The probability is very high, if you travel as a couple, that you'll be seated next to another couple in the MDR-at their tables inches away. And at least one of those couples is going to want to have the dinner experience of having conversation. Especially if both couples appear to be close in age to each other. The specialty restaurant is the best bet for a truly private meal.
@@willcooper6980 , I completely agree. Funny enough, on Icon of the Seas, the tables at Chops Grill were closer than in the main dining room. They were about 4 inches apart so we ended talking to our neighbors because it was too awkward not to, considering how close we were sitting to each other. 😂
Like and agree with most of your points. If you are a new cruiser I strongly recommend sitting with others. The other guests are very happy to share tips and recommendations to you. Has saved us time and money over the years. Also points out the best excursions.
@@thereissomecoolstuff That’s actually an excellent point. Our first cruise was taken without much preliminary research and we did learn a lot from other people we met at the dinner table. Thank you for adding the tip!
@@AndrewB.. Yes, definitely try it! Since we like eating at nice restaurants, we eat all our dinners in the dining room. It’s like back at home. If you already paid for it, I’d pick a steak house vs a Showney’s buffet to eat at. So make sure to try both early on and then decide which one you like better. Plus, there is no commitment so you can always reserve a dining room time and then change your mind last minute and get dinner at the buffet.
I'm cruising with my sisters and brother in-law next month, and it'll be the first time I eat at a table for 4. I've always wanted to be at big tables so that I could talk to people and maybe find people I want to hang out with.
I hearing few dys later. Oceania calls 'country clb casual ' i like wear dresses often & good slacks/nice top. The 7pm>7:30 can get up to 9pm show if you tell waiter at start. I sometimes at table ask/get dessert sent to room like 10:45 or so. I then dont have to call room service
I always miss the shows because I fail to schedule my dining accordingly. Luckily, I’m not a “have to see the show” kind of person. But still, I need to do better.
We almost always go to the early shows and have either late or Your Time Dining. Works well if you don't mind eating at 9:00 or later. On larger ships we've sometimes had trouble making it from the show venue to the Dining Room (especially if the MDR is at the back of the ship.) We tell the wait staff that we may be a few minutes late and they seem to be very accommodating.
@@williamschweitzer6910 Great point. For some of us (that have an unhealthy addiction to eating on a cruise), if we eat at 9 pm or later, we have to stay up for hours to digest all that food 🤣. Then, of course, if we eat too early, the midnight pizza is calling our name... But, we're on vacation, right?
Dining is a real issue for me. I don't like eating at 5 or 5:30 and 8 is too late. We end up doing flexible dining however reservations are no longer being taken for the free style dining.
@@jfminton54 Reservations would depend on the cruise line. We mostly cruise on Royal Caribbean and you can make reservations for “my time dining”, but you can also just walk up at anytime. It appears that most cruise lines are trying to make dining more flexible than it used to be years ago.
@@CruisingKat I cruise mostly Holland. We used to be able to request a particular server but no more. We enjoy the main dining room and we still get good service. We just try to time to arrive at that 'sweet' spot so the wait,if any, is minimal.
Don't really like meeting new people. But, have met some really nice new people in the dining room. If they don't give me my desired dining time then there is always the buffet. Almost every night is Western Night for me. There is always the buffet. My wife always tried to be punctual. On most cruises I usually ask for them to make a Moussaka. Cunard makes it the worst. Celebrity the best. But, that was when Celebrity was Greek owned. I like breakfast on cruise ships. One thing I do is tuck my napkin in behind my shirt so that it covers my chest. My wife used to make fun of it until she had food dropping on her dress and making a mess. It saved many shirts of mine too.
@@harlanabraham7772 I love meeting new people on a ship. It’s getting stuck for a week at dinner with people you don’t click with is what I don’t like. We had that on one cruise and it was so awkward that we ended up switching to specialty dining for the rest of the cruise. But, we have also met a lot of great people in our years of cruising.
My wife and I don't even _own_ Black Tie Clothes anymore, and we're not gonna go buy them just to use them once or twice on the cruise, then hand them off to Good Will. If they won't let us in with T shirt and Jeans, we'll just have to find some other place to eat. _Their loss!!_ Cruise ships generally have many eating options.
Completely understandable. Most cruise ships will let you in no matter what you’re wearing. There are some luxury cruise lines that are a lot more strict. And a few restaurants like the Empire Supper Club on Icon of the Seas (at $200 per person…) have a stricter dress code.
Do you have any other dining room tips to add to this list? Add them below! 😊
The probability is very high, if you travel as a couple, that you'll be seated next to another couple in the MDR-at their tables inches away. And at least one of those couples is going to want to have the dinner experience of having conversation. Especially if both couples appear to be close in age to each other. The specialty restaurant is the best bet for a truly private meal.
@@willcooper6980 , I completely agree. Funny enough, on Icon of the Seas, the tables at Chops Grill were closer than in the main dining room. They were about 4 inches apart so we ended talking to our neighbors because it was too awkward not to, considering how close we were sitting to each other. 😂
Like and agree with most of your points. If you are a new cruiser I strongly recommend sitting with others. The other guests are very happy to share tips and recommendations to you. Has saved us time and money over the years. Also points out the best excursions.
@@thereissomecoolstuff That’s actually an excellent point. Our first cruise was taken without much preliminary research and we did learn a lot from other people we met at the dinner table. Thank you for adding the tip!
@@CruisingKat it’s also how I found out the people that love to cruise book inside cabins all the time.
Love your videos. I will often order two starters with my dinner (especially if I am skipping dessert).
@@melodymills5432 Thank you so much! 😊
I think for us it'll just be easier to hit the buffet for food, but we'll have to try yhe dining room at least once! Great video as always Kat!
@@AndrewB.. Yes, definitely try it! Since we like eating at nice restaurants, we eat all our dinners in the dining room. It’s like back at home. If you already paid for it, I’d pick a steak house vs a Showney’s buffet to eat at. So make sure to try both early on and then decide which one you like better. Plus, there is no commitment so you can always reserve a dining room time and then change your mind last minute and get dinner at the buffet.
do try to eat in the dining room as much as you can, not just for dinner. It is less crowded at breakfast and lunch, and quieter and nicer food.
@@gems4turner444 I agree. Lunch and dinner what most people miss out on the dining room.
I’m never up in time for breakfast in the MDR.
@@fiestygurlizme Yep, me neither. Lunch in MDR is more realistic 😂
I'm cruising with my sisters and brother in-law next month, and it'll be the first time I eat at a table for 4. I've always wanted to be at big tables so that I could talk to people and maybe find people I want to hang out with.
@@latebloomerabroad I love that about cruising! We have met so many interesting people on ships 😁
I hearing few dys later. Oceania calls 'country clb casual ' i like wear dresses often & good slacks/nice top. The 7pm>7:30 can get up to 9pm show if you tell waiter at start. I sometimes at table ask/get dessert sent to room like 10:45 or so. I then dont have to call room service
I like that name "Country Club casual"! ☺️ I've never been on Oceania so it's still on my list to try out.
I always miss the shows because I fail to schedule my dining accordingly. Luckily, I’m not a “have to see the show” kind of person. But still, I need to do better.
@@pw-sz6ds We’ve missed plenty of shows too 😂.
We almost always go to the early shows and have either late or Your Time Dining. Works well if you don't mind eating at 9:00 or later. On larger ships we've sometimes had trouble making it from the show venue to the Dining Room (especially if the MDR is at the back of the ship.) We tell the wait staff that we may be a few minutes late and they seem to be very accommodating.
@@williamschweitzer6910 Great point. For some of us (that have an unhealthy addiction to eating on a cruise), if we eat at 9 pm or later, we have to stay up for hours to digest all that food 🤣. Then, of course, if we eat too early, the midnight pizza is calling our name... But, we're on vacation, right?
Thank you very much for sharing! Great recommendations! Like 178
@@beautifulflorida Glad you enjoyed the video! 😁
Dining is a real issue for me. I don't like eating at 5 or 5:30 and 8 is too late. We end up doing flexible dining however reservations are no longer being taken for the free style dining.
@@jfminton54 Reservations would depend on the cruise line. We mostly cruise on Royal Caribbean and you can make reservations for “my time dining”, but you can also just walk up at anytime. It appears that most cruise lines are trying to make dining more flexible than it used to be years ago.
@@CruisingKat I cruise mostly Holland. We used to be able to request a particular server but no more. We enjoy the main dining room and we still get good service. We just try to time to arrive at that 'sweet' spot so the wait,if any, is minimal.
I like wearing my fake tuxedo shirt to formal dining
Love it! 😂
So you’re that guy!!
Don't really like meeting new people. But, have met some really nice new people in the dining room. If they don't give me my desired dining time then there is always the buffet. Almost every night is Western Night for me. There is always the buffet. My wife always tried to be punctual. On most cruises I usually ask for them to make a Moussaka. Cunard makes it the worst. Celebrity the best. But, that was when Celebrity was Greek owned. I like breakfast on cruise ships. One thing I do is tuck my napkin in behind my shirt so that it covers my chest. My wife used to make fun of it until she had food dropping on her dress and making a mess. It saved many shirts of mine too.
@@harlanabraham7772 I love meeting new people on a ship. It’s getting stuck for a week at dinner with people you don’t click with is what I don’t like. We had that on one cruise and it was so awkward that we ended up switching to specialty dining for the rest of the cruise. But, we have also met a lot of great people in our years of cruising.
My wife and I don't even _own_ Black Tie Clothes anymore, and we're not gonna go buy them just to use them once or twice on the cruise, then hand them off to Good Will.
If they won't let us in with T shirt and Jeans, we'll just have to find some other place to eat. _Their loss!!_ Cruise ships generally have many eating options.
Completely understandable. Most cruise ships will let you in no matter what you’re wearing. There are some luxury cruise lines that are a lot more strict. And a few restaurants like the Empire Supper Club on Icon of the Seas (at $200 per person…) have a stricter dress code.
@@CruisingKat At $200 per person, I can afford to take my T shirt elsewhere!!
Absolutely! 😂