Dine on our Own or with Other Families?

[scrappinginontario]

My 13yo daughter and I are sailing on our own. At this point she's not showing much interest in going to Vibe and I'm not going to force her. I want her to do what's best for her. Given this, we will probably be spending a lot of time, just the 2 of us.

What have been your experiences when seated with other guests? On our 2 most recent cruises we sailed with family so asked for our own table. Our first cruise we were seated with another family and we got along really well.

This time since it's just 2 of us I'm just not sure what to request. I'm leaning towards asking for a table for the 2 of us but wonder what other people's experiences are? I am outgoing but my daughter is on the quieter side.

What have been your experiences when seated with other guests? I'm concerned about things like, not a lot in common and pace of eating. We tend to take our time dining and don't want to slow others down or, feel rushed if the others want to eat quickly.

Appreciate any experiences your care to share. Thanks!

 

[ChasingDreams]

We had great experiences! Sat with another couple from Germany that were just the sweetest and so nice to us and patient. Next two sailings we sat with two other families and had the best time meeting new friends. I am of the belief it is what you make of it and we always aim for fun

 

[scrappinginontario]

Thanks for sharing your experiences!!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I'm leaning towards asking for a table for the 2 of us but wonder what other people's experiences are?

We've had totally good/great experiences. It's mostly only been the two of us (although 2 adults , not parent/child combo).

It seems DCL does a really good job at matching people, in my experience. The "worst" matching was when we cruised with our then 18 year old son. They matched us with a mom (40ish), her 8 year old daughter, 16 year old son, and early 20-something daughter (with her 1 year old). The only "match" I could figure out was the 16 year old and our 18 year old.

Our first cruise we were seating with 3 other couples. All 4 husbands worked in the same field. 3 of the wives were in education. And all of us were within 6 years of age.

 

[happycamper47]

We too also have had a great experience when seated with other couples, as PrincesssShmoo said we've been paired with couples close to our age.

 

[auntlynne]

Very few times have we been seated with others (not pre-arranged with other cruisers from Disboards).

Our party of 5 was seated with a family of 3 who were not interactive. It was awkward.

My teenage niece and I were seated with several young couples. I think they were okay with our being there. I think it would have been better for the couples without a kid at the table. But there was interaction and laughter by everyone.

On a 14-night cruise, we were seated with a working mom and her ~10 yo daughter who wanted vacation time for just them. The other pair was a SAH mom and her 4 yo. My 17 yo niece spent a lot of time interacting with the little girl (she is good that way). That mom was happy for the help! We adults barely interacted.

Usually, I just accept what we get. Sometimes it works, sometimes just okay. I have not had “bad” experiences.

Have you asked your daughter if she has a preference?

 

[tvguy]

My kids were 14 and 16 on our Disney cruise. They were highly disappointed that we got a table for just the 4 of us.
On our HAL cruise the year before, they really enjoyed interacting with the 2 people who were seated with us at a table for 6.

 

[Marthasor]

We always ask for our own table. My DS is also on the shy side and I don't want him to be uncomfortable at dinner while on vacation. He tends to interact with kids his age in the clubs, sports deck, etc. We keep dinner as a time for our family to regroup and be together.

 

[Lilsia]

We have always been sat with others. It has never been an issue. Outside of the general greetings every night, everyone just talks amongst their own families. From that posts that I have seen, it seems as if many people think that you should spend your whole dinner talking with the whole table and that is not the case. Just look at it as a communal table.

 

[sadiecatie]

We've had totally good/great experiences. It's mostly only been the two of us (although 2 adults , not parent/child combo).

It seems DCL does a really good job at matching people, in my experience. The "worst" matching was when we cruised with our then 18 year old son. They matched us with a mom (40ish), her 8 year old daughter, 16 year old son, and early 20-something daughter (with her 1 year old). The only "match" I could figure out was the 16 year old and our 18 year old.

Our first cruise we were seating with 3 other couples. All 4 husbands worked in the same field. 3 of the wives were in education. And all of us were within 6 years of age.

I was wondering about this - do they generally try to match similar groups? That’s what I’m really hoping for, as my daughter is very much wanting to make a friend to play with in the kids clubs, and it would be wonderful luck if we were seated with a family with a similarly aged child and they hit it off.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I was wondering about this - do they generally try to match similar groups? That’s what I’m really hoping for, as my daughter is very much wanting to make a friend to play with in the kids clubs, and it would be wonderful luck if we were seated with a family with a similarly aged child and they hit it off.

I can only report that, except for that one time, all of the times we shared a table with people other than our party, they've been people of similar ages, or interests, or something that DCL can somehow figure out so that we all meshed well.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

If it’s just you two sit with others and talk about you day your in a ship of Disney fans!

 

[scrappinginontario]

Have you asked your daughter if she has a preference?

Yes, I've asked her and she's kinda like me. We flip flop between just the 2 of us and the opportunity to meet others.

I'm kinda of the mind to see what happens but am concerned if we just don't mesh then it could change something that's a big part of the cruise for us. We enjoy the meals and would be happy to meet others, just don't want to be rushed. We're not super slow eaters but have seen on cruises where certain tables tell their server they want to eat quickly and the table has been done and gone when our main course is arriving.

If it's a match that doesn't work, is Disney open to moving us? We have late dining which could work in our favour as I'm guessing it might be a bit less busy than early dining.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

If it's a match that doesn't work, is Disney open to moving us?

Yes. You just need to discuss it with your head server. Of course, it might mean changing rotations or servers.

Or not.

 

[Lilsia]

Yes, I've asked her and she's kinda like me. We flip flop between just the 2 of us and the opportunity to meet others.

I'm kinda of the mind to see what happens but am concerned if we just don't mesh then it could change something that's a big part of the cruise for us. We enjoy the meals and would be happy to meet others, just don't want to be rushed. We're not super slow eaters but have seen on cruises where certain tables tell their server they want to eat quickly and the table has been done and gone when our main course is arriving.

If it's a match that doesn't work, is Disney open to moving us? We have late dining which could work in our favour as I'm guessing it might be a bit less busy than early dining.

If you are not being served at the speed that you want, just let them know. You are not forced to eat at the same pace as your tablemates.

 

[Dug720]

I really needed 3 votes - i always ask to be seated on my own. Twice it has not happened (the two times I'm not sailing when my sister is working - when she is, it gets arranged so she can eat with me without being bugged by others at the table asking her all kinds of questions), so I answered for those.

The first time it was awful. It was like they just dumped all the solos at one table. And there was never going to be common ground between me and the 2 guys I was dumped with (they, however, got along famously). Thankfully my head server observed my discomfort and asked a pair of servers who had a couple of empty tables in their section due to having one very large table if they would mind a solo table. They said they would love it, so I got moved over the third night (the second I was in Palo). That was my "not good" vote because had there not been a place to move me it would have been a LONG week.

The second time it was ok - myself, 2 girls just out of college who had been friends all their lives, and a mother and daughter - mother was about my age and daughter was about the age of the other girls. Our servers had fun with us and made it work out. But I still would have preferred to have my own table.

 

[goofy4prez]

Normally I don't mind meeting new people; My wife and I are very outgoing and certainly not introverted in any way. But on our first cruise on the Fantasy in 2019 it was a mixed bag. My wife, adult daughter, and myself were seated with a single mom with a son (about 10) and a young teenage daughter. The son constantly hacked, picked his nose at the table, and even flipped his food across the table. Mom thought it was funny. The teenage daughter I can tell was embarrassed. After dinner, we asked to be moved and we were for the remaining cruise. Those we sat with the rest of the cruise were great. In fact, we are meeting up and cruising with one of the couples for our cruise on the Fantasy in 2024.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

My 13yo daughter and I are sailing on our own. At this point she's not showing much interest in going to Vibe and I'm not going to force her. I want her to do what's best for her. Given this, we will probably be spending a lot of time, just the 2 of us.

What have been your experiences when seated with other guests? On our 2 most recent cruises we sailed with family so asked for our own table. Our first cruise we were seated with another family and we got along really well.

This time since it's just 2 of us I'm just not sure what to request. I'm leaning towards asking for a table for the 2 of us but wonder what other people's experiences are? I am outgoing but my daughter is on the quieter side.

What have been your experiences when seated with other guests? I'm concerned about things like, not a lot in common and pace of eating. We tend to take our time dining and don't want to slow others down or, feel rushed if the others want to eat quickly.

Appreciate any experiences your care to share. Thanks!

We have only ate by ourselves (family of 3) when we've cruised. But I have a 17 year old daughter who is shy and is not interested in the clubs. Never was. I remember picking her up at the kids club once when my husband and I went to Palo and she looked so unhappy. Was not interested at all going to Vibe during our last cruise. I kept asking but then I stopped pushing it. She is who she is and I know she'd be uncomfortable. I'd go with a private table and make it a mom and daughter trip. My daughter will be 18 for our next cruise and I think with her being able to go to the adult area pool and cove, she'll be happy.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Thanks so much everyone! I really appreciate hearing all your experiences!

 

[allaboutthemouse]

I am in the same conundrum, sailing with just one of my sons who is turning 19 on the cruise. We usually go with the whole family so I have only ever been seated with another party on our honeymoon cruise back in 2000! They did sit us with another young couple then at a four top and it worked out, and we were brand new to cruising so didn’t know anything lol
How do you request to be seated alone? When you board, where? Or beforehand?
Thanks!