Late Dining: how long does dinner last?

[JJsmama]

We are scheduled for Late Dining. I am on the wait list for Early. I am not in a panic about it though. However, I have read here that Late Dining tends to last much longer than early. how long do you think you were at your table? I don't want to still be eating at 10:00.

Also, I am currently battling a problem in my lower spine and cannot sit in a chair for long periods of time. (You will usually find me standing or lying...) Can I ask the servers to speed up the service without them thinking me rude? Should I ask this in advance? I know they like to 'time' the service to some extent.

Would Early / Buffet be a good bit faster?

 

[MUN]

We are scheduled for Late Dining. I am on the wait list for Early. I am not in a panic about it though. However, I have read here that Late Dining tends to last much longer than early. how long do you think you were at your table? I don't want to still be eating at 10:00.

Also, I am currently battling a problem in my lower spine and cannot sit in a chair for long periods of time. (You will usually find me standing or lying...) Can I ask the servers to speed up the service without them thinking me rude? Should I ask this in advance? I know they like to 'time' the service to some extent.

Would Early / Buffet be a good bit faster?

We were on the Wonder recently and had late dining. Our servers were very efficient and our dinner was over in about an hour, if we wanted it to be. Just ask your servers to expedite your dinner and they will try their best to do that. I am sorry to hear about your spine issues.

MUM

 

[BruinEd03]

We were usually done between 9:45 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. this last time around. However, the last 15-30 mins. is usually dependent on you and your table mates. We often sat around talking to our table mates for a while.

I am also pretty sure if you tell the servers, they will do whatever they can for you. They bent over backwards to accommodate my wife's food allergies. Even when she couldn't make dinner one night because she wasn't feeling well, they went and sent her food up to the room for her.

 

[Macmaro]

We always request (and have received) a table for our family of 3 (including a, now, 8 year old). We have always had second seating. We never show up a little after the seating time (to avoid the line) and are usually out in less than an hour. We always order the appetizer, soup or salad, and entree shortly after being seating and we are out in no time. We had the 8:15 seating on the Fantasy a month ago. The Oceaneers Club staff comes at 9:15 to pick up the kids and each night we were leaving about the time they show up.

While we've never had main seating, we don't think we would like it. It just seems like you're always eating. Usually by 8 o'clock we're ready to eat.

 

[shelbell77]

I don't think we were ever done before 10pm with late dining. Part of why we made the switch to early a few cruises ago. That and because we were always headed up to pool deck for a quick serve 5pm snack that was really a second dinner.

 

[Meriweather]

10 or so.....we always do late seating.
But some of the time is spend visiting with table mates, you could probably get out 15-30 minutes earlier if you don't do that.
We have even been later than 10 of something is going on....one time our server gave us napkin folding lessons.

 

[kiford]

You can let your servers know at the beginning what your preferences are. When we mesh well with our dining companions, we tend to end quite late. The last 3-4 cruises, we've been the last ones in the dining room and were being given hints to leave. But that was our choice because we were all getting along so well and kept talking. It's also our preference to linger over dinner. I hate having food rushed out to me at high rates of speed; I prefer to take my time with and between each course but everyone is different. We would see people leaving the dining room at all different times. The servers will try to accommodate their tables' preferences. Those who want to leave earlier allow them to spend the time with those who want to take their time so everyone ends up happy.

 

[lizabu]

Our first night we were there until 10:30. We told our server we couldn't take it and he sped up the rest of our dinners. He said they like to let you linger and enjoy. We didn't enjoy lingering

 

[JJsmama]

Thanks for all the answers! Sounds like the timing can really vary. From these hints, I will try to: be early to dinner, and tell server on first night. We don't eat all the courses anyway.
I do worry that we will be seated with another family and they won't want to hurry. Oh well, I am friendly and will just tell them upfront to not feel rushed by my rushing....

 

[rcchello]

You might want to request your own table because the server will have an easier time keeping your service quick. The head server once asked us if he should move our service along since we were paired with a couple who consistently closed the restaurant each night, which we accepted. This was harder on the serving team but they wanted everyone happy, so they made it work.

 

[JJsmama]

You might want to request your own table because the server will have an easier time keeping your service quick. The head server once asked us if he should move our service along since we were paired with a couple who consistently closed the restaurant each night, which we accepted. This was harder on the serving team but they wanted everyone happy, so they made it work.

I wondered if I should. I would prefer our own table but I didn't think they had many. ?? Should I explain this in advance oo ask upon boarding?

 

[wilkeliza]

We are a close the dinning room down kind of party so we often were there past 10pm. However, our dinning group sometimes went fast and sometimes not. You can just tell the dinning team you need to be out quick and they will speed it along. They can put your order in before your table mates. If you are worried about being rude by doing that then you can request your own table. I would definitely put that request in now as it is much easier for them to do it with advanced notice as they can pull apart tables or make sure you are at a 4 top with nobody else.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I wondered if I should. I would prefer our own table but I didn't think they had many. ?? Should I explain this in advance oo ask upon boarding?

I've never requested my own table before, but will on my next cruise. We have late dining and we just want to get in, eat and get out. I have told my travel agent to put in a request and I plan to go to wherever the dining changes are handled as soon as we board to check on it. If it isn't already granted, I will ask again. I know it isn't guaranteed, but there's been a lot of posts here where people were able to get it and I haven't seen any posts saying anyone has been refused.

 

[xlxo]

Thoughts...

• we often showed up 15 minutes (or more) before meal time waiting for the doors to open. Your server will be able to take your orders before the other tables arrive.
• One delay is how much time everyone spends with the menu at the table. The quicker you make the decisions, the quicker the kitchen will be ready with your food. Otherwise you need to wait for other table's food to be prepped first.
• it's amazingly fast how quick the food comes on a cruise ship. I find some people finished 30 minutes after sitting down.... most about 45 minutes. Then there are stragglers there for an hour or more relaxing.
• 2nd feeding servers are really attentive to kids to ensure they are ready for the evening kids programs.
• love the 2nd feeding. It's more relaxed... especially on debarkation morning where you get to sleep in for the second breakfast.... plus relax in the dining room for your debarkation time.

 

[Claireywalsh]

As everyone has already said you can take as much or as little time as you need, just let your servers know and they will sort it for you, and if they don't have a word with the head server and they will Definately sort it for you. We had late dinner on the wonder in the summer and were never out much before 10, but we lingered, ordered more drinks when we ordered desert etc and just enjoyed it. We were the last table in tritons one night, it was fabulous have a really great cruise!!

 

[turtle27]

Our dinner lasted until 10:15-10:30 almost every night. We tried to get them to expedite it. We tried. It just did not happen. There were times we say there for 10+ minutes waiting for something. Loved our table mates, which was a good thing, lol.

 

[Cynthia1215]

How many people are usually seated to one table? If we are a group of 7, will we likely be on our own without having to request it? Also, is there an option to have them wrap up dessert to go in order to get out a little earlier?