Departing during dinner - what happens???

[mc2]

Just wondering what happens if a ship leaves late and is actually sailing away during the earlier dinner seatings? I assume if you have a 5:30 seating, you choose to either grab dinner somewhere else, or you go to your dinner seating and miss some of the sail away activities? We sail next week on the Magic so we were watching the webcams (it only left at about 5:45ish) - couldn't help but to wonder what all of the people with 5:30 seating were doing as it was pulling away?! I would really like to be outside when we pull away, but I wouldn't want to miss our first dinner either. Not sure what I would do in that situation! What a tough choice to make, eh?

On a side note, out of complete chance had gone to the PC webcam long after the Magic should have left, and saw it was still there. Got to see it leaving PC, but then sat waiting on the www.twopalms.com site to see it sail by without the extra stuff in the background....and the picture on that site froze just as I called for everyone to come and take a look (I could see the nose of the ship) - I can still see the nose of the ship, but I suspect it is long gone! Murphy's Law!!!

 

[Deb T.]

Just wondering what happens if a ship leaves late and is actually sailing away during the earlier dinner seatings? I assume if you have a 5:30 seating, you choose to either grab dinner somewhere else, or you go to your dinner seating and miss some of the sail away activities? We sail next week on the Magic so we were watching the webcams (it only left at about 5:45ish) - couldn't help but to wonder what all of the people with 5:30 seating were doing as it was pulling away?! I would really like to be outside when we pull away, but I wouldn't want to miss our first dinner either. Not sure what I would do in that situation! What a tough choice to make, eh?

That's a tough one! The first night's dinner is when you meet your tablemates and servers. Plus, the food is great! But, it's definitely magical when you first realize you're moving away from the dock! It's so subtle that you barely notice. The only clue is that you start to feel the vibration from the ship's thrusters. We love watching as the ship pulls away! However, that would be the only thing you'd miss by going to dinner because the Sail Away Party always starts right after the muster drill. So, I would suggest you go to the sail away party, then eat dinner, and on another evening you can watch the ship pull away from one of the ports.

 

[WiscBill]

Just wondering what happens if a ship leaves late and is actually sailing away during the earlier dinner seatings? I assume if you have a 5:30 seating, you choose to either grab dinner somewhere else, or you go to your dinner seating and miss some of the sail away activities? We sail next week on the Magic so we were watching the webcams (it only left at about 5:45ish) - couldn't help but to wonder what all of the people with 5:30 seating were doing as it was pulling away?! I would really like to be outside when we pull away, but I wouldn't want to miss our first dinner either. Not sure what I would do in that situation! What a tough choice to make, eh?

On a side note, out of complete chance had gone to the PC webcam long after the Magic should have left, and saw it was still there. Got to see it leaving PC, but then sat waiting on the www.twopalms.com site to see it sail by without the extra stuff in the background....and the picture on that site froze just as I called for everyone to come and take a look (I could see the nose of the ship) - I can still see the nose of the ship, but I suspect it is long gone! Murphy's Law!!!

Don't worry. This actually happened on our first cruise. The ship left late because they were awaiting the arrival of guests whose plane was late (the flights had been arranged by Disney).

In our case, they held the sail away party at 4:30 as scheduled. The party finished, the ship did not sail, and we all went to dinner. We finally sailed a little after 6 PM.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

The official sail away activities onboard are finished by 5:00 PM. However, this happend to us last year. We had 5:45 seating and I was looking forward to standing on Deck 10 for the ship leaving port and be waved at by the CMs. I waited until about 5:15 but it was apparent we weren't going anywhere. I later found out that the Magic was waiting for some passengers who arrived late to MCO because of weather delays. We finally felt the ship start moving at 6:00PM.

Anyway, if all goes as planned, you should be able to see the ship leave the port and still make an early dining assignment.

 

[luv that cruise]

i too was watching the twopalms.com web cam and it froze on me too. from what i understand ship sailed late but i haven't heard why. If you have early seating, you can choose to go or not go. personally i would not miss a sail away. It's not the party i like, but just finding a quiet spot and watching as the ship leaves. I will make my apologies to the sever the next day. we sail on 2/26 and have palo on the first nite. I think we have decided to change our rotation (if we need to) to animators the first night as that is the one place we don't mind missing (as we have sailed many times before and seen the show). now that kids are older we opt for late seating. decks are quiet around 5 when all the families are getting ready for dinner and i love having that time free.

 

[princesspaige]

So, I would suggest you go to the sail away party, then eat dinner, and on another evening you can watch the ship pull away from one of the ports.

I would agree...but then again, for me it is all about the food when on the cruise.

 

[luv that cruise]

there is food everywhere for the duration of the cruise. i would opt for the sail away. after many cruises i am starting to see that dinner time is optional. there are so many options for food. there is just kind of a peaceful feeling about sail away.

 

[GoofyTraci]

i too was watching the twopalms.com web cam and it froze on me too. from what i understand ship sailed late but i haven't heard why. If you have early seating, you can choose to go or not go. personally i would not miss a sail away. It's not the party i like, but just finding a quiet spot and watching as the ship leaves. I will make my apologies to the sever the next day. we sail on 2/26 and have palo on the first nite. I think we have decided to change our rotation (if we need to) to animators the first night as that is the one place we don't mind missing (as we have sailed many times before and seen the show). now that kids are older we opt for late seating. decks are quiet around 5 when all the families are getting ready for dinner and i love having that time free.

if you dont mind me asking how old your kids are? I ask bc we got the late dinning seating bc main was already booked. Lots of people tell me it will be ok for the reasons you mentioned. And not having to rush back to get ready on shore days. Also there is something we can grab till we eat in the dinning room. My son will turn 10 on the cruise and with the time difference I wthink it will be ok but still wondering about it.

TIA

 

[tvguy]

There is another thread going on today's delay, had to wait until an ordnance found buried at the port was deemed safe. Apparently this ordnance was found during construction, nothing criminal, I suspect something buried at the Port decades ago in it's past life. I don't know the history of the port to know if it every had a military use.

Our cruise left late too, and all the parties continued on schedule as if the ship was leaving at 5, even though it was an hour later before we left.

 

[luv that cruise]

goofytraci - my kids are 13/15 but have been sailing with disney for 10 years. On our first cruise I found that everyone was tired after dinner and it took a lot of effort to go to the shows. So altho kids were still young, we tried late dining and it worked great. Fed them by the pool, caught early shows then took them to the clubs while the adults ate in the dining room. The kids very much preferred this to the long dinners in the dining room. Now that they are older, they usually choose to dine with us but they still enjoy the extra time on deck and not having to rush to dinner.

 

[GoofyTraci]

goofytraci - my kids are 13/15 but have been sailing with disney for 10 years. On our first cruise I found that everyone was tired after dinner and it took a lot of effort to go to the shows. So altho kids were still young, we tried late dining and it worked great. Fed them by the pool, caught early shows then took them to the clubs while the adults ate in the dining room. The kids very much preferred this to the long dinners in the dining room. Now that they are older, they usually choose to dine with us but they still enjoy the extra time on deck and not having to rush to dinner.

Thanks so much for the info. I think second seating will work well for us too. Hope you have a great time on your trip.

 

[texfinn]

luvthatcruise -- Thanks for the tip. I signed up for late dinner with the same thought process -- show with kids, dinner on deck then club while me and DH eat dinner BUT after most on my cruise meet have been switching to early dining it had me questioning my logic. It sounds like it might work for us! I really appreciate it!!!!