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Author Topic: Dining times
JH
First Class Passenger
Member # 193

posted 03-26-1999 10:01 AM      Profile for JH     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
My husband and I are going on the Enchantment of the Seas in July for our 15th anniversary,and also for our 1st cruise, and were disappointed to find out that we couldn't get the second seating dining time. We were told that it was booked aleady. This must be their most popular time. Is there anyway we can have this switched once on board, or are we out of luck?
Posts: 13 | Registered: Feb 99
joe at travelpage
Administrator
Member # 622

posted 03-26-1999 11:40 AM      Profile for joe at travelpage   Author's Homepage   Email joe at travelpage   Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
As soon as you get on board check with the main desk to see where you should go to change dinner seatings.

If they don't have a special table set up to take care of this go directly to the dining room and try to find the maitre de. Even if it looks closed just walk in and try to find someone who can point you to the maitre de. Let him know you want to switch to late seating.

In many cases there are people who want to switch from late to early so there is a good chance of making the switch - the key is to get there early be firm about your request.


Posts: 29976 | From: Great Falls, Virginia | Registered: A Long Time Ago!
Bruin Steve
Just Boarded
Member # 54

posted 03-26-1999 03:27 PM      Profile for Bruin Steve   Email Bruin Steve   Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
We ALWAYS request the Early Seating...
I think it is a matter of personal preference...
The logic on the early seating is that you have a longer evening after dinner which opens up some choices...plus, you can actually stuffore into your mouth at the midnight buffet, having not just eaten...
Plus, in the morning, you can eat earlier (it's not open seating) and get off the boat to the port of call earlier...and if you miss ameal, you always have other dining options anyway...

Be that as it may, on our last cruise (Carnival Jubilee), they messed up and put us in the late seating...
The head waiter had a table in one of the open areas that first day (the purser directed us as to where)...We went there and got our names onto a list...Later that afternoon, we had new cards slipped under our door with revised seating assignments...

Seems there are loads of reasons why people are seated contrary to their wishes:
1. The system just screwed up...
2. They changed their minds after booking...
3. They had a poor travel agent who just never took care of it properly...
and more...

Chances are there as many people looking to switch early to late as there are late to early...But to be on the safe side, make it your first order of business when you board the ship...


Posts: 9 | From: Calabasas, CA, USA | Registered: Mar 99
JH
First Class Passenger
Member # 193

posted 03-29-1999 10:25 AM      Profile for JH     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Thanks for giving me something to think about. I thought breakfast and lunch were open seating? So, if you have second seating dining you can't eat breakfast in the dining room until 9:30? What about lunch? Is it open seating? When you were at port did you feel rushed to get back and get ready for dinner? Sorry for all these questions!! We're rookies at this! Any info would be helpful :-)
Posts: 13 | Registered: Feb 99
Sherry
First Class Passenger
Member # 421

posted 03-29-1999 12:10 PM      Profile for Sherry   Email Sherry   Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I also vote for early seating. It's just preference, and we've never had any trouble getting back in time. If you are late, you can have food brought to your room, so that shouldn't be a problem. You won't go hungry on a cruise. Then there's always the midnight buffet to look forward to.

As far as breakfast, some cruise lines have assigned seating and some do not. Don't know about your ship, but you might check.


Posts: 66 | Registered: A Long Time Ago!
Bruin Steve
Just Boarded
Member # 54

posted 03-29-1999 01:09 PM      Profile for Bruin Steve   Email Bruin Steve   Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
A little clarification:
I had meant to say "IF it's not open seating"

On the cruises I've been on, it's been a mixed bag for breakfast and lunch...

The key is often whether the ship is in port or "at sea"...

When the ship is at sea, they expect everyone to show up for lunch, so they have to enforce seating times...When in port, a large number of people don't come back to the ship for lunch, so they can do it in one "open" seating...

Breakfast, it is also largely a matter of people scarfing it down and trying to get to a shore excursion when in port, so the ships will generally go to an open seating policy...


Posts: 9 | From: Calabasas, CA, USA | Registered: Mar 99
Hazel Page
Just Boarded
Member # 180

posted 03-30-1999 10:36 PM      Profile for Hazel Page     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I have experienced both early and late seating on the QE2 and much prefer the early. my husband and i found that by the time we were finished the late seating, the shows were one half finished. If you aren't interested in the shows in bouard it is fine but I would personally reccommend you stay with early seating.
Posts: 9 | From: Canada | Registered: Mar 99
JH
First Class Passenger
Member # 193

posted 03-31-1999 09:57 AM      Profile for JH     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
I was under the impression that they had 2 different times for the shows each night? One for the early seating and one for the people who ate later? If that is the case then I surely don't want to miss the shows and will probably stay with the early dining.
Thank you for your help.

Posts: 13 | Registered: Feb 99
Bob
First Class Passenger
Member # 41

posted 04-01-1999 02:21 AM      Profile for Bob   Email Bob   Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Hi JH! Your impression is correct for the ship that you will be on.. You will not miss anything regardless of early or late. enjoy..
Posts: 25 | From: BC Canada | Registered: Jan 99

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