Dining with kids in MDR

[CruizinMom2c]

Our son always eats in the MDR....he will do the same this time in a few days. :) We like to eat as a family.

[falconfan]

Always had our son eat with us. If any of your kids get antsy waiting for their food just let your waiter know to bring the kids meals as soon as they are ready. We did that for our nephew, he was really excited to get back to Camp Carnival each night so our waiters brought his food as soon as it was ready.

[lillian marie]

My 3 yr. old is accustomed to dining in restaurants. I took her on a business luncheon when the nanny was sick a few weeks ago. She behaves well and loves the waiters dancing and singing, ugg I don't. Take your kids to the dining room and enjoy your family. We do anytime dining because we like to eat with her early. If she's tired or fussy we eat in the Lido or take turns going to the dining room and feed her at the Lido. You'll have fun!

[Sandpiper10]

We will have our girls age 6 and 3 with us for all the meals on the ship. They are very well behaved in nice restaurants and are very excited about "eating out" for an entire week on the ship. I couldn't imagine having the girls eat with someone else besides us. They enjoyed shopping for their dresses for the MDR. This is their 1st cruise, and they will enjoy the fancy dining every night. We are on a family vacation and are looking forward to making alot of family memories! :)

My DH and I love the lido deck food, however, I feel it may be easier to be served our meals, instead of DH and I trying to juggle trays on the Lido deck!

[Sandpiper10]

Wow! So many responses. Thanks so much guys! We are signed up for the early seating. My parents are very tolerant of kids (well my mom is anyway :) but she thought they would enjoy it more being in the camp. I know my kids will enjoy the MDR more than the camp.

 

Personally, I don't really care what other people think about me bringing my kids into the MDR. :) I know that they are well behaved and they know what I expect from them. I want them to try a lot of different foods so I think the MDR will be better for them. We do eat out quite a bit and have gone to really nice restaurants with them. They really behave themselves.

 

It is great that they may seat us near/with other families. That would be cool.

 

You definately shouldn't care what other people think about bringing your child to the main dining room. If they have a problem with it, then o well! I do see that most families do go for the early seating, as we are, so expect alot of kids, good food and great quality family time! Enjoy your trip!

[kyrisong1]

If I were you I would take them to the MDR, they have paid for the dining room just like any other cruiser, and they should have the experience.

If they like it bravo, let them enjoy it with you, if they would rather eat at camp then they should be able to do that.

I think that family dinners are important myself, but then that maybe just be the region I live, or the generation in which I was brought up.

Have an awesome time whatever you decide, I hope they love it!!!

Carole

[peppermintpatty]

Carole, I totally agree. We almost always have dinner together every night.

[Boatingmom]

My children have always eaten in the MDR with us. We really only utilize the kids club if we want to go to the casino. They have become pros. The last cruise we found that they were filling up with pizza and burgers mid to late afternoon. We also felt rushed to get to our cabin and change and missed sailaway with early seating. This cruise we'll be doing late seating with the children. They know to watch their manners. Since we started cruising my daughter has become a lobster addict. First time at the age of 5 she ordered a second lobster. :o Priceless.

[Tbay-eh]

My children have always eaten in the MDR with us. We really only utilize the kids club if we want to go to the casino. They have become pros. The last cruise we found that they were filling up with pizza and burgers mid to late afternoon. We also felt rushed to get to our cabin and change and missed sailaway with early seating. This cruise we'll be doing late seating with the children. They know to watch their manners. Since we started cruising my daughter has become a lobster addict. First time at the age of 5 she ordered a second lobster. :o Priceless.

 

Just a note here - any ship I have been on has had open seating for the first day (sail away) so you don't have to rush or dress up (not that anyone does anymore for MDR). We have always sat our assigned table and gone at the specified time but others have not and have been able to dine.

[wentworth]

I am taking my 3yo on our first cruise this May. As long as he is behaving properly, I plan on eating in the MDR with him every night. I do have a question, though. My son has a very "grown up palette". He likes steak, grilled chicken, and (can you believe it) broccoli. So I was planning on ordering off of the regular menu for him. However, he is only 3, so there is no way he could finish a full size portion. I was wondering if I could get the waiter to bring a half size or a smaller size portion. I hate to waste food, but I don't want to cause the waiter any added grief, either. Does anyone know if this is ever done? thanks in advance:)

 

 

OUr 5 yr old granddaughter has cruised 4 times with us. She loves

steak, broccoli and shrimp. Our waiter brought her a shrimp cocktail

each nite after the second time she ordered. She also had a steak

each nite. Not much was wasted.

[jaixrx]

My 2 sons (8 and 9) ate every night on the Dream with us last week. They loved the whole experience and our waiters made them feel like kings! My 8 year old had steak every night! A far cry from the mac and cheese he's getting tonight!

[mom2girls]

My kids LOVE to eat with me in the dining room. They do usually eat with their friends one night at Camp. But, they like the food in the dining room much better. (They have the warm chocolate melting cake every night for dessert.)

[tamsocal]

I am taking my 3yo on our first cruise this May. As long as he is behaving properly, I plan on eating in the MDR with him every night. I do have a question, though. My son has a very "grown up palette". He likes steak, grilled chicken, and (can you believe it) broccoli. So I was planning on ordering off of the regular menu for him. However, he is only 3, so there is no way he could finish a full size portion. I was wondering if I could get the waiter to bring a half size or a smaller size portion. I hate to waste food, but I don't want to cause the waiter any added grief, either. Does anyone know if this is ever done? thanks in advance:)

 

yes- this is not a big deal form the cruises that we have been on. The staff are great with modifications. Even if an adult wants a dinner sized portion of an appetizer-- they have always been great. There were times though that they told us based on the way the food was prepped that they couldn't half or quarter it but also told us not to worry- he could just eat what he wanted & leave the rest

[dancindukes]

I think it is a great experience for your children. I would not recommend late seating. Kids are used to eating much earlier than that. Hope you have a great time.

[satx78205]

We had early seating on our cruise two weeks ago. Our 8 year old grandson behaved pretty well (sometimes he just doesn't want to go along with the program). The waiters gave him extra attention, along with another 10 year old, that was at our table. A couple of years ago, on another cruise, we had the late seating. That was a disaster. He was tired from the pool and wasn't cooperating too much. We still wanted to eat at the MDR, so the waiters always had his order out as soon as we got there.

[KenMo]

I'm one that likes to avoid kids as much as possible on a cruise, but I have always seen kids in the dining room.

 

If you're going to bring your kids on a cruise, why wouldn't they be able to go in the dining room and eat with mom and dad???

 

Bring 'em and have a good time!! (I plan on bringing my brand new grandson as soon as he's old enough!)

[mapman_2004]

I'm one that likes to avoid kids as much as possible on a cruise, but I have always seen kids in the dining room.

 

If you're going to bring your kids on a cruise, why wouldn't they be able to go in the dining room and eat with mom and dad???

 

Bring 'em and have a good time!! (I plan on bringing my brand new grandson as soon as he's old enough!)

 

I like your honesty about avoiding kids, and the fact you think it is fine to bring kids to the MDR.

[CalmCruiserNC]

My wife and I don't have children, so I've never really thought about it before now, but I didn't realize that kids COULD eat dinner in Camp Carnival.

 

Seems like the overwhelming majority of the kids we've seen in the MDR have been well-behaved and looked like they were enjoying themselves. I'm sure the meal feels tooo long for the very youngest, so they get tired/bored/fussy -- but that's to be expected. I would hope that families would share dinner together ... especially on a cruise.

 

By and large, we try and steer clear of the areas of the ship where families and kids congregate -- but dinner is a different story. It's great to see parents using a cruise as an opportunity to give their children exposure to the finer things in life and how to best enjoy them.

[lillian marie]

Your child's cruise fare is the same cost as a 3rd or 4th adult in a cabin. Your child has an equal right to dine where ever you wish them to dine. I've sat with some very drunk and obnoxious adult tablemates at assigned dining. Your child at his or her worst could not even be close to that. if someone isn't fond of children it's their problem. Eat with your kids in the dining room and create some wonderful family memories.

[MrPete]

I'm one that likes to avoid kids as much as possible on a cruise, but I have always seen kids in the dining room.

 

If you're going to bring your kids on a cruise, why wouldn't they be able to go in the dining room and eat with mom and dad???

 

Bring 'em and have a good time!! (I plan on bringing my brand new grandson as soon as he's old enough!)

 

I'm pretty sure there was a time when the camps weren't open during dinner, allowing all families to eat together.

[kenrod]

My six year old has been on 4 cruises and until our last cruise he has always eaten with us in the MDR. He loves to dress up on formal nights.

 

He like to try different foods, and he also looks forward to lobster night (I think he got that trait from me). Plus, if there is nothing on the menu that is appealing that night, there is always the kids menu which has all the favourites that kids like.

 

On our last cruise, our son loved Camp Carnival so much that twice he ate with the Camp Carnival kids and staff.

 

The other kids I have seen in the MDR have all been pretty well behaved. You might experience some whining, or a baby crying, but things like that happen.

 

By all means, take your kids to the main dining room!

[denred4]

my youngests were only 4 and 7 on our first cruise and they loved eating in the main dining room. They ate with the kids group once, but didn't like that. The next time, they were 10 and 13, and still wanted to join us for dinner instead of the going with the kids. They tried all sorts of new foods and really enjoyed that, and the atmosphere. I say, take them!

[poppadaddycruiser]

Kid hater! Kids hater! We always take our kids to dinner (and have never been on a cruise where the kids club fed dinner (except on special nights) frankly my only problem with humans in the MDR have been with the Adult versions.. LOL