Anyone got a recommendation for which night is best for making reservations for the Alternative Restaurant? Sailing on the Constellation 12/10/05 and want to try the alternative restaurant-need recommendation as to best night-a late night in port? a not so good dinner option in main dining room? an "all day at sea" day?
Hi,
In my opinion, a '' late night at port'' might be better. Less people on board means a less rushed crew in all the dining venues, thus a bit more relaxed and attentive service. As well, you're stationnery, thus no vibration or noise whatsoever as the ship is neither zipping along nor manoeuvering out of port; as the restaurant is aft deck #3, that is a factor.
Since the dress code is tacitely '' formal'' in the alternative restaurant(s), that can enter into your decision as to which night to go there; some folks tend to frown on the '' dressing up'' bit, thus these would pick one of the 2 or 3 formal nights accross the ship to go in the alternative restaurant. Conversely, those cruisemates who really like the formal stuff would pick a night OTHER than the 2 or 3 formal nights, giving themselves yet another opportunity to go '' the whole 9 yards''...
Two nights NOT to pick: day of sailing and the last night before disembarkation, for obvious reasons.
Enjoy. You won't regret it.
Happy sailings
Cheers
CG
__________________
Past waves and happy memories: SUMMIT, MERCURY,DAWN PRINCESS, ISLAND PRINCESS X 2, REGAL PRINCESS.
Nest up: CENTURY June'08....B2B Norwegian Fjords/Artic/NorthCape & Scandinavia/Russia
You might check to see if there is a discount on the alt. dining rooms on the first night of the cruise. On a couple of the other cruise lines, they offer a 50% discount the first night of the cruise, not sure about Celebrity. Sometimes they advertise this at the castoff party--sometimes not! Just ask one of the staff...FYI.
Good morning, Little red.
Sorry, I ought to have been more clear in my original comments.
The sailaway day , imo, is not a good night for such an '' event'' because the day is already buzy enough with getting to the port, surviving all the check-in processes, getting on board, checking '' the lay of the land'', awaiting the bags, unpacking, etc,etc...the last thing you want to pile on is getting ready and all dressed up for a simili-formal event; that is, unless you folks are into the '' formal'' thing and welcome any ocasion to dress-up.....and, as PaulJ stated in an earlier post, these restaurants occasionally have '' sailaway specials''...( why would that be, do you think?),,,,This scenario would of course be amplified if you also had to fly in the day of the cruise, thus the stress and fatigue factors defenitely rule out a formal event.
As regards last night before debarkation; again, having to pack and leave bags outside the door during the evening would almost mean you formal wear for the alternative restaurant would be your main wear for the rest of the trip; this would be '' magnified if you are flying home same day as debarkation; do you really want to tackle a transfer and flights all dressed up ??
Those are my opinions only.
Happy sailings
Cheers
CG
__________________
Past waves and happy memories: SUMMIT, MERCURY,DAWN PRINCESS, ISLAND PRINCESS X 2, REGAL PRINCESS.
Nest up: CENTURY June'08....B2B Norwegian Fjords/Artic/NorthCape & Scandinavia/Russia
Wehave always had the best luck picking a day at sea staying away from the formal nites which you do not want to miss in the main dining room.This way you can take your time dressing and have a drink before dinner and not feel rushed. Wold agree with the comments on first and last nites however I believe that the dress code in the alternative restaurant is that which is published for that day but most of the time men will wear a coat for this fabulous dining experience.We have run into cruisers who will eat every meal in the alternative rest.In our 30 plus cruises we would put the Olympic Restaurant on the Millinnium at the top of the list with this being decorated vey similar to its sister ship the TitanicAlong with the food being offered,the service is comparable to a 5 star rest.At any rate please enjoy this not to be missed dinng exp.
We opt for this experience on a formal night. We travel with two younger children, and the Celebrity kids program offers a kids dinner pizza party and free baby sitting on formal nights. So while our kids are having fun with their peers (and happily missing a dress up night), we can enjoy a stress free dinner, enjoy the elegance of the formal night, and have a relaxing evening on board. Its all good!
We have always picked a casual night, since those are our least favorite nights in the dining room. Getting dressed up when everyone else is "slumming"'' is a delicious feeling!
__________________
Nicki
Costa Atlantica 3/03
Celebrity Century 11/03
HAL Oosterdam 3/04
Celebrity Century 11/04
MSC Opera 2/05
Celebrity Constellation 11/05
Celebrity GALAXY 1/06
NCL Norwegian Dream 2/06
Celebrity CENTURY 4/06
Celebrity Summit 9/06
We opt for this experience on a formal night. We travel with two younger children, and the Celebrity kids program offers a kids dinner pizza party and free baby sitting on formal nights. So while our kids are having fun with their peers (and happily missing a dress up night), we can enjoy a stress free dinner, enjoy the elegance of the formal night, and have a relaxing evening on board. Its all good!
That's too bad. If travelling with children, my primary reason for going to the specialty restaurant would be to teach the children about really fancy restaurants by letting them have the experience first-hand (with proper preparation, of course). Most children would be quite fascinated by the service -- espeically the way that several waitstaff synchronize the service, setting everybodys' plates down and lifting off the lids simultaneously -- and the tableside preparation of some dishes.
We have taken the second day both times.
Covered the formal night attire.
Made it easier to do and get everyone in the party to go.
Why not go on an informal night, since the dress code in the specialty restaurants is informal except on formal nights, so there's no need to dress up beyond what would be required anyway.
By going to the specialty restaurant on a formal night, you're missing out on the extra touches in the main dining room.
We have taken the second day both times.
Covered the formal night attire.
Made it easier to do and get everyone in the party to go.
Why not go on an informal night, since the dress code in the specialty restaurants is informal except on formal nights, so there's no need to dress up beyond what would be required anyway.
By going to the specialty restaurant on a formal night, you're missing out on the extra touches in the main dining room.
Norm.
After 27 plus cruises - a formal night is a formal night.
We just try to mix it up a bit.
But we can't go on lamb shank night.
__________________
We be Cruzin... Summitt - from San Juan.
January 2nd - ...... To the South.
I always feel I am missing something good when we go to the alternative restaurant. Will be sailing on the Infinity in a few weeks and might try to go one of the nights we are in port late, that sounds like a good Idea. We will be in San Juan and there is really nothing happening in the port and we won't be roaming around after dark anyway.
Thanks for the post, I will remember to make the reservation as soon as we board so we get the reservation!
Bon Voyage and Happy Holidays
__________________
Queen of Bermuda 6/63
Paradise 3/99
Renissance IV 2/00
Summit 11/01
Millennium 2/02
Mercury 11/02
Star Princess 3/03
Zuiderdam 8/03
Century 10/03
Voyager of the Seas 2/04
Regal Princess 7/04
Zaandam 12/04
Galaxy 9/05
Infinity 1/06
Jewel of the Seas 8/06
Zenith 1/07
Adventure of the Sea 9/07
Insigna 3/08
Solstice 11/08
NCL Jade 5/09
Diamond Princess 8/09
Oceania Ragetta 11/09
Hi,
In my opinion, a '' late night at port'' might be better. Less people on board means a less rushed crew in all the dining venues, thus a bit more relaxed and attentive service. As well, you're stationnery, thus no vibration or noise whatsoever as the ship is neither zipping along nor manoeuvering out of port; as the restaurant is aft deck #3, that is a factor.
Since the dress code is tacitely '' formal'' in the alternative restaurant(s), that can enter into your decision as to which night to go there; some folks tend to frown on the '' dressing up'' bit, thus these would pick one of the 2 or 3 formal nights accross the ship to go in the alternative restaurant. Conversely, those cruisemates who really like the formal stuff would pick a night OTHER than the 2 or 3 formal nights, giving themselves yet another opportunity to go '' the whole 9 yards''...
Two nights NOT to pick: day of sailing and the last night before disembarkation, for obvious reasons.
Enjoy. You won't regret it.
Happy sailings
Cheers
CG
CG,
There is an alternative dining program on the M class ships that is not the specialty dining room. If you are tired of eating in the dining room or want to eat by a window and you don’t have a window in the dining room you can book Alternative Dining. This will be on deck10 and is a sit down dinner. You do go to the salad bar and fix your own salad.
This requires a reservation. It is not formal and is sometimes used by people that do not want to dress up for formal nights.
The Specialty Dining- Olympic, United States, Normandy and Ocean Liners require a reservation and require jacket for men. These reservations are hard to get for the times you like. Usually everyone wants to go to the formal captain’s welcome aboard party which is usually the second night aboard. (This can vary and no one can tell you for sure when it will be). The night after this, if it is a sea day, is good night to eat at the Specialty restaurant. We usually pick a sea day.
That's too bad. If travelling with children, my primary reason for going to the specialty restaurant would be to teach the children about really fancy restaurants by letting them have the experience first-hand (with proper preparation, of course). Most children would be quite fascinated by the service -- espeically the way that several waitstaff synchronize the service, setting everybodys' plates down and lifting off the lids simultaneously -- and the tableside preparation of some dishes.
Norm.
A child must be 12 in order to go to the specialty restaurant on Celebrity.
A child must be 12 in order to go to the specialty restaurant on Celebrity.
I had not heard of such a restriction and I'm not finding any mention of such a restriction in the section of Celebrity's web site on specialty restuarants. Do you have a link?
I had not heard of such a restriction and I'm not finding any mention of such a restriction in the section of Celebrity's web site on specialty restuarants. Do you have a link?
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best night for alternative restaurant?
Hi,
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