Princess dining options?

Question

i have a few questions about the dining on princess.

1)are you allowed to go to the anytime dining any night you want or do you have to choose between traditional and anytime.

2)do they serve the same food in both the resturants?

3) do you still have to wear formal clothing on formal nights in anytime dining?

4) we have booked through an agency and they never asked whether we want late or early dining time. can you change your dining time on board?

5) our cruise is 2 weeks, can we do one week traditional dining and one week anytime dining.

thanks ^^

Answer 1

Norwegian & Princess have anytime dining in their buffet. They have different specialty resturants that serve differnt types of food. Call your travel agent back unless you already recieved your paperwork from cruise line. They like to know your dining choice before hand so they can arrange seating.

I have always choosen the buffet for more of a selection and also trying new things. Enjoy.

Answer 2

Tinker guy above was right on about a lot of the answers but one thing I would like to add is at anytime dining... unless you go the Steak place the menu will be the same whether in Vivaldi, Sterling, Asia Moon (I think thats the name)... anytime just means you can go get a table when you feel. Be aware, sometimes there are waits because even the anytimers tend to go all at the same time, early or late. The 4 anytime dining rooms are not buffet style. The buffet is on the Lido deck. Any changes can be made by speaking to the maitre'd as well. They are always trying to accomodate the guests as best as they can.

Answer 3

OK, here's the scoop; this is based on my experience cruising on Princess.  The traditional dining allows you to specify an eating time (either 6:00PM or 8:00 PM) in the main dining room and you are assigned to a table. (Hint:  ask for a table for two by the window; they will give it to you if its available).  You will have a waiter and bus person whom you will get to know and they will cater to you wants and needs.  You have three options if you now want to have a traditional dining experience for your cruise.  1. call your travel agent and ask that you be placed in the early or late seating. 2.  Call Princess yourself direct and ask the same (they will want to know your reservation/booking number which should be on your paperwork.  3. wait until you are on the ship and go immediately the first day to the Matre D in the dining room and ask for what you want.

If you want to do both traditional and the anytime you DO NOT have to tell the main dining folks.  On days when you don't feel like the traditional just don't go; they will not be hurt.  OR, if you know that the next day will be a long one with tours or something, tell your waiter before you leave dinner, "We won't be here tomorrow".  My suggestion is just sign up for traditional and then just don't show when you feel like something else.  

The food in the traditional and "anytime" dining is NOT the same because "anytime" is usually in the buffet.  Some of the food items may be the same, like the soup or the vegetables, but in the anytime you serve yourself and don't get food "Presentations" on a plate.  The food in the traditional and anytime is free, BUT if you elect to go to one of the alternative restaurants, like an Italian, French, Tex-Mex, or Steak restaurant there WILL BE a fee of $10 to $20 a person EACH time you go (they call it a gratuity).  This obviously is not the same food as in the other places, that's why they call it specialty.

The key on this line and any is its up to you as to what you want to do for dinner each night and YOU DON'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN IT TO ANYONE, just do it.

On a 2-week cruise you will likely have three formal nights.  The formal night is a REQUESTED dress.  You do not have to dress up unless you want to.  The dress after 6:00 PM on Princess and all cruise ships is "Sports Casual"; what you would expect to be worn in a business office.  So if you want to go sports casual every night you can.  After 6:00 PM you can still wear shorts for the gym, the pool areas, the hot tub, but they want the ladies covered with a wrap as you use the hallways and elevators to get there.

Most people do dress up formal on the formal night in a tux or long dress/gown, or just a suit and tie or nice dress.  The dress does not have to be black or white; any color will do. Same with the men';s dress, any color suit.  We usually go take the formal stuff off anyway after dinner and a few pictures with the Captain and/or around the ship.  We change and get comfortable to go to the show, casino, and/or lounges.