Late dining in anytime timing, do you have a favorite dining room?

[happy cruzer]

We like to dine at 7:30 which is not really very late. We have found the later we go the more options for seating. On the last cruise, we as a party of 2 were seated at a table for 4 which we really liked. There was plenty of room for all the plates and glasses. This was an option only at about 8:15 or later.

 

Do other later diners have any preferences or suggestions? A favorite dining room?

Edited April 7, 2015 by happy cruzer

[caribill]

Favorite dining room may vary by which ship you are on as the names are different on various ships.

 

Usual reason for preferring one over the other (on the ships that have two) is the waitstaff. However, the waitstaff can be assigned to another dining room from one cruise to the next.

[wowzz]

Slightly off-topic, but 7:30 is much too early for us. When is the latest we can eat in the MDR, having booked any-time dining?

[paul929207]

We have been on the Grand and the Crown in the last few years. We usually went to the dining room on the lower deck. (I forget the name or deck number). We went at 7:30 and asked for a table for shared table for 6 and were seated immediately.

[skynight]

Slightly off-topic, but 7:30 is much too early for us. When is the latest we can eat in the MDR, having booked any-time dining?

Believe you can enter at least up to 9pm, maybe even later. Times can change depending on the itinerary. On our South America cruise passengers were leaving the DR after 11pm which means entry around 9 or a little later.

[happy cruzer]

Yes, I agree the wait staff is extremely important probably more so than the dining room. But if one dining room is less busy than the other one, it might be the one to try. It usually takes about three nights to find the good match in anytime, would like to increase the odds of it happening sooner. Mind you the service has always been fine, usually we find a really good match and request the table and or the staff.

[Colo Cruiser]

Slightly off-topic, but 7:30 is much too early for us. When is the latest we can eat in the MDR, having booked any-time dining?

 

The DR is open until 10pm. I have seen diners coming in at 9:45.

They do close the doors and try to discourage entry 15 minutes or so before closing.