MDR Times - Ocean and Pacific Princess - Anytime?

[logan25]

Wanting to know whether anytime is available on the smaller ships?

 

We are thinking about taking a cruise on Princess in Tahiti, but set dining times is a real negative for my husband.

[jagoffee]

No, the MDR is rational dining only. One of the two speciality places is open each evening.

[worldtraveller]

Or you can use the buffet

[logan25]

Thank you for the replies. Better to know the true circumstance before going into a reservation, than be surprised once aboard.

[paul929207]

Some nights the buffet is converted to the Bistro. There is open seating then. Limited menus. As I recall there are three menus that are rotated.

[OnVacation11]

Some nights the buffet is converted to the Bistro. There is open seating then. Limited menus. As I recall there are three menus that are rotated.

 

We also miss the anytime dining on the small ships so we eat at the Bistro when it is open (usually sea days). It is very quiet, mostly small tables for 2 or 4, great service and views. The menu is small but has nice selections.

[jollyjones]

I too would like to cruise on the 'little girls' but hate fixed dining. Is it realistic to avoid the MDR and always dine in the buffet or a specialty restaurant? (How late do these venues serve?) This is what I do on the larger ships, I never go to the MDR even when anytime is available.

[JohnLauben]

On the OCEAN PRINCESS from Singapore to Cape Town (April 6-May 7), MDR dinner times were 5:45 and 8:00. A dinner buffet was available every evening from 5:30 until 9:00. At 9:00, the buffet area was converted to a bistro until 11:00, with a limited and rotating menu. The one night that we were in port late (Dubai until 11:00), the MDR operated as anytime with open seating. Of course, the above are subject to change, depending on itinerary and maitre'd.

[kruisey]

What time the evening entertainment started ?if one is on late dinner does one miss it on those ships?

[logan25]

Wonder if I can find copies of the Bistro menus?

[Jim Avery]

We agree with several of the posters that avoid the MDR. We do that often on larger ships. On Pacific Princess last month, the food and service in the MDR was as good as we have had anywhere. They were most accommodating and we ended up eating most evening meals there as well as several lunches. Don't judge the smaller ships by the not so swell experiences on many larger ship MDRs. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. As far as shows, they seem to make them shorter all the time so there are more opportunities each night. We never missed any we cared to see.:D

[beg3yrs]

What time the evening entertainment started ?if one is on late dinner does one miss it on those ships?

 

Like John, we were on the Ocean Princess from Singapore to Cape Town cruise but we stayed on continuing to Dover. We had different CDs for each segment.

 

On the first segment, I recall the evening entertainment was pretty well fixed with an early show (6:30ish) for the late dinner seating and a later show (8:00 to 8:15) for the early dinner seating. We were on the early seating so I know those times better.

 

On the second segment, the CD would vary things depending on whether the next day was a sea day and how tiring that days activities may have been. His big change was moving the early seating's late show from 8:00-8:15 to 7:45 based on passenger feedback (nobody was in the casino much anyway). There were a few times he'd have the late seating's show at 10PM. That would typically be with a sea day following plus setting clocks back an hour.

 

BTW, when I'm giving a range of times, that's the range of start times, not a show of 15 minutes!

[Pam in CA]

We agree with several of the posters that avoid the MDR. We do that often on larger ships. On Pacific Princess last month, the food and service in the MDR was as good as we have had anywhere. They were most accommodating and we ended up eating most evening meals there as well as several lunches. Don't judge the smaller ships by the not so swell experiences on many larger ship MDRs. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. As far as shows, they seem to make them shorter all the time so there are more opportunities each night. We never missed any we cared to see.:D

I agree 100%. Entertainment is planned around the set dining times so you're not going to miss anything. Plus, the food is usually better and the service is generally much better on the small ships. It's a very different cruise experience than the large ships. It's not for everyone but don't knock it until you've experienced it.

[kruisey]

Ideal for everyone ...:D

[shredie]

I too would like to cruise on the 'little girls' but hate fixed dining. Is it realistic to avoid the MDR and always dine in the buffet or a specialty restaurant? (How late do these venues serve?) This is what I do on the larger ships, I never go to the MDR even when anytime is available.

 

The buffet is very nice, and you could easily eat there every night. I would urge you to at least try the dining room. It really is a different experience from the big ships. There is always room service, too.

[MandE-UK]

The buffet is very nice, and you could easily eat there every night. I would urge you to at least try the dining room. It really is a different experience from the big ships. There is always room service, too.

On the recent Ocean Princess cruise from Cape Town to Dover first sitting for dinner in the MDR was at 1745hrs, which was difficult to make after a long day ashore! Certainly no time for pre-dinner cocktails! 1800 or 1830 would have been a lot better but that I suppose would put back second sitting from 2000hrs to 2015 or 2030.

[jollyjones]

The buffet is very nice, and you could easily eat there every night. I would urge you to at least try the dining room. It really is a different experience from the big ships. There is always room service, too.

 

Thanks for the reassurance - I hope to try the little ships when I find an itinerary that suits me.

 

I am a true buffet fan - I like to see my food before I choose what I'm eating - I've had a few surprises in the MDR when the meal isn't quite as it was described on the menu! Room service isn't so attractive to a solo cruiser - I'm not keen on sitting in solitude staring at my cabin wall during dinner.

[5326jan]

We were on just after the Cape Town segment. Dover to Dover (Midnight Sun). Early dining was moved to about 6pm and late dining began at 8:15. The shows varied in starting times. In many cases, we would go to a 7:45 show, but have to leave early to make it on time to dinner. Our dinner group was a lot of fun and the late show was usually half over by the time we left the dining room at 10:15.

 

Part of the problem was fitting in time for the Captain's Cocktail Parties. There were 3 on our sailing of 16 days. In those cases the late seating show started at 10:00pm. Too late for me!:o That might have been because of the large number of Platinum and Elite passengers. It was definitely a "frequent flyer" itinerary!

 

The buffet was open, but the Panorama Buffet outside dining area was closed due to the freezing cold temperatures. This made the indoor seating crowded on most days. I don't know what the evenings were like.

 

Despite the limited choices for dinner, we really love the friendliness of the small ships!:)

[shredie]

Our dinner group was a lot of fun and the late show was usually half over by the time we left the dining room at 10:15.

 

That's what you get for sitting with entertaining people rather than a bunch of duds you can't wait to get away from! :D That reminds me to mention that if the dinner companions don't suit you on the first night, go see if the Maitre d' can move you. Unpleasant dinner companions can be a side effect of fixed seating, unfortunately.

[5326jan]

That's what you get for sitting with entertaining people rather than a bunch of duds you can't wait to get away from! :D That reminds me to mention that if the dinner companions don't suit you on the first night, go see if the Maitre d' can move you. Unpleasant dinner companions can be a side effect of fixed seating, unfortunately.

 

I think they were more entertaining than any show would have been! :D

 

Agree with the Maitre d suggestion. We were once placed at a table for 4 couples and each couple spoke only their native language! :rolleyes: We tried to communicate ala Charades, but we were all reassigned the next night! Thank goodness!:)

Edited June 25, 2014 by 5326jan