Freedom MDR Early Seating

[Midwest Cruiser]

I’ve come across a few posts recently stating that the 6pm mdr seating has been moved up to 5:30pm. Has anyone been on the Freedom in March or April that can confirm this? When I view my reservation on RCCL’s website it still shows 6pm.

Thanks.

[Dave]

Mine for the Enchantment still says 6pm and I've heard others say they ate at 5:30 too, but then it wasn't the same itinerary as we'll be on.

Isn't the story for the Freedom that the move backwards by 30 minutes is because of show preparations or something like that? I'm trying to understand how my dinner time can impact the stage crew and performers, and I just don't see it. But then I am not the stage manager.

Of course, in the big scheme it is just 30 minutes and most seem to gather outside the dining room 10 minutes or so before dinner. I'd show up exactly at 5:30 and then figure I only lost 20 minutes of free time.

[Jim1012]

We were on Voyager last month, and our ON LINE reservation showed 5:30 for main dining. However, when we got on the ship, the dining room doors didn't open until the "normal" 6pm. My time dining people started showing up prior to that, but the doors didn't open until 6 each night. Not quite sure what the change on the on line reservation ment, but we ate at our "normal" time as 6pm.

[Wheels87]

My family and I prefer the early dining time for many reasons, however, it sure would work better if it were at 6:30 rather than 6:00. I sure hate to think that they are moving it the other direction.

Perhaps that is just a message to all the rude folks who are scheduled for 6:00 and show up at 6:45 and expect the same great food and service as if they had been on time.

Brad

[Midwest Cruiser]

Now today my reservation shows the change to 5:30pm…

We prefer the second seating but chose the early seating because our two young boys will be with us on this cruise. It’s easier for them with Adventure Ocean which is a must in their minds. 30 minutes isn’t that big a deal but I always feel that 6 or 6:30 is hard to make with everything else going throughout the day. Especially during this time of year where the sunset is later in the Caribbean.

We’ll now do a combination of dining room / windjammer with them and then Chops and Portofino’s for us.

[Midwest Cruiser]

Originally Posted by Dave

Mine for the Enchantment still says 6pm and I've heard others say they ate at 5:30 too, but then it wasn't the same itinerary as we'll be on.

Isn't the story for the Freedom that the move backwards by 30 minutes is because of show preparations or something like that? I'm trying to understand how my dinner time can impact the stage crew and performers, and I just don't see it. But then I am not the stage manager.

Of course, in the big scheme it is just 30 minutes and most seem to gather outside the dining room 10 minutes or so before dinner. I'd show up exactly at 5:30 and then figure I only lost 20 minutes of free time.

I looked back at my compasses from Nov/Dec and Jan and the show times are still the same. 7pm and 9pm or 9pm and 10:45pm. Plenty of time to eat at 6pm and make a 9pm show.

The crew was having a difficult time in December when they were trying to enforce the show reservations. One show would be standing room only and the other show would be nearly empty. Maybe they are trying to provide a little extra time so people can go to the early seating and early show?

I know the RCCL Entertainers swapped out a few weeks ago so maybe the change came with the new group or maybe it has to due with people showing up late to dinner this time of year. I’ll find out from some of the staff that I know on the Freedom and report back.

I’ll be happy just to be onboard!

[Dave]

On our cruise it looks like we'll eat dinner in the MDR 4 times at most and do Chops one night and Windjammer the other 3 nights.

[Midwest Cruiser]

Dave,

I feel that is a comfortable mix as well. We tend to switch it up a bit unless we are with a large group and using dinner as a place to recap the days events.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by Midwest Cruiser

I’ll find out from some of the staff that I know on the Freedom and report back.

Please do. I know we'd all like to know the real story.

[todd.clark41]

We are scheduled for Freedom OTS this summer. We confirmed after reading this thread, that the early seating was scheduled for 5:30. So, we changed to the later seating...

Thanks to everyone. This thread saved us some logistical problems!