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