... and yes on my last cruise the waiter brought the desert tray and my tablemates picked their favorite, I said the tray; he happily presented me with one of each of the deserts! I am not saying that this would not happen in first seating however, at the second seating they know by indulging one guest they will not short another

 

 

 

Cons-

 

*after trying to fit a weeks worth of exploring in to one day you may be too hungry to wait until late seating thus a snack and spoiling your appetite for their wonderful dinners

 

*if eating and then going to bed is a problem, I would reconsider late seating unless you are the party person or a night owl. It is not uncommon to leave the dining room 10ish. (This may sound silly, but...if you have an outside cabin and you normally do not sleep during the day, you may have a problem with this because the sun creeps around the curtains and it is very bright even at 7:00 am) I can stay up till all hours of the night but I can not sleep with the sun in my room - gads- I might miss something!!

 

Keep in mind first seating fills up faster. It is normally easier to switch from early to late seating than the reverse. My preference is late seating but my next cruise will be first seating. (I am in search of a 6:30 seating. <grin>)

 

The food will be terrific at either seating. I hope you and your family have a great time!:)

 

Lori

[motherchic]

I agree with all the above.

on RCCL we did early seating since then we have been on Celebrity and had late seating. I was concerned about having shows pre-dinner. on the cruise they did some ahead and some not.

I dont go to sleep early. After the show we walked outside- did the casino-listened to music etc.

What I like is the leisure time-the pool area gets quite and you get to ENJOY. On the celebrity you have the thallo spa pools also. I loved being in there having the jets massage all and chatting with fellow shipmates.

also the ship usually departs the islands during the first seating. its always wonderful to be deck side to watch. Also the sunsets are great-1st seatings tend to miss this

So I will always stay with 2nd seating but honestly you will ENJOY-ENJOY-ENJOY anyway you choose

Nadine