Anytime dining really means when they can fit you in.

[seamusdad]

We had it on the Breeze with 6 people and never waited. Ever. Have fun!

Thanks. Good to hear.

 

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[stargate fan]

Have been on the Magic for three days. First day we waited over an hour for a table. Second day we waited 90 mins for a table. We asked at the podium how we could get a table at 7pm and were told to show up at 5.45pm and we might get one.

Staff are working hard but they need more to meet the crowds demands.

Wine glasses are dirty we have to ask for cutlery and butter for the bread as well as side plates. Crumbs left on the chairs no table cloths the first night.

 

Lines in the buffet are out the door waited in line 20 mins for breakfast.

 

I think this will be my last carnival cruise unless things pick up the rest of the week really wishing I had picked another cruise line.

 

Of the 28 cruises I have completed this has to be the worst. So sad as I have always been a champion of Carnival when people knock it as being sub standard but this cruise really is poor except for Conrad our stateroom attendant who is great

 

Having chosen YTD for our past five cruises, I would have commented that something weird was going on since we never waited for a table and were always seated immediately. (Party of six for all those cruises.)

 

BUT...I now know how you feel.

We sailed Pride in May with our grown sons and their lovely ladies. Again, we chose YTD since we always had such great experiences.

 

We met the kids at 6:30 at the bar by the dining room the first night. The line was all the way back. We were shocked. After some 40 minutes, we were seated. Surely a fluke.

 

Next night, same thing. We were confused.

 

Third night, we figured out what happened. All the people who chose, and were denied, 6:00 dining went to YTD for 6:00. Lines began forming at 5:30 very night. We had to decide what events we wanted to do each night, add 40 minutes, then show up at the dining room to wait and wait and wait. Frustrating, yes, but we still had a fabulous week since we were with our kids. (First time in four years that we could all be together. Who knows how long it will be till we can sail again together.)

 

We did not have issues at the buffet and I am sorry that you experienced that.

 

We will still choose YTD because 6:00 is too early and 8:15 is way, way too late.

 

Hope the rest of your week is fun.

[DebJ14]

Another reason for a set time. Thank you Carnival for my confirmed 815pm seating time

 

We too always get a confirmed 815pm dining time. We stopped sailing NCL because of the switch to freestyle dining. We tried anytime dining on Princess and the waits were horrible, so back to fixed dining for us. Besides, we love having the same wait staff every evening!

[SadieN]

ATD is like a restaurant, if you go at peak time the waits may be longer. At ATD, I will usually go as soon as they open or late after 9:00pm. This enables me to be able to see the shows I want so dining early or late works for me.

 

 

 

If you are going to go at peak times then expect to wait longer.

 

 

Check the ATD times. Some cruises ATD ends at 9, other cruises 9:30.

 

 

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[Emperor Norton]

What does this have to do with anything except increase your post count?

 

Apparently give you an excuse to increase your post count.:rolleyes:

[TNRunnerGal]

Have been on the Magic for three days. First day we waited over an hour for a table. Second day we waited 90 mins for a table. We asked at the podium how we could get a table at 7pm and were told to show up at 5.45pm and we might get one.

Staff are working hard but they need more to meet the crowds demands.

Wine glasses are dirty we have to ask for cutlery and butter for the bread as well as side plates. Crumbs left on the chairs no table cloths the first night.

 

Lines in the buffet are out the door waited in line 20 mins for breakfast.

 

I think this will be my last carnival cruise unless things pick up the rest of the week really wishing I had picked another cruise line.

 

Of the 28 cruises I have completed this has to be the worst. So sad as I have always been a champion of Carnival when people knock it as being sub standard but this cruise really is poor except for Conrad our stateroom attendant who is great

 

Was on the Magic this time last month. Can say with all honestly we had a completely different experience. We went in anywhere between 6:00-6:30 each night and absolutely never waited for a table. Maybe we got lucky, but I don't think so. In all our cruises, we have never waited.

 

Regarding your complaint about table cloths, that's what they do now. Its not for everybody. We also never had to ask for cutlery, butter, or side plates for the bread. We sat in a different section each night and still never had a problem.

 

My opinion is that you should spend less time worrying about waiting for food and more time looking at the positives of your cruise. The staff works tremendously hard for pay that is ridiculously low. Why don't you go trade places with them and work their job for a month and see how you fare after so long. Carnival does a great job. Each cruise line and ship has its ups and downs, and switching cruise lines doesn't ensure you will not encounter the same problem(s) again.

[jppmp]

Na more like your pathetic failing attempt to convince others to cruise elsewhere. Even the newbies caught on to you. Maybe time for another name change?

 

I wondered what the deal was with that poster. Its like they go out of their way to tell everybody and their brother how terrible Carnival is, and yet they cruise the Carnival board on a daily basis. That seems like an awful waste of time, but to each his own. You would almost think they own stock in a competing brand and this is some weird attempt to raise the stock value.

 

Very strange behavior, but it's good to see folks rightly calling them out on this nonsense.

[momof3cruisers]

Sorry to hear that and I hope it gets better!

 

Curious....how many are in your party?? I have heard that groups larger than 4 have a longer wait for ATD because there are fewer large tables. :confused:

 

Yep. We have five and pretty much always had a wait of at least twenty minutes on Breeze in Jan. Usually more. The first elegant night was about an hour and a half. Sure would be nice if you could go a little farther away with those pagers. The ship was also VERY full.

[happy cruzin]

Yep. We have five and pretty much always had a wait of at least twenty minutes on Breeze in Jan. Usually more. The first elegant night was about an hour and a half. Sure would be nice if you could go a little farther away with those pagers. The ship was also VERY full.

 

 

Where are the limits for the pager range on the Breeze??

 

Much smaller ship - I know - but, on the Pride last we we were told we could go anywhere except our cabin and the casino. [emoji848]

[Cougardave]

We have late seating on our upcoming cruise on the Freedom. Can we still go earlier and wait if necessary ?

[LMaxwell]

We have late seating on our upcoming cruise on the Freedom. Can we still go earlier and wait if necessary ?

 

No, you can't alternate between fixed time and anytime.

[LMaxwell]

Was on the Magic this time last month. Can say with all honestly we had a completely different experience. We went in anywhere between 6:00-6:30 each night and absolutely never waited for a table. Maybe we got lucky, but I don't think so. In all our cruises, we have never waited.

 

Regarding your complaint about table cloths, that's what they do now. Its not for everybody. We also never had to ask for cutlery, butter, or side plates for the bread. We sat in a different section each night and still never had a problem.

 

My opinion is that you should spend less time worrying about waiting for food and more time looking at the positives of your cruise. The staff works tremendously hard for pay that is ridiculously low. Why don't you go trade places with them and work their job for a month and see how you fare after so long. Carnival does a great job. Each cruise line and ship has its ups and downs, and switching cruise lines doesn't ensure you will not encounter the same problem(s) again.

 

If I pay a few grand for a vacation and wait 60 to 90 minutes for a dinner table I'm not exactly going to be putting myself in the wait staff's shoes, know what I mean? I can more than understand someone not being happy with waits like those.

[firemanbobswife]

We have late seating on our upcoming cruise on the Freedom. Can we still go earlier and wait if necessary ?

 

 

If you are assigned late seating then you will need to go at your assigned time of 8:15PM. The Early 6:00PM sitting is before yours. You can't just show up at your leisure before your time because there more than likely will be someone in your seat and they won't have the tables ready yet. The doors will be shut until they are ready to let people in and then they are supposed to close them again 15 min after the assigned dining time. This varies, but you shouldn't show up late because it throws everyone off and is rude IMHO.

 

If you want flexible seating you need to sign up for ATD. You can't mix and match dining venues.

[bakersdozen12]

To the OP: are you requesting to be seated alone, or are you just asking to be seated wherever they seat you? I'm just wondering if asked for a private table contributes to the wait. We are trying Your Time Dining for the first time on our next cruise, and while I would love a table for two for my husband and I, if the wait is going to be an hour, I would definitely prefer to just be seated with others.

 

 

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[idlenote]

I have complained on the survey report from Carnival for at least every one of the last six cruises about the disaster that YTD has become. If you are not in line by about 6:15 you are going to be in for a long wait, and I've lost count of the number of times we've tossed the pagers back on the desk and went elsewhere. They are always apologetic but the fact that the DR is not staffed properly can't be offset by a crew member apologizing.

 

Last time I talked to the PVP I told her it had become a disaster and I was going to go elsewhere and see if all the lines had the same problems. She was sympathetic, but that wasn't going to help and neither did I expect anything else.

 

August we will be on RCL, I think it will be interesting to make the comparison. I hope they do a better job but I would far rather CCL get their heads out of wherever they have them hidden and get back to doing the excellent job they used to do.

 

What makes it harder to take is we see nothing but cuts in service and the quality of what is served but the cruise prices keep going up. I remember doing a 5 day $600 cruise where everything was excellent, crew was wonderful, now the same cruise is $1000 and even the crew are complaining about the manning.

 

I don't think the CCL cheerleaders can really deny this is what is going on, and our 260 days with CCL means we have seen nothing but a slow decline in the product.

[vwrestler171]

This is why I like RCCL version better where you can make reservations. Carnival's is like walking into Applebees at 7PM on a Friday and hoping they can seat you

 

Wow Jon, Long time. How've you been?

[Chief Cruiser]

Anytime dining IS first come-first served. The only way to guarantee a specific seating is to go back to traditional dining with the two seatings. The other way to avoid long waits are to avoid the peak dining times. Anytime dining is very popular and is the reason the traditional dining rooms are never full anymore.

 

Table cloths, for the most part, are heading toward being used only on formal nights as I understand it. Another cut back.

 

Not every cruise is perfect. It's life. Neither is going to local restaurants, theme parks, the doctor's office, etc. It's hurry up and wait. I can't speak to the issues on other cruise lines with this style of dining as I always cruise Carnival. I'm sure the other cruise lines have their own issues and there are some things you just have to accept or don't participate.

 

I'm not defending Carnival, but the process of Anytime Dining is what it is. I choose traditional dining to avoid the very frustrations you speak of. Yes, I have to ensure my schedule for the evening is built around the dining time, but that's OK with me. It's a trade off.

 

My last cruise on Carnival was far less than perfect and there were issues in the Lido restaurant that I didn't like and was NOT what I've experienced on any of my previous 21 Carnival cruises. But, not everyday is filled with sunshine either. It does rain. But, I live another day to see the sun.

 

Now, vacation time is a time to relax, not let things get to you, and release the every day burdens of life. I simply refuse to let a meal experience spoil that for me.

 

Just my thoughts.

[Bob NC]

In the last 2 years we have had Anytime Dining on the Splendor & Glory.

 

We have been a group of 3 couples.

 

We actually LIKE to have a 20 to 30 minute wait so we can get a drink, have a seat and relax before dinner.

 

Our usual wait was about 15 - 20 minutes.

 

Some waits were 10 minutes or less and I was wishing it would take longer.

[sweetsixteencruisers]

Anytime dining IS first come-first served. The only way to guarantee a specific seating is to go back to traditional dining with the two seatings. The other way to avoid long waits are to avoid the peak dining times. Anytime dining is very popular and is the reason the traditional dining rooms are never full anymore.

 

Table cloths, for the most part, are heading toward being used only on formal nights as I understand it. Another cut back.

 

Not every cruise is perfect. It's life. Neither is going to local restaurants, theme parks, the doctor's office, etc. It's hurry up and wait. I can't speak to the issues on other cruise lines with this style of dining as I always cruise Carnival. I'm sure the other cruise lines have their own issues and there are some things you just have to accept or don't participate.

 

I'm not defending Carnival, but the process of Anytime Dining is what it is. I choose traditional dining to avoid the very frustrations you speak of. Yes, I have to ensure my schedule for the evening is built around the dining time, but that's OK with me. It's a trade off.

 

My last cruise on Carnival was far less than perfect and there were issues in the Lido restaurant that I didn't like and was NOT what I've experienced on any of my previous 21 Carnival cruises. But, not everyday is filled with sunshine either. It does rain. But, I live another day to see the sun.

 

Now, vacation time is a time to relax, not let things get to you, and release the every day burdens of life. I simply refuse to let a meal experience spoil that for me.

 

Just my thoughts.

 

Perfectly said!

[Trumpster]

Loved ATD on Magic, never had it before. Worked perfectly. Short wait and a table alone. And quick, efficient waiters without useless chatter with them or table mates.

 

Used to always do early. Won't do it unless there is a good reason from here on out.

 

We did tend to go between 6-6:15, sometimes earlier. No real wait to speak of. Formal night was a bit more complex time wise.

 

Sorry that some have found it not to work for them.

[woodley]

Well here is an update, things have been improved in the dining room. Glasses are clean we have had bread butter cutlery and side plates provided without having to ask and the waits are at a reasonable length now approx 20 mins.

 

Clearly there was a problem as we received a apology letter with a plate of candy in our stateroom on the 3rd day. There also seems to be a lot more staff in the dining room.

 

To those of you who became defensive at the comments I made please be advised that my original post was honest and was accurate. This was what we were experiencing. I too have done many cruises using YTD where it was perfect this one was not.

[woodley]

"Anytime dining really means when they can fit you in."

 

Well, of course that's what it means. You show up at any time and you get seated when they can seat you. What else would anyone expect it to mean? :confused:

 

I'm not a fan myself although I've now done it a few times because flexibility was important.

 

Only time I ever waited more than about 15 minutes was the first time I tried it (on Freedom). I was solo and being a fan of having a set wait team, I requested the same team I'd had. It was elegant night and was fairly full. And the wait team I requested was popular, so their section was always full.

 

Next two cruises, I'm going back to late dining.

 

My understanding and the way it is advertised is "to dine when you want to"

[happy cruzin]

Well here is an update, things have been improved in the dining room. Glasses are clean we have had bread butter cutlery and side plates provided without having to ask and the waits are at a reasonable length now approx 20 mins.

 

Clearly there was a problem as we received a apology letter with a plate of candy in our stateroom on the 3rd day. There also seems to be a lot more staff in the dining room.

 

To those of you who became defensive at the comments I made please be advised that my original post was honest and was accurate. This was what we were experiencing. I too have done many cruises using YTD where it was perfect this one was not.

Glad to hear things are better!!

[Cocochanel26]

Never had a very long wait for ATD once we got to the podium, but we did have a long LINE to get to the podium last cruise. I felt like it might've been long since we were sailing on the fantasy and the dining room is small. We will do set dining from now on.

[Vitamin_Sea]

Anytime dine sucks! Always do early dine!