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.

 

[Disnsyncey]

I just take it as part of cruising, no matter for me worrying about something that (if I asked for private and it didn't work) I am not in control over anyway......last week my parents and I were sat with a "my parents' age" pair and their "almost my age" family member.....it was actually pretty great, especially being able to see "friends" around the ship. We very much enjoyed our time together.

 

[holula]

When I sail solo I often get placed with other diners. Overall I’ve had a great experience with this. One cruise we didn’t gel so well and that was slightly awkward for six nights, but I’ve had some great shared table experiences.

When I’ve sailed with my parents we always end up with a private table even if I don’t ask for it.

 

[xiphoid76]

Used to be a hard Yes....and then around 5-6 years ago it became a hard No. I am not sure why exactly Maybe we got older and just really wanted to enjoy our dinner time for just us. Before that I always loved sitting with new people. I am in my 50s now and have cruised my whole life. We were just so used to eating with other people during dinner - it was expected. We became friends with so many people that my mom stayed friends with for life - families from Hong Kong and Hawaii that we visited in their homes later. My mom's Christmas card list was filled with cruise dinner companions. Buzz Aldrin and his family sat with us and we went to the Army Navy game in Philadelphia for many years as guests of his. Some Disney fans that we became best friends with over the years. It was awesome. Then we got a private table once and realized we loved just the two of us having a quiet dinner and no forced conversation anymore. It felt freeing. It just wasn't something we ever thought of before. Now we always request a private table and the one or two ties we don't get it we actually enjoy getting room service or to-go orders and eating on our balcony. It just feels so much nicer. Were how this has changed so dramatically for us.

 

[sponica]

Honestly, the tables are so close together on the treasure it felt like the 2 other families we were near were seated with us anyway. I can't remember if I had requested a private table or not.

On our honeymoon on the Dream, we were seated with 3 other couples our age and that seemed to work.

 

[OKW Lover]

We take what we get. It really doesn't matter to us. We've met some very nice folks over the years.

 

[Drfate102]

We have never requested a private table and have gotten more private tables than not. There is just my wife and I so we usually end up with a four top to ourselves. But we don't mind, never had a problem and it is what it is. The only way to ensure a private table is to take enough people to fill a table. If it helps, I have noticed more four tops on the newer ships.

 

[laurelew]

For my upcoming Wonder cruise out of San Diego in April 2026, I am not requesting a private for my travel party, which includes myself, my husband, and my 5 year old son. I have fond memories of sharing tables on RC cruises I took with my family as a teenager and young adult. Granted the world feels much more divisive nowadays so I guess the odds of being paired with a family you don't jive with are higher than they were 25 years ago but I'm going to approach the experience with an open mind and a positive spirit and hope for the best.

 

[Goofy1932]

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?

Nope. I was SO HAPPY that we got a private table last time. I despise the idea of sitting with other couples and having to talk to them.

Edit: I do not despise the people. LOL I just don't like talking since that is what I do for my job ALL DAY 5 or 6 days a week. I need a break from talking to strangers.

 

[71 Truck]

Of the fourteen Disney Cruises we have been on, two of those cruises were with friends so of course on those two we all sat together.

Of the remaining twelve we always have our travel professional request a private table and since we do the later seating we have not had a problem getting one.

One of the main reasons we do this, I thought I would feel uncomfortable getting up and leaving a table where people I did not know were still eating.
For me, when I am done with dinner I want to have the flexibility to get up and go when I want to and not feel uncomfortable leaving.

Because of this we always request private a table.