Royal Caribbean to alter new dining format

Royal Caribbean International will make its first major change to the Dynamic Dining concept introduced on Quantum of the Seas.

When Quantum’s sister ship, Anthem of the Seas, debuts in April, guests will have the option of choosing Dynamic Dining Classic, which will have many of the attributes of eating in the main dining room on other Royal Caribbean ships.

The classic option allows diners to choose an early seating and sit at the same table every night. Guests will also be served by the same waiter and assistant waiter throughout the cruise. They will rotate through the four complimentary restaurants on Anthem and will find their table in the same location in each restaurant nightly, said Royal Caribbean President Michael Bayley.

Bayley disclosed the new wrinkle in Dynamic Dining at a travel agent event aboard Freedom of the Seas on Saturday.

He said Royal Caribbean has had “some struggles” implementing Dynamic Dining since it debuted on Quantum in November. Older guests in particular have not taken to the new format, he said.

Dynamic Dining scraps the large main dining room, and traditional early and late seatings, for smaller 430-seat restaurants with different themes and cuisines.

Guest ratings have slowly improved for Dynamic Dining to the point where they are equal to or better than the fleet average, Bayley said.

“We really want to make this concept work,” Bayley told the agents, “and we’re very close to making it successful."