With a different menu to choose from every night, dinner time is one of the most looked forward to things on a cruise. You get to experience amazing cuisine from around the world, cooked by professional chefs trained in their field. It also gives you the opportunity to dress up a little bit after spending all day in your swimsuit. Below are the dining times onboard some of the main cruise lines.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean’s ‘My Time Dining’ is a service available where you can book a table to dine any time between 6pm and 9:30pm – however tables should be booked early to avoid disappointment. Traditional dining sittings are at 6pm and 8:30pm. There are no specific times given for breakfast or lunch so you’re free to show up at the restaurants for these meals when you please.
P&O
Club dining is available in two sittings – 6:30pm and 8:30pm. Tables are based on a fixed seating plan and if you choose this options you will dine at the same table and at the same time every night – you will also be able to get to know your waiter as they will be serving you every night.
Freedom dining allows guests to be more flexible when it comes to dining, as you can arrive any time between 6pm and 9:30pm for dinner. If there isn’t a table available at that time you will be given a pager which will alert you when your table is ready.
Celebrity Cruises
On-board Celebrity many passengers take advantage of the select dining option which allows them to book a table for dinner between 6pm and 9:30pm on a day-to-day basis. Passengers are also available to dine as they wish without a reservation and will be seated according to availability. Breakfast and lunch have no specific dining times so passengers can choose their own times to sit down for these meals.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Dining times are really up to you on an NCL cruise! Breakfast can be ordered at any time in the morning, lunch can be taken from late morning to mid-afternoon and then you can also choose when you sit down for dinner.
Carnival Cruises
Breakfast is served between 7:45am to 9am and lunch is from 12pm to 1:30pm. There are two sittings for dinner – one at 6pm and one at 8:15pm – you can choose which time to dine when booking your cruise. Your Time booking is also available where guests can dine at any time between 5:45pm and 9:30pm.
Fred Olsen
Breakfast on Fred Olsen is served between 7:15am and 10am, which gives plenty of time for those late risers. Lunch is usually between 12pm and 2pm whilst dinner has two sittings – these are usually at 6pm and 8:30pm.
MSC
Dining times are specified in MSC’s daily on-board program as they differ depending on where the ship is sailing. However, their buffet dining is available from 6am to 2am, giving passengers the perfect opportunity for a sneaky midnight snack!
Princess
Breakfast is served in the main dining rooms between 7:30am and 9:30am. Lunch is between 12pm and 1:30pm whilst dinner sittings are at 5:30pm, 6pm and 8:15pm. Anytime dining allows passengers to dine anytime between 5:30pm and 10pm.