Anytime dining on Princess

elfed · February 16, 2008

Hi folks,

We'd like to know if any Crazies have taken the Anytime Dining option on Princess? In 2006 we were on the Caribbean Princess and had an awful time trying to reserve a table at the time we wanted. Again we will be on the same ship in April and there is a waiting list of over 270 for the late and early fixed time dining. I recently read that people were so fed up waiting they ended up in the Lido dining room even on formal nights! I have to admit when we were on the CP last time the Anytime Dining didn't suit us at all-in fact we hated it, sometimes having to wait until 9-30p.m. before getting into the dining room. Is there a sure fire way of booking ahead or what? Please help.

Regards,

James.

JoeyandDavid · February 16, 2008

Hi folks,
We'd like to know if any Crazies have taken the Anytime Dining option on Princess? In 2006 we were on the Caribbean Princess and had an awful time trying to reserve a table at the time we wanted. Again we will be on the same ship in April and there is a waiting list of over 270 for the late and early fixed time dining. I recently read that people were so fed up waiting they ended up in the Lido dining room even on formal nights! I have to admit when we were on the CP last time the Anytime Dining didn't suit us at all-in fact we hated it, sometimes having to wait until 9-30p.m. before getting into the dining room. Is there a sure fire way of booking ahead or what? Please help.

Regards,

James.

We were forced to utilize anytime dining when we sailed the golden... they gave us a table with a standing reservation so every night we had the same dining time although with anytime dining you miss the baked Alaska parade that is performed for traditional dining... We didnt care for anytime dining either....

honestokie · February 16, 2008

Hi folks,

We'd like to know if any Crazies have taken the Anytime Dining option on Princess? In 2006 we were on the Caribbean Princess and had an awful time trying to reserve a table at the time we wanted. Again we will be on the same ship in April and there is a waiting list of over 270 for the late and early fixed time dining. I recently read that people were so fed up waiting they ended up in the Lido dining room even on formal nights! I have to admit when we were on the CP last time the Anytime Dining didn't suit us at all-in fact we hated it, sometimes having to wait until 9-30p.m. before getting into the dining room. Is there a sure fire way of booking ahead or what? Please help.

Regards,

James.

When we sailed on the Grand Princess we had anytime dining. We did not experience any waits or problems. Of course we went around 6:30 and got right in!

zebra · February 16, 2008

We have NEVER experienced any waits for anytime dining and have cruised on many Princess ships including the Grand. We typically go once we have enjoyed our "sundowners" on our balcony. The early sitting is too early for us and the late is too late.... like the previous poster we usually dine closer to 6:30... but never at the same time each night, if you like your waiter and table mates you can also reserve them for the following evenings. Like any good restaurant on land, the 7 -7:30 time frame is the busiest, so we stay away from those times. We love anytime dining!

elfed · February 17, 2008

Thank you everyone for your input. We will probably take your advice and go around 6-30p.m. Don't like the idea of trying the old trick of "bribing" the maitre.d either!!!!

jtutak · February 17, 2008

Thank you everyone for your input. We will probably take your advice and go around 6-30p.m. Don't like the idea of trying the old trick of "bribing" the maitre.d either!!!!

A goood tip. Bribe the Maitre'd with kindness on the first night by being very understanding of having to wait for a table. Ask questions like what time to come to dinner would help him.

JoeyandDavid · February 17, 2008

Ask questions like what time to come to dinner would help him.

I love it... :thumbup:

Sunbeam · February 17, 2008

We were on the Crown Princess in November and had anytime dining. The first night it was a nightmare - the server that we got had forgotten his smile ashore, so the next night we changed dining room and found a team that was really special.

We never had any trouble but we were ahead of the crowds. We went between 5:45 and 6:30.

I still prefer the regular dining room.

Dan · February 18, 2008

The Palm Dining Room, deck 6 aft, under Club Fusion is quieter than the Deck 6 mid-ships Coral dining room. More people come to the dining rooms through the atrium and end up with more of a line-up than the aft dining room, which is harder to stumble across. I asked the maitre d' about reservations and he said to phone the concierge. Never got around to it. Definitely found coming before 7 had shorter lines, and you also had a shorter wait if you are willing to sit at a large table.

wyatt · February 18, 2008

Hi folks,

We'd like to know if any Crazies have taken the Anytime Dining option on Princess? In 2006 we were on the Caribbean Princess and had an awful time trying to reserve a table at the time we wanted. Again we will be on the same ship in April and there is a waiting list of over 270 for the late and early fixed time dining. I recently read that people were so fed up waiting they ended up in the Lido dining room even on formal nights! I have to admit when we were on the CP last time the Anytime Dining didn't suit us at all-in fact we hated it, sometimes having to wait until 9-30p.m. before getting into the dining room. Is there a sure fire way of booking ahead or what? Please help.

Regards,

James.

We've done the Anytime Dining twice and haven't had a problem. My longest wait has ben a half an hour. So, we went into the casino and got "buzzed" when our table was ready.

Wyatt