early or late seating? WHY??

[Leela]

By the way, if you booked via Celebrity's web site, you can change your seating preference yourself before you depart, if there's any availability.

 

Go to "Customize Your Cruise", log in, and click on "My Reservations." From there select "Customize" from next to your reservation, and click "Go." You'll be taken to the "Vacation Summary" page. Look down on the right for "Dining Arrangements" and click "View/Modify."

[pjsugg]

We have always had late, and we really enjoy it. But, never having early, I guess I couldn't say which is better!!!

 

We like late for most of the reasons mentioned already. We truly enjoyed our evening before dinner each night at the bar on Century visiting with Erol. We dressed by 7 or 7:30, went down and met many great people in the lounge before dinner. We kind of became friends along with way.

 

The other reason we do this, shows are not such a big deal for us anymore and we love the casino. But, we set a rule not to gamble until after dinner. So, you see how much money we probably save by not getting there until 10:30???? LOL

 

PJ (Patti)

[kely53]

We have always done early seating because the time is close to when we are used to eating and the shows are consistently after dinner. It is a bit of a rush to get back from excursions, shower and get to dinner by 6. We never got to enjoy the sunsets because we were in the dining room (winter month cruises). We are crusing on the Constellation in 3/06 and our itinerary is such that with the exception of one port day departing at 3, the rest are either 5:30pm or 11pm so we opted for late dinner so that we could stay on shore until the last minute and then enjoy watching the ship depart from the ports and the sunsets. Also, with early seating, we werent always hungary by 6, depending on what our activities were for that day. With late seating we can take advantage of some of the snacks that are available in the afternoon hours. I dont know if I will be sold on late seating, but it seemed to make the most sense for this itinerary.

[AFT_LOVER]

We are main seating, as dinner for us at home is 4PM as we are asleep by 9PM & up at 4AM daily. I'd be phoning room service for food before dinner if we had to wait. Amazing that early sells out faster than late.

 

But then again, there are times when we've been out snorkeling, walking, talking for a good 6 hours & do not feel like dressing for dinner since there is no great show that night, so we shower & have dinner delivered to our CC stateroom. What a show an AFT CC stateroom gives us out on the balcony. A few nights we have zzz'd out on the lounger instead of bed. That is relaxation to the max!

 

My wife and I prefer 1st seating. We are not night people, and if we eat late, we don't sleep as well.

 

Early meal, and 1st show works well for our "body clocks".

[davehau]

... We are crusing on the Constellation in 3/06 and our itinerary is such that with the exception of one port day departing at 3, the rest are either 5:30pm or 11pm so we opted for late dinner so that we could stay on shore until the last minute and then enjoy watching the ship depart from the ports and the sunsets. ...

 

My number one reason for choosing late seating is being able to relax on an aft deck and watch the sail-away. Never get tired of seeing the lines cast off and the ship slip away from land. I also prefer the more relaxed pace for getting ready for dinner, and I find the the wait staff are a bit more relaxed as they know the evening is winding down (except for the poor assistant waiters, who may still have to do the midnight bites service.) The only down side is the scheduling of the shows, as you do have to pay attention to whether they're running the late seating show before or after dinner.

 

Actually, since beginning to cruise, I've found myself eating later while at home as well. If I go somewhere and they eat at 5:30 or 6, it now seems quite odd ;)

[Luxana]

My husband and I used to eat on the early seating, but for the last five cruises switched to the late seating. We are going on the Summit to the Southern Caribbean April 1st and we're signed up for the late seating. We have just discovered that we like to have more time at the pool or relaxing having a drink before dinner or playing in the casino. And, hubby takes a nap before dinner, so the late seating just works out better.:D But, as I say, for years we did the early and loved it! As far as the shows are concerned, we usually make a couple per cruise and that's it. For late seating, sometimes the show is before dinner. Many of the shows aboard ship are not as good as they used to be in yester years in our opinion.:(

[motherchic]

we were able to change to late seating afterall. It would not have been the end of the world but we really do enjoy the late seating better- . That will make it all the more enjoyable.

We cannot afford to cruise very often. it is such a treat that when we do get to go....you want to be able to enjoy and soak up every moment and that includes watching the ship leave port-relaxing in the thallo pool and having time for a martini pre-dinner

Nadine

[BillC]

Dinner Seating : My 88 year old Mother-in-Law said it all on our recent Mexican Riviera cruise on the Mercury.When I asked her which seating she wanted she answered "Why late,of course.Early seating makes the cocktail hour too short,and the night too long!"

[Luxana]

BillC, your mother-in-law hit the nail on the head! That is exactly a major reason we have late dinner! By the time you finish, it's ten or 10:30 and at that point the night life is just getting started. After awhile, my DH usually goes back to the cabin, takes a nap and then gets up at 12 or one and goes to the casino! I go to a show or a lounge and by the time he's at the casino, I may go to bed! :D

[alacava]

We choose late everytime. We prefer the relax and before dinner. I will admit that I sometimes don't like late since I miss something on the ship, but also the waiter is not rushing you (not that they ever do) to finish so they can get ready for the next group.

[kelmac]

Why be straight-jacketed into one seating? You keep the early one and have your spouse/friend/travelling companion switch to late. That way you can choose each day which one to have. Scout out the DR and it's really easy after a day or two to actually go to both seatings. This is great for those who get embarassed asking for two or more servings of anything - they can get one at each seating!

 

All the class of Celebrity with the dining convenience of NCL - what more could you ask? :rolleyes:

 

Kidding right? The staff's salary is low enough without having people intentionally no show thier section of the dining room.

 

We prefer main seating. We aren't late night people and can't sleep on a full stomach. In addition, everything is fresh main seating--(the food, the people..,)

Sometimes it requires some planning as far as shore excursions go. We did book the alternative restaurant later on days we would be returning late from some excursion.

 

Enjoy!

Kel

[catchafairy]

We choose the late seating, because we never have dinner before 7:30/8:00 at home. We like the idea of relaxing on our balcony after a day in port and having a leisurely drink before dinner. Then, we go to the late show (if there is no late show, c'est la vie), have an after-dinner drink, and spend some more time relaxing on our balcony before going to bed. Somehow, this seems to make the day last longer ;). We reserve the specialty restaurant on our days at sea, because we've already spent the day relaxing and the late seating on those days is a bit too late.

[neevakee]

we choose early, are not big cocktail people, but enjoy having long nights. Also i have more room for the buffet at night.

[gracecarmo]

We always get early seating due to the fact that at home we usually eat around 6:30-7:00. This works out even if the seating starts at 6:00. By the time you visit a little, order wine, your dinner will arrive around 7:00.

As far as not being "rushed" prior to dinner: we adjust our time accordingly. Our tours (if any) are always in the morning. We are usually back at the ship for lunch, and enjoy the mostly empty ship, using the pool. Then, we have the rest of the afternoon to relax, get ready for dinner, and pre dinner cocktails.

Yes, there were times when our tour lasted all day, that's when we booked the alternative restaurant, or just had pizza and pasta.

Also, we have the whole evening for shows, casino, and SHOPPING! lol.

It is good that we all like something different....

 

Grace

[Host Kewlguy]

We ALWAYS take late seating for dinner. We are very active, especially when we are in port. The last thing we want to do is rush back to the ship for dinner. With late seating we can take our time and not have to rush to get ready. Plus the best time to do any shopping on board is during early seating. All the stores are empty. If only RCC/Celebrity would schedule the late seating show for after dinner instead of before dinner. That is one of our biggest complaints.