For many people, one of the best things about assigned-seat dining is getting to meet new people with whom, over the course of a cruise, you can bond. Often, these tablemates can wind up becoming lifelong friends. However, if there’s a downside to this type of arrangement, it would be those situations where you spend a week having to deal with people who are always late for dinner.
Now, Carnival Cruise Line is testing out a rule that will either put a little pep in the step of perpetually-late diners… or have them looking elsewhere for their evening meal.
What Are They Changing?
“We are testing a two-hour window on Carnival Glory and Carnival Conquest, between dinner seatings instead of the regular two hours and fifteen-minute window,” said a spokesperson for the line. But the bigger change involves those who show up late. “We are now turning guests away after 30 minutes.” Those who arrive late are offered the opportunity to check back later to see if seating has opened up or head to the Lido deck.
Senior Cruise Director John Heald explained the reason for the change on his Facebook page. “Some guests have been arriving late,” he said, “sometimes an hour after opening. And honestly, we just cannot operate a huge dining room like this. So now, if a guest comes more than 30 minutes after the dining room has opened, we will politely invite them to enjoy dinner on the Lido Deck.”
Why It Makes Sense
Thinking about the way dining rooms with assigned seating work, it’s easy to see how late arrivals can have a negative impact. If a couple arrives 45 minutes after the rest of a table has been seated, the wait staff — which may be presenting main courses — suddenly has to backtrack in order to bring appetizers and cocktails to the latecomers. An already busy waitstaff suddenly has their entire routine thrown out of whack.
While Heald acknowledged that this is likely to rub some guests the wrong way, he also indicated this was very likely to become the norm. “While many understand,” he writes, “some don’t it seems, so I want to get the word out there as we look to put this into practice across the fleet.”
As always, Heald ended with a call for feedback, saying, “I hope you all agree and understand why we are doing this… in fact, let’s find out!” Like him, we’re curious to hear what cruisers think, so hit the comments and let us know your take on this attempt to curb bad behavior.
Photo: Carnival
9 Responses
It should have been 20 minutes and you get booted. Even 30 minutes late is disruptive.
I have 61 cruises on Carnival and see interruptions by very late dinner people on every cruise. I don’t understand why these folks don’t sign up for Your Time Dining. On our last cruise, there was a couple who came to dinner 45-60 minutes late every night. I am so happy to see Carnival make this change. Now, if they could just keep the baseball caps out of the dining room….
I think it is a great idea. If they can’t handle being there on time or even 15 minutes late get Your Time dining. They are ruining the atmosphere by being discourteous, no matter what the reason.
I think the late comers are called “pier runners”
It’s the perfect solution to this problem.
I agree and I also think 30 minutes is way to lenient. I say 15 minutes max. Try that at any busy restaurant and you will be turned away.
i finally started choosing YTD
Its about time something is being done. I agree, 30 minutes is too long. I opt for strickly being ON TIME. We have never been late period
30 minutes is too long, but I suppose they have to start somewhere…
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