Main or Second Sitting for Dinner?

[mertin]

So, yesterday we booked Disney Dream for next year (yay!) for 3 night Bahamas Cruise. Looking at our booking we've been assigned to Second sitting for Dinner.

Now, we did this cruise 2 years ago, and I'm fairly sure (without checking) that we were on the main sitting.

Which is the best (or your preference) and why?

[Bats]

Second sitting definitely now I've done a few cruises.

I can miss the shows and stay by the pool, then hop off to dinner.
Less children at second sitting too

[Sarah84]

Never cruised before but have booked the second sitting for next year as its much closer to the time we'd have dinner at home and while on holiday anyway.

[Guest]

Second sitting for me too! I like to laze around the pool till late afternoon then have a leisurely cocktail before dinner! Early sitting would be too much of a rush for me!

[wickesy]

Second sitting for us too. On port days it means we don't have to rush back to get ready for dinner.

[FairyMagic]

Hi,
Second sitting for us too, we have never had first sitting, but first sitting to us feels like we have to rush too much, we like booking port adventures and relaxing, also with second sitting after the meal you are ready to go for a drink to the bars...

[Guest]

We're going on our first cruise next year and have selected first sitting mainly because we have young children. What time does first sitting start?

[amy56]

We always opt for first seating - we eat at about 5.30 at home, so by the time we eat on the cruise at about 6pm its perfect - I also like to go to the shows after dinner and allow time for our dinner to go down before bed- of course our boys are still only 5 & 9 so that might change in a few years

[Leanne1977]

We did early dining on our first cruise and found it all a bit of a rush. We also found that we weren't hungry enough for dinner at that time. So on our second cruise we did late dining and it was so much better. We are doing late dining again even though we will have a 2 year old with us this time. We will either feed him earlier or let him sleep so he's all fresh for dinner.

[Guest]

We chose first sitting which seats at 17.45 or thereabouts. We generally eat around this time at home so thought it would be perfect. we have young kids so again thought perfect.

tbh, the kids ate a meal on the go at Flo's and ran off to the cinema for two nights, our daughter went into the nursery so we ate alone !

I found the early sitting a bit of a rush from enjoying your day to frantically trying to get ready into "posher" clothing for that time.

all in all though I think the later one would impact on our young children to much