Anytime dining

We always choose anytime dining now when available unless we are traveling with a group and sit with the group. It offers plenty of flexibility. We always arrange with our servers to keep our table if we are happy with them on the first night. If not, we wait until the next night to see how the service goes.

Agreed. We like to eat around 6:30/7. Which seems to be in the middle of the dining times most people enjoy. If you are early diners on ost ships I’ve been on people start to line up about a 1/2 hr before the dining room opens.

Anytime dining is our preferred choice. Sometimes your port of call is later than your assigned dining time (if you have early seating) and this way you can eat a bit later without worry. You don't have to eat with anyone else or you can eat with others that have anytime dining. We find it is the most flexible of the dining room options. However, if you are in a group of more than 6 it can be a bit difficult.

You choose what suits your cruising style. We prefer to eat early so we work around that premise.

We always choose MTD. There is no downside

When traveling as just a couple yes - works well. If you have a large group, far more challenging unless you go very early, or very late in the dining cycle.

It also works well when traveling solo. Just ask to share a table and you get to meet new people each night.

Do it every cruise now.

We have only had one instance where MTD was a disadvantage. That was on HAL last May. On a 14 day cruise, we only ate in the dining room 3 times because the service was so bad. It should not take almost 3 hours to complete a meal. Plus, you know how the waiters all go around doing a calypso dance on one of the formal nights? Only Traditional dining got that.

We also prefer Anytime Dining whether we are cruising as a couple, with another couple or as a group of 10 like last year. We had no trouble getting the same table each evening with the same wait staff because we requested it for the next evening, as we finished dinner each night. The staff were very accommodating and were tipped well at the end of the week, to show our appreciation.