early dinner or late dinner ???

which feeding time do you prefer and why we are trying to make up our minds . thanks

[hockeyluver]

We prefered the earlier seating. You had time for the shows and you were hungry enough to enjoy the late night buffets!!

[readytogo]

we preferred later - had a full day in port and still time to come back and shower before dinner. ordered room service snack around 4:00 to tide us over. only thing with late dinner is you probably won't be hungry for midnight buffet. great way to cut calories if you need to!

[Harry Martin]

We always book late -- I like to have a nap in the late afternoon (hey I'm on a cruise) and that way I am not rushed to get dressed for dinner. They always have the show repeated for late diners.

Harry

[jrsred8]

we preferred the late sitting as well. Didn't feel rushed to get back to the ship while in port, had time to shower, relax a bit before dinner. Ordered room service a few times for a small snack to tide over for the later dinner time. You won't miss any shows if you have late sitting, usually later at night for some shows or 2 show times on formal nights. Like stated above, we were not hungry for the late night buffet, but not a problem for us.

It actually depends on a number of factors....the ports of call and what time the ship sails from each port..try to match dinner time to my time zone that I live in so not to throw off my body clock, if there are alot of familes onboard (first night will tell you) then I would go switch to late seating since families usually prefer early sitting and of course the main factor, how long does it take for my travelling companion to dress..once on a cruise (we had late seating) she sent me out to see what the women at the early seating were wearing (thank God, no one else had her gown)

I suspect the reason why some lines are going to Personal Choice cruising is to take the "sting" out of committing to one or the other and giving one greater flexibiliy. My next planned cruise will be on Princess, so I'm looking forward to 'PC"

[Carey]

I really would prefer the first seating and we have requested it, but what do you think the chances of it being switched to late seating? Since I booked this in Feburary (for an October cruise), shouldn't I get what I requested rather than people that book it in August or something? Or is this not how it works?

How would I go about getting it changed if we end up with the late seating?

Thanks!
Carey

[jrsred8]

carey- we booked in Nov. 03 for our May 04 cruise. We requested late sitting but on our sail and sign card when we borded, listed early sitting. Went to the dining room where Maitre d' was until shortly before setting sail, changed to late sitting no problem. A little hassle, but not big deal.

[MichelleP]

Here's an article that might help you decide:

Which Dining Time is Best?

Cheers,
Michelle P.

[Terryd]

We book later because there seem to be less little children. We also like to go to the gym and rest between the port and dinner. Who really cares about the midnight buffet??? (we sometimes go and look at it......)

[bigsky]

There's advantages and disadvantages to both. We've always had first sitting and always enjoyed it. I don't enjoy eating so late. But we're ones that don't stay up real late. We're pretty tired from being on the go during the day. (we're not old either) Ü
I like to eat dinner and then enjoy the first show after that. We tend to go to our room and hang out on our balcony after that. But I just like having the freedom to do that or just walk around on the ship or whatever. Since we don't stay up so late, we'd be going to bed on a full stomach. We just enjoy seeing a show AFTER we eat and not before.
If you're a night owl, then it won't make as much of a difference to you. Even since we did eat first, we didn't feel rushed to get out. We had plenty of time to eat. We've been almost the last to leave as well. But they just worked around us.

Again, I just think it depends of the person and what they tend to do when they cruise.

Have a great time!

We enjoyed the later (8:30) seatting. Less (no) children. We're not russhed from shore excursions or deck lounging. Wait staff is not rushed to move you out of the dining room. Caught the 10:30 show and went to sleep by midnite (to get ready for the nest day's excursions).

I think if you enjoy the nitelife, casino, karaoke, piano bar etc. you may want to consider early seating. As far as changing your preference, just call Carnival directly a.s.a.p.

[pgmrdev]

We always book early . Don't eat late at home, so I prefer to keep that pattern. Problem with eating early is that you miss sailaways and great sunset!!

[Valentina1209]

We had the last seating in 2002 - it was wonderful because the shows were held before dinner (around 7-is) so we didn't miss anything. If we were hungry around 6-ish, we headed for the Windjammer (on RCCL) where they were serving the buffet dinner, and had a few little pre-show snacks to hold us over till our dining room time.

We had the early seating in 2003 - it was awful. First, we had to rush to get ready for dinner, then we felt rushed through dinner. After we finished eating, there was always a 60-90 minute gap before the shows/activities, so we typically retired to the cabin with the intention of going out later, and got too relaxed so we never quite made it. We missed everything.

We always take the late dinner. If you are off the ship you dont have to hurry to be
ready for dinner and if you are just enjoying the day on the ship you dont have
to miss the later part of the afternoon to get ready.

We like the late. Dinner is an activity for us. Also stay up pretty late 1 a.m. or so and we have plenty of time to see the show after dinner or go to the casino or bar. Its not as rushed for us. I think it is a personal choice, what you are used to.

We eat early and then go to the casino. It doesn't take me more than 30 minutes to get ready for dinner so I don't miss any activities. I'm also very fair skinned so I don't stay ashore all day on port days. I don't like to go to bed with my stomach full. We are morning people and start our day early we try to get our walk in on the track about 7:30.


sls

Late you are not rushing back from a tour

[Dorothy]

We liked the early because we liked the main show rather than the the late evening show. We ate early (were ALWAYS hungry and ready), saw the show and then had lots of time left for bar hopping, listening to the music and just exploring the ship.

The only drawback to the early dinner was the increased number of small children, which was somewhat distracting since a number of them ran up and down the aisles between tables.

[jomama]

Late. #1 Fewer children. #2 More time to relax and watch the sunset with a cocktail before dinner. #3 Good excuse to hit the pizzeria around 4:00. #4 Can reduce my casino time, thereby saving me money.

Jo ~ hopes she gets late seating on the Legend 6/16

I have cruised six times all on Carnival i am in my late 20's have taken my 50+ parents and 70 something grandparents and we all enjoy late seating dinner. I think it gives you more time in the ports of call and relax during the days at sea on deck. Maybe catch some zzzz'z in the afternoon if you want. There are two shows nightly the late show starts at 10:30 to accomodate the late seating dinner so there is plenty of time. And if your an eater which my boyfriend is he still catches something to eat at the late night buffet. So we prefer the late seating. I would say if you have children though the early sitting is the way to go. Thats one thing you dont see to many of at the late seating is kids! Hopes this helps
~Lori

[betsyd]

Bill, please don't forget your tips!