Carnival Your Time Dining vs. traditional Set Time Dining

[PirateAt45]

We are cruising on Carnival Panorama in July 2024. Six adults (3 couples: 2 sisters, 1 brother & spouses).

 

One couple prefers set time dining, one prefers your time dining, and one sees pros/cons of each. What is your experience with YTD on Carnival ships. I've only been on one carnival cruise so far and heard people complain about wait times for tables, but looking on other questions on this topic, it sounds like the wait is minimal, but service is inconsistent. What is your experience with dining and pros/cons of each type of dining. I'm a set dining/late dining person.  Used to be an early dining person when we had a younger kid.   

[SoloAlaska]

2 hours ago, PirateAt45 said:

We are cruising on Carnival Panorama in July 2024. Six adults (3 couples: 2 sisters, 1 brother & spouses).

 

One couple prefers set time dining, one prefers your time dining, and one sees pros/cons of each. What is your experience with YTD on Carnival ships. I've only been on one carnival cruise so far and heard people complain about wait times for tables, but looking on other questions on this topic, it sounds like the wait is minimal, but service is inconsistent. What is your experience with dining and pros/cons of each type of dining. I'm a set dining/late dining person.  Used to be an early dining person when we had a younger kid.   

If anyone has food intolerances or allergies I highly recommend set dinning. Having to explain it every night is a pain plus there is more risk that someone won’t understand. 

[Mike45LC]

Last summer, on my first Carnival cruise in literally decades, we were a group of six with Your Time Dining.  We never had to wait more than 15 minutes for a table from the time we sent in our request.  I was very pleased.

 

On the other hand, I disliked the waiter asking me for my first name and calling me by my first name.  I disliked the practice of keeping the same flatware for each course.  I disliked the lack of tablecloths.  

 

But there was no inconvenient wait for a table.  

[alias47]

I think with a group as in your case, I'd go with a set time dining that way you all can meet up there at the set time, less coordination involved, especially if people part ways during the day.

[kdr69]

We always used to do set times but now we do YTD as it allows greater flexibility around show times and how we are feeling that day.  The reason people talk about inconsistancy is that you do not get the same servers every night unless you specify that so therefore inconsistant service as not every server is alike.  They do tend to not mention that part of it when they mention it consistantly.  Wait times can vary widely DEPENDING on the time you book.  BUT you have multiple different choices that you can book vs just the MDR so just adjust where you want to eat.

[davy jones]

We like to go to dinner around 6:30 to 7:00 PM, so we prefer MTD.  That said, our next cruise is a larger family cruise so we booked early seating because of the larger party with children.

[Hoosierpop]

Maybe with a group your size, set time. But I personally like your time dining for the flexibility and it’s not really close. I’ve never found we have to wait a long time. But there have been plenty of times a set time got in the way of other things we wanted to do. 

[PJDH4]

We always choose Your Time Dining since we don't want to be seated with other people.  Also, since we usually wind up eating dinner around the same time each night (usually between 6:15 and 6:30) we typically get seated at the same table and with the same servers each night anyway.  We have never experienced crazy wait times and dinner is usually over within an hour.

[MisterOJ2]

We normally do set time dining, but when we cruised in December (with a group of 7) we did YTD because early wasn't available and my father couldn't do late. I really wish we could have had early dining, because it just didn't feel as "nice." 

 

Also, we found that wait times depended on what time you requested a table. The times we did it pretty much as soon as the dining room opened, we were seating quickly - within 5-10 minutes. However, a couple of nights, we waited a half hour or so later, and found the wait time to be close to an hour. 

[staceyglow]

12 hours ago, Mike45LC said:

 

 

On the other hand, I disliked the waiter asking me for my first name and calling me by my first name.  I disliked the practice of keeping the same flatware for each course.  I disliked the lack of tablecloths.  

This is the case no matter what dining option you choose. 

[sparks1093]

18 hours ago, SoloAlaska said:

If anyone has food intolerances or allergies I highly recommend set dinning. Having to explain it every night is a pain plus there is more risk that someone won’t understand. 

Actually Carnival has an app for the waitstaff and kitchen to use to track that very thing. DW has several food related issues including being allergic to shell fish. On our last cruise one of our companions also had many food sensitivities. They met with a member of the waitstaff the first night and all of their information was entered into the app. After each evening meal they would each receive a copy of the next evening's menu and if the next day was a sea day brunch menu. They would make their selections and they were input into the system and if anything they wanted was on their list it would be made without the offending food or they would be given the opportunity to order something else. I suspect that for YTD the procedure would be the same as it was for brunch- they would hand their S&S card to the waitstaff assigned and the waitstaff would go retrieve the ticket from the app with their order. It was a system that worked very well and I applaud Carnival for adopting it.

[teknoge3k]

We always do ATD. We don't eat at the exact same time at home each night and I definitely don't want to be tied to an exact time on vacation. We eat when we get hungry. Some days it's 5pm, some days it's 8pm. We've never had to wait longer than 10 minutes for a table. We check-in as soon as we're ready to walk to the MDR and have a table assigned by the time we get there. We always request the same wait staff and have not had any issue. 

[Butterbean1000]

4 hours ago, PJDH4 said:

We always choose Your Time Dining since we don't want to be seated with other people.  Also, since we usually wind up eating dinner around the same time each night (usually between 6:15 and 6:30) we typically get seated at the same table and with the same servers each night anyway.  We have never experienced crazy wait times and dinner is usually over within an hour.

You can request the same servers each night.  It was fortunate you got automatically got them. 

[angelsfort]

I agree with @Alias47 on this one - it may be best to just have a set time to go for dinner.  That way if you are off doing something on your own, you don't need to worry about communicating with everyone else about dinner...   everyone already knows what time to head to the dining room and can plan their day accordingly.

[bar1068]

• We got over the hype of the MDR after our first 2-3 cruises, it's just not that special, and there have been a number of changes over the years that lessens it even more. When Carnival implemented YTD, we never looked back to set time dining.  We just did 5 consecutive cruises on Excel class ships...all with YTD. I think across all 5 cruise, we maybe went to the MDR...a total of 7 times. Having the specialty dining options as part of YTD is a huge plus for us. We're also not opposed to grabbing a couple of slices of pizza and a few beers for dinner. We've also done YTD with groups of varying sizes all without issue. 

[Sabalon]

We prefer the Anytime dining option.  It gives us more flexibility as to what we may do during the day - no rush for early or no show conflicts with late.    The only thing I liked about set time dining was the same staff.  Though last time we had set dining, after the third night we were really tired of the table near us, so I see the randomness as a bonus.

We use the app, and very rarely have had to wait more than 10-15 minutes for a table.  

The pro is obviously being able to go to dinner at a time that suits your day...and each day may be different depending on activities.

The con is the may be a short wait, and you may have different serving staff each night (though I guess that could also be a pro depending on how it goes!)

[Sabalon]

3 minutes ago, bar1068 said:

• We got over the hype of the MDR after our first 2-3 cruises, i

 

If the Blue Iguana served their breakfast burritos all day I'd have three meals easily picked out 🙂
We like to look at the menu ahead of time to decide if it's worth it.  Last cruise we only ate their a couple of times - I got some bad motion sickness from the Nassau tour and food became less than desirable!   I think we mainly go for the appetizers and the dessert.

[bar1068]

26 minutes ago, Sabalon said:

 

If the Blue Iguana served their breakfast burritos all day I'd have three meals easily picked out 🙂
We like to look at the menu ahead of time to decide if it's worth it.  Last cruise we only ate their a couple of times - I got some bad motion sickness from the Nassau tour and food became less than desirable!   I think we mainly go for the appetizers and the dessert.

LoL!! My wife has a similar infatuation with Blue Iguana also....I like to fit it in to my "food rotation' as well. I do enjoy their Huevos Rancheros...just had a couple this past Saturday debarking the Jubilee. Speaking of Jubilee...we did dine in the MDR for Valentines Day last Wednesday (all the specialty restaurants we're booked!!) ...I we did want to try the beef wellington...which was actually pretty decent!

[sgttami]

When I cruise solo I'll do early dining because it gets me out of the casino if I have somewhere to go.(LOL).

 

If I cruise with others, I'll go with the flow.

 

I've only done Anytime Dining on one cruise   It was OK..

[SoloAlaska]

I much prefer set dining time. If by chance I’ll be later then I will either schedule specialty dining or go to the buffet that night. Most nights I want to have that level of service that comes from set dining and always having the same server. “Freestyle dining” is the thing I dislike from NCL, I wish they had the option for traditional dining.

[breadandbutter]

Do they still sing and dance for set time dining?

[alias47]

1 hour ago, breadandbutter said:

Do they still sing and dance for set time dining?

Yes, not always every night, depending on the length of the cruise.

[Liverpoollovely]

On 2/19/2024 at 7:59 PM, PirateAt45 said:

We are cruising on Carnival Panorama in July 2024. Six adults (3 couples: 2 sisters, 1 brother & spouses).

 

One couple prefers set time dining, one prefers your time dining, and one sees pros/cons of each. What is your experience with YTD on Carnival ships. I've only been on one carnival cruise so far and heard people complain about wait times for tables, but looking on other questions on this topic, it sounds like the wait is minimal, but service is inconsistent. What is your experience with dining and pros/cons of each type of dining. I'm a set dining/late dining person.  Used to be an early dining person when we had a younger kid.   

 

YTD is probably the best option for you, we have been on 26 Carnival cruises and never done anything but YTD, we like the flexibility, we have great service and often if we like a particular waiter we will request that wait team for the rest of the cruise, we are prepared to wait. 

 

you may have issues with ensuring all your party are ready because you do need this when you check in on the hub app all parties need to be present. 

 

On Elegant nights it can be busier but that is always expected, YTD runs from 5:30pm - 9:00pm so you will all need to agree on a time.

[Nic6318]

On 2/19/2024 at 2:59 PM, PirateAt45 said:

We are cruising on Carnival Panorama in July 2024. Six adults (3 couples: 2 sisters, 1 brother & spouses).

 

One couple prefers set time dining, one prefers your time dining, and one sees pros/cons of each. What is your experience with YTD on Carnival ships. I've only been on one carnival cruise so far and heard people complain about wait times for tables, but looking on other questions on this topic, it sounds like the wait is minimal, but service is inconsistent. What is your experience with dining and pros/cons of each type of dining. I'm a set dining/late dining person.  Used to be an early dining person when we had a younger kid.   

 

Hi

 

Welcome to cruise critic.

 

I think one of the questions you ask first is, are you expecting to eat as a group everyday?

 

The main benefit of the set time dining is that after your first evening you just show up at your table every night at the same time. If you don't make it, you have the buffet.

The main benefit is YTD is that you can go whenever you want. (as a group, or individuals/couples)

 

If some of your tablemate aren't going to join you any given day, then they would not have another option for dining in the MDR that day. 

 

If you don't want the flexibility of YTD the opt for set time. If all you want is to go with your friends every night and you have YTD, then at some time during the day, you just have to ask, when do you want to go for dinner, and one of your group signs you all in about 15 mins. beforehand. 

 

hope this helps

 

[davy jones]

16 hours ago, breadandbutter said:

Do they still sing and dance for set time dining?

On smaller ships with one MDR, they sing and dance at the fixed dining times (usually dessert).  That may not align very well with the time that you arrived and may result in slower service.