Assigned to dine with strangers on DCL?

[AKLFan3]

I have sailed on 4 cruises with Norwegian Cruise Line and I am now considering a DCL vacation. I know that Disney assigns families to a dining time but do they also assign multiple families to the same dining table? I prefer to eat with only those I am going on vacation with, not strangers. TIA

 

[frazzlemommy]

I'm leaving for my first DCL cruise in just a few days here , but I've done some research on that subject, too, and it seems that you may sit with another family depending on how many are in your party; HOWEVER, if you call DCL ahead of time you can request your own table. Of course, there are no guarantees, but we called and made this request and were told they'll do their best and are usually able to accommodate. Especially if you have the late dining (we do), as it's less crowded.

 

[jmb910]

How many are in your traveling party? When it has been myself and my husband, our first cruise we were at a table for 8 and all of us were parties of two. Then on our second cruise, the same thing, only a party of 10. Our third cruise we were with 2 other families so we were all seated together.

I wouldn't worry too much, we have always had a great time with our tablemates. We actually still keep in touch with one family that we sat with back in 2007 and have even had dinner when we were in the same state. It is a lot of fun!

 

[kcashner]

If you wish to be seated as "just us," call DCL an have that notification added to your reservation. Ignore the "just a request" talk that they will give you.

We've had some great experiences (and one not so good) being seated with fellow guests. DCL has always done a great job of age matching (within a year or two) when DD was younger. Now that she is 20 we are always seated with other adults. We've made some friends that we are still in touch with and some that we cruised with again!

Still, DCL will attempt to have you seated as a group unto yourselves if you ask.

Normal table sizes are 4,6, and 8...and there is at least one larger table in each dining room. They will put tables together to handle larger families when needed. Basically, unless there are 8 of you there is no way to predict how you will be seated without a request.

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

We have done five cruises, the only time we were not seated with another family or with couples was on our seven night eastern cruise. We were a table of four; DW, DS, friend of DS, and me.

I was actually disappointed that we were not paired up with another family. On our other four cruises we have had great table mates and never had a problem keeping a conversation going. Our last cruise was the Wonder PC cruise; it was just my DW and me and we were seated with two other couples. We were meeting up with them throughout the cruise for performances and other ship activities.

 

[Purplejewel]

My DH and I have been on four past DCL cruises (just us - no kids) and the first 3 cruises we were seated with 3 other couples. We enjoyed most of our dinner companions on those cruises. I met another couple (on DisBoards) who were also going on our fourth cruise and we linked our dining reservations. We ended up being seated at a table for 4 - didn't ask for that but they gave it to us anyway. We "hit it off" great with this other couple and we both booked the same cruise next year while on-board so we could enjoy each other's company again. You just never know when you might meet people who end up being great friends and traveling companions

 

[chris31997]

I understand eating with strangers and not knowing how it would work and if you would hit it off and all that. But I have to say we missed it when we sailed on NCL. One the first DCL our tablemates had a son the same age as our DD and we hit it off great. The second one not as good as the first but it was still good.

Given that, if you prefer to eat alone go ahead and ask. It is your vacation and you should enjoy it.

 

[mom2brooke76]

I just got off my fourth Disney cruise. The last 3 we were paired with other people during dinner and it was fine. This time, on our cruise meets thread, someone had an idea to link ressies together for those that were interested so that we would somewhat "know" our tablemates rather than chance being paired up with a random person. This worked out SO WELL!! We were 3 groups of three people, so there were 9 people at our table. We had already chatted some on the DIS on the meet thread and it was so nice to meet in person. We truly hit it off and have even discussed doing another cruise together in the future

 

[algae]

We prefer to dine on our own table. Our first 2 (PC and HAL) cruises had us sitting at our own table (party of 2 and then of 5) even though we didn't request either way. On the HAL sailing, there weren't enough people to fill one seating actually.

Then we went to DCL where we were seated with another family (didn't request either way). Yikes, what a horrible experience. 3 kids from toddler age to maybe 5 with no table manners and the adults didn't care and didn't do anything as they threw food around. In fact, the parents looked pretty drained at dinner and didn't move or talk much. They also either didn't speak English or didn't want to speak English. We changed to a private table right after that first meal. Now we request our own table.

 

[amyren]

We were assigned table mates on our first DCL cruise. I was surprised to be seated with another family (I assumed we would be sitting alone) but I really enjoyed their company!
We are sailing again in June and I've linked ressie with a fellow DISer. We have DD's the same age and thought it would be fun to sit together

 

[AKLFan3]

Thanks for all the responses!

Our family is small, just myself (28) and my mom (57). My mom is adamant that she will not sit with another family as we don't use vacations to socialize or meet people. We just go to relax. We both feel we cannot fully relax and enjoy our meal if we have to make small talk with others. So unless DCL can guarantee we will have a table to ourselves, I guess we will stick to NCL. I doubt that DCL "making an attempt" to seat us alone as several have pointed out will satisfy her.

 

[gomagic]

Thanks for all the responses!

Our family is small, just myself (28) and my mom (57). My mom is adamant that she will not sit with another family as we don't use vacations to socialize or meet people. We just go to relax. We both feel we cannot fully relax and enjoy our meal if we have to make small talk with others. So unless DCL can guarantee we will have a table to ourselves, I guess we will stick to NCL. I doubt that DCL "making an attempt" to seat us alone as several have pointed out will satisfy her.

It is just myself and my mom when we cruise and only once have we had tablemates on DCL. It was our first cruise and we had early dining. I'm not sure if we were originally seated with anyone else or not because we received a call right before dinner that our table number had changed (didn't tell us what it was at the time) and to let them know when we got there and they would show us to the correct table. The other couple we were seated with received the same call too. Each cruise after that we have had late dining and have always had a table to ourselves and we didn't request it either.

 

[AKLFan3]

It is just myself and my mom when we cruise and only once have we had tablemates on DCL. It was our first cruise and we had early dining. I'm not sure if we were originally seated with anyone else or not because we received a call right before dinner that our table number had changed (didn't tell us what it was at the time) and to let them know when we got there and they would show us to the correct table. The other couple we were seated with received the same call too. Each cruise after that we have had late dining and have always had a table to ourselves and we didn't request it either.

Thank you so much for posting! You have reassured me. We do prefer dining later in the evening so whenever we book, I'll make sure to request the latest seating.

 

[Manon_Paul_Nina]

I also called to DCL to ask for a table for the 3 of us on our cruise in September.
My DD(3) just won't eat with strangers on our table. She would be to focused on them and goofing around try to get some atention... When it's just the 3 of us she will eat her food and stay seated untill we're finished...
DCL told me that they would do there very best to arrange it...
We'll see in 176 days

 

[PE_TCR]

You never know what might happen when you meet. Our last cruise we met an amazing woman at our table. We hit it off so well that when she is coming to see us here in Wisconsin (she lives in Australia) then after I go to a conference in San Diego I am meeting my wife at Disneyland and our friend as well and she is even taking care of our hotel at the Grand Californian. Meeting her was the highlight of our last cruise.

 

[Bill Seattle]

I prefer to eat with only those I am going on vacation with, not strangers.

No offense but I feel sorry for someone that feels this way. Disney has the dining seating down to science. While they can't guarantee your tablemates won't be drunken flakes they have a pretty good record since they know all of your vital stats and more if you have ever visited the park resorts. I was nervous going in thinking I would not be socialable enough. But after seven days not only did we all open up we actually looked forward to talking about your day with our new friends. We are a middle-aged couple with one young child and were matched with exactly the same. The kids hit it off immediately and became best friends on the cruise and even kept each other entertained so much so that we sometimes forgot they were there. For both parties we typically spend most of dinner time trying to keep the kid happy so the meals were particularly nice. It worked out so well we realized that Disney is much smarter than they get credit for.

 

[Bill Seattle]

Thanks for all the responses!

Our family is small, just myself (28) and my mom (57). My mom is adamant that she will not sit with another family as we don't use vacations to socialize or meet people. We just go to relax. We both feel we cannot fully relax and enjoy our meal if we have to make small talk with others.

I suppose you know yourselves better than anyone else but what you will see is at dinner is many tables of smiling faces as people socialize with their new friends and also bigger groups of extended families and friends of up to 8 people. You, your toddler and grandma will left to socialize by yourselves if you do get your own table. I know the feeling of anxiety of the unknown and sometimes the whole "we go on vacation to relax not socialize" mentality may be an expression of that fear of that unknown.

 

[awatt]

No offense but I feel sorry for someone that feels this way. Disney has the dining seating down to science. While they can't guarantee your tablemates won't be drunken flakes they have a pretty good record since they know all of your vital stats and more if you have ever visited the park resorts. I was nervous going in thinking I would not be socialable enough. But after seven days not only did we all open up we actually looked forward to talking about your day with our new friends. We are a middle-aged couple with one young child and were matched with exactly the same. The kids hit it off immediately and became best friends on the cruise and even kept each other entertained so much so that we sometimes forgot they were there. For both parties we typically spend most of dinner time trying to keep the kid happy so the meals were particularly nice. It worked out so well we realized that Disney is much smarter than they get credit for.

Telling someone you feel sorry for them can be offensive . I doubt the OP is interested in being pitied and instead is seeking information.

To the OP: After you board go to the mAitre d, same place as Palo ressies I think, and check your table assignment. If you need to change it,they really will try to accommodate. Also we like a table to ourselves and have always gotten that from DCL

 

[shelbell77]

Although everyone is obviously able to call and make a request to dine alone. You could really be missing out.

We were seated at a table with two other couples on the Magic in 2008. We all hit it off so well we canceled our Palo ressies (all three parties had it booked for various nights) and often met up for other meals and activities.

We were on the Dream this month and Fitz, who had been our headwaiter in 2008 remembered us and immediately asked after the rest of the group.

In April 2012 we'll be reunited on the Fantasy.

The one cruise we were unhappy with the people we got seated with, we had a quick chat with the head waiter and were promptly moved to a table by ourselves.

 

[kaseyC]

I suppose you know yourselves better than anyone else but what you will see is at dinner is many tables of smiling faces as people socialize with their new friends and also bigger groups of extended families and friends of up to 8 people. You, your toddler and grandma will left to socialize by yourselves if you do get your own table. I know the feeling of anxiety of the unknown and sometimes the whole "we go on vacation to relax not socialize" mentality may be an expression of that fear of that unknown.

For many families that's the point of getting a table to themselves... the opportunity to socialize with only their family members. You don't know her or the dynamics of her family. Dinner may be the time they reconnect and talk about their day and/or make plans for next day. IMO, you are making a lot of assumptions about the OP and her situation.