Poll on Favorite Dining

[CruiseDiva]

I prefer late seating for a couple of reasons. First, I hate to rush back from a port to get ready for dinner. After a full day, I like to relax a bit, then get ready for dinner and enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail or two before dinner. I also like to linger over coffee and dessert at the end of meal and not want to feel rushed.
Sherry

[Ruthie]

We are about to take our 5th cruise in April and all have been with late traditional dining seating. Cannot imagine eating early with all we do during the day. We'll be sitting out at the pool, while others are racing to shower and dress for early dinner. Just not for us, but I am sure everyone has their specific needs and likes so glad we have so many choices.

Ruthie

[nucruiser]

we also opted for the late sitting (voyager of the seas 9/23/05)with all of the different ports I did not want to feel rushed to get ready for an early sitting,

cant wait,anyone else going on this sailing

[MsBrendaB]

I chose late seating, I am a night owl and never like to get the evening started too early.

Just discovered this site when I went to vote in this poll - glad I did - looks like a good place to talk about cruising.

Brenda

[NEWBIE ROSE]

Well gee, guess I'm going to be the fly in the ointment here and say we're slated for early dining on our upcoming Alaska cruise. My reasoning is similar to the earlier poster who cited the put-kids-to-bed etc routine then go out and relax on your own later. Only in my case, it will be a matter of tucking mom into bed (she's an 8:30 p.m. kind of girl so late sitting would have been a push for her) and then exploring/sipping/lounging/deck-walking ---- whatever ---- on my own.

Hadn't thought about having to rush to get ready, cut excursions short etc. but in all likelihood, we'll be spending lots of time on board anyway. This is an experimental trip for us. If all goes well, we'll know more for next time. Perhaps mom won't need to retire so early when there are things to do (versus her care home) and I may just have a fellow nighthawk on my hands. We'll see!!

[middy]

Hi
Another vote for late sitting.Have managed to get it on all cruises so far except for the last which was open sitting for everyone. Not keen.
Why late sitting, We Like to watch as the boat sails from port, also allows for a quick nap in afternoon. There is one disadvantage,We can never manage much at midnight buffets, suppose thats good for the waistline though.
Have fingers crossed at minute as no.1 on waitlist for late sitting for my November
cruise .
Middy

[Traveler2005]

If the ship has fixed dining results are usually better on late seating as the staff is not so rushed. The best deal however is the premium restaurant on Celebrity and you can take the entire evening. Its a *** paris restaurant at sea. I would go on the cruise for the souffle alone.

[Sunprincess]

Depends on my cruise plans, but, never early.

If I am with a group we usually book late seating.
When I cruise to visit friends on the ship I do Personal Choice.

[Carlalena1]

Just did early seating and I will never do it again. Too much rushing around... and after shore excursions the kids were so hungry that they ended up eating a lot at around 3pm. Sushi was at 5:30... high tea was at 3pm... it just didn't make any sense to rush into dinner when we weren't even hungry.

I definitely prefer freestyle dining. No doubt about it.