Can I Change my Dinner Time on MSC?

Yes, the change of your dinner time on a cruise on MSC is possible, and the flexibility is also dependent on the kind of dining experience one has booked. The MSC restaurants are different on each ship, although typically there will be early and late sittings. The ability to alter your scheduled dinner time is more so allowed after you are on board, but prior to the cruise, you cannot alter your assigned dinner time unless you opt to choose the levels of meal experience with varying dining options.

In the case of Bella guests (lowest cost fare), dinner is normally set, and there is also little change. After boarding the plane, you may attempt to negotiate with the butler at the dining room whether they can be assigned a change, but this is subject to availability as the Bella guests are given leftover time slots.
Guests of Fantastica are able to book their meals early or MSC late dining time and are also able to change to new ones once on the ship again, depending on availability.
Aurea guests are offered a dining service, My Choice, which gives them the opportunity to have a flexible dining schedule, i.e., they can always have a meal whenever they want, subject to the restaurant's opening time.
Any changes to dining time are suggested to be made as soon as you are on board by asking the butler or dining manager. Multi-seating dining rooms. There are several seatings in some of the dining rooms, and unless there are others present, you may request one of the preferred ones at some time after embarkation.

What is Dining on MSC Cruises?

MSC Cruises has a variety of dining experiences that meet the needs and preferences of various people:

Main Dining:

Main Restaurants have a high-quality cuisine experience with a daily menu and serve Mediterranean and international cuisine. It has designated eating time, early or late seating and was included in the cruise fare.
To Aurea-experienced people, My Choice Dining will offer flexibility to eat at any time throughout the opening hours of the main restaurant.

Buffet:

The buffet restaurants are a more relaxed and less formal way of dining that is available about 20 hours in a day and has an array of international and Mediterranean cuisines. Perfect to have breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.

Specialty Restaurants:

They are offered at a premium price and offer a wide variety of international dishes such as Mediterranean, Steakhouse, Asian, Fusion, and Seafood.
They can be used with Teppanyaki, Butcher Cut steakhouse, Ocean Cay seafood restaurant, Pan Asian cuisine by Roy Yamaguchi, and Latin American street food concepts.

Yacht Club Dining:

The guests of the Yacht Club are given exclusive access to higher-end restaurant and buffet services.

Additional Options:

It has pizzerias and grill corners on board some ships as a casual dining option.
Snacks and afternoon tea are on board some ships and they provide a selection of light meals and beverages.

Overall, MSC Cruises' food and beverage options include complimentary main dining with fixed or flexible schedules, casual buffet-style meals, and a Yacht Club eatery, as well as specialty restaurants that involve additional costs for additional cuisines.

MSC Cruises: Alcohol & Drink Policy Guide

How do I Change My Dining Time on MSC Cruise?

The passenger can change dining time on MSC Cruise by following the process below:

Know Your Fare Type:

Bella and Fantastica fares are assigned with fixed dining times.
Aurea Fare is proposing My Choice Dining, which has flexible eating times.

Check Your Dining Assignment:

On boarding, receive your dining information on your cruise card or cabin door envelope. This will indicate your scheduled time and table number to eat.

Visit the Dining Room Early:

Eat breakfast early on embarkation day in the main restaurant or in your assigned dining room.
Present yourself to the butler/ or restaurant manager and kindly ask whether you can change your dining time.

Inquire of Table Availability:

Should you wish to shift the time either earlier or later during the meal, ask whether there are free seats or if guests have not arrived at the booked time.
Tables unutilised in the course of 50 minutes of the reserved slot are usually availed to remanence.

Trying to eat at the time of your choice:

With fixed dining (Bella and Fantastica), in case you are not given the change dining time on MSC Cruise option, arrive 15 minutes after the time you wanted to be seated earlier, and check whether there is availability of tables.
In the case of Aurea guests, one can dine whenever he/she desire within the restaurant hours without prior reservation.

Contact Customer Service (Optional):

There are occasions when guests make calls to MSC customer services 1 (877) 665-4655 post-embarkation to seek a change in eating time before visiting the dining room.

Keep or Tolerate Your Original Time:

In case you are not able to book the desired eating schedule, you can still maintain the reservation slot that you had, although you can make another attempt later on the cruise when things have changed because of cancellation.

This strategy is informed by experiences that prior communication with the butler and flexibility will facilitate changes in dining times requested by the clients in MSC cruises.

Factors That Affect MSC Cruise Dining Change

There are multiple variables that influence changing the dining time in MSC Cruises:

Fare Type: Bella and Fantastica fares are usually fixed-time dining with limited options to alter, whereas Aurea fare guests have the option of My Choice dining with no fixed time.
Dining Time Demand: The MSC early dining time slots are frequently more popular and can easily fill up; thus, changes to the late slot can be more difficult since the vacancies are fewer. The fixed seats have to be occupied for an average of 50 minutes, and only after that can they be reallocated in case of failure by the guest.
Table Availability: Availability of tables will be subject to the availability of tables at the desired time of the day at the dining premises. In cases where other guests do not turn up to their seating arrangements, they are reassigned those tables.
Time of Request: The sooner the better. The sooner you place a request when you are on the ship, the better your chances of winning it. It might be harder to alter the time of dining later in the cruise.
Findings on Ship and Restaurant Capacity: The dining time slots and capacity of different MSC ships and restaurants are different, and this affects the feasibility of change.
Special Dietary Needs or Group Requests: If the guests have special dietary needs or have a larger group booking, they may have a more flexible time when it is communicated in advance.
Customer Service Assistance: It can be useful to call MSC customer service 1 (877) 665-4655 after embarking, prior to going to the dining room to assist in getting a change.

In summary, fare type, demand, table availability, timing of request, ship capacity, and special requests are key factors influencing whether you can change dining time on MSC Cruise or not.

Benefits of Changing Dining Time on MSC Cruise

Changing your dining time on an MSC cruise offers several benefits:

More Convenience: You will be able to choose the dining time that suits your personal time frame better and have a more relaxed cruise experience. As an example, those guests who like to eat early can do it and watch shows or other events in the future.
Better Table Choice: You can also request a dining time change to receive a table that is more preferable, like a table of two, so that you do not have to share a bigger table with strangers.
Special Needs Flexibility: Dining time can be modified to suit individual needs of a guest, i.e. medical problems, early bedtime, or family dining habits.
Increased Socializing: Schedule Moving your eating schedule may allow you to eat with certain friends or family members by coordinating their times.
Cruise Activities: A favorite time to eat will allow arranging the evening program of theater shows, bars, and other onboard organizations better.
Minimized Waiting and The Rush: Eating at less rushed times could be a more relaxing dining experience, accompanied by faster service and less waiting.

Dining time can be changed to make MSC Cruises more convenient, preferential to your table, accommodating to special needs, facilitating socialization, maximizing your entertainment time, and lessening the stress of eating out with a crowd.

Practical Tips for MSC Cruise Change Dining Time

In order to change dining time on MSC Cruise, the following are the key points to consider by the passengers:

Act Early: Once on the ship, go to the restaurant and speak to the butler or dining manager and request that they change your dining time to earlier in the cruise, as there would be more space earlier in the cruise.
Be Courteous and Flexible: Please request whether there will be a later or earlier time to dine and be willing to accept what the butler offers, as the changes will depend on whether one will have a table.
Attempt to Present After Preferred Time: In definite eating times, tables are reserved approximately 50 minutes before. Being there a little later than your desired time before it would preferably score you a vacant table in case no other party arrives.
Ask to have a Table of Two (or Preferred Table): Indicate any seating preferences, such as a smaller table, should they be available; some guests have been able to get a better seat by doing so.
Take Aurea Fare: In case the flexibility of the lunch and dinner time is of utmost concern, reserve Aurea or Yacht Club experiences that provide the alternatives to have dinner at any time and to have access to the exclusive restaurants.
Use Guest Services Where Necessary: In case you experience problems with booking the dining time during the voyage, call MSC customer service or the guest relations.
Check Daily Programs: Dining times and restaurant information are frequently printed on cruise daily programs to enable you to plan your request strategy.

Such useful tips may help to increase the likelihood of getting your desired seating time and table in the MSC cruises.

Conclusion

To sum up, it is possible to change your dinner time on an MSC cruise but it is conditional on the type of fares. Bella and Fantastica guests are not supposed to be flexible in their eating times, whereas Aurea guests have My Choice Dining freedom. When boarding, the guests are supposed to confirm their dining assignments and inform the dining staff of their requests regarding changing the assignment, which is also dependent on availability. In case the changes are not possible, it is also possible to keep the time used to eat at the same time, and you can make additional efforts in the future during the cruise.

Frequently Asked Questions ?

Can I change my assigned dining time before the cruise?

Yes, you have a chance to book before the cruise your time to dine, upon availability.

How many dining seatings does MSC offer?

Depending on the ship and itinerary MSC usually has two general dining sittings available, early and late.

What is "My Choice Dining"?

My Choice Dining will enable the restaurant to offer flexibility to their customers instead of fixed seats as guests can choose the time that they want to be seated at the restaurant.

Can I change my MSC Cruise dining time once onboard?

Yes, but you can change your dining time onboard, and this will be because of availability and capacity of the restaurant.

Does my MSC Voyagers Club status affect dining time priority?

No, the dining time slots are provided based on the level of the booking and loyalty status does not have a role with dining time.

Can I request a table for two?

Yes, you can request a table for two, but it's subject to availability.

What happens if I miss my assigned MSC Cruise dining time?

In case of missing your allotted time, you may generally go to the buffet, or inquire whether there were other seats.

Can I switch MSC Cruise dining rooms to get a different time?

Yes, but this option might not be available on all ships. Some ships of MSC Cruise have multiple dining areas and the voyagers can have the option to switch the dining rooms, but it is subject to availability.

Where do I go to request a MSC Cruise change onboard?

To request a dining change onboard MSC Cruise, check your Welcome Aboard flyer for the dining assignment desk, typically located near the main dining room on embarkation day.

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