Dining.....I am just curious

[Meem93]

I am just curious.....does anyone actually enjoy being seated with other families? I always request a private table, and I have gotten it 2/3 times. Fingers crossed for our next cruise in November!! But I assume most people who put a request in, request for a private table.

What do you request? Does anyone prefer to sit with strangers?

 

[Peaseblossom36]

I am just curious.....does anyone actually enjoy being seated with other families? I always request a private table, and I have gotten it 2/3 times. Fingers crossed for our next cruise in November!! But I assume most people who put a request in, request for a private table.

What do you request? Does anyone prefer to sit with strangers?

My family sat with another family on our first cruise (2004- I was 12), we were unaware that was a thing or that you could request a private table. It was a really bad experience, so now that I am the one planning for my family I always request a private table and check that we get one. I am always happy to meet new people but have zero desire to sit with strangers at dinner.

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

I am just curious.....does anyone actually enjoy being seated with other families? I always request a private table, and I have gotten it 2/3 times. Fingers crossed for our next cruise in November!! But I assume most people who put a request in, request for a private table.

What do you request? Does anyone prefer to sit with strangers?

I’ve only been on one (Disney) cruise and requested a private table. It was just me/my young kiddo and I had zero interest in carrying on a conversation with strangers throughout dinner each night - it would have felt like a chore.

Having said that, had I traveled with other adults who could have helped with the talking (so it didn’t solely rest on me), I probably could have been convinced to give it a try.

As it turned out, the family we were seated across from were great in small doses - but I was relieved to not have to force conversation for 7 nights.

 

[ShaneDJ]

I am just curious.....does anyone actually enjoy being seated with other families [in the MDR on DCL]?
I always request a private table...

No.

 

[Flcruising]

We can enjoy the cruise either way. We've never had a bad experience even though we've sat with people whose lifestyle is very different from ours.

Its all part of the travel adventure , encountering other cultures and experiences.

It all depends on why you travel and your focus for that trip.

 

[ironz]

We met a couple that are now dear lifelong friends due to being sat together on a cruise 6 years ago. Have done 6 more cruises with them. So, you never know--sometimes it turns out wonderfully.

 

[DCLMP]

That's a hard NO.

 

[Girl of the South]

I have shared a table a couple of times on embarkation day when I didn’t want to deal with Cabanas. It was fine. But I wouldn’t want to do that every night. Too much of a gamble that you’ll get someone you’ll click with.