This weeks tip spotlights two cruise lines, Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises, and their alternative to the traditional early or late dining seating options.  Many cruise lines now offer alternative restaurants along with traditional dining, but these cruise lines have taken it a step further and offer a truly innovative dinning experience for cruisers.    

RCLs Freestyle Dining Program allows guests to choose from up to ten different restaurants, each night of their cruise.  Each restaurant is uniquely themed along with a different menu.  The restaurants work much like land-based restaurants offering guests the ability to make reservations.    

NCLs Bermuda Freestyle Dining Ashore Program gives guests the opportunity to dine ashore at participating restaurants.  The voucher can be purchased during their Bermuda cruise.  

NCLs Freestyle Dining
http://www.ncl.com/freestyle/index.htm  

NCLs Bermuda Freestyle Dining Ashore Program
http://www.ncl.com/destinations/berm/index.htm  

Princess Cruises offers their guests Personal Choice Dining.  The Personal Choice Dining program allows guests to choose from Traditional Dining or Anytime Dining (guests choose when and where they would like to dine).  They also offer additional alternatives, such as, Specialty Dining, Casual Dining and the Ultimate Balcony Dining.  

It is important to note that guests must choose between Traditional Dining and Anytime Dining.  Once onboard, they can choose to change between the plans, however, they cannot flip-flop between them each night.  

Princess Cruises Personal Choice Dining
http://www.princess.com/onboard/answer/dining.html  

Cruise Mates Review of Personal Choice Dining
http://www.cruisemates.com/articles/feature/Personal-choice.cfm  

Cruise Divas Review of Caribbean Princess Ultimate Balcony Dining
http://www.cruisediva.com/ultimate_dinner.htm