Early dining..

[MaiTaiMary]

Last time DH and I had an assigned dining time was when we cruised 15 year ago. :D Somebody please refresh my memory how it works.

 

Our next cruise will be with our three kids, so we will be a family of five. Can we get a table for just the five of us?

 

Are the tables as crammed together in the "assigned time dining rooms" as much as they are in the "anytime dining room"? (We will be in the Miracle. When we were on the Freedom the tables were just several inches apart. )

 

Also, what if our kids decide to eat at Camp Carnival one night and it's just me and DH? Would we just be at our regular table, but with the two of us or do they move or to a larger table?

 

I like the idea of having the same server every night. Sometimes we request certain servers we click with at ATD and end up having to have a considerable wait.

 

Just not sure if we want to get stuck with an exact time to dine or not. We do enjoy the flexibility of dining whenever we want. However, on our last cruise, we ended up waiting 15-60 minutes every night. (even if we didn't request a specific server)

 

 

I dunno...

just trying to decide which one would be better for us this cruise.

 

What do you like best about your assigned dining time?

[okgirl]

If you have early seating, then your table number will be on your Sail and Sign card. You will be seated together and have the same wait staff every night.

 

You might be seated at a large 10 top, or at a smaller 6 top. You can post on John Healds FB page to request a private table for your family. Do this 3 days before your cruise and be sure to post your cabin(s) number.

 

Any or all of you can have dinner at other venues without needing to notify anyone. If you are seated with others it's nice to let them know if you are not seated within 10 minutes of your assigned time then you are probably not coming

[zqvol]

Last time DH and I had an assigned dining time was when we cruised 15 year ago. :D Somebody please refresh my memory how it works.

 

Our next cruise will be with our three kids, so we will be a family of five. Can we get a table for just the five of us?

 

Are the tables as crammed together in the "assigned time dining rooms" as much as they are in the "anytime dining room"? (We will be in the Miracle. When we were on the Freedom the tables were just several inches apart. )

 

Also, what if our kids decide to eat at Camp Carnival one night and it's just me and DH? Would we just be at our regular table, but with the two of us or do they move or to a larger table?

 

I like the idea of having the same server every night. Sometimes we request certain servers we click with at ATD and end up having to have a considerable wait.

 

Just not sure if we want to get stuck with an exact time to dine or not. We do enjoy the flexibility of dining whenever we want. However, on our last cruise, we ended up waiting 15-60 minutes every night. (even if we didn't request a specific server)

 

 

I dunno...

just trying to decide which one would be better for us this cruise.

 

What do you like best about your assigned dining time?

 

The tables are arranged pretty much the same in all of the dining rooms. The two tops tend to be closer together than the bigger tables, but that is not always true.

[wantocruisemore]

You can also ask ahead of time by emailing the maitre'd and asking for a table for just the 5 of you. We always ask for just a table for our family. We traveled with 5 last time and got a booth with a chair on the end. You will need to put names, ship, date and room number in your request. You can double check your table after you board and if not happy see the maitre'd during the set time to talk with him the first day. Very easy.

[greenhouse6]

You can also ask ahead of time by emailing the maitre'd and asking for a table for just the 5 of you. We always ask for just a table for our family. We traveled with 5 last time and got a booth with a chair on the end. You will need to put names, ship, date and room number in your request. You can double check your table after you board and if not happy see the maitre'd during the set time to talk with him the first day. Very easy.

 

Where would I find the email for the maitre'd? Thanks.

[Brighton Line]

On the Glory they assigned us a 4 Top with the extra chair for the 5th person on the side in the isle.

It was crowded but at least it was just us not at a 8 or 12 top but I guess they could have given us a 6 top and left the seat empty.

[BIGA961]

My guess is that they will give you a table with just your family, unless they were to put your 5 with another 5 and put you on one of the big 10 tops.

 

To answer your final question, we love our assigned dining times, we like late, because we like having a reservation each night. We also like to have the same wait staff, and we like them knowing our names and what we like. Our last cruise didn't work this way, but on our first 3 cruises with assigned times, we really enjoyed our dinner companions. Every time we've been paired up with other folks, and we looked forward to seeing our new friends each evening to share stories of our day and what adventures we found.

 

Last fall on the Glory, I made a request on John Heald's FB page that our family of 4 would like to have company at our table. The first night we went, and they had us at a 10 top with a family of three, and these people were terrible conversationalists! They sat there, barely saying a word, and it was awkward. The next day, my son and I were in the sport's bar, and the lady came up to us and wanted us to know that before the cruise they had requested a table alone, and they had received word that they were being moved to their own table, and for us not to take it personally that they were moving! It was fine with us, we like meeting new people, but if they're just going to sit there in silence, we don't need you. The only downside was that 4 of us sat at a 10 top, by ourselves, the rest of the cruise, but it was ok, we're good company!

[A&Jfamily]

Last time DH and I had an assigned dining time was when we cruised 15 year ago. :D Somebody please refresh my memory how it works.

 

Our next cruise will be with our three kids, so we will be a family of five. Can we get a table for just the five of us?

 

Are the tables as crammed together in the "assigned time dining rooms" as much as they are in the "anytime dining room"? (We will be in the Miracle. When we were on the Freedom the tables were just several inches apart. )

 

Also, what if our kids decide to eat at Camp Carnival one night and it's just me and DH? Would we just be at our regular table, but with the two of us or do they move or to a larger table?

 

I like the idea of having the same server every night. Sometimes we request certain servers we click with at ATD and end up having to have a considerable wait.

 

Just not sure if we want to get stuck with an exact time to dine or not. We do enjoy the flexibility of dining whenever we want. However, on our last cruise, we ended up waiting 15-60 minutes every night. (even if we didn't request a specific server)

 

 

I dunno...

just trying to decide which one would be better for us this cruise.

 

What do you like best about your assigned dining time?

 

We do not like ATD for a family of 5; we have always had considerable waits and that is not a good thing with hungry kids. But it does ensure you will likely have a table to yourself. The benefits of fixed dining are that the kids do get a personal relationship with the servers and that makes the cruise extra special for them. Plus, you get more personalized service. We have been seated at a 4 top with a chair on the end in a less crowded area, a table for 6 set for 5, and even a table for 8 with a family of 3 with a son the same age as mine. So that is kinda a crap shoot, but if you are flexible, it was fun. If the kids go to camp, then yes, it will be you and hubby at whatever table you have - we often use those nights for a specialty restaurant!

[KatieCharlotte]

We're a family of five and have been at a four-top with an extra chair, a six-top with an empty chair, and a ten-top with another family with kids in about the same age range. If you have a set dining time, you'll be at the same table every night no matter who comes. I ate one relaxing dinner at the six-top all by myself. :)

 

We like set dining because the waiters get to know our children and what they like, and we never have to wait for a table. Our six-year-old told one of our waiters that she would really miss him. We may have to try YTD for our next cruise, because we're waitlisted for early dining, so I'm trying to focus on the benefit of eating when we want, especially on our late port day, but I think early dining is most relaxing with kids.

[Lil2Angelic]

We've been going with "your time" dining lately just because we like the flexibility. The negatives I can think of are that you don't have an assigned wait staff team which I have to agree would be better for the kids. The other thing is you would most likely have a different table every night which has never been a problem for us as we always request a booth but many like to have an assigned table. We've usually don't have to wait and I think the couple times we have it wasn't a big deal for us because we just hang in the casino. Again, this probably not so great when you have kids.

 

On the Miracle with YTD you would be dining on deck 3. It's open in the middle and looks down on deck 2 which is where your table will be for assigned dining. Seems like there's a bit more of the entertainment action going on down there...another positive for the kids. There's more large tables on deck 2, but I would say they all spaced about the same on both decks.

 

Once your table is assigned that's your table for the duration of the cruise unless you request a change. If you're not happy just talk to the Maitre"d...or you could talk to the Maitre'd once you board to check out your assigned table and ask to have it changed if you don't like it. Hint..any problems just slip him a $20 and he will take very good care of you.

 

Have a fabulous cruise with your family!

[leen50]

Where would I find the email for the maitre'd? Thanks.

GLMAITRED@carnival.com

[tandemcruzr]

GLMAITRED@carnival.com

 

This is correct for the Glory, but the OP is going on the Miracle, so that e-mail address would be MIMAITRED@carnival.com

[leen50]

This is correct for the Glory, but the OP is going on the Miracle, so that e-mail address would be MIMAITRED@carnival.com

OOPS! I am going on both ships. It's hard to keep my 3 upcoming cruises straight. Thanks

[emod20]

What would email be for valor?

[leen50]

What would email be for valor?

VAMAITRED@carnival.com

[btregoning]

Can I assume the email for the Freedom would then be

 

FRMAITRED@carnival.com ?

 

How far ahead should I email? We are sailing 12/26/15, but if I could email now and be done with it, it would be great, but I understand if I should wait until a week before we leave.

Edited October 28, 2015 by btregoning

[leen50]

Can I assume the email for the Freedom would then be

 

FRMAITRED@carnival.com ?

 

How far ahead should I email? We are sailing 12/26/15, but if I could email now and be done with it, it would be great, but I understand if I should wait until a week before we leave.

FDMAITRED@carnival.com Every guy is diff. Email when you like.