Is there a trend towards early shows for late seating?

[thedog01]

We just got off the Legend on it's pre-Christmas Western Caribbean route. We has signed up for the late seating. We find this gives us (wife and I, no kids) more time during the day before needing to get ready for supper (at 830 pm). On this trip, the evening's show was before dinner on 6 of 7 nights. After supper, the ship seemed to quickly go to sleep, where we were hoping for a little more nightlife. We did a similar itinerary with RCI 2 years ago, and the show was after dinner for the late seating 6 of 7 nights.

 

 

Is putting on a pre-dinner show for the late seating guests a new widespread norm for RCI, or was our experience something of an anomoly?

[Host Kewlguy]

It seems to vary from ship to ship. On our transatlantic cruise out of 13 nights I would guess we had early shows for 7 or 8 of those nights. We always have late dinner seating and would prefer the shows being after dinner and not before. Others may disagree. It's not a trend. They seem to mix it up pretty well on most sailings.

[Pearland Cruisers]

On the Rhapsody last month, most of the shows for late seating were after dinner, and we would have preferred before dinner. I guess they can't please everyone.

[Rala]

The early show for late dinner seating is definitely not new. Most of the cruises we have been on have had an early show for late seating, but some shows have been after late seating. As Kewlguy said it does vary from sailing to sailing. Anybody know why?? There doesn't seem to be any set pattern.

[Host Kewlguy]

The early show for late dinner seating is definitely not new. Most of the cruises we have been on have had an early show for late seating, but some shows have been after late seating. As Kewlguy said it does vary from sailing to sailing. Anybody know why?? There doesn't seem to be any set pattern.

 

Probably onboard management's decision. They're obviously trying to please everyone by splitting up the pre and after dinner shows for the late seating guests. We have found that even though it's the same company things are done very different from ship to ship in various aspects of the cruise.

[katiel53]

On Mariner, I can't remember the numbers, but I do remember seeing a lot of shows for late seating before dinner. I don't like that they are that early. To me it kind of defeats the reason for late seating.

 

On our next cruise we have chosen late seating. Hopefully, the shows won't be before dinner or we will miss them again. The one for next January, is early seating, not my choice, but the shows will definitely be after dinner.

 

I know there isn't any way for cruiselines to make everyone happy, but I don't know why there are changes when things worked well for so many years. JMO.

 

Katie

[negc]

On our most recent cruises, the pre-dinner and post-dinner shows for second seating guests were pretty much evenly divided over the length of the cruise. Remember that on those evenings where the shows are scheduled before dinner, there is a special entertainment feature (Quest, Newlywed game, Rock and Roll party etc.) for guests of both seatings later in the evening. Obviously they can't please everyone though by divying the shows up between 7 pm and 10:30 pm, they seem to be trying. IMHO there has never been a lack of things to do onboard after late seating, even when the production show was earlier in the evening. When all of the second seating shows were after dinner, I recall many folks complaining that sitting in the theater with a full stomach caused them to doze off.:D I also recall complaints from second seating diners that for especially good shows, they found folks from first seating coming back for a second viewing and making it difficult for the second seating diners to get seats in the theater.

[Host Kewlguy]

On our most recent cruises, the pre-dinner and post-dinner shows for second seating guests were pretty much evenly divided over the length of the cruise. Remember that on those evenings where the shows are scheduled before dinner, there is a special entertainment feature (Quest, Newlywed game, Rock and Roll party etc.) for guests of both seatings later in the evening. Obviously they can't please everyone though by divying the shows up between 7 pm and 10:30 pm, they seem to be trying. IMHO there has never been a lack of things to do onboard after late seating, even when the production show was earlier in the evening. When all of the second seating shows were after dinner, I recall many folks complaining that sitting in the theater with a full stomach caused them to doze off.:D I also recall complaints from second seating diners that for especially good shows, they found folks from first seating coming back for a second viewing and making it difficult for the second seating diners to get seats in the theater.

 

On our last two cruises we were having way too much fun in the Concierge Lounge to bother going to the pre dinner shows. :)

[cruisePRN]

I like having some of the shows before dinner . After a late seating I'm so full i don't like sitting at the show and am to full to enjoy a drink.

[Host Kewlguy]

I think the response to this threat shows exactly why Royal splits up the early/late show schedule. What's the old saying "you can please some of the people, some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time." ;)

[In the Pink]

Hmmmm we've always had late seating and early show, with the exception I think normally of formal night? There's no way DH could sit through a show after dinner. Even at home, dinner then movie has never been an option.

 

Are some of you saying that some people are assigned late seating and late show? I thought the early show was going on during early dinner and the late show was going on during late dinner. Is that not right?

[cb at sea]

We always do late seating and all of the shows on all of our cruises (with the exception of the "adult" comedian show), have been before dinner!

[BonNYTX]

On the Rhapsody last month, most of the shows for late seating were after dinner, and we would have preferred before dinner. I guess they can't please everyone.

 

Do you mean showtime nightclub shows or other entertainment like The Quest, 70s disco night, country & western night, etc? On our July 2005 Rhapsody cruise late dinner had early nightclub shows. Everything else was after dinner. Worked for us. Glad we didn't have to choose between the nightclub show or the Quest :eek:

[Woe is me]

Interesting discussion. I always felt many booked late sitting, because they did not like any commitment till later in the evening. If the shows are at 7 pm it's the same as having the early dinning commitment. As everyone says, it's hard to please everyone. Woe is me.;)

[In the Pink]

Do you mean showtime nightclub shows or other entertainment like The Quest, 70s disco night, country & western night, etc? On our July 2005 Rhapsody cruise late dinner had early nightclub shows. Everything else was after dinner. Worked for us. Glad we didn't have to choose between the nightclub show or the Quest :eek:

 

 

I'm a little confused by your post. To me, the Quest, 70's disco, c&W night, etc. are in the "nightclubs", aka lounges, or bars. The "shows" we've been referring to are the RCCL singers & dancers productions, the comedians, jugglers, etc., which are all done in the theater. Nobody is assigned a time to go to Quest or anything else in any of the bars, as they usually do occur after the headline show. You are, however, assigned a time to go to the headline show in the theater each evening.

[Woe is me]

I'm a little confused by your post. To me, the Quest, 70's disco, c&W night, etc. are in the "nightclubs", aka lounges, or bars. The "shows" we've been referring to are the RCCL singers & dancers productions, the comedians, jugglers, etc., which are all done in the theater. Nobody is assigned a time to go to Quest or anything else in any of the bars, as they usually do occur after the headline show. You are, however, assigned a time to go to the headline show in the theater each evening.

Hate to disagree, but you are not assigned a time to go to the headline show in the theater each evening. You can go to whatever show you want to, but you do have assigned dinning time.;)

[aqhacruiser]

On the Explorer in Oct. shows ran around 7pm for the late seating crowd and 9pm for the early seating. We always take late seating so don't finish up till about 10pm and head to the casino and we'd just catch the shows late at night on the RCCL tv station as we just don't want to sit thru an entire show. But on the Explorer there are a ton of late night things to do and there are bars with music open to 1am and later, Quest didn't start till 10:45, dance hours in the clubs till very late, Casino and some bars are open to 3am or later, midnight buffets, etc.. I guess the Explorer just has a lot of late night activities!:p It is true you can go to either theater show you want to, you are only assigned a dining room time. It's up to you if you want to skip the dining room and eat somewhere else and catch either show you want to.

[In the Pink]

Hate to disagree, but you are not assigned a time to go to the headline show in the theater each evening. You can go to whatever show you want to, but you do have assigned dinning time.;)

 

Well, that's true in a literal sense, but if as I said the headline shows are held during the first seating and the second seating, then if you partake of the dining room meal, you couldn't possibly go any time other than the alternate of your assigned dining, right? Now, if you're a Windjammer diner, then of course, you can go anytime.

[lovemylab]

On the Explorer in Oct. shows ran around 7pm for the late seating crowd and 9pm for the early seating. We always take late seating so don't finish up till about 10pm and head to the casino and we'd just catch the shows late at night on the RCCL tv station as we just don't want to sit thru an entire show. But on the Explorer there are a ton of late night things to do and there are bars with music open to 1am and later, Quest didn't start till 10:45, dance hours in the clubs till very late, Casino and some bars are open to 3am or later, midnight buffets, etc.. I guess the Explorer just has a lot of late night activities!:p It is true you can go to either theater show you want to, you are only assigned a dining room time. It's up to you if you want to skip the dining room and eat somewhere else and catch either show you want to.

 

I was on the Explorer in October 2005 and the shows for late seating were after dinner.

[In the Pink]

Apparently, as someone already posted, show times do vary from ship to ship. That's really interesting as we really do prefer going to the show before dining. We'll have to see how that works out the first time we encounter having to go to a show after dining; I suspect I'll be going alone :(

[madforcruising]

On our most recent cruises, the pre-dinner and post-dinner shows for second seating guests were pretty much evenly divided over the length of the cruise. Remember that on those evenings where the shows are scheduled before dinner, there is a special entertainment feature (Quest, Newlywed game, Rock and Roll party etc.) for guests of both seatings later in the evening. Obviously they can't please everyone though by divying the shows up between 7 pm and 10:30 pm, they seem to be trying. IMHO there has never been a lack of things to do onboard after late seating, even when the production show was earlier in the evening. When all of the second seating shows were after dinner, I recall many folks complaining that sitting in the theater with a full stomach caused them to doze off.:D I also recall complaints from second seating diners that for especially good shows, they found folks from first seating coming back for a second viewing and making it difficult for the second seating diners to get seats in the theater.

 

 

This has been my experience for many years now.

[BonNYTX]

I'm a little confused by your post. To me, the Quest, 70's disco, c&W night, etc. are in the "nightclubs", aka lounges, or bars. The "shows" we've been referring to are the RCCL singers & dancers productions, the comedians, jugglers, etc., which are all done in the theater. Nobody is assigned a time to go to Quest or anything else in any of the bars, as they usually do occur after the headline show. You are, however, assigned a time to go to the headline show in the theater each evening.

 

Marla, the OP mentioned the evening show (singular) so I assumed she meant the showtime theatrical productions but wanted to be sure. I never call the other venues "nightclubs" but always thought of them as lounges. I just wasn't sure which productions/events she was referring to but I assumed it was the theatrical events since she mentioned only per evening. Sorry for the confusion.

 

Woe is Me, you are absolutely right. We used to pick late night seating to free our time up until 8PM. Since we now have to be ready the same time as early seating, that's what we picked for our next cruise. Yes, there is no law that says we HAVE to go to the theatrical productions but if they are offered, we like to take advantage of them.

[negc]

We always do late seating and all of the shows on all of our cruises (with the exception of the "adult" comedian show), have been before dinner!

 

Your experience is obviously the exception that proves the rule. As you can see from the majority of posts on here, some late seating shows are before dinner, while others are after dinner.

 

The location of the activities such as Quest, etc. wasn't in question. The point is that when these activities are scheduled, there would be a conflict for guests if the theater were being used for a headliner or production show at the same time that Quest were being played in one of the lounges or, as on Voyager and Freedom ships, in the Skating rink. Having the second seating show before dinner on those evenings allows guests, should they so choose, to attend both.