How does my anytime dining work?

[Grammajojo8]

We signed up for anytime dining but now I'm getting an email saying we should make our reservations before the cruise. Is this mandatory? I think we'd rather wait to see what's on the menu that night and see what we feel like doing as we see what our day is going to be. I thought that is what anytime dining was suppose to do for you. We are confused. any help understanding this is greatly appreciated.

[davekathy]

We signed up for anytime dining but now I'm getting an email saying we should make our reservations before the cruise. Is this mandatory? I think we'd rather wait to see what's on the menu that night and see what we feel like doing as we see what our day is going to be. I thought that is what anytime dining was suppose to do for you. We are confused. any help understanding this is greatly appreciated.

 

No it's not mandatory to sign up for MTD. We do but that's only a personal choice.

[LeeW]

They will even encourage you to make reservations when you show up for dining. Still your choice. You can reserve for any time you wish or don't reserve - for a small party it really doesn't matter much. However if you show up between 6 and 7 the dining room may be full and you might get a pager. Same as shore restaurants.

[Grammajojo8]

No it's not mandatory to sign up for MTD. We do but that's only a personal choice.

 

Oh good! so we do have the luxury of waiting until that day to decide between dining room and buffet? I realize that may entail a wait etc. but that's o.k. I'd rather have the freedom to play it by ear.

[davekathy]

Oh good! so we do have the luxury of waiting until that day to decide between dining room and buffet? I realize that may entail a wait etc. but that's o.k. I'd rather have the freedom to play it by ear.

 

Then MTD will work for you. Enjoy.

[Grammajojo8]

They will even encourage you to make reservations when you show up for dining. Still your choice. You can reserve for any time you wish or don't reserve - for a small party it really doesn't matter much. However if you show up between 6 and 7 the dining room may be full and you might get a pager. Same as shore restaurants.[/quot

 

Thank you. That helps tremendously.

[SRF]

We have only made a reservation once.

 

But that was on the recommendation of the staff for lobster night.

 

Otherwise, we make up our mind just before dinner whether to MDR or WJ. Never had to wait more than 10 minutes for a table.

[Grammajojo8]

We have only made a reservation once.

 

But that was on the recommendation of the staff for lobster night.

 

Otherwise, we make up our mind just before dinner whether to MDR or WJ. Never had to wait more than 10 minutes for a table.

 

good point about lobster night! thank you!

[griffy116]

We are a family of six adults and traditional dining was full when we booked so we booked MTD and made reservations for the same time each night. Two of the adults are two 23 year old young men and we would like to share dinner with them each night and "winging it" would be a disaster with those two. This leaves them free to "wing it" for everything else but dinner. We chose a time early enough that they can eat, ditch us and have the night free to go and enjoy what they want to do while we can get to the shows.

[Grammajojo8]

We are a family of six adults and traditional dining was full when we booked so we booked MTD and made reservations for the same time each night. Two of the adults are two 23 year old young men and we would like to share dinner with them each night and "winging it" would be a disaster with those two. This leaves them free to "wing it" for everything else but dinner. We chose a time early enough that they can eat, ditch us and have the night free to go and enjoy what they want to do while we can get to the shows.

 

Sounds like you have the perfect plan to keep you all eating together without cramping their time! That is awesome.

[griffy116]

We would never think of having them booking their excursions or spending all their time with us, but we LOVE hearing about what they've done that day over dinner. He's been cruising since he was 4 and still loves the family cruise vacations, appreciates the hard work of the crew, tips, and keeps his cabin far neater than his apartment. When he graduated college and got his job, we said we understood if he didn't want to plan to continue cruising with us and he asked why we would think he wouldn't want to continue going on the family cruises. He now pays his own way, which is nice too.

[dave.s]

Had My Time Dining on Independence last week and didn’t make any reservations. Never had to wait for a private table (arrived 6:30-7:00). Party of 4 on two nights, party of 2 on the other two nights.

[lcgvol]

What if you have reservations and decide to go to the WJ instead? Do you need to let them know you won't be coming? If so, what's the best way to do this?

[Merion_Mom]

What if you have reservations and decide to go to the WJ instead? Do you need to let them know you won't be coming? If so, what's the best way to do this?

There is a phone number to call (it's in your Cruise Compass) or you can drop by the dining room.

 

Yes, it is courteous to let them know that you will not be keeping your reservation so that someone else can be accommodated.

[Grammajojo8]

We would never think of having them booking their excursions or spending all their time with us, but we LOVE hearing about what they've done that day over dinner. He's been cruising since he was 4 and still loves the family cruise vacations, appreciates the hard work of the crew, tips, and keeps his cabin far neater than his apartment. When he graduated college and got his job, we said we understood if he didn't want to plan to continue cruising with us and he asked why we would think he wouldn't want to continue going on the family cruises. He now pays his own way, which is nice too.

 

Wow! That is a win/win! you get to enjoy him for parts of it and he pays his own way too. Love it!