Which fills up faster for Alaska?

[Ravenne]

Which dining seating fills up faster for Alaskan cruises since at least 2 port return times are later?

I currently have main seating, and we prefer the sequence of things that way (dinner, then show) but with 2 of the ports having late return times, I'm contemplating switching to 2nd seating, but I'm not sold on it yet. I was wondering which fills up faster, so if I change my mind when I get on board, what my chances are of switching then. I know for Caribbean itineraries, 1st seating fills up faster. Is that the case for AK?

 

[LisaRN97]

This was the one sailing that we chose the later seating for the reasons you stated; later days at port. Also the days feel longer because the sun sets much later....

 

[Shanti]

Which dining seating fills up faster for Alaskan cruises since at least 2 port return times are later?

I currently have main seating, and we prefer the sequence of things that way (dinner, then show) but with 2 of the ports having late return times, I'm contemplating switching to 2nd seating, but I'm not sold on it yet. I was wondering which fills up faster, so if I change my mind when I get on board, what my chances are of switching then. I know for Caribbean itineraries, 1st seating fills up faster. Is that the case for AK?

1st seating will fill up faster, so sign up for that initially. You can always change to late seating as the cruise approaches. Since Alaska time is a few hours behind east coast time, a lot of cruisers don't want to dine at 8:15pm Alaska time.

 

[KayKayJS]

We booked early dining because we're from the East Coast so it will feel 4 hours later to us... so 5:15pm will start out feeling like 915.

 

[apathetic]

1st seating will always fill up first. Alaska is definitely a cruise to consider 2nd seating. We were always rushed to get to dinner on port days and wished we had more time. It is good advice to always try for 1st seating since it fills up fast. But you can change when you first board the ship if you think 2nd will be better. You shouldn't have any problem switching from 1st to 2nd seating, but going 2nd to 1st seating is a lot harder.

 

[Ravenne]

Say we try 1st seating for a day or 2 and end up feeling like 2nd would be better, we can still change, assuming it's not full, correct? Also, if we like our serving team, can we request to keep that team in 2nd seating? Otherwise, how would gratuities work? Would it get split between the 2 teams we've dined with?

 

[xlxo]

I like the 2nd feeding.

• more time in port, have a local snack before reboarding and let it settle (eg Crab shack).
• 2nd feeding is less crowded and rushed, it feels more relaxing
• does DCL have a 3pm high tea? You need extra time post-tea to let that settle.
• clothes are cleaner for shows and photos as you eat after the show
• kids are taken to the evening program right after the meal
• if you have a cabin near a busy elevator, being a night owl and sleeping after midnight means the corridor is quieter
• you get to sleep in an extra hour on debarkation morning for the 2nd breakfast.
  • more time to pack
  • get to relax and wait in the dining room for your assigned debarkation time
  • really important because all the posted times are Pacific Daylight savings..... you LOSE an hour of sleep leaving Alaskan time the night before

 

[jdb in AZ]

Say we try 1st seating for a day or 2 and end up feeling like 2nd would be better, we can still change, assuming it's not full, correct? Also, if we like our serving team, can we request to keep that team in 2nd seating? Otherwise, how would gratuities work? Would it get split between the 2 teams we've dined with?

If your serving team is already serving full tables in 2nd seating you wouldn't be able to keep them if you switch.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Say we try 1st seating for a day or 2 and end up feeling like 2nd would be better, we can still change, assuming it's not full, correct? Also, if we like our serving team, can we request to keep that team in 2nd seating? Otherwise, how would gratuities work? Would it get split between the 2 teams we've dined with?

You certainly can ask to switch at any time. Whether they will be able to seat you in the same rotation, with the same servers could happen. Or not.

If you wind up with two different sets of servers, yes, DCL can set it up that each set will get the gratuities for the portion of the cruise they served you.

 

[Dug720]

You certainly can ask to switch at any time. Whether they will be able to seat you in the same rotation, with the same servers could happen. Or not.

If you wind up with two different sets of servers, yes, DCL can set it up that each set will get the gratuities for the portion of the cruise they served you.

Yep! They do it automatically when the switch is officially made - you don't even have to ask them to. Personal experience here with that. I opted to give my final team cash to make up the difference for the two nights my initial team had me on their roster (I was actually only with them one night as I did Palo night 2 and didn't try to switch until night 3), but that is not necessary.

 

[TestingH2O]

We have second seating for Alaska even though we are coming from central time and, in general, we prefer early. However, with busy port days planned, we are going to give late dining a try. Worst case secanrio is we do room service or quick service for dinner and rotate which adults go to mdr while one of us puts DD to bed.