Planning a cruise involves making several choices before you sail, and your preferred dinner time can be one of the most important—especially if you are traveling with children, elderly family members, or a large group. If you have already booked a Cunard Line cruise and later realize that your selected dining time no longer suits your schedule, you may wonder whether it can be changed.
The good news is that Cunard generally allows eligible guests to amend their dining preference after booking, subject to availability. The process and flexibility depend on the fare you purchased and the type of dining you selected.
Cunard states that guests booked on a Cunard Fare can amend their dining option after booking when sufficient availability exists. Changes can generally be made through My Cunard, where eligible guests can select another dining time or table size.
This guide explains how Cunard dining works, which guests can change their dining time, how to request a change, what happens if your preferred time is unavailable, and what you can do after boarding.
Yes, in many cases you can change your Cunard dining time after making your cruise reservation.
For guests booked on a Cunard Fare, Cunard allows dining preferences to be amended after booking, provided the desired option is available. You can use My Cunard to view your current dining choice and select another available dining time or table size.
However, changing your dining time is not guaranteed. Dining arrangements are subject to availability, and popular dining times can fill quickly.
For example, if you originally selected an early sitting but later want a late sitting, you may be able to make the change online if Cunard still has space available. If the late sitting is full, you may need to remain with your original selection or ask Cunard to place your request on a waitlist, depending on your fare and circumstances.
Cunard's dining arrangements vary according to your accommodation, fare and ship. For many guests staying in Britannia accommodations, the main dining restaurant is the Britannia Restaurant.
Depending on the voyage and booking, guests may have options such as:
Cunard describes early dining as generally around 5:30pm or 6:00pm, while late dining is generally around 8:30pm. Open Dining provides more flexibility, with dinner available between approximately 6:00pm and 9:00pm, although actual times can vary by ship and itinerary.
For example, a family with a young child may prefer an early dinner, while guests who enjoy evening entertainment may prefer a later sitting.
If your booking is eligible for a dining change, the easiest option is usually to use My Cunard.
Follow these general steps:
Go to Cunard's website and access My Cunard.
You will need your cruise booking information and personal details to access your reservation.
After signing in, locate your cruise booking and open the booking summary.
Cunard's current FAQ explains that eligible guests can access the Your dining choice section of their booking summary.
Look for the dining section associated with your booking.
Depending on your fare and accommodation, you may see available options for:
If another dining time is available, select your preferred option.
For example, you might be able to change:
Early Dining → Late Dining
or
Late Dining → Open Dining
The options shown will depend on your booking and the availability on your specific voyage.
Review the new dining selection carefully and save or confirm the change.
Cunard's FAQ specifically advises eligible guests to confirm the new choice after selecting it.
After saving the change, check your booking again to make sure the new dining preference has been recorded.
Yes, where availability permits, Cunard allows eligible Cunard Fare guests to amend not only their dining time but also their table-size preference.
For example, you might originally request a table for four but later want a table for two.
Similarly, you may be able to change from an early sitting to a late sitting while also changing your preferred table size.
However, neither a particular dining time nor a particular table size should be considered guaranteed simply because it is requested. Availability plays an important role.
Yes. Your fare type can make a significant difference.
Cunard Fare provides the greatest flexibility regarding dining preferences.
According to Cunard, guests booked on a Cunard Fare can amend their dining option after booking, provided there is sufficient availability.
This may include changing:
Early Saver guests can request a preferred dining time, but their dining arrangements are confirmed on board and are subject to availability.
Cunard's current 2026–2029 brochure states that Early Saver guests can request their preferred dining time, which is confirmed on board subject to availability.
Therefore, Early Saver guests should not assume that requesting a particular time means that the time is guaranteed before sailing.
Certain promotional or Saver fares have more restricted dining flexibility.
Cunard notes that some promotional fares do not allow guests to select or amend their dining choice after Cunard has allocated the dining arrangement.
Because fare conditions can vary, check the terms attached to your particular booking before requesting a change.
This is one of the most important things to understand.
Changing your dining preference depends on availability. If your preferred time is full, you may not be able to change it immediately.
For example, suppose you originally selected:
Early Dining – 6:00pm
but later decide that you want:
Late Dining – 8:30pm
If late dining has reached capacity, My Cunard may not provide that option as an available selection.
In that situation, you can contact Cunard or your travel agent and ask whether a waitlist or alternative arrangement is possible.
It is also worth checking your booking periodically. Availability can change when other passengers modify or cancel their arrangements.
Be careful when making a dining change.
Cunard specifically warns that if you change your dining preference and later decide to return to your original dining time, the original option may no longer be available. You could potentially be placed on a waitlist instead.
For this reason, don't change your dining time simply to experiment with different options.
Before confirming a new time, consider:
Yes. Cunard provides options for changing reservations and dining arrangements once you are on board.
Cunard states that reservations made through My Cunard before sailing can be changed through My Voyage or by contacting reception once on board.
Once aboard, My Voyage can also be used for applicable dining reservations.
This can be particularly useful if your plans change during the cruise.
For example, you might have planned to eat at 6:00pm but discover that a shore excursion returns later than expected. Depending on availability, you can look for another dining option through My Voyage.
Open Dining is a useful option if you don't want to commit to the same fixed dinner time every evening.
Cunard says Open Dining is available for eligible Britannia guests and generally allows dinner between approximately 6:00pm and 9:00pm, with reservations possible on board.
With Open Dining, you do not necessarily have the same fixed table and service team every evening. Cunard notes that guests using Open Dining can have a different table and service team each evening.
This option can work well for travelers who:
However, Open Dining may not be the best choice for someone who strongly prefers having the same table every evening.
Yes, but it is important to consider everyone's preferences before making a change.
Families with young children often prefer early dining because it fits better with children's bedtime routines.
On the other hand, adults who want to enjoy evening activities may prefer a later sitting.
If your family members are booked under different reservations, make sure the bookings are linked if you want Cunard to try to accommodate everyone together.
Cunard notes that when bookings are linked, the maitre d' will endeavor to accommodate guests dining together, although this cannot be guaranteed.
Group dining can be more complicated because availability becomes more limited as the required table size increases.
For example, changing a table for two may be easier than finding a new time for a group of eight.
If several people are traveling together, it is best to decide on the preferred dining time before making changes.
You should also ensure that linked bookings have compatible dining preferences where possible.
If you are working with a travel agent, ask the agent to coordinate the request for the entire group.
Alternative dining is different from your main dining-room preference.
Cunard offers several alternative dining experiences, and these can generally be reserved through My Cunard before sailing. Cunard says alternative dining can be booked through My Cunard from around 14 days before departure, depending on the venue and voyage.
Alternative dining reservations can also be changed after boarding through My Voyage or other onboard reservation channels, subject to availability.
If you need to change an alternative dining reservation, check the cancellation and modification conditions carefully. Cunard's terms state that cancellation charges may apply when reservations are cancelled close to the scheduled time, while transferring a reservation to another time or date may avoid the cancellation charge under the applicable terms.
If My Cunard does not show the dining option you want, don't assume that no other solution exists.
You can contact Cunard's customer service team or your travel agent and ask about availability.
When contacting them, have the following information ready:
Explain clearly that you want to change your existing dining preference, rather than cancel your entire cruise reservation.
Your travel agent may also be able to submit the request on your behalf if you booked through an agency.
It is best to request a change as early as possible.
Dining preferences can become harder to change as the sailing date approaches because popular times may fill up.
For example, if you know several weeks before departure that 6:00pm no longer works for your family, don't wait until embarkation day to request the change.
Log in to My Cunard and check your dining options as soon as possible.
If the desired time isn't available, you can contact Cunard and ask about alternatives.
Absolutely.
One reason passengers frequently reconsider their dinner time is because of shore excursions.
If your ship arrives back in port late in the afternoon, an early dinner could be difficult.
For example:
Shore excursion ends at 6:00pm → early dinner at 6:00pm
This creates an obvious scheduling conflict.
In such a situation, Open Dining may provide more flexibility, if available for your booking.
Before changing your dining preference, review your planned shore excursions and check the expected return times.
Yes, if your booking and fare allow changes and the preferred dining option is available. Cunard Fare guests can generally amend their dining preference through My Cunard.
No. Changes are subject to availability.
Yes, eligible guests can request a different dining time when that option is available.
Depending on your fare, accommodation and voyage, you may be able to change your dining preference to Open Dining if it is available.
Yes. Cunard says reservations made before sailing can be changed through My Voyage or by contacting reception once on board.
Cunard warns that the original dining time may no longer be available and you could be placed on a waitlist.
No. Early Saver guests can request a preferred dining time, but the arrangement is confirmed on board and is subject to availability.
For eligible Cunard Fare bookings, dining preferences can include a different table size where availability permits.
Yes, applicable alternative dining reservations can be changed, subject to availability and the relevant reservation terms.
Yes, you can change your dining time after booking a Cunard Line cruise in many circumstances. The easiest method for eligible Cunard Fare bookings is generally to log in to My Cunard, open your booking, locate your dining choice and select another available option.
However, dining changes are not automatically guaranteed. Availability, fare type, accommodation and voyage arrangements can all affect what you can select.
If your preferred dining time is important to you, make the change as early as possible rather than waiting until embarkation. And remember that once you give up an existing dining option, Cunard cannot guarantee that you will be able to get the original time back.
For the most accurate information, always check your specific booking in My Cunard and review the dining terms that apply to your fare.
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