Early vs. Late dining

[JsJk2014]

Hi all,

We are going on a 4 night Bahamian cruise this summer with a large group ( 7 kids - ages 3 - 9 and 10 adults).

What are the advantages and disadvantages of early vs. late dining times (besides smaller kids schedules, etc.)?

Thanks for your help!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hi all,

We are going on a 4 night Bahamian cruise this summer with a large group ( 7 kids - ages 3 - 9 and 10 adults).

What are the advantages and disadvantages of early vs. late dining times (besides smaller kids schedules, etc.)?

Thanks for your help!

Advantages or disadvantages are specific to each group. There's technically no advantage or disadvantage to either seating. The only difference is that the late seating has the feature of the Oceaneer's staff coming to the dining rooms to pick up kids after about an hour and escorting them to the club.

Beyond that, you won't miss anything by dining at either seating.

It may be an issue for smaller kids, on a shorter cruise, if your normal dining time (at home) is significantly different than what you do on the cruise . But, for longer ones, adjusting to the "new" time for dinner isn't that difficult.

 

[Lulubelle17]

I agree that it's a personal choice. There are 2Broadway shows to accommodate both dinner seatings. We have young kids so we prefer the earlier time, but there are snacks available around the clock to keep kids from starving before it's dinner time. If you have a late seating, you may be able to enjoy a less crowded pool while you wait for dinner, or you can catch a show.

 

[tink1970]

I think you need to consider where you are originating and what the children's schedules are.

For instance-traveling from the West Coast, early dining seems silly, just silly (unless one has been on the East Coast long enough to acclimate).

Whereas for those of us who eat between 5:30-6:30 Central time, early dining is perfect. I have had late dining once, and ended up hungry early and "ruining my dinner" every night with room service and chicken fingers/fries/etc consumed at my normal dinner time.

If you're kids' are night owls, and eating is just a formality (like my DD), then late dining might be for y'all.

I believe if you choose late dining then if you like, your children are fed first and the kids' club staff will stand outside the dining room at a specific time to escort the children to the Clubs so they don't miss out on all the fun. Since it's been a looong time since DD wasn't autonomous I'm sure someone will chime in soon with the name of that perk!

 

[JW9DVC]

Not feeling rushed to get back from Port is one of the many reasons we choose to eat at second seating. Shmoo pointed out the kids club benefit. We prefer the later as we are from west coast and tend to stay within that time frame set. Eating dinner at 6 feels like eating at 3 back home.


JW