I always go to the dining room as soon as I board a ship — here's why you should, too
One of the best parts about any cruise vacation is the food.
There are the seemingly endless spreads in the buffet line, the quick-service options like pizza and ice cream available nearly around the clock and the specialty dining restaurants like steakhouses and Korean barbecue spots. You'll likely eat the majority of your meals on the ship, and the options can seem endless.
If you're like me, you likely head straight for the main dining room upon embarkation. While most cruise passengers are checking in for a midafternoon meal after getting on board, I actually head to the main dining room to check out my table assignment.
Even though I love cruising, it comes at a cost because I'm prone to motion sickness. I do take daily medication for motion sickness while on a cruise, but the feeling of rocking in the sea can be made even worse with a table in the wrong dining room location. Pair that with seeing water in a glass swaying back and forth, and it's a quick ticket back to my cabin before the effects overtake me.
Because of this, I often find that sitting near a window in any dining room makes me feel a little more queasy than sitting right in the middle of the room, where views of the ocean are limited or nonexistent.
After politely confirming with the host that I would like to know where my table is, they are always happy to show me around the dining room to ensure I'm in a good spot. If something isn't quite right, the dining room team is usually very quick to accommodate a move to a new table. I also make sure that the change is noted internally so there's no delay in getting seated at meal times and holding up a line of hungry guests behind me.
When I sail on a cruise line like Royal Caribbean or Carnival Cruise Line, I'm more likely to pick anytime dining. This dinner reservation style allows me to simply show up and enjoy a meal in the main dining room at my convenience.
Upon arrival, I always tell the dining room team right away that I would like to be seated as far away from a window as possible.
While my family and I may have to wait a few extra minutes to get seated, I know it will be worth it because I will feel better while having dinner.
On some of the biggest and newest cruise ships in the world — such as Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas and Carnival Jubilee — there are also plenty of additional-cost dining options. If I can see that the restaurants have windows overlooking the ocean, I always make it known upon arrival for my reservation that I would like to be seated with my back toward the window or at a table that has an obstructed view.
I cruise most often with Disney Cruise Line. Moving tables with Disney is a little more complex than just showing up at one of the main dining rooms. There is a dedicated time and place where you can meet with members of the dining team to make requests. After finding the location and time on the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app, I try to be at the lounge or restaurant where this takes place just a few minutes before the actual start time because the lines for changes can be long. When it is my turn, I ensure that all three restaurants my family will be dining in throughout a cruise can accommodate a table change if necessary.
During a recent sailing on Disney Treasure, that meant double-checking with the dining team about 1923 and Plaza de Coco since both have seating areas near windows. Window seating is not an issue in Worlds of Marvel since the restaurant is fully enclosed.
While it may seem strange to some, this simple task I do as soon as I board a ship makes the entire cruise so much easier for me and for the dining team that is serving me all week. Oftentimes, this simple request of moving tables baffles the host since tables near the windows are hot commodities and prized places to sit for dinner. It's also nice to know that another family may get an upgraded seat and be able to watch the ocean go by while eating dinner.
It usually takes less than 10 minutes to ensure my current or new table meets my needs, and then I can go have fun on board — and try as much food as I want without the fear of it making me sick.
Related reading:
- The ultimate guide to cruise ship food and dining
- The 10 best cruise ship restaurants and dining experiences
- The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
- The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
- The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
- A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
- 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
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