Dine on our Own or with Other Families?

[Geomom]

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!

Beforehand. They do have an option now in your reservation to give your dining preference--go to 'special requests', then 'table requests', and 'private table' is one of the options.

 

[allaboutthemouse]

Beforehand. They do have an option now (only thru the website, not the phone app) in your reservation to give your dining preference--go to 'special requests', then 'table requests', and 'private table' is one of the options.

Thank you so much!

 

[NephieRN]

In general we’ve had great luck. We made lifelong friends with our table mates on our mother/daughter transatlantic in 2010. We literally spent the entire 14 night cruise hanging out together after our first night at dinner. They live in Australia and visit the states often to get together with us. My mom travels to Australia to see them at least once a year.

Only one time has it been a complete disaster. We asked to change tables after the first night because it was so uncomfortable. And then we continued to see the people we moved away from around the ship and they always made a point to say hi to us. Super awkward.

 

[sadiecatie]

Only one time has it been a complete disaster. We asked to change tables after the first night because it was so uncomfortable. And then we continued to see the people we moved away from around the ship and they always made a point to say hi to us. Super awkward.

I wish people wouldn’t do that! Like, sometimes people just don’t mesh, you don’t have to be a jerk about to.

 

[CountyMounty]

Beforehand. They do have an option now (only thru the website, not the phone app) in your reservation to give your dining preference--go to 'special requests', then 'table requests', and 'private table' is one of the options.

"Beforehand" at what point, and up until what point before departure. I dont see that option now so I assume it's after your initial check in. This is our second cruise and that is one of the things we didn't like about the first one, being seated with another family. Didn't even know it was an option not to be as a party of 4. They were late the nights they came and then rushed through like they had somewhere important to be, and then were no shows the other 2. Now of course to each their own and they may have had their reasons for it and I know that we could eat at our own pace but it just seemed to really mess things up. Plus this time we plan to let the kids spend more time in the kids club, but would really prefer to have together family time over a sit down dinner each night.

 

[sadiecatie]

"Beforehand" at what point, and up until what point before departure. I dont see that option now so I assume it's after your initial check in. This is our second cruise and that is one of the things we didn't like about the first one, being seated with another family. Didn't even know it was an option not to be as a party of 4. They were late the nights they came and then rushed through like they had somewhere important to be, and then were no shows the other 2. Now of course to each their own and they may have had their reasons for it and I know that we could eat at our own pace but it just seemed to really mess things up. Plus this time we plan to let the kids spend more time in the kids club, but would really prefer to have together family time over a sit down dinner each night.

You should be able to before check in. I’m going to include photos to show where I find it in the app. (That just seems simpler than trying to explain)

 

[revdon64]

I sailed the Dream with my then 8y/o son in 2018. We were seated with an aunt/niece and it was great. We had nice conversations over dinner and my son taught his new friend about pin trading.
I'm sailing again later this month on the wish with my other son who's 10y/o and fully expect to have a similar experience.

 

[NEGeekymama]

If you're in the meet-up group for your cruise, you can always see if there's anyone that wants to eat together and then you can link reservations. We did this on our last Disney cruise and sat with a couple that we're still in touch with 7 years later!

 

[CountyMounty]

You should be able to before check in. I’m going to include photos to show where I find it in the app. (That just seems simpler than trying to explain)
View attachment 730809
View attachment 730813
View attachment 730814View attachment 730815

That worked, thanks!

 

[Samford96]

My daughter (17 at the time) and I sailed on the Dream a few years ago. We were paired with another mother and daughter for dining and really enjoyed it. We all got along well and it was fun to get to know them.

 

[bigAWL]

Beforehand. They do have an option now (only thru the website, not the phone app) in your reservation to give your dining preference--go to 'special requests', then 'table requests', and 'private table' is one of the options.

It's also in the app, as shown by sadiecatie

 

[Dug720]

A couple of to keep in mind...

First - It *is* only a request - even with making it when you make the reservation through their preference system.

The dining rooms were built with the intention that most of the tables would be shared a la traditional old-style cruising. So splitting tables means cutting into the space intended for the servers to move around and serve the tables. As more and more people are demanding their own table - even saying that is what they reserved, which is why I'm amazed that they have the option to give your preference since a LOT of people will not read "preference" but read "I booked..." - DCL is trying to accommodate, but that leads to...

Second - Even with "private" tables, there is a good likelihood that your table may only be a couple of inches away from another. Literally. In May when my parents and I were cruising to celebrate my dad's birthday, we did have our own table because my sister was dining with us. We happened to have Table 80. There were a couple of tables - separated but still close together - empty near us, and my sister pointed out the number tags on them. 81A and 81B. So they were separate tables, but there was not the space to have them more than a couple of inches apart. So be aware that "private" will likely simply mean separated from another table. It doesn't mean a huge amount of space between them.

 

[Geomom]

T

It's also in the app, as shown by sadiecatie

Thanks, last time I used it, that feature wasn't available in the android version, just the website. I see it's been updated to include it now! I'll update my post.

 

[sadiecatie]

A couple of to keep in mind...

First - It *is* only a request - even with making it when you make the reservation through their preference system.

The dining rooms were built with the intention that most of the tables would be shared a la traditional old-style cruising. So splitting tables means cutting into the space intended for the servers to move around and serve the tables. As more and more people are demanding their own table - even saying that is what they reserved, which is why I'm amazed that they have the option to give your preference since a LOT of people will not read "preference" but read "I booked..." - DCL is trying to accommodate, but that leads to...

Second - Even with "private" tables, there is a good likelihood that your table may only be a couple of inches away from another. Literally. In May when my parents and I were cruising to celebrate my dad's birthday, we did have our own table because my sister was dining with us. We happened to have Table 80. There were a couple of tables - separated but still close together - empty near us, and my sister pointed out the number tags on them. 81A and 81B. So they were separate tables, but there was not the space to have them more than a couple of inches apart. So be aware that "private" will likely simply mean separated from another table. It doesn't mean a huge amount of space between them.

I've been reminding my husband and daughter of this - they strongly prefer to sit just the three of us, but I've told them there's no guarantee, and whatever we get we'll make the best of it Either way, we're on a Disney Cruise!

 

[teach22180]

Twice I've sailed on Disney. First trip with my 19 year old, they sat us with a single mom (to match me), her son and nephew about age 10 (to match each other) and newlyweds 20 and 22 (to match my daughter). It worked out well, and we all went to shows together a few nights while the 19 and 20 year olds went to a gathering for that age together. My 2nd sailing was solo, and I got a call the first afternoon asking me to change tables. They had made me #9 at a 8 person table of two families. One was a single dad with kids. The kids in both families were the same ages and genders. I can only assume someone was matchmaking. I was miserable, and it was so awkward for them to add my chair each night. The 2nd family even stopped coming. I don't know where they went. I know now that I should have complained that first night, but I tried to stick it out because I wanted to eat in the dining rooms.

I sailed with another line twice as a solo. One time I was placed with a couple and another solo lady at a table for 4. The other time was a table of 12 with 5 couples. Both experiences were delightful.