Celebrity considers flexible dining plan for cruise ships

mercedes · May 13, 2009

Is Celebrity Cruises developing a plan to offer flexible dining on its ships?

That's the word this week from industry watcher x, which quotes a spokesperson for the line as confirming the concept is in the works.

The online cruise site notes that word of the plan got out prematurely this week after the line accidently posted information about what it is calling Celebrity Select Dining on the Celebrity web site. The information has since been taken down.

As x notes, Celebrity is one of the last major lines that doesn't offer eat-when-you-want, with-whom-you-want flexible dining on its ships. Dinners on the line's ships are at fixed seatings.

Longboysfan · May 13, 2009

I pretty much have that now. I like the late seating and I almost always cruise with friends.

DebbieandJerry · May 13, 2009

I like fixed dining simply because of all of my food allergies. It's hard enough getting one waiter and one assistant waiter to get my meal options correct. I cannot imagine having to do this for every meal.

cruisetarp · May 13, 2009

Debbie - not sure how Celebrity is going to handle it but we had my time dining on RC in December and after the first night they asked us if everything was to our liking and we ended up with the same table and the same wait staff every night of our cruise although we did vary the dining time a bit due to some late port days.

DebbieandJerry · May 14, 2009

MaryLou, if Celebrity follows RCL, that would be perfect!

JoeyandDavid · May 17, 2009

Well You knew it was going to happen.. :thumbdown:

sailingrose · May 17, 2009

I agree Joey, I've had anytime on Princess twice and hated it! I definitely prefer traditional dining.

JoeyandDavid · May 18, 2009

I just checked my upcoming voyage on the connie.... and on my summary page under dining i saw

Option 1: Traditional Dining - 08:30 PM

cruisetarp · May 18, 2009

From what I have been reading about this we may still have only the traditional dining on our Connie cruise. It seems they are only "testing the waters" and doing it slowly. Even if they do implement it before Nov. as long as they leave it as an option I think it will be fine.