Princess Mediterranean dinner seating time

[tonghua]

We are booked on the Emerald Princess for Mediterranean cruise sailing 24 May (East and West Med). When we booked we were told that the first seating for dinner is at 6:00 PM and the second at 8:15 PM, just as posted on the Emerald’s website.

 

Could past cruisers tell us what the dinner seating times are like on the Emerald’s Med cruises?

 

1. What are the actual dinner times for both seating?

 

2. The Med cruises are port intensive. For the first seating at 6:15 pm, would it have problem getting back in time from the port excursion?

 

3. For the second seating, would the waiter start taking orders around 8:15 pm? I read some Med dinners only started taking orders at 9:30 and finished two hours later. Do not relish eating dinner until 11 pm.

 

4. If we are confirmed for first/second seating, can we still go to Anytime Dining easily for certain nights?

 

This is our first Med cruise. Your comments will be much appreciated.

 

tonghua

[crusdiva]

We are booked on the Emerald Princess for Mediterranean cruise sailing 24 May (East and West Med). When we booked we were told that the first seating for dinner is at 6:00 PM and the second at 8:15 PM, just as posted on the Emerald’s website.

 

Could past cruisers tell us what the dinner seating times are like on the Emerald’s Med cruises?

You will have no problems dining on the Emerald - she offers a variety of choices from Traditional to Anytime - there is also Horizon Court and the specialty dining venues to tempt you. :D

But to answer your question...

1. What are the actual dinner times for both seating?

Yes, those are the actualy seating times.

 

2. The Med cruises are port intensive. For the first seating at 6:15 pm, would it have problem getting back in time from the port excursion?

You might - if so go to the Anytime Dining room that night.

 

3. For the second seating, would the waiter start taking orders around 8:15 pm? I read some Med dinners only started taking orders at 9:30 and finished two hours later. Do not relish eating dinner until 11 pm.

The waiters will begin taking orders as soon as the majority of your tablemates have arrived - by 8:30 at the latest.

 

4. If we are confirmed for first/second seating, can we still go to Anytime Dining easily for certain nights?

Yes, tell your waiter and tablemates that you won't be there though.;)

 

This is our first Med cruise. Your comments will be much appreciated.

Have a fabulous cruise! And ask away if you have further questions.

tonghua

[TinaLee]

I have to disagree here slightly. If you're in the traditional dining room, that is where you need to be eating dinner. If you're not there, you should be at the Cafe Caribe or in one of the speciality restaurants. If you do not feel you will be able to make your assigned dining time on the majority of the evenings of your cruise, you should select Anytime Dining and free up your space in the traditional dining room for those who would like to have that option.

 

Anytime Dining is not set up as an "alternative" for those who have selected traditional dining. You either have Anytime Dining, in which case you are welcome to use either of the two dining rooms set up for that purpose, or you have Traditional Dining, in which case IF you are going to eat in a dining room, that's the one you should be in.

[sunsetbeachgal]

We have always done anytime dining with Princess, and have been very pleased with the flexibility it offers, exactly for the reasons you mentioned-some days you are back early and hungry and want to eat earlier, others you might want to be on deck watching sail away and then leisurely get ready and eat later. Basically we find first sitting to be too early, and second too late. And we've never experienced lines at Anytime Dining rooms longer than it takes to have a glass of wine or cocktail in the nearby bar.

 

Enjoy the Emerald-we loved her!

[cynbar]

I really think that Anytime Dining is perfect for the Med itinerary, since you can vary your dining times depending on your daily schedule. If you find a waiter you like, you can either request him/her when you arrive at the DR, or reserve ahead. No reservations are taken for times between 7-8, but you could always reserve an earlier or later time depending on each day's port schedule. But most of the time, you can't just drop into anytime at will -- you can switch to anytime during your cruise, but the policy is that you would forfeit your traditional spots if you go to the anytime DRs. Some cruisers have reported that they have been able to just drop in, but others have reported being turned away from anytime unless they wanted a permanent switch. And it's really not considerate of cruisers who selected anytime-- can you imagine the waits if a lot of traditional diners decide to take up space in the anytime DRs???? But you do have other options on Princess if you can't make an early seating. Cafe Caribe has themed buffet dinners, and they are usually quite a step up from a regular buffet. And the Emerald will have 2 lovely specialty restaurants, Sabatini's and the Crown Grille, where you can reserve ahead for any time you choose.

[NAJNLA]

Your comments will be much appreciated.

 

tonghua

 

Unless you have a reason or really prefer to sit with the same people every meal, we'd suggest that you sign up for Personal Choice (Anytime) Dining. We've found that it's muuuuuch better for schedule flexibility and you get opportunities to meet a lot of really nice and interesting people from different places and backgrounds during your cruise because you're seated with a different group every meal. Just our $.02:)

[CruiseKing]

I have to disagree here slightly. If you're in the traditional dining room, that is where you need to be eating dinner. If you're not there, you should be at the Cafe Caribe or in one of the speciality restaurants. If you do not feel you will be able to make your assigned dining time on the majority of the evenings of your cruise, you should select Anytime Dining and free up your space in the traditional dining room for those who would like to have that option.

 

Anytime Dining is not set up as an "alternative" for those who have selected traditional dining. You either have Anytime Dining, in which case you are welcome to use either of the two dining rooms set up for that purpose, or you have Traditional Dining, in which case IF you are going to eat in a dining room, that's the one you should be in.

I agree with your premise. However, should your Princess tour arrive back late or be scheduled to run through your early seating in the traditional dining room you are left with few options. Arrive late for the early seating and inconvenience the staff and those assigned to your table for the late seating or why not under those circumstances be allowed to use the anytime dining room as not to be penalized and miss the food and ambiance of one of the main dining rooms.

[TinaLee]

I agree with your premise. However, should your Princess tour arrive back late or be scheduled to run through your early seating in the traditional dining room you are left with few options. Arrive late for the early seating and inconvenience the staff and those assigned to your table for the late seating or why not under those circumstances be allowed to use the anytime dining room as not to be penalized and miss the food and ambiance of one of the main dining rooms.

 

I agree, which is why we choose Personal Choice (Anytime) dining. On this particular itinerary, the OP will have 6 nights with a 6 pm departure, 1 with a 7 pm departure, and 3 with a 5 pm departure. Given that itinerary, you should be able to determine if you would be able to make a 6 pm dinner seating (I know I won't), and if you cannot, then choose either late seating traditional or Personal Choice.

 

I'm not saying that anyone should be denied the pleasure of dining in the dining room, I'm saying that you should make your decision based on the itinerary and if you cannot make the assigned seating time, don't choose it... choose the option of anytime dining.

 

It is not fair for those of us who choose to do anytime dining to have to wait for a table because people who have a perfectly good dining room table waiting for them choose not to use it because it is "inconvenient" for them on any given night.

 

Weigh and balance your options based on your individual itinerary. If you will not be able to make your traditional dining time, choose another or choose personal choice, but don't assume that the anytime dining room is being offered as an alternative for traditional diners. That's not what it's there for.