Anytime dining question

[caribill]

Does that mean he was waiting to wait?

 

And if you are at the front of the line, you would be the headwaiter.

[Mrs.Gosse]

I have had a lot of questions about anytime dining this week as a first time Cruiser and new to this forum. This has been a helpful thread. Especially the poster that mentioned there are similar and sometimes the same items in the buffet. I assume DH and I will go tothe two formal nights and leave our dining set to anytime. He gave me authorization to change it after some of the things I was reading. I don't mind sitting with others even though we currently have it set for two people. We have two upgraded nights in the pay restaurants and I assume we can eat the other nights elsewhere.

 

With the main dining room, is it a set menu or you get to choose from items on a menu?

 

I'm a little confused, we should make reservations with anytime dining? Or we just can if we want to?

 

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[chrysalis]

I have had a lot of questions about anytime dining this week as a first time Cruiser and new to this forum. This has been a helpful thread. Especially the poster that mentioned there are similar and sometimes the same items in the buffet. I assume DH and I will go tothe two formal nights and leave our dining set to anytime. He gave me authorization to change it after some of the things I was reading. I don't mind sitting with others even though we currently have it set for two people. We have two upgraded nights in the pay restaurants and I assume we can eat the other nights elsewhere.

 

With the main dining room, is it a set menu or you get to choose from items on a menu?

 

I'm a little confused, we should make reservations with anytime dining? Or we just can if we want to?

 

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The main dining rooms have the same menu.....and here is a sampling of your choices.....

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1887473

[Dave.ca]

We always select anytime dining and almost always ask for a table for two. With the exception of the first year we cruised (the dark ages of the early 2000's), we have almost always had a wait, regardless of the time. (As anytime grew more popular, I guess.) The wait has never been more than 15 minutes. We just build the "lead time" into our schedule for the night. Something we've noticed (and appreciated) the last few cruises: if you're dining late and the traditional dining room is emptying out, they will escort you up there if there is no availability in anytime.

[Colo Cruiser]

I'm a little confused, we should make reservations with anytime dining? Or we just can if we want to?

 

Personal preference, however at certain times and on certain ships reservations are not possible. Its up to the MD.

[atlasali]

Anytime dining can be a wonderful option. I like to walk up, maybe wait for a party or two to be shown to their tables, then be seated. I do think that Princess does it best. They have the most tables for 6 (or 8) and we are willing to share. We enjoy meeting people. The challenging times can be: 1--the formal night when people are trying to time getting a glass of champagne from the champagne waterfall with dinner and the show. 2--or immediately after the "returning cruisers" party. Our longest wait was when we lined-up before the dining room opened in order to squeeze in 3 different shows in one evening...that was our own doing!

 

NCL, the creator of anytime dining, seem to do it the worst. We have experienced the longest waits on their ships. Being handed a pager with a 45 minute wait is not my idea of "freestyle". They have improved the experience by using display screens throughout the ship showing availability at the various dining rooms. They have many tables for two.

 

With our latest Celebrity cruise, a reservation had to be made every night or wait until after 9:30 to be seated. Might as well do traditional dining.

 

The buffet is an option. We know people who detest dressing for dinner so they never eat in the dining rooms. And they are happy as can be. We have dined at the buffet when returning late and exhausted from an all day excursion. With Princess, the food and service in the dining rooms is so good that we prefer to eat there. We were on a 30-day cruise and except for prime rib, the menu was different each night.

[rjack22]

I like the concept of Anytime Dining. However I believe that by allowing reservations that you defeat the purpose of it. In my opinion, and this is only my opinion, Anytime Dining should never allow reservations. I believe if this was the case it would go a lot smoother and quicker.

 

Since I don't like the idea of standing in line to get on the list, and then perhaps another wait to be seated, I will stick to Traditional where I can walk right in even if I don't have flexible eating times. We tend to eat at the same time everyday anyway.

 

Now don't flame me! As stated this is MY opinion and may not be yours.

[hockeygal54]

I like the concept of Anytime Dining. However I believe that by allowing reservations that you defeat the purpose of it. In my opinion, and this is only my opinion, Anytime Dining should never allow reservations. I believe if this was the case it would go a lot smoother and quicker.

 

Since I don't like the idea of standing in line to get on the list, and then perhaps another wait to be seated, I will stick to Traditional where I can walk right in even if I don't have flexible eating times. We tend to eat at the same time everyday anyway.

 

Now don't flame me! As stated this is MY opinion and may not be yours.

 

😊 I totally agree and after two recent cruises on two different Princess ships and "policies" that seemed to vary with whomever you talked to, I decided AT was not in my cards anymore. Just too much hassle and aggravation and then ending up in HC and eating too much that I really didn't want. Here on out its TD with a table of 6. And hoping we get decent dining companions!

 

 

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[gkny]

At what times is the MDR the busiest for wait times.

[MauiLvrs]

...I believe that by allowing reservations that you defeat the purpose of it. In my opinion, and this is only my opinion, Anytime Dining should never allow reservations.

 

It may be your opinion ... But not only your opinion ... it's our opinion too.;)

 

Also like you, I don't generally like waiting in line.

I hate waiting in line to wait in line!

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[MauiLvrs]

At what times is the MDR the busiest for wait times.

 

5:30-7:15 ish...

 

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[Zoolou]

As i have been flamed ....i do prefer Anytime and YES we do make reservations once or twice (depending on itinerary scheduling and evening shipboard events) If they have room Princess will accommodate and give us times available or we will lounge around and wait or go to the Buffet. And yes waiting to get flamed again....:D

[caribill]

With the main dining room, is it a set menu or you get to choose from items on a menu?

 

 

The main dining rooms have the same menu.....and here is a sampling of your choices.....

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1887473

 

Also, the menus each eveving are the same in the traditional and anytime dining rooms as is the suggested dress code.

[atlasali]

Table companions! Now that could be a thread by itself. We have had many delightful table companions. However, on a couple of cruises our table companions have been, well, "not so delightful". Back in the olden days, when food was served only at the traditional dining times in the main dining room, we were stuck with a divorced, non-custodial father and his 3 sullen, glaring and resentful, adolescent children. They ate in silence. We could not engage them in any conversations. Fortunately, there were 2 charming, single gals stuck at this table with us. What a way for 2 junior high teachers to spend Spring Break from school!

When we embarked on our 30-day cruise, we were a bit concerned about having the same table companions for 30 whole days. So, we tried Princess Anytime Dining and we met so many interesting people.

[scrapycruiser]

With Anytime Dining, if there is a significant wait, are you given pagers ?

These were given out on another cruise line and we could wait in one of the bars. We didn't mind waiting at all. When our pager went off we just took our drinks into the dining room.

[hockeygal54]

Yes on the pagers. Those flat things that look like drink coasters with flashing lights. That's what I saw anyway.

 

 

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[Colo Cruiser]

With Anytime Dining, if there is a significant wait, are you given pagers ?

These were given out on another cruise line and we could wait in one of the bars. We didn't mind waiting at all. When our pager went off we just took our drinks into the dining room.

 

 

Yes they do have pagers.

[browneyedwoman]

Thank you for the information. I know my husband and I would like anytime since we've had it successfully in the past. We don't mind waiting because we'll go to a bar and get a drink. My parents who are coming with us this time prefer early dining because they like to eat at a set time. We want to try anytime but I'm worried about them being impatient with a wait. If I see a line I might find them a place to sit and wait while my husband and I go through the line to get a pager.

[OCruisers]

We've never had a problem with waits for AT dining. :)

LuLu

[fud2468]

Very interesting to read this thread because on our next (6th) cruise on Princess we were planning to try the dining room rather than eat exclusively in the buffet. This would have been to avoid noro since there now appears to be much more risk in the buffet.

Consensus on this thread appears to be that there can be a wait for the dining room, then have to wait to be served, and I'm glad to know that beforehand. We like to go to eat when we're hungry, not 15 or 30 minutes later.

Our reasons for the buffet have been that we could select the foods we felt are the healthiest, and select the quantity we wanted so we didn't waste food (Great Depression memories!).

So, having read the comments here I think we'll stick to the buffet but let the crew serve everything we select, no more self-serving.

36rascal.

[caribill]

We like to go to eat when we're hungry, not 15 or 30 minutes later.

 

Anytime dining is no different than showing up at a restaurant on land. If you show up and all the tables are occupiued, then there is a wait.

 

I think we'll stick to the buffet but let the crew serve everything we select, no more self-serving.

 

The crew only serve when there are noro precautions being taken.

[fud2468]

Hmmmm.

Well, we've always found seating in the buffet, maybe not exactly where we wanted to, but that's OK. And since we've already been served we can eat right away.

As diabetics that's crucial.

36rascal.

[Pam in CA]

Thank you for the information. I know my husband and I would like anytime since we've had it successfully in the past. We don't mind waiting because we'll go to a bar and get a drink. My parents who are coming with us this time prefer early dining because they like to eat at a set time. We want to try anytime but I'm worried about them being impatient with a wait. If I see a line I might find them a place to sit and wait while my husband and I go through the line to get a pager.

FYI, there's no place nearby to sit and wait near the deck 6 dining room. The deck 5 dining room has lots of seating nearby if you have a wait.

 

For those who have never had a wait, I can only say you're lucky or else get there when the dining room opens.

 

Nothing wrong with eating in the buffet. I've done it on several cruises and never felt like I was missing out on anything.

Edited April 30, 2014 by Pam in CA

[OCruisers]

FYI, there's no place nearby to sit and wait near the deck 6 dining room. The deck 5 dining room has lots of seating nearby if you have a wait.

 

For those who have never had a wait, I can only say you're lucky or else get there when the dining room opens.

 

Nothing wrong with eating in the buffet. I've done it on several cruises and never felt like I was missing out on anything.

 

We very seldom get there before 7:30 or 8:00 ... but we're happy to share and will with sit with anyone at any wait station which may be the reason we never had to wait long enough to have been given a pager.

On the other hand, maybe we've just been lucky. :D

LuLu

[Pam in CA]

We very seldom get there before 7:30 or 8:00 ... but we're happy to share and will with sit with anyone at any wait station which may be the reason we never had to wait long enough to have been given a pager.

On the other hand, maybe we've just been lucky. :D

LuLu

I don't know what to tell you. We had a standing reservation on the CB for a table for four at 8pm and we still had to wait, sometimes for almost an hour. Even on the Sapphire in January when we were sharing tables, there was a wait at 6:30 or so, sometimes 15-20 minutes, not including the 5-10 minutes waiting in line to sign up to wait for a table.