Carnival to test out Anytime Dining

J

jetblue

Guest
From http://johnhealdsblog.com/2008/05/09/spam-spam-spam-spamewonderful-spam/

"The test ship will be the Carnival Legend beginning with the June 29 departure and the most important fact here is that the flexible dining option is to complement…………..not replace …………..the assigned dining times.

So, guests will have the option of arriving at one level of the dining room within specific times ………5:30 pm – 9:30 pm….. and request a table. Meanwhile, if guests prefer the classic assigned seating and being served by the same staff each night……..well that option is still there too."
 
L

Los Abuelos

Guest
Humpf!!!

Had opportunity to try it on two Princess ships and I don't much care for it. Unless you like pulling the Black Elite Sign and Sail card on them Maitre D's fell a little short of the pleasant attitude I would have expected. There was generally a wait of 20 to 45 minutes and we generally agreed traditional reservations are better unless you're in the Speciality Supper Clubs.

The best work-around is to link-up with some pleasant folks in line with you and ask for a table for four, six whatever which they seem to find easier to do!
 
M

Mbandy

Guest
=yeah Los Abuelos I had a matre'd on Princess laugh in my face when I told him we would like a table by the window. Pulled out the black card and he couldn't get us to a window table fast enough :lol

Maybe we just went at the right time but we never had a wait.

Didn't much care for anytime dining. We prefer traditional dining because it is just one less decision to make while on vacation away from making decisions.
 
C

cruisegirl_TX

Guest
I don't mind if they try it out. Just as long as they offer traditional seating. We have no interest in anytime dining and have heard stories of long waits at peak dining times. We like having the same table mates and wait staff every night.
 
J

judiallan

Guest
I would like to try any time dining. I like the idea of having one level or dining room for assigned and one for anytime.
Hopefully when we cruise in 2009 we have the any time option.
 
M

MeauxMum

Guest
It was all that was offered on our NCL cruise around the Hawaiian Islands. Not worth the wait and the terribly long lines. Much rather the traditional dining arrangements.
 
C

CruisingRocks

Guest
I cruised on NCL in October and ate in the main dining rooms every night except once. We never had to wait in line for a table and the food/service were excellent. This is a Mexican Riviera cruise and the ship was full. I am at an absolute loss trying to understand why it seems that so many people don't like the freestyle dining.

Maybe I just got lucky! Doing a 13 day transatlantic on NCL in November.....I hope I have the same experience I had on my first NCL cruise.

ANYTIME DINING ROCKS!! =docdance
 
G

Gayle V

Guest
Hello MeauxMum, and Cruising Rocks. I'm curious to know what time, approximately, you dined? I have a feeling that the time you like to eat, may make a big difference to how long you have to wait.
 
C

CruisingRocks

Guest
:prideHi Gayle! :pride

You are probably right.....I generally like to eat a little later (anytime between 7:00 - 8:00). I suspect that if we went to dinner between 5:30-06:30, it would have been busier and we might of had to wait. To me, pushing dinner back a little is a small price to pay to be able to enjoy your afternoon/evening on your schedule and not the cruise line's. :pride With an assigned dining time, you are stuck if you decide you want to hang out at the pool later in the afternoon, enjoy a port of call later than you planned, or schedule an appointment at the spa in the late afternoon, because they might interfere with dinner.

My idea of vacation is doing what you want WHEN you want. My experience (although limited) is that other cruise lines have not done as good of a job as NCL in trying to implement a version of anytime dining. I have six cruises booked in the next 8 months on NCL, RCCL, and Carnival....I'm anxious to see how they all compare. :pride

Hope that helps....have a great 4th of July Holiday!!!!! :pride :pride :pride :pride :pride
 
A

ariasha

Guest
We will be cruising during the test. We have opted out and plan on doing the traditional dining. We are going as a group of 6 and it was a group decision... it's easier for us and also gives everyone a meeting time... I will have to let everyone know how it goes when we get back!:thumb
 
E

electricflyer

Guest
I've experienced both styles of dining and prefer the open dining. We never experienced any long lines or waits to be seated on NCL. The only wait was when the host/hostess was seating another party and we had to wait for them to return or if you were the first ones at the restaurant in the evening there would be a wait because of the volume of people. Just go a little later and avoid the rush. We actually requested the same seating area each time and had the same waiters. As a benefit the ships restaurant manager assisted the waiters and we had excellent service each time. The benefit of open dining for us was that we were not rushed and watching the clock to get to dining and any specific time. If we were tired from the days excursions or other activity we could rest a bit before a meal. We cruised with another couple of friends and it gave us time to relax. But, if you just wanted the 2 of you to sit down to a meal that was fine, if you wanted to join others that was fine. I'm not into getting dressed in a tux to impress the stowage passengers. I like a relaxed meal with casual dress, with open dining you can do that. As far as the quality of the food, that depends on the chef not the ship you are on. It's like I prefer steaks from Morton's and not Ruth's Chris but that doesn't make Ruth Chris bad.
 
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