Early Dining; What is your daily schedule?

[DDawson]

I've been on more than 10 cruises and have always had late/main dining. Most of those cruises have been with friends and our evenings have usually been structured the same way - Cocktails about 7:00 in a lounge (maybe a little dancing), Dinner at 8:00 or 8:30, then the late show, maybe a little time in the casino or a lounge and then to bed.

 

Our next cruise is a 7 day on the Westerdam and we have early seating, lower level (based on the request of our traveling companions). We have been to these islands numerous times before and other than Tortola, most have a rather early sail away. So cutting our time short in port won't be an issue. We have always been late eaters, even at home, so I'm rather curious as to how early diners structure your day.

 

Do you eat breakfast and skip lunch? Do you have drinks before dinner or wait until after dinner and have a drink during the show or in the lounge? If you are still up are you hungry again at 10 or 11pm?

 

There are no right or wrong answers here, just looking to see how you schedule your day when dinner time seems more like a late lunch than actually dinner.

[Druke I]

Well, we eat early at home, and much prefer 1st seating on ships.

 

We are not night owls, and almost always are in bed by 10pm. We usually have 3 meals per day on ship, and often snack at Tea also.

 

Works for us.

[Robin7]

I'm rather curious as to how early diners structure your day.

 

I have GERD so eating after 7pm is not optimal for me. On a cruise, we have a light breakfast, a (usually light) lunch, and an early dinner. We rarely eat anything between meals, although we will have an occassional bread pudding/ice cream.

 

We had AYW Dining on the Volendam last month and usually ate between 6-6:30 and were done by 7:30-7:45. We found the first show to be PACKED as it seemed most people on this cruise ate early, so several times we waited to see the second show. I was sometimes very hungry by the time we went to bed but if we went to the late buffet, I was always sorry (reflux is terrible!) so we didn't do it much. I'm betting most early eaters do, though.

 

Robin

[twinkletoes4445]

 

Do you eat breakfast and skip lunch? Do you have drinks before dinner or wait until after dinner and have a drink during the show or in the lounge? If you are still up are you hungry again at 10 or 11pm?

 

There are no right or wrong answers here, just looking to see how you schedule your day when dinner time seems more like a late lunch than actually dinner.

 

We had the early dinner seating on our first HAL cruise (5:45). This next cruise we chose 8:00 so we'll see which we prefer.

 

We had breakfast each morning, usually around 9:00, so we skipped lunch. We did grab a few snacks from the Neptune Lounge, but we tried to not eat too much. One day we did try the Lido for lunch, and we really weren't all that hungry for dinner. After dinner, we didn't eat again until breakfast.

[jhannah]

We dine early. Always have. Need to have some hours for tummies to digest before bedtime. We enjoy 3 meals each day, with lunch being fairly light, and are not hungry late in the evening. We have never felt rushed returning from shore, and we've never missed a show. It's just our routine that works out well for us.

[mamaofami]

We usually have early dinner, eat breakfast and a salad for lunch and a small snack in the afternoon around 3pm. It's never been a problem and I don't feel like I'm going to sleep on a full tummy.After dinner, we go to the show or some activity.

 

On the other hand, I'd love to eat at 7pm, but the way the anytime is set up, I can't make a reservation for that time and don't want to be left standing in line for 30 minutes.

 

The one time we did have late dinner, we had drinks and hot snacks before dinner and then I wasn't hungry for dinner. I felt I really ate too much that way.

[RevNeal]

8 pm is my preferred dining time. It's about the time I eat when at home, though at home I will tend to eat quite a bit LESS for dinner than I do aboard ship. I eat breakfast and tend to also eat lunch, though I try to make the lunch smaller. If I eat a good breakfast around 7:30 am I'm usually not hungry for Lunch at noon ... have to wait until 1 or 1:30 for anything. Then, dinner at 8 or 8:30 isn't too late. I tend to stay up until after midnight ... to at least 1 am, usually; I get up around 7 am, and take a nap mid-afternoon to rest up for the evening.

 

If I had to do early dinner I think I would dump lunch ... that or dump breakfast and eat lunch very early. The problem, for me, is that I'm never hungry by 5:45 if I eat breakfast and lunch. I also think I'd hold off on cocktails and have some after dinner drinks, instead. I would also, probably, have to make myself go to bed earlier because I won't have time for my mid-afternoon nap.

 

Lot's to think about with a changed dining schedule. Perhaps I'll try that some day ... that or do the AYWD-open seating to see what I think or if I like it. Actually, that's one of the things I like about the AYWD-open seating option ... it allows one to experiment around regarding times. I may take advantage of it if I'm on a cruise with friends and they don't mind trying other times, too.

[kakalina]

We usually have breakfast when the Lido opens at 6:30 or 7am. A light lunch around noon and dinner at 5:45. After dinner we hit the casino and then the show. Sometimes the CN after the show and in bed and asleep generally by 10/10:30 unless something special is going on.

[innlady1]

I always order room service for breakfast; DH sometimes has that with me; sometimes he goes up to the Lido. He's more of an early riser than I am. On sea days, we'll have lunch, either in the dining room or the Lido. When we're in port, we'll grab a bite to eat in a local restaurant.

 

We bought a coffee card at the Explorations Cafe last cruise, and enjoyed a mocha latte mid morning or mid afternoon. That's it for "snacking" for us.

 

We've always had early dining. It works for us...at home we usually have dinner between 6 and 6:30. This time, we're doing early As You Wish Dining. We'll see how that works.

 

We sometimes go to the Explorations Lounge to listen to the music, or take in a show after dinner.

[RetiredMustang]

DDawson,

 

The tale of a probably boring, early-rising couple:

 

We are early risers, and early diners. Typically, we will have coffee delivered to the cabin at the first available time, 6 a.m. or before. We take our cups onto the balcony and watch the sunrise, and marvel at the Ocean and the silence and the calm. Then it's into workout clothes and at least 3 miles around the deck, followed sometimes by weights in the gym. Sometimes we will have a small snack at the Lido afterwards (being careful to sit outside and downwind as much as possible :D ).

 

We shower, change and then if we have not eaten before, we go to breakfast in the Lido -- usually light fare, although at least once a cruise I will go for the full monte English breakfast, or at least as close as I can get.

 

If it is a port day, we may skip the workout, because we usually take a morning excursion that involves snorkeling, hiking or at least walking about. We are usually back aboard for lunch. We also normally take lunch at the Lido, usually at noon or even before, and tend to go for lighter fare, such as chicken with a salad.

 

Afternoons are for whatever -- cooking demos, shopping, other ship activities, doing the trivia quiz, staring at the ocean from the verandah and (if in the tropics) looking for flying fish, or laying down on the cabin bed and thinking ..., and pondering ..., and then suddenly I wake up!

 

Then it's time to change to evening clothes (ranging from tux to dockers) about 4:30, and a drink at the Crows Nest or Ocean Bar before dinner. Then dinner at somewhere between 5:30 to 6:15 depending on the cruise, and afterwards, some time in the casino, or chocolates and liquer in the Explorers' Lounge. We almost never go to the show -- we really are not fans of Broadway or Vegas style acts, and only go for the comedian if they have one, and sometimes miss that as well.

 

Then, the fogies are in bed with lights out usually well before 10, to be ready for coffee at 6, or before....

 

Dave

[bUU]

That's pretty much what we did on Serenade of the Seas, Dave, at least with regard to the timing of the meals, and the early morning, morning and afternoon activities -- with minor exception: I do the classic New York breakfast, as often as I can during the cruise. :)

 

I think we were too intimidated to pick up the weights aboard Serenade of the Seas -- that won't happen this time.

 

After-dinner has been a quandary for us. Unlike you, we want to do some shows ;), being casual fans of Broadway, but didn't make it to any last cruise. By the time dinner was over, we were typically pooped, headed back to the cabin, read or watched a DVD, and then went to sleep. We're hoping to change that pattern this time around.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We eat at 5:45. Sometimes we go to a lounge between 5 and 5:15 for a cocktail. After dinner we either go to the show or to the Piano Bar. Never get hungry at night.

 

We are always up early - DH is usually in the gym by 6.

 

Always have breakfast and lunch - not big ones.

[DDawson]

Thanks everyone for sharing your schedule. You have given me "food for thought" regarding early dining. Who knows - I may come back converted to early dining.

[RetiredMustang]

... with minor exception: I do the classic New York breakfast, as often as I can during the cruise. :)

 

I think we were too intimidated to pick up the weights aboard Serenade of the Seas -- that won't happen this time. ...

 

 

bicker,

 

OK, I have to ask -- what is a classic New York breakfast? Lox, bagels and cream cheese? Four cups of coffee and 6 Marlboros? A huge slice of pizza, folded over (you gotta problem with that)? :D

 

I also realize I may have made the weights sound more than intended -- we are not Arnolds, we just do five-pound or ten-pound barbells to stretch our arm and chest muscles: it's more of a way to loosen up than to build mass. Don't be intimidated. Yes, there are some hard bodies in the gym, but so what?! It's your cruise, too!

 

Dave

[bUU]

OK, I have to ask -- what is a classic New York breakfast? Lox, bagels and cream cheese? Four cups of coffee and 6 Marlboros?

All but the Marlboros. (We don't smoke or drink.)

 

I also realize I may have made the weights sound more than intended -- we are not Arnolds, we just do five-pound or ten-pound barbells to stretch our arm and chest muscles: it's more of a way to loosen up than to build mass. Don't be intimidated. Yes, there are some hard bodies in the gym, but so what?! It's your cruise, too!

Indeed, and that's what we aim to do.