How long should dinner service take?

hbrote · #1 (**permalink**) December 21st, 2011, 03:16 PM

I see a lot of complaints concerning the amount of time taken for dinner service in MDR. I don't know what folks think the time should be for a dinner service. My personnel thought is 2 hours from appetizer to dessert. What does everyone else think?

Hank

johnthed0g · #2 (**permalink**) December 21st, 2011, 03:42 PM

I would think that is about right, sometimes we linger over coffee on a particularly sociable table. The time taken is the difference between having something to eat & having dinner. I look forward to dinner, an interesting set of table companions makes a cruise.

Trip · #3 (**permalink**) December 21st, 2011, 04:00 PM

I would say between and hour and a half and two hours is the norm. Anything longer would mean to me, there were issues, in the dr...I really enjoy the time chatting with our dinner companions, but, anything longer, and I get antsy. We sometimes leave before the desert course, if nothing excites us. We also rotate our table seating, to have a different view of the dining room, and different chair mates.

In specialty venues, it often can be, close to three hours!

Donna · #4 (**permalink**) December 21st, 2011, 04:12 PM

Hank,
I totally agree with you, two hours should be plenty of time, unfortunately, it seems these days, it takes a longer time than that. My main reason for not eating in the MDR, when there are tons of goodies in the buffet or other places onboard to eat.

johnthed0g · #5 (**permalink**) December 21st, 2011, 04:22 PM

We have dessert, & cheese too followed by coffee & "bits" they put out.
Don't recall anyone leaving before everyone had finished.
By the way, people have mentioned ordering more than one course at dinner, I had said it was not usual but we did this on our recent cruise when the tempura veg were the vegetarian course, & one couple had prawns/Shrimp as well as beef.

Trip · #6 (**permalink**) December 21st, 2011, 04:27 PM

John, I don't ever remember having a table all leave together. This might be another distinction between the cultures.

johnthed0g · #7 (**permalink**) December 21st, 2011, 04:50 PM

Interesting...What happens on P&O club(fixed) dining is everyone turns up within say 5 minutes of the appointed time, all generally stay until the end but if it's dragging out a bit people may excuse themselves if they need to get to the show.

Manuel · #8 (**permalink**) December 21st, 2011, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trip

John, I don't ever remember having a table all leave together. This might be another distinction between the cultures.

In most of my cruises we all leave the table together. In at least a dozen of my cruises we have mad friends that we have kept in touch with.

TM

nlb1050 · #9 (**permalink**) December 21st, 2011, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manuel

In most of my cruises we all leave the table together. In at least a dozen of my cruises we have mad friends that we have kept in touch with.

TM

While we may not have kept in touch after a cruise the majority of the time whatever table we have at we all leave together.

Trip · #10 (**permalink**) December 21st, 2011, 07:12 PM

One thing has nothing to do wth the other to my mind..I just sent off Holiday gifts to people we sat with on the Magic. There are so many various reasons, why one would excuse themselves from the table, after their dinner, I would never think it odd that some couples take their leave.

green_rd · #11 (**permalink**) December 22nd, 2011, 07:08 AM

My complaint from our last Carny cruise was not the dinner service being slow, but with the bar service at dinner being slow. I think they may have reduced personnel doing that job as I have seen the same complaint from others - or are pushing the wine packages which the dinner servers can provide.

skymaster · #12 (**permalink**) December 22nd, 2011, 08:34 AM

I usually plan on being at the dinner table for two hours or so. As stated above, if we've got a "good table" (and we have been very fortunate to have EXCELLENT folks at our table 99% of the time) we find that lingering over dessert, and coffee is the norm. Dinner is one of the highlights of the day for the lovely Mrs. Jones (Vita) and me.

"SKY"

johnthed0g · #13 (**permalink**) December 22nd, 2011, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skymaster

I usually plan on being at the dinner table for two hours or so. As stated above, if we've got a "good table" (and we have been very fortunate to have EXCELLENT folks at our table 99% of the time) we find that lingering over dessert, and coffee is the norm. Dinner is one of the highlights of the day for the lovely Mrs. Jones (Vita) and me.

"SKY"

Absolutely 100% agree, our experience entirely!!

haree · #14 (**permalink**) December 22nd, 2011, 12:01 PM

I believe that we should not eat the more enough in the dinner this is not the good thing for your health as well.
Eat condense in morning half in lunch and minor quantity in dinner...

johnthed0g · #15 (**permalink**) December 22nd, 2011, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haree

I believe that we should not eat the more enough in the dinner this is not the good thing for your health as well.
Eat condense in morning half in lunch and minor quantity in dinner...

Maybe, but on holiday...lighten up... :-))

Donna · #16 (**permalink**) December 22nd, 2011, 03:38 PM

I too really try to eat a decent breakfast, light lunch so I can enjoy dinner. Problem is, even lunch is like dinner at home, very difficult to eat light with all that good stuff right there...

johnthed0g · #17 (**permalink**) December 22nd, 2011, 05:57 PM

We seldom have lunch as such, unless ashore to sample new local stuff or old favourites. If we don't we tend to succumb to snacks...just like party food!!

Trip · #18 (**permalink**) December 22nd, 2011, 05:59 PM

I like that term...party food

johnthed0g · #19 (**permalink**) December 22nd, 2011, 06:13 PM

On Azura (Grand class modified) we had a cabin just a couple of decks down from the buffet (aft) so my wife would nip up & get us a load of ''nibbles''

Trip · #20 (**permalink**) December 22nd, 2011, 06:18 PM

Even better......nibbles!

tobytovar · #21 (**permalink**) December 24th, 2011, 04:45 PM

1 1/2 hours seems about right. If you go to the steakhouse on board most of the ships they tell you to plan on 2 hours to enjoy the experience. I guess the key to time is table size and how much you get along with the dining partners. I have always felt a little rushed by the waiters in the main dining room. That is why I like the anytime dining versus late or early seating times. The conversation always changes as does the table size.
Happy holidays and cruises to all.
Toby

Trip · #22 (**permalink**) December 24th, 2011, 04:48 PM

Toby...welcome to Cruisemates...see you around the boards.

johnthed0g · #23 (**permalink**) December 24th, 2011, 05:01 PM

Never fancied early sitting ourselves, too early to get ready, on a port day anyway, but apart from that it cuts into the day & you must have to be out of the MDR to allow 2nd sitting in.

Henry43 · #24 (**permalink**) December 24th, 2011, 10:07 PM

I would think the norm to be about 2 hours . We generally are the last to leave the table .

johnthed0g · #25 (**permalink**) December 26th, 2011, 05:55 AM

[QUOTE=Pitter Stwart;1407071]I read a lot of complaints concerning the amount of time taken for dinner service in MDR. I don't know what folks think the time should be.
***Edited to remove commercial reference***
Hence the question....