Anytime dining

[RoePost]

I have been hearing rumbles  about anytime dining on carnival.  Can someone explain to me how it works.  Do you make a reservation?  When and how do you make the reservation ??  Are there long waits?  Sailing on the Horizon if that helps.  

[mondello]

Go to your Cruise Planner on the Carnival site and choose/edit your dining choice. You can choose YTD or assigned dining. YTD is available 5:30-9:30. You check-in each night on the Hub app and your table is usually ready pretty quick. You can request the same waitstaff each night if you prefer.

Edited September 4, 2022 by mondello
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[jemrtt]

Once onboard, you can use the Carnival app to “check in” for your desired dining time. The wait was usually about 5-10 minutes. But what’s nice is you are able to wait anywhere on ship. (stateroom, balcony, bar, etc.) When your table is ready, you’ll be notified within the app and given a table number. You can then tap the “on my way” button, and you’ll have about 10 minutes to make your way to the MDR. It helps to avoid crowding at the MDR entrance.

[ray98]

Just like real life....eat when you are hungry.  You check in on the hub app when you are ready to eat.  It will notify you when the table is assigned.  Most of the time the wait was 10 minutes or so.  The only time we see waits longer than that is on the elegant nights.  There is always a huge rush between 630 and 7 that will increase the wait.  We naturally avoid that time so it still works for us.

[RoePost]

Thank you both. 

[ETski]

I am hearing that YTD if your not linked to other cruisers they will sit you only with your party. My party is myself and husband. The cruise was booked prior to the pandemic and we had looked forward to sitting with new people each evening. Does anyone know the facts?

[Guest BasicSailor]

24 minutes ago, ETski said:

I am hearing that YTD if your not linked to other cruisers they will sit you only with your party. My party is myself and husband. The cruise was booked prior to the pandemic and we had looked forward to sitting with new people each evening. Does anyone know the facts?

You may ask when entering the MDR . I'm sure it won't be a problem

[Lee Cruiser]

40 minutes ago, ETski said:

I am hearing that YTD if your not linked to other cruisers they will sit you only with your party. My party is myself and husband. The cruise was booked prior to the pandemic and we had looked forward to sitting with new people each evening. Does anyone know the facts?

When making the table request on the app, there is a place to click if you want to be seated with others.  But just keep in mind that a lot of people choose YTD so they can get a table for just their party, so not sure if there would be many others requesting a table with others.

[jemrtt]

Most often, you will be given a table for the number of individuals in your party that you “check in” within the app. Be sure that the option to be seated at a shared table is selected. Also speak with the host/hostess at the MDR.
But the tables are so close that sometimes it feels like you are dining with others at any rate! 😂

[katiel53]

If we have a group of 11, and they are linked, can 1 person check in everyone?  If so, when the table is ready, will we each get notification or will it be only to the person who made the reservations?  

 

If each person won't get notification, will we need at least the service that costs $5 per person per week to notify the others?  As you can see, we've never done this before.   Thanks so much.

[cruisingguy007]

13 minutes ago, katiel53 said:

If we have a group of 11, and they are linked, can 1 person check in everyone?  If so, when the table is ready, will we each get notification or will it be only to the person who made the reservations?  

 

If each person won't get notification, will we need at least the service that costs $5 per person per week to notify the others?  As you can see, we've never done this before.   Thanks so much.

 

Yes to both questions. 

[SurfCat]

Can you add people to your party once onboard, or does that need to be done prior to departure?

[Knights on the Beach]

3 minutes ago, SurfCat said:

Can you add people to your party once onboard, or does that need to be done prior to departure?

 

You can do it either way.

[1kaper]

15 hours ago, ETski said:

I am hearing that YTD if your not linked to other cruisers they will sit you only with your party. My party is myself and husband. The cruise was booked prior to the pandemic and we had looked forward to sitting with new people each evening. Does anyone know the facts?

 

There was a spot where I selected if I wanted to be seated with others or just us.  I always selected just us (my husband and I).  I believe it says it may be quicker if you choose to sit with others.  

[jemrtt]

1 hour ago, katiel53 said:

If we have a group of 11, and they are linked, can 1 person check in everyone?  If so, when the table is ready, will we each get notification or will it be only to the person who made the reservations?  

 

If each person won't get notification, will we need at least the service that costs $5 per person per week to notify the others?  As you can see, we've never done this before.   Thanks so much.

Our party of two did not purchase the $5 chat feature in the app. However, when one of us used the app to check in, we each saw the notification on our personal devices. It came in with confetti. It showed the table number, and which floor of the MDR the table was on.

As a side note, both of us had our phone open to the app to check when our table was ready. 

Edited September 12, 2022 by jemrtt
Spelling error

[DrSea]

On 9/4/2022 at 3:19 PM, ray98 said:

Just like real life....eat when you are hungry.  You check in on the hub app when you are ready to eat.  It will notify you when the table is assigned.  Most of the time the wait was 10 minutes or so.  The only time we see waits longer than that is on the elegant nights.  There is always a huge rush between 630 and 7 that will increase the wait.  We naturally avoid that time so it still works for us.

But I am always hungry on a cruise.

 

lol at the bolded part. Funny and true and the best way to put it. 

 

The wait can be 20 min around 630. But the app allows you to book the reservation and continue enjoying your cruise until you get called, assuming that there are no glitches in the app (of which there are many)

[kwokpot]

4 hours ago, DrSea said:

The wait can be 20 min around 630. But the app allows you to book the reservation and continue enjoying your cruise until you get called, assuming that there are no glitches in the app (of which there are many)

You can check how long the wait is before submitting a reservation request. You can even cancel it after you make it. We always make the request when we're getting dressed and usually by the time we're ready and leaving our room our table is ready. If not we will go to a bvar and get a drink. On Elegant Night when we KNOW it's going to be busy you plan ahead and order the table about 40 mins before you want to eat. 

[shof515]

i had the app tell me it was less then 10 minute wait. in reality it was more like a 25 minute 

[DrSea]

6 hours ago, shof515 said:

i had the app tell me it was less then 10 minute wait. in reality it was more like a 25 minute 

Yea...the app is trash tbh

[DrSea]

6 hours ago, kwokpot said:

You can check how long the wait is before submitting a reservation request. You can even cancel it after you make it. We always make the request when we're getting dressed and usually by the time we're ready and leaving our room our table is ready. If not we will go to a bvar and get a drink. On Elegant Night when we KNOW it's going to be busy you plan ahead and order the table about 40 mins before you want to eat. 

Yes, agree with the 40 min wait on elegant night if you don't eat at 530. 

[cruisingguy007]

6 hours ago, shof515 said:

i had the app tell me it was less then 10 minute wait. in reality it was more like a 25 minute 

 

That's odd, it's always worked perfectly on our cruises, when the table says it's ready, we walk right up, flash the table and are escorted to the table by staff. The only delay I've encountered are the folks who don't understand how to use the app properly and show up and crowd the door before their table is ready. For some reason, Ludacris's "Move B, get out the way" always pops into my head about that time lol. 

[DrSea]

8 minutes ago, cruisingguy007 said:

 

That's odd, it's always worked perfectly on our cruises, when the table says it's ready, we walk right up, flash the table and are escorted to the table by staff. The only delay I've encountered are the folks who don't understand how to use the app properly and show up and crowd the door before their table is ready. For some reason, Ludacris's "Move B, get out the way" always pops into my head about that time lol. 

I read it as the app just misjudged the wait time. I could be misinterpreting their post. 

[Pellaz]

1 hour ago, cruisingguy007 said:

 

That's odd, it's always worked perfectly on our cruises, when the table says it's ready, we walk right up, flash the table and are escorted to the table by staff. The only delay I've encountered are the folks who don't understand how to use the app properly and show up and crowd the door before their table is ready. For some reason, Ludacris's "Move B, get out the way" always pops into my head about that time lol. 

 

Agreed, it worked fine for us on the Mardi Gras, which is definitely a ship you'd want the app handling YTD well.  

[Jenner9]

If we would like the same wait staff each night how do we request that?

[kwokpot]

1 hour ago, Jenner9 said:

If we would like the same wait staff each night how do we request that?

If you're on YTD and still want the same wait staff that can only be done by requesting that service team's section at the restaurant host desk once your reservation is available.