What Dinner time to pick

[MonkeySea]

Hi All,

 

A quick question. When I booked my cruise through Carnival on the Conquest, She asked me what time I wanted to eat dinner. Being a first time cruiser, I thought this question was odd because I really didn't know what time I would feel like eating in December- never crossed my mind, so I was caught off guard. I understand that they have different dinner times to accomodate so many guests. Is there any advantage of picking one time over the others. I told her 8pm, but she told me I could call back and change the time. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

[MamaParrotHead]

we really like the later dinner seating because we can take our time getting ready for dinner, especially after port days. Those days we can mozy back to the cabin, sneak in a quick nap, shower and get ready, maybe have time for a pre-dinner cocktail (or sushi, if your ship offers a sushi bar). Then catch the late show, if we feel up to it, a quick stroll around the deck, a nightcap and/or small cone of soft serve, and we're ready for BED! There were a few nights we hit the disco, but we really didn't care for it a whole lot. Our vacation was all about RELAXING, and it was PERFECT.

[EngIceDave]

We're going for late as well for the same reasons, not being rushed.

I don't want to be checking my watch while in port to calculate getting back, doing the "Triple-S" and heading to dinner.

 

Rather take my time, relax, and just cruise into dinner relaxed, not rushed.

 

Get back early or on a sea day, you have plenty to nosh on between Lido deck and room service

[realmccoy]

We always get the late seating so we do not feel rushed on port days. Out of 8 cruises...we only had early once when we went with a group of people and we were either really late every night or we went upstairs and got pizza. Late times are the most requested and the best in regards to flexibility.

[yogimax]

Don't worry about it. I have found that our specific requests are often ignored. You can always change when you board.

[caribbean dreams]

It all depends on what time you normally eat, if you usually eat earily or you have children or you don't want to miss some of the shows than earily would be better.

We always eat at the late seating because our family is used to eating a late dinner and we have seen all the shows.

[lovncruzn]

It seems we are the only ones who like early seating. We are on central standard time and eat early,usually by 5:00. If we waited till 8:00, we would feel like we were starving-even though there is always food available. If we can't make it to the dining room on port nights, we just skip it. But, we usually make it just fine.

[cruisin'gal]

My mom usually cruises with us and when she does we do early seating. If we don't make back to the ship on time we have always had the option to go to the buffet, open seating or room service dinner menu. Of course this will be different on this cruise because it is our first Carnival cruise. Looking at the website though there are many options available if we do not make it to our assigned dinner time. You are on vacation, you have a wide range of options available to you. Have fun, relax and enjoy yourselves and your family time together and best of all, YOU'R NOT COOKING or CLEANING UP AFTERWARDS!YEPEE!! Laura

[nybumpkin]

It seems we are the only ones who like early seating. We are on central standard time and eat early,usually by 5:00. If we waited till 8:00, we would feel like we were starving-even though there is always food available. If we can't make it to the dining room on port nights, we just skip it. But, we usually make it just fine.

You're definitely not the only ones. Our regular dining time is around 6:30, and I like staying around that time while on vacation. 8:00 is just too late for me; I don't sleep well when I eat later.

[GoinCruisin]

I always choose late. I eat later in the evening at home, so it works. Plus, as mentioned... I don't care to rush or leave the sun early so I can go get ready for dinner. I like to soak up all of the day I can... by the time dinner is over, I can go have a drink, then head to the disco rather than wander around. Plus I can get a quick nap in before dinner :D

[MonkeySea]

Thanks for all of the responses. When you say late dining, about what time are you refering to? About what time are all of the shows, will I miss them with a late dining preference, or do they do the shows twice? Thanks for all the help!

[KroozFoolz]

Thanks for all of the responses. When you say late dining, about what time are you refering to? About what time are all of the shows, will I miss them with a late dining preference, or do they do the shows twice? Thanks for all the help!

On Conquest, the late dining times are 8 pm and 8:30 pm. (There are two dining rooms, hence the two time choices.) The shows in the main show lounge will have seating times for both main and late diners.

[Cotton]

Hi Monkey, and welcome to the boards.:)

 

You won't miss any shows with any dining time. There will be two performances, one for early diners and one for late. Works out well that way with plenty of seats for everyone at the shows.

 

I guess your agent didn't explain that when you request a dining time, it's just that - a request. Nobody (except Platinum status passengers) knows for sure what dining assignment they have until they receive their Sail & Sign cards just prior to boarding the ship.

 

However, once you get on board, you can see the Maitre d' and request a change if it isn't what you prefer.

 

As you can see, most have definite reasons for wanting early/late. I have dinner around 6:30 at home, so I request 6:15. Hasn't always worked out that way, but the Maitre d' WILL try to accommodate you if possible.:)

[773 Miles Away]

I'm in a large group and we requested late seating. Does anybody know if large groups have been split up before? I'm assuming we'd at least be put together. Also, lets say we get thrown into main dining time, is it likely we can switch or is it basically imposslbe for large groups? I'm under impression that main is requested more often than late?

[773 Miles Away]

Also, does anybody know what the largest table there is in a dining room (Triumph)?

[Cotton]

Liz, when the group booked the cruise, hopefully all bookings were "linked" as far as dining assignment, and you should all be seated near each other, probably adjacent tables. It would be very difficult, I'm sure to change an entire group to another time, but you could always ask.

 

Largest tables are rounds of 10.

[Lurkyloo]

We have always requested (and received) early dining. We have a teen who likes to go to the teen dances and hook up with friends in the evening and that usually starts at 9:00. Truth be told, even without him, we would probably choose early since we are the "early to bed, early to rise" types and having an early dinner, seeing a show and maybe heading up to the Lido deck, stopping in the casino or piano bar afterwards kind of rounds out the evening just fine for us.

 

If we are in port late enough - we usually eat in town before heading back anyway! (We like to experence the food in ports.)

[Vanessa L]

As many others have suggested, I choose the late (8PM) seating because I don't like to be rushed on port days. Also, as Chris suggested, I can nap or even just sit on the balcony and enjoy a drink before dinner. I've done the early seating and was so stressed (about the short amount of time to get ready) after getting back on board from a port that I decided never to do an early seating again. I am not supposed to be stressed on a cruise, lol!!

[etwright]

When we booked, we chose late seating. When we arrived, they had assigned us the early seating. No problem though , we were able to change it to the late seating and were glad we did. (for many of the same reasons above). Never had any problems missing any shows and if we ever got hungry before dinner time, we could always get a "snack" to hold us over.

[babypom]

We like the early seating, otherwise it seems like it is so late by the time we are done eating. Also when we have had the late seating we have never been hungry enough to go to a midnight buffet if there was one. But on the other hand, now we are too tired from a full days activities to stay up that late!:mad:

[vincenzo0506]

We like early for a number of reasons. The kids ( 4 of the ages 8-13) get hungry early and would be starving by 8. There are also a ton of kids activities that usually start at 7 they like to do. They are usually done by then. Once they start the activities we usually don't see them until 10, for the little ones and much later for the older ones.

 

vincenzo:)

[zaandam_2]

We like early for a number of reasons. The kids ( 4 of the ages 8-13) get hungry early and would be starving by 8. There are also a ton of kids activities that usually start at 7 they like to do. They are usually done by then. Once they start the activities we usually don't see them until 10, for the little ones and much later for the older ones.

 

vincenzo:)

 

i prefer late for the same reasons ;)

[sotadragon]

I prefer early/main seating. Had late seating on the Legend and changed to early after the first night, it was just too late for us! Also, if you have early seating and there aren't any decent seats left in the main show lounge by the time you get there you can always go to the second show early and have a decent seat. We had that happen a couple of times; only seats left for the first show had very obstructed views so we just came back later. Yes, I know, you're not supposed to go to the second show unless you have late seating dinner... But seriously, why should I stay for a show I can only see about half of?

[pppiglet]

We prefer early seating. I also can't sleep on a full stomach and we also want to be able to experience the dessert buffet without being stuffed from dinner getting over at 10pm

[Catmomma]

I alway sbook the early dinner mainly because the dinners can take up to 90 minutes to get through and 9:30 is just too late for me to be rolling my full belly out of the dining room. I like eating dinner early and then going to the later show. Has never been much of a problem with getting back from excursions in time. Had some tight moments but I also know there are other dining options if my excursion runs late we can always hit the buffett or something.