Anytime Dining

[NDJollyMon]

What is your favortie venue for dining?

I've always wanted to try ANYTIME, but we never have. We love TRADITIONAL LATE SEATING so much...we've never tried anything but!

We usually cruise with a family/friend group...and when there is a set time...everyone seems to know and be ready. I also love to get to know my servers, and them to get to know me.

What is your experience?

[flutepilot]

We always eat early at home, because my wife cannot eat within a couple of hours of bed. As she always goes to bed early, we like early and definitely like traditional.

Dan

[patsea]

i usually reserve early traditional dining and sometimes if the menu doesn't interest me i will go up to buffet. i had anytime dining on princess and it was just great. at about 3 in the afternoon we would decide when we wanted to eat and i would call up and make a reservation and when we got there we would walk right up and be seated. the people who could not decide by 3 when they wanted to eat waited on a long line. on NCL it was horrible. mainly it was the service. i felt that because they weren't getting tipped and you wouldn't have the same server 2 nights in a row that service was terrible. just didn't like anything about that ship. since i've only gone on one ncl cruise i can't judge it. but i'm sure i will eventually go on another one and try it out.

[deanpierce]

I've done both but strongly prefer the 'anytime' dining option. Depending on the day's activities, I may wish to eat early...on a more relaxed day where I may have decided to enjoy tea, seeing the show and then a late dinner works best. I also enjoy the opportunity to meet and share with different people during a voyage.

[mnmomof4]

I did anytime dining on Ruby Princess and I was dissapointed how they did it. They allowed people to make reservations for the good seats...ie window and when I showed up early...when they opened at 5...they didnt allow us those seats since they were reserved for later. People had the same table booked the whole cruise with anything dining....defeats the purpose in my opinion

[Ivanova]

I did anytime dining on Ruby Princess and I was dissapointed how they did it. They allowed people to make reservations for the good seats...ie window and when I showed up early...when they opened at 5...they didnt allow us those seats since they were reserved for later. People had the same table booked the whole cruise with anything dining....defeats the purpose in my opinion

Penny

Penny, you're right, that does defeat the whole purpose. My mom & enjoyed anytime dining on Princess, but my husband, daughter & I did not enjoy it on NCL (the made food in advance, and often we got luke warm or cold food as a result - and that was not a problem on Princess!!).

We typically enjoy traditional dining, early or late, with the occasional specialty restaurant thrown in for good measure.

[becktours]

I never thought I would like anytime dining until I tried it on NCL this past summer. I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised. Since my 3 year old always sails with me it seems to work out great for us!!

[NDJollyMon]

That is a great question....why would they allow reservations? That's dumb...

[Jfultz81]

Our first cruise was on NCL and we weren't overly impressed with the dining experience. When we took our first RCL cruise, we chose the early seating and we absolutely loved it! Coming up next is Princess and we have chosen Anytime because of the late ports and the fact that his parents are early eaters... I'm still not sure we are going to like it, but we're willing to try it!

[patsea]

jen - princess was so much different than ncl when it came to anytime dining. i'm sure you'll like it. and besides - you're on vacation - how bad can that be? LOL