Early or Late Dinner?

[jester95008]

I know that when I go on cruises with my buddies , I always prefer to have dinner at the 6 pm one instead of the 8pm . Seems like all the fun stuff is going on on the cruise when those people are eating dinner, its a lesson I've learned. Plus , if you over eat , then you have time still to walk around and burn it off so you don't go to bed with this loaded stomach.

 

[mom2kanda]

I agree, just got off a 4 day cruise, missed many activities having 8:30 dining.

 

[Shannon]

I prefer late dinner, especially if you have a lot of ports. Seems like you rush too much to get back and get ready for early dinner. Also, it seems like I can stay up later and have fun in the disco if I eat later. YMMV Take care, Shannon

 

[hkolln]

I prefer the late seating as I've found that by 8pm the ship is leaving a port and I'm on the ship anyways.

At 6pm or earlier I have to rush back for dinner and cut my port stays short.

 

[lainie]

I'm with Shannon and Helen. It's too rushed on port days to have early dinner. I like to take a nap, shower, get dressed for dinner at a nice leisurely pace.

 

[jester95008]

Wow , so 3/4 of you prefer the later dinner... Well I guess its all about how much you enjoy the ports too... See the people I go with (and me as well) enjoy the cruise itself and not the ports we go to so much so even if we get off the ship at port , we are always within site of the ship. We've been paranoid since the time in '97 when the taxi driver in Ocho Rios took us WAYYYY the heck out there to some remote and peaceful shore then took off . WE didn't know where we were or how to get back to the ship... but somehow managed to just in time... (hitchike)

 

[Eoconnor]

We don't use the main dinning rooms. So we eat when we want. With room service, the grill, or 24 hour pizza. Plus it saves on tips. we have been on 3 cruises and only have only one meal in the dinning room. And that was not even that good.

 

[jester95008]

ya , I use to be like that too Economy and eat the pizza , sushi , hambergers , but then I tried the dinner and since that point , I never miss out on one. What did you have for dinner when you did go? Just curious... Because remember , you can send it back if you don't like it..
You gotta at least try their es car go .

 

[Eoconnor]

It's not the economy thing. When we go on vacation we like to do things our way. We really don't go for the fancy stuff. With the grill you don't have to change,and it just seems easier. But that's what we like about Carnival the free style thing.

 

[jester95008]

I agree with you economy . I enjoy the free-style thing too (waking up in the middle of the night stuffed and wanting more food anyways) but its good that you at least tried it that one time , and hey it wasn't that great for ya but at least you gave it a shot.
The part I don't like about dinner is having to tip all that $$$ also , plus having to get slicked up. But I don't get too slicked up like some of those guys , and a colared shirt with slacks gets me in fine.

 

[PEB]

We always pick early dining but it is due to eating at certain times of the day due to medical reasons.

As far as tipping goes if you pay attention the people you see cleaning your tables and taking away your dishes in the buffet or even out on deck are the wait staff you see in the formal dining rooms. Part of that tip that is given in the dining room is paying for the work they do the rest of the day in the other dining areas. So whether you want to believe it or not the dining room staff is still working for you in some capacity even though you may not be in the main dining room.

 

[will86]

We prefer early dining for the simple fact we don't like to eat late and go to bed with a full stomach. We have to time to take an evening stroll around the ship.

 

[Eoconnor]

When your account is charged for tipping there is an amount for the other dinning areas. I always increase that amount when I ajust the amount for the main dinning. Plus on our last Cruise when we ate out on deck the same folks were ther all the time and we took care of them on our own. I wonder how much of the tips on the sail and sign get to the workers?

 

[jester95008]

I agree with you economy. tip when you like or how you want to . as far as having more deducted from the sail & sign card , you're going to get the same smile regardless .. Its too universal for them to feel you're happy with them specifically.. tip like your saying , pull some cash out of the pocket , and give that person specifically some money for their service.. its saves you money , and it tips that specific person that treats you well. That's what tipping all about isn't it?