Are they still seating only 1 family/party per table?

[Lilsia]

I struggle with the dining situation because my daughter (she is currently 2 but will be 3 on the cruise) can get antsy during dinner. I have taken her out of multiple restaurants at WDW to calm down. It usually only takes a minute or so outside the restaurant before she is ready to go back in but it does make dinners a struggle. If sitting with others, I think I’d feel very judged by those at the table and i’d be extremely stressed trying to make sure she does well (and realistically everyone else says she is good but I’m very conscious of her being loud or whiny at dinner cause I don’t want her to be bothering others that are eating). It does make me sad and nervous to read all the comments with people complaining about “rowdy” kids. This is a DCL cruise and kids aren’t always perfectly behaved. I hope people give parents a break when they are doing their best to handle the situation.

Back to the topic of this thread, there is a part of me that thinks it would be nice to sit with someone who has a kid close to my daughter’s age. It may actually help her be less antsy at dinner. I’m usually very introverted but I think a shared table could really have its benefits but now I’m nervous our table mates will just be annoyed by my toddler for being a toddler and judging my parenting skills.

I think that when people are talking about rowdy kids, they are talking about ones that obviously have never been disciplined in their lives. The ones that stand on the chairs, throw things, scream a the top of their lungs, types of behavior. No one notices a toddler getting antsy. The former is unacceptable, the latter is normal. So unless your kid is out of control, I wouldn't worry about it. And sharing a table is not going to change anything. People sitting at the next table over can be just as annoyed with your kid as your tablemates can if it is an issue of bad behavior. It's not like there is a bubble around the table that holds in sound. LOL

 

[n2mm]

I think that when people are talking about rowdy kids, they are talking about ones that obviously have never been disciplined in their lives. The ones that stand on the chairs, throw things, scream a the top of their lungs, types of behavior. No one notices a toddler getting antsy. The former is unacceptable, the latter is normal. So unless your kid is out of control, I wouldn't worry about it. And sharing a table is not going to change anything. People sitting at the next table over can be just as annoyed with your kid as your tablemates can if it is an issue of bad behavior. It's not like there is a bubble around the table that holds in sound. LOL

We’ve all been next to “that” table more than once.

 

[Cheburashka]

If we're a party of 6 from two different staterooms and have second dining what are the chances of us sitting with someone else? We sail Saturday on the Fantasy and I really don't feel like waiting hours on the CS line. I have incredible social anxiety.

You could be seated with a party of 2. The first time I sailed it was as a party of 2, and upon checking on the status of my private table request I learned that we'd been seated at a table for 8 with a family of 6. Um, no. Got us switched to a private table.

 

[n2mm]

You could be seated with a party of 2. The first time I sailed it was as a party of 2, and upon checking on the status of my private table request I learned that we'd been seated at a table for 8 with a family of 6. Um, no. Got us switched to a private table.

happened to us too. We were 2 and got put at a table of 6 elderly guest. We stuck it out because it was a 3 night. It was interesting. We were in our mid to late 60s so were babies compared to them. I never thought as a couple they would add us to a group, but they did.

 

[Lilsia]

We’ve all been next to “that” table more once.

I have worked in food service. It is shocking what some parents allow children to do. Letting your kid run around when people are carrying hot food, has got to be the most "what in the world are they thinking" thing that we see regularly. Also using banquettes as a speedway. Ever see a kid running full speed on the seats, tripping and smacking their face into a table? I have. Lots of blood and a few lost teeth.

 

[cmph]

I struggle with the dining situation because my daughter (she is currently 2 but will be 3 on the cruise) can get antsy during dinner. I have taken her out of multiple restaurants at WDW to calm down. It usually only takes a minute or so outside the restaurant before she is ready to go back in but it does make dinners a struggle. If sitting with others, I think I’d feel very judged by those at the table and i’d be extremely stressed trying to make sure she does well (and realistically everyone else says she is good but I’m very conscious of her being loud or whiny at dinner cause I don’t want her to be bothering others that are eating). It does make me sad and nervous to read all the comments with people complaining about “rowdy” kids. This is a DCL cruise and kids aren’t always perfectly behaved. I hope people give parents a break when they are doing their best to handle the situation.

Back to the topic of this thread, there is a part of me that thinks it would be nice to sit with someone who has a kid close to my daughter’s age. It may actually help her be less antsy at dinner. I’m usually very introverted but I think a shared table could really have its benefits but now I’m nervous our table mates will just be annoyed by my toddler for being a toddler and judging my parenting skills.

My kids are teens now, but if I see a toddler being a toddler, I default to "that poor parent" rather than "that bad parent". Toddlers are going to get fussy at meals, and it's not always predictable!

Example of "bad", for perspective: I saw parents stand their toddler on a table in Cabanas when he got fussy. As in: the kid was standing on the table, in his shoes, stomping and crying. It was not some kind of accident, in which one adult was trying to lift the child across the table to another, and he momentarily stood on the table. He full-on stood there for 5min. while the adults chatted. It was the oddest thing. Maybe in some cultures, that is not as weird as it is to me (American)? (Seems like Americans are MORE tolerant of shoe filth than many other cultures though.) I couldn't get over the safety factor in such a bustling place, if that kid took a tumble.

 

[Kwami]

My kids are teens now, but if I see a toddler being a toddler, I default to "that poor parent" rather than "that bad parent". Toddlers are going to get fussy at meals, and it's not always predictable!

Example of "bad", for perspective: I saw parents stand their toddler on a table in Cabanas when he got fussy. As in: the kid was standing on the table, in his shoes, stomping and crying. It was not some kind of accident, in which one adult was trying to lift the child across the table to another, and he momentarily stood on the table. He full-on stood there for 5min. while the adults chatted. It was the oddest thing. Maybe in some cultures, that is not as weird as it is to me (American)? (Seems like Americans are MORE tolerant of shoe filth than many other cultures though.) I couldn't get over the safety factor in such a bustling place, if that kid took a tumble.

I think there's a pretty big difference between "fussy" and "running around", though.

 

[goofynut41]

I kinda like sitting by myself....

 

[Cheburashka]

I think there's a pretty big difference between "fussy" and "running around", though.

And a big difference between a fussy baby (no judgment) and a child allowed to lie on the floor tantruming in the restaurant as the adults tune them out, or allowed to yell at the table, or allowed to play around under the table & run around noisily, etc.

 

[Jhondy]

And a big difference between a fussy baby (no judgment) and a child allowed to lie on the floor tantruming in the restaurant as the adults tune them out, or allowed to yell at the table, or allowed to play around under the table & run around noisily, etc.

My kid has definitely thrown tantrums at restaurants but when she does, I first try to re-direct her in hopes of stopping a full blown tantrum. If I can’t re-direct her (which I very quickly determine that) then I take her out of the restaurant till she can calm down. I don’t think it’s right for other guests to have their meal interrupted by my kid. I always feel very judged when I’m taking my kid out of a restaurant though or when I’m letting her have her tantrum outside in a spot where she is as away from people as possible. She is currently 2 and definitely in the pushing boundaries stage to see what she can get away with. I think sometimes people forget how irrational, emotional, and just plain crazy toddlers are.

 

[Kwami]

My kid has definitely thrown tantrums at restaurants but when she does, I first try to re-direct her in hopes of stopping a full blown tantrum. If I can’t re-direct her (which I very quickly determine that) then I take her out of the restaurant till she can calm down. I don’t think it’s right for other guests to have their meal interrupted by my kid. I always feel very judged when I’m taking my kid out of a restaurant though or when I’m letting her have her tantrum outside in a spot where she is as away from people as possible. She is currently 2 and definitely in the pushing boundaries stage to see what she can get away with. I think sometimes people forget how irrational, emotional, and just plain crazy toddlers are.

Thank you. Seriously. I wish that everyone would take their screaming kids outside until they calmed down. I would judge you way more if you didn't take her outside.

 

[Cheburashka]

My kid has definitely thrown tantrums at restaurants but when she does, I first try to re-direct her in hopes of stopping a full blown tantrum. If I can’t re-direct her (which I very quickly determine that) then I take her out of the restaurant till she can calm down. I don’t think it’s right for other guests to have their meal interrupted by my kid. I always feel very judged when I’m taking my kid out of a restaurant though or when I’m letting her have her tantrum outside in a spot where she is as away from people as possible. She is currently 2 and definitely in the pushing boundaries stage to see what she can get away with. I think sometimes people forget how irrational, emotional, and just plain crazy toddlers are.

Taking her out is the right thing to do when she can't be redirected. I doubt anyone is judging you for that. Everyone who's had kids knows that toddlers will act up. It's how the adults react that counts. Keep up the good parenting.

 

[Mango7100]

My kid has definitely thrown tantrums at restaurants but when she does, I first try to re-direct her in hopes of stopping a full blown tantrum. If I can’t re-direct her (which I very quickly determine that) then I take her out of the restaurant till she can calm down. I don’t think it’s right for other guests to have their meal interrupted by my kid. I always feel very judged when I’m taking my kid out of a restaurant though or when I’m letting her have her tantrum outside in a spot where she is as away from people as possible. She is currently 2 and definitely in the pushing boundaries stage to see what she can get away with. I think sometimes people forget how irrational, emotional, and just plain crazy toddlers are.

We would do the same thing when Dd was a toddler. If she couldn’t be redirected fast, then one of us would haul her out. I remember carrying her out over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes at a restaurant and would come back inside again when our sanity had returned.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

My kid has definitely thrown tantrums at restaurants but when she does, I first try to re-direct her in hopes of stopping a full blown tantrum. If I can’t re-direct her (which I very quickly determine that) then I take her out of the restaurant till she can calm down. I don’t think it’s right for other guests to have their meal interrupted by my kid. I always feel very judged when I’m taking my kid out of a restaurant though or when I’m letting her have her tantrum outside in a spot where she is as away from people as possible. She is currently 2 and definitely in the pushing boundaries stage to see what she can get away with. I think sometimes people forget how irrational, emotional, and just plain crazy toddlers are.

They are not called the “terrible twos” for nothing. Even as our adult children now are middle agers, I still have recollections of those rare but memorable occasions.

 

[mousefan73]

Honestly I would rather sit at a table with active conversation and a little kids acting out, which is normal and happens. What I wont tolerate is sitting at a table where let's say the majority of people go in their own world and watch movie on their Ipad or phones. I get maybe a using devices to keep a littlel kid busy. But I have literally seen on our last cruise a family of 4 where the parents just stare at each other in silence, and the two teens are in their own little ipad world (EVERY MEAL). If we had to share that table I would request to be moved.

My only concern right now is what if we share a table and a party test positive, are we considered close contacts and will we have to quarantine? That is for me the main issue right now.

 

[lanejudy]

My only concern right now is what if we share a table and a party test positive, are we considered close contacts and will we have to quarantine?

I think DCL is unlikely to be testing anyone onboard. Yes, there may be some occasional incidences where someone becomes obviously ill. But other than the embarkation test, I'm not aware of any onboard testing being done regularly. Even for the young unvaccinated kids, I see no reference about it. It would seem there is no contact tracing being done onboard anymore.

 

[mousefan73]

I think DCL is unlikely to be testing anyone onboard. Yes, there may be some occasional incidences where someone becomes obviously ill. But other than the embarkation test, I'm not aware of any onboard testing being done regularly. Even for the young unvaccinated kids, I see no reference about it. It would seem there is no contact tracing being done onboard anymore.

Are they no longer testing kids on 5 nights and longer?

 

[MomOTwins]

They are not called the “terrible twos” for nothing. Even as our adult children now are middle agers, I still have recollections of those rare but memorable occasions.

Yep, those memories are vivid to say the least. I remember once when we were at a pizza place (a generally family friendly place), toddler had a meltdown. Tried his favorites—patty cake and “looking for a baby bumble bee” song (worked only until the second I stopped singing), taking him outside for a walk in the stroller, ipad videos, nothing worked, he would quiet down for a minute or two and then work back up to fussy. Just wanted to leave but he didn’t fuss until after we had ordered food, his older brothers were starving and service was slooooow.

One man walked over and coldly said I was a terrible mother and my kid was a horrible brat. I started crying. Finally got our food and asked for the check and found out the couple next to us had paid our bill because they felt bad for us. When I see another family struggling, I always remember how I felt in that moment and try to be more like the couple who were sympathetic than the one who just made me feel worse when I was already feeling low.

 

[MomOTwins]

Are they no longer testing kids on 5 nights and longer?

My email I got this week for our cruise next week said all unvaccinated kids would be tested on the last day.

 

[tvguy]

I think DCL is unlikely to be testing anyone onboard. Yes, there may be some occasional incidences where someone becomes obviously ill. But other than the embarkation test, I'm not aware of any onboard testing being done regularly. Even for the young unvaccinated kids, I see no reference about it. It would seem there is no contact tracing being done onboard anymore.

I would be shocked if........someone who is feeling ill....and reported it........wasn't tested for covid on board. That was the process way back in 2003 for Norovirus. If you had symptoms, the medical center tested you.