dining room table, type 1 kids

[lhazc]

I have read (thanks to these boards ) that you can request to have a table alone, we are cruising with our 2 sons (11 & 17) both of them have type 1 diabetes, I wondered about getting a private table in MDR, I realize not everyone is comfortable with blood sugar testing and insulin administration and don't want our tablemates to feel uneasy or make my boys feel self-conscious , and the boys would like the privacy. I understand the dinners can be quit long and it is very possible we may need to test at some point, Is it likely our request will be honored? Anyone with experience getting a private table? Others with type 1 kids, your experiences? Maybe I am worrying over nothing, thanks

 

[abja09]

I made this request with my son on our Dream cruise in March 2013 and will request again for February 2014 cruise on the Wonder. All I did was call DCL and they added the request to my reservation. They say they cannot make any guarantees but I think that is there normal line for requests. The request I made on my March cruise was honored.

 

[sbtrfly74]

We did this also for our cruise 3 years ago and I plan on doing again. They didnt ever mention to me the "could not guarantee" and didnt have any problems.

That reminds me I need to call asap, cruise is in 6 weeks

 

[holula]

When you request I would specifically say it is for medical reasons. They always say they cannot guarantee but if it is for medical reasons you probably have a better shot.

 

[lhazc]

thanks , nice to hear, I really didn't expect major problems but I am glad to hear it's not been a problem for others. I am sure we are going to have a magical time and just can't hardly wait till next September !

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

I'm also a type 1 and I wear an insulin pump, therefore I don't have to do any injections at the table, however I completely understand! I do have to "pump" at the table and you are right, whether people know or not, they stare. I've really learned to not care but it doesn't make it any easier most times.

We have always requested to dine alone and whether I've sailed with my family (three of us) or my girlfriends and just my Mom, we've been granted this all but one time. On the cruise with my Mom, we were seated with another couple (married) and yes, it was awkward at first. At the first dinner I just explained it to them, "I'm a type 1 diabetic, this is my insulin pump, etc." I think it's easier to be the one to offer it instead of making them feel awkward as well. I usually don't have to explain this but since we were sitting so close and for 7 nights, it was just the right thing to do. Turns out the wife had an allergy and had to have a special diet every night so honestly that got far more attention than I did - which is perfectly fine by me.

My best advice - hope for the best, plan for the worst. My pump is a part of my life and I just go with the flow. I appreciate the technology and luckily I'm very well controlled but again, I don't worry what others say or do. Just know I get it and you do what you need to so you guys have an awesome vacation!

Heather

 

[quickcat]

My son is 13 and type one. We have requested a table by ourselves because of medical reasons and have got one. Sometimes its just nice to dine by yourself anyway
Have a great cruise!

 

[scootch]

My daughter has serious smell aversions. They made the request for us(cruise isn't until Feb) She did not mention anything about a chance it not going through. Our last cruise, she was sick every night, she ended up just not going to dinner.

 

[lorimay]

We have done 4 cruises with just myself and my husband.
We have asked and received a table for ourselves every time.

I will say that on the repo LA-Vancouver this year, our table was so close to our neighbors we could hear their conversation.

 

[firsttimemom]

We have always gotten our request for a table for 4. One thing you might do on embarkation day is to find out where they handle any changes to your dining rotation (it will be listed in your navigator). Stop by and they can tell from the table # printed on your room card if you did indeed get your request. If not, they are the people that can make it happen. Better to get it all worked out at 1PM and then you can head to dinner at the appropriate time without any worries.

Hope you all have a great cruise!

 

[ocspartan]

We've always requested our own table and it hasn't been a problem, with no special circumstances. On one occasion you could clearly see all they did was separate a planned 8 top and turned into two 4's that were basically side by side separated by a small gap between the tables even though the tables on both sides were set up as 8's.

 

[Dug720]

One thing to be aware of though, the tables are VERY close together. So even a "private" table isn't really private. On our cruise in July, the server couldn't even go between our table and the one next to us - and the father there seemed to think we were sharing a table the way he kept trying to start up conversation. We were quite happy to see that they weren't near us the next night. We don't mind conversing with tablemates when we have them...but we were at a "private" table.

 

[MomsOf2boys]

Double check when you get on board. ...if it hadn't been done at that point, they often times can do it then.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

One thing to be aware of though, the tables are VERY close together. So even a "private" table isn't really private. On our cruise in July, the server couldn't even go between our table and the one next to us - and the father there seemed to think we were sharing a table the way he kept trying to start up conversation. We were quite happy to see that they weren't near us the next night. We don't mind conversing with tablemates when we have them...but we were at a "private" table.

This is another excellent point - sometimes the tables are very close and there really isn't much privacy.

I wanted to add as well - on the Fantasy sailing with my Mom (the one we did not get a table for just the two of us), we had gone to the dining room at 1pm on the day we boarded to find this out. We also asked if we could be moved to a table of two (really a 4 top) so we could dine alone and were denied. He advised the ship was full and there was no room to move. He did offer to move us to 2nd/late dining to accommodate us but that would have been worse for me honestly. We just had to suck it up and go with it. Not sure they didn't make the exception based on the fact it was just two of us or simply because he really couldn't. Like I mentioned it turned out fine but I wanted to point this out just in case. Often they will accommodate you however there are times I guess they just can't.

I'm hoping it will out for you just fine!

Heather

 

[Feisty Fairy]

This is another excellent point - sometimes the tables are very close and there really isn't much privacy. I wanted to add as well - on the Fantasy sailing with my Mom (the one we did not get a table for just the two of us), we had gone to the dining room at 1pm on the day we boarded to find this out. We also asked if we could be moved to a table of two (really a 4 top) so we could dine alone and were denied. He advised the ship was full and there was no room to move. He did offer to move us to 2nd/late dining to accommodate us but that would have been worse for me honestly. We just had to suck it up and go with it. Not sure they didn't make the exception based on the fact it was just two of us or simply because he really couldn't. Like I mentioned it turned out fine but I wanted to point this out just in case. Often they will accommodate you however there are times I guess they just can't. I'm hoping it will out for you just fine! Heather

I heard it is harder to do during main seating but could be wrong.

 

[MomsOf2boys]

I heard it is harder to do during main seating but could be wrong.

Yes it is. There is a wait list oftentimes for first dining. It's hard for them to give up a fourtop knowing others would gladly accept sitting with strangers for a chance to have first sitting. Depends on the cruise and ship.

 

[natmom]

I requested a table for 4 for my family on our last cruise. My daughter has celiac disease and has an extremely bad reaction if even a crumb of gluten would land on her plate. As a family we all know how to be careful around her food but I would expect strangers at out table to understand or be aware. Similar to the OP, my daughter would be uncomfortable and have anxiety so that is why I requested our own table. We were granted our request and I have made the same request for our next cruise

 

[DVC Jen]

we have made that request on each of the 3 cruises we have taken and it has been honored on each of the 3 cruises

 

[Lissame]

I think that the key here is to arrange it in advance, either by calling DCL yourself or making sure your TA takes care of it. Don't count on being able to do it on board.

 

[calngavinsmom]

Hello there! We requested a private table for our family on our cruise on the Dream in October and we got it! We had booked our cruise 8 months out and put the request in right away, so I don't know if that was part of why we got it or not, but we did.

I also double checked with the dining team when we boarded (they had something set up so you could request changes to dining rotations), and learned that our request was granted.

Our youngest guy is Type 1 Diabetic also, and our dining team was very good with him. Our son is on a pump, so as long as we can dose for carbs we are good. Our head server helped us out the first night by bringing out a Mickey ice cream bar along with the packaging so we could get an accurate carb count Our little guy loved it so much that was what he chose for dessert every night....which made things a bit simpler in the dessert department

I hope you have a great time