I understand the options for a group dining on the Infitiy ship on the Alaskan cruise are at either 6:15 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. ... any tips on which time is "better." I don't want anyone to be rushed from shore excurions and I want our group to be seated during the "best" time ... andy hints?

It really is a matter of personal preference. I like the early dining. But many like the late dining. Those that like the late dining think they have more time to come back from shore excursions and not have to rush to dinner. Look at the times on your intinerary and determine if you think the early dining would interfer with your port time. Keep in mind you will have to be onboard ship at least a half hour earlier then your scheduled departure time on the itinerary. The reason I don't like eating late is because you do not get out of the dining room until around 10:30pm. I don't like eating a big meal so late and then maybe going to bed only a couple hours later. My schedule at home now is usually eating by 6:30pm. The shows on the ship will be sheduled around both dining hours. So don't worry about missing anything.

Or pay lots more money and go on a ship that has single sitting where you can go into the dinning room from 7 to 9. You also can sit at your regular table for breakfast and lunch.

Cruise Fanatic hit every point which needs consideration, and your decision will be determined upon your preferences. I, too, prefer the early seating, just for the fact that I don't like eating so late. I will say, however, the early seating impacted our length of time in San Juan, which was disappointing. We were there for only a total of 6 hours (2-8pm) and had to be back on the ship by 5:15p to get ready for dinner (we chose to eat in the dining room, not the Windjammer).

Another point is that, not only is late dining a big meal late in the evening, but if the main show is after dinner, you don't get out of that until midnight. This leaves not much time to do other fun things around the ship before calling it a night.

I have friends who think eating at 6:15pm is a late lunch, not dinner. Mostly it depends on what you usually do at home. I'd be way too starving to wait until 8:30pm to eat.

Sandy

Well, I am one of those people who would vote for Late Seating. I really enjoy taking a nap in the afternoon (after a full day of sun or touring) and then rev up for the evening. If I ate dinner early, I would be retiring early and while on a cruise, I love late nights at the disco, etc....Plus, the late dining seating always seems less rushed and I enjoy winding down with conversation and coffee at the end of a meal.

As previously stated, it boils down to a matter of choice as to what works best for the cruiser. Just because I like the early seating, doesn't mean the late diners are wrong....and vice versa. Heck, every once in a while late diners get to see a streaking maniac running naked through the dining room!

quote:

Originally posted by goin' cruisin':
As previously stated, it boils down to a matter of choice as to what works best for the cruiser. Just because I like the early seating, doesn't mean the late diners are wrong....and vice versa. Heck, every once in a while late diners get to see a streaking maniac running naked through the dining room!

Do you have any pictures you care to share with the rest of us?

I haven't developed them yet, and when I do, I'll do my best to get them from the inside of my camera to that little screen on the computer. I am so computer inept...I am proudly a dinosaur!

If I am able to upload them, I'll need to put an "M" rating on a couple of them (M for "Mommy don't make me look!).

Can't wait to see photos of that dive with no splash. It will give a new meaning to sunset over the ocean.

Or the silvery moon over Miami (okay, pasty white moon over Miami).

If you have early dinner seating, on a day
when ship does not leave port until 8:00 PM you can order dinner to be delivered to your balcony during the time of the second seating, can you not? I understand that you can order free of charge from the main dining room any time it is open.

After a very busy day on shore, I think it would be nice to head straight for the shower, relax and have a romantic dinner on the verandah. Hmmm. Perhaps I should pack candles.

quote:

Originally posted by gutbier1:
I understand the options for a group dining on the Infitiy ship on the Alaskan cruise are at either 6:15 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. ... any tips on which time is "better." I don't want anyone to be rushed from shore excurions and I want our group to be seated during the "best" time ... andy hints?

I am not familiar with Celebrity having dinner on the balcony from the dining menu. Princess cruise lines has a dinner on the balcony for a charge. You may though order something from the room service menu free of charge.
Please no candles. Balcony fires are not nice.

quote:

Originally posted by Cruise Fanatic:
I am not familiar with Celebrity having dinner on the balcony from the dining menu. Princess cruise lines has a dinner on the balcony for a charge. You may though order something from the room service menu free of charge.
Please no candles. Balcony fires are not nice.

From the Celebrity site:

"Complimentary Service

Should you decide to dine-in during restaurant luncheon and dinner hours, enjoy your selection from the restaurant menu. Simply request the menus of the day from your butler or stateroom attendant."

Princess does offer a special balcony dinner (ie, lobster with champagne), but who needs to order a special dinner and pay a fortune when you can order a terrific meal off the dining room menu for free.

You are correct about the candles. Bad idea but lovely dream.