POLL - Traditional or Anytime/Freestyle Dining Could be true

Kuki · #1 (**permalink**) October 21st, 2008, 05:22 PM

There's a pretty significant rumor in the wind that Carnival is seriously considering switching the dining rooms throughout the fleet to anytime/freestyle dining.

Would you be in favor of this switch

Mike M · #2 (**permalink**) October 21st, 2008, 06:55 PM

Kuki,

You know how much I like Anytime/Freestyle dining but I had to go with the Half and Half option, with one dining room traditional and one dining room open seating.

The reason for this is that the current fleet is not set up for a full "open seating" type of arrangement. You really need more than two dining rooms and a specialty restaurant in order to make this happen. (I am not throwing the buffet into the mix.)

NCL's older ships, such as the Dream, Majesty and even the Sky do not handle Freestyle as well as the newer ships launched after 2001.

However, I would LOVE to see an open seating option on Carnival

Take care,
Mike

Kuki · #3 (**permalink**) October 21st, 2008, 08:22 PM

Mike.. I'm with you. The newer NCL ships do Freestyle well, because of all the various restaurants.... and I like it.

I didn't care for anytime dining on Princess, and if the menu is the same anyway, I'd just as soon have an assigned table and time. Between the Lido deck and alternate restaurant I have choices if I want to skip a set night the odd time.

rosetattoo · #4 (**permalink**) October 21st, 2008, 09:01 PM

I much prefer the traditional dining option. I can plan my day and night activities around my dining time, we always eat in the formal dining room for dinner and like having the same time, table, and wait staff every evening.

Thoth · #5 (**permalink**) October 22nd, 2008, 01:08 AM

Judging from the poll results here, it would be a mistake to abandon traditional seating. My main concern is solo travelers such as yours truly. 8)
Everything in cruising today seems centered on couples or even families.
What about those of us who are too ugly...too mean...and too unlovable in order to be part of a couple?

Just becouse I'm single doesn't mean I wish to dine by myself. Carnival always has made an effort to place us singles together. Why change ?

jleq · #6 (**permalink**) October 22nd, 2008, 02:11 AM

Also a single...and definately not a fan of "open seating" at supper. I want at least one part of my day that I know is going to occur on a regular schedule. Since I realize others feel differently, I felt one Dining Room should be aside for each group.

susierphillips · #7 (**permalink**) October 22nd, 2008, 08:12 AM

We've really enjoyed anytime dining in the past couple of years. We're not tied down to a set time, and I find that some of the set times are just too early or too late for us. Plus, we usually ask the maitre 'd for the same waiter or waitress nightly and our request has always been honored.
That way, if we find we like someone, we can see them every evening!

lhp · #8 (**permalink**) October 22nd, 2008, 09:10 AM

Having a child with Autism....set routine (like traditional dining) is key to our cruising. We still have a hard time getting him used to "strangers" (wait staff etc) the first day.

He also has to eat at a set time every day.

peninsularoad · #9 (**permalink**) October 22nd, 2008, 12:07 PM

I like the traditional dining, it just seems to have a much more special formality to it and that is what I like. Even though it's on carnival, it still gives you a much more special feeling when it comes to dinner when everyone sits down together. It makes it a more "special' feeling of an event instead of just dinner anytime you want to eat!

dina · #10 (**permalink**) October 22nd, 2008, 01:43 PM

I like traditional. If I want freestyle I just go to the buffet.

JamesRT · #11 (**permalink**) October 22nd, 2008, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dina

I like traditional. If I want freestyle I just go to the buffet.

dina,
I agree!

msblackjack · #12 (**permalink**) October 22nd, 2008, 03:53 PM

I also voted to keep traditional:

(1) it forces me to slowwww down and make time to enjoy a great meal.
(2) it is a way to catch up with your fellow cruisemates
(3) I like meeting new people

BobMiller · #13 (**permalink**) October 22nd, 2008, 04:48 PM

I voted for the split seating since I know there are a lot of people that would like the freestyle but personally I will always choose the traditional.

A great part of the cruise experience is when the wait staff knows your preferences and routine by the second day.

It is also nice to get to know your table mates and talk about their days. Lunch is open seating and we meet more people that way but you don’t get the bond you make over several days with dining companions.

cutiecat · #14 (**permalink**) October 22nd, 2008, 05:08 PM

i voted half and half. that way, passengers can choose what they want and while i know people will gripe anyway, maybe not as many will

i love traditional dining and will never use freestyle unless forced too. dinner is one of my favorite times on board (if i have good tablemates)

rosetattoo · #15 (**permalink**) October 22nd, 2008, 05:49 PM

Kuki, was the question meant to be answered by what we personally like or do we waffle on the question and provide an answer that we think other people would like or what is fair? If the question is directed to our personal choice, you are not going to get a true read from responders because some people are voting for what they think is fair for everyone and not their personal preference.

If Carnival is looking at just the number of votes cast and not reading everyone's explanations for voting a certain way, the results will not truly reflect people's choices.

flowers · #16 (**permalink**) October 22nd, 2008, 08:11 PM

If they do one dining room traditional and one freestyle, it will be like Princess, a Looooooooooooooooong waiting list for traditional. If you book within 4 months of your cruise, you cant get traditional.

Obviously more than half of the Princess cruisers still want traditional, the rest get stuck with freestyle.

erikhag · #17 (**permalink**) October 23rd, 2008, 11:07 AM

Since this is a question about Carnival and I'm not a customer on Carnival I haven't answered the question.

If I should answer it, my answer should definitely be "anytime dining" everywhere because what you get with traditional dining, you can get with "anytime dining" too!

I can only talk about NCLs Freestyle dining and this is how that works:

Do you want to eat at the same time everyday? You can do that!
Do you want to share a table with people you don't know? You can do that!
Do you want the same waiter every day? You can get that!
What else do you want?

What you don't get on NCL:

If you are tired one day and wants to eat early, you are not forced to wait for your late seating!
If you dislike the people you ate with the day before, you don't have to eat with them again!

I really can't see any problems with anytime dining but as I said, this is a question for people cruising with Carnival and if most of Carnivals customers prefer traditional dining, of course they shall keep that.

Kuki · #18 (**permalink**) October 23rd, 2008, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flowers

If they do one dining room traditional and one freestyle, it will be like Princess, a Looooooooooooooooong waiting list for traditional. If you book within 4 months of your cruise, you cant get traditional.

Obviously more than half of the Princess cruisers still want traditional, the rest get stuck with freestyle.

You'd think that would be an important part of their deliberations since it's the same parent company, Carnival Corporation. And from my experiences, what you say is true; there's a wait list for traditional dining on all Princess cruises. So, it does make you wonder why they are contemplating the change.... and they are, quite seriously.

spencercoop · #19 (**permalink**) October 23rd, 2008, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erikhag

Since this is a question about Carnival and I'm not a customer on Carnival I haven't answered the question.

If I should answer it, my answer should definitely be "anytime dining" everywhere because what you get with traditional dining, you can get with "anytime dining" too!

I can only talk about NCLs Freestyle dining and this is how that works:

Do you want to eat at the same time everyday? You can do that!
Do you want to share a table with people you don't know? You can do that!
Do you want the same waiter every day? You can get that!
What else do you want?

What you don't get on NCL:

If you are tired one day and wants to eat early, you are not forced to wait for your late seating!
If you dislike the people you ate with the day before, you don't have to eat with them again!

I really can't see any problems with anytime dining but as I said, this is a question for people cruising with Carnival and if most of Carnivals customers prefer traditional dining, of course they shall keep that.

I didn't know you could choose the same waiter every night on NCL's freestyle dining

erikhag · #20 (**permalink**) October 24th, 2008, 03:14 AM

You just go to the diningroom and ask for the same waiter you had the night before, no problem.

skymaster · #21 (**permalink**) October 24th, 2008, 08:32 AM

We too, prefer traditional. I wouldn't totally stop cruising Carnival if they went to 100% Free Style, but I'd cruise the other lines a lot more often than I currently do. Seeing and talking to my dinner partners is an important part of my day when cruising, and I love having the same table, same wait staff etc. (yea, I know,,you can request and reserve those things)

Ken
"SKY"