anytime dinning on princess

We will be sailing on Star Princess for the first time...My question is : with anytime dinning, if we want a table for two, do we get a table for only two people or do they seat us at two places at a table for 6 or 8 ?

Thank you for your responses...

[LindaE]

Some of the tables are actually tables for two. Most are a table for 4 with a dividing screen placed across the middle. It is private enough that you do not feel that you are dining with the people on the other side of the screen.

[azpaula]

Table for four divided by a "partition"? Sounds bizarre!

Not at all. It's not a square table, it's a rectangular table. The screen goes across the middle - thus you have 2 tables for two. It works out very well.

We were on the Grand Princess for the Thanksgiving week in 04. The ship was full, and there were many children and teens on board. We had signed up for the personal choice dinning - the "anytime dinning".

Tthe dinning rooms were not taking any reservations for the two of us. We had to go to the dinning room, sign up, and wait for up to45 minutes. It was not too bad, as there was a string quartet playing in the main atruim, and we sat, listened and observed all the people wandering about. After discovering this policy, we arrived early enough to secure a table after the wait - in order not to miss any performaces or other entertainment the ship was offering.

We did find that the square tables were so small that if a dinner had more than two plates on the table at the same time, one of them was in danger of falling off. We started asking for the round tables - which are for two but much bigger.

We did not notice any partitions in any of the dinning on the Grand.

Next time knowing how long the wait can be, we will just ask to be seated with others. The problem with that arrangement is that with personal choice dinning, your table mates will always change.

[CJH]

Never saw a table for 4 with a screen across the middle in the Capri dinning room. Just tables for 2.

LindaE we are on the same cruise.

On the Golden we had a table for two. It was square, and it was a nice size. We never waited for a table longer than 10 minutes, and that was on formal night when we decided to dine a little later then we usaully do.
If you want a table for two, and you don't want to wait, it is really very simple. Go to the dining room before 6:30 , 6 :45. From 7 on it gets busy.

We are going on the Star in March and have a party of 6. Currently we are reserved for first seating but I am thinking of switching to anytime dining as it seems people really like it. It would be nice to have the flexibility of going a little earlier of later (I think our time is 6:30).

Is it harder to get seated if you have a group of 6? (this will be during spring break -we have kids and I am sure lots of others will too).

Would we be better of staying where we are?

Is the food all going to be the same on the Star regardless of what dining room we eat in (with the exception of the Sabatinis and the southwest place)?

Does service go faster doing anytime dining? My mother who has cruised on Princess seems to think so.

When do the shows start? Used to the idea that early seating goes to early show and late to late.

Any other thoughts?

Thanks for any feedback

If you plan on eating earlier than 6:30-6:45 then Anytime dining is great, I would think that getting a talbe for six at peak dining time(7-8) would require a wait. We loved AD. but then we are early eaters.

The food and dress codes for the evening are the same regardless of which dining plan you are on.

[KarenB]

We sat at a table for 4 in the Portofino and all they did was take the other place settings away. They are happy to seat you by yourself if that is what you want.

Karen

[azpaula]

Hmmmm - a table for two? Why would anyone go on a Cruise and want a
Table for two?!!!! Seems ridiculous. Idea is to mix with folks, good conversation (no interruptions), meet new people and have fun.

What's fun and interesting to one might be fingers on the chalkboard to another. My husband and I always want our own table- it's our vacation to catch up with eachother, not be forced to chat with people who may be wonderful or may be horrible. We like to dine alone, then strike up conversations elsewhere on the ship- casino, game room, coffee shop, etc. The one time they seated another couple with us we quietly listened as the couple complained about the food, the slow service, how hot it was (Hellooo- we're in the Caribbean), how his arthritis was flaring up, etc. etc. Pure torture, and we made sure it wasn't repeated after that.

[Deedi]

We just got off the Star and anytime dining worked for us. We sat with some neat people. They had plenty of table for two. We eventually had a group that we met up with and sat together most of the evenings, table for 8. The formal night is when I would make sure you have a reservation if you want a table for two. The nice thing about anytime dining is we got to schedule our dining around our day, not our day around our dining.

Good call Laurie. We also find that the tablemate crapshoot isn't worth the risk. There are plenty of times and places around the ship to meet people and chat where you can just excuse yourself if you hook up with a bore or a boor.

We routinely get a table for two (or for the size of our party if we're not cruising alone). We find that after 36 years we still have plenty to talk about.

But, to each his own. No matter how you choose to do it, it's certainly not ridiculous.

My husband and I also enjoy our table for 2. Our lives are so busy, that the time to be alone with each other is valued. In our "early cruise days" we always sat at large tables, and have met some wonderful people over the years. But now, we take a table for 2 any time. To each his own.

Anytime dining was interesting but we soon found a couple we preferred as company and a table crew that was great....then we scheduled a table for six at that time and table. We had new companions and old companions each night plus a great table crew.