Anytime dining waitlist question

[Umbrelladog]

As first time Carnival cruisers (we have sailed on Celebrity in the past) and like other posters, we didn't realize when you chose anytime dining that you could be waitlisted and likely not to get your choice. We didn't find this out until after full payment was made and reservations confirmed. We are traveling with a toddler and the flexibility would certainly make our lives easier. I'm wondering if any preference is given to those in suites, as 2 of the 3 couples in our party are booked into a suite. If anyone has any experience with this/info on this, it would be great to know. Thanks!

[MrsHeart]

All I know is that prior to us booking, late dining was full; as soon as we chose a suite we had our choice, so I do believe that there is a preference to those in suites as well as platinum cruisers.

[girlscruise2011]

I was waitlisted for my Thanksgiving Cruise 2010 and when I got my S&S card, I had anytime dining. People say if you don't get it to go to the Maitre D when you board and speak to him directly. Some people change their minds once they board the ship and there still is a chance you can get it. I know that Platinums get their choice of dining times but I don't think having a suite gets you that perk. Carnival only gives Suites VIP embarkment and disembarkment from what I was told. I have a Suite for my cruise in October.

[SteelerCruiser]

we prefer Late Seating........we tried the ATD on our last cruise and during the 1st night I asked the Maitre'D if we coulf switch to traditional late. Ended up having a great server!

[Kato27]

we prefer Late Seating........we tried the ATD on our last cruise and during the 1st night I asked the Maitre'D if we coulf switch to traditional late. Ended up having a great server!

Just curious...i have no experience, its my first cruise. I did take anytime dinning, me second choice would have been late seating. Just wondering why u would have changed?

[bodybycoorslight]

We've sailed with Carnival 10 times previously and everytime selected early seating. After reading some posts on "anytime dining" I called to switch and was told I would be on the waiting list since our departure date was so close (3 weeks). I received confirmation later that evening that we were confirmed for anytime dining. I look foward to seeing how this works out for my family.

[homeofthedogs]

We had always picked Late Dinning for our cruises. But after sailing with NCL and they had ATD which we really liked, we changed our last cruise to ATD on Carnival. Really is nice to get ready at your leisure and go when you want. We even were able to ask for certain servers each night.

[adamt]

We're doing anytime dining in Nov for the first time. We chose this because we're in a number of ports past 6pm and don't want to be rushed back to the boat for dinner.

 

It sounds ideal for us. We'll request a table for 2 and gladly wait for one to open up while we grab a drink or hit up the casino for a few minutes.

 

Also, being able to go to dinner at 9pm sounded great if we ate a late lunch.

[redlef]

We booked a balcony and the PVP said Anytime dining was wait list only. I told her that if I couldn't have anytime dining, I would book a different cruise leaving the next day. I'm not paying $3000 to eat when they want me to. She said she could guarantee I had Anytime dining.

 

When I checked the booking, it said I was waitlisted for Anytime dining and I called in and made a fuss about it.

 

The booking continued to say waitlisted for Anytime Dining, and then I saw an aft wrap became available so I called in and upgraded to it. Within a day my booking said Anytime Dining confirmed.

 

Maybe the suite did make a difference, or maybe the PVP just took a few days to deliver what she had originally promised.

[CatlinSTJ]

We were waitlisted on the Glory last year and found out at boarding that we had gotten the ATD and were quite happy. Not big deal though. We have it again this year and it was confirmed right away.

[adamt]

I believe that everyone initially starts out 'waitlisted' for anytime dining. It took 24hrs for ours to show up on Carnivals site.

[Sundiego]

On our recent Triumph cruise we booked very late and were wait listed for Anytime Dining. At check in, our S&S card said Late Dining. We went to the Maitre D' as soon as we could after boarding and were still unable to change it. They didn't even have early dining available so we ate late on night #1. On day #2, we tried again and they were able to give us early dining, but never had luck getting anytime dining.

 

Lesson learned... if you book late and are not Platinum, you take what you get.

 

I know this don't answer your question OP since you specifically asked about Suite perks. Good luck with your dining plans and have a great cruise!

[tef43]

I'm wondering if any preference is given to those in suites, as 2 of the 3 couples in our party are booked into a suite.

No.