Honestly, how do you long-time RC cruisers feel about Dynamic Dining?

[Vegcurry]

I think a better option would be to offer both traditional and dynamic. My husband and myself prefer a table for two but on only one cruise out of eight has this request been granted. We therefore don't use the main dining room along with a lot of others judging by the number of empty tables or tables for 12 with only two or four occupants!

 

If they gave us the choice of traditional or dynamic when booking our cruise they could divide the dining room accordingly and hopefully please the majority.

 

Another option would be to provide traditional but guarantee to give people the size of table they want but also provide dynamic so people aren't stuck with dining at the same time each evening or having to book a specific time in advance.

 

There'll always be people with different views and that's the way the world works but if there's a choice you could please most people

[alfaeric]

I'm sure we will be ok with it.

 

And in the long term, I also think that many others will, too.

 

Here's why- the MDR menus change themes each night, but each theme has the same menu over and over again. So basically, each night you have a nominal special restaurant.

 

So IF you like one menu every night, you can go to the same place every night. If not, you can rotate menus and dining, just like the MDR.

 

That does eliminate the big tables with table-mates. I know many like that a lot, but we don't. It also eliminates the same waiter every night- which I will miss, too. But the big shift to MTD has started us down that path already.

 

Anyway, I'm open to it, and if I don't like it, well, we can make that choice after I try it.

[Cruzaholic41]

I seem to remember similar conversations about crowding and other things prior to the Oasis launching. If there's one thing RCI has been consistent with through history, it's getting things right on board their ships. I'm pretty optimistic that in time, Dynamic Dining will return positive reviews from RCI cruisers.

[abridalmaven]

To those who say we are being dumb for not wanting to give up MDR. Well to each their own. Yes I would stop cruising RCI if DD was all they offered. I don't need the extra stress of now planning extra things like dining especially if our options are limited. Cruising is relaxing not stressing out over where to eat each night. We do go to specialty restaurants one or two nights a cruise, but more than that is not my idea of fun.

[poncho1973]

Yes I would stop cruising RCI if DD was all they offered.

 

Noted for future use.

[SamFritz]

On this site, many would bash you for saying such slander!! I swear, if you read some people's posts, you would think they only cruise to meet waiters & strangers at dinner..I'm like you- I like to dine with my wife ALONE, or if we are with another couple, a table for 4..I will say it again- I don't cruise to meet waiters OR to meet strangers at dinner..I cruise because I love to be at sea, love the cruise life as a style of vacation, love the ports of call, love the shows & entertainment ( not all is good, but some is..)..many who have met me at the Meet & Greets or Sailaways can't believe how friendly & sociable I am- but at dinner I prefer to dine with my wife alone...we also much prefer the specialty venues, as both food & ambiance are so much better in there..mac & cheese, dry thin steaks, and chicken with a baked potato is NOT my idea of fine dining..I always tell people most of MDR's on the 29 cruises we've done on 7 cruise lines are like wedding food, and mostly I find it "OK" to "not bad" , etc..food, of course, is THEE most subjective topic on these boards..I know people who NEVER have dined in the specialty restaurants, and I know people who dine every night in specialty only..we like to do 2-3x on a 7 night cruise to specialty venues..we love the table for 2 by the window over looking the sea, the much better entrees and MUCH better sides ( they often are to DIE for!!) , the appetizers like crab cakes, escargots & shrimp cocktail, and desserts like creme brulee ( YUUMMM) that you will NEVER have in the MDR..most important, I am NOT cheap, and I believe my wife DESERVES to dine in a special, romantic place..dining with 1500-2000 loud passengers eating catered food is not what I had in mind..jus MHO..

 

 

 

Big Al

 

 

You do know that Shrimp, Escargot, and Creme Brûlée are available in the MDR, right?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ryano]

Noted for future use.

 

I bet your list is getting HUGE! :eek::D

[big al]

You do know that Shrimp, Escargot, and Creme Brûlée are available in the MDR, right?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Yes, but not nearly as good a plate- in fact, not even close...the shrimp in Chops blows the MDR shrimp away...and it should..that's why you pay extra $$...

[Cruise a holic]

Yes, but not nearly as good a plate- in fact, not even close...the shrimp in Chops blows the MDR shrimp away...and it should..that's why you pay extra $$...

 

 

The Steaks in chops are also so much better! The ambiance is also much nicer. It truly feels like you are going to a good restaurant vs. your cousins wedding at a catering hall. But the food at the "catering hall" is sometimes pretty good! LOL

[beancounterbeth]

I think the point that most people are missing is that there is ZERO chance that RCCL did this without extensive market research. I can not fathom a conversation going like this:

 

Bean Counter: Well, after extensive market studies, we've determined that the Dynamic Dining concept will alienate 60% of our repeat cruisers and about 55% of our "new to cruising" customers.

 

Adam: I don't care! People keep reproducing, we'll capture the next generation of cruisers....let 'em walk....I'm going Dynamic Dining, baby!!

 

Bean Counter: Okey doke then.

 

 

Just like automatic tipping, no pillow chocolates, and smoke-free balconies didn't drive me away from RCCL, I don't see DD doing it to me either, whether I end up loving it or hating it. I enjoy the overall product too much, and after experiencing the changes, they ended up being a non-issue for me.

 

Now the completely inept IT department....that may actually send me packing.

 

 

He just never listens to me anymore!!!! :rolleyes:

[mommabean]

He just never listens to me anymore!!!! :rolleyes:

 

LOL. It took me a minute. ;) Funny!

 

Gina

[poncho1973]

I bet your list is getting HUGE! :eek::D

 

I'm just putting one of these posts up whenever I see it. That was I can just search for posts by myself that say that line. Then I can reference the people making these I'M SO GONE AND YOU'LL MISS ME, I SWEAR! claims that you and I were talking about a little while back!

 

It will be quite handy.

[Thetrail]

I'm curious. How do the loyal RC cruisers, Diamond and above, feel about the possible change over to fleet-wide Dynamic Dining?

 

Do you welcome the change, or is it a little upsetting to you, too?

Have always been a big fan of traditional dining and probably always will be. It's just one less thing to decide over. K.O.

[CamaCama]

Since we don't cruise THAT often, I kinda liked the traditional dining since it's different from any other vacation. But, I am open to dynamic dining, sounds really awesome actually.

[beancounterbeth]

Here's to hoping RCCL is paying attention to these comments (but probably not).

 

I personally love the traditional dining. No, I'm not old and stuck in my ways. I think the jumping from one place to another is probably great for families with kids or families that travel in packs of 4-6 but for my husband and I we have found that we have always really enjoyed meeting new people our own age at dinner and talking over what each of us did that day and getting to know new people. So far we have really hit it off with the people we sit with and have ended hanging out into the evenging with them and going to shows and the casino or one of the pubs and having a drink.

 

I go to dinner with just my husband and I all the time. This is a chance for us to hang out with people from all around the country and so far RCCL has done a great job of matching us up with other couples of similar age and we have had a great time with traditional dining. If there ever comes a time when it isn't working out then there is always the option of going to one of the other resturaunts in the evening instead of the main dining room.

 

We have a cruise booked for next June on Oasis. I'm not happy to hear that the DD might be on our next cruise.

[caribill]

Just did a quick review of some of the posts about DD and looked at some of the menus.

 

Do I understand this correctly about the no-charge dining rooms?

 

o Each dining room has its own menu which is the same every evening.

 

o So on a seven day or any length voyage, there is a maximum of five different menus one can experience in the no-charge main dining rooms. With the existing dining (traditional or MTD), there would be a different menu every evening of seven-day or longer cruise segments.

 

o In order to eat at a time you would prefer, you need to explore the various menus and choose months in advance which dining room you want to eat in every evening and at what time and then make reservations online.

 

o Unlike today's traditional dining, there will no longer be the opportunity to be seated with other passengers you do not know the first evening and then dine with them every evening unless everyone at the table tries to change all the remaining reservations for the cruise, of course agreeing on which dining rooms and times everyone wants to eat in on each remaining evening of the cruise.

 

Is the above correct or have I missed something?

 

Thanks

[KKMurphy2]

Just did a quick review of some of the posts about DD and looked at some of the menus.

 

Do I understand this correctly about the no-charge dining rooms?

 

o Each dining room has its own menu which is the same every evening.

 

o So on a seven day or any length voyage, there is a maximum of five different menus one can experience in the no-charge main dining rooms. With the existing dining (traditional or MTD), there would be a different menu every evening of seven-day or longer cruise segments.

 

o In order to eat at a time you would prefer, you need to explore the various menus and choose months in advance which dining room you want to eat in every evening and at what time and then make reservations online.

 

o Unlike today's traditional dining, there will no longer be the opportunity to be seated with other passengers you do not know the first evening and then dine with them every evening unless everyone at the table tries to change all the remaining reservations for the cruise, of course agreeing on which dining rooms and times everyone wants to eat in on each remaining evening of the cruise.

 

Is the above correct or have I missed something?

 

Thanks

 

 

You have described it perfectly, which is why I am extremely disappointed in this change.

[gelli8112]

I agree with you. On short cruises (3 and 4 day) we don't mind doing MTD, but on a regular 7 day or longer, I do enjoy the continuity of dining with the same folks every night to share stories and have lively conversations. We have sailed several times with NCL and it is fine for something different, but we miss the friendships we have gained with regular dining. Many times we have requested to sit with other folks, but we end up at a table for two. (Not that we don't enjoy each other's company, but it keeps things more lively when you can chat with other folks.) I, for one, would be disappointed if RCI went with DD fleet wide.

 

I agree, but I'm going to try it with an open mind before I start sending nasty grams to Royal Caribbean.

[Cruzin-K]

I'm not a fan. The idea of having to plan and make reservations for dinner annoys me. If I just show up when I want, after a long day on shore, time to relax, shower, change, etc. I might not be able to get a table, or have to wait a ridiculous amount of time for one :confused: I guess I can just make reservations for 8:30 every night and pretend it's like traditional dining, just without the same tablemates or waitstaff :rolleyes:

 

Since all the entertainment, welcome back parties, etc. won't be known until you actually board and read the Compass, you might end up missing something you want to do in order to keep your reservation, or try to change the reservation but the only available times are 5:00 or 9:00 :( Windjammer it is then. :eek:

 

Dynamic Dining is a terrible idea for solo travelers who enjoy meeting people at dinner. I've made some good friends by getting to know them at dinner each night.

 

Oh well, this is all a non-issue for me anyway. I've already decided that all my future solo cruises will be on Princess because of the high prices solos now have to pay on RCI. Princess is much more of a bargain (and they still have traditional dining on all their ships).

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

I'm not a fan. The idea of having to plan and make reservations for dinner annoys me. If I just show up when I want, after a long day on shore, time to relax, shower, change, etc. I might not be able to get a table, or have to wait a ridiculous amount of time for one :confused: I guess I can just make reservations for 8:30 every night and pretend it's like traditional dining, just without the same tablemates or waitstaff :rolleyes:

 

Since all the entertainment, welcome back parties, etc. won't be known until you actually board and read the Compass, you might end up missing something you want to do in order to keep your reservation, or try to change the reservation but the only available times are 5:00 or 9:00 :( Windjammer it is then. :eek:

 

Dynamic Dining is a terrible idea for solo travelers who enjoy meeting people at dinner. I've made some good friends by getting to know them at dinner each night.

 

Oh well, this is all a non-issue for me anyway. I've already decided that all my future solo cruises will be on Princess because of the high prices solos now have to pay on RCI. Princess is much more of a bargain (and they still have traditional dining on all their ships).

 

Most of the main entertainment options on Quantum are also available for pre-booking.

 

Am curious how they will organize parades/parties/etc if everyone is dining at different times. I guess you would just have to find a compass from a previous sailing to see the times and hope they are the same as you sailing! :eek:

[FOXTROT]

We have only been cruising for 16 years. When RCCL announced MTD we got pissed & cruised on several cruises with Princess. We came back to RCCL & we love MTD. We enjoy going to the alternate dining options. Will give Dynamic Dinig a try before getting pissed off again. After 48 cruises with RCCL we trust some of their ideas a little.

[BND]

We won't know how we feel about it until we actually try it. Sorry, I don't jump to conclusions without having at least some experience. The fact is, outside of cruising, on any vacation you have to plan for every meal. Even at all inclusives, you need to. It's interesting that in politics (elections in particular) people think "change" is good, but in their vacations, not so much lol. It's just like any other change on here, smoking, mtd, point system, etc. I've seen posts from people who are "never cruising RCI again" because of a change, but guess what? A couple of months later you see the same people with RCI cruises booked. Some people thrive on drama.

 

I think what we'll be seeing is more diversity in choices. Why is that a bad thing?

Edited August 28, 2014 by BND

[Loucat]

My question would be if the quality of food improves. We stopped sailing on Royal two years ago due to the never ending decline in the quality of food. Same menus; same themes; same decline in food.

We are now trying other lines and options.

[Paulette3028]

We have only been cruising for 16 years. When RCCL announced MTD we got pissed & cruised on several cruises with Princess. We came back to RCCL & we love MTD. We enjoy going to the alternate dining options. Will give Dynamic Dinig a try before getting pissed off again. After 48 cruises with RCCL we trust some of their ideas a little.

 

We have not been on as many RCCL cruises as you have been on (going on our 16th when we sail Indy in February 2015), but we have very limitedly even tried the specialty dining options. We have not done MTD, since I have seen no reason to have to 'make a reservation for a time that we want' when they have a time that is perfect for us (6pm -- Early Traditional Dining), and gives us tablemates for the week and the same wait staff.

 

What is it that you so love about MTD and do you also 'enjoy the other alternative dining options' also known as Specialty Restaurants?

 

On our last cruise, on Allure, we did Izumi, and enjoyed it very much....but we have not eaten at any other of the Specialty for fee Restaurants.

[SherriZ366]

Just checked with the D+ desk and they have been notified that Oasis will be getting Dynamic Dining in March, 2015