Solo Cruise: Assigned Dining vs. Your Time Dining?

[fofita01]

Hello everyone,

 

I would like some input from SOLO cruisers as I'm about to go on my first solo cruise soon.

 

1) What dining have you picked on a Solo cruise - Assigned or Your Time Dining?

2) If you have tried both on a Solo cruise, which one did you liked best and why?

 

A little info on me:

I typically cruise with friends and we pick assigned dining (late). Normally we fill a whole table, but on occasion have been seated with others - that has been fine with me/us.

 

I have only done Your Time Dining once - it was OK. I prefer assigned, but would try YTD again.

 

The purpose of this trip is for R&R and be totally at my own pace without making any compromises with anyone about activities, excursions, etc.

 

Thanks in advance for your input!

[caribsun]

Have done 2 solo's and I did ask for early dining with a large table. One cruise there was another solo and 2 couples at the table and another cruise I sat with 3 other couples.

Everything went fine and all the people were nice. I prefer dining with others vs sitting by myself.

Edited April 24, 2014 by caribsun

[3dogsrule]

I've only done one solo, on Carnival, but I picked YTD because I was also 100% about R&R and not wanting to keep a time schedule. Additionally, I wanted to relax over the meal, and not have to do a lot of small talk with strangers. I was always able to get a table by myself with no wait, but of course, you've seen how tight the two-tops are so you're not really by yourself. But still, I was left alone for the most part and thoroughly enjoyed the dining experience.

 

It may come down more to if you would enjoy eating alone, or would prefer to dine with others. Of course with YTD you can request to dine with others, but you may have a wait involved (waiting on a table to get filled, more people slows down the course progression, etc); just depends on how much time you want to devote to the dining experience.

 

Good luck, and enjoy your cruise, I'm envious!! :D

[jego_de]

I've done 2 cruises solo both times with assigned dining (early). I've had really good Times, Meeting very nice people. Will do it again for my next cruise in September... why don't you Start with assigned dining and if you don't like it, change it to YTD

[fofita01]

Thanks Karen, JegoDe & Caribsun for your quick replies and sharing your thoughts.

 

Karen - I am completely comfortable eating alone. I have gone to nice restaurants by myself and never felt weird. I enjoy my own company! LOL

Oh! And thanks - I can't wait! I'm booking it when I get home later.

 

I am leaning towards picking YTD because on nights I want to eat alone I can and if I feel like being seated with others I can also request that.

 

It anyone else wants to chime in, please let me know your thoughts. :D

Edited April 24, 2014 by fofita01

[meatloafsfan]

I would prefer to eat by myself (I would love to take a solo cruise but every time it starts out that way my parents hone in on it) so I would choose ATD.

 

If I thought that the majority of the time I'd want to eat with others, I'd pick assigned dining and on the 1 or 2 nights I didn't feel like being with others, I'd eat at the buffet, room service or specialty restaurant.

 

With ATD, I can see that if you're paired with others, it would most likely be couples, friends travelling together, or big families, with an odd number (like 5 or 7 - and you'd make up the extra seat). That wouldn't be my preference if I wanted to be seated with others. I'd rather select assigned dining and cross my fingers that Carnival matched me up with other solos, singles, or at least people my own age-ish.

[Sarah@Sea]

I just did my first solo in March, and I did late seating as I would do when sailing with my boyfriend. I did not enjoy it, so next month solo cruise I'm doing YTD.

 

On the March cruise I was seated with other solo cruisers, an it was a very diverse group which I enjoyed several of the people...2 other Americans, 1 Frenchman, 1 Chinese, 1 Brazilian, and 1 Russian, the Frenchman and one of the American men playfully argued with the young woman from Russia every night, which annoyed her, and on the last night she stormed out of the dining room. They would tease about her English (which was fine)...the French guy and she wanted me to be the judge of who was pronouncing words correctly, asking me why one word spelled this way is pronounced one way yet another word with same letters at the beginning is pronounced another? What? What broke the straw that night is they took her picture and she had said many times to not take her picture and she tried to block her face, etc. Am I the only one that knows some people have cultural concerns about having their picture taken? Or perhaps just the fact she didn't want stranger having her picture to share???

 

The one American reminded me of my old boss who I did not like, trying to be all social host, buying shots for the table then assuming we should all go to the club afterwards and when someone declined we were boring, etc.

 

Everyone showed up at different times, and kudos to the waitstaff for managing that, there was not one night that everyone had app, entree, dessert at same time, because they arrived at various times...the final night one of the American men arrived while we all were having or already finished dessert and the waitstaff served him. It was almost as if our table had YTD timing.

 

So yeah...I have no qualms about dining alone, if I'm ok traveling alone surely I'm ok dining alone! I also didn't like waiting until 8:15 there were nights I definitely wanted to eat sooner, but I didn't want to just go to the buffet because I knew there were dishes in the MDR I really liked.

Edited April 24, 2014 by Sarah@Sea

[Sarah@Sea]

I'd prefer a booth for one? Anyone know if single booths are available on Freedom?

[SMSACE6]

I did do early or late fixed time dining for two of my solo cruises and it was fine, and YTD did not exist then.

 

Last solo cruise, I decided to try YTD, just to say that I have tried it. I dont mind sitting alone at a table and eating alone, in fact I do it quite often when I am not travelling.

 

I am not antisocial, but I do like my "me" time, and I found that YTD worked well for me. I went early enough most evenings between opening time at 5.45 to about 6.15pm, and got the same little two top to myself, with the same excellent wait team. Most evenings people at nearby tables chatted with me a bit, but not too much. The tables are fairly close enough to do that.

 

For my upcoming solo cruise, I again chose YTD.

 

I suggest to try it once, and then if you dont like it you can go back to early or late set time dining if you ever cruise solo again.

 

Either way, have a great cruise.:)

[Rarejules]

I'm also on Freedom May 18th sailing. I chose YTD and was having second thoughts. This is my 1st solo and that in itself is a little scary. This cruise I really wanted to try going solo.

[goduckies05]

Any time. I did set time at 815 and there was three of us at an 8 top half the time I was the only one to show up. Doing any time next week and will see if it is better.

 

Sent from my SM-G900P using Forums mobile app

[Sarah@Sea]

I'm also on Freedom May 18th sailing. I chose YTD and was having second thoughts. This is my 1st solo and that in itself is a little scary. This cruise I really wanted to try going solo.

 

Well if anything we know each other will be there somewhere....

[Fitzget]

I think you answered your own question. You tried YTD and preferred assigned dining. I would stick with what you prefer.

Edited April 24, 2014 by Fitzget

[uncleg]

I have done cruises, the fist few times I did assigned dining, the last time was YTD. I like assigned much better, you go to know your table mates, made some new friends and the service was great, no so much with YTD you ca make friends which i did and we actually showed up same time so we could dine together, but there service was not nearly as good and it seemed to take longer, to get through a meal, plus a wait for a table. I don't think I would do YTD again as a group or a solo.

[mkbnoc]

Hi, I have done 3 solo cruises now and always pick assigned dinning, (early). I like the chance to meet new people at the table, and was concerned that with Y.T.D. would be alone at a table for 2.

[tattoos]

On my last cruise, I chose assigned early dining and sent the Maitre d' an email requesting a table for one. I have no qualms about eating alone and do it all the time at my local restaurants. I have had too many bad experiences with tablemates, this is my vacation and I don't want my dinner time to be ruined by obnoxious people. As it turned out, I only ate two nights in the MDR and the other nights I picked up food at the buffet. When I cruise solo again, I will definitely request a table for one.

[Elaine5715]

I always cruise solo and take early dining. Sometimes tablemates are all other solo cruisers. Sometimes a interesting assortment, sometimes not. Usually, there is a group of other women or a family group. I have never been seated with more males then females. Don't know if that is intentionally or not. I really don't care. Bad tablemates give me the best stories.

[GaNavy]

I have cruised solo many times and always choose late dining. I don't usually eat at home as early as 6:00 or 6:30, I like to stay up late on vacation, and I enjoy the company of others at dinner. Only once did it not work out - even after requesting a change of table, I wound up at a 10-top with eight folks from Germany, only one of whom spoke English. Otherwise, it's been great - I usually am seated with other solos, and in fact on my Navigator trip last fall (yeah I know, that other cruise line :)) one of our roll call members put together a solo table of 14! Great fun, and we hung out together the entire cruise.

 

I would suggest - if you're at all uncomfortable about sailing solo, then do assigned seating for the sake of knowing you'll have company for at least part of the cruise.

[SkyMaster]

I've done several SOLO cruises, and have always chosen "early". I've been assigned to a BIG table with other solo cruisers, and have always had a FANTASTIC time with them. Only one time have I been assigned to a table with families, and in that case, I asked the Maitre'd to switch me to another table. That was taken care of, and once again, I was assigned to a table with other solo cruisers. One of the highlights of my cruises are meeting great people, and sharing stories, and dinner with them. I rarely go ashore anymore, as I've been to the Caribbean ports so many times.

Have a FANTASTIC cruise.

 

"SKY"

[ATL2LAS]

I have done 6 solo cruises and usually prefer YTD. Like you I go for the complete R&R. This way if I am in the middle of a good streak in the casino I can eat later, or if I do an excursion, I can choose one that might be a little longer without having to rush back to the ship to get ready for dinner. YTD gives you the option to make your own schedule, or go with no schedule at all.

[bailey57]

Recently went solo on Paradise, and chose fixed 6:00. Dinner is the one meal I like having with others, but I don't enjoy "what do you do for a living" introductory chats every night with new tablemates; I like having the same company each night (presuming I like them). I also like having the same serving team. All personal preference.

 

Was seated at a 10-top of all solo cruisers, good mix of men & women, and overall it was a congenial bunch (always a few weirdos in the bunch y'know :rolleyes:). I didn't always want to be there at 6, but I always was - that's just me - others came & went. And that was okay - it's their vacation, too.

 

This is what suits me best. Agree that ATD definitely provides more flexibility, but it also reduces the opportunity to get to know others... If that's okay with you, then take ATD.

[fofita01]

Thank you to everyone for all of your comments, suggestions and stories. I've enjoyed reading all of them.

 

I'm going to do YTD for couple of reasons - 1) to give YTD another try, 2) to 100% be on my own schedule.

 

I get to decide each night if I want company... Or not. :D

[Sarah@Sea]

There are plenty of ways to meet people outside of MDR. Strike up conversation at the pool, attend some trivia, or on excursion. I like meeting others but I like having control of not getting stuck dining with people who bother me, I guess I could have went to the M'd and asked for a new table but I did like a few of the people and annoying guy didn't even appear at dinner until the 3rd night. But the feel and timing of dinner just wasn't the same as when I've been at other seated dinners with traveling with my boyfriend.

[ccruisequeen]

I've done three solo cruises and always chose YTD. I like to eat early because of my medication. I am usually seated at a table for one but near enough that I could speak to others. I love having the privacy of my own cabin and doing what I want when I want. I'm about to do my next one in 10 days!

 

 

[crusinpsychRN]

I've usually done late seating and had a great time. Once I tried YTD and didn't like it a lot. Every night with a new group, wondering if I'd be seated alone or wtih others was strange.

 

Last cruise I did late on Legend and was seated in the "punish room" the private meeting, dining area off to the side. Only one guy, Cletis, showed at the table for 6. He came 2 nights, we had great conversations. Then I was bushed from all day excursion and went to the MDR to have M'd tell him I wasn't going that night. Ended up he didn't either and didn't show the rest of the week. Never saw him on the ship either. So I sat alone at a table for 6 and had excellent service!

 

Next solo I'm going early--you just never know.