Traditional Dining Questions

[Folsom]

All,

Although we have been on a number of cruises, we have always gone with ATD, so that we can enjoy the day's events on our schedule. But since our next sailing (Conquest - Southern Caribbean) departs earlier than other voyages, we have decided to GET CRAZY and do traditional 6:00 seating. That being said, these may seem like dumb questions, but I appreciate your assistance.

 

1. With a 6:00 (I think) seating, what time do people arrive. Do you have to be in your seat at 6:00? Do most get there earlier >10min. and how late is acceptable if at all.

 

2. What if we decide to skip the MDR (Steak house, Lido) for the day. Do you have to let them know?

 

3. Anything else we need to know about the traditional dining experience?

[hftmrock]

1. With a 6:00 (I think) seating, what time do people arrive. Do you have to be in your seat at 6:00? Do most get there earlier >10min. and how late is acceptable if at all.

 

depends when they are open but if you are 5 to 10 minutes early (or late) that would be ok

2. What if we decide to skip the MDR (Steak house, Lido) for the day. Do you have to let them know?

 

you can, it would be nice but not mandatory

[Micahs Grandad]

It is helpful to get there within 10 minutes of seating time so as not to delay your tablemates and get servers off to a slow start.

 

Same reason to tell people you will not be eating in DR the next night.

[jocko4279]

I would plan on getting there @6, they don't open the doors before then, and the herd lines up outside lol. you don't have to let them know if you're not coming.

[katiel53]

Normally people get to the dining room within a few minutes of the schedule time. You will see though, that there are people who line up 15 minutes or so before time so they can be the first ones at their tables. This is especially true the first night because they want to claim their seats. Some tables do switch people around, but not all do so.

 

If we are going to the Steak House, other than the first night, we do tell the waiter we won't be in the MDR for dinner tomorrow because we are going to the Steak House. That way he won't hold up others at the table waiting for you when you won't be there. If you don't know in advance, then just go and hope the others at your table don't have to wait long to be served. We usually tell our waiter that we will be on time every night, but if for some reason we aren't here within 10 minutes of the dining time, we won't be here, so please don't wait for us.

 

As far as being late for dinner, it is important to be on time. I do realize that the doors to the dining room don't open until 6 for 6PM seating. As I mentioned, all others who have arrived at the table have to wait for service until all are there. I think it's rude to show up late. One cruise we had a group of people next to us that were half an hour late every night. They thought it was a joke to just show up late nightly. It does have an affect on the waitstaff when they can't start service to a table because the guests are late. Think of it as having a reservation at a restaurant. Do you show up on time or do you just show up late? It's just courteous to be there within a few minutes of 6PM.

 

I am sure you will have a great time.

[StolidCruiser]

I don't recommend being punctual. The lines start to form around 545; the doors open at 600 and by that the line that bass formed stretches for miles. It takes a good 10 minutes for that line to make it into the dining room.

 

Properly timed, arriving at 610 usually finds us right behind the last of the line. We didn't hold anyone up as everyone was still snaking to their tables. The downside? We weren't "first".

 

It is common courtesy when you know you won't be at a fixed seating due to other plans too let your stablemates and/or your servers know.

 

Other advice? Eat, pray, love. :)

[SadieN]

First night we will leave our cabin a few minutes before, arriving a few minutes after. It takes a while for the crowd to go down because everyone is escorted to their table.

 

 

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[nchikk]

1. With a 6:00 (I think) seating, what time do people arrive. Do you have to be in your seat at 6:00? Do most get there earlier >10min. and how late is acceptable if at all. If you get three at 10-til, you'll be waiting outside. The doors aren't open yet. But if you're there a few minutes early, it's no big deal.

 

2. What if we decide to skip the MDR (Steak house, Lido) for the day. Do you have to let them know? You don't have to, but it's nice if you know ahead of time and you let your waitstaff know. That way, your tablemates won't be waiting on you to order their dinner.

[cruzelover55]

Our very 1st cruise we were clueless about everything. Had not found CC at that time. Might not have even existed. Did not even go to the MDR until the 3rd or 4th night. Had assigned dining time. Never crossed our mind to let anyone know. The night we did show up, our fellow dining partners at the table, laughed and said they figured we were honeymooners, as to why we had not been there. At that time people tipped in envelopes at the last night of dining. Our waiter was so rude to us as we had not been there the previous nights, we never went back. My husband left him a tip for that night we did dine. We have always done ATD every since. We really prefer a table for 2. Social everywhere else, but not really at meals.

[cb at sea]

Be at the dining room at 6..that's when it opens. Don't be more than 5 mins. late...it affects everyone. No dining time is affected by port times. If you know when you're supposed to be somewhere...be there! Common courtesy!

[erinmarie424]

One time we did the 6:00 one of the ladies at the table said to the rest of us couples "if we are not here by ten past please go ahead and order without us. We will plan to do the same. " very polite and no stressing if you change your plans.

[jayscore]

On first night of Early Dining, the people are packed up into the staircases, and the elevators like it was a Black Friday early opening at Walmart!:eek:

But, after the first night, it gets much better as far as people strolling in at a more leisurely pace.

[cruzelover55]

On first night of Early Dining, the people are packed up into the staircases, and the elevators like it was a Black Friday early opening at Walmart!:eek:

But, after the first night, it gets much better as far as people strolling in at a more leisurely pace.

 

That's why we like YTD. I'll probably jinx myself but we have never waited more than 5 minutes for a table. And we go at different times each night. Which is kind of the point. I want to go to eat when I want to, not when I have to.:)