Royal Caribbean passengers debate cruise dining dilemma
There are pros and cons to both sides of the coin when it comes to this cruise dining choice.
You aren’t likely to ever run out of opportunities to eat on a cruise, but you do have decisions to make about when and where to eat your meals.
And those decisions often start even before you board the ship.
Related: Royal Caribbean passengers offer tips for common cabin problem
For many first-time cruisers, selecting a dining time during your cruise planning process can be a difficult decision when you don’t know what to expect. Just because you prefer to eat dinner at a certain time at home doesn’t necessarily mean that will be the ideal time for you to eat while on a cruise vacation.
Although some cruise lines, like Royal Caribbean, allow passengers to choose flexible dining times, traditional dining with early and late seating may also be an option, which can make the choice a little more problematic for new cruisers.
For many passengers, flexible dining like Royal Caribbean’s My Time Dining, which allows passengers to eat in the main dining room at any available time during dinner hours, is an easy choice.
But for some others who go the traditional cruise dining route, deciding between early and late dinner seatings can be a consuming dilemma. One first-time cruiser recently highlighted this common cruise quandary in a discussion in the Royal Caribbean community on Reddit.
Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise. Image source: Nora Tam/South China Morning Post via Getty
Early and late dining on a cruise both have their perks
“I’m going on Icon of the Seas this July and it’ll be my family’s first cruise,” Reddragon0585 explained. “Our travel agent has helped us with a lot with questions but we’ve also been told that the only times available for dining are 5:00 and 8:30 p.m.”
The passenger went on to acknowledge the pros and cons of each dining time for their family.
Related: Royal Caribbean passengers want more of one type of entertainment
“Now for 5:00, we’re worried that it may be too early because it’ll mean less time for the pool since we’ll have to get out by at the latest 4:00. It’ll also mean an earlier lunch,” Reddragon0585 noted. “But at the same time, it’ll also mean we’ll have more free time for shows later in the night and if we get hungry there’s plenty of other places with food onboard.”
With late dining, the passenger worried that an 8:30 p.m. dinner time would interfere with evening show times, but liked the idea of being able to watch the sunset before dinner. The passenger hoped that other Royal Caribbean cruisers could provide some advice that might help make their decision easier.
Royal Caribbean passengers share dining time preferences
Dozens of cruisers delivered in the comments on the thread, offering details on why they prefer one dining time over another and underscoring key points to consider.
Early dining is a popular choice for the evening freedom it provides.
“We do 5 p.m. While it’s early, we usually have the evening to enjoy the ship and the kids can go back to kids’ club, or do activities they like or join us for the shows, etc.,” AlvinsCuriousCasper explained. “We’ll usually hit up the cafe or pizza for a later snack if we’re hungry.”
Related: Royal Caribbean passenger shares cruise info parents want to know
For some who choose the late dining time, the main draw is not feeling rushed to get to dinner, especially on port days.
“Another thing to keep in mind is your port times, a lot of times the ships tend to leave in the late afternoon; you would have to be back onboard sooner to get ready for dinner and less time at the port,” Dry_Researcher_9097 pointed out. “I always do the late time because I like to spend all the time I can in port and sometimes come back for a swim or nap before dinner, but that’s just me.”
For some passengers who like to eat later but don’t want to miss certain shows, eating an earlier dinner at the buffet can be an acceptable alternative to the main dining room on a night when their assigned dining time conflicts with a show they want to see.
But for others who want to eat in the main dining room every night no matter what’s happening, the flexibility of Royal Caribbean’s My Time Dining option can’t be beat. Just keep in mind that reservations are recommended to avoid a potential wait.
(The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.)
Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@postcardtravelplanning.com or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
