For dining, we did choose the second seating (815PM), which we thought would be good timing, so we didn't have to rush after excursions.  I think that would be true in most cases, although we have a 4 month old at home and we typically go to bed at 830!

So, we've found that second seating is a little late for us on this trip.  We did try to change it to first or anytime dining, but we were 28th in line to see the Maitre de, and figured it wasn't worth it.

For breakfast, there is a dining room open and then there's the buffet at Horizons.  There was also an option to receive a continental breakfast of our choosing in our stateroom.  Most mornings, we ate at Horizons and were fine with the breakfast.  They offered a number of choices, including scrambled and fried eggs, pancakes, French toast, bacon and sausage, potatoes, gravies, oatmeal, fruit, cereals, breads, etc.  There were made to order omelets some days and I would have liked to see a Belgian waffle station – those are my favorite!  There was always enough coffee and juices were offered by the wait staff.

For lunch, there is a dining room open, there's the buffet at Horizons and Cafe Caribe (in the back of the ship for later lunchers – 3P on), and there's options for pizza and burgers/brats/hot dogs and fries.  There were a variety of options for lunch that changed daily, but there was always a nice salad bar, which I enjoyed.  The only issue I found with lunch (again because of the number of people) was seating.  I saw people (and we will start doing it today), putting their things down at the first table they saw, to save it while they went through the buffet line or to get pizza (same thing with the chairs by the pool BTW).  So, we would spend some time at lunch looking for a table to eat at.  I do have to say that on the cruise, this was my least favorite meal.  In the future, I’ll just run in and grab a salad and then eat a piece of pizza or burger in my lounge chair.

For dinner, you could eat on the Lido deck or you were assigned a dining room based on your dining choice.  Anytime dining folks were seated in the Island Dining Room and traditional dining folks were seated in the Palm Dining Room.  To make things easier on yourself, I would make reservations if you choose anytime dining.  If you do choose anytime dining and want a table for two, be sure to specifically request a table for two or you will be sat with others.  They don’t have many tables for two!

On the menu, there was standard fare that was served every night; things like fettuccine alfredo, filet medallions, chicken, salmon, cheesecake . . .and there were items that were listed on the menu as specific for that night.  The first night, Chris and I both ordered the filet medallions – mostly because we got to dinner late and didn't have much time to look over the menu.  Chris' were perfectly done and mine were completely overdone.  I did order the fettuccine alfredo the next night and the pasta was a little dry, but they were happy to bring me some more sauce.  The third night, the strip steak fajitas and the seafood cioppino (with clams, mussels, a crawfish, calamari and crab) was very good.  I ordered two entrees because those at my table were chiding me to try something different.  The desserts were always tasty and there were a variety to choose from as well.

As far as snacks are concerned, there's always something to eat on a cruise, so that wasn't a problem.  One pool had a movie screen with a variety of movies that played all day and there was popcorn in the afternoon.  One thing that I wasn't too happy about was that they charged for ice cream!  A soft serve cone/cup was $1.50 and toppings (they were light on them) were $.25.  But, they did have quite a few toppings to choose from and the soft serve was good.

Bottom line. . . . the food was fine.  There were some things that I didn't care for, but some things I loved and I will probably still gain my 10 pounds!