1st or 2nd seating?

[staylor]

We like the late seating. Just as everyone else, we don't want to begin getting ready for dinner so early. Also, we are from TX, the late seating is actually 7:30 for us.

 

[LuvTravelToo]

Being from California we thought we'd like to have the late seating since the time difference would put us at our "normal" eating time. After posting a similar question (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=616109) and heeding the advice, we decided to stay with the early seating. This turned out to be a good decision for most of the reasons stated earlier. We never felt overly rushed to get to dinner and enjoyed the extra time afterwards to relax and let our food digest before turning in (usually 12:00 to 1:00am). The only thing I felt I missed were the port departures---but everything else more than made up for it. I'm sure whatever you decide will work out well for you. Have a great cruise!

 

[Azptcruiser]

The consideration for 1st or 2nd seating is what is best for your family...especially for the kids. For us where we had teenagers, the second seating has been best (2 different cruises).

As for the benefits, it is a bit more relaxed as a result of the servers not having to prepare for another meal that is just following. There were times that we did not leave the dining area until 11:00-11:30 at night. We just hung out with our tables mates, talked and relaxed. The servers worked around us and were always willing to give us what we wanted. My girls would take off and do whatever they wanted right after dinner and desert.