1st or 2nd seating? what about if it's a med cruise?

[Bambi D.]

We are just off the Dream 2 days ago and I already want to book again !!!!!!!

We've done both early and late dining. Our kids are older now (17 and 18) so we chose the late seating this time. There is so much food EVERYWHERE that there is no way to get hungry before dinner. We found there were a lot less smaller children in the late seating and the dining rooms seemed a bit less chaotic. The shows followed the same pattern. The early shows on board were less filled with smaller children who couldn't sit still with chocolate and ice cream pumping through them and we seemed to enjoy the shows more with the older kids and adults.
Also - when dining late... once you are finished with your meal... it's rather late. Most of the ship was free from chaos as the younger families had retired for the evening and we had many decks and promenades to ourselves to wander and explore quietly and "romantically". The clubs on board are just getting started with the adult entertainment and it was a great time. I'd vote for late dining from now on.
AND DON"T FORGET - room service.... every afternoon when we returned to the ship to shower and dress for the evening we ordered 2 servings of All Hands on Deck and fruit bowls. It was the perfect snack to get us through the evening until dinner..... (I won't mention the occasional Gelato we also felt obligated to try

 

[TimeAndTide]

Our kids are young (7,6,6) and we still prefer late seating. With early seating the day seems short and we are rushed for dinner, then kids just want to go to kids club anyway. With late seating the kids are suitably tired by the end of the meal. It may make a difference that we travel with a caregiver so she can get them back to their stateroom and ready for bed, and DH and I can enjoy the evening.

 

[hanscarlet]

just curious, anyone know how late the bars are open? I wonder if it would be realistic to get a drink after dinner...

we do the early seating because we have little kids and could not wait until 8 to eat.... if kids were not a factor we'd prob do late seating

 

[PrincessShmoo]

just curious, anyone know how late the bars are open? I wonder if it would be realistic to get a drink after dinner...

we do the early seating because we have little kids and could not wait until 8 to eat.... if kids were not a factor we'd prob do late seating

Well, according to my Navigators from our EBTA, for the most part, many of the bars/lounges are open until midnight or 12:30. Except Fathoms - 2:30.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

just curious, anyone know how late the bars are open? I wonder if it would be realistic to get a drink after dinner...

we do the early seating because we have little kids and could not wait until 8 to eat.... if kids were not a factor we'd prob do late seating

On the Magic D Lounge was open until 2am, O Grills to when people stop drinking or 2 am.

 

[AquaDame]

We have done both seatings and enjoyed both, but I think we are finding ourselves leaning towards late dining even though we eat early at home. We enjoy having our own table (easier to achieve as a couple on 2nd dining vs 1st on the cruises we've done) and like watching the sunset/pulling away from port from the deck vs. having to head in to dinner (sunsets are not likely a problem at the time of year you're talking about!). There was a noticeable difference in the crowd level as people headed in to main dining around the pool and other areas which we took advantage of - we swam and enjoyed the loungers and hot tub much more easily with second dining during those hours. We also didn't begrudge ourselves an ice cream in the afternoon or chicken tender for fear of ruining our appetite for dinner. For our Norwegian next year we also went with 2nd for now since she mentioned it is harder to get than first seating on the European itineraries as many Europeans tend to eat later - the idea is it may be easier to switch to main than to second if we change our minds later. Of course, that remains to be seen if we do decide to do that... I honestly don't think we will unless the only way we can have our own table is on main dining.

 

[disneyholic family]

it's really interesting how many people with kids eat in second seating.
i remember when we took our first disney cruise (in 2002), we took second seating because we thought it would have fewer kids, but i'm not sure that's true now with the way the kids clubs operate (they didn't have that option back then).

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

it's really interesting how many people with kids eat in second seating.
i remember when we took our first disney cruise (in 2002), we took second seating because we thought it would have fewer kids, but i'm not sure that's true now with the way the kids clubs operate (they didn't have that option back then).

On our Med cruises we were in Main dinner. As posted before the times on our two DCL Med cruises were far later, 6.15 on Main and opening at 8.45 on Late. I would see people queuing to go in at 8.45 pm.

Let's say whilst the ship was full of children as we cruise in school holidays, children below teenagers were minimal to non existent. Those who by error had been on late switched to main or gave up and went to Cabanas which was very busy around 6. To 8 pm, - I liked to pop in to look! Kids were there, for either the sit down service meal or buffet.

There were a few teenagers on late, not sure how they got on, but being on main I saw many family's added to main during the cruise, when we had Palo etc, we were asked if we would go to the MDR as they wanted to give a family our MDR table.

They would accommodate you on main if you cane in a bit late, but all DCL shore excursions were back circa an hour before dinner.

I read some scare stories here getting people with young families to go to late, I am not sure why there posted or thought. Things like main is rushed it's not, or eating at the time zone you eat at home, or your not back from port adventures these all are just not true.

In my cruise meets groups, in the Med when we discussed the dinner times, those who were on late by default, generally switched to Main, with or without children, as they didn't know late was so late there.

It was very hard to switch from late to main, yes Spanish people prefer late that's why it's on at 8.45, but in school holidays seasoned cruisers with children all demand main. Hence we were asked, called by phone regularly, if we had Palo etc, if they could use our table in the MDR.

 

[disneyholic family]

8:45 is soooooooooooo late...and as you say, it's only when they open the doors, so not at all when you actually start eating!!

 

[dcassetta]

There were a few teenagers on late, not sure how they got on, but being on main I saw many family's added to main during the cruise.

I read some scare stories here getting people with young families to go to late, I am not sure why there posted or thought. Things like main is rushed it's not, or eating at the time zone you eat at home, or your not back from port adventures these all are just not true.


...in school holidays seasoned cruisers with children all demand main.

It's incredible while enjoying your meal you manage to keep such close track of the restaurant manager's work in moving 'many' families.

Scare stories? Like the ones about how you will fall ill on the cruise and develop diabetes if you dine at second seating?

Except of course for the seasoned cruisers with children who prefer second seating.

 

[dcassetta]

just curious, anyone know how late the bars are open? I wonder if it would be realistic to get a drink after dinner...

we do the early seating because we have little kids and could not wait until 8 to eat.... if kids were not a factor we'd prob do late seating

Well, according to my Navigators from our EBTA, for the most part, many of the bars/lounges are open until midnight or 12:30. Except Fathoms - 2:30.

On the Magic D Lounge was open until 2am, O Grills to when people stop drinking or 2 am.

The navigators posted on the 7/13 cruise link state the same hours as Shmoo posted.

 

[disneyholic family]

On our Med cruises we were in Main dinner. As posted before the times on our two DCL Med cruises were far later, 6.15 on Main and opening at 8.45 on Late. I would see people queuing to go in at 8.45 pm.

Let's say whilst the ship was full of children as we cruise in school holidays, children below teenagers were minimal to non existent. Those who by error had been on late switched to main or gave up and went to Cabanas which was very busy around 6. To 8 pm, - I liked to pop in to look! Kids were there, for either the sit down service meal or buffet.

There were a few teenagers on late, not sure how they got on, but being on main I saw many family's added to main during the cruise, when we had Palo etc, we were asked if we would go to the MDR as they wanted to give a family our MDR table.

They would accommodate you on main if you cane in a bit late, but all DCL shore excursions were back circa an hour before dinner.

I read some scare stories here getting people with young families to go to late, I am not sure why there posted or thought. Things like main is rushed it's not, or eating at the time zone you eat at home, or your not back from port adventures these all are just not true.

In my cruise meets groups, in the Med when we discussed the dinner times, those who were on late by default, generally switched to Main, with or without children, as they didn't know late was so late there.

It was very hard to switch from late to main, yes Spanish people prefer late that's why it's on at 8.45, but in school holidays seasoned cruisers with children all demand main. Hence we were asked, called by phone regularly, if we had Palo etc, if they could use our table in the MDR.

her cruise is in september, so i sort of wonder how many kids there will be at all...
i wouldn't think there will be many older kids....younger ones yes, but not older...

it will be interesting to hear what she says about it..

the other reason she had originally asked for 2nd dining (she's since switched it to main), was that she's heard it's much easier to get a private table in 2nd dining..
and she really really really really really really wants a private table..

but she decided eating at a reasonable hour was more important to her than the private table..
though she's still keeping her fingers crossed about that...

 

[ludari]

Personally I always preferred 2nd seating for two reasons... First is that the first seating dinner is too early for me to eat and second, I don't feel rushed as the first seating people might do.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Personally I always preferred 2nd seating for two reasons... First is that the first seating dinner is too early for me to eat and second, I don't feel rushed as the first seating people might do.

Honestly, I've never felt rushed at main seating. Yes, there's a time limit that's not on the second seating, but there's plenty of time allotted to it.

 

[AquaDame]

[...]when we had Palo etc, we were asked if we would go to the MDR as they wanted to give a family our MDR table.

[...]Hence we were asked, called by phone regularly, if we had Palo etc, if they could use our table in the MDR.

Being hounded like that would not be fun... I'm sorry they felt the need. I have never been asked about whether we'd be in Palo on the nights we planned to when we've had main dining. I assumed they all knew our schedule or something.

For what it is worth, I HAVE been rushed at main dining in the past. One time our servers were abnormally slow getting our food out. Another time our table mates were very slow/ate every course or asked for more and we ran right up against the time limit nightly that cruise. It was not fun when it happened, but I wouldn't say that is the norm. They have 2.5 hours to get you in and out which is usually plenty.

 

[hanscarlet]

I was surprised by the lines for second seating on this last cruise... I never noticed the lines before... has anyone found the second seating waiting lines to be annoying?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I was surprised by the lines for second seating on this last cruise... I never noticed the lines before... has anyone found the second seating waiting lines to be annoying?

We've found (for both early and second seating) that showing up AFTER the doors actually open results in no lines. I don't really get why people line up for the door opening. I mean, it's not like you don't have a confirmed table/seat inside.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I was surprised by the lines for second seating on this last cruise... I never noticed the lines before... has anyone found the second seating waiting lines to be annoying?

In Europe when the cruises, switch there MDR dinners to later times, and Late is at 8.30 or 8.45, we have seen very very long lines of cruisers queuing up to get in. This is far worse than any other sitting or cruise. We have had to go through for various reasons and it was very notable, each night.

I can see why, they are mean to eat, and if you get in quick, to your table, your servers serve you quickly, get into the galley quicker and serve you quicker. It's first come first served in the galley, if your server is late in, they queue longer, and your food gets out slower, then a knock on effect for the serving station of 18 cruisers.

Savvy cruisers are mean to avoid this and get served quickly.

 

[hanscarlet]

That is helpful - so what you're saying is that standing in line can equate to eating earlier and if you're hungry it would make sense to be motivated to sit in line, thanks!