| Mary Hanna explains the different dining | | | | request one night, John always asks for blue |
| options on the cruise lines. She gives you | | | | cheese, your waiter will bring it every |
| advice on each option and why it would be | | | | night. They pride themselves on remembering |
| right for you. | | | | your tastes. (This only happens when you |
| There are many cruise ships now that have | | | | choose traditional dining). On one cruise we |
| Freestyle Dining (Norwegian Cruises) or | | | | asked for Melba toast, and you bet, every |
| Choice Dining (Prince Cruise line) available. | | | | night we had Melba toast. There is one thing |
| Or on Disney Cruise Lines they have what is | | | | I always make clear to the waiter. I am not a |
| called "Rotational Dining". They have you and | | | | big eater but I like to taste everything. I |
| your tablemates rotate through the three | | | | tell this to them the first night so they |
| restaurants each evening. TIP: There is | | | | don't think I am unhappy with the food. It is |
| usually open seating for breakfast and lunch | | | | their job to keep you happy and they take it |
| in the main dining room. Be adventurous with | | | | very seriously. If you don't want to eat in |
| the menu because if you don't like something | | | | the main dining room almost all ships have a |
| you can send it back for a replacement. And | | | | Lido café where it is casual but you order |
| if they have two things on the menu that you | | | | from a menu and are served by a waiter. It's |
| like ask for both of them. My husband, John, | | | | one of the many choices if you don't want to |
| always orders the Filet Mignon and the | | | | participate in a formal night or if you just |
| Lobster Tail when they are served on the same | | | | want to eat by yourselves. On Carnivals |
| night. Many times he tells the waiter to | | | | single cruises they encourage this style of |
| bring what the waiter recommends for that | | | | dining so the singles can meet more people. |
| evening. This means you don't have to choose | | | | There are exceptions to this but not many. On |
| first or second seating. (First seating is | | | | some of the newer ships the Lido is open 24 |
| 6:00 to 6:30 and Second seating is usually | | | | hours a day. On most of the cruise lines they |
| 8:00-8:30). There can be more than one | | | | offer the food of the region that you are |
| restaurant where you just walk in when you | | | | visiting. While on Hawaiian cruises expect to |
| are ready to dine. Every ship will ask for | | | | be served Hawaiian food. When on an Alaskan |
| your dining preference when you book your | | | | cruise you will be given the choices of |
| cruise. You can indicate first, second or | | | | salmon and Alaskan king crab legs. It makes |
| flexible dining, whichever will make you more | | | | more fun to dine on the local cuisine. All of |
| comfortable. The newer ships have a 24 hour | | | | the cruise lines offer healthy alternative |
| dining spot which is always casual so if you | | | | menus or what they call spa menus. So if you |
| don't want to do the formal nights you don't | | | | want low-fat, low-salt, low cholesterol, |
| have to, although I find dressing up to be | | | | vegetarian or any other type of diet, they |
| quite fun. You will have many options for | | | | are available. It is best however to inform |
| each meal. You may have any meal delivered to | | | | your travel agent of any special needs so |
| your room, taken in the buffet restaurant or | | | | they can notify the cruise line ahead of |
| in the dining room. There is usually outdoor | | | | time. If you have special dietary needs make |
| dining around the pool with hot dogs and | | | | sure the cruise lines knows before hand. For |
| hamburgers, pizza, salads, even Tacos. There | | | | example, Royal Caribbean cruises cater to |
| are also alternative dining rooms available | | | | food allergy, Kosher, Indian, Vegetarian and |
| on some ships that require an additional fee | | | | Gluten Free Diets. To be really safe read all |
| but the service and food are generally 4 to 5 | | | | of the cruise reviews and cruise critics |
| star and worth it if you want to splurge. In | | | | sites for each ships food and service |
| my experience families with young children | | | | ratings. Happy Cruising, enjoy it, we do! |
| and people who go to bed early usually dine | | | | Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights |
| in first seating. But if you don't want to be | | | | Reserved. This article may be distributed |
| on a schedule or want to meet new people | | | | freely on your website and in your ezines, as |
| every night, go for the alternative dining | | | | long as this entire article, copyright |
| option. Of course you can always ask for a | | | | notice, links and the resource box are |
| table for two, but be aware that there are | | | | unchanged. |
| only a few of them. If you make a special | | | | |