I have early dining - can I go to anytime restaurant?

[HappyCruiser383]

Is it bad to have an early or late dining 'reservation' but go over to the anytime dining restaurant to eat?

 

Thanks for your help!

[PhoneGoddess]

Yes.

[Pam in CA]

Is it bad to have an early or late dining 'reservation' but go over to the anytime dining restaurant to eat?

If you are confirmed for early or late traditional dining, you can switch to Anytime but it's a one-way switch; you cannot go back to traditional as your seats/table will have been given to someone else. The menus are exactly the same so the main difference with Anytime is flexibility as to what time you want to eat. If you do switch to Anytime dining, it seems to work best if you like to eat very early, i.e., before 6:30PM. If you like to eat later, chances are good that you'll have a wait. I've done Anytime dining twice and both times, even with a reservation every night for 8PM, had waits of between 10 - 45 minutes. I like knowing what time I'm going to eat and just walking in to my table and sitting down. You can't do that with Anytime.

[coiran]

You cannot go to anytime if you are in traditional dining.

 

Ron

[sept10dsm]

If you are confirmed for early or late traditional dining, you can switch to Anytime but it's a one-way switch; you cannot go back to traditional as your seats/table will have been given to someone else. The menus are exactly the same so the main difference with Anytime is flexibility as to what time you want to eat. If you do switch to Anytime dining, it seems to work best if you like to eat very early, i.e., before 6:30PM. If you like to eat later, chances are good that you'll have a wait. I've done Anytime dining twice and both times, even with a reservation every night for 8PM, had waits of between 10 - 45 minutes. I like knowing what time I'm going to eat and just walking in to my table and sitting down. You can't do that with Anytime.

Yes, you have to switch. There are a few threads on this subject right now. Some are advising to just go. If you do that, the dining rooms will not know the numbers for the dining room, thus cause delays for the cruisers that have Anytime and vacancies in the traditional dining room. It's really one or the other. If everyone switched when they felt like it, there might not even be enough seating. Princess may have to choose between offering just traditional or just anytime. Cruisers should just follow the rules. It's really not that hard and makes things run more smoothly for the waiters, cooks and passengers.

[Tatka]

You cannot go to anytime if you are in traditional dining.Ron

 

Why not? Who can control this.

 

I understand it's not polite, as many people waitlisted for Traditional, but physically it's not possible to control. ;)

[Pam in CA]

You cannot go to anytime if you are in traditional dining.

You can go, but it's a one-way switch; you cannot go back to traditional. On the two cruises I've been on with Anytime, our cruise cards were checked and looked up in the computer every time we arrived at the dining room.

[hughdm]

Is it bad to have an early or late dining 'reservation' but go over to the anytime dining restaurant to eat?

 

Thanks for your help!

 

I feel it's "bad" in that it causes people in Anytime to have to wait extra. The traditional seatings are wait-listed, and it doesn't seem fair to those folks to jump back and forth. I'm wait listed for late seating. I wish those ahead would "officially" switch to anytime! I've heard that at least some of the ships check your cabin card on entry to the dining room, but that it is inconsistent.

[Tannersgramp]

Why not? Who can control this.

 

I understand it's not polite, as many people waitlisted for Traditional, but physically it's not possible to control. ;)

 

They check your cruise card when you enter. Dining info is on the cards

[whale-watcher]

Yes.

:mad:

Why not? Who can control this.

 

I understand it's not polite, as many people waitlisted for Traditional, but physically it's not possible to control. ;)

Hopefully, they will do a better job of checking cruise cards and turn away diners crossing over from the traditional dining room.

 

What if anytime diners went into the traditional dining room and sat down at your table? ;)

[ladypalmtree]

As soon as you get onboard..go to the dining room and switch to anytime..you will not be able to go back..and some lucky party will get your coveted table...I love early seating...having the same waiters..and all the perks that come with that...enjoy..but follow the rules..thanks..!:D

[cruzinsusan]

:mad:

What if anytime diners went into the traditional dining room and sat down at your table? ;)

 

I think that is the best response I've seen to this very common question!!!

 

Truly Food for Thought!

[ldoc31]

We were never checked on our CB cruise in Dec. They could do a better job with this. I think if you want anytime you should change ahead of time and let someone else have your place in traditional.

[spongerob]

Ok, evil deed for the day is complete. I'm going to hide for a while :D

 

I think someone is just having a little fun...:rolleyes:

[Julia’s Journey’s]

:mad:

Hopefully, they will do a better job of checking cruise cards and turn away diners crossing over from the traditional dining room.

 

What if anytime diners went into the traditional dining room and sat down at your table? ;)

 

That made me laugh - maybe I will try this on my next cruise and see what happens:D :D

[Tatka]

They check your cruise card when you enter. Dining info is on the cards

 

Haven't check our card once during our 7-dayer on Caribbean Princess. :confused:

 

P.S. We were assigned to Anytime Dining and ate there.

[Julia’s Journey’s]

I think someone is just having a little fun...:rolleyes:

 

Yep, it is FUNNY FRIDAY;)

[Tatka]

What if anytime diners went into the traditional dining room and sat down at your table? ;)

 

We were not on Traditional plan. ;)

 

Why would we chose assignment over the freedom? :D

[geoherb]

A long time ago, when "Personal Choice" dining was just beginning, we had traditional but decided to go to the anytime dining room one night to fit our schedule better. My understanding now is that we shouldn't have.

 

There are specialty restaurants (with an extra charge), room service, and the casual buffet available if you want to switch just one night. And of course, it's nice if you let your tablemates and waiters know the night before so they won't have to wait for you.

[cruzinchris]

...maybe I will try this on my next cruise and see what happens

 

DH and I were actually seated in the "traditional" dining room one night on the Dawn (January) even though we were "anytime". It probably had something to do with the fact that we were dressed up (not formal night) - DH was wearing his penguin suit with a boutonniere, and I was carrying a bouquet - for our vow renewal ceremony at 5:00.

 

We went to the Wheelhouse for Champagne cocktails then proceeded to the dining room at around 5:45. We don't know if there were tables for two available in the "anytime" dining room or not but we were escorted on the elevator to the "traditional" dining room and seated at a table for two. As we have never done "traditional" on Princess, we were very surprised to see many empty tables there were throughout our dinner.

 

When the head waiter asked how we liked our table and waitstaff, we were almost tempted to ask if we could have that table for the rest of the cruise but were afraid to commit to dinner at 5:45 as this is really too early for us.

 

In the future, if we were told that we'd have to wait for a significant period of time in an "anytime" venue, we wouldn't hesitate to ask if we might be able to have a table in "traditional" if we wouldn't be arriving too late and could be accommodated a table for two.

Chris

[HappyCruiser383]

I think someone is just having a little fun...:rolleyes:

 

:o Actually, having fun with a serious question. We are set up with Anytime dining now but were thinking of switching to early dining (may be too late now- cruise is in 3 weeks). The question had popped into my head and thought it might be an interesting topic. :D I've always enjoyed a set seating but wanted to try anytime dining.

 

Go ahead . . bash away! :eek:

[wrongwaywatson]

If you do switch to Anytime dining, it seems to work best if you like to eat very early, i.e., before 6:30PM. If you like to eat later, chances are good that you'll have a wait. I've done Anytime dining twice and both times, even with a reservation every night for 8PM, had waits of between 10 - 45 minutes. I like knowing what time I'm going to eat and just walking in to my table and sitting down. You can't do that with Anytime.

 

We did Anytime on the CB last year and had a reservation for 7:00 each night and never had a wait. This year on the Grand we had a reservation at 6:30 and never had a wait. We walked right into our table both years. No wait and we knew what time we were going to eat.

 

I guess that if you want Anytime instead of Traditional, switch. It's the right thing to do. There are alot of people who want traditional dining (I'm just not one!) and are waitlisted for it. Also, when you go to Anytime and shouldn't be there, you are taking someone elses table that is following the rules.

[twocats]

This is a little off topic but will someone post the times of early and late traditional seating on the Grand?

[cruzinchris]

This is a little off topic but will someone post the times of early and late traditional seating on the Grand?

 

http://www.princess.com/onboard/dining/dining.html

[twocats]

Thank you for the link, great information.