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.

 

[Skippyboo]

Last cruise on Wish in Aug, I requested a private table and didn’t get it as a solo dinner at 545 seating. The 5 other ladies at my table were awesome. We spent the evenings of night 2 and 3 together seeing the shows, fireworks. Had an awesome time.

 

[Amunet]

I have only ever done a private dinner table when cruising but that is because I was cruising with my significant other. Now that I'm cruising solo, I thought I would give it a chance.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Ive done 4 Disney cruises. The first 2 I did private tables, the second 2 I did shared tables.

I think I enjoyed the shared tables more than the private tables. It was really nice each evening to get to know people from different countries and to share how we spent our day.

The first time I shared a table I was put with an adult mother and daughter and another solo.

The second time I shared a table I was with 3 other solos.

I see it as part of the cruise experience, a way to meet people. Also as there is so much to do on the ship and at ports, its a great way to hear about things you didnt know or didnt have time to do.