Anytime (that you've reserved) Dining

[Buffetman]

My wife and I tried this out on the Diamond last month. Setting aside the fact that you must reserve in advance the time at which you plan to be spontaneous, this is what we found:

 

First night: We reserved a table for two. When we arrived they escorted us to a nice intimate table...wedged between two other intimate tables. There was literally 12" between them. One side had chairs, the other had a long bench ala McDonalds. The close proximity encouraged the couples on both sides of us to yack incessantly at us and each other...we might as well have been at a table for 6.

 

Second night: We arrived 2 hours earlier than our reservation time (well it says anytime right?). The Maitre 'D swiped my card;

 

"but...your reservation is at 8:00...."

"I know that, but we'd like to eat now."

 

He stared at me for a few seconds as though an alien was bursting forth from my gut. Then he glanced around and saw the 80% empty restaurant was not going to back his position. We were eventually escorted to our usual table, where another well-meaning couple shared details of their lives better discussed with their physician.

 

Did I mention the food? No, because it's the exact same menu as traditional dining, save for one "specialty dish". It was good, true, but didn't justify the hassle of getting there.

 

In short, this whole concept is rediculous. They should free up this space for more traditional dining seating and be done with it.

[cruisetmc]

I had to laugh when I saw your story about the tables of two talking to each other so much it should have been a table of 6. I have a friend that will do this to the point the other couple will ask us to join them. I've mentioned several times to this person to let the other couple have their dinner in peace but it doesn't seem to work.

 

Actually, we enjoy anytime dining but we generally ask for a large table.

[coiran]

My wife and I tried this out on the Diamond last month. Setting aside the fact that you must reserve in advance the time at which you plan to be spontaneous, this is what we found:

 

First night: We reserved a table for two. When we arrived they escorted us to a nice intimate table...wedged between two other intimate tables. There was literally 12" between them. One side had chairs, the other had a long bench ala McDonalds. The close proximity encouraged the couples on both sides of us to yack incessantly at us and each other...we might as well have been at a table for 6.

 

Second night: We arrived 2 hours earlier than our reservation time (well it says anytime right?). The Maitre 'D swiped my card;

 

"but...your reservation is at 8:00...."

"I know that, but we'd like to eat now."

 

He stared at me for a few seconds as though an alien was bursting forth from my gut. Then he glanced around and saw the 80% empty restaurant was not going to back his position. We were eventually escorted to our usual table, where another well-meaning couple shared details of their lives better discussed with their physician.

 

Did I mention the food? No, because it's the exact same menu as traditional dining, save for one "specialty dish". It was good, true, but didn't justify the hassle of getting there.

 

In short, this whole concept is rediculous. They should free up this space for more traditional dining seating and be done with it.

 

No it's not ridiculous - it works - for those who want anytime or specific reservations. It sounds loke you wanted both simultaneously and that don't work.

If you wanted anytime dining - why did you make a reservation and then not keep it????

As for the food choices - yes - they are the same as Traditional dining.

If you want a specific table - got in for lunch and find a table you like and ask for it at dinner - pretty simple heh?

Ron

[LMCAT123]

You know, it is possible to say (nicely) that "that table/seating won't work for us, could we wait for a more private table for two". We did anytime dining on a cruise last year and always had a nice table for 2. I do not like the kind of seating you mentioned (i.e. long bench on one side of tables) and never accept it if offered when we go out to local restuarants or whatever. All you have to say is "no thanks, we'll wait for something more acceptable".

 

We made reservations for a few nights but we also "just showed up" a few times and had no problems whatsoever getting the kind of table we wanted. I'd say the longest wait was 10 min. with no reservation.

 

If you make a res. for 8 why would you not cancel it if you wanted to eat earlier ?

[bdjam]

Second night: We arrived 2 hours earlier than our reservation time (well it says anytime right?). The Maitre 'D swiped my card;

 

"but...your reservation is at 8:00...."

"I know that, but we'd like to eat now."

 

He stared at me for a few seconds as though an alien was bursting forth from my gut. Then he glanced around and saw the 80% empty restaurant was not going to back his position. We were eventually escorted to our usual table, where another well-meaning couple shared details of their lives better discussed with their physician.

Think land-based restaurant (where theoretically you can eat anytime). You make a reservation there at 8:00 and then you decide to show up at 6:00. Would the reaction be any different? Especially if the restaurant was busy - the Host or Hostess would have probably sugggested you enjoy a drink at the bar (where, by the way, restaurants make a good deal of money).

I think you lucked out in that the restaurant wasn’t so busy that you had to wait. I personally would have told the Matre'd up front that I was way early instead of waiting for them to find out by swiping my Cruise Card. Then I would have thanked him or her for accommodating me.

[Lynda90]

Think land-based restaurant (where theoretically you can eat anytime). You make a reservation there at 8:00 and then you decide to show up at 6:00. Would the reaction be any different? Especially if the restaurant was busy - the Host or Hostess would have probably sugggested you enjoy a drink at the bar (where, by the way, restaurants make a good deal of money).

 

I think you lucked out in that the restaurant wasn’t so busy that you had to wait. I personally would have told the Matre'd up front that I was way early instead of waiting for them to find out by swiping my Cruise Card. Then I would have thanked him or her for accommodating me.

Absolutely agree with Brian, 100%!

[custompcsys]

Second night: We arrived 2 hours earlier than our reservation time (well it says anytime right?). The Maitre 'D swiped my card;

 

"but...your reservation is at 8:00...."

"I know that, but we'd like to eat now."

 

He stared at me for a few seconds as though an alien was bursting forth from my gut.

On the Diamond? I know that Maitre D' ...must have been the Santa Fe dining room :D

[OuiOnboard]

......If you want a specific table - got in for lunch and find a table you like and ask for it at dinner - pretty simple heh?

 

Ron

There may still be a couple of problems...on Sapphire Princess 2 weeks ago the only room open at lunch time was the Trad. dining room...the doors to the other A T ding rooms were locked when we checked with that in mind. Most of the tables for two in the A T dining rooms are still about 12 inches apart which is a little close for ignoring your neighbour's conversation, even when trying hard. :)

............Oui

[MaryPoppinz]

There was literally 12" between them. One side had chairs, the other had a long bench ala McDonalds. The close proximity encouraged the couples on both sides of us to yack incessantly at us and each other...we might as well have been at a table for 6.

 

I've never been seated at one of those tables for two-times-three, but on some other ships, I've seen smallish 'partitions' that at least provide an illusion that you are at a table-for-two, and so are the others.

 

I agree that these tables are awkward -- you're not together, but you are so close to one another that it seems impolite not to acknowledge one another or to have simultaneous conversations, particularly if you arrive at about the same time and your courses are paced together.

[jlp20]

We have had three experiences with the PC method, the fourth time we ate traditional.

 

Three times, three totally different experiences.

 

Last December, Sapphire to Mexico. Made reservations on three nights, waited up to 30 minutes when walking up cold the other three nights. One night nothing appealed to us on the menu and went to Horizon Court. EVERYONE walking in had to hand over their cruise card, it was swiped to verify they were assigned to PC. Witnessed one couple turned away from a PC room because they were assigned traditional. They were given the bum’s rush and were not even given a chance to explain their presence. All ship’s personnel were professional and polite. Although a few had the “were better than you attitude”. And why not, they were wearing polyester tuxedos.

 

Last May, Diamond to Alaska. Very strange, I have posted in the past that the PC dinning rooms were only half full at best at any time. The longest we ever waited to be shown to a table was three minutes. Parties of two were put at table for two, parties of four were put at tables for four etc. Instead of spreading the people around, everyone was jammed next to whoever was just seated. As a result large areas of the rooms went vacant. Again great service and only had one bad experience.

 

February 2003 had us on the Star. Two large dinning rooms, one traditional, one PC. PC was only a couple of months old and no one had played with the logistics yet. You could make reservations, but very few people did this. Anyway, everyone in PC would walk up to the desk and make a line. When you got up to the desk, the longest we waited was 15 minutes. We would be put at tables for any where from four to twelve. New people every night and your table would “fill” within minutes. Fantastic, fell in love with the concept, but only experienced it once.

[kbcruiser]

I have to agree with Buffetman. The Anytime Dining situation is a nightmare. Our room steward greeted us at our door with champagne and suggested that we make our dinner reservations for the entire cruise ASAP. We were very confused by this comment as we chose "Anytime Dinning" because we never know when we will be hungry and ready for dinner. After the first night of being placed at one of those "private" tables for two, we opted to have our meals delivered to our suite for the duration of the cruise.

 

I have to say that overall, Princess has NCL beat except for their dinning situation. If Princess is going to continue with the "Anytime Dinning" concept, they might want to send some staffers on a NCL cruise. NCL has the "Freestyle" experience mastered.

[Pam in CA]

I think part of the problem is the name "Anytime" which implies that you can show up any time and be seated. It doesn't really work that way since it juggles people walking up and those with reservations.

 

I've done PC dining and will stick with traditional.

[bdjam]

NCL has the "Freestyle" experience mastered.

Unfortunately, NCL doesn’t have a lot of other experiences mastered. NCL also doesn’t do both Traditional Dining and Anytime dining, so there’s one complication that’s no longer in the mix. It seems that those who want a truly casual cruise experience should choose NCL – for Princess handles things differently.

I do agree with the original poster – Princess should either go back to full Traditional or staggered dining times across all dining rooms…then we wouldn’t have these issues.

[JLC@SD]

My wife and I tried this out on the Diamond last month. Setting aside the fact that you must reserve in advance the time at which you plan to be spontaneous, this is what we found:

 

First night: We reserved a table for two. When we arrived they escorted us to a nice intimate table...wedged between two other intimate tables. There was literally 12" between them. One side had chairs, the other had a long bench ala McDonalds. The close proximity encouraged the couples on both sides of us to yack incessantly at us and each other...we might as well have been at a table for 6.

 

Second night: We arrived 2 hours earlier than our reservation time (well it says anytime right?). The Maitre 'D swiped my card;

 

"but...your reservation is at 8:00...."

"I know that, but we'd like to eat now."

 

He stared at me for a few seconds as though an alien was bursting forth from my gut. Then he glanced around and saw the 80% empty restaurant was not going to back his position. We were eventually escorted to our usual table,

So what if everyone.....or a large majority of people decided to make "Reservations" and then show up 2 hours early.....2 hours late....or....at a different restaurant......what would happen.....chaos.....:)

 

I agree with the M'd......I would have told you.....we will call you when your table is ready.......at 8.......when you requested it.....:D