Late or early dining?

[lillygator]

On my quote right now (before I book) we have the second seating. My worry is that my then 2 yr old daughter will be with us.

Now at home we usually eat at about 7:30....she takes a nap when we get home usually around 4 and then wakes up has a snack, takes a bath and then dinner and usually in bed around 8:30....I don't know how her schedule will change in the next year. I am worried that other late dining patrons won't like children in that seating.
Also can you change your seating time after yuo book?

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I think you can change (or atleast request a change?) of dinner seating after you book. Probably have a better chance of changing it then rather than waiting till you're on the ship.

With a 2yr old, you'll know her schedule better than anyone to figure out if it would work for you. If she's well behaved- I don't think anyone will have an issue with her being with you on the late dinner seating (we have late two- with 3 kids... but none of which are 2yrs old- the youngest will be almost 5yrs old at that time). But we know their schedules best- and they eat late (go to bed later than you mentioned for your 2yr old also) and we KNOW they'd miss every single one of the shows if we had early dinner seating- because they stay up late in all cases EXCEPT for if we drive somewhere in the van late evening- or go to see a movie. We've only seen matinee movies for many years now for this very reason. Even Disney animated movies- they conk out within minutes if it's in the evening.
LOL

I wonder if it's ever possible to like have one dinner seating time- get on the ship and after the first day realize this is NOT going to work for you if they are ever able to possibly change it for you at that point? I don't know...

 

[mickeyboat]

I have been wait listed for early seating since I booked our 3/6 cruise in September. I guess it fills up quickly. I checked again today, no luck. I have heard through other posts and my travel agent that if you visit the dining room upon boarding, you will have a good chance for a switch.

We have DD3 and DD4 and I am afraid they will be miserable through a late dinner. Others have posted that their young kids do very well. We will take what we can get and make the best of it.

Good luck!

Denae

 

[dianthus]

We had late dining on our last cruise & loved it as we had extra time to do things/get dressed,etc..., but our DD is 12. The families that had young children did not look happy. Most of the kids were asleep, or just a bit cranky. We didn't mind them at all, but felt sorry for the parents, as they couldn't relax. There was a family next to us who had one kid about 2, asleep in the chair nightly & the 4 yr. old was awake, loving every minute of it. I think it depends on your child. The servers were very accomodating to them, but early dining would probably be more fun for all of you.

Even though your DD is on a later schedule, remember it's going to go haywire anyway, because you are on vacation... Eating early helps if they poop out at the end of the day...

Ask to be waitlisted for the early seating. If you don't get it before you go, go directly to dining changes & request it. You probably won't have a problem unless the ship is very full.The beginning of March shouldn't be too bad. DCL is very accomodating.

~ Linda

 

[Tonyspad]

We were wait listed twice for the early seating and around the 60 day window when the final payment was due our reservations were changed to the early seating. I was told most cancellations occur at the 60 day mark and that is when the wait listed items become available.

 

[Bbgrizzle]

I would call today and see if you can switch to early. She may eat late at home, but on the cruise she will probably get worn out at different times and her schedule will change. I feel for you; my DD had just turned two on our cruise in May. She had a very hard time sitting thru those long dinners. We ended up putting her in Flounders during dinner time for four of the seven nights (we either ordered room service for her beforehand, or took her to plutos). She was a lot happier having some place to play rather than sitting there with the rest of us.

 

[KathyTX]

If you want early seating, definitely get on the waiting list now. The early seating books quickly on DCL, and there is usually a substantial waiting list for switching.

Your chances of success are much greater if you get on the list now rather than wait until you're on board.

If you decide later on that you'd like to eat later, you should have no problem changing early to late. There will probably be folks waiting in line to switch with you!

Well-behaved and happy children will always be welcome at either seating.

 

[Jestocost]

We were waitlisted for the early seating on our November cruise. I didn't call to follow up, but you can go make a request in person on the ship; usually starting at about 1:00 p.m. We did that and found out we already had been moved to the early seating, and everyone who was there when we were was able to move their seating.

Another thing to consider is that if you plan on going to the nightly shows, it really winds up that your day ends about the same time no matter what seating you have. If you have the early seating, you eat at 6:30 and see a show at 8:30. If you have a late seating, you see a show at 6:30 and have dinner at 8:30. Either way, you're done by about 9:30-10:00.

 

[kcashner]

Call now and ask for the change. If you don't get it before you board, take the meal seating tickets from your cabin and go to Sessions (3rd floor) as soon as you board and request a change.

Possible answers now are Yes to early or that you are waitlisted. Ditto on board, although that is usually a Yes.