Dining.....I am just curious

[CamColt]

Unless we are traveling with a group, we request and usually get a private table. Only twice have we been placed with others, and we always do late dining.

 

[chamberlain]

On our last cruise my husband and I shared a table with two other couples. It was the first time out of 5 Disney cruises that we weren’t at a private table. The other couples were very nice and we had good conversations but I was glad it was only a 4 day cruise. After a while it seemed like I was talked out. I prefer a private table even if it’s only inches from the next. That separation seems to help to not feel obligated to engage. Unless you want to.

 

[foodiddiedoo]

On our last cruise my husband and I shared a table with two other couples. It was the first time out of 5 Disney cruises that we weren’t at a private table. The other couples were very nice and we had good conversations but I was glad it was only a 4 day cruise. After a while it seemed like I was talked out. I prefer a private table even if it’s only inches from the next. That separation seems to help to not feel obligated to engage. Unless you want to.

We’re taking each set of our parents over the next year (my in-laws in June, my parents for Christmas) with our daughter who will be 11 and turning 12 on the second cruise. I feel like they would not appreciate having strangers sit with them on their first cruises ever. If somehow we do find out we’re stuck with a group of 3, is there any way to get it swapped on board? I took my request of “near the stage” off of our cruises and put private table for both. Do I need to do it for the other room as well?

 

[tlovesdis]

On our first Disney cruise we requested a private table but thankfully did not receive it! We were seated with 4 other people and now we are all great friends. We've been on 3 other DCL cruises and have one this December and Alaska next year! We've also done Disneyland together! We were so glad we didn't get a private table! Now I know we got lucky and this doesn't always happen, but we sure are glad it worked out for us!!

 

[apathetic]

When traveling as a family (over 10 cruises) we are usually at a private table. Once we were paired with another family and it was ok. However, traveling as a couple (over 15 cruises) we almost always get tablemates. There is a bit of apprehension that first day wondering how it will work out, because bad dinner companions can make or break a cruise. Honestly, it's been positive every time. We get along well and only had a few instances with people we probably wouldn't want to eat with again. Nothing bad, just sometimes you have nothing in common. But that is the exception. As a couple, we usually spend most of the day together anyway, so it's not an issue when we have others to talk with at dinner. We've come to expect tablemates and we've stayed in touch with many of them over the years.

 

[AquaDame]

We’re taking each set of our parents over the next year (my in-laws in June, my parents for Christmas) with our daughter who will be 11 and turning 12 on the second cruise. I feel like they would not appreciate having strangers sit with them on their first cruises ever. If somehow we do find out we’re stuck with a group of 3, is there any way to get it swapped on board? I took my request of “near the stage” off of our cruises and put private table for both. Do I need to do it for the other room as well?

Yes, there is always a location you can go after you board to make dining requests. It will show on the app with the time and place while you're waiting to board. You can go there and get in line to check and see if your request for a private table was granted. If it was not, you may still be able to switch to another table at the same time or to the other seating if they can accommodate you. I'd mark the request anywhere you can so it is clear. Just make sure the two reservations are indeed linked.

 

[Stacey25]

No. It's awkward. However we have shared a table on 3 out of 8 previous cruises and all went well. Lovely people,small talk, then say goodbye. My husband and I were on the Wish last week. I did request a private table (second dining) and did not get it. I looked around and did not even see any 2 tops. Are there any?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

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?

Our very first cruise ever (a DCL one), we were seated with 3 other couples at an 8 top. We had the greatest time - for 15 nights on the cruise. Since then we've always asked for a shared table, either 6 or 8 people, except one cruise where our party was 5. We felt it would be unfair to subject 3 random people to our group .

We've always enjoyed the tablemates we've been matched with.

One cruise (not DCL) we had requested a 6 top, and were seated at a 4 top. The other couple did not show up either of the first 2 nights. Our head server said he'd fix it. We wound up for the remainder of the cruise at an 8 top with 2 other couples and 2 singles that were moved from late to early dining. Another wonderful match up.

 

[imbelle]

Not necessarily. We are a party of 3 and our first cruise we were seated with a party of 5 at an 8-top.

When I cruise with my sister and her three kids, our party of 5 is always seated with a family of 3 at a table for 8.

 

[Amunet]

We have never done second seating.

Well now you know that private seating has more of a chance for private table requests compared to first seating

 

[lisset005]

No. It's awkward. However we have shared a table on 3 out of 8 previous cruises and all went well. Lovely people,small talk, then say goodbye. My husband and I were on the Wish last week. I did request a private table (second dining) and did not get it. I looked around and did not even see any 2 tops. Are there any?

We had a private table for my husband and I on a table top of 4 on the Wish two weeks ago. I don't recall any 2 tops now that I think of it.

 

[lisset005]

We did two DCL cruises a few weeks ago to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. I requested private tables for both ahead of time and we didn't get them (we inquired onboard and talked to the dining team who confirmed it wasn't granted) at the second seating. Dining teams were awesome and quickly made a private table happen once we explained our anniversary (and first vacay without our kids, haha). Even though we had a private table for two were still sat at a tabletop of four on both ships and they just took away the extra dishes, etc. once we sat down.

Personally, there is no way I would ever want to sit with other people at dinner, maybe I am in the minority, haha. We have 5 kiddos we usually sail with so we end up with our own table with them anyhow but it just doesnt interest me in the slightest to find things to talk about with strangers when I am trying to relax on vacay. To each there own though

 

[asgur5]

Not when you have kids who are fussy eaters.

 

[foodiddiedoo]

When I cruise with my sister and her three kids, our party of 5 is always seated with a family of 3 at a table for 8.

Do you request a private table?