Save a Table with a Water Bottle??!! Are you serious?

[lbgraves]

There is an entrance from the outside in the back that you can get to by walking outside on the deck to the seating area to get to the tables. There is also a staircase that leads from deck 8 up into the back corner of Topsiders that comes out into the tables.

 

[lg3]

I too am curious as to whether the water bottle was full or not. That might make a small difference.

We often had difficulty finding a table at the buffet, and there were only 3 in our party. This happened frequently when at Topsiders. To compound the problem, at the time dd could barely hold her tray by herself and navigate around so many moving people. We too had to end up wandering around trying to find a table. I can only imagine how difficult it would be with many little ones.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

It's not my "natural order" its the design of the dinning rooms: Entranace, buffet, tables, not Entrance, tables buffet (obviously I am talking about the buffet all the time places (not Parrot Cay at lunch). This is the way it is in the parks and on the ship (and yes I expect that there are a few exceptions that anyone could point out)

Huh?
I'm not sure what you mean by "few exceptions". The buffet at topsiders is not how you describe. The entrance to the tables is actually closer to the door than the entrance to actually be IN the buffet line- they are pretty even but if getting technical about it- the entrance to the tables is to the left or right (depending on which door you enter into topsiders) and THEN right there is the entrance to the buffet line. It is not buffet then tables/not entrance.

You know that Topsiders isn't set up like that, right? You need not go past the buffet to get a table.

Right- that's what I was saying. I think they are remembering things incorrectly or something?

There is an entrance from the outside in the back that you can get to by walking outside on the deck to the seating area to get to the tables. There is also a staircase that leads from deck 8 up into the back corner of Topsiders that comes out into the tables.

Yep, entrance in front right before you enter the buffet line, entrance from the outside in back, and entrance from the staircase. This is clearly NOT like walking into Luby's or any other buffet restaurant where you MUST go thru the buffet line before getting to tables. Not even alike at all.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

you suppose that the opening in the railing that seperates the buffet line from the seating area near the door might be for emergency access (in or out?). On our last cruise we only went to the starboard side buffet line for breakfast, so maybe DCL has reconfigured the port side - I remember a railing / 3/4 height partition on that side between the seating area and the buffet.

And I am not really trying to be argumentitive here, nor supporting or not supporting the OP's situation. I just commented on my observation that at topsiders and in the parks there are a LOT of people saving tables for people that are standing in line at the buffet or lunch counter while there are a lot of people that are trying to find someplace to sit down and eat because they have their food. And I think that the way the Imagineers layed out the restaurants assumed that groups would get in line for their meal, then go find a place to sit.

I only remember seeing a railing seperating some of the tables from the actual buffet line only but the rest before that railing starts is wide open- an entrance to the tables there to the right or left of the buffet before you get to the person handing out trays/silverware. It's not like a railing is "open" for emergency (emergency?) in/out- it's flat out open there and you can hang a right or left (depending on what door you go in to topsiders) to get to the tables OR pass that entrance and keep moving straight another few steps to go into the buffet line. The railing doesn't go across the entrance to close/open that I noticed- or atleast it was always open or removed or something as I don't remember seeing it. Granted I've only been on 2 cruises but the last one wasn't long ago and it was a long cruise- lots of visits to topsiders.

When I was looking for tables I did not notice a lot of people holding tables. Every table taken people were EATING- actually eating. Obviously you experienced something different on your cruise- but in no way is it obvious that they expected you to only enter the buffet before finding a seat. There is the entrance right there and other entrances to the restaurant as well. Also actually going thru the buffet is kind of a tight fit and they do realize that many will have their carryons on embarkation day before they get their rooms open, many will have bags, backpacks/etc. if they are eating and planning on excursions that day too, etc. There really isn't much room to lug that stuff thru the buffet line especially with the bar then tables right behind you (or a wall on the other side- in which CM's sometimes walk down that way to replenish foods. It's really a tight fit.
I think they clearly made it very easy to choose one of the many entrances to go in and choose a table first if you so desire. It is NOT corraled off- in any way from any entrance- that would sort of force you into the buffet. Not at all. I'm not sure what you're remembering? It was topsiders on the Magic?

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I think we need someone to whip out a photo- I know someone has it!!! to show what it looks like when walking into topsiders from the various entrances! LOL

 

[fakereadhed]

Q: Why do people keep saving tables?
A: Because it works, and they get a table.

If it didn't work, they would stop it and get their food before they find a table. Stop putting up with it!

I am very courteous, but if someone is going to be a jerk I will call them on it- politely. I would move the items and sit down. If they came back, I would explain that they weren't sitting there so we did. End of discussion.

If this happens each time they try to save a table it will become more convenient for them to get their food first. Problem is that some people are afraid of what they consider to be confrontation. It doesn't have to be, and if they escalate the situation(they usually don't) just keep your cool and they will end up looking worse- not you.

 

[lg3]

Q: Why do people keep saving tables?
A: Because it works, and they get a table.

If it didn't work, they would stop it and get their food before they find a table. Stop putting up with it!

I am very courteous, but if someone is going to be a jerk I will call them on it- politely. I would move the items and sit down. If they came back, I would explain that they weren't sitting there so we did. End of discussion.

If this happens each time they try to save a table it will become more convenient for them to get their food first. Problem is that some people are afraid of what they consider to be confrontation. It doesn't have to be, and if they escalate the situation(they usually don't) just keep your cool and they will end up looking worse- not you.

I'm assuming you are talking about saving tables with personal belongings of some sort, not actually someone sitting at the table waiting for others to come back so they can go through the buffet line?

On a different note: Sometimes the lines entering the main entrance to the buffet could get a bit long - there can be some mean looks if a group thought you weren't at the very end (adding another good 10+ min. to getting food while the rest of your group already were ready to start eating). Not saying this is right or wrong to do, just an observation.

 

[fakereadhed]

I'm assuming you are talking about saving tables with personal belongings of some sort, not actually someone sitting at the table waiting for others to come back so they can go through the buffet line?

Yes, I'm not going to shove somebody's family member off a chair and sit down. I'm not that mean!

Leaving personal belongings to save a spot happens everywhere- at the park, at the kids playland, at the pool. It just really annoys me.

Last time we went to Day Out With Thomas someone set a cooler on one of 3 picnic tables available in the lunch area. Several people circled it, and moved on. We moved it to the very edge of the table and sat down and started to eat. 20 minutes later a family of 4 shows up(the table sat about 10) and said "Who moved our cooler?" We smiled and said, "we did, about 20 minutes ago and we're nearly finished. You are welcome to join us!" The older lady in the group(Grandma?) offered our son a cookie and looked embarrassed. I'm all for killing them with kindness. Sure they were talking about us after we left, but we were gone so who cares.

 

[jrabbit]

I have taken the "secret" stairs up into topsiders, and have walked on the deck around to the back of the ship to get a desert to go with my lunch, so yes you can come in those "entrances" but where does DCL station the "Wipes" people? - not at the back door, not at the stairways at the back of topsiders!

 

[disneynewbee]

When we go to buffet or get food in a park we always find a table first and I sit down with the little ones and dh and the older kids get in line and get their food along with the little kids. I then go get in line to get mine. We don't do this to be rude or disturb the natural order of things. It is not physically possible for us to go through a food line pushing a stroller with a baby and keeping track of and making plates for a 3 and 6yo. Just not possible. We need two hands to make and carry the trays. Normally I will feed the baby her baby food while dh is in line so we don't actually hold the table up any longer than we normally would since if I got my food with him I would have to eat and still stay there and feed the baby. Even without a stroller I don't see how anyone with smaller kids can manage this. I have never however left something on a table to save it, someone is always there and if I did have to run to the restroom or something there would be more there than just a water bottle and navigator so people know someone is sitting there. I don't understand why the guy would be so aggitated obviously he has to be able to understand that it may have looked like someone just didn't throw their trash away. That unfortunately happens a lot but I'm not the type to have enough guts to actually sit there instead I continue to wonder around for another table when in most cases the stuff is really abandoned. As far as saving chairs at the pool I do think that if a person is actually in the pool that they should be able to save their chair for when they get out. I would always put a personal item on it so people know that I didn't just abandon the chair. And I think that out of courtesy you should only save one chair per family.

 

[atinkerbellmom]

I have seen people leave a bag at the table and save the table. We came to the area and sat at a table across from a table like this. (My family does always grab food and then sits down since the buffet is set up to flow of such. I "HATE" when people come through the line walking along the asile and pass me to go get a table. My behind is too big and I feel that is the space for my behind when in line and them brushing pass me is not appropiate). Anyway, I have sat down across from a "held table" my family has eatten and only minutes from us leaving sit at the "saved table" and start to eat their food. So, this is a table that could have been used by two families in the time period. The only exception I have are the people with little kids or special needs kids who need to sit another adult down at the table and all wait for the other adult(s)/ teens to go and get food. I actually like this because I have seen some of the little kids in the buffet lines and the coughs and sneezes they let out are at "food level".

Now Lisa, what happened to you was totally wrong. But as a person who tends to "sit" in a chair at the pool and not get in the water, I too have moved things after 20 minutes of standing to sit my behind in the chair. Now when moving the belongings, I do tend to stack it in the chair next to the chair next to me. Usually all the adjourning chairs belong to the same family. Actually if I had moved something and then needed to leave before the people came back, I would actually move it back to my chair before leaving. If the people came back while I was sitting there, I would ask them if they NEEDED to sit. Most times they will say "no" wipe a face and walk away again to swim. This way no harm is done... I do think the answer to this problem as I have stated before are "cubbies" at the pool.... Come on DCL catch a hint and be sure The Dream has cubbies.

BTW, Remember that CM clear the tables, so things are left all the time & as the OP's point was "for goodness sake, a water bottle and navigator" I too would have thought it was garbage. A person at a table is just not the same. They should not even be compared as the same.

 

[shancan911]

All right, you guys are makin me nervous. I have sailed 3 RCCL ships, and a Princess. I never recall a problem on the RCCL ships at the buffet area with exception of our last on Liberty of the Seas at embarkation. Our last cruise was aboard the Caribbean Princess, and every morning I struggled to find a place to eat. Twice, the only table I could find was a 6 top. I begrudgingly took a seat, but kept my eyes peeled for families looking to share. Magic is a smaller ship, with I'm assuming less passengers. But these posts are making it sound like I'm going to run into crowds each day. As a rule, it's just me for breakfast, everyone else likes to sleep in, so I always get my food, and then my table. Please advise!

 

[lbgraves]

We have never had a problem finding a table for breakfast or lunch at TS on five cruises. Don't worry about it.

 

[sbell111]

If it didn't work, they would stop it and get their food before they find a table. Stop putting up with it!

I am very courteous, but if someone is going to be a jerk I will call them on it- politely. I would move the items and sit down. If they came back, I would explain that they weren't sitting there so we did. End of discussion. ...

It wouldn't hardly be the end of the discussion.

... Leaving personal belongings to save a spot happens everywhere- at the park, at the kids playland, at the pool. It just really annoys me.

Last time we went to Day Out With Thomas someone set a cooler on one of 3 picnic tables available in the lunch area. Several people circled it, and moved on. We moved it to the very edge of the table and sat down and started to eat. 20 minutes later a family of 4 shows up(the table sat about 10) and said "Who moved our cooler?" We smiled and said, "we did, about 20 minutes ago and we're nearly finished. You are welcome to join us!" The older lady in the group(Grandma?) offered our son a cookie and looked embarrassed. I'm all for killing them with kindness. Sure they were talking about us after we left, but we were gone so who cares.

Opinions are a funny thing. I don't consider setting personal items down on a table and expecting them to still be there when I return a few minutes later with a tray of food to be rude, at all. However, I do think that it would be rude for someone to move my belongings and then be snarky when I return to the table with my food.

Also, I believe that when people are left with taking the position that they don't care that they have upset others as long as they got their way, as in your example, they are aware that they did something that was less than appropriate.

... As far as saving chairs at the pool I do think that if a person is actually in the pool that they should be able to save their chair for when they get out. I would always put a personal item on it so people know that I didn't just abandon the chair. And I think that out of courtesy you should only save one chair per family.

I would argue that there really is no difference. If it is OK to save a lounger with personal items while you are gone for a few minutes, it should be OK to save a table while you are gone for a few minutes to get food.

Also, I don't understand the position that it is OK to save the table if you leave someone at it, but not if you leave belongings at it. The tables will acually 'turn' faster if it was saved with stuff, since all members of the party would get their food at the same time.

 

[dbk1029]

It can happen. I went to the Quiet Cove pool for the first time on the PC repo and put my towel, coverup and waterproof card holder on a chair next to several of my friends' chairs and sat in the hottub for 15-20 minutes. when I got out everything was gone and someone else's gold KTTW card and other items was on the chair...who was no where to be found or too insecure enough to admit it was their name myself or the CM helping me find my things was calling out. After about 30 minutes of all of us searching, we found my things in the dirty towel bin. I would not have been that upset to find my things on the deck with my shoes, which were still under the front of the chair but found it quite rude and unneccesary to have everything chucked into the dirty towel bin. As it was, they were not around at the time and never responded in 30 minutes so technically, someone could have cleared their things from the chair...and I admit that it did cross my mind...but I was happy to finally have my KTTW card so that I could return to the room and get ready for dinner. That has never happened to us at the Mickey or Goofy pool.

That gold KTTW card may have ended up floating in the ocean if that was my chair. IMO some people bank on other people being nice to get away with their rude behavior.

 

[sbell111]

All right, you guys are makin me nervous. I have sailed 3 RCCL ships, and a Princess. I never recall a problem on the RCCL ships at the buffet area with exception of our last on Liberty of the Seas at embarkation. Our last cruise was aboard the Caribbean Princess, and every morning I struggled to find a place to eat. Twice, the only table I could find was a 6 top. I begrudgingly took a seat, but kept my eyes peeled for families looking to share. Magic is a smaller ship, with I'm assuming less passengers. But these posts are making it sound like I'm going to run into crowds each day. As a rule, it's just me for breakfast, everyone else likes to sleep in, so I always get my food, and then my table. Please advise!

Don't worry about it. I can only think of one time that we had any trouble at all getting a table at Topsiders. We land sharked for two or three minutes before one came open. No big woop.

One thing that you will find is that some people like to rail about perceived rudenesses when it turns out that the issue is fairly benign. People are generally more comfortable complaining about things.

 

[sbell111]

That gold KTTW card may have ended up floating in the ocean if that was my chair. IMO some people bank on other people being nice to get away with their rude behavior.

That was exactly my point in post #55, just above yours.

 

[disneynewbee]

It wouldn't hardly be the end of the discussion. Opinions are a funny thing. I don't consider setting personal items down on a table and expecting them to still be there when I return a few minutes later with a tray of food to be rude, at all. However, I do think that it would be rude for someone to move my belongings and then be snarky when I return to the table with my food.

Also, I believe that when people are left with taking the position that they don't care that they have upset others as long as they got their way, as in your example, they are aware that they did something that was less than appropriate.I would argue that there really is no difference. If it is OK to save a lounger with personal items while you are gone for a few minutes, it should be OK to save a table while you are gone for a few minutes to get food.

Also, I don't understand the position that it is OK to save the table if you leave someone at it, but not if you leave belongings at it. The tables will acually 'turn' faster if it was saved with stuff, since all members of the party would get their food at the same time.

I didn't say I thought it was wrong to leave something at the table to save it just that I have never done it personally and that if I did I would leave more than a small water bottle and navigator that could be considered trash. This was a quote from what I said "I have never however left something on a table to save it, someone is always there and if I did have to run to the restroom or something there would be more there than just a water bottle and navigator so people know someone is sitting there." It does annoy me when people are done with a table and don't clean it off all the way preventing others from using it because they think someone is still sitting there.

 

[sbell111]

I didn't say I thought it was wrong to leave something at the table to save it just that I have never done it personally and that if I did I would leave more than a small water bottle and navigator that could be considered trash. This was a quote from what I said "I have never however left something on a table to save it, someone is always there and if I did have to run to the restroom or something there would be more there than just a water bottle and navigator so people know someone is sitting there." It does annoy me when people are done with a table and don't clean it off all the way preventing others from using it because they think someone is still sitting there.

Yeah, that last paragraph wasn't really about you. I wanted to make the point, but didn't feel like quoting yet another post.

 

[JimHB]

Interesting variety of opinions here. I'm due to cruise for the 1st time later in April, and hoping I don't run into any of these situations. I did see that the copies of Navigators posted said there is no saving of seats in the theater, or lounge chairs on decks 9 & 10 (if I remember that right), but I didn't see anything explicitly about dining tables - did I miss something?

I don't think I would be hesitant about moving a bottle of water on a table and taking occupation myself, so I certainly can't fault the original poster. Much beyond that, though, and I could see that a family might be trying to free their hands and placed their stuff at an empty table before going back for food - and I really can't see a whole lot of fault in that.

Reminds me a bit of what we do here at work at lunch-n-learns that are conducted in a big conference room. Sometimes when food isn't there or done being set up yet, the early folks will tend to sit at the big conference table, while the later arrivals will have to make due with the chairs up along the wall. Needless to say, I try to get a table seat as I'm not too good at juggling a plate and drink in my lap. Then when the food has arrived or is set up, most folks will leave their pen/badge/pad/whatever in front of their chair and go get in line for the food, then come back and pretty much its expected that nobody has taken over your chair. Similar to this thread topic, but of course we're all adults, know the drill, and aren't really out of sight of our seat, but just goes to show that different rules can apply depending on the situation.

Anyway, here's hoping my wife and I will always find that nice little unoccupied romantic table for 2 right after we get our food trays .

Jim B