question about "waitlist" for dinner seating time

[tealady]

We're currently on the "waitlist" for first seating dining. When will I know that we have been switched to first seating (if seating becomes available). Will it come with the cruise documents? In the stateroom?

Also, after getting on board, should I check to see if the change can still occur?

Thanks cruise experts for your replies.

 

[prymsu]

i think that if you are on the waitlist, your probably won't find out whether you got changed for dining times until you arrive on ship. When you get your KTTW, check it right away. It will show your dining rotation. If it still has not changed to the seating you want, I would go to guest services ASAP and see if there is any possible way to change it...

 

[TxJasmine]

Keep calling DCL. We were also waitlisted for first seating, and DH would call DCL about every week. A few weeks before the cruise when he called, he was told to wait, and a few minutes later was told that we're switched. I almost think that you need to catch them when they have just received a cancelation. Good luck!

 

[DizMare]

Hi tealady,
We were on the waitlist and were notified by DU that we were switched a few weeks before the cruise.

 

[outahere]

If you still don't have it when you check in at the terminal, the dining staff is in one of the clubs when you get onboard. You can meet with them to see if you can be switched. The location will be listed on the back page of the Navigator.

 

[Towncrier]

On our cruise this January, we had asked to be waitlisted for the early dining rotation. Up until the day we cruised, we were still assigned the later rotation. It wasn't until we got our KTTW cards at the terminal that we realized we had the early dining rotation. I was prepared to plead my case with the dining staff, but it turns out that I didn't have to. DCL comes through again.

Good luck with your request.

 

[westjones]

And if you don't get changed, you might be surprised to find that you like second seating better. We have had 3 cruises. Our first two we were late seating and all along thought first would be better. This last cruise we were first seating and we HATED it. We felt SO rushed to get ready for dinner every night, and then my bedtime my kids were hungry and we ordered room service every night.

What I finally figured out is this: You don't have to 'dress' for the shows. People come dressed all sorts of ways. Then after the show there is about 30-45 minutes of free time that you can use to get ready for dinner for the second seating.

For first seating, you have to pull the kids out of the pool or whatever they are doing and go to the room and get ready for dinner, then we went back to the room and changed into casual clothes (well my kids did, DH and I stayed in our dinner clothes) and then went to the show.


Before, one of the appeals of first seating to us was that the Kids Clubs would do a really neat activity during late dinner time. This time they seem to wait until 9:30 for thier main evening activity so that all the kids could go. So now late seating works better for us.

Just thought I would mention this in case you don't get the early seating. You may be pleasantly surprised.

DJ