Celebrity considers flexible dining plan for cruise ships

[cruisetarp]

Yes, you are right Joey - It just depends on how quickly their testing goes. I know on RC they eased it in ship by ship very slowly. It did end up fleet wise and everyone knew it would. Our experience with it however was terrific. Same table, same wait staff each night, just a different time give or take 1/2 hour depending on our mood.

I know a lot of people are not in favor of it but since 6PM is a bit of a rush after a full day in port and 8:30 is way too late for us to eat, it would be perfect for us not to have to go to the buffet on the evenings we don't want to rush.

[JoeyandDavid]

Same table, same wait staff each night, just a different time give or take 1/2 hour depending on our mood.

I know a lot of people are not in favor of it but since 6PM is a bit of a rush after a full day in port and 8:30 is way too late for us to eat, it would be perfect for us not to have to go to the buffet on the evenings we don't want to rush.

for your family it works and works well... so thats is the positive!

[cruisetarp]

I do realize that it was our first experience with My Time Dining and it was very new. I can only hope that future experiences with it are as positive.

[JoeyandDavid]

I do realize that it was our first experience with My Time Dining and it was very new. I can only hope that future experiences with it are as positive.

Fingers will be crossed!

[suzierue]

I do realize that it was our first experience with My Time Dining and it was very new. I can only hope that future experiences with it are as positive.

Fingers will be crossed!

You're going to pleasantly pleased I think if this happens. I've done both, and both are agreeable.

You can request to eat in a certain area, all the time, or "share" with others sporadically at different times during the dining room hours. On Princess, the main dining rooms opened at 5:00 pm for dinner. You could go at a scheduled before hand time, or just mosey on in. There were seldom lines to get in, and if there was, you were seated within maybe up to 20 minutes. If they speculated a more than 10 minute wait, they would give you one of those flasher thingys that would flash and vibrate anywhere you would be on the ship, showing that your table was ready.

The Emerald Princess also allowed full dinners from the evenings' menus to be ordered and sent to your room if you were in a suit or cabin with a balcony, which we never used, but it was nice to know. Anyway, if you have to eat by a certain time, or if you and preferred table mates wish to meet at a certain time always, you can speak with the maitre d and you can 'pretend' your doing it traditionally!

[JoeyandDavid]

I do realize that it was our first experience with My Time Dining and it was very new. I can only hope that future experiences with it are as positive.

Fingers will be crossed!

You're going to pleasantly pleased I think if this happens. I've done both, and both are agreeable.

Hi suzierue and welcome to CruiseCrazies... we too have done both .. and we really didn't care for anytime dining.. the formality of knowing your server and them knowing you was missing..but then again everyone has their preferences.

[zebra]

We asked for the same waiter and got him.... so that is an option.

[JoeyandDavid]

We asked for the same waiter and got him.... so that is an option.

not for us...

[DebbieandJerry]

We had 4 seats open at our table every night (this is 15 nights that the waiter is "stiffed"). We noticed a couple sitting at a table by themselves (they also had vacant seats) and we invited them to join us. They did and were very happy.

We also noticed many tables open and vacant throughout the trip.

So while I prefer a set time at a set table with a set waiter, I can see why ships are considering these changes.