How do I choose/change a dinner seating time on Celebrity?
Jun 25th, 2014, 02:37 PM
#1
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How do I choose/change a dinner seating time on Celebrity?
I'm not sure if I understand how the dinner seating works. My sister said that 8:30 was the only thing left when she reserved our booking. That's way too late for my husband and I as we have a 16 month old baby with us.
On the Celebrity site, all I see under dining are options that look like upgraded dining venues. Are we going to be at a large table with other diners -- are they going to be bummed out to see a baby at the table?
Can I check and see if there is an earlier seating available? Do we have the option to just show up and wait for a table at any time? Any suggestions about how to get an early table -- generally I thought people dislike early dining times?
TIA.....
On the Celebrity site, all I see under dining are options that look like upgraded dining venues. Are we going to be at a large table with other diners -- are they going to be bummed out to see a baby at the table?
Can I check and see if there is an earlier seating available? Do we have the option to just show up and wait for a table at any time? Any suggestions about how to get an early table -- generally I thought people dislike early dining times?
TIA.....
Jun 25th, 2014, 03:30 PM
#2
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You should have an option for anytime dining. If you booked directly with X then call them and ask. If you used a TA then call them and ask. I think you should have no problem other perhaps some waiting.
Good luck, Larry.
Good luck, Larry.
Jun 25th, 2014, 08:11 PM
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if all else fails, as soon as you board you should go to the dining area and seek out the maitre d. he/she should easily be able to accommodate you. Celebrity has flex seating along with the early and late seatings; so i don't think you will have a problem. Just be persistent.
Jun 25th, 2014, 08:21 PM
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thanks larry and giro for the advice. I've read about flex seating before -- seems like some were against the way it undermined cruise culture.
I'm still a bit confused -- by seeking out the maitre d when we board, are we asking this person to "schedule" us as flex seating for the 7 nights, or for dinner our first night? Is that better than calling Celebrity and switching our seating from 8:30 pm to flex seating? How would a maitre d keep track of us when there are thousands of people on the ship? Sorry if this sounds asinine, but to me, the cruise ships look like small cities on the water and so I'm just imagining that we are going to be faceless cogs in a vast leisure industry machine.
I'm still a bit confused -- by seeking out the maitre d when we board, are we asking this person to "schedule" us as flex seating for the 7 nights, or for dinner our first night? Is that better than calling Celebrity and switching our seating from 8:30 pm to flex seating? How would a maitre d keep track of us when there are thousands of people on the ship? Sorry if this sounds asinine, but to me, the cruise ships look like small cities on the water and so I'm just imagining that we are going to be faceless cogs in a vast leisure industry machine.
Jun 25th, 2014, 09:47 PM
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Fishee,
Even if you are signed up for a seating time, you can go whenever you want. When we were on Celebrity Constellation, the wait was usually very short. You might want to remove yourselves from the assigned table altogether, but if you do decide to stay with the family some nights, then it is nice to let your waiter know ahead when you will not be at the table.
While service is excellent, dinner is not a hurried affair on Celebrity. If you are concerned about sitting at a big table with others, you can request an earlier time and a small table for just your own little family.
If things do not go as s
You will not be a cog in a machine. Your waiter will remember you and know what you like by the second or third night. Your cabin steward will know how you like things done.
Even if you are signed up for a seating time, you can go whenever you want. When we were on Celebrity Constellation, the wait was usually very short. You might want to remove yourselves from the assigned table altogether, but if you do decide to stay with the family some nights, then it is nice to let your waiter know ahead when you will not be at the table.
While service is excellent, dinner is not a hurried affair on Celebrity. If you are concerned about sitting at a big table with others, you can request an earlier time and a small table for just your own little family.
If things do not go as s
You will not be a cog in a machine. Your waiter will remember you and know what you like by the second or third night. Your cabin steward will know how you like things done.
Jun 25th, 2014, 10:01 PM
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Sorry, hit the wrong thing. To continue -
If baby can't last through dinner in the dinning room, you could do room service sometimes or go to the buffet. Dinner is usually very good even in the buffet, and nicely set up. You could also use the in-cabin baby sitting service for a night or two so you could feed baby and join your family for dinner. Just be sure to meet the sitter first so you feel comfortable.
I think cruises are a great way to travel with children. It is the itinerary that can be problematic if the sightseeing is strenuous or shore transportation and excursions are difficult. I have not been, but the Alaska cruises do not seem geared to relaxation, more to adventure. Some cruises are more about fun on the ship or hanging out at beaches. Everyone says Alaska is beautiful though, so I hope you get to do enough things to enjoy the trip and the cruise.
If baby can't last through dinner in the dinning room, you could do room service sometimes or go to the buffet. Dinner is usually very good even in the buffet, and nicely set up. You could also use the in-cabin baby sitting service for a night or two so you could feed baby and join your family for dinner. Just be sure to meet the sitter first so you feel comfortable.
I think cruises are a great way to travel with children. It is the itinerary that can be problematic if the sightseeing is strenuous or shore transportation and excursions are difficult. I have not been, but the Alaska cruises do not seem geared to relaxation, more to adventure. Some cruises are more about fun on the ship or hanging out at beaches. Everyone says Alaska is beautiful though, so I hope you get to do enough things to enjoy the trip and the cruise.
Jul 9th, 2014, 08:46 AM
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We do "anytime dining" on Celebrity. You can just show up when you want but we always make a reservation either earlier in the day or the day before as we leave. They keep a small section for us freestylers.
Jul 11th, 2014, 05:42 PM
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Hi-
You might ask your travel agent to put you on a waitlist for early dining right now. We prefer early dining as well and in the past when it's been filled up, we ask to be waitlisted. Since it's easy to sign up for cruises (i.e., you can get your deposit back if you cancel), there are often cancellations and then you may get someone's early dinner slot. The times we've been waitlisted, we've always ended up with the early seating.
If all else fails, as someone mentioned, you can ask the maitre'd on the first day to get you into the early dining. The first day, many people make changes and slots open up.
And then there's always the buffet...
Hope that helps. -- http://musingaboutcruising.blogspot.com
You might ask your travel agent to put you on a waitlist for early dining right now. We prefer early dining as well and in the past when it's been filled up, we ask to be waitlisted. Since it's easy to sign up for cruises (i.e., you can get your deposit back if you cancel), there are often cancellations and then you may get someone's early dinner slot. The times we've been waitlisted, we've always ended up with the early seating.
If all else fails, as someone mentioned, you can ask the maitre'd on the first day to get you into the early dining. The first day, many people make changes and slots open up.
And then there's always the buffet...
Hope that helps. -- http://musingaboutcruising.blogspot.com
