drohrscheibs

If we were talking just a bought a meal. i would agree small differences.. but Dan what about the little things that you do in-fact lose get when traditional dining will no longer become an option.. like the traditional Baked Alaska parade! And amateurish singing and uncoordinated dancing by waiters can go today as far as I'm concerned. TRADITIONAL DINING is NOT being replaced. It WILL be kept. 'Your time' dining is ONLY an additional choice. Well said.... that singing/dancing drives me nuts - it's place is NOT in an upscale dining room, I know, I know - this is just MY opinion. Bring on the Orchestras if one wants a "fine dining" experience. I also enjoy anytime dining on CERTAIN itineraries. Sometimes early is too early like when you have been out walking all day in Europe and you get back exhausted..... actually late seating is then too late as well because of how tired you are, you would like to have a meal at your own chosen time and then hit the sack. We did Europe on Celebrity and missed anytime dining BIG TIME!!!! We had come to enjoy anytime dining on Princess and we has the same table mates that we had become friends with and the same waiter as we asked for him..... so we had the best of both worlds. Traditional or anytime..... we like them both - just get me onto a ship, pleeeez! We were on Celebrity last fall and they offered a no- extra charge alternative dining that was very nice. You had to make a reservation between 6pm and I think 9pm. They had a great menu and waitstaff. We thought the food was excellent, and the atmosphere was less stuffy and cramped than the formal dining room - many tables for two. So eventhough Celebrity does not offer anytime dining - they still do offer flexible alternatives.

I will be interested in seeing the review of your cruise. Congratulations on your winnings!!

Alaska keeps calling to us also. We went on an 14 day Ultimate Alaska cruise on Celebrity last Sept. Have been talking about doing that again.

We did the Aleutian Ballad Crab Fisherman's tour in Ketchikan. Honestly, it was one of the real highlights of our trip. This crab boat was on Discovery Channel's Deadlist Catch show a few seasons ago. It was retrofitted to seat tourists. They guides were crab fisherman featured on that program too. They take you to see Eagles and show how they catch certian types of fish and other seafood. They have tanks in the front where they keep the different sea life. They had a Wolf Eel that was quite interesting. Everyone had a chance to handle a box crab, and there are picture opportunities galore. A pretty good lunch is provided, as well as crab fisherman stories. I heard fellow cruisers saying that this was the absolute best excursion they had been on in Alaska. I would highly recommend it.