I think a lot of this could be fixed if they offered more dining options. Cabanas needs to have more choices and be open on first and last night.
I am hoping the new ships add additional dining venues for those who don't want to eat at either dining time.
I love DCL but I find the dining to be its biggest weakness and what has us looking at other cruise lines.
I think a lot of this could be fixed if they offered more dining options. Cabanas needs to have more choices and be open on first and last night.
I am hoping the new ships add additional dining venues for those who don't want to eat at either dining time.
I love DCL but I find the dining to be its biggest weakness and what has us looking at other cruise lines.
there is a reason that pretty much every other mainstream cruise line offers at least some type of "anytime/freestyle/my time" dining option. People want to eat at a time that is convenient to them.
See, I'm worried about the new ships offering more (read: paid) dining options. I like the rotational thing. I would hate to see a model of one MDR plus 2-3 up-charge restaurants.
Is it a debacle or are people overreacting? How many people report asking to switch dining times on board and not being able to? I think it's more an issue of people not wanting to accept a small degree of uncertainty. Seems like a silly reason to cancel a cruise tbh.
A lot of people are saying it is first come first serve... but it isn’t really. Once they switch to showing late dining only (which was the case when I booked 9 months prior to my cruise) they still do have a lot of MDR spots available, and they do not go through the waitlist on a first come first serve basis—they explained to me there are a lot of factors they weigh on who to move off the waitlist. And the fact there was a pp here on the waitlist who was able to get main dining after boarding means they are not even filling all open spots pre cruise with the waitlist. It is frustrating that it is such a black box unless you are able to book at or near opening day, which work vacation plans make impossible for me and I’m sure many others. I don’t think I would mind it so much if they did follow a clear waitlist and let you know you stand on it so you can know where you stand by pay in full time.
means they are not even filling all open spots pre cruise with the waitlist.
It would help a lot if Cabanas was open every night of every cruise. That should be a starting point.
ArielRae - I wonder if your family would be the only ones dining at a seating at 3:30pm!
I think it would be nice if Cabanas was buffet style rather than a lesser version of the MDRs. The trouble is I don't see this happening, given DCL's emphasis on the MDR entertainment being such a huge part of the experience. It's not just eating - it's seeing a show while eating! It's participating in the magic! It's the immersion into a whole new world (lol)! For that same reason, anytime dining won't work with DCL's current philosophy. Given how they revamp restaurants frequently, I don't see this mentality changing.
I personally don't love the early OR the late dining time, but find we just sort of adjust.