Show at 7 PM before late seating dinner

[DaisyL]

We were recently on the Zenith to Bermuda, and 5 of the 7 nights had the evening show at 7 PM before the late seating dinner at 8:30 PM. We really enjoy going to the shows but choose the late seating to relax before dinner. Our previous cruise on the Horizon to Bermuda had the shows after dinner for the 2nd seating.

 

Why the change? Our group of 3 couples prefer the shows after dinner. We had the best time on deck or enjoying the pool after the 1st seating crowd had left. What are your thoughts ?

[Beachkeefes]

We just got back from a six-day Mexican trip on Summit. The shows were at 10:45. I agree that this is as it should be.

 

Jim

[LMKohler]

I have mixed emotions about the shows before dinner. We have always had late seating. We, too, like to relax before dinner, especially in the Martini Bar with our friends. On the other hand, we like going to the shows early, so that after dinner we can go to bed:D :D (or the casino). Our last cruise was ten days and three of those days the shows were early -- not anywhere near what you experienced.

 

Lucy

[Lois R]

Hi:)

 

The only time I have been to an event before dinner would be the

Captain's Cocktail Party. I have no desire to see an early show. I always

prefer late seating for dinner and I am 99% of the time just dressing

for pre-dinner drinks in the Martini Bar at 7:00pm.

And even for the Captain's Thing I am not usually there till 7:45 or so.

 

I don't even always go to the late shows.....just depends what is being

offered.

[motherchic]

i was told once it was due to an older ( need to go to bed early) crowd.

I dont know if its true. We always like late seating. Enjoy the thallo pool when it is quiet. Love the pre-drink at the martini bar, or sushi before dinner- then dinner and then the show. i hate it when they have the show early. Those days i always miss the show because my relaxing time always wins. This next cruise we have a CC aft cabin. And we are looking forward to having drinks and watching the sun set with friends.

I wonder how many late seaters really want the early show ?

Hmmmm??

[Tricia724]

I was also disappointed on our last cruise that a number of shows were at 7:00 pm instead of after late seating dinner. The reason I choose late seating is to avoid the rush of getting ready for dinner soon after returning from ports. I also prefer the shows at 10:45 pm, but I can understand that others might like them earlier. Unfortunately, I usually miss the 7:00 pm shows. I have to say, though, that I hope this doesn't become the norm.

[masterbaker]

I was also dissapointed when our shows were scheduled before late seating dinner. We choose late seating for the same reasons as many of you. The only time we had a late show on our last 12 night X cruise were on the formal nights. I made sure to communicate my dissapointment on my comment card.

 

According to the future cruise consultant onboard the Infinity, the CD is in charge of the show schedule.

[DonLou]

We've been to several 7:00pm shows before the late dinner and although it was disconcerting in the beginning, it worked out to our satisfaction. This was primarily because we had early port arrivals the next day so it was nice to get to bed before midnight. That way, we could rise to a leisurely breakfast and then depart for our port visits.

 

On one of the early evening shows, we were set to arrive at the Gatun Locks in Panama at around 5:00 a.m. the next morning. No one was complaining about the early show time that evening. If there was a sea day the following day, I don't think there is any justification for an early show time.

[DaisyL]

i was told once it was due to an older ( need to go to bed early) crowd.

I wonder how many late seaters really want the early show ?

Hmmmm??

 

This could have been the case on our cruise 10/15-7 days which was definitely an older crowd compared to the previous July cruise. The 2 shows at 10:45 PM were not very full. This cruise was to Bermuda with 3.5 days docked there so rising early could not have been an issue, which is understandable on other itineraries. We all added our thoughts to the comment cards though.

 

Thanks for your feedback....

[Happy ks]

I've been to enough cruise ship shows that I do not miss them at all, no matter what time they put them on. The last one I attended, I wish I would have missed, but I was sitting so far up front it would have been rude to get up and leave.

 

Oh well, at least the 5 year old girl in front of us loved it, she was our entertainment!

[BrooklynGirl2]

We too, prefer the late shows. I do not attend the early ones at all. We always have late dinner and we like to have something to look forward to after dinner. We drop our 5 year old off at the slumber party in the kids room and head for the show. Before dinner is my time to relax at the pool after the early dinner people have left. I also like to take my time getting dressed, which is something of a luxury I don't often get as a busy working mom.

 

I didn't think to note this on my comment card. Good idea. I'll remember for next time.

[richsea]

We always have late seating because we like to relax with a drink before dinner so as a result we do not go to pre-dinner shows. I don't know why they started this practice but I doubt it has anything to do with the age of the passengers because they had pre-dinner shows on our cruise to Bermuda this past July. We've found that summer cruises to Bermuda have a much younger passenger than any other times of year.

[ahoymatey3]

I agree. Pre-dinner is a time to relax (nap), get ready and have a martini. On several of our ports, we are scheduled to leave at 7 PM. I wouldn't want to miss a sailaway to see some lip-synching production. I hope they don't do this to us on the transatlantic.

[Guest pinkburro]

we prefer 7PM shows before late seating. i guess that gets us to bed a bit earlier. our last X four nite sailing had three 7PM late seating shows and one 10:45 late seating show. we saw them all and enjoyed a pre dinner drink at the earlier ones. maybe half early and half late would add variety and please the most folks?? i wonder what the performers like the best? probably nearly full houses? happy cruising!!

[shofer]

On our Alaska trip in May,2003, it was definitely an older crowd and the shows were mostly pre-dinner for the late seating. I don't know if it was because Alaska was so port intensive or just the age of the guests. I do know that these 7pm shows were very poorly attended. If there was 100 people it was a lot. We always take late seating just to relax between port time & dinner. My after drink liquer is always best at the show after dinner. Then we hit the casino.

 

If I am tired the next morning that's my problem. I don't need someone to decide for me that I should see the show early. If they do this on the Hawaiian trip in January, we will not be going to the show and definitely making a remark on the comment card.

[catmand]

Even if we would LIKE to get to an early show we never seem to make it. No, too many things to do before dinner.

[motherchic]

last year on the Connie we had excellent entertainment. i was glad that it was always after our dinner, for i would have hated to have missed it. Now the last time we sailed on the Summit ,as a whole, the entertainment was not very good, and i would not have missed any of it. I wish we didnt have to choose.

Late dinner-late show ...I LIKE THAT !!!!!

good suggestion about the comment card---certainly cant hurt !!

But as much as i have enjoyed the shows, being a mom of four, i still like best the R&R pre-dinner. A nice soak in the thallo pool ( my best day dreams are of just that ) then sushi on the aft deck, Doesnt get any better then that !!!

[Schplinky]

I asked a friend to ask her neice who used to work on RCL. She said that the show is usually scheduled for the late seating pax before dinner whent he crowd on the ship is a little older. I was surprised that they could get all the performers to be so flexible but she pointed out that their work day is shorter in that event. Now, the neice worked in the kids program so who knows how reliable this is.

[constantcruiser]

We were on a 10-night cruise on the Jewel of the Seas last month, and the first night the CD announced that "due to popular demand" the shows for late dinner passengers would be at the same time every night -- 10:45. His announcement met with a loud round of applause. I totally agree with the other posters who like to spend their early evenings relaxing before dinner. It's also confusing to keep changing times throughout the week -- on several cruises when the "after-dinner" show started at 7:00, we forgot & missed it entirely. We're booked on the Zenith in 3 weeks -- hope the shows on that cruise will all be late.

 

Another thought...do you think the cruiselines do this deliberately to make more money, if the only places to go after 10:00 pm are bars or the casino? Far more drinks are sold there than in the main showroom.

[motherchic]

Hmmmm, interesting thought Constantcruiser.

Unfortunately i sTILL always have time to spend my money at the casino !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Schplinky]

I like for the late show to be late and I'm an early diner. We loved the Broadway show on RCL so muchthat we attended, went to have a drink and came to see it a second time.