Second Seating/Shows/Kids

[MSPeeler]

Since we booked our cruise "late", we are stuck with Second Seating for dinner each night.
It's not a problem for me, but my kids are 9, 7 and 18 months old. The baby goes to bed around 7:30-8p here at home (central time), otherwise he is a demon putting it nicely lol.

We are on a wait list for Main seating, but if that doesn't come through, what are my options as far as not missing shows, childcare/feeding for babies, etc?

Thanks!!

 

[RedSox68]

I thought they had a nursery (never sailed with an infant, so not sure). I would think they could take the baby while you eat. If you don't hear about main seating before you board, find out at check in where you can go to change your dining as soon as you board -- some people who get early dining want late, so you might luck out.

As for the shows, late dining is shown before you dine, and early dining the show is after you dine.

Shows can also be watched on the stateroom channels, depending on the cruise they sometimes have a show matinee.

 

[jahber]

They do have a nursery, but it's $9 an hour. If you want to, you can book dinner time for the little one and he can sleep (or play) there. The big kids will have the chance to leave after they eat and go to the clubs at 9 (cast members come around and collect kids who want to go--but they don't announce it, so be on the lookout). Then you could have a peaceful dinner together
Or, the little one can fall asleep and sleep on the chairs while you eat. I've had servers pull up an extra chair or two and put my sleeping son on them. And then cover him with a napkin "blanket." It's not ideal, but they will try to make you as comfortable as possible when you have littles at the late seating. They understand that you don't always get to choose when you eat.
Other options are skipping the main dining room entirely for an earlier dinner at Cabanas, when it's open. Or eat on the pool deck or order room service. I know people love the main dining rooms, but we actually enjoy eating elsewhere sometimes.
But honestly, you have a pretty good chance of getting main dining if you request it as soon as you board. It's not guaranteed, but there's a chance.

 

[MSPeeler]

Ok. I know the older kids can eat first and then go to the Oceaneers Clubs while we finish eating. I wasn't sure if I drop off the baby at the nursery, do I need to bring him something from the buffet with us before hand? He eats table foods, so no baby food anymore.

Or I can feed him myself at 6:30 before I take him.

What about milk? He still has a bottle, but likes it warm at bedtime.

Ahh so many questions.
That's my biggest question, cruising with a baby/pre-toddler!

 

[MSPeeler]

Another question was, how long is dinner usually? As far as booking nursery, I'd need to know.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Another question was, how long is dinner usually? As far as booking nursery, I'd need to know.

Dinner is roughly 90-120 minutes. But, could be done a little quicker, or last a little longer.

 

[MSPeeler]

Ok, Thank You!

 

[closetmickey]

The silver lining for young kids with second seating, in my opinion, is that they are still awake enough to enjoy the shows (as you will see them before dinner)...which can be more fun for them than the dining anyway....

 

[Jess_S]

This is not responsive to your question, but if you'd really like early seating, you may be able to get it by putting yourself on the waiting list and then following up -- a lot. I followed advice on these boards about calling customer service every few days to check on the status of the wait list and we were moved to early seating a few days before sailing. The squeaky (but polite) wheel sometimes gets the coveted early dining time.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

The silver lining for young kids with second seating, in my opinion, is that they are still awake enough to enjoy the shows (as you will see them before dinner)...which can be more fun for them than the dining anyway....

This is what I was thinking. With main dinner seating, you don't get to see the shows until 8:15 or so. With the late dinner seating, your little ones are much more likely to be able to enjoy the shows.

 

[RedSox68]

Dinner is roughly 90-120 minutes. But, could be done a little quicker, or last a little longer.

The plus side to late dining -- you are not rushed like the early diners.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

The plus side to late dining -- you are not rushed like the early diners.

Well, we've primarily done early seating, we've never felt rushed out. I guess our eating style just fits well with the program.

 

[wilkeliza]

Just as a heads up if you still don't have early dinning when you get on board look for the times that you can switch rotations and dinning times. They may be able to accommodate you during that time as well so all hope isn't lost if it doesn't happen before you board.


For warm bottles you can ask for worm water to put into a non-electric bottle warmer if you have one. Not sure if they stock them any more on the cruise or if they got ride of that once they upped the minimum age a little (even though most 6 month olds are still drinking warm milk).

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Well, we've primarily done early seating, we've never felt rushed out. I guess our eating style just fits well with the program.

I took the comment on being rushed as relating to being rushed to get to dinner in time, not being rushed at dinner. I don't know which interpretation RedSox68 meant.

Our last cruise was the first one that we've done main dining for. I wanted to try it out to see if it worked better for us. Every night I felt like we had to rush from what we were doing in the afternoon to get to dinner on time. Our last night, we were about 10 minutes late getting to dinner because of a wardrobe issue my DD was having, and I hate being late. If it were solely up to me, I'd go back to second seating for our next cruise, but I need to talk it over with DD first to see which she preferred.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I took the comment on being rushed as relating to being rushed to get to dinner in time, not being rushed at dinner. I don't know which interpretation RedSox68 meant.

Our last cruise was the first one that we've done main dining for. I wanted to try it out to see if it worked better for us. Every night I felt like we had to rush from what we were doing in the afternoon to get to dinner on time. Our last night, we were about 10 minutes late getting to dinner because of a wardrobe issue my DD was having, and I hate being late. If it were solely up to me, I'd go back to second seating for our next cruise, but I need to talk it over with DD first to see which she preferred.

I know some people say "I do late seating as I don't like to be rushed after my day's events". I don't really understand this. The late seating sees the show while early seating is having dinner. So you'd still be "rushing" to get to the show, right?

At any rate, whatever seating works for you (the general "you", not "you" specifically), go with it.

 

[MSPeeler]

Thanks for all the great advice! I will ask for a bottle warmer at guest services when I get on board. I assume they may have them in the nursery also though.

We will probably stick with the late dining, I didn't realize about the shows being after dinner and my father in law will probably sleep through them, haha!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks for all the great advice! I will ask for a bottle warmer at guest services when I get on board. I assume they may have them in the nursery also though.

We will probably stick with the late dining, I didn't realize about the shows being after dinner and my father in law will probably sleep through them, haha!

The show isn't after dinner, if you have late seating. It's before dinner.

There are two dinner seatings, roughly 5:45 and 8:15. And two shows roughly 6:15 and 8:30.

 

[MSPeeler]

Yes, that's what I meant. My kids are more likely to act up at a show, than a dinner when they can goto the Oceaneers lab...And my father in law will likely fall asleep at the late show vs a late dinner when he is actually engaging in conversation and food. Sorry, I don't always form my thoughts into sentences properly

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I know some people say "I do late seating as I don't like to be rushed after my day's events". I don't really understand this. The late seating sees the show while early seating is having dinner. So you'd still be "rushing" to get to the show, right?

At any rate, whatever seating works for you (the general "you", not "you" specifically), go with it.

There is a slight difference. Dinner seating starts at 5:45 whereas the shows don't start until 6:15. Plus, we often go to the shows in whatever clothes we are wearing at the time and then use the hour between the end of the show and the late dinner seating to get cleaned up and dressed for dinner. Maybe it's just my imagination, but I definitely felt more rushed trying to get to main dining than late dining.

 

[starousse]

We also, put our name on the wait list for Main. When I booked, I was told that for any reason, I'm not added to the main seating by the time we sail, simply talk to them once your get on board and most likely they will accommodate. Fingers crossed as that second seating is way too late for us as well.