Topic: Grand Princess 21st April 2012

We are booked on the Grand Princess for their Canary Island cruise in April. We have cruised once before with Fred Olsen on the Braemar but fancied something different this time.

I am trying to read up about the Grand Princess before we set sail but am ever so slightly confused about the dining. Onboard the Braemar we had a choice of formal dining or the buffet, we actually prefer the less formal dining so when booking for the Princess opted for the anytime dining which I thought meant that you could really turn up when you wanted, although at times there would probably be a wait for a table. However when booking the cruise we were asked for a preferred time for eating, why did we have to supply this if its anytime dining? Also where does Personal Choice dining fit into all this as this seems to apply to not being bound to eat at a set time in the Da Vinci and Michelangelo dining rooms, isn't that the same as Anytime Dining?

Couple of years since I was on the Grand, but anytime meant just that, you turned up when you wanted to eat and if full they gave you a bleeper which called you when a table was free.

I do know that many were leaving MDR to go to anytime so maybe they are now opening the MDR's to anytime as well.

You could also book a table for a set time.

Hi we were on the Grand two year ago, people were changing from fixed dining to any time with no problems, they were given bleeper if a table wasn't available when they wanted one, or they made a reservation earlier in the day. Some even went to the buffet are and ate when they wanted to. One evening after a long day, we didn't want to eat in main restaurant we went and got a plate of food from buffet area and took it back to our cabin - no problems. You will have a fab time on the Grand - Tom's Mum

Thank you tenpin and Tom's Mum. I have been back in contact with the agent and have now changed to anytime dining, which I think is what I wanted in the first place! Just to confuse the issue Anytime Dining is also known as Personal Choice Dining on some ships....... Its useful to know that you can take food from the buffet back to your room, especially after a long day out when the sofa is calling!

I booked onto this cruise 2 days ago. we have been with Princess a number of times and you will not be disappointed. After a long day you could also use the 24hr cabin service. The menu is limited but fine; arrives in a reasonable time and means you only need to pick up the phone!!