New Flexible Dining Program

[Jangail]

I just read on this website's News that Carnival is initiating a new flexible
dining program beginning with the Imagination, and fleet-wide by 2001. By
offering FOUR sittings, passengers will only have 45 MINUTES to eat their
meals!! In my opinion, that is outrageously a short time to eat! Talk about being
rushed! I am very unhappy about this! How do other fans of Carnival feel about
this????!!!!! This is crazy-- whatever happened to the pleasure and fun of
leisurely dining and enjoying our tablemates and the food? Will this also be the
end of the dining staff's sense of fun in their "mini-shows"??
Comments please!
JanGail

[Breeze]

I think you misread the article. Reading similar message boards the idea is that one dining room will be at 8:00 the other at 8:45. You will not be expected to eat within 45 minutes.

[Jangail]

I hope I misread the article! Otherwise, I don't see how that would work! I
wish there were more details on exactly how four seatings will work.
JanGail

I'm sure breeze is right. There is no way they would expect the staff to serve and get done in 45 minutes. I heard this opinion from another cruiser as well. Don't worry - you'll be fine. Not to stress about.

[susan]

I have read some "mini-reviews" of folks who have returned from the Imagination (the only ship with this in place currently, I believe).
Each dining room is on a different schedule. Thus the total dining time is not altered (at least two hours between the two seatings).
So far, all opinions I've seen from people actually experiencing it are pretty favorable.
Susan

[Mickey]

I just got off the imagination. One dining room has seating times of 6:00
and 8:00. The other dining room has seating times of 6:45 and 8:45. I would
say that eating at 8:45 is a little on the late side. Hate to get stuck with that!

Mickey

[Jangail]

All those posts are reassuring! Yes, 8:45 PM is a bit on the late side-- might
be popular with Europeans, Latin Americans as they dine quite late.
JanGail