Need help choosing dinner time

[vitaminsea3]

We are sailing on the Breeze with a group of 8 and need help choosing our dining time. One couple in the group is hell bent on 6:00 dining. The rest are flexible. We enjoy the shows and also want to catch the comedy acts. The sail away times are 4:00, 5:00, 6:00 and 7:00 so I'm thinking Your Time Dining would be better. The 8:15 seating is definitely too late. I LOVE watching sail away and there-in is my dilemma...6:00 seating wouldn't afford us the time to see sail away. Nor would we catch any sunsets. If we chose Your time dining and went, for example at 7:00 on average each night, would we still be able to catch a show and a comedy act? Thoughts? Help!

[beachbum53]

We are sailing on the Breeze with a group of 8 and need help choosing our dining time. One couple in the group is hell bent on 6:00 dining. The rest are flexible. We enjoy the shows and also want to catch the comedy acts. The sail away times are 4:00, 5:00, 6:00 and 7:00 so I'm thinking Your Time Dining would be better. The 8:15 seating is definitely too late. I LOVE watching sail away and there-in is my dilemma...6:00 seating wouldn't afford us the time to see sail away. Nor would we catch any sunsets. If we chose Your time dining and went, for example at 7:00 on average each night, would we still be able to catch a show and a comedy act? Thoughts? Help!

 

When you put together your group for this cruise, was it your intention for all of you to do everything together, including dinner? While it's good to have some activities together as a group, such as shore excursions, it also doesn't hurt to have a few things that you each do separately, such as dinner time. Let each couple decide when and where they want to have dinner, whether it's in the MDR, the buffet, or a specialty restaurant. If at least one evening during the cruise all of you want to have dinner together, check with the Maitre D ahead of time (maybe early in the day) and see if you can all be seated together, whether it's for early seating, late seating, or using Any Time dining. If the two of you opt for Any Time Dining, just check the Fun Times ahead of time to see what the show times are, and plan your dinner time accordingly.

Edited April 5, 2014 by beachbum53

[springs741]

I agree with the above poster. We did a family cruise of 8 and still couldn't get everyone together most nights. We agreed to do formal night together and after that it was everyone on their own. Trust me it is just too stressful to try to make everyone happy.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

We are sailing on the Breeze with a group of 8 and need help choosing our dining time. One couple in the group is hell bent on 6:00 dining. The rest are flexible. We enjoy the shows and also want to catch the comedy acts. The sail away times are 4:00, 5:00, 6:00 and 7:00 so I'm thinking Your Time Dining would be better. The 8:15 seating is definitely too late. I LOVE watching sail away and there-in is my dilemma...6:00 seating wouldn't afford us the time to see sail away. Nor would we catch any sunsets. If we chose Your time dining and went, for example at 7:00 on average each night, would we still be able to catch a show and a comedy act? Thoughts? Help!

 

7:00pm is a prime time in the dining room so if you have a group of 8 you'll probably need to factor in some extra time for waiting some nights.

 

Bill

[vitaminsea3]

For the most part, we want to be together (for excursions, dinner and shows). It does seen that 7 is prime time for your time dining but from what I've read, the wait is only about 15 minutes which isn't too bad. Just wondering if we'd still have time to catch the show and comedy act after that? Is there somewhere that I can find out the times for these?

 

 

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[wb3690]

For the most part, we want to be together (for excursions, dinner and shows). It does seen that 7 is prime time for your time dining but from what I've read, the wait is only about 15 minutes which isn't too bad. Just wondering if we'd still have time to catch the show and comedy act after that? Is there somewhere that I can find out the times for these?

 

 

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Ask if someone has a recent copy of the FunTimes. They'll have all the times for the shows etc in there.

 

I'd do anytime dining. We did it on our last cruise and I preferred the flexibility of it. Heck there were some nights we just grabbed a burger on the lido and then got a snack later. I was SO tired on our last cruise from all of the days activities the last thing I wanted to do was dress up to eat dinner in the MDR. Have fun!!!

[Sparky2]

We've been cruising alone the last couple of years. When we cruised with friends the only time we were definitely together was in the MDR with early seating.

 

Why not try to meet for dinner (ATD) around 6:30. Then you should be able to make the show at 8:30.

[riffatsea]

Hi,

I love Your Time Dining but I only travel with my husband and we typically get a table for 2. Most of the complaints about long wait times for YTD are from larger groups because they really don't have lots of tables for groups larger than 4! I think you are overthinking the situation and are aiming for perfection when it is not possible to always put together everything you wish for.

Typically evening shows are done twice so that the early and late seating of traditional diners can see them.

There is also usually more than one comedy act each night . I am not sure why watching sail away in each port is important?? The times may not be exactly as written and sunset also is fluid so that you may see part of it but not all. With 8 people who want to be together you need to discuss this with them and not with the rest of us on this board.

[KPfromCT]

Another vote for YTD:D

It's nice to just not have to "RUSH" on vacation.

I want to come back from the ports when I want to come back, and not when dinner dictates it:D

Yes, we have had to wait, maybe 15 minutes at the most, but it's nice not to be "scheduled"

I have enough scheduling issues at work, I certainly don't want them on vacation:D

Enjoy!!! Like the above poster said, just because you are travelling with a group, you don't need to be glued at the hip.

[vitaminsea3]

Thanks for the input. Riffatsea, we will most definitely be discussing as a group but it's nice to have the experiences/opinions of past cruisers to give us some insight. 2 of the couples have never cruised before so we want to be sure we have thought of everything before deciding. We don't want to be rushed, but also want to be sure we get a good rounded sampling of everything. We are a group of close friends that know we want to be together (from past vacations) but are also considerate of each others desires. Not a problem to compromise because, hey, you're on a ship so whatever the choice, it will be a barrel of fun. Just trying to fill that barrel of fun to the top! :D

[mistycruiser]

I would say go with Anytime Dining as the group's choice. Then you can all go together or divide up some nights for however you want. If you pick set dining either early or late, that's your dining time and you can't just show up at anytime dining and ask for seating.

[happy cruzin]

7:00pm is a prime time in the dining room so if you have a group of 8 you'll probably need to factor in some extra time for waiting some nights.

 

Bill

 

I agree!

A group of 8 is likely to be a challenge especially - Elegant nights - if they choose ATD. Not a deal breaker as long as they are willing to wait to be seated. ;)

[happy cruzin]

I would say go with Anytime Dining as the group's choice. Then you can all go together or divide up some nights for however you want. If you pick set dining either early or late, that's your dining time and you can't just show up at anytime dining and ask for seating.

 

That would be the only "bonus" to choosing ATD is that the group and time could be flexible day to day.

Those that want to eat early do - those that want to go later still can. ;)

[grandmacani]

We did early dining with 32 family members. We agreed that we'd all choose excursions and shows that that fit our vacation then all would be at dinner to hash the day over. This worked out perfectly. On the sea days we'd all be parked by the pool or at our favorite tables. It worked well having the freedom in the day then all eat together. Age group from 2-68. Have a great time!

[renza]

We had a group of 9 on the dream ATD and always kept us at the same table every night. Then last year on the breeze we had 17 of us. Again they kept 2 large tables for us empty every night. One night we all ate a different times. They had the table kept empty all night. Only thing with ATD and a big group, they don't seat you till you all arrive. We never had a wait. After we arrived the first night that was it they had it planned.

 

 

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[Paumavista]

We did early dining with 32 family members. We agreed that we'd all choose excursions and shows that that fit our vacation then all would be at dinner to hash the day over. This worked out perfectly. On the sea days we'd all be parked by the pool or at our favorite tables. It worked well having the freedom in the day then all eat together. Age group from 2-68. Have a great time!

 

 

We will have a group the same size (maybe a bit larger)....we have also chosen early dining and plan for that to be the MAIN together time of the cruise. Our PVP suggested setting the dinner time rather than ATD with a large group; and since this is our "together" time each day I planning on switching up table groups and having a wonderful time catching up with different family members each evening!!

[libertyschool]

I personally would find it much more stressful to have to coordinate a time with everyone every night for ATD. I would find it easier with a large group to have a set time that everyone knows each night. If it were me, I would opt for early dining. That way you know for sure that you will make the show and comedy show each night and also the sunsets. More chance of missing the sunset with at 7pm dine time. Just my personal opinion but it depends on your group.

[paradiscroozin]

I have had early seating, late night and Your time dining.

 

All have been on Carnival and I learned that I like early seating the best. We usually have ports that end around 4 and that gives us enough time to board and get dressed and go straight to dinner.

 

The late seating for us made everything else late, we saw late shows, comedy shows and it even pushed the clubbing to a later time. I was usually so tired that I would stay about a half hour clubbing and then hit the sac for an early port time.

 

The anytime dining was a mess because it was really slow and we always seemed to come right after the singing and dancing. We also never got the same waiter and if you wanted the same one, you had to request him and wait.

 

So now I am sticking with early. It gives us a chance to see and do everything without being rushed. Lots of people like certain shows and will see the next showing. That isn't possible when we were booked for late seating. Even if we have a late port stay, we usually never stay out past 6 because I don't like walking back to the port in the dark. That may be funner in a large group but for first time visiting and staying only one day, I don't like doing it. I need to familiarize myself with a location.

[familycruzr]

We tried your time once with a group and it was a pain trying to get everyone organized every night. We find the set dinner time much better for a group. Everyone knows what time to be at dinner without any daily discussion about it.

[vitaminsea3]

Lots of food for thought here. Pun intended. :). Thanks for the great input.

 

 

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[TPFKAH]

We are sailing on the Breeze with a group of 8 and need help choosing our dining time. One couple in the group is hell bent on 6:00 dining. The rest are flexible. We enjoy the shows and also want to catch the comedy acts. The sail away times are 4:00, 5:00, 6:00 and 7:00 so I'm thinking Your Time Dining would be better. The 8:15 seating is definitely too late. I LOVE watching sail away and there-in is my dilemma...6:00 seating wouldn't afford us the time to see sail away. Nor would we catch any sunsets. If we chose Your time dining and went, for example at 7:00 on average each night, would we still be able to catch a show and a comedy act? Thoughts? Help!

 

Interesting dilemma. So many factors sometimes to make that decision.

 

We tried late once. And it was just too late for us. By the time the shows started we were ready for bed. That extended afternoon, although appealing, had us drinking a wee bit more, and then we came crashing at dinner time. Would never do late again.

 

And although we like early, missing things like sunsets or sail away kind of puts a damper on things, so we forfeit that. Those few minutes of those activities pale to our 90 minute dinner.

 

Now in a group, that adds a new label. Can't please everyone, but I'm sure everyone wants to eat together. And if you don't, you end up on two different schedules, and you tend to see less of that other group for more than just meals, although open breakfast and lunch makes that a bit more easier these days.

 

Good luck in your decision making!

 

I still refuse to do MTD/YTD, as I like walking right to my table, an assigned set of servers, and never any wait.

[CrystalBelle]

I honestly thought I would be so upset with late dining, it was our only option as I booked last minute, but it was perfect. We got to do everything we wanted during the day and then got to have time to shower and get ready for the evening portion of our cruise. I think 6 would be way too early now that I'm thinking about it.

 

It does seem late when you are thinking about an average day but its so different on cruise ship time.

 

I will always choose late dining from now on. oh and I had myself and 3 small children only, it was still perfect.

[terisu10]

We always choose late seating. It gives us time to enjoy sail away, take a nap, dress for dinner, and go to the show and comedy club. We end our evening playing in the casino and ice cream on the Lido after. We choose late seating whether we go as a couple or with a large group of friends and family.

 

 

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[FirstAlto]

I don't think you will have any problem with missing production shows or comedy club if you do a 7ish MTD.

There are lots of comedy shows, so that won't be impacted.

There are usually 2 performances of each show - the only exception I can think of would be the 1st night welcome aboard show, which would happen smack dab in the middle of your dinner:(

All of the other nights you will usually have a 9 o'clock or 10:30 show to choose from- both doable, especially if you tell your waiters you need to get out at a particular time - they will do their best.

We did MTD with a group of 8 - for the same reason - 2 couples wanted early and 2 wanted late, so it was a compromise. We had the same table all week - easy peasy !!

We did make reservations every night so the waitstaff knew when to expect us ( unfortunately I can't remember if this was Carnival or Royal ) !!

Have a great cruise !;)

Jane

[Pine Bluff]

It really boils down to preference, but coordination can be tricky. You really have to play to the people in your party where this decision REALLY MATTERS.