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