More "stupid" questions

[pigget74]

We are going on the 4 day cruise. This being our first cruise I want to make sure that I know everything--better to ask here than not to know Here they are
I have 2 kids 7 and 10 and we have the early dinner--should I get this changed to the later time? Just thinking about our days off the boat and having to get back and also our breakfast times. What time is better?
I have heard from others that the Blackbeard Cay excursion is good--but cannot find it--does anyone know where to look.
We thought about doing the catamaran (sp?) and sting ray excursion--is this any good? It says that no food is served--where do you eat on these days?
Can you go back to the ship at anytime or is there a set time to return to the ship?

I am sure that I will have more questions--thanks for help.
Heather

 

[S. C.]

We prefer the later dinner seating. But we are late night people so that works great for us. Yes you can go back to the ship at anytime. They do give you a time to be back on before the ship sets sail, seems like it was 30 mins before.

 

[alexandrew]

my boys are young - 8 and 3....yet we prefer the late seating....it allows us to relax and not rush...6pm is really early...In addition, the late seating seems IMO to be less rushed and far less crowded...

 

[TMTIP]

My girls are 8 & 10 and we have always enjoyed the early dining. I will add that we are not night owls so maybe this is a factor. We eat dinner around 6:00 pm at home, so I cannot image making the kids wait until 8:30 at night for dinner. Everyone is different, so you will have to experience it once to decide what will work best for your family next time.

 

[Mike320]

We have three children 9/8 boys and 5 yr old girl. We'll do late seating since when we are out on vacation, we always eat later. If they are off the wall, we'll go eat at Topsiders. IF none of this works, I'll go see the Dining Room manager,$20 in hand! LOL

 

[jdm]

Another vote for late. I couldn't imagine doing the early. We are snacking and munching during the day and aren't really hungry until later. Plus we are west coast and with the time change early would be way too early for us. We did late on our last cruise kids were 9 & 11 and this year we are taking DGD who is 7 and DD12 and went with late again.

Jenn

 

[American Scrapper]

We have two children 8 yr old boy and 5 yr old girl and we prefer late dining. I think this is one of the most discussed topics, but really is what ever you are accustomed to. If you are usually an early diner that early seating might be better for you. We prefered not having to rush back to get ready for dinner so early.

You can board the ship at any time before the final boarding time. There is no restrictions as far as I am aware of. When we were in San Juan in September, we docked at 7 o'clock at night and could get on and off the ship at any time before final boarding the next day at 6 o'clock pm.

Kathy

 

[tvguy]

Bottom line, you will NEVER go hungry. You may have to have the kids split a burger about 4 pm, but I think you will be just fine.

As I have post before, I would like some tips from the working folks with active school aged kids that find a way to have dinner at 5 or 6 every night. It is usually 6:30 or 7 before everyone is home so we can START fixing dinner. During high school baseball season, when my 17 year old has away games, we've given up eating with him. He picks up his own Wendy's, Taco Bell or Burger King on the way home, which sometimes is 9 or 9:30 THEN starts his homework.

 

[brack]

We love the late seating mainly because it is much more relaxed and not rushed. The early seating people have to be out for the next seating.

 

[CM_Mom]

Also early seating doesn't necessarily mean you have to eat breakfast early. You would have to eat the "dining room" breakfast early but you can always have room service or eat at Topsiders whenever you want.

Most of the excursions get back to the ship early enough for you to eat. Or you can eat in a restaurant on whatever island you're visiting if you choose. Look at the length of the excursion and when it leaves to get an idea of when you will be back. Besides, I can't remember a time on the ship when I couldn't get something to eat. Don't worry, you WON'T go hungry.

 

[tvguy]

Other than the character breakfasts and last day, I thought breakfast was open seating in the dining rooms. I do know lunch is open seating, come anytime you want during the operating hours.

 

[kshabare]

I've read you can order up sandwiches from Room Service. This year we plan on packing our collapsable cooler (our Castayway Cay one!) and filling it with sandwiches and snacks for our excursion.

I never purchase food out when I know we're close enough to get to the ship. You paid for it. The trouble times are when you're tendering (Western) but if you plan to go back for a snack or quick lunch you can go back on the island without any trouble. Whatever you feel like eating you're likely to find - just don't feel you cannot ask.

Early or Late seating is a personal choice. I think it's best to stick with what you're used to at home. We're on the East coast so early is our best choice. We're used to eating earlier. Seating is 6:00 pm and that suits me fine, as well as DS10 and DH.

Kim