DCL Dining Question.

[Mouse511]

We are thinking about booking our first Disney cruise, but we have a question that I could not find via the search function.

We have cruised on a bunch of RCCL cruises and when it has been just the two of us, we have never had an issue with getting a table for two.

Does Disney have or can you request a table for just two? To help with the details, this cruise will be in 2023 - hopefully with Covid protocols in the rearview mirror.

Thanks

 

[HiStitch626]

Currently, they are not seating you with other guests.

This is a request only and if the ship is full it may not be granted. People with second seating seem to be more successful with getting a private table.

That being said when Disney does sit people together, they tend to do a pretty good job of matching people. Couples with couples, families with similarly aged children, etc.

 

[Dug720]

If protocols are gone, you can request but no guarantees. I have only gotten my request twice - three times I was able to get it changed, once I was not.

The only way to guarantee it as I understand it if protocols are gone is to book concierge.

 

[Cheburashka]

We are thinking about booking our first Disney cruise, but we have a question that I could not find via the search function.

We have cruised on a bunch of RCCL cruises and when it has been just the two of us, we have never had an issue with getting a table for two.

Does Disney have or can you request a table for just two? To help with the details, this cruise will be in 2023 - hopefully with Covid protocols in the rearview mirror.

Thanks

Right now, everyone gets their own table, even parties of one. Rumor has it (from servers telling guests) that they're going to stick with this policy going forward. But that is just a rumor and there is no way to verify it.

Before Covid, I was always able to get a table for two, every cruise out of our 6 pre-Covid cruises since we began cruising DCL in 2015. I would call DCL in advance to request it, then upon boarding, I would go to Dining Changes (there is a location for this, usually one of the restaurants), where guests could go to request a different seating, private table, etc. I would go there asap to check and see if my private table request had been granted. Sometimes it had been, sometimes it had not. The times it had not, they always changed it to a private table then and there at Dining Changes. We've never had to share a table during any of our cruises, and we've never sailed concierge. It likely helped that we always had second seating dining, because that is the less popular seating on DCL (although we've always liked it).

I disagree that DCL is "good about matching" guests at different tables. I think it's random. Our first cruise, when I went to Dining Changes I learned that our request hadn't been automatically granted, and that my shy son and I were going to be placed at a table for 8, with a family of 6. Um, no. That would have been so awkward, sitting there like random bookends at the big family's dinner table. Got that changed to a private table, even though it was a sold out cruise. And we had a bargain basement GT inside stateroom, so our category had nothing to do with being able to get it changed.

 

[onesam319]

We requested a private table for two pre-covid on a 3 night cruise on the Wonder and it was granted. Our first cruise on Fantasy 2016 7 night we were seated with one other couple. Our third cruise on Magic 7 night we were seated with 3 other couples. One of the couple's party had been separated, so they only ate with us one night. The rest of the cruise was with a mother/daughter, husband and wife (platinum cruisers), and us. We have made no requests for our next cruise on the Dream in February, but I'm pretty certain we will be seated alone this time.

 

[Mouse511]

Thank you for those who have answered our question!

Based on the responses, it appears DCL handles these requests very similar to RCCL - head to the Head Dining as soon as you board and make your request.

Thanks !

 

[Marc D]

Thank you for those who have answered our question!

Based on the responses, it appears DCL handles these requests very similar to RCCL - head to the Head Dining as soon as you board and make your request.

Thanks !

You should call in advance and not wait to be onboard. You will only know if your request was granted until you get onboard, but you will not have to wait in line if it will have been. The line for dining changes often gets very long on embarkation day. There is one head waiter there that answers questions instead of handling requests. He’ll be able to tell you if you have a table for two.

 

[Dug720]

You should call in advance and not wait to be onboard. You will only know if your request was granted until you get onboard, but you will not have to wait in line if it will have been. The line for dining changes often gets very long on embarkation day. There is one head waiter there that answers questions instead of handling requests. He’ll be able to tell you if you have a table for two.

And be aware that if the ship is completely full (and it's not in protocols), there will likely be no table to move you to. That's what happened the last time they couldn't accommodate. So it DOES happen that they cannot - even when going to check on your request when you get on board.

 

[Mouse511]

Ok, thank you very much - this will weigh highly in our decision to book DCL or not. As of right, the same dates and basically the same ports, we can book an Owner's suite on RCCL for less than a Veranda balcony on DCL.

 

[Colo17]

Ok, thank you very much - this will weigh highly in our decision to book DCL or not. As of right, the same dates and basically the same ports, we can book an Owner's suite on RCCL for less than a Veranda balcony on DCL.

Book RCCL. Food better, more things to do on ship (Disney popcorn soup is downright disgusting!). Unless you are paying extra for Remi or Palo, the Disney main dining room is very regimented, with nothing similar to Mytime. Appetizers are all ready at the same time and if you want one later in the meal it is hard to get.

Royal OS cabin is pretty similar in total size to Disney Veranda. The big reason to book Disney is for the Disney experience (and that is why we book). If that isn't your primary reason then Royal is better. And pretty hard to beat kids areas on Disney.

Son's family has only done Disney. I did point out to him he could get a 2 bedroom aquasuite on Oasis for the same price as a Disney Veranda. After our next Disney cruise he is booked on Harmony. Will be interesting to see how his family handles the huge ship.

 

[Mouse511]

Thanks for your help...we booked the Owner's suite on RCCL today.......looks like we will look again in Nov '23 for a DCL Very Merry cruise,

 

[HiStitch626]

I disagree that DCL is "good about matching" guests at different tables. I think it's random.

The dining room managers actually do place people and it is not just random. We have more than 20 cruises where there were no children in our party and in all of those we were always seated with only other adults. We took our niece on a cruise about 10 years ago and we seated at an 8 top with a family who had 2 girls similar in age. Did you go to the table where you were first assigned? I would bet there was a boy or two about your son's age and the head server thought he might like to have someone his own age at the table.

 

[MomOTwins]

One way to guarantee a private table is concierge. But obviously very expensive. Otherwise I would recommend second seating/late dining--it is less popular than early dining, so should theoretically be easier for them to grant a private table request.

The dining room managers actually do place people and it is not just random. We have more than 20 cruises where there were no children in our party and in all of those we were always seated with only other adults. We took our niece on a cruise about 10 years ago and we seated at an 8 top with a family who had 2 girls similar in age. Did you go to the table where you were first assigned? I would bet there was a boy or two about your son's age and the head server thought he might like to have someone his own age at the table.

I agree. Every time we cruised, we were at a table with children roughly the same age as our kids. Doubt it is a coincidence.

 

[Cheburashka]

The dining room managers actually do place people and it is not just random. We have more than 20 cruises where there were no children in our party and in all of those we were always seated with only other adults. We took our niece on a cruise about 10 years ago and we seated at an 8 top with a family who had 2 girls similar in age. Did you go to the table where you were first assigned? I would bet there was a boy or two about your son's age and the head server thought he might like to have someone his own age at the table.

Let me clarify. I don't doubt that they try to match, I just don't think they are good at it. I don't think putting a single mom and child at a table with a family of 6 is likely to be enjoyable. Group & family dynamics don't typically work that way. Could happen, but not likely. Most parents with children I've encountered on the cruises are absorbed in their own families & not interested in conversing with strangers, particularly when the strangers are a single mother & child rather than a fellow couple with kids. If it were a more equal situation, with two families of a similar size, that would likely work better, but that wasn't our situation.

I didn't go to that dinner table but we did have the misfortune of being seated with a family at a character breakfast who pointedly ignored our polite greeting (they didn't not hear- they just weren't going to acknowledge us). That was more than enough for me. And that's the same type of situation we would have been in at dinner with a big family we didn't know. They probably wouldn't have been so rude, but the atmosphere of us seeming like bookends to the big family group likely would have been similar.

I've read reports of people who have had good and bad experiences with their table mates. I do think that is random & not the result of DCL's matching abilities.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I think that is random & not the result of excellent matching on DCL's part.

After 12 cruises on DCL, I can only report one instance where our dining companions were sort of an odd match. There were my husband & I along with our 18 year old son. We were seated with a mom (about 40), her 16 year old son, a younger son (maybe 8?), as well as her 20-something daughter and HER baby.

I think the "match" was the 16 year old and 18 year old (although I don't think it was much of a match).

It turned out we had a great time with them.

 

[HiStitch626]

I suppose it is true that some people upon hearing they will be seated with others decide ahead of time that it will be a negative experience and then work to make it one.

 

[Dug720]

I suppose it is true that some people upon hearing they will be seated with others decide ahead of time that it will be a negative experience and then work to make it one.

Agreed. I went into both my "seated with others" with an open mind - well, the first one I did not bother to check, but said I'd give it a go. That first time it was like they did a "solo cruiser dump"- the two guys got on famously and I had no way to contribute to the conversation (all about real estate and accounting and numbers and such). The second time when the ship was totally full, I was not thrilled but went in positive and it ended up a table of me, a mother and adult daughter, and two young adult best friends. We all got along and it was fine.

Also the "strangers" thing - you're really only strangers that first night, then you at least know each others' faces and names.