Anytime Dining Procedure

[RoePost]

We havent sailed Carnival in quite some time.  Can someone tell me the procedure

for anytime dining.   I understand you now have to make a reservation on the app

when you are ready to have dinner?  Please explain.  Thank you....

[jsglow]

I wouldn't call it a reservation. You simply go on the Carnival Hub app and tell it you're ready for dinner.  the app will place you in a virtual line and notify you when your table is ready asking you to immediately proceed to the dining room.  The table assigned to you will be visible and the hostess will ask you for it.

[jsglow]

Typically the wait is less than 10 minutes.  Within the app you have the option of being seated alone or with others.

 

The real advantage is that 30 people aren't needing to stand at the entrance to the MDR after checking in with the hostess.  Actually, think of it that way. It's nothing more than 'remote' hostess check-in.

[ColeThornton]

For us Neanderthals who don't have a smart phone for using apps can you just go to the hostess station and asked to be seated?

 

Thanks.

[jsglow]

1 minute ago, ColeThornton said:

For us Neanderthals who don't have a smart phone for using apps can you just go to the hostess station and asked to be seated?

 

Thanks.

Yes.

 

That said, it's getting more difficult to navigate cruising w/o a smart phone. Last month on Princess using Medallion it would have been a nightmare.  Everything from check-in to reservations for everything.

Edited September 16, 2022 by jsglow

[skrufy]

Simple procedure. Check in on the hub app. Stay in your cabin, go get a drink, wait to be notified your table is ready. Then you have 10 minutes to the get MDR door. 

[ABQrobin]

Just got back from a cruise and there were people every night, standing at the entrance of the restaurant where they have a hostess with a tablet to check you in.  You still have to wait for a table.  We always check in from our room as we are leaving it to walk down.  By the time we get there our phone "dings" with our table number.  We walk right in door and show the phone to a hostess.  No waiting at all really that way.

[dharmapath]

This is one of the best improvements I have seen for anytime dining and I hope all Cruise lines pick up on this.  It makes it easy to check in while getting ready or enjoying a cocktail on the verandah.  No massive line ups.  I do understand those who don't want to use their phones for everything but this is a definite improvement. 

[51st FMS]

 I use a scooter full time and will need to go into the MDR riding it.  Is there a way to be sure they know this?  Also, do you have to sign up for wifi in order to use the app?

 

[mrpayroll]

25 minutes ago, 51st FMS said:

 I use a scooter full time and will need to go into the MDR riding it.  Is there a way to be sure they know this?  Also, do you have to sign up for wifi in order to use the app?

 

No wi fi needed to use the app.

[simplelife]

On 9/16/2022 at 10:58 AM, HugeWaves said:

On board now.  If you go during busy times, it might help. If, you walk by and decide to eat, they will ask you if you checked in, and if you say no, they will check you in.

Our last Carnival cruise  (March 22) they did not check us in - hey told us to check ourselves  in on the app. - Even though thEY took us almost immediately once we did.

[Super27]

2 hours ago, simplelife said:

Our last Carnival cruise  (March 22) they did not check us in - hey told us to check ourselves  in on the app. - Even though thEY took us almost immediately once we did.

 

I just tell them my phone is in the room. Same thing I do when I want a paper menu. 

[Crusin Karen]

On 9/16/2022 at 8:52 AM, ColeThornton said:

For us Neanderthals who don't have a smart phone for using apps can you just go to the hostess station and asked to be seated?

 

Thanks.

Thank you for asking this!  

[cruisingguy007]

5 minutes ago, Crusin Karen said:

Thank you for asking this!  

 

It doesn't have to be a "smartphone", you can bring any wifi enabled device and it would work, even a tablet/reading device that you leave in your cabin and only use to request a table. I'd suggest picking up a cheap phone, you can find one dirt cheap these days from walmart, ebay, amazon/amazon warehouse deals and the like, for next to nothing. It's also good to have in an emergency if you need to call the ship (during an excursion)/local authorities, many times you can use wifi calling and don't even need a cellular plan if you have google voice set up (free). Just think of it as a small wifi/saftey device and not a "smartphone" if it helps you feel better about it lol. Heck, plenty of friends/family probably have a bunch in drawers they would gladly give you for free.    

[Anyislandwilldo]

Note:If you like your table the first night, tell the hostess that you would like to be seated at that table every night.  This way you can still get to know your server on a personal level.  I went solo last cruise and my server had me out of there in 10 minutes!

[proudpatriot07]

We've done a lot of cruises but always late dining... this time we're trying anytime so we can be more flexible, see shows, don't have to wait until an exact time to eat, etc. This thread was really helpful too! 

[Joe817]

3 hours ago, Anyislandwilldo said:

Note:If you like your table the first night, tell the hostess that you would like to be seated at that table every night.  This way you can still get to know your server on a personal level.  I went solo last cruise and my server had me out of there in 10 minutes!

You ate a full MDR meal in 10 minutes?? Amazing. kudos to you. I could never inhale a meal that quickly. 

[Anyislandwilldo]

10 hours ago, Joe817 said:

You ate a full MDR meal in 10 minutes?? Amazing. kudos to you. I could never inhale a meal that quickly. 

LOL  Actually I had a late lunch so I ordered some light items off the menu and skipped dessert.

 

[bguppies]

18 hours ago, cruisingguy007 said:

 

It doesn't have to be a "smartphone", you can bring any wifi enabled device and it would work, even a tablet/reading device that you leave in your cabin and only use to request a table. I'd suggest picking up a cheap phone, you can find one dirt cheap these days from walmart, ebay, amazon/amazon warehouse deals and the like, for next to nothing. It's also good to have in an emergency if you need to call the ship (during an excursion)/local authorities, many times you can use wifi calling and don't even need a cellular plan if you have google voice set up (free). Just think of it as a small wifi/saftey device and not a "smartphone" if it helps you feel better about it lol. Heck, plenty of friends/family probably have a bunch in drawers they would gladly give you for free.    

I don't think it is access to a phone for some people.

 

I was one of the last cell phone adopters I know.

I have had one now for years and hate carrying it around.

When I'm home, the phone stays on the charger in my room and I miss lots of calls and texts.

 

DW sits in the living room watching TV while on her phone almost non-stop checking e-mails, texting or reading facebook, etc.

She never goes anywhere without hers.

There is a zero percent chance that will ever be me.

'Better chance I quit having a cell phone than me ever being attached to one.

 

If I could leave an old flip phone in my glove box for emergencies, that would be what I would do.

 

I just hate all companies assuming that everyone wants to use a cellphone for everything or can afford to.

I'm still debating taking mine on my cruise this Thursday.

Edited September 18, 2022 by bguppies

[mz-s]

I miss the days of being able to leave my phone in the safe on a cruise. I do like the system of being able to check in for dining at your leisure. That is a big improvement. QR codes everywhere seems so impersonal and robotic though. I hope they at least bring the regular menus back by default.

[bguppies]

42 minutes ago, mz-s said:

I miss the days of being able to leave my phone in the safe on a cruise. I do like the system of being able to check in for dining at your leisure. That is a big improvement. QR codes everywhere seems so impersonal and robotic though. I hope they at least bring the regular menus back by default.

I can see where some of the things you can do with the phones are improvements, like watching the muster drill, checking in for dinner, etc.

 

But the scan a QR code for menus and info in your room is just bad. 

 

Like you said super impersonal.

[mz-s]

45 minutes ago, HugeWaves said:

They will bring you a menu. Just ask. This phone nonsense is making people lazy

 

Oh I know and I usually ask. But I just bemoan the fact that I have to ask. “Old man yells at clouds” I guess. Even though I am a millennial. LOL

[cruisingguy007]

13 hours ago, bguppies said:

I don't think it is access to a phone for some people.

 

I was one of the last cell phone adopters I know.

I have had one now for years and hate carrying it around.

When I'm home, the phone stays on the charger in my room and I miss lots of calls and texts.

 

DW sits in the living room watching TV while on her phone almost non-stop checking e-mails, texting or reading facebook, etc.

She never goes anywhere without hers.

There is a zero percent chance that will ever be me.

'Better chance I quit having a cell phone than me ever being attached to one.

 

If I could leave an old flip phone in my glove box for emergencies, that would be what I would do.

 

I just hate all companies assuming that everyone wants to use a cellphone for everything or can afford to.

I'm still debating taking mine on my cruise this Thursday.

 

No need to carry anything around, it can be left in the cabin and only used to request a table after getting ready, use the QR codes in the cabin, check billing, ship info etc. A wifi device of some kind is very useful, even if left in the cabin. 

[DallasGuy75219]

19 minutes ago, HugeWaves said:

You realize you are just waiting somewhere else

With the old pagers they couldn't guarantee they would work on another deck or any further than the lobby bar and seating area between the MDR and theater (except for Spirit class which only has aft MDRs).  Now you can wait for your table for instance while playing in the casino, in the comfort of your own room, or a lounge not as crowded as the lobby area.  Big improvement IMO.

[DallasGuy75219]

10 minutes ago, HugeWaves said:

You are still waiting somewhere 

And the sky is blue.