ita

we requested the early sitting, but we are ending up with anytime dining. How does this work? Can we reserve? When kids are hungry they need to eat. I don't want to end up at buffets for every meal.

abram

We love anytime dining and won't cruise if it isn't an option. Just show up when you want to eat; we've never waited more than five minutes for a table. Some people do make reservations, but we never have.

qwovadis

cruisecritic.com reviews on your princess ship great
line have cruised with them several times over 40 years
they are the "Love Boats" dining will be fine folks love it.

KVR

I agree with abram. We love anytime dining and won't cruise on a line that doesn't have it. There will be one dining room for just anytime dining and one for timed seating. The anytime dining is just like going to a restaurant. Show up at the door between the scheduled dining times. I believe it's like 5:30pm to 10:00pm and they will sit you at a table. The earlier you go the less chance of having to wait for a table. Between 8pm and 9pm seems to be the busier times. We never had to wait long. They only issue we've had is even though we are not required to sit with other passengers, they tend to want us to do that. I hold my ground and insist on a table for two. Since you have more than 2 in your party it shouldn't be an issue.

Aristotle

We have done any time dining twice on HAL and have liked it. It is much more flexible than a set time. You sit with different people each time usually which can be good or bad. It is better if you can go earlier, but we never have had an oppresive wait. They offer reservations, but they are usually gone by the time you call, even at the moment they supposedly open up. Which makes me wonder. But do it. It puts a little more of your life under your control.

Eschew

Anytime dining is the way to go. If you are worry about waiting for a table, there are 2 things you can do.

First is to show up just when the dining room opens (5 p.m.), there is usually a small corwd there but all it takes is 5 minutes and you are in. Not much difference from being on the first seating. If you like your tabel and teh server, on your way out, speak to the Matri'd and make a reservation for the same time and ask for the same server. Most of the time, they will do it for you. Now, you have a fixed table, a fixed server, and a fixed time, just like the normal first sitting.

If you want to try different server and different table every ight. You can always make a reservation by phone. Be forewarm that they will only take so many reservations per day and they wmay politely decline your reservation request. if taht is the case, just show up at openning time.

ita

explain about the wine please. Can we order a bottle of wine and have them keep it for us until it is used up? We are not big drinkers. I have done this on other cruises.

traveller69

Yes that is not a problem. They will cork it and bring it back the next evening.

Eschew

On any time dining, make sure they put your cabin number on it. On some Princess ships, they even give you a "claim tag". I typically would have a bottle of white and a bottle of red going so that I don't have to decide on dinner choice based on what wine I have left. They will find you your wine for lunch too if you are in the same dining room.

stasut

I just returned from Alaska on the Diamond Princess. This was my first experience with Anytime dining. I have sailed many times but decided to take advantage of a last minute deal. I made reservations for 6 pm. I asked for the same server and table. They will only allow reservations for two days at a time. My wine was corked for me and waiting when I arrived. The service was friendly and met my expectations. I will admit that I missed the traditional dining. I felt more "pampered" in the International Dining Room.