What's the story with pre-dinner shows?

[lysolqn]

Are we the only ones bothered by X's habit of providing mainly pre-dinner shows for late seating pax? Does anyone have the definitive answer as to why X opts for that scheduling?

 

When we first began sailing with X in the early 90s, shows for late seating pax were always scheduled after dinner. Gradually, one or two shows were moved to pre-dinner and now, some 30 X cruises later, with the exception of production shows, all shows for late seating pax are pre-dinner at 7pm. We choose late seating specifically because we like some down time at the end of the day and don't care to cut our day short and rush to be ready for dinner at 6. Having to be ready at 7 to catch a show isn't much better than having to be ready at 6, thus the only shows we ever see are the production shows.

 

We've asked many a cruise director why late seating pax are offered only pre-dinner shows and have gotten a variety of answers, none of them particularly satisfactory. Some of the explanations we've been given include it allows entertainers to end their working day earlier, it's the way late seating pax prefer it, it allows late seating pax to enjoy other evening entertainment offerings after dinner, and the absence of after dinner shows pretty much forces late seating pax into lounges and the casino which in turn, generates more onboard revenue.

 

Comments?

[ecslady]

I like the 7 PM pre-dinner shows. I think that extra hour to get ready makes a big difference. As to why, it could be any or all of the reasons you mentioned. I just hope Celebrity keeps the 7 PM pre-dinner shows. :)

[Plumfy]

I am disappointed if this is the case. We are having late dinner and we like to go to a show afterwards.

 

So no shows after late dinner? is that correct?

 

BTW what time is late dinner?

 

Thanks

[HAM]

Half past eight.

[Penney80]

I don't like pre dinner shows either. Maybe they should have a vote!

 

Joann and Bob

[PurpleCow]

Mark me down as another one who doesn't like the pre-dinner shows. I found the same thing on HAL, also. The only saving grace was that at least on formal nights the shows were after dinner so we didn't have to get dressed up so early and then sit around in formal clothes for 2 hours before dinner.

[gmcrow]

We usually do early dinner, but we often cut dessert short and leave in time for the 7pm show. Is it possible that you can do the same on occaision and make the later show that is actually designed for the early dinner seating?

[sasset]

We usually do early dinner, but we often cut dessert short and leave in time for the 7pm show. Is it possible that you can do the same on occaision and make the later show that is actually designed for the early dinner seating?

 

No.

 

Regards

[niborHS]

I am another one who hates the pre-dinner show. To me it defeats the idea of late seating. I like to have plenty of time to come back to the ship, nap, shower and get ready, before I go for dinner. The earliest I usually like to get out it 8 pm for a drink. Certainly don't want to be out at 7 for a show.

I am taking a 4 night cruise with 3 girlfriends, and they all want late dinner, so even though I gave them my opinion on the show thing, we are taking late.

[Conrycol]

Totally agree on the late show. We have late dinner seating so we don't have to rush to get dressed. We never go to the show if it's scheduled for before dinner.

 

Just leave enough time to get the pre-dinner cocktail;).

[mardon]

i love predinner shows. we do late seating (8:30). I love to see the show first, have a martini and then go into dinner. When I am through with dinner at l0 p.m. i am ready for a little bit of slot machines ($l0 worth) and then off to bed. Who wants to go to a show at ll p.m. You all know that everyone is sleeping in the nightclub at those late shows. I hope they keep those predinner shows. I just wish they would change the entertainment. I have been on about l6 celebrity cruises and the entertainment is always the same, the performers just rotate ships.

 

marlene

[jasm8449]

Another vote against pre-dinner shows. I like to take my time after a day in port, relax, shower, have a pre-dinner cheese and fruit plate, have a pre-dinner drink, etc. That's why I choose late seating. The pre-dinner shows defeats the purpose of a late dining option.

[diboja]

I am confused....our first X cruise is coming up on the Constellation.

I assumed there was two shows nightly....

 

One for the early dining folks and one for the late diners.

 

I get the drift on this thread that there is only one show and the early diners rush through their meals to get there and then the late diners attend before dinner? (kinda crowded?)

 

Set me straight...ok

Thanks

[PurpleCow]

There are 2 shows. Actually the pre-dinner show for late diners is before the after dinner show for early diners. We seldom go to a show since they started doing this.

[sasset]

Always a show after first seating, usually about 8:30; occasionally a late show aftert second seating at about 10:30; more often they are making the show for second seating beore dinner at about 7.

 

Regards

[brenderlou]

I like the pre-dinner show before the late seating. After a couple of glasses of wine, dinner, sitting for 2 1/2 hrs and a full tummy I don't want to go into another room and sit down AGAIN and watch a show..I will be zzzzz'ing in no time!!!

We like to head back to the cabin after dinner, get into comfy clothes and walk around the ship to burn off some dinner and then head to the casino for some fun!!!

[mardon]

During the cruise, if you are late seating then a few of the nights the nightclub show is at 7 p.m. The show will get out at 8 and then you go eat dinner at 8:30 as usual. On other nights (it will be listed in your daily schedule sheet which they deliver to your room) you will go eat at 8:30 and then go to the show at l0:30 p.m.

[ellbon]

On another line they are doing more of this 7 pm show times. iwent to one show dressed since i did not have to dress up that night. I had a quick drink and off to dinner. if i want to see a show i prefer after dinner as I like to either go jogging, hot tubbing and bath and relax befroe dinner. it can take me the 3 hours from leaving port to getting ready for dinner.

[chuly]

We also dislike the predinner shows. It's interesting to see that most late seating diners seem to dislike it as well. I agree that they should take a vote. I always put in in the comments card at the end of the cruise.

[English muffin]

Right lets get this straight. The whole idea of choosing (for many of us) is to have a late dinner then go to the show. We dont want early shows as the whole idea of having late dinner is so we have a little time to ourselves , relax , after maybe a busy day, have a quiet drink sometimes maybe a little a snooze before dinner, then pre- dinner drinks in the bar We dont want to get ready early and go to see the show. If the cruise companies insist on changing the show-time we (us) just dont go to the shows . Come on listen to us Come NO! No! N0! No!

I thought the customer was always right.:confused:

 

 

 

 

 

Well I got that off my chest

[Andy]

Hi Everyone !

 

We always take Late Dining, and you can add us to the list of those who prefer the Show to be after Dinner. I believe that Celebrity is scheduling more shows earlier for 2 reasons. First, they want to make sure you have time to visit the Casino, Photography and Shops. Second, I suspect the performers would rather not start a show at 11 pm.

 

At any rate, when the show is Pre-Dinner, we often skip the show, and that is a disappointment for us. I am very curious to see how Celebrity tackles this on Solstice.

[mferranti]

Hi Everyone !

 

We always take Late Dining, and you can add us to the list of those who prefer the Show to be after Dinner. I believe that Celebrity is scheduling more shows earlier for 2 reasons. First, they want to make sure you have time to visit the Casino, Photography and Shops. Second, I suspect the performers would rather not start a show at 11 pm.

 

At any rate, when the show is Pre-Dinner, we often skip the show, and that is a disappointment for us. I am very curious to see how Celebrity tackles this on Solstice.

I think the only way late shows will ever return is if people go to the late shows and buy lots of drinks. (Do they still serve drinks in the theaters? I can't even remember the last time I saw a bar waiter at a show.)

[Andy]

I think the only way late shows will ever return is if people go to the late shows and buy lots of drinks. (Do they still serve drinks in the theaters? I can't even remember the last time I saw a bar waiter at a show.)

 

Hi Mferranti !

 

They still serve drinks in the theater. I'd be very surprised if they ever did away with that, as that is an excellent money maker for them.

[mferranti]

They still serve drinks in the theater. I'd be very surprised if they ever did away with that, as that is an excellent money maker for them.

Well, that's got to be it then. The best way to get our late shows back is to convince X that's the ticket to increased Onboard Revenue.

[CathyCruises]

Well, after a dinner beginning at 8:45 PM, which ended at about 11, we were WAYYY too tired to go to a show--especially after long shore days pounding the pavement in Rome, Athens, Istabul, etc. So I have to confess that in 14 day cruise, we didn't go to ONE show! Early disrupted our routine of T-pool and martinis, late was TOO late. . .don't feel like we missed out on anything. . .although I heard the shows were good. . .:rolleyes: