Dining w/strangers question

[Red71]

I have requested a table just for our family of 4, am aware that it's only a request. If we wind up seated with others does the server wait until the entire table is seated before taking orders? Do they wait for the entire table to finish one course before serving the next?

We've done big tables at Poconos resorts (couples honeymoon style resorts) and we didn't like it at all.

I'm hopping for the best, but trying to prepare for the worst.

 

[tvguy]

Each table seats 4 so you'll probably get a table to yourself. They push tables together to seat 8, 12, 16 etc.
We were a family of four, our only request was late seating, no preference as to seatmates. We got a table to ourselves. But my DS 16 did a lot of magic tricks for the servers after dinner, so we usually found most of the people from the tables around us around our table after dinner.
Our prevous cruise, on HAL's Amsterdam, we had a table for 6. Sat with a lady in her late 40's and her dad. Had a great time.

 

[aprilgail2]

Double check when you board to make sure they put you at a table by yourself. I honestly think that if you don't want tablemates you should not be forced to have them...I like sitting with just my family and no strangers. I like meeting new people but not being forced to share my breakfast/lunch and dinner table with them! The table next to us had a youngish couple and they were seated with a woman around 40 and a lady in a wheelchair...well every single night the lady and the wheelchair lady arrived at dinner when the other couple was already finishing and the server had to scramble around to get their food to them...and every night they would send back one thing after another...their table mates were miserable...one night the women didn't show up and the couple was so happy!

 

[webray]

Yes, they do wait for everyone to arrive before they take your order, and all courses are served to everyone at the same time.

It really isn't and issue, unless you have rude tablemates that continually show up late.

 

[jrabbit]

And you can always tell your servers that you are in a hurry and they will take your order and serve you more quickly than normal and not wait for your table mates. But there is a limit as to what they can do since the kitchens are cooking for 475 guests at a time and try their best to serve hot foods hot and cold foods cold.

We have not had any problems with our tablemates on all of our prior cruises. They have usually been a highlight of the trip.

 

[plutojudy]

On our first cruise we were hoping for a table for two. I am glad we did not.
We have always enjoyed our tablemates. Last cruise they put us at a table for 4 and the other couple never came to dinner. We were very disappointed that we missed making new friends and discussing what we did that day and plans for the next day.
We eat dinner together every night and felt we missed part of our cruising experience.

 

[Skallywag]

We are travelling with our two adult daughters who have a separate cabin. How do I request seating together. We have no objection and rather like to meet other travellers and as we are from England always find plenty to talk about.

 

[ljm]

Have your travel agent call (or call yourself if you did not go through a TA), and have them link the reservations by confirmation number, and request that you are seated together. We did this for a cruise with my family (parents in one cabin, brother's family in another), and they sat all three cabins together at dinner. We are doing this again for our cruise in Jan. with a friend's family.

If you want to meet more people, just ask for a large table, otherwise it is likely that you and your daughter's cabin will be seated at a table with just your "linked" party.

Have fun!

 

[wayneg]

Before we did our 1st Disney cruise we did'nt like the idea of sharing a table.
After 2 cruises I would be dissapointed to sit on our own.
The family we met last month were very good table mates their daughter invited our son to hang out with her friends some evenings, they exchanged little gifts at the end of the cruise and then we were invited to their home in Orlando the week after the cruise. We visited them and they took us out for lunch.
Maybe we have been lucky but looking forward to meeting someone else next Oct cruise.
Wayne

 

[musicgirl]

Go to the Cruise Meet board. Get to know the people going, and hook up with someone who has similar taste or ages.

We did this with Mom2Belle&PeterPan and we had a great time!!!! We still keep in touch.

Lorie

 

[KathyTX]

Strangers are just friends you haven't met yet!

 

[markºoº]

It seems DCL has moved away from the bigger tables and now has more tables set for 4. All they did was separate the tables by about 2 feet which is great. You are still close enough to the people next to you to talk with them but also have privacy when you want it.

 

[lookingforward]

I am like the OP. I LOVE meeting new people but just don't like having to share my meal time with them. I guess it is because I talk to people (counseling) for a living and really look forward to my vacations and having my kids and husband to myself! I enjoy so much our dinner conversations and the chance to talk about our day. Usually we wind up making friends with tables around us and have actually met some of our current friends that way or at other venues on the ship.

One suggestion, if you don't get a table alone go to the dining manager when you board and he will move you. When we sailed on the WOnder they had us at a table for eight (we were five) so he switched us. It did not seem to be a problem (although we were on a hurricane cruise so it was not sold out).

 

[SandraLee]

I would love a table by a window! I have been on 2 DCL cruises and have never been able to have a window. Anyone know abou that? Both times, I have been at a table for 8. (family of 5 plus 3 strangers the first time. Group of 8 the second time)

What configuration are the window tables? Can I request a window?

Thanks.

 

[wdw47]

on our next cruise it will be just DH and me and we are hoping to be seated with other couples we like to meet and make new friends

 

[baileybaby]

Where do we find the dining room manager to check and see if we have a table to ourselves? Thanks

 

[jrabbit]

I have been on 2 DCL cruises and have never been able to have a window.

We've been on more than you and have always been towards the middle or by a wall. I kinda expect that the window seats are a perk for the upper categories. But I don't really know for sure.

 

[WDWDennis]

We usually get stuck in the middle tables too!! Maybe they ARE for the upper category rooms!!

I'm fine with dining with others. Once you get to know them, it can be lots of fun. Well.....depending on the people. We havent had a bad experience yet. (knock on wood)

If your not comfortable though, I would make sure to ask the manager about moving. Your paying good money for your cruise, if you want to dine alone, you should be able too!

Good luck to ya!

 

[SandraLee]

Well, actually, my first DCL I was in a cat 4. There were 5 of us and we were paired with a family of 3. But, our table was in the BACK of every restaurant. I remember Lumiers specifically . . . It was behind the water service table.

The second time I was in a cat 6. There can't be that many people in the cat 1-3 to get ALL the window tables.??

 

[crisi]

We were in category six and had a window in PC. We were on the "hallway" side of the dining room at Tritons, and AP has no Windows.

It wasn't very exciting. I don't recall looking out that window (my back was to it, however).