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I don't think this has been done in a while. Do you prefer main, late or personal choice dining for dinner on a cruise? We have always eaten main dining because we like to have the whole evening ahead if us for the show, casino and other events after dinner. Also, since we normally do not eat dinner after 6 pm at home, it fits in with our normal lifestyle. We have never had a problem getting dressed in time for even a formal dinner in ports where we have had a late shore tour.
We personally like the early dining in the main dining room. We enjoy getting to know our tablemates and the wait staff. We have been very fortunate to always enjoy the folks we were seated with. We also like eating early and going to the first show.
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Mary Lou Scanlon
NCL Pride of America April 24, 2010
NCL Epic February 12, 2011
RCCL Allure of the Seas - September 18, 2011
Celebrity Eclipse - February 11, 2012:
RCCL Navigator OTS - February 9, 2013
We are just the opposite. Always book late seating.
1) much less children at late seating (love kids, but ,only my own when it comes to dining)
2) much less family groups (don't want to be part of a family of 8 traveling together and then just us at the table).
3) less 100 year olds (I'm not yet ready to hang with the group that goes to bed at 8pm)
4) more time on shore or on deck (especially nice when all the main seating folks leave to get dressed). great time for hot tubs , thelasotherapy pools and sunsets.
5) allows for a nice civilized wind down from the day and for a liesurely paced drink
(and people watching) before dinner.
That's just the way we like it, doesn't mean it's the right way or even for the right reasons
(but there are no kids in the hot tubs at 7pm).
Late always, but part of the reason is that we also eat late at home -- we can't imagine eating at 6!
But, after doing so on the cruise, I would say all the reasons stated by Bill are some of my reasons. More couples who enjoy late evenings eat at that time. So, it's the same people we enjoy hanging with all over the ship all day long. It allows us time to relax after ports. Leisurely dressing, strolling decks, pre-dinner drink, relaxing with spouse, sometimes even time for a nap (rarely a desire, but it's there if we need it). We're still good to go until well after midnight!
It also helps control our eating. We eat at meals, we visit the midnight buffets to see the neat stuff, but we aren't hungry. If we gain weight, it's from drinking more high calorie stuff than we normally drink, not overeating!
I'm glad the ships have both options, so everyone can be happy. I'd hate to have someone sitting in late, starving and unhappy, and vice versa! Happy cruising, to all!
We choose by itinerary. Main seating is our preference..lots of time to enjoy the ship's nightlife.
In the Caribb., where we've been to many of the ports a number of times, and the ship leaves most of them around 5PM, it's early seating. Get the eating out of the way, enjoy our tablemates, and then on to the casino, or piano bar or whatever.
In Alaska and Europe it's late seating. Routes are normally very port intensive, and port day tours are very busy. Get a chance to relax after returning to the ship.
On cruises with lots of sea days, it's always early seating. No rushing for dinner.. and all the napping is done during the day.
Going to give PC a chance on our Golden Thanksgiving sailing. Can't say I like or not til I try it, so doing my "research"<G>
Personally, so far I like Carnival's latest approach.. with 4 dining times. Their latest early seating works really well for us!
Location: Locust Grove VA (20 miles West of Fredericksburg VA)
Posts: 1,588
Re: Poll: Main, Late Or Personal Choice
Main seating as we are early risers. Like Kuki, I think Carnival has the right idea with the 4 dining times. Idea for me would be the second main. Haven't had the opportuntiy to try Personal Choice yet but would be willing to give it a try.
Main.
We eat before 7 at home. Don't like to eat late. 8 is late.
I guess we are like the 100 year old. We are early in bed people. 9 at home. On a cruise..................usually by midnight.
Just hate that run down feeling if we stay up too late. I drag myself around the next day. Yucky feeling.
Personal choice for us! Enough flexibility to let us do what we want, when we want and still eat large or small, depending on the mood and the company!
But then I can be satisfied with a PB&J sandwich!
joelin
done one of each, not really sure which one I really prefer. We have early dining next cruise. But of course if we want to stay on shore for some reason, I don't feel compelled to rush back to the ship for dinner, we just go to the Horizon court or something. I try not to rush around on vacation. I think I have even skipped a meal on cruises before....egad!! don't ask me how.
Late sitting for us.
Reasons:
1. Hate to rush from shore to get ready for dinner.
2. We have dinner late at home. Why change our routine.
3. We can attend to most of the ship activities right up to the 5PM event.
4. Adequate time to see the 2nd show and still get to bed before midnight.
5. More time to dress before dinner especially for Mrs. Ray. She is slow.
Personal Choice has been good for us also. We can go to dinner whenever we wish between the alloted time.
Early seating. Used to do late but found early was better for us because:
1) Don't have to wait for dinner after getting back from shore excursions or laying around the ship
2) Get to take a nap after dinner and still have the night to party, gamble and dance.
3) Get to the late show before the late dinner seating lets out so we always get a seat right up front.
4) The food is fresher and the wait staff is less stressed.
5) Get hungry again for the midnight buffet!!!!!!!
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Poll: Main, Late Or Personal Choice
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