question for the UK Board DCL cruisers - first or 2nd seating?

[disneyholic family]

As it says in the subject header, for those of you on the UK board who have been on a DCL cruise, this question is for you:

Do you prefer 1st seating or 2nd seating for dinner?

why?

also, do you have the same answer if you're talking about a cruise in the Mediterranean (as opposed to anywhere else)?

thanks in advance!!

 

[Elise79]

We pick first seating.

This is because of having DD with us partial but also as we like to watch shows and relax in the bars after dinner.

 

[disneyholic family]

We pick first seating.

This is because of having DD with us partial but also as we like to watch shows and relax in the bars after dinner.

thanks!
i posted this here and on the DCL board - i posted the thread for my daughter...she couldn't decide what to do.
but after reading all the various arguments, she emailed DU and had them change her to first seating

 

[wayneg]

We have always done 1st seating. Will be again this year.
We enjoy eating, seeing a show then having a drink in the evening. Some prefer to see the show then eat a little later.

 

[disneyholic family]

We have always done 1st seating. Will be again this year.
We enjoy eating, seeing a show then having a drink in the evening. Some prefer to see the show then eat a little later.

yup, she and her husband are going to eat, see the show, then head for the adult area...
she was worried that the second show might have too many kids in the audience, but she decided she'd rather have time in the evening for something other than just eating..

 

[Ware Bears]

We like second seating. We see the show first, then use the time in between the show finishing and dinner starting to either get ready for dinner (if we hadn't got ready before the show), have photos taken or have a drink. After dinner we still find there's plenty of time for a drink.

 

[wayneg]

We like second seating. We see the show first, then use the time in between the show finishing and dinner starting to either get ready for dinner (if we hadn't got ready before the show), have photos taken or have a drink. After dinner we still find there's plenty of time for a drink.

What time does 2nd seating end Elaine? I would guess around 9:30ish? too late for me. We go for a walk after the evening meal, can't drink straight after eating so we would be looking at after 10pm to get a drink. Again too late for us to start drinking but can see how it works if you stay up later than us.

 

[dixonsontour]

We did 1st and would do again. Eat, show, then you can have room service supper in the cabin (my DD loved this)

 

[Disneymadhouse]

We have had 1st (main) seating on both med and Bahamas cruises. We prefer it as at home we eat around 5 - 5.30. I also quite like getting the room service philly cheesesteak sandwich if I am feeling peckish later

Claire

 

[disneyholic family]

We have had 1st (main) seating on both med and Bahamas cruises. We prefer it as at home we eat around 5 - 5.30. I also quite like getting the room service philly cheesesteak sandwich if I am feeling peckish later

Claire

i tend to go for the chocolate chip cookie

 

[ALBA]

We tried late seating twice when we first cruised with the kids and we found our son fell asleep, most nights the staff made a bed from two chairs and a tablecloth for a cover then after dinner they just wanted to go to bed.

The next time we booked early seating and it does mean getting on the ship earlier when you in port to get ready for dinner but we have dinner, watch a show then the kids are happy to go to the clubs and DH and I head to the bar areas to meet up with friends. On the nights there are no shows or we don't want to see the show we do some family activity and then head to the kids club/bar area. We find that works best for us.

 

[saintrob]

We did first seating on our first cruise and didn't like it because we fouund that we had to curtail our afternoon activities early to get ready. Since then we've always opted for second seating. We normally go to the show, get ready for dinner and then do another activity/show or go for a drink.

 

[Chilly]

We've always done the late seating as a couple. No rush to get to dinner then and we tend to eat late at home as well.

 

[clareyfairymouse]

We've always gone with second seating.
I find I've got more time in the day & can go to the gym/run late afternoon before I get ready or can do a full port day without feeling rushed at the end of the day.
We've got no kids so works for us. The first seating would be a bit early for us but works for others.

 

[gismo1554]

Ive never done first seating. Although I eat at home around 4/5ish I find that I am never ready in time on the ship as like to stay by the pool a bit longer or have lunch late.