My wife and I have not sailed on Princess since the evolution of open dining. We are booked on the Dawn Princess for the Mexican Riviera shortly and were unable to get a confirmation for second seating in traditional dining. Consequently, we are confirmed for Open Dining.

We have two general requirements when we cruise: second seating and a table for two. In the past we've always been able to have both needs met. In the event we are still not cleared for second seating by the time of sailing, is it the experience of the readers here that one could negotiate with the maitre d' of the open dining room for a table for two at a specific time each evening?

Fyi, my usual practice is to visit the maitre d' on departure day with money in hand.

Comments would be appreciated.

I'm not sure about a specific time, but I would think they would try to accomodate you. We used to do the late seating as well. On one trip on the Sea, we had the same thing happen, even though I had booked nearly a year in advance. After trying the anytime concept, we really enjoyed it. We don't do a table for 2, and enjoyed meeting different people each evening. It's also nice to not have to rush to get ready or wait to eat if you're hungry. Best wishes and have a wonderful cruise!

Hi penny3333,
did they offer any explanation for bumping you like that? I usually book a year ahead to get a specific cabin and a confirmed seating for dinner. I would not be pleased if this happened to me unless there was a reasonable explanation. I recall one post where a corporate group had taken over an entire dining room. I can roll with the punches, and, like you, try anytime dining--who knows? I might like it--but I would sure want to know why.

Could you imagine if everyone requested this crap? Seriously, if you cant deal with is and are going to be miserable, save up and buy your own ship.

Hi raffles,
I don't think penny3333 or I gave the impression we would be miserable or couldn't deal with a last minute change; in fact I think we were pretty clear that we could adapt if necessary; we're experienced enough to know that stuff happens and accommodations must be made; heck, don"t let the picture fool you--I'm the least miserable person I know.
But I see it as the cruise line offering me choices; not me "requesting crap". And if you and I request the same thing but I request it six months before you, my request should have priority. Is that asking to much??

Raffles, don't let the New Cruiser title applied to my name by the system fool you. We are not new cruisers. For openers, all I did was ask a simple question about mechanics. Second, I don't think there is a single element of my posting which suggests that we can't "deal with it" or would be miserable in any case. The kind of response you have provided without seeming to have either read or understood my question is gratuitous and without merit.

Cheers

Oops, Raffles. I apologize. You weren't being gratuitously rude to me after all. You were being gratuitously rude to f-mattox.

As a new poster at this venue, my time here is going to be short-lived if this is the sort of response reasonable posters can expect to receive.

Hi MisterBuster, and welcome to cruise-chat.

My experience with the Princess personal choice dining is that you can always get a table to yourselves. It may be a table set for four, but they will only sit you two at it! And, it really didn't require any palm-greasing of the maitre'd. In our case there were three of us, and we simply approached the desk and asked for a table to ourselves. It was always honored.

You can set up a set time for each day if you wish.

Geez raffles,
in looking through some threads I've noticed that penny3333 and I have answered more of your questions than anybody; so why the outburst?
I don't think we deserved that.

Dave, thanks very much for your excellent reply. Just the sort of information and experience I was looking for.

When I got up this morning I was well-prepared for another blast from Raffles who would appear to be one of the well-established bulletin board bullies with whom everyone on the net is familiar. And, I was equally prepared to say goodbye. I'm glad that f-mattox pushed back.

Cheers

MisterBuster, I don't know if this is still in place, but when we took a Princess cruise a couple of years ago, it was possible to book a table reservation by phone when on the ship. I believe the # was 3463 (corresponding to DINE), and you'd have to call a couple of days in advance.

Recent Princess cruisers -- is this still the case?

I am glad that you are sticking around. I look forward to hearing about your cruise. In the meantime, we're happy to answer any questions.

LisaP,
I've never heard of this service; but then I wouldn't need it--we like traditional second seating; I love the quiet on deck while the first seating diners are getting beautiful.
MisterBuster, just want to clear something up; raffles has always been a perfect gentleman (at least I think he's a guy--I've been fooled before); he's no bully at all; we've had some nice dialogues. Dave will not abide bullies--he'll give them just so long and then thery're gone. I think he maybe was just having a bad day. I get the impression he's (?) fairly young and just dosen't understand that to some of us, dinner is more than just another chance to fill our guts; a leisurely late dinner with a good wine and genial conversation is an important part of our cruise day--it's why we cruise, for God's sake.
So he (?) probably found our going on about this a little tedious and just lashed out.
So I want you to know, raffles, we hold no ill will towards you, and I certainly don't want to get into a pissing contest with you over what amounts to a difference of opinion. Truce?

Sorry F mattox, I wasnt trying to addresss it toward you actually. I just dont get why they are so concerned with sitting alone every night. Sure, I like to sit alone, but I dont worry about making a bunch of calls and sweating over all that. if it happens great, if it doesnt thats great too, heck I am on a cruise most of my experiances are good ones even if it wasnt my first choice of what i wanted to do! Once again, sorry and thatnks for all your help, you are a great poster!

MisterBuster, I just returned from 10 days on the Sun Princess and we had the open seating. The longest we had to wait for dinner was 10 minutes and we went at different times from 6:00 to 8:30 depending on how long it took the wife to get ready. If a table is not ready for you when you show up they will give you a pager and you can go find a lounge and have a cocktail while you wait, it worked very well for us. We asked for a table for 2 nightly and were granted it no problem, they have tables of 4 or 6 and they put up dividers across the middle so you seperated from the other people and can talk to your spouse without them hearing your conversation, most couples seem to be sitting by themselves rather than sharing a table with others. Enjoy your cruise....

Hey raffles,
thanks for the kind words; we really think more alike than either of us thought--and penny3333 too--she (there I go assuming again) is a really sweet-spirited person.
I love your comment, "If it happens great, if it dosen't that's great too. . ." That's pretty much my philosophy too.
Nice talking to you again!

Yes, I'm a she(even though I'm blonde and early 50s) and I'm ready to head south to Ft. Lauderdale. Too bad this work thing is in the way. Oh, by the way, never asked them why we couldn't get second seating. It really turned out for the best, now I'm hooked on anytime dining. Best wishes and Happy Holidays

I'd like to put my two cents in. My husband and I cruise every year. (would like to go more, but just like Penny, someone has to work) Anyway, we enjoy Princess for at least two reasons. One, is we enjoy the anytime dining. It gives us a good chance to meet different people every night. If we don't feel like sitting with others, then we ask for a table for two. It's the variety that makes the cruise memorable. And two, we love to swim, so the fresh water pools makes it enjoyable for us. If I want to swim in salt water, I'll wait and go to the beach. (which we enjoy also) Either way, it's all about being on vacation and just enjoying your life, right?

Hello choochella,
my wife and I have gotten to like having breakfast and/or lunch in the dining room on days at sea; it's open seating so we meet new people at every meal; then second seating dinner with the same tablemates and waiters. I know it's not to everyone's liking, but we have made friends that we correspond with for years. It seems like in one meal the conversation never gets too far beyond the superficial; but you spend 10-14 or more days with people and you can develop some lasting friendships.
Of course the buffet is still best on shore excoursion days; and NOTHING is better than a grilled cheeseburger and an ice cold 20 oz. Grolch by the pool!!