Why not offer three or four traditional dining seatings?

[AndieLou]

The concept of 4 dining times I believe to be very good. Reducing the number of large tables though I see does present a couple of logistical issues. The amount of space required for a 10-top is significantly less than 5 2-tops. Include that in with the added effort of the wait staff for the increase in tables. Again, 1 10-top is easier to service than 5 2-tops. The dining room sizes would have to increase to maintain seating levels. And I can't believe any cruise line would sacrifice cabins for dining area. Just my 2 cents.

Floor space never even crossed my mind. I can see where that may create some problems. As far as 1 10-top vs. 5 2-tops, I cannot comment, since I do not have any experience. Timing would probably be much harder to manage.

[MrsPete]

Personally, I'm a huge proponent of My Time Dining and don't mind waiting a few minutes (and it's never been more than a few minutes).

 

However, I can see that what you propose -- traditional dining, but with staggered times -- would be better for the staff than My Time Dining. By better, I mean easier. Everyone would be getting appetizers at the same time, etc. Still, I like not being tied to a specific time each evening.

 

I have two complaints with traditional dining:

 

1. Early is too early and late is too late.

2. The dining experience takes forever.

[TravelerThom]

Splendour used to offer 4 dining times in the Med - I think it was 6:00, 6:30, 8:30 and 9:00. One level of the MDR had the 6/8 and the other level had 6:30/9:00 (might even have been 9:30). I think that had to go by the wayside when they introduced MTD.

I was on Vision of the Seas out of Santo Domingo in 2009 and they were also doing four times: 6:15, 6:45, 8:45 and 9:15.

[Lady Chew]

Personally, I'm a huge proponent of My Time Dining and don't mind waiting a few minutes (and it's never been more than a few minutes).

 

However, I can see that what you propose -- traditional dining, but with staggered times -- would be better for the staff than My Time Dining. By better, I mean easier. Everyone would be getting appetizers at the same time, etc. Still, I like not being tied to a specific time each evening.

 

I have two complaints with traditional dining:

 

1. Early is too early and late is too late.

2. The dining experience takes forever.

 

Agree with everything you wrote ...

[jbond]

Splendour used to offer 4 dining times in the Med - I think it was 6:00, 6:30, 8:30 and 9:00. One level of the MDR had the 6/8 and the other level had 6:30/9:00 (might even have been 9:30). I think that had to go by the wayside when they introduced MTD.

 

We did a Brilliance cruise in the Med that had four dining times, I believe the late, late was 9:30. Worked out fine.

Personally, I don't like MTD, would much prefer four dining times.

[lady_cruiser]

No, it can't work that way….but if you had 3 dining rooms to work with, one could handle the 5:30 and 7:30 seatings, one could handle the 6:30 and 8:30 seatings, and one could handle MTD. :)

Judy

 

Good answer!

[later]

That is a 2 hour time frame that includes change over. It is 2.5 hours right now.

[time4u2go]

That is a 2 hour time frame that includes change over. It is 2.5 hours right now.

But it's less tables to change over at a time, so it wouldn't take as long.