how popular is first sitting

[portofino3]

We normally request second sitting but as we're on a saver we might end up on first.I was wondering if there were any advantages to first sitting.

[richleeds]

You should easily get second, first is always taken up by the oldies.

 

Most other lines like Norweigan, RCCL, Holland America, Princess etc its harder to get second.

[Scriv]

Ha ha, richleeds - but yes, I have to agree that at the grand old age of 61, we choose first sitting as we enjoy going off to the 8 30 performances and then rounding the evening off with a nightcap afterwards and bed by midnight zzzz zzzz.

 

First sitting seemed the more popular one on adult only Oriana last week.

Edited July 4, 2014 by Scriv

[Invincible]

We prefer first sitting when the days are short I.e. Dark before 6pm or cold and we don't want more time on deck in the late afternoon otherwise to still be eating around 10pm I feel like a lie down after dinner and suddenly it's breakfast time.

[majortom10]

We are not oldies but if freedom not available we always pick first sitting if you have second sitting you dont finish until 10-1030 and thats far too late to go to bed on a 5 course evening meal.

[richleeds]

We are not oldies but if freedom not available we always pick first sitting if you have second sitting you dont finish until 10-1030 and thats far too late to go to bed on a 5 course evening meal.

 

Second sitting, out by 10(ish), quick cocktail, meander to the theatre, watch the show, out by 11.30, another beverage stop, then casino, then upstairs for cocktails, can easily leave enough time to digest dinner before bed.

[Sealoveragain]

Although 1st sitting is a little early we prefer it to 2cnd sitting which we too find finishes too late for us to digest our meal before bed.

[dsrdsrdsr]

If you want to do both the show and the syndicate quiz, you have to be on first sitting.

[shallwe]

Ha ha, richleeds - but yes, I have to agree that at the grand old age of 61, we choose first sitting as we enjoy going off to the 8 30 performances and then rounding the evening off with a nightcap afterwards and bed by midnight zzzz zzzz.

 

First sitting seemed the more popular one on adult only Oriana last week.

 

Agree with these sentiments.

 

We chose first sitting deliberately although we aren't 'oldies' (we're early/mid fifties), we just don't like eating late. Port days may be a problem as you would need to be back on ship earlier than you might want to.

 

However we have chosen Freedom dining for our next two cruises as we wanted to be able to control our eating times ourselves.

[Corfe Mixture]

If you want to do both the show and the syndicate quiz, you have to be on first sitting.

 

Exactly, although first sitting has a reputation of being for the oldies, the folks who think that couldn't be more wrong. It is the sitting for those who want to make the most of the evening. Indeed the only time we were on second sitting, we found that dinner became a social event in itself and very often dragged on to the extent that one missed out on the evening entertainment.

 

One big advantage of first sitting is that, if you do want to turn the evening into a social event with your dining companions, you can get the best seats in bar areas around the atrium after dinner. Just hang around after you leave the dining room and, as soon as they call second sitting, you have a choice of the best seats and, as others have said, you do not have to make a choice between the show and the syndicate quiz.

 

There are two disadvantages of first sitting:

First, you have less time to get ready for formal nights, but we find that is manageable, particularly when two of the formal nights are on sea days.

Second it does clash with the 'Great British Sailaway', but we have always solved that problem by choosing that night to have 'Select Dining'.

 

 

In our opinion, the idea that second sitting is 'the best sitting' is a complete falsehood to the extent I often wonder how many of those who argue that it is better are only repeating what seems to have become a bit of an urban myth.

[richleeds]

In our opinion, the idea that second sitting is 'the best sitting' is a complete falsehood to the extent I often wonder how many of those who argue that it is better are only repeating what seems to have become a bit of an urban myth.

 

On EVERY other major cruise line which includes RCCL, HAL, NCL, Celebrity, Princess, Carnival, Costa etc, second sitting is always full and on request whereas first sitting is undesirable.

 

So I think you are looking at only the P&O picture and not the whole cruise market which disagrees with your theory.

 

The exceptions are P&O as discussed - OAP's and Disney - young families.

[Corfe Mixture]

On EVERY other major cruise line which includes RCCL, HAL, NCL, Celebrity, Princess, Carnival, Costa etc, second sitting is always full and on request whereas first sitting is undesirable.

 

So I think you are looking at only the P&O picture and not the whole cruise market which disagrees with your theory.

 

The exceptions are P&O as discussed - OAP's and Disney - young families.

 

Oh Dear, why make a such big issue of this?

 

We do not just cruise on P&O, (our most recent cruises were on Seabourn and Princess) and FOR THE RECORD, I did not promulgate a theory, I SIMPLY EXPRESSED AN OPINION, a personal opinion which I am perfectly entitled to hold.

 

I entirely accept that you may hold a different opinion to mine and that there is ample evidence that a majority support your view that:

 

'out by 10(ish), quick cocktail, meander to the theatre, watch the show, out by 11.30, another beverage stop, then casino, then upstairs for cocktails, can easily leave enough time to digest dinner before bed.'

 

is not too rushed to really enjoy the full benefit from what is on offer

 

BUT

 

The OP asked a question about whether or not there are any advantages in first sitting, the answers to which would enable him/her to come to their own conclusion.

 

I answered that question.

 

The fact that you think second sitting is better and that you show ageism by saying that 'first sitting is for the oldies', whilst I think first sitting is better because, once dinner is over, one has more time to enjoy the evening is not relevant to the OP.

 

It is not a matter of you being right and me being wrong or vice versa.

Edited July 4, 2014 by Corfe Mixture

[campergirl62]

We're currently booked onto second sitting for our cruise on Oceana. But we're wondering if this might be a bit late and are considering changing to Freedom dining. First sitting would be a bit too early for us but second sitting it a bit too late so it seems Freedom dining might be the better option for us. Any advantages/disadvantages of Freedom dining? We'd prefer to have a table for two if possible and understand we'd have to wait a little while

 

 

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[portofino3]

Thanks for the replys guys

Corfe mixture that helps me if I get first sitting!

Rich Leeds that's exactly my kind of night!!

 

So if unlucky enough get first I can use it my advantage ,happy days

[richleeds]

The fact that you think second sitting is better and that you show ageism by saying that 'first sitting is for the oldies'

 

 

Quick, call the PC gone mad brigade and make sure I'm suitably chastised.

[Corfe Mixture]

Quick, call the PC gone mad brigade and make sure I'm suitably chastised.

 

Sorry.

Not interested in an on line argument.

All I wanted to do was to answer the OP's question.

[jeanlyon]

I simply couldn't eat at 6.30, haven't done that since I was aged 6!

 

We are happy to go for a drink at 7.30, dinner at 8.30, then the show and then a walk on deck and then to bed.

[Cloudyrain]

We're currently booked onto second sitting for our cruise on Oceana. But we're wondering if this might be a bit late and are considering changing to Freedom dining. First sitting would be a bit too early for us but second sitting it a bit too late so it seems Freedom dining might be the better option for us. Any advantages/disadvantages of Freedom dining? We'd prefer to have a table for two if possible and understand we'd have to wait a little while

 

 

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We had Freedom on the Ventura, wanted a table for two as don't like the idea of sharing a table with other people, and the only negative we found was that they seemed to want to rush us through. Maybe we just had great expectations of the service and meals in the MDR, but it felt like as soon as we said we didn't want to share they didn't care as much! In fact after 2 nights in the MDR we stuck to the Beach House - when we could get in!

Edited July 4, 2014 by Cloudyrain
Sentences made no sense!

[majortom10]

Second sitting, out by 10(ish), quick cocktail, meander to the theatre, watch the show, out by 11.30, another beverage stop, then casino, then upstairs for cocktails, can easily leave enough time to digest dinner before bed.

 

Sounds OK if you want to go to bed after 1am but we dont go to bed that late so second sitting is too late to go to bed on a 5 course dinner when you retire like we do after the show at about 1130.

[majortom10]

Oh Dear, why make a such big issue of this?

 

We do not just cruise on P&O, (our most recent cruises were on Seabourn and Princess) and FOR THE RECORD, I did not promulgate a theory, I SIMPLY EXPRESSED AN OPINION, a personal opinion which I am perfectly entitled to hold.

 

I entirely accept that you may hold a different opinion to mine and that there is ample evidence that a majority support your view that:

 

'out by 10(ish), quick cocktail, meander to the theatre, watch the show, out by 11.30, another beverage stop, then casino, then upstairs for cocktails, can easily leave enough time to digest dinner before bed.'

 

is not too rushed to really enjoy the full benefit from what is on offer

 

BUT

 

The OP asked a question about whether or not there are any advantages in first sitting, the answers to which would enable him/her to come to their own conclusion.

 

I answered that question.

 

The fact that you think second sitting is better and that you show ageism by saying that 'first sitting is for the oldies', whilst I think first sitting is better because, once dinner is over, one has more time to enjoy the evening is not relevant to the OP.

 

It is not a matter of you being right and me being wrong or vice versa.

 

Well said I agree entirely.

[daiB]

To answer the OP. There has been a change over the 13 years we have been cruising. In the early days second sitting was the one most people wanted. It was the one to go to wait list first.

 

It is noticeable over the last 5 years or so that this has now changed to first sitting. It may be the age of cruisers or indeed the desire to get as much entertainment in as possible after dinner.

 

For us second sitting is a must. On ship I like to drink before and during a meal. I tend not to drink after dinner. So and early dinner would not be good for me.

 

We enjoy relaxing between 5 and 7 and having our G&T in the cabin. We get dressed and I go to the bar at about 7.15. We eat at 8.30 and after dinner I go to the casino and my wife to the show. We meet later in the disco, where she dances and I listen. I will often drink water in the casino and disco.

 

It works well for us.

 

We have tried freedom dining and did not like it at all. Food and service were as good as ever but there was something lacking about the experience.

 

As we always book early there is no concern about meal times, as we can always get what we want.

 

To us the meal is an event and an important part of cruising.

 

 

 

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[kersh]

We prefer eating early and would always book Freedom dining by choice but if that was not available then 1 st sitting. I think if we were allocated 2 nd sitting we would use the select dining and only eat in the MDR on the nights we did not

Want to see the entertainment offered. We enjoy the syndicate quiz and you just can't do both on 2 nd sitting.

[daiB]

We prefer eating early and would always book Freedom dining by choice but if that was not available then 1 st sitting. I think if we were allocated 2 nd sitting we would use the select dining and only eat in the MDR on the nights we did not

 

Want to see the entertainment offered. We enjoy the syndicate quiz and you just can't do both on 2 nd sitting.

 

 

That's what I like to hear, keeps second sitting free for me. :) :) ;)

 

 

 

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[Denarius]

When I first started cruising in the early 1990s first sitting was easily the most popular. Indeed, I recall that in those days first sitting was referred to as the main sitting and second sitting as the late sitting. As the average age of passengers fell however, I noticed a marked change, with second sitting becoming more popular by the end of the decade. By that time the terms main and late sittings had been dropped in favour of first and second. Now things appear to have swung back the other way. I suspect that this may be due to some passengers who would formerly have chosen second choosing freedom, and others wishing to fit in as much entertainment as possible. Whatever the reason, I agree with Dai that the pendulum has now swung back and that first is once again the most popular club dining sitting. So to answer the OP, I suspect that you are more likely to be allocated second sitting than first.

[kersh]

That's what I like to hear, keeps second sitting free for me. :) :) ;)

 

 

 

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I agree Dai keep 1 st sitting free for me if I can't get freedom dining. X