I am going with my husband on the Ventura later in the year. I am wanting to know if we have made a wise choice in choosing to 'freedom dine'.
Does this mean we book the table and restaurant the day before or do we just turn up? Will we be sharing a table with others? Or will it be a table for two?
If we are on a table with others do we all eat the same course at the same time???? I just do not know how this works!!
My friends who are seasoned travellers always choose to dine in the traditional way. by sitting with the same people every night. They have met some wonderful people.
I am now worrying if we have made the wrong choice in dining freedom style. By the way, on a more positive note, I like the idea of choosing the times of when to eat rather than rigid times.
Is there anyone out there who knows much about this?
We (46, 43, 16, 13) have just come back from a two-week cruise on P&O's Oceana and Freedom Dining was just perfect for us. Apart from the first night when everyone seemed to descend on the restaurant at the same time, we did not have to queue once. Even on the first night when they said it would take over half an hour to get a table, we were seated within fifteen minutes. The joy of Freedom Dining is that you can organise your whole evening around when you eat. We tended to eat around 7:15 to 7:30 - which allowed us to get a pre-dinner drink, have a meal and then either go to the casino or take part in one of the quizzes or just sit in one of the bars and enjoy the live music.
The fixed dining sittings on Oceana were at 6:30, which can be a bit early if you don't get back from an excursion until 5:30, or 8:30 which was too late for us.
On Oceana, we were not allowed to pre-book, which worried us to start with, but as I said above, we never queued for a table. We were put on a variety of tables for 4, 6 or 8 (there are also tables for 2) and in every case we got on very well with the people we sat with. When we were seated at a bigger table, they would always sit people with you at the same time so that you are eating the same course at the same time. Once, we were sat at a table for 6, but when no-one had turned up within fve minutes, the waiter was told that no-one else was coming and to take our order.
The risk of fixed dining is that you end up on a table for two weeks with people you don't get on with.
Freedom Dining is the way forward and we will always go for that when we cruise.
The fixed dining sittings on Oceana were at 6:30, which can be a bit early if you don't get back from an excursion until 5:30, or 8:30 which was too late for us.
On Oceana, we were not allowed to pre-book, which worried us to start with, but as I said above, we never queued for a table. We were put on a variety of tables for 4, 6 or 8 (there are also tables for 2) and in every case we got on very well with the people we sat with. When we were seated at a bigger table, they would always sit people with you at the same time so that you are eating the same course at the same time. Once, we were sat at a table for 6, but when no-one had turned up within fve minutes, the waiter was told that no-one else was coming and to take our order.
The risk of fixed dining is that you end up on a table for two weeks with people you don't get on with.
Freedom Dining is the way forward and we will always go for that when we cruise.
Hi dahboulton and welcome to HT!
If you haven't done so already, I would appreciate it if you could post a review of the ship via the link at the top of the page.
I also have a vested interest as we are sailing on the Oceana in 3 weeks.
luci
If you haven't done so already, I would appreciate it if you could post a review of the ship via the link at the top of the page.
I also have a vested interest as we are sailing on the Oceana in 3 weeks.
luci
Hi thanks for your nformative reply. It has certainly clarified a few things and put my mnd at rest. It sounds as if you really appreciated the 'freedom' to choose where and when to dine. Yes, I now certainly feel we have done the right thing for us! 
When do you go funinthesun ?
I am on Freedom Dining on Ventura in four weeks, and can report back after if that helps ?
Kath x
I am on Freedom Dining on Ventura in four weeks, and can report back after if that helps ?
Kath x
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