Dinner seating with others..

[xiphoid76]

WAs Dining Changes in Triton's on the Wish? It's been Luna in the past, curious if this was a one-time thing or if they've moved it.

(A good reminder to all to always check the app when you board to see where Dining Changes is, as it could change!)

Yes, was in Tritons at 12:30 on the 7/19 Wish. Nothing was going on in Luna, so not sure why. Tritons was crowded - they had two lines - one for specialty dining and one for regular. It was kind of a mess in there.

 

[auntlynne]

Update from Recent Wish sailing 7/19-22:

Requested private table.
Went to Triton's at 12:30 on embarkation day to check on the reservation to see if we had a private table. We did not. Again We have never been given a private table when requested, but every other time on the Dream and Fantasy they switched us then to a private table. This time they said the ship was full and no changes could be made, but to refresh your app at 4:30 to see if we got a new table. For more information- we are a table of 2, late sitting, and were first in line requesting changes to late seating private table. There were two other groups in front of us at Triton's requesting private table for early seating and were told the same thing as us.
4:30 came and went, no changes to our table. Lots of people missed this cruise do to the first day being Friday the day of the Crowdstrike computer problems and flights being canceled (were told from staff between 10-20% of guests couldn't make the cruise).
Went to dinner at Marvel at 8:15 and at the entrance asked again about a private table and they found one for us
Yaa. So all hope is not lost if you don't get a private table right away or even after asking the first time. Try try again.

Thanks for slipping the info on Crowdstrike effect in there.

 

[tntstults]

We have no desire to sit with another family for dinner. There is 4 of us. It would actually be a total buzz kill for me. Is there a way to request not to share a table?

We always have early dining. The first few cruises we sat with others and it worked out fine. We got along well with the other family. One cruise we ended up by ourselves and my husband was disappointed but myself and our teen girls were happy. So the following cruise we requested to be alone and we were lucky enough to get it. You can always check when you get on the ship the first day to see if you will be sat with someone and then you can ask for them to change it. They may have openings as people switch dining times on the ship.

 

[sugliac]

Ya this has become a huge sticking point with me and DCL. I always sail as a group of two, either with a friend or my significant other. Regardless, I think it is so uncomfortable sitting with strangers and we were forced to in Alaska. I end up just going to Palo (and Remy/Enchente) for every night of the cruise now if I can't secure it - not the worst problem to have! LOL.

 

[where's_my_prince]

being persistent helps.
Was on the 9 night mediterranean this summer with my sister, asked for a private table, we got to dinner the first night and was sat with 3 other parties of 2, so it was a table of EIGHT. 2 parties were couples that wanted to sit next to each other, while me and my sister, and the other 2 top wanted to sit across from each other. We got there on time, other parties didn’t, server didn’t take our order till everyone was sat down :/ We are platinum cruisers and know what we like at the MDR and are ready to go, these were first time cruisers. They were all very nice people but I knew i could not spend 9 nights of dinner like this, I went to guest services right after and politely explained the situation and ask again if we could move and even offered to switch to late dining if that could help our situation.
The next night we were at a private table

 

[cedricandsophie]

In 25 plus cruises we have only been sat with other families twice. We were a party of 4 once and the other time there 6 of us abd 4 of them. I’m fine with it because I love meeting new people. But I think it’s rare. Of course most tables are close together so you get to know the people next to you pretty well anyway. . I suppose you can just ignore them but that’s not me.

 

[tlprice]

We have been on 11 DCL cruises and we have had other table mates on all but 2 of our cruises (both of our Alaska ones). We have always had really great table mates and Disney definitely does a great job of matching people up. It has always helped my daughter feel comfortable by making a friend or a few without as much effort. She was very disappointed on our Alaska cruise that we just finished when we got to dinner the first night and didn't have any table mates. Our first Alaska cruise, we weren't surprised because it was the 1st Alaska cruises back after Covid and I think everybody had their own tables.

 

[buzlite]

This reminds me of the thread where people try to stop other people from sitting next to them on rides… I wonder if there is some crossover.
We sat next to a family for a luau in Hawaii, and they completely ignored us for 2 hours…
I personally enjoy getting to meet and speak with others as long as they aren’t total jerks.

We’re hoping for the best for our cruise next year. Maybe we’ll meet some lifelong Disney friends. If they’re jerks, well, the jokes on them because they just missed out on being friends with some pretty awesome people!

 

[ladyofthetramp]

Life is a box of chocolates... We have had awesome table mates (this years 9 nt med) +(4 night Caribbean), really good (I think they were worried we were going to be nuts, but when they found out we weren't, it was all good-lol), and some not so great (they basically just ignored us the whole time). We introduce ourselves, and see where it goes. Sometimes it is just asking about your day and then not chatting so much and other times it is wonderful sharing. You never know where it may go... or not. Unless someone is just off the rails rude or offensive, we can make it work. Never breaks my cruise (you can always ask to switch tables) but sometimes, like this past summer, it can really make your cruise.

 

[Goofy1932]

This reminds me of the thread where people try to stop other people from sitting next to them on rides… I wonder if there is some crossover.
We sat next to a family for a luau in Hawaii, and they completely ignored us for 2 hours…
I personally enjoy getting to meet and speak with others as long as they aren’t total jerks.

We’re hoping for the best for our cruise next year. Maybe we’ll meet some lifelong Disney friends. If they’re jerks, well, the jokes on them because they just missed out on being friends with some pretty awesome people!

That doesn't mean I am a jerk. I don't want to talk to a stranger while I am eating on vacation. I prefer to only speak to my own family while we are at dinner. It is not me being a jerk. It has to do with me and my career and not wanting to do it while I'm on vacation. I'm a therapist and all I do 5 or 6 days out of the week for almost 10 hours a day is talk to people. It's mentally exhausting and the last thing I want to do while I'm on vacation is talk to people I don't know while I'm eating. That doesn't make me a jerk. That makes me somebody who's on vacation from my employment not wanting to continue it while I'm on that vacation. I'm not going on this cruise to make lifelong Disney friends. I'm going on this cruise to relax.

 

[buzlite]

That doesn't mean I am a jerk. I don't want to talk to a stranger while I am eating on vacation. I prefer to only speak to my own family while we are at dinner. It is not me being a jerk. It has to do with me and my career and not wanting to do it while I'm on vacation. I'm a therapist and all I do 5 or 6 days out of the week for almost 10 hours a day is talk to people. It's mentally exhausting and the last thing I want to do while I'm on vacation is talk to people I don't know while I'm eating. That doesn't make me a jerk. That makes me somebody who's on vacation from my employment not wanting to continue it while I'm on that vacation. I'm not going on this cruise to make lifelong Disney friends. I'm going on this cruise to relax.

I never called you a jerk… I was referring to the family that we sat next to a Luau that refused to even say hi. I hope you get some time to decompress.

 

[Goofy1932]

I never called you a jerk… I was referring to the family that we sat next to a Luau that refused to even say hi. I hope you get some time to decompress.

I wasn't meaning to say you were calling me a jerk personally. Just people like me. There are a lot of people that just don't like to socialize. They go on a cruise then get stuck with people sitting right next to them that want to talk, talk, talk, and talk some more. It is uncomfortable for many people.

 

[tom1944]

I don't mind sitting with other people but due to health issues my wife is an extremely slow eater. Our family is used to it, but it might be an issue for a person who is not.

And when I say slow it is beyond most people's imagination how slow is slow.

 

[MsSimone]

Keep in mind that especially on the Wish (& Treasure) the tables are placed sooooo closely together that you might as well be at a shared table; you'll hear your neighbors conversation & they'll hear yours. The 'magic' is that the servers can get through to deliver food.

I don't disagree, but the expectation for interaction is really different being actually seated with as opposed to just very near other people.

We're a party of three; so far we've gotten a late-dining private table each time. Hopefully we're 4-for-4 on our requests on the cruise next month.

 

[dwg]

We are sailing on the Dream on December 2nd. Can anyone tell me where I would go to check on the status of our table when we board the ship? We always request a private table when we book our cruise. Our last cruise on the Wish was the first time we didn't get our request. We got a text late on the 1st day saying our request was not granted but since we were in Palo's the first night we did not speak to anyone until the next day when we spoke to a head waiter at the restaurant we were going to be at that night. We are only 2 and we were being seated with 4 other people. The Head Waiter was able to get us changed to private table before dinner.

 

[RedHead0186]

We are sailing on the Dream on December 2nd. Can anyone tell me where I would go to check on the status of our table when we board the ship? We always request a private table when we book our cruise. Our last cruise on the Wish was the first time we didn't get our request. We got a text late on the 1st day saying our request was not granted but since we were in Palo's the first night we did not speak to anyone until the next day when we spoke to a head waiter at the restaurant we were going to be at that night. We are only 2 and we were being seated with 4 other people. The Head Waiter was able to get us changed to private table before dinner.

It should be Enchanted Garden on the Dream. Check for "Dining Changes" in the app once you get to the terminal and connected to ship WiFi. That will tell you for sure.

 

[GhostHost24]

I don't disagree, but the expectation for interaction is really different being actually seated with as opposed to just very near other people.

We're a party of three; so far we've gotten a late-dining private table each time. Hopefully we're 4-for-4 on our requests on the cruise next month.

Party of 3 here as well, we're 0 for 1 unfortunately. We were on the Dream back in Feb. We're doing the treasure in 2025, so here's hoping we have better luck. Thankfully the tablemates we had were very nice, and ended up having good convos at times (and each respected having private convos)

 

[dwg]

It should be Enchanted Garden on the Dream. Check for "Dining Changes" in the app once you get to the terminal and connected to ship WiFi. That will tell you for sure.

Thank you,

Is it DCL standard practice now to get a text message telling us in advance of our dinner seating that our private table request was not granted? Also if you'd not check if your dinner seating request was granted after board did anyone get a text before your dinner seating that the request was granted or was it a surprise when you sat down for dinner?

 

[RedHead0186]

Thank you,

Is it DCL standard practice now to get a text message telling us in advance of our dinner seating that our private table request was not granted? Also if you'd not check if your dinner seating request was granted after board did anyone get a text before your dinner seating that the request was granted or was it a surprise when you sat down for dinner?

I have never gotten a text about my dinner seating request, whether it was granted or not. The only time my request wasn't granted was on the Wish-I did not get a text but went to Dining Changes once onboard and they let me know it hadn't been granted but they were able to take care of it for me then and there.

 

[Skippyboo]

I was on Fantasy in October as solo cruiser. Fully expected to be placed with other solo cruisers for first seating dining. Was totally surprised when I got to my table first night and was by myself. Made for quick eating since I didn’t have to wait for other people.

Going on the Wish next Friday. Up for eating with others or by myself.