Skipping Dinners on your cruise?

[mevelandry]

You should let the head server know in case there are other guests trying to dine at your assigned time that couldn't get that seating or so that your servers and tablemates know that you will not be coming that evening.

They could get the assignment just for a night or two? What if the family plans to come back?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

They could get the assignment just for a night or two? What if the family plans to come back?

I believe the original question had to do with a party who wants to eat at a different time one night. Not someone who's looking to actually change the rest of their dinner times.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

They could get the assignment just for a night or two? What if the family plans to come back?

This is just for one evening, e.g., when dining at Palo. There are people on board who didn't get the seating they requested. They will try to accomodate those parties if possible, say when you go to Palo or when you call in advance and say you won't be at your assigned MDR.

 

[Tikitoi]

We just came back from a 7 day cruise . We missed one dinner night in the MDR. We just wanted a break. Do something different. Otherwise we enjoyed the MDR the other nights...

 

[tink1970]

We're sailing in 51 days on a quick 3 day Fantasy cruise (whoo hoo!). We don't plan to eat in the MDRs at all-have Remy and Palo and will just go up to the deck to eat or call room service night 3. The tips are already paid and I plan to let them know so they won't expect us. DH and I eat early but since we just booked a couple of weeks ago early dining was full. No way am I eating that late (I sound sooo old; I'm really not)--but we are early to bed/early to rise people. Besides, we'll be on a 7 night cruise in July and will have 5 nights of MDRs then

 

[buzzrelly]

We were on The Dream for four nights last April and on the last night we decided to skip dinner in the MDR and order room service. The kids were busy in the clubs and my DM and I were just packing up and getting things ready to go the next day. We ended up ordering sandwiches and tomato soup from room service and watching Lilo & Stitch on demand with the verandah doors open. It was really enjoyable. It was nice to just relax and not worry about socializing with our table-mates (THAT was an awkward thing to do every night, as we didn't quite hit it off or have anything in common).

Don't worry about the MDRs…if you want to stay in and relax, go for it.

 

[tinytinkmom]

We've been on 12 Disney cruises, and have skipped the MDR's many, many times. We honestly just don't care for how long the whole MDR dining process takes... So unless we're sailing with friends or family, we tend to pick Cabana's, room service or quick service instead. Everyone cruises and vacations differently, which is totally fine! As mentioned, just give the head server a heads up that you'll be skipping! Have fun!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

and watching Lilo & Stitch on demand with the verandah doors open.

Just as a cautionary note - DCL does request that you keep the verandah doors closed. It messes with the climate control system. Not just in your room, but the whole block (area) that your room is in (even on other decks).

 

[Dug720]

Just as a cautionary note - DCL does request that you keep the verandah doors closed. It messes with the climate control system. Not just in your room, but the whole block (area) that your room is in (even on other decks).

And it makes a suction effect on your door. Last summer on an RCCL ship, there were people down the hall from me screaming from inside their cabin that they were stuck, the door wouldn't open. The deck housekeeping manager was on his way to deal with something else, and we could all hear the whistling from the verandah door being propped open. He yelled for them to close their verandah door, which they did, and presto! the cabin door opened. He gave them quiet a lecture (polite but firm) about keeping the door open affecting other cabins. (In fact, the thing he was going to deal with was a cabin that was too hot in spite of the a/c being turned all the way up. A cabin that cooled off once the air system was corrected by the verandah door being shut.)

 

[LSUfan4444]

is it acceptable to skip dinner in the restaurants every night?

It's your cruise and you're the one paying for use of the MDR. If you don't want to use it, thats upon you. I don't think it's the best way to do it but thats just my opinions and its absolutely acceptable. Skipping one or two nights is a regular occurrence and Ia actually advise (even on 4 night cruises) to skip at least one night and see other things the ship has to offer while everyone else is either getting ready for or at dinner. Between getting ready for dinner and the actual meal, the MDR takes up a large portion of you're evening.

 

[KashasMom]

I would definitely request your own table - not sitting with another family. This way you can kind of control the speed of your meal. We do that now. We're not interested in spending 2 hours dining...and we've had some of those crazy tablemates you read about! After 4 Disney cruises we finally had the dining room service everyone raves about...where the waiter even cuts your child's meat (although my daughter thought that was weird and nixed it after the first night). I don't recall entertainment every night though and really only enjoyed the dinner at Ainmator's Palate, although that is a long dinner since everyone has to do their drawings at the same time so you have to wait for everyone. One thing I wish Disney cruises would have is a dinner buffet but I guess there aren't enough people who would go to justify that? Or maybe there are....

 

[buzzrelly]

One thing I wish Disney cruises would have is a dinner buffet but I guess there aren't enough people who would go to justify that? Or maybe there are....

I would LOVE a dinner buffet!

 

[texasgingerbread]

Question: is it acceptable to skip dinner in the restaurants every night? Anyone here who does that?

Why am I asking? We are taking our first cruise, 4 nights in January with our 5 and 7 year olds. We aren't big dinner eaters, we rarely go out for nice sit down dinners. At WDW, we don't do ADRs, we just eat counter service when we're hungry. We have an extended verandah reserved, dh thinks it'd be nice to have room service on our verandah in the evenings. I do think it'd be nice to have one or two nice dinners in the restaurants, but I'll feel bad skipping if they're expecting us. Again, I new to cruising, so I really have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm just wondering what others do who don't really want to have big sit-down dinners every night. Thanks!

Nope, do what YOU want to do. You are paying for your vacation - so vacation how you want to. Order room service, skip. No big deal. Just give the head server a heads up if you're not going.

 

[Shanti]

Question: is it acceptable to skip dinner in the restaurants every night? Anyone here who does that?

Why am I asking? We are taking our first cruise, 4 nights in January with our 5 and 7 year olds. We aren't big dinner eaters, we rarely go out for nice sit down dinners. At WDW, we don't do ADRs, we just eat counter service when we're hungry. We have an extended verandah reserved, dh thinks it'd be nice to have room service on our verandah in the evenings. I do think it'd be nice to have one or two nice dinners in the restaurants, but I'll feel bad skipping if they're expecting us. Again, I new to cruising, so I really have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm just wondering what others do who don't really want to have big sit-down dinners every night. Thanks!

Realize that room service meals onboard are very simple. They aren't the same kind of meals you'd get in the main dining room. I recommend having a casual brunch or lunch in the stateroom as you described, but eating dinner in the MDR. The themed dining rooms (particularly Animator's Palate) are a signature part of the Disney cruise experience. Seems such a waste to skip them entirely. At least try it once, then, if it's not your cup of tea, tell the servers that you'll be eating in the stateroom instead in the future. You don't need to feel bad about skipping one MDR dinner or two- we do that on occasion. Just let your servers know in advance.

 

[DCLSailing]

We are Platinum with Disney and skip Main Dining at least once during a cruise. As mentioned above, the process is long and we've done it a number of times. We very much enjoy Cabanas table service so that is typically a night we skip Main Dining as well as a night at Palo. I always give the staff a heads-up the night before and while they will try to talk you out of skipping, they appreciate the advance notice.

 

[Beth06015]

You really should try the MDRs. Even if you only order a salad or appetizers and then have the rest of your meal on your veranda. The MDRs are loads of fun, the waiters are fantastic, and my kids felt super spoiled getting Shirley Temples and Mickey Bars each night.

I was actually wondering last night if Shirley Temples were "included" in dinner or extra!

 

[Beth06015]

Yes, people do skip dinners. I think most people do go to the dining rooms, however. You certainly could just pick one or two nights to do the dining room. It would be nice if you could give your head server a head's up that you won't be in the dining room every night, so that they can tell your servers not to wait for you to start service.

Just a note the room service menu is somewhat limited.
View attachment 227905
I'll also point out that Cabanas is open for dinner every evening (except the first and last night). While it's a sit-down table service (not buffet) it's often quicker than the dining rooms.

Also, service in the dining rooms does often come with a some sort of entertainment, if that would be interesting to your kids (or even you). I'd give the dining room a try for a couple of nights before skipping out on it, since it's your first time. Really, it's not all that "fancy".

Thanks for posting the menu! is this from the Fantasy (or are all ships the same)?

 

[Beth06015]

Question: is it acceptable to skip dinner in the restaurants every night? Anyone here who does that?

Why am I asking? We are taking our first cruise, 4 nights in January with our 5 and 7 year olds. We aren't big dinner eaters, we rarely go out for nice sit down dinners. At WDW, we don't do ADRs, we just eat counter service when we're hungry. We have an extended verandah reserved, dh thinks it'd be nice to have room service on our verandah in the evenings. I do think it'd be nice to have one or two nice dinners in the restaurants, but I'll feel bad skipping if they're expecting us. Again, I new to cruising, so I really have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm just wondering what others do who don't really want to have big sit-down dinners every night. Thanks!

We just got back from our first ever cruise, it was a 4 night as well. Our kids our 6,10 and we do not eat out a lot. Very similar to your family.
I would highly recommend going to the dinners. The Animators Palate, do not miss. Our kids had a great time, entertainment each night and food was great. Had 2-3 apps each meal and 1-2 mains. They will help anyway they can. Kids can eat from their menu or the adult whichever is better for them.
If you are going to skip one dinning place, maybe Tritons. Very nice great food, no real entertainment though.
Go and enjoy, have your lunch on the veranda, maybe breakfast.
My 2cents from someone who just experienced our first, but not last.

I have wondered myself that it might be too much dining for us....usually at home on weekends we do light breakfast and lunch and a bigger dinner, and during the week I do coffee for breakfast with a light lunch and then we try to eat dinner together or catch something running to and from activities. When we did WDW, we had food delivered for light breakfasts, did an ADR for late or early lunch, and then did the quick service meal to supplement. We ended up with like 10 quick service meal credits left at the end of the week! Couldn't eat it all! So I thought maybe we'd do veranda breakfast, out and about lunches, and main dining room dinners for the experience. The salads on the room service menu look delicious and would be a great lunch! My husband did mention (since it's my first cruise experience) that it may be a bit more like a dorm room than a hotel in that you don't have a ton of space in the rooms, so going down to a breakfast doesn't have to be a formal thing like if you're leaving a hotel to go to a restaurant. He actually worked on a Cunard ship for 3 months once in college. So we'll see what we like -- but I definitely plan on ordering the coffee carafe and fruit and croissants for breakfast on the veranda!