I've read that your dining seating is done when you get your S&S card. So is it better to get there early to make sure you get what you want? Also is it better so you get a booth with just your family?

You either read wrong, or someone explained wrong.

Your seating assignment is given to you on your sail&sign, which means that they have to have the seating assignments before the sailing day.

If they are like other organizations which do similar things, they will run a best-fit program against the passenger manifest once they are 99.5% [I'm making that number up; it is to signify "the vast vast majority"] booked and get seating assignments for them all.  I would guess that they have the seating assignments no earlier than a week before sailing.

its not done when you get to the ship you find out when you get there. its better to go to the dining hall to try!!!! to get it changed if you do not like your assigned seats and time

I must of read it wrong or the people writing it was wrong.

chloe, just to clarify the procedure. When you check in prior to boarding and issued your S&S card in will be imprinted with your dinning info, time, table & dinning room. If it's not what you want go to the dinning room as soon as possible and talk with the Maitre'd and try to get it changed. Hope this is clear!

Well I'm a first time cruiser, leaving on 09/25, myself and 3 kids.  So I dont know what is a bad or good table??  So I guess I'll just take what they give me this cruise and the next cruise I'll know what I want....lol

All the seats are good. The food is soo good too be sure to save room for dessert there is a chocolate warming cake topped with ice cream if you love chocolate you will love this. Your kids will love it in the big dining room they do alot dancing around the room the kids can join in to. I was told they don't have the 5:45 dining any more. For Lunch they have a deli and pizza bar in the back of the ship the kids will like it. If I can help you in any kind of way let me know we are going on our 4th cruise in Feb09   lynnktx@aol.com Have fun

Does it do any good to ask for a particular table?  We sailed in Feb. and I totally want the same table in Dec., beautiful view.  I have misgivings about this - hate to leave it to chance, but would hate to ask for that table and then get bad tablemates.. what to do?

Lecx5:

Does it do any good to ask for a particular table?

No. 

One the cruise we have been on we had wonderful table mates I have learned alot about cruise from them it is neat to hear where they are from how many cruises they have been on on our last cruise the couple at our table won there cruise playing Bingo and they had a cat 12 stateroom. another couple at our table he lived 15 miles down the road from us and we did not even no him we live in a town with 30.000 people. We have been in a booth a big round table & a table by the window there is uselly 10 of us at a table. Just go and enjoy your self.