cjdixon4 Posted April 20, 2016 #1 Share Posted April 20, 2016 OK, I'm a pretty seasoned cruiser...but I've never missed eating in the MDR on the first evening, if only to meet our tablemates. This year however, my hubby's birthday falls on the 1st sailing day. I'd like to reserve Sabor instead for a special dinner, since I've heard so many great things about it. Does it matter whether we show up in the MDR or not? On another note, will the Specialty restaurant service not be that great since it's the first night? Thoughts, please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted April 20, 2016 #2 Share Posted April 20, 2016 I don't think it's rude at all. We've had reasons to miss the MDR the first night before, such as sailaway or a speciaty restaurant. I try to drop by the MDR table and let the waiter know we won't be making it that night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alfaeric Posted April 20, 2016 #3 Share Posted April 20, 2016 You are celebrating a birthday with your husband. If your tablemates have a problem with that, well... I don't think it's your fault. Seems like a great reason to be someplace by yourselves. I'd rather just be with my wife on either of our birthdays.... So I don't think it's rude at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfganghowell Posted April 20, 2016 #4 Share Posted April 20, 2016 Not at all - remember many Diamond + get BOGO coupons for specialty dining that can only be used the 1st and/or 2nd night. (Diamond may as well, not sure.) So I think more and more people are skipping the first night to get that perk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George C Posted April 20, 2016 #5 Share Posted April 20, 2016 I also do not think its rude, we always are there 1st night, but many people prefer specialty or even WJ on 1st night. On my last cruise we were at a large table and half the people was not there, if I know we will be doing a specialty the next day we will tell waiter and tablemates ( we had tablemates join us for a few specialty restaurants last year) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfguyxxx Posted April 20, 2016 #6 Share Posted April 20, 2016 Not at all - remember many Diamond + get BOGO coupons for specialty dining that can only be used the 1st and/or 2nd night. (Diamond may as well, not sure.) So I think more and more people are skipping the first night to get that perk. I'm with Wolfgang; I'm usually in the specialty restaurants on the first night; BOGO. Usually not very crowded either! This is your party.:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCruisers Posted April 20, 2016 #7 Share Posted April 20, 2016 Agree with the others! Not the least bit rude. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashland Posted April 20, 2016 #8 Share Posted April 20, 2016 This is just one of the many reason's we always opt for MTD ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare steamboats Posted April 20, 2016 #9 Share Posted April 20, 2016 As Bob I usually try to show up and let my waiters and tablemates know that they do not have to wait for us. I also try to let them know when we don´t show up any other night. Last year on the Allure we got a 2 for 1 offer for Chops Grille on the Royal Promenade after embarkation. Due to sail away and the time (same time as your MDR seating) we didn´t make it. We saw our tablemates the next night but none of the others (either we were dining in a specialty restaurant or they didn´t show up). But actually some nights on the Allure Western Med itinerary were long stays in port and half of the MDR was empty. steamboats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjdixon4 Posted April 20, 2016 Author #10 Share Posted April 20, 2016 You are celebrating a birthday with your husband. If your tablemates have a problem with that, well... I don't think it's your fault. Seems like a great reason to be someplace by yourselves. I'd rather just be with my wife on either of our birthdays.... So I don't think it's rude at all. alfaeric, thanks and you're absolutely correct. I'm just a creature of habit I suppose, and always like to meet the other diners at my table. Guess I have to remember that we still have an entire week ahead of us, and there's plenty of time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjdixon4 Posted April 20, 2016 Author #11 Share Posted April 20, 2016 I don't think it's rude at all. We've had reasons to miss the MDR the first night before, such as sailaway or a speciaty restaurant. I try to drop by the MDR table and let the waiter know we won't be making it that night. Think I'll do just that, Bob. Thanks. It's the least that I can do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UCF_Knight Posted April 20, 2016 #12 Share Posted April 20, 2016 It is rude to show up 30 minutes late for dinner in the MDR if you are not on My Time Dining. It is never rude to eat dinner somewhere else on the ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare rafinmd Posted April 20, 2016 #13 Share Posted April 20, 2016 It's not rude to be absent but courtesy calls for letting others know not to expect you. That poses a dilemma on the first night but if possible you should let your tablemates, the waiter, or dining room manager know. When there's a scenic sailaway what I try to do is stop in early and meet my tablemates, get an entrée in the lido, and join the table later for coffee and desert. Roy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjdixon4 Posted April 20, 2016 Author #14 Share Posted April 20, 2016 It is rude to show up 30 minutes late for dinner in the MDR if you are not on My Time Dining. Now THIS I wholeheartedly agree with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trev71 Posted April 20, 2016 #15 Share Posted April 20, 2016 Not at all. Its your cruise you paid for it. You can do whatever you please Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryL Posted April 20, 2016 #16 Share Posted April 20, 2016 (edited) From one who has had to wait for other diners on the first night, I will only say that you should celebrate as you choose, but please have the courtesy to inform your waiters, or the maître d', so they don't hold up the meal. Your tablemates will appreciate the effort. :) Edited April 20, 2016 by LarryL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfguyxxx Posted April 20, 2016 #17 Share Posted April 20, 2016 From one who has had to wait for other diners on the first night, I will only say that you should celebrate as you choose, but please have the courtesy to inform your waiters, or the maître d', so they don't hold up the meal. Your tablemates will appreciate the effort. :) Sorry; not going to happen! You and I might but "most"will not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
$CJ Posted April 21, 2016 #18 Share Posted April 21, 2016 We usually miss the first night dinner intentionally or not due watching sail out out as the sun goes down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keasel Posted April 21, 2016 #19 Share Posted April 21, 2016 It depends. If you signed up for a table for the early or late seating, then it would be rude to make your table mates and waiters wait on you not showing up. Please be polite to everyone and show up or let them know. The reason we stopped with fixed seatings is because we were forced to wait on people of who may or may not show up. If you signed up for MTD, then don't bother. That is what MTD is for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjdixon4 Posted April 21, 2016 Author #20 Share Posted April 21, 2016 Good points everybody. I think my hubby birthday at Sabor is more important, but I'll definitely alert the servers in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wendychloecruiser Posted April 21, 2016 #21 Share Posted April 21, 2016 The service won't be any different from any other night....remember it is just another "X" on the calendar for the crew! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davebhoy Posted April 21, 2016 #22 Share Posted April 21, 2016 From one who has had to wait for other diners on the first night, I will only say that you should celebrate as you choose, but please have the courtesy to inform your waiters, or the maître d', so they don't hold up the meal. Your tablemates will appreciate the effort. :) In my opinion, it should be up to the ship's crew to manage records for who will/won't be in the MDR if they've booked a table in another restaurant. Different, obviously, if you're just going to turn up in the Windjammer (then it'd be nice to let the maitre d' know), but in this day and age, they should really be able to co-ordinate reservations between the different restaurants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2CatsInFlorida Posted April 21, 2016 #23 Share Posted April 21, 2016 The only problem is your table mates might grab the best chairs and want them for the whole cruise. Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wendychloecruiser Posted April 21, 2016 #24 Share Posted April 21, 2016 The only problem is your table mates might grab the best chairs and want them for the whole cruise. Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app Not if you get there first!!:D:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjdixon4 Posted April 21, 2016 Author #25 Share Posted April 21, 2016 The only problem is your table mates might grab the best chairs and want them for the whole cruise. Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app Man, what a dilemma that would be...LOL :rolleyes: :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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