Craziest table mates you have had.

[nicswife]

We've always requested a table to ourselves. Each time we get close to a cruise, I think "why don't we try mixed seating and see if we make friends!" and then a thread like this pops up and I think better of it!

I'm afraid that we'll be the ones people post their "craziest table mates" posts about! My husband and I own a nightclub in a big city. We're atheists. We both have tattoos AND piercings. I have pink dreadlocks down to my waist. We share a bottle of wine with dinner almost every night on our cruise even though we don't really drink at home. I never understand when posters are like "they'll save the leftovers for you for the next night" 'cause we never have leftover wine! But we're both politically fairly conservative and somewhat socially liberal. Our son is a little socially awkward and a little nerdy. I think we're adorable! But, I can see how most people wouldn't mesh well with us, even though I think we're pretty gosh-darn fun!

Maybe I'll continue requesting a table of our own so we can stay the family everyone stares at but doesn't have to make polite conversation with

I would love you! If I ever see you, I'm totally going to approach you.

 

[BobandLee]

Several "crazy" groups at dinner.

We had sailed several times on the Magic and the Wonder. Seems like we always sat with folks who felt the stuff did not stink. Finally, I said no more cruises.
On a western cruise in 2004 it kinda started out that way but by the end of the cruise, we all kinda got to know each other. But still, I wanted no more.

Then DCL announced the Panama cruise for 2005. Only because I wanted to see the Panama Canal did I agree to go. Glad I did. Our dinner mates on that cruise were fantastic. Love all them. Still keep in touch. Been on other cruises with them. They were the best.
Biggest table of crazies was on the 2007 11 night.
I think there was 12 of us.

 

[jcota]

I am very shy and I have a hard time meeting new people. It's difficult for me to open up to complete strangers beyond just "the weather is great today" small talk. I like to meet new people on my terms, not someone else's (like Disney's). I really wish they would explain upfront to guests that you may be seated with others.

I didn't know DCL seated with other guests until I read it on DISBoards just a few months ago after we had booked. Luckily I booked a concierge room and contacted our concierge to make sure we (meaning our family of four) were seated by ourselves for dinner. Here is what they said:



So just a tip... if you can afford concierge, you will get your own table, the best servers, the best locations in the dining rooms, and the ability to get booths where available.

I have sailed both ways. Actually I liked our non-concierge cruise seating than our concierge seating. On our concierge sailing it seemed that we were seated in the middle but way in the back. Far away from the crush screens and I really liked the booths in the Animators palate but we were told we couldn't have one.

When I said non-concierge, we were in the middle of the entertainment so it entertained my daughter and niece and nephew.

Never had a complaint on the servers. All were top notch!

 

[holula]

We've always requested a table to ourselves. Each time we get close to a cruise, I think "why don't we try mixed seating and see if we make friends!" and then a thread like this pops up and I think better of it! I'm afraid that we'll be the ones people post their "craziest table mates" posts about! My husband and I own a nightclub in a big city. We're atheists. We both have tattoos AND piercings. I have pink dreadlocks down to my waist. We share a bottle of wine with dinner almost every night on our cruise even though we don't really drink at home. I never understand when posters are like "they'll save the leftovers for you for the next night" 'cause we never have leftover wine! But we're both politically fairly conservative and somewhat socially liberal. Our son is a little socially awkward and a little nerdy. I think we're adorable! But, I can see how most people wouldn't mesh well with us, even though I think we're pretty gosh-darn fun! Maybe I'll continue requesting a table of our own so we can stay the family everyone stares at but doesn't have to make polite conversation with

I want to sit with you at dinner. Like, immediately!

 

[phinz]

We've always requested a table to ourselves. Each time we get close to a cruise, I think "why don't we try mixed seating and see if we make friends!" and then a thread like this pops up and I think better of it!

I'm afraid that we'll be the ones people post their "craziest table mates" posts about! My husband and I own a nightclub in a big city. We're atheists. We both have tattoos AND piercings. I have pink dreadlocks down to my waist. We share a bottle of wine with dinner almost every night on our cruise even though we don't really drink at home. I never understand when posters are like "they'll save the leftovers for you for the next night" 'cause we never have leftover wine! But we're both politically fairly conservative and somewhat socially liberal. Our son is a little socially awkward and a little nerdy. I think we're adorable! But, I can see how most people wouldn't mesh well with us, even though I think we're pretty gosh-darn fun!

Maybe I'll continue requesting a table of our own so we can stay the family everyone stares at but doesn't have to make polite conversation with

If you guys sat down at my table I'd be like, "MY PEOPLE!" Seriously. We'd have much more in common than not, I guarantee.

 

[Desi]

Out of 3 cruises our worst was our grown kids & grandkids!
Our first cruise we were sat with the magician and his wife and young son as we had a son his age too. He was tired, the wife & kid jaded from too many cruises, I guess. Our last cruise was a fun family of 5. Whoever sat us together must have been an I Love Lucy fan with a sense of humor. My name is Desi & her name was Luci.
I think I know enough now to go straight to the head waiter if I did feel uncomfortable. It was awkward asking to sit away from your own kids though

 

[Desi]

By the way. Our first cruise we had the pleasure of seeing the "bear people" (as in many) all around the ship. I guess they cruise DCL a lot.

 

[sweetlovin']

My sister is white and her DH is African American. Our table mates could not believe they were "actually married" and that "they just let you do that in California?"
Pretty amazing!

Where were the table mates from that they were so uncultured?

 

[phinz]

Where were the table mates from that they were so uncultured?

Probably Tennessee. Sounds like some of my neighbors.

 

[Ravenne]

We've always requested a table to ourselves. Each time we get close to a cruise, I think "why don't we try mixed seating and see if we make friends!" and then a thread like this pops up and I think better of it!

I'm afraid that we'll be the ones people post their "craziest table mates" posts about! My husband and I own a nightclub in a big city. We're atheists. We both have tattoos AND piercings. I have pink dreadlocks down to my waist. We share a bottle of wine with dinner almost every night on our cruise even though we don't really drink at home. I never understand when posters are like "they'll save the leftovers for you for the next night" 'cause we never have leftover wine! But we're both politically fairly conservative and somewhat socially liberal. Our son is a little socially awkward and a little nerdy. I think we're adorable! But, I can see how most people wouldn't mesh well with us, even though I think we're pretty gosh-darn fun!

Maybe I'll continue requesting a table of our own so we can stay the family everyone stares at but doesn't have to make polite conversation with

I don't find that crazy at all. Not even the slightest bit. One of my kid's classmates and her family sounds just like yours. Awesome family, real fun to be around. One day, the dad noticed my tattoo and commented, "I don't think I've ever gotten a tattoo THAT small before!" It's not really small, per se, just smaller than his. I felt so inadequate lol. I'm workin' on it lol.

 

[Debbru]

I've cut & pasted this from a post of mine from several years ago:

OMG it's hard to even descibe the experience! We were seated with another couple at a table for 4. Before I describe their dress, let me just say that DH & I are NOT formal type people, we're very casual, but we do put on nice pants and shirts/tops for dinner. This other couple showed up in what I would call old gym wear. They both had on old, gym shorts, she had a plain tee shirt, he wore a torn, stained underwear-type tee. As each dinner progressed, his tee accumulated more stains!!!
They wore these same clothes (unwashed) each night of the 3 night cruise.

The conversation was even worse - each night he described everything that went wrong for them that day (nothing would have pleased them). Twice he sent back his food because it was cold -- you had to be there when he called the Head Waiter over & insisted he touch his steak. The poor HW said he didn't need to touch it, he would just bring it back for another -- this went back & forth - "touch this" - "I'll just have it replaced sir" - "No, touch this" etc etc.

The best conversation was the final night - we got a 1 hour description of several surgeries he had had over the last 2 years - including his stomach and bowel problems.

Please don't let this scare anyone from eating with strangers -- I don't think these were typical tablemates and if it ever happened again we would definitely ask to be moved.

 

[soar2014]

Halitosis,,,,,,,,,,,,very very bad. Enough to make one wretch. I made an excuse and we ate room service.

 

[racingfandj]

I love reading these as I find them humorous. I have actually asked my family one evening at dinner, "Wonder what people think of us?" We don't allow electronics at the table for any age. We looked like we were sitting their having a good, clean family fun evening and conversation. However, the conversation was far from clean. Don't remember exactly what it was, but something rather gory and humorous to us.

As for those thinking that requesting a table alone will save you from these horror stories seen, save yourself the headache. We've been at tables alone by Disney assignment and still had to deal with the rude or obnoxious people at the table next to us due to the close seating arrangements in the restaurants. The teenage drama queen got to her seat by walking the length of the seats on top of the chairs one evening. One evening, the whole family abandoned the aunt and she was dining alone. We invited her to our table and made friends with her.

If you can't go sit and have fun without letting someone else determine your outcome, a cruise is probably not for you. It is definitely an environment that you have to live and let go a little bit.

 

[Stinasmom]

Kind a late in the game so I haven't read this whole thread but, my craziest table mate is actually a large black lab!

He was a trained service dog belonging to a family we were dining with. The dogs seemed to like sleeping under the table on my toes keeping them warm.
Which was nice in the air-conditioned restaurants.

 

[alaskanabbott]

I don't find that crazy at all. Not even the slightest bit. One of my kid's classmates and her family sounds just like yours. Awesome family, real fun to be around. One day, the dad noticed my tattoo and commented, "I don't think I've ever gotten a tattoo THAT small before!" It's not really small, per se, just smaller than his. I felt so inadequate lol. I'm workin' on it lol.

We are a conservative Christian family and we LOVE making new friends. Once we learn that someone's opinion differs from ours either religious or politically we make sure we steer clear of those topics. Yes, at times we will meet a liberal person or couple who want to browbeat us into seeing everything their way, and call us stupid, yada yada... But usually people will just agree to discuss other topics . My family just loves meeting interesting people, and they know that means meeting people of all races and religions. I think my kids would have a blast with you guys at our table ( and us too). Don't deny us sheltered folk the opportunity to learn more about great people like you!

 

[PizzieDuster]

We've always requested a table to ourselves. Each time we get close to a cruise, I think "why don't we try mixed seating and see if we make friends!" and then a thread like this pops up and I think better of it!

I'm afraid that we'll be the ones people post their "craziest table mates" posts about! My husband and I own a nightclub in a big city. We're atheists. We both have tattoos AND piercings. I have pink dreadlocks down to my waist. We share a bottle of wine with dinner almost every night on our cruise even though we don't really drink at home. I never understand when posters are like "they'll save the leftovers for you for the next night" 'cause we never have leftover wine! But we're both politically fairly conservative and somewhat socially liberal. Our son is a little socially awkward and a little nerdy. I think we're adorable! But, I can see how most people wouldn't mesh well with us, even though I think we're pretty gosh-darn fun!

Maybe I'll continue requesting a table of our own so we can stay the family everyone stares at but doesn't have to make polite conversation with

I'd be asking the head waiter "hey, can I go to their table?"

 

[jimsubry]

Loved all the stories so far!

Just been on one Disney cruise so far and I think they did pretty well at pairing us up at dinner, no horror stories for us. We are a family of 3, just one child, and were seated with a family of two sisters who each also had one child our child's age, so they were cousins. But it didn't seem like they liked each other very much and I never saw them even talking to each other or wanting to sit near each other. Also, they were girls, and we have a son, so all the kids pretty much ignored each other. We were so hoping there'd be a boy our son could meet and become friends with. No matter, we got along very well with the adults, they were very interesting people, we found out we were even the same religion, and by the end of the cruise we were laughing and talking as if we were old friends!

 

[PizzieDuster]

This...
And to those saying "it's my time, on my terms, etc"...well, don't cruise, go to a restaurant, or order room service at the cruise or go grab a slice of cardboard pizza from the pool deck..
At the cruise, follow their rules. you get to sit where they put you and they will even try to accomodate to certain demands, when possible.
those who are hollyer than thou and put down others because they are not good enough for their quirks, well, if you can't be with other members of society at a table for 1 hour a day, then a cruise is not for you. stay home.

With all due respect, I read not one post that was "hollyer than thou". I have been reading about all different types of perspectives, preferences and experiences.

 

[squirrel]

I never heard of those dolls (reborn) before. They are kind of creepy. Can't imagine what I would have done if I was sat at a table with someone with one before I found out about them.

 

[j julz]

We've had some interesting and fun table mates over the years. One of the funniest was a couple who were on their first ever cruise. This was a few years ago on the Magic. My adult DD and I were seated at a table with three other couples. We were all seasoned DCL cruisers except for this one couple. The man was reserved but his wife was extremely excited for all things Disney. She gushed and gushed about everything and asked endless questions of our DCL knowledge. It was kind of refreshing watching her enjoying her first Disney cruise. Anyway, one night the Head Server stopped by our table and the wife couldn't contain her excitement. She was praising how amazing our Server and the dining room experience has been. The Head Server leaned in close and lowered her voice and told our table, "Your Server is one of our best and today is his birthday but don't let on I told you. He would be so embarrassed." After she left, the wife couldn't let it rest. She said we just had to do something to recognize him and his service. Before we knew it, she stood up and with fork against glass she proceeded to get the attention of the entire dining room. She then made an enthusiastic speech about our wonderful Server and would everyone please join our table in singing happy birthday to him. Everyone did and then followed up with clapping. When things settled down and we were giving our dessert orders she said to our Server, "I hope you didn't mind that. We just wanted to show our appreciation." He just looked at her and said sternly but calmly, "It ISN'T my birthday!" I caught a glimpse of our Head Server standing nearby and she was laughing so hard!