Dining on the cruises

[K McElroy]

I am thinking about taking my husband on a Disney cruise, we have never been on a cruise. But a principal reason we vacation
is to have a chance to see each other, we are both very busy, and we very much look forward to having dinner together, just us. How does the dining aboard the Disney ships work? Are you assigned to a table with other people and eat with them the whole week? Can you have a table for just 2 people? If they are available, how difficult would it be to get a table for 2? Thanks for any information on this.

 

[Diva of Dragons]

I'm 99.99% sure that the smallest table is for 4 people. Keep in mind that you will only be at your dinner table for about 1.5 hours a day. You still have the other 23.5 to spend alone together. Plus, you can eat at Palo one night (at your own table) and most likely the other couple will too. So, you might only end up with them a couple of nights.
Of course, the extreme solution would be to eat at Palo every night, but you'd be missing sooooo much of the total experience by skipping the other restaurants (IMPO).
Last, it never hurts to request that you have no dining partners. If the ship is not full and you are doing second seating, they'll probably accomodate you. (Hope this helps ) No matter what, relax and have fun!!!

 

[MdmMim]

On our first cruise, we were celebrating our 25th anniversary and requested a table for two. When we arrived at the dining room, we found out we had been assigned to a table for ten. Oh well... The other couples at the table were all very nice--and it was interesting to talk to them, as they were from different parts of the country. We had lots of time alone and just loved the cruise. (Have out 3rd booked for next year.) If you don't get that cozy little table for two, don't fret--you'll have a great time anyway.

 

[CamColt]

This is probably my biggest(and only) complaint about DCL. They dont have tables for 2. We requested to dine alone, and Im sure if it was possible they would have granted our request, but we were at a table for 4 with another couple. Yes, they were nice, and yes it was only 2 nights (we did Palo one night), but I was very uncomfortable and would have enjoyed my dining experience much more had we been alone. Not only am I very shy around strangers(I wouldnt dare ask for that last roll, I wanted), but DH & I spend very little time alone together and thats what this trip was all about. Not to mention the couple was late both times, resulting in us having to wait while they caught up to where we were. DH & I are quick eaters and had no desire to be sitting in the dining room for 2 hours when there was so much more to do on the ship. Especially when some of that time was spent just sitting watching our tablemates eat.
This really wont be an issue for us again since I dont see us getting a trip alone again in a long time, but I do wish Disney would remove some of the larger tables and add some for 2.

 

[hokie5cruiser]

I understand wanting to be a table of two, but since that wasn't a choice on a previous cruise, we opted for the largest table we could be at (I think it was 10) because we figured that a table for 4 we were stuck, but with a large group there would be someone to talk to. We were on our 10th anniversary, another couple was celebrating their 25th, and there was a honeymoon couple. We all enjoyed each others company and each evening we compared notes about the places we visited. You never know who you will meet.

 

[rae519]

Our first cruise (3 nighter) we had dining mates that made us with we could "eat and run" - Mom and Dad were angry drunks and the little boy was doing everything he could to get their attention (including taking food off MY plate and kicking me in the shins).
We found out later that we could have requested a change in tables. At least we know this now!

Second cruise (7 nighter) we had the most wonderful couple and their darling daughter. We've kept in touch over the months. This experience really showed us that our first dining mates were the exception to the rule.

I asked about requesting a special table (near the windows) but was told that the decisions were made by the Head Server and there was no way to request.

Bottom line - it doesn't hurt to ask! If they can make a change in dining mates, they can certainly TRY to accomodate an earlier request.

Good dining!
Rae

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Clever thinking, hokie5cruiser! Sounds like you had more fun with your table for 10 than you might have with a table for 4.

 

[llachance]

On our first cruise my daughter and I were at a table for 8 and we were all couples of two, only one married couple in the bunch and we had a wonderful time. This past cruise we were again at a table of 8, there were 3 of this time because we brought my mom, and with a family of 5. It was ok but certainly not the same interation as the first time - because they were interested in what their girls had done all day. It was fine - if it had been bad I would have changed, but I think if we end up with a similar situation next year when we travel again I will try to change so that we can have more interation with our table mates. That is one of the fun parts of the cruise....and let me say again, our table mates were fine, we just didn't have a lot in common.

 

[wovenwonder]

On the seven day there is also the option of Topsiders which is NOT buffet for dinner. They actually use the same menu as the dining rooms.

I have not experienced this first hand but this is the information I've been told.

 

[K McElroy]

Thanks for all the very helpful information on this question. I really appreciate it. I don't mean to sound unsocial, but when we actually do get a vacation we tend to do separate things during the day (my husband likes swimming and sunning, I like to read), and then we catch up on the day, and on each other, at dinner. So whether we can have a quiet dinner togther is important to us.

Does anyone know more about the meal option on the 7 day cruise? Is this a separate dining room where we could eat together by ourselves? Will we have to pay extra to do that?

 

[pjkds]

There is one more way you can have an intimate dinner for two. --And that is room service!

I myself haven't done dinner that way, but it would give you a quiet, private place and all the time in the world to enjoy the meal and each other.

 

[prymsu]

I was worried about this before our first cruise. I must tell you that on all our cruises, we have met some really wonderful people, and it has been a joy to share what was done during the day in ports with other folks. It gave us an opportunity to make new friends. We even keep in touch with one family for about two years now that we would have never met if we hadn't been table mates.

 

[CamColt]

KMcElroy, yes you can go to Palo. This is the adults only alternative restuarant, where you pay 5.00 per person to dine. This is considered a "tip", but most people tip more since the servers are so good and getting that food in a regular restaurant would warrant much more of a tip anyway. You need to make reservations for Palo on embarkation day(place and time are in the navigator). On the night you go there, you will not be seated with other people.
We just had our first Palos experience a couple weeks ago and it was incredible! The food was great and do not miss the chocolate souffle for dessert. Incredible!

I just reread your question and thought I should clarify, because Im not sure if I answered your question correctly. Palo is offered on both the 7 day, and 3 & 4 days cruises. The dinner buffet is only offered on the 7 day. If you go to the buffet you will also be able to sit alone, but there is no extra charge for that.

 

[Fawn]

K

When I went on my first cruise, I was a recent widow and did not relish the idea of sitting and making small talk with anyone. I just wanted to be able to talk with my girls quietly...so I requested a table for 4.

Well, we got a table for 9, and sat with two other couples...one with a 10 year old and one with a two year old. I have to say that it turned out great! Out tablesmates were lovely, and we got all kinds of info about different excursions and things from their perspective.

Having said that, there are also many options to dine alone. Topsiders, room service on your verandah (depending on your category), or order room service and take it up to a table on deck 9...enjoy the view and the quiet of early evening! And, when all else fails, Palo's!

Don't worry...you will have all evening together also...dance the night away!!

 

[Otisp]

We breathed a sigh of relief when our family of 4 got a table for 4 (we had been concerned that we were going to be "stuck" with having to share our cruise dining experience with another family). However, we ended up striking up conversations with the families on the tables on both sides of us (the table assignments follow you to each restaurant), and ended up having terrific conversations with them both at dinner and other times we ran into them. K, I know this doesn't pertain directly to your situation, but it does echo the many positive social experiences that most folks encounter on the cruise.

 

[trishy]

We had tablemates that were very .... peculiar. It was a couple and their young child. Not a problem really except the child could only have very limited amounts of sugar before he .... well, went "wild". It was odd. I had heard about kids like that - can't handle sugar well. Each of my kids begged to not sit next to this child - sad thing is, the parents kept wanting to place him next to one of them (the playmate thing, I guess). The last 3 nights I did pretty good blocks (otherwise, my kids would've complained for 30 minutes after leaving the restaurant). This child would touch other people's dinner (like rae519's experience), drinks, eating utensils (even picked up my dd9's spoon and licked it, then his mother, seeing what happened, took it out of his mouth and tried to hand it to my dd - YUCK - makes me ill to remember this scene). We stuck it out because (1) we didn't want to have someone else have to endure this, and (2) we could see the frustration in the parent's faces and kind of pitied the situation and (3) it possibly could've been worse. It was only 45 mins. out of a blissful day, so it wasn't that bad. It was interesting to hear about their experiences on the islands and the things they did on the ship.

 

[jwolfe]

Reading some of your posts makes me think we may be in for an adventure on our upcoming cruise . While some of this isn't "funny" at the time, I'm sure you'll be able to look back on it with some humor. Our children are pretty well behaved, but my youngest is very very vocal. She pretty much says what is on her mind, so I may have some pretty good stories for you all when we get back, especially if I have some tablemates like what I've read .

 

[rae519]

Fawn - soon to be Mrs. B!

Wedding and cruise?!

Will you be married on the ship?!

I know another DISer that is having her wedding vows renewed on the ship and it sounds just so wonderful!!

Congratulations and remember "don't worry-be happy"!

Rae

 

[Fawn]

Originally posted by rae519
Fawn - soon to be Mrs. B!

Wedding and cruise?!

Will you be married on the ship?!

I know another DISer that is having her wedding vows renewed on the ship and it sounds just so wonderful!!

Congratulations and remember "don't worry-be happy"!

Rae

Thanks Rae! We are getting married Friday evening in Port Canaveral, and then going on the cruise with 5 of our kids. I was too nervous about weather to trust getting married in the islands...what if we couldn't dock!!

We couldn't think of a better way to start off a marriage and new family than a Magical Cruise!

 

[rae519]

Best wishes, much happiness and good memories!
As I come to my 20th anniversary, I can only say "Many more!~"


Rae