Curious how friendly do you get with your tablemates?

[mawhite424]

We requested a table by ourselves (me + DH + our 2 little boys) and got it.... and proceeded to spend nearly every evening chatting with the family of 4 at the table next to us! Their 2 girls were the same ages as my boys, and one of the girls had a birthday during the week so we got to help them celebrate.

How do you request a table by yourselves? Is there a number to call or did you do it through guest services once on board? I'm going with my 3 grandkids, and I'd really like it to be just us for dinner. Not that I'd mind some company! Dh and I sailed with 2 grands last year and they gave us a 4 top without having to ask, but we were concierge. Not this time!

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

How do you request a table by yourselves? Is there a number to call or did you do it through guest services once on board? I'm going with my 3 grandkids, and I'd really like it to be just us for dinner. Not that I'd mind some company! Dh and I sailed with 2 grands last year and they gave us a 4 top without having to ask, but we were concierge. Not this time!

You, or your TA if you used one, can contact DCL and have the request noted on your reservation. It is only a request and while DCL tries to fill them all, there is no guarantee. Follow up at dining changes when you board to see if it was granted, or can be granted at that time if it wasn't.

 

[lodge]

I married mine.

 

[mawhite424]

You, or your TA if you used one, can contact DCL and have the request noted on your reservation. It is only a request and while DCL tries to fill them all, there is no guarantee. Follow up at dining changes when you board to see if it was granted, or can be granted at that time if it wasn't.

thanks! I'll give that a try

 

[QuiltTeddy]

Our very first cruise we were seated with three other couples (no kids). The one couple came to dinner the first night and we never saw them again. The other two couples we had a lot of fun with. One of those two couples we stayed friends with and booked a cruise the followiing winter.

Second cruise was not aboard a Disney vessel and we were seated with a large family. They made it known that we were not welcome at their table. We asked to have our seats reassigned that very first night and we were then seated at a table with 3 other couples and two sisters. We all had a blast and coincidentally when we did our vow renewals with the Captain, one of the other couples at the table was also doing the same thing.

Third cruise we were paired up with the couple we planned the trip with and two other women. One of the females brought her best friend because she was supposed to have taken the cruise for her 20th or 30th (I can't recall) anniversary, but her husband dumped her just prior to the cruise. She spent most dinners crying. We had a blast with the couple we met on the prior cruise.

Fourth cruise we were paired up with another couple and a mother and adult daughter. We made friends with the other couple and and the mother and daughter were very friendly.

Fifth cruise we booked and linked with the couple we met on the fourth cruise. The wife's sister was also on the cruise. The wife, however, became "weird", meaning she was rude, disrespectful and downright mean. We had fun with the husband and her sister, though.

We believe that dinner is what you make it. If you choose to enjoy yourself and get along with your tablemates, you can only take home wonderful memories and perhaps create a lasting friendship at the same time.

 

[JnDRader]

Not a cruise story but at the Beaches resort in the Turks and Caicos our kids met some friends in kids camp and introduced us to their parents so they could hang out outside of camp. The following summer we visited our new friends in Toronto and the spring after that they visited us in Atlanta. I'm sure we'll arrange a trip either with them or to see them again.

It's worth getting to know people. You'll figure out pretty quick if you're "compatible" or not. No worries if not. I never take offense if someone doesn't seem interested in getting to know us but I will try. My wife is far more outgoing than I am though.

Another funny story. 10 year anniversary trip on Kauai with some friends from church who happened to have the exact same anniversary as us. The 4 of us go a a heli tour. My wife starts talking to the the other couple that are waiting to get on the heli with us and they know people in common. Crazy small world sometimes.

 

[JanDave]

We just completed DCL #18 and some of our favorite tablemates' stories:

1. DH and I were seated at a 10 top with 7 other adults on the Magic in 2004. We had a friendly table but hit it off with one couple and still keep in touch and have cruised together. But the reason we hit it off is that our assistant server was a ditz! It was so bad that our head server was at our table every evening helping the server. BUT, I always got my beverage reqeust - an iced tea waiting for me when I sat down. One couple ordered the wine package and received their glass of wine mid-way through the entree. Too funny!

2. My DD's m-i-l and I have cruised twice on the Magic - girls' only cruises. First cruise - we were seated at an 8 top with a family of 5. Grandma was not pleased to see us two at "her" table. She motioned for her son to leave the restaurant to talk and he was not happy upon returning to the table. The family didn't talk to us nor to each other! Next night, at AP, the head server approached us and asked if we would like to sit at a 4 top. We graciously and gladly accepted. What luck we had. Our new server was Genesis from the Phillipines and he has been our server on the Magic at least 4-5 more times (we just saw him on our 11/24/12 cruise). I request him for every Magic cruise. He is so sweet and he even called me on Mother's Day last year to wish me a great day! His wife and I keep in touch on FB.

3. Second girls' cruise on the Magic. We were seated at a 4 top with a couple our age. We hit it off immediately! In fact, the night before we were going to have dinner at Palo, we told our server that we would not be at dinner the next night. He asked why the 4 of us weren't going to Palo together. He was so surprised that we didn't know one another before the cruise as we were non stop talking! I still keep in touch with this great couple!

4. I met Glindamood on a DIS meet thread in 2005 and we met before the cruise (we both live in Michigan). As they like late seating and we like early seating, we didn't have dinner together. But in 2008 when we cruised together, we did have dinner together. Just love meeting great people on the DIS!

Jan

 

[jm106]

Fun stories thanks~!
SO my first cruise story- went with 2 coworkers, one friend and one who sort of invited herself. I was 21, my first real trip with out mom. They paired us with a group from Long Island who were there for bacholorett party and partied they did. It was 5 or 6 ladies, my self and 2 girls and for some reason they put ONE 20-something Guy with us,lol. He kept joking that his friends wouldnt beleive it. We didnt talk to others much. They were loud, dining room was loud.
Next to us was a man who had some sort of head issue, he kept scratching, like a dog(I am not making it up, excessive scratching!) It was hard not notice while trying to eat. lets hope I have better luck this time.

 

[boettmb]

We became very good friends with our table mates. They had a daughter the same age as our daughter. After dinner we would drop the girls off at the kids club and go have a drink somewhere. The little girls hit it off too.

We are actually going this April on the Fantasy again with them and we are dining with them again as well. Cant wait to see them again!

 

[Ana~n~Joseph]

I only have two cruises under my belt but on our first cruise, DH, myself and DS (2 at the time) got seated with a family of 5. They were from Venezuela and had two little girls (1 1/2 and 3) and mom and dad had also brought grandma on board. The first night they showed up super late for dinner and it was a little awkward but by night two we had all become friends. I'm really glad I speak Spanish though because they could barely speak English. My husband tried really hard to make small talk as much as he could but it all worked out - I would either translate or they would communicate via hand signals . By night two they were buying bottles of wine for the table and vice versa. We hung out with them in Atlantis and spent some time with them at Castaway. We still keep in touch via Facebook.

Second cruise, I asked for my own table. I was traveling with my mom and she's not the social butterfly of the group and my DS(3) is well...a 3 year old. Our own table worked out perfectly and for this third cruise I've requested our own table again. Fingers crossed we get it, we will be a group of 5!

 

[lbgraves]

We have always linked with a family from the meet thread with kids the same ages or booked with cruise friends from a previous cruise to begin with. Once we had our own table for a last minute KSF cruise. Have requested our own table for the next cruise. We have remained friends with everyone and cruised with them multiple times, along with going to WDW together and meeting at each others' homes. There was just one time I regretted doing this.

 

[Luv_Tink]

Last August we were seated at an 8 top, we are a family of 5, with another couple who had a son the same age as our middle DD. We hit it off the first night and had a lot to talk about most nights. We discussed everything from our jobs, to raising kids, schools, teachers, lifestyles, etc. The kids had so much fun we would often meet up after dinner for swimming. I really think we just got lucky in that we had enough in common to get conversation started, but enough differences to keep the conversation flowing.

 

[ludari]

I've only had tablemates twice and both where bad experiences IMHO. Since my last bad experience I had requested my own table. That's not to say it will happen to you but in order to avoid ruining my vacation/dinner time I just asks for my own table.

 

[kiford]

We've been on cruises where we found the company of the others to be pleasant but forgettable. I will say that we did still enjoy their company and conversation. Our Med cruise in 2010 we were seated with 4 other couples and we were basically tossed out of the MDRs every night as the crew started getting the tables ready for breakfast we were all talking so much! We still correspond occasionally with at least one couple.

In 2011 we got along really well with the two other couples at our table (they had to throw us out of our last breakfast day because we were having so much fun) and ended up being seated with one of them on the second leg of our 3/4 day B2B cruise in December 2012. Really happy with that. We made jokes about "same time next year" and I would actually be thrilled for that to happen.

The other two couples on the first 3 day of the B2B and the other couple on the second leg we really hit it off with too. Yapping away so much the time flew by. It's one of the things I really like about Disney - not only the way they seem to be able to do a really good job of matching but also because you have the same companions for several days instead of different people each night really works for me.

I'm not much for small talk and not terribly comfortable with meeting new people but somehow being on the Disney ships makes me more willing to connect with not only our regular table companions but other people at other tables at breakfast, others in the adults only pool, at various events, etc. All part of the magic I guess!

 

[mkmommy]

You absolutely do not have to make small talk. A polite hi "how are you" and then focus on your spouse/family/kids is just fine. I also spend a good part of my day talking with clients (as does my husband) so our dinners at home tend to involve very little chatter - we focus on the baby, and often sing songs, clap hands and play other toddler games (apologies in advance to whoever sits with us on our next cruise and has to listen to "John the Rabbit" every night).

Do you not think this would be uncomfortable for any other people at your table?

We have had good and bad table seating's. First cruise was the worst, we were at a table of 8 with a family of 5 and they sat so that my family of 3 would have to be split. At the time my girls were 6 and 8 and first cruise, so it was not very nice. We asked to be moved, but they had no concern for what they did, they had the attitude it is our vacation and we will do what we want.

 

[Kim Luvs Disney]

I married mine.

I'm marrying my tablemate from the May 2008 PC cruise in October on the Dream!!

 

[4mousefans]

Last January, we cruised the Magic and by chance were paired with a group of five from Canada...mom, dad, 20-something son, 20-something female friend and 15 year-old son. Our party consisted of my husband, myself, my mother, and 19 year-old daughter and 15 year-old daughter. We hit it off immediately and while on board booked and linked our next cruise together.

After months of facebook chat and anticipation, we were together again on the January 12th Fantasy Eastern. What a wonderful time we had! This time it was just my husband and I traveling with their party of seven. What a wonderful trip it was! Ours was the table that perhaps laughed a little too loud... ...but had the table next to us asking if they could join us since we seemed to be having so much fun!

Now we look forward to our next cruise in January 2014...we have two veranda staterooms (for us "grown ups") and four inside staterooms across the hall for the "kids". We just know it will be a wild and crazy cruise!

This was our fifth cruise and while I don't know if it is luck or magic, we have been blessed with amazing dining partners each and every time! I would encourage you to take a chance and make new friends...there is a good chance that it will add to your vacation in a really positive way!

 

[mawhite424]

I'm marrying my tablemate from the May 2008 PC cruise in October on the Dream!!

Love this!!!!

 

[lorenni]

Do you not think this would be uncomfortable for any other people at your table?

We have had good and bad table seating's. First cruise was the worst, we were at a table of 8 with a family of 5 and they sat so that my family of 3 would have to be split. At the time my girls were 6 and 8 and first cruise, so it was not very nice. We asked to be moved, but they had no concern for what they did, they had the attitude it is our vacation and we will do what we want.

No I don't, as I would assume they are on vacation together to spend time with each other. Just like we are on vacation to spend time with each other. I am not suggesting an invisible barrier between different parties, but I'm not going I feel obligated to chit chat with anyone either. No different than sitting next to a stranger on a plane - sometimes you feel up for a chat and sometimes you don't.

 

[mamabug70]

My sister and I and our dd's 6 and 13 were at a table with a very nice couple from Canada and their 2 sons that were around 8 and 13. I sincerely enjoyed talking to them at dinner every night and saw them around the ship and at the parks. They even sat in front of us on the bus on the way back to Hobby. I would have liked to stay in touch, but I thought we would see them in the terminal at the airport so didn't get their contact info . This was my first cruise ever, so was surprised when we sat down to dinner that night that there were people sitting at our table. I think Disney did a fantastic job matching us up and am looking forward to meeting our dinner companions on our Dream cruise in November.