We were on the Grand last week with a group of six (three couples). We opted for Personal Choice dining and it was a great decision!
Since we tended to dine on the late side we never waited for a table in either PC venue. We ate at The Painted Desert and loved it - as well as Sabatini's on the last night of the cruise. WoW!
The food in Sabatini's left us full for days!
I found the service to be excellent no matter where we ate. We ordered wine, drinks and everyone also ordered a soda. The person picking up the tab for that night's dinner drinks would show his/her soda card and there was never a charge for soda for anyone. It was even served to us from cans more than once- no charge.
The food was good to excellent and the menu quite varied. The same menu is offered in the traditional seating dining room as well as in the Horizon Court buffet.
I've done traditional seating when traveling alone with my husband and I really think that I would opt for PC again, as you can request to be seated with others if you wish. We all really enjoyed the flexibility. We didn't have to rush back from port to get ready for dinner, we had time to go to the pool, relax - take a soak in the hot tub- or - get dressed and ready for dinner but stroll around, have a drink - look at the photos in the gallery....
It does leave you open to many options. I know others really prefer traditional seating, but we want to plan another cruise in August to celebrate our 10th anniversary - and even then - I think I would choose PC!
Have a great cruise!
Deja