Late arriving for early dining?

[amystevekai&bump]

hi all

We are sailing on the Magic from New York next month and have early dining. We prefer eating earlier and always opt for early seating on DCL.

Generally this normally suits us perfectly, but I've just read a thread on here about how long it takes to leave NYC, and we particularly booked this cruise so that we could watch the ship pass the Statue of Liberty and are excited to be on the top deck when it passes underneath the Verrazano Bridge.

We have requested a four-top table and will be visiting the dining room upon boarding to check on this request, and we would let our server know then about our possible late arrival. We are a party of four, so if we are granted a four-top then we won't impact on other diners, but I just wondered how late we could reasonably plan to be, without it being unfair on the servers? (I'm already thinking we would limit ourselves to two courses, in the hope that that would help the servers keep to time).

Is it still the case that the buffet is closed on the first and last nights? (We haven't cruised since 2013). That would be an option for us if things have changed

Finally, has anyone sailed this route before? If so, what time did you pass under Verrazano? Will we make early dinner if we literally go straight to dinner after passing under the bridge?

Many thanks for any help

 

[Weedy]

It should be listed on your cruise itinerary what time the ship leaves port. That should give you an idea if you could make dinner or not.
I will say going under the bridge was was of the coolest things I've ever seen on the ship.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

It should be listed on your cruise itinerary what time the ship leaves port. That should give you an idea if you could make dinner or not.
I will say going under the bridge was was of the coolest things I've ever seen on the ship.

Thank you for posting

All aboard is 4pm and I believe the ship sets sail at 5pm. So just trying to determine how long it takes to get to the bridge. I'd hate to miss our dinner, but I absolutely can't miss sailing under the bridge!!

 

[wilkeliza]

Since main dinning is at 5:45 I would say you would be okay getting there no later than 6:15 especially if you let them know before hand. Maybe you could even ask if you could preorder? If not 6:15 then 6 for sure. Anything much later and you would be making it difficult on the crew to get you in and make the swap for late dinning that starts at 8:15.

 

[Weedy]

After reading your post I tried searching the internet. I've found a few post of people saying 45 minutes or so. There are web cams in New York harbor maybe you can look and see there.
Disney will try and accommodate you for dinner. I think as you said skipping the appetizer part would help. Because the kitchen is timed if you came in late and wanted everything it could mess up the servers.
The bridge goes by fast but again it's was so cool.

 

[shoes99]

We went to 5:45PM seating in the clothes we wore on the ship, that way we stayed up on deck to go past the statue then headed back down at 5:45PM.....
We were not late, and orders were taken timely.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Thank you everyone . Preordering would definitely be an option if that helped the Servers/kitchen We'd also let them know that we will eat as speedily as they need us to, we are fast eaters anyway, so we would be extra quick so as not to inconvenience the team!!

Sounds like we might just be able to do both, with a bit of advance planning and being ready to head straight to dinner from the bridge- fab news!! - thank you

 

[Weedy]

Also the first night they tend to run a little late. It takes everyone a little longer to get seated the first night because they aren't familiar with how things work. So this should buy you a little more time.

 

[msmama]

Thanks for this info. I leave from NYC a week from today so I can report back!!!

My current plan is to wing it. If we are finished by dinner we will head down (no changing needed) if it's getting late enough that I feel uncomfortable walking into MDR then we will do room service.

 

[Jillpie]

Is Palo an option on the first night?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Is Palo an option on the first night?

Yes.

 

[Jillpie]

OP, have you considered Palo, that way you don't have to rush?

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Also the first night they tend to run a little late. It takes everyone a little longer to get seated the first night because they aren't familiar with how things work. So this should buy you a little more time.

That is really good to know - I will of course have a back up plan of room service if it gets too late, but I'm suspecting others might be trying to do the same thing too, so perhaps the servers might factor that in and we might get lucky!

Thanks for this info. I leave from NYC a week from today so I can report back!!!

My current plan is to wing it. If we are finished by dinner we will head down (no changing needed) if it's getting late enough that I feel uncomfortable walking into MDR then we will do room service.

Ooh have a great trip & if you are able to report back on how it goes, that would be fantastic - thank you!

OP, have you considered Palo, that way you don't have to rush?

Sadly (or not sadly!!) we are travelling with our two children & as we all want to eat together, Palo isn't an option this trip - good idea though, thank you.

 

[clten]

I think your idea to let your serving team know ahead of time is a good idea. Even if you are seated at a 4 top by yourselves, you can throw off the serving in the whole section if you are running late. (There are long lines in the kitchen to pick up each course so the servers try not to go in more than once; often if they need to go back, the assistant server may go which means they are not on the floor to make sure drinks are delivered smoothly or silverware changed timely between courses.)

Also, the courses are timed in the kitchen -- they don't have the space to have appetizers out with the soup/salad selections with all the entrees. At a certain time, they will move all the left over appetizers and it will be difficult for the servers to get any of them. If you arrive late, they may tell you that they can get anything you want -- and they will do that. But again, it would take time and take the team away from the rest of their section. I know you are trying to be mindful of others so I just wanted to let you know how things flow so you can plan accordingly even if your servers want to bend over backwards to serve you the full menu if you are late.

As far as how late you will be, I've sailed out of NY several times and for the life of me can't remember exactly how long it takes to get to the bridge. An hour is a good estimate so if they leave the dock on time, you should be under the bridge by 6 and be able to be at the dining room shortly after that. That would be as late as I would want to show up if dinner started at 5:45. Anything beyond that, I'd plan to get something on deck or room service.

 

[firsttimemom]

According to the pics on my iphone, we passed the statue around 5:48-5:51 back in 2012. Hope this helps and that you have a fabulous cruse.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

I think your idea to let your serving team know ahead of time is a good idea. Even if you are seated at a 4 top by yourselves, you can throw off the serving in the whole section if you are running late. (There are long lines in the kitchen to pick up each course so the servers try not to go in more than once; often if they need to go back, the assistant server may go which means they are not on the floor to make sure drinks are delivered smoothly or silverware changed timely between courses.)

Also, the courses are timed in the kitchen -- they don't have the space to have appetizers out with the soup/salad selections with all the entrees. At a certain time, they will move all the left over appetizers and it will be difficult for the servers to get any of them. If you arrive late, they may tell you that they can get anything you want -- and they will do that. But again, it would take time and take the team away from the rest of their section. I know you are trying to be mindful of others so I just wanted to let you know how things flow so you can plan accordingly even if your servers want to bend over backwards to serve you the full menu if you are late.

As far as how late you will be, I've sailed out of NY several times and for the life of me can't remember exactly how long it takes to get to the bridge. An hour is a good estimate so if they leave the dock on time, you should be under the bridge by 6 and be able to be at the dining room shortly after that. That would be as late as I would want to show up if dinner started at 5:45. Anything beyond that, I'd plan to get something on deck or room service.

Thank you ever so much for that info, that is really helpful. I agree, unless we can pre-arrange a late arrival with our server and agree to forego appetisers, so as not to disrupt the dinner service, then I think we will opt for room service, if we end up being later than 6pm. Ive decided that seeing the sights of NYC are our priority, so if one has to be missed, it will be the dining room.

According to the pics on my iphone, we passed the statue around 5:48-5:51 back in 2012. Hope this helps and that you have a fabulous cruse.

Thank you so much for taking the time to look that up - that's a big help, thank you

 

[Weedy]

One more idea if you miss dinner.
I've always wanted to do this but never have. Order room service (it has to be delivered to your cabin) and then take it up on deck to eat
Your kids would probably be happy with the fast food available on deck. But for you room service had better food.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

One more idea if you miss dinner.
I've always wanted to do this but never have. Order room service (it has to be delivered to your cabin) and then take it up on deck to eat
Your kids would probably be happy with the fast food available on deck. But for you room service had better food.

That sounds like a great plan - and you're right, the boys would love the fast food option! Thank you

 

[Weedy]

It's about 45 minutes to the bridge. The Magic pulled out late about 5:30 today and got to the bride at 6:15.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

It's about 45 minutes to the bridge. The Magic pulled out late about 5:30 today and got to the bride at 6:15.
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Wow!! Thank you so very much for taking the time to reply!!

That's really helpful, as I can now speak to the Servers during the day and see what they recommend - that will decide whether we skip the MDR or not then!

We have several movies that we have avoided watching, so that we can see them for 'free' on the ship - perhaps the first night will become a fast food/movie night instead of 'fine' dining!!