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Changing MDR on Quantum?


OhioOtter
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Was just looking over the deck plans of Quantum and didn't see the Main Dining Room layout anywhere. Guess it could be associated with the 'more to come' designations but seems pretty strange that it's not shown when the theater and casino are.

 

I do know that when I booked a cruise on Quantum while on my last cruise and noticed that I was listed as My Time Dining when I requested the 6 PM time slot, I was told by the C&AS rep that "they might be doing things differently on Quantum when it comes to dining." If there weren't any slots available for 6PM...I could have requested to be put on the wait list for 6PM while staying on MTD. Has anyone that booked on the Quantum have the 6PM or 8:30PM designation listed on their confirmation paperwork? Just found it strange that there is no dining room on the deck plans and the comment made by the C&AS rep.

Edited by OhioOtter
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Was just looking over the deck plans of Quantum and didn't see the Main Dining Room layout anywhere. Guess it could be associated with the 'more to come' designations but seems pretty strange that it's not shown when the theater and casino are.

 

I do know that when I booked a cruise on Quantum while on my last cruise and noticed that I was listed as My Time Dining when I requested the 6 PM time slot, I was told by the C&AS rep that "they might be doing things differently on Quantum when it comes to dining." Has anyone heard anything about this?

I don't know if it's true, but someone posted here a while back that Quantum was going to be all My Time.

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Haven't heard, but my reservation for Feb. 2015 states dining assignments will be made Spring 2014. So could be that they're going to change things up. As I read these boards it seems more and more are going toward MTD and then just booking the same table and wait staff every night. In essence booking a "traditional" dining experience, but at a "non-traditional" time. That's what we plan to do in May on Rhapsody. Seems more convenient to the various show times, especially on Oasis or, presumably, on Quantum.

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Haven't heard, but my reservation for Feb. 2015 states dining assignments will be made Spring 2014. So could be that they're going to change things up. As I read these boards it seems more and more are going toward MTD and then just booking the same table and wait staff every night. In essence booking a "traditional" dining experience, but at a "non-traditional" time. That's what we plan to do in May on Rhapsody. Seems more convenient to the various show times, especially on Oasis or, presumably, on Quantum.

 

Ok...thanks! My original confirmation said MT and the most recent one (was able to get a Junior Spa suite) had MT (6 PM) listed. Guess we'll have to wait and see. The last time I participated in MTD...was when it first came out and wasn't very happy/impressed with it. Seems things might have gotten better but I'm not totally sold on it...yet.

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Interesting!

 

My original booking invoice says 6pm traditional dining. When I signed onto my reservation on the website after reading this thread, it now says that dining preference will be assigned in Spring 2014.

 

Too bad. I have a very strong preference for traditional dining. Quantum sails from my homeport, which means it has the potential for me to book cruises on her frequently, but I don't think it will work out if MTD is the only option.

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Do you think RCI or any others will adopt the rotating diving venue thingy that they do on Disney? Have never tried it, but it sounds much nicer than cramming hundreds of people into one gigantic room :D.

 

Now that I read your comment and as I try to recall my conversation with the rep...it may be that is what they're considering. I can't recall his exact words but now I'm thinking it was something along the lines of visiting a variety of dining venues for dinner in leu of just one dining location. Hmmm.....

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Our reservations were both 6pm dinning until October or November when they switched to the Spring 2014 notice. Based on the size of the entertainment venues and the capacity of the ship it seems like a flu reservation system for the entertainment like the Oasis class has is inevitable. The way it was on the Oasis in 2010 seemed to make traditional dinning times a bit difficult. Not sure if they still say it, but back then it was normal for the waiter to ask at the end of each meal to ask what time your show was the next day so they could prepare themselves to rush you through the meal. It wasn't even a rare occasion, but fairly common to see happen. Certainly not the nice dinning experience you expect with traditional dinning. Going to an entirely reservation based MDR and entertainment schedule combined with the port intensive itineraries could make things a lot easier for everyone to manage. If they allow you to have the same wait staff every night it would please nearly everyone. We did MTD in may because it was the only option and requested the same staff every night. Our table changed from night to night but we had a great experience and on nights when our waiters had no tables left they would charge over to the door when they saw us and tell the hostess that they would take over a near by table just to make sure they could serve us. It felt just like traditional dinning but worked much better with the itineraries. To ensure it worked with the shows though I did reserve for either first or second seating each night (first on sea days and second on port days). This is where having everything in a reservation system would allow for everything to work together just like it does now.

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My paper fork for 4/12/15 says " Late confirmed", but online it now says "Dinner Seating: Dining preferences will be available Spring 2014. "

 

This certainly suggests things will be changing... I'm very excited to find out!

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Personally I like being with a group, so MTD works for me when we are with one, but when we're not, I'd rather be placed at a table with others. I've only done MTD with a group, so hopefully they'll be able to accommodate me.

 

I agree with you, Roger. I like traditional dining when we cruise alone because we can get well-acquainted with our table mates. We've made some very good friends this way. :confused:

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Personally I like being with a group, so MTD works for me when we are with one, but when we're not, I'd rather be placed at a table with others. I've only done MTD with a group, so hopefully they'll be able to accommodate me.

 

We're with you! We love meeting new people and talking about what new adventures took place that day. When my DH and I did MTD...we were always placed at a table for two...as was everyone else in that section. We'd talk with the couples at the other tables but it was awkward. Of course, this was when MTD first came out and it sounds like things have changed since then. We also like having the same wait staff...as they know what you like and when you like it. During our MTD experience...we had different wait staff throughout the trip...another minus in our book (although the service was still great). Hopefully RCI is aware that this is part of what makes cruising so great and will try to accommodate those of us that enjoy and want the MDR option.

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Ours say 6PM. This is what we have picked to begging with.

I hope it does not change. We like the traditional dining.

Don't care for the MTD, we like having the same waiter every evening.

More personal this way in my opinion.

Edited by Angelsea57
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I was told that the Quantum will not have a MDR all meals will be in restaurants. That's what I was told yesterday. No MDR!:confused:

 

We are considering Quantum for July 2015 (waiting for the schedule to be released in a few months). This sounds like they will require reservations for the restaurants like they do for some of the shows on some of the ships. In a way, I like this idea but it requires some planning with port activities, shows, napping, etc.

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Take this with a grain of salt, but when we were on the Explorer last month, I saw the FAQs for the QOS, and one question had to do with dining on QOS. The response was along the lines of "More flexibility in dining options than ever before and the most specialty restaurants." Oasis has 25 dining options - really can't wait to hear more in the Spring about QOS dining if QOS will have more.

 

I think a lot of the speculations of not such a focus on the Main Dining Room will play out, which makes me a little sad since we love meeting people at dinner. That said, on two of our last three cruises, our table mates rarely showed for dinner...

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