Main Seating Vs Late Seating

[Abatts]

We booked our cruise late (compared to others) and were automatically given the late seating. I just checked online and we are now switched to the main seating. I had actually gotten used to the idea of late seating, so I'm now torn about which to choose! We have 2 boys, 6 & 9. Here are some of the pros I thought of about late seating:
-Less crowded character meetings during the main seating or just before main seating time (e.g. 5:15, 5:30)
-Less crowded pool/aquaduck late afternoon
-More likely to get a private table since more people choose main seating
-Ability to send kiddos to kids club & possibly catch some alone time to enjoy adult only areas after dinner (although I realize during main seating, we could feed them prior, eat dinner then grab them before the show)

What are your thoughts? Is it really less crowded?

Thanks!

 

[Sytrace]

We booked our cruise late (compared to others) and were automatically given the late seating. I just checked online and we are now switched to the main seating. I had actually gotten used to the idea of late seating, so I'm now torn about which to choose! We have 2 boys, 6 & 9. Here are some of the pros I thought of about late seating:
-Less crowded character meetings during the main seating or just before main seating time (e.g. 5:15, 5:30)
-Less crowded pool/aquaduck late afternoon
-More likely to get a private table since more people choose main seating
-Ability to send kiddos to kids club & possibly catch some alone time to enjoy adult only areas after dinner (although I realize during main seating, we could feed them prior, eat dinner then grab them before the show)

What are your thoughts? Is it really less crowded?

Thanks!

We used to love first seating and would always request to be switched on the off chance that we booked later. But on our January cruise we ended up with second seating and have now decided we like that much better!

1. My two are teens and so they like sleeping in a bit later on disembarkation morning. Getting them moving at 6:15 after a week of relaxation was not an easy task and if you have early dining you are the first ones in for breakfast in the MDR. Of course, we could have always gone to Cabanas, but we really like our dining teams and like that last goodbye.
2. It was more calm and less rushed at second seating and though there were still younger ones there, it seemed less than the main seating.
3. My husband and I (okay, I ) really loved going to the Rainforest at around 5:00 PM every night. It was like a ghost town and we usually had it to ourselves. ( I would bring my dinner clothes and shower and change in their locker room before joining up with the family again. This cut down on wait times for the shower too. )
If the kids wanted to swim, they definitely had more chances of going on the Aquaduck with less wait times.
4. We don't do shows anymore so that was not a consideration. But having drinks after dinner became a nightime routine that we loved. The kids could go to Vibe if they chose to or back to the cabin.
5. Did I mention that we got to sleep in a bit longer on disembarkation morning? Because, my 14 year old DD finds that to be the most important of reasons. lol

Whatever you decide to do, I hope you have a fantastic cruise!

 

[lorimay]

For us, it's the feeling of not being rushed, especially on port days.
I like to be able to be out and about till 430 or 5:00 and enjoy the ship, then getting ready for the 6:15 show then a drink in one of the lounges then a leisurely dinner at 8:15.
When we did the early sitting everything felt so rushed and more chaotic.

 

[cedricandsophie]

Anther vote for second seating. We usually cruise with up to 7 or 8 family members, from age 14 on up. Most everyone still likes the shows. Me not so much. They get dressed and go to show. I take my time, g have a drink somewhere and meet up with them. We go to the family activity or the piano bar right before dinner, head to dinner st 815 and then go somewhere to listen to music. I tried main seating once. Will never do it again. Way to rushed.

 

[Love2Cruz]

I did first seating the first time and am trying the second seating this time around, to allow for some time for my DD to nap, especially on Pirate night, which starts at 10. One question though, would that mean we'd have to go to the shows before dinner, or are they repeated for second seating diners?

 

[Bambi D.]

We booked our cruise late (compared to others) and were automatically given the late seating. I just checked online and we are now switched to the main seating. I had actually gotten used to the idea of late seating, so I'm now torn about which to choose! We have 2 boys, 6 & 9. Here are some of the pros I thought of about late seating:
-Less crowded character meetings during the main seating or just before main seating time (e.g. 5:15, 5:30)
-Less crowded pool/aquaduck late afternoon
-More likely to get a private table since more people choose main seating
-Ability to send kiddos to kids club & possibly catch some alone time to enjoy adult only areas after dinner (although I realize during main seating, we could feed them prior, eat dinner then grab them before the show)

What are your thoughts? Is it really less crowded?

Thanks!

I prefer 2nd seating as well.... There's always food on deck if you need it and it gives you more time to explore the ship or port. I never felt rushed trying to get ready for dinner, I never felt rushed to get THROUGH dinner and I believe there's less people on a family cruise that eat later. Most parents believe they need to feed the kids earlier so it seems they prefer early dining so second seating seems more suitable for us adults only.

 

[Abatts]

We used to love first seating and would always request to be switched on the off chance that we booked later. But on our January cruise we ended up with second seating and have now decided we like that much better!

1. My two are teens and so they like sleeping in a bit later on disembarkation morning. Getting them moving at 6:15 after a week of relaxation was not an easy task and if you have early dining you are the first ones in for breakfast in the MDR. Of course, we could have always gone to Cabanas, but we really like our dining teams and like that last goodbye.
2. It was more calm and less rushed at second seating and though there were still younger ones there, it seemed less than the main seating.
3. My husband and I (okay, I ) really loved going to the Rainforest at around 5:00 PM every night. It was like a ghost town and we usually had it to ourselves. ( I would bring my dinner clothes and shower and change in their locker room before joining up with the family again. This cut down on wait times for the shower too. )
If the kids wanted to swim, they definitely had more chances of going on the Aquaduck with less wait times.
4. We don't do shows anymore so that was not a consideration. But having drinks after dinner became a nightime routine that we loved. The kids could go to Vibe if they chose to or back to the cabin.
5. Did I mention that we got to sleep in a bit longer on disembarkation morning? Because, my 14 year old DD finds that to be the most important of reasons. lol

Whatever you decide to do, I hope you have a fantastic cruise!

I forgot about disembarkation! That is definitely a plus as well!!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I did first seating the first time and am trying the second seating this time around, to allow for some time for my DD to nap, especially on Pirate night, which starts at 10. One question though, would that mean we'd have to go to the shows before dinner, or are they repeated for second seating diners?

The shows and dinner seatings are roughly at the same time. So, late dinner seating sees the show before eating (during the early dinner seating) and the early dinner seating sees the show after eating (during the late dinner seating).

 

[Abatts]

I prefer 2nd seating as well.... There's always food on deck if you need it and it gives you more time to explore the ship or port. I never felt rushed trying to get ready for dinner, I never felt rushed to get THROUGH dinner and I believe there's less people on a family cruise that eat later. Most parents believe they need to feed the kids earlier so it seems they prefer early dining so second seating seems more suitable for us adults only.

 

[Sytrace]

There are shows twice a night, so you would not miss anything. One is for late diners to attend and the other is for early diners to attend after dinner.

 

[Love2Cruz]

One more question, what time is breakfast for second seating? Having breakfast so early last time was not easy for us...I'm glad we can sleep in, even if it's just an extra hour.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

One more question, what time is breakfast for second seating? Having breakfast so early last time was not easy for us...I'm glad we can sleep in, even if it's just an extra hour.

I think it's like 7:45-8:00.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

One more question, what time is breakfast for second seating? Having breakfast so early last time was not easy for us...I'm glad we can sleep in, even if it's just an extra hour.

Second seating gets the later breakfast on debarkation day. It's at 8:00. We had main seating for the first time on our last cruise and I just knew there was no way we'd be ready for breakfast that early so we skipped breakfast in the MDR and went to Cabanas.

 

[Abatts]

I think it's like 7:45-8:00.

Breakfast is only an assigned time on disembarkation, right? Or are the MDRs assigned every morning?

 

[Sytrace]

Just disembarkation day.

 

[Aby]

Breakfast is only an assigned time on disembarkation, right? Or are the MDRs assigned every morning?

Yep, just on the last morning, but you can also go up to the buffet instead if you wish. On the rest of the mornings you are free to eat whatever time you like.

We like late seating as well so that we don't feel rushed but also because after a nice breakfast and lunch and some daytime snacking, there is no way we are ready to eat at the early seating

Aby

 

[Love2Cruz]

Second seating gets the later breakfast on debarkation day. It's at 8:00. We had main seating for the first time on our last cruise and I just knew there was no way we'd be ready for breakfast that early so we skipped breakfast in the MDR and went to Cabanas.

I didn't realize I had that option...I much prefer the breakfast at Cabanas...those Mickey waffles!

 

[AmyAmy]

Our children are 4 and 7 and for our 2015 and 2016 I chose main dining. I wanted a private table, plus I thought the children would be starving or grumpy if we opted for a late dinner. Instead, I always felt like we were rushing to dinner, and cutting pool/movie/activity or lounge time short. After dinner, we usually go to the theater where someone falls asleep. It will be nice to experiment with a different schedule next time around. I requested late dining for our next itinerary.

 

[xlxo]

Another vote for second feeding....

• later debarkation breakfast... extra time to pack or sleep in.
• cleaner clothes for the shows as you eat after the show
• more time in port
• an opportunity to sample the local port foods and letting it settle
• on Eastern cruises..... its closer to the home feeding time of West Coasters.

 

[Abatts]

You guys are awesome!! I think you helped solidify our thinking that late dining will be best. We've always done the "my time" dining on other lines.