There are two types of dinner arrangements when it comes to your cruising experience. The first is the typical arrangement where you choose a set dinner seating time and you also choose how many people sit with you at your table.
The second type of cruising offers what is referred to as ‘freestyle cruising’. This arrangement allows you to be free to choose when you want to eat, and with whom. There are no rules or schedules that you have to follow. You can eat at any time in any given restaurant on board the ship.
If you choose the traditional cruise type that have set dinner arrangements, when you book your cruise, your travel agent will probably ask you what your preference is for your dinner seating. Within this arrangement, you have a couple of choices to make.
The first thing you need to decide on is the time you wish to eat. Most cruise lines offer at least two dinner sittings (in order that they can accommodate all the cruising guests). They may offer an early dinner time, for example, at 6:00 p.m. with a later seating at, say, 8:00 p.m. There are pros and cons to each seating time.
At home, if you are used to eating at a set time, you may choose to eat at your traditional dinnertime on the cruise ship. It may just suit your ‘constitution’ better. If however, it doesn’t matter much what time you eat, here are a couple things to consider:
If you plan on taking any of the on-shore excursions, an early dinner sitting may not be wise. Some of the excursions run past the time of the earlier dinner sittings and you may just miss out on your place at the main dinner. Of course, you can always eat in one of the buffet restaurants (you never have to fear that you will go hungry on a cruise ship!), but you may want to indulge in the gourmet dinner provided each night.
You may also not want to rush to get ready for dinner after you have been having fun at one of the swimming pools or engaging in one of the ship’s many activities. What about that all-important before dinner nap?
The advantage of choosing an earlier dinner sitting would be that you will be able to have a leisurely after-dinner drink before attending the floor show, or before going to the casino. In essence, you will have more time for after-dinner fun. And, by being there earlier, you may be able to get a better seat at the floor show extravaganza.
Another thing your travel agent will ask you at the time of your cruise booking is what size of table you wish to eat at. Typically you can dine at a table for four, six, eight or even ten people (depending on the ship). A table for four may seem more intimate, but you may not get to choose who the other diners will be. It may then be wiser to choose to sit at a larger table, so that if you do not really hit it off with the couple you are seated with, there will be others there who you may like better. And, the more the merrier. After all, you are there to have fun!
No matter which dinner time or size you do choose to suit you, rest assured that your dining experience aboard your cruise ship will be excellent. Cruises are well-known for their excellent service, and the food will be second to none.
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