Does late dining ever fill up?

[leannak]

We are back and forth on which dining would be best for our family. Right now we have main dining scheduled, because we heard that's the more difficult session to get. I'm starting to lean toward late dining, however. Do we need to worry (much) about late dining filling up? We're over a year out from our cruise but it's just been on my mind...

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We are back and forth on which dining would be best for our family. Right now we have main dining scheduled, because we heard that's the more difficult session to get. I'm starting to lean toward late dining, however. Do we need to worry (much) about late dining filling up? We're over a year out from our cruise but it's just been on my mind...

Generally, it's easier to switch from early to late once onboard, than it is to switch from late to early.

 

[Rob1872]

Keep the early dining for now. If you leave it, you might never get it back. 99.94% of the time, you will be able to move into late dining. (Notice: there are statistics, so it MUST be true!)

 

[jeanmonti]

Seems like there’s always more demand for early dining. We prefer late but most people request/want early.

 

[Pooh93]

If in 6-9 months, if you still lean towards late dining, then switch it. You won't have a problem obtaining it. Although we don't eat late at home we now (that we are all adults) enjoy the later dining. Not as rushed and still plenty of activities going on the ship to walk off dinner. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[Kpitts17]

As two young adults, no kids, we did late dining last year as it seemed to make the most sense with an older crowd and less kids. However, I always found myself waiting and waiting all day to eat. By the time we got our food at the table it was 8:45pm and by the time we finished eating it was 10:00pm. This left us exhausted and we didn't get a chance to do late night activities or go to the bars. This time, in October, we're trying main dining in hopes it'll be chance to eat, do the shows after if we want or go do the bars and such. Prefer dinner earlier anyways. Just our experience.

 

[xlxo]

I used to love late dining.... now older, I find it's hard to digest everything before bed. If you have main dining... I would keep it.

On other cruise lines.... late dining means more shore time. On Disney, they run the evening show early for late diners... so you miss out on the evening show if you plan to be on shore past the main dining.

Main benefit of late dining is you are able to go to the evening show without food stains.

 

[jeanmonti]

If in 6-9 months, if you still lean towards late dining, then switch it. You won't have a problem obtaining it. Although we don't eat late at home we now (that we are all adults) enjoy the later dining. Not as rushed and still plenty of activities going on the ship to walk off dinner. Good luck with whatever you decide.

That's exactly why we like it too. It's more laid back and as you ease into your vacation everyone starts sleeping later (at least in our family) and the day shifts that direction anyway. I love being at the pool still when everyone starts to leave for early dining.

 

[bbn1122]

We love late dining. It gives you more time to do things during the day. Especially, on shore days and CC, no rushing back to the ship.

But I can understand MD when you gave little ones. Our first cruise, our boys were 10, 12 and 16, so did late and it was fine.

As the previous poster said, pools get quiet and if you re on a ship with AquaDuck that’s the time to ride it multiple times in a row.

We always get a late day snack to hold us over till dinner.

Good luck with your planning. But most importantly enjoy your cruise!

 

[MomOTwins]

Since it sounds like kids are not a factor for OP, here are what I see as the most frequent pros and cons:

Pros of late dining: getting to use the pools/aquaduck with low crowds; easier to get good seats at the early show in the Walt Disney theater; no rush to get ready for dinner if you have an all-day excursion; quieter dinner with fewer families and fewer tables full; not having to get up early for the 6:45am breakfast on debarkation day (assuming you have plenty of time to get where you are going after disembarking)

Cons of late dining: getting hungry waiting for dinner to start; eating closer to bed time with less time to digest (unless you are late night owls); some people prefer to do dinner then a show instead of show then dinner; if you want to be the first off the ship to get to the airport for an early flight, the 8am breakfast may be too late.

 

[ScooterScott44]

With the exception of two times trying early we have always done the late seating and prefer it. Not long ago they had us at early seating and we requested to be switched. We figured it would be no problem and happen right away. For some reason they did not automatically switch us and it took much longer than we expected. Not sure what the delay was, if it was full or they just took their time making the switch.

 

[lilsonicfan]

I don’t think late dining would ever be full. There are enough dining spaces for everyone so if late was full with a wait list that would mean main dining had space....which I generally doubt.

I agree about keeping main dining for now. Much easier to switch on board.

 

[SuperDry]

Main benefit of late dining is you are able to go to the evening show without food stains.

Another benefit is that there are significantly fewer kids at the shows, so there's less disruption from the audience.

 

[Daisybell911]

As two young adults, no kids, we did late dining last year as it seemed to make the most sense with an older crowd and less kids. However, I always found myself waiting and waiting all day to eat. By the time we got our food at the table it was 8:45pm and by the time we finished eating it was 10:00pm. This left us exhausted and we didn't get a chance to do late night activities or go to the bars. This time, in October, we're trying main dining in hopes it'll be chance to eat, do the shows after if we want or go do the bars and such. Prefer dinner earlier anyways. Just our experience.

That's about where I am. I had later dining but I'll want food after I get back on board and I dont want to wait several hours to eat. Also, I know myself well enough that if I eat late, after a busy day, the odds are higher that I will just go to bed instead of doing adult activities. I'm hoping main dining isn't too loud. If so, I may eat in my room a time or two.

 

[Happy99]

I have seen later dinner fill up but mostly on the port intensive European cruises.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We always get late dining. We much prefer it. I usually have a piece of pizza or something else around 5. The kids and my husband get dressed first and go to the early show. Then I take my shower and get dressed and either get to the show a bit Late or just show up at the end. After the show we either go to the family,show or,the kids do what they want and my husband and I go the piano bar or listen to music somewhere else. We meet up at dinner and then go the adult show afterward or hang out with kids.

 

[tvguy]

It is interesting that Late Seating is actually something relatively new to the cruise industry. Used to be one seating on most lines, about 6 pm. But having two seatings not only gives passengers options, it cuts the space needed for dining rooms almost in half, making that space available for other public rooms or staterooms.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

It is interesting that Late Seating is actually something relatively new to the cruise industry. Used to be one seating on most lines, about 6 pm. But having two seatings not only gives passengers options, it cuts the space needed for dining rooms almost in half, making that space available for other public rooms or staterooms.

How "relatively new"? Just curious.

 

[Dug720]

How "relatively new"? Just curious.

Agreed. I’m 99% sure there were 2 seatings on our Emerald Seas cruise in the mid-80s.

 

[tvguy]

Agreed. I’m 99% sure there were 2 seatings on our Emerald Seas cruise in the mid-80s.

My first cruise was in March 1980 and there was just one seating. My second cruise on the SS Norway (NCL) IN 1983 had just one seating, my third cruise on the Norway they had added a late seating option. So 1980's on most lines. Even today, the "luxury" (Think Viking) high end cruises only have one seating. But they also still do 3 hour dinners that are as much an event as a meal.