Dinner seating with others..

[AZMermaid]

We’ve been sat privately with a party of 4 on our last 3 cruises- as recently as May on the Fantasy. We are open to sitting with others so we never request private, but we’ve had it each time.

I have read that the Wish has a harder time accommodating this request due to table spacing, but late dining makes it slightly more likely. Presumably the Treasure will be similar.

 

[auntlynne]

Yeah, but that doesn't keep it from being irritating. The worst is when the server comes up to the table and asks me a question right as I am taking a bite because now they are standing there staring at me while I chew my food.

Long story short (too late) I just do not want to sit with people I do not know. I am not going to make life-long friends with them. My wife and I tend to be introverts and do not like socializing like that. I will make the best of it if we are stuck at a table with other people I suppose since I am not going to be a jerk about it but it is going to be a long and uncomfortable dinner.

I am the person you would be seated next to you. And possibly talk to you. I also have others ask me for help, so I am used to talking with strangers.

This puts the onus on you, but I would rather hear “Nothing against you, but we are introverts who prefer to keep to ourselves. Please don’t take it personally that we won’t be interactive.” Nip it in the bud. It lets the others know that it isn’t them, it’s you. And sometimes it is them. . Your choice of words, of course. Many extroverts would feel bad if they thought they were making you uncomfortable and couldn’t read the signs.

 

[Goofy1932]

I am the person you would be seated next to you. And possibly talk to you. I also have others ask me for help, so I am used to talking with strangers.

This puts the onus on you, but I would rather hear “Nothing against you, but we are introverts who prefer to keep to ourselves. Please don’t take it personally that we won’t be interactive.” Nip it in the bud. It lets the others know that it isn’t them, it’s you. And sometimes it is them. . Your choice of words, of course. Many extroverts would feel bad if they thought they were making you uncomfortable and couldn’t read the signs.

I very well may say something. I'm not trying to be rude when I'm out in public by not wanting to talk to people but that's literally what I do for a living. I'm a therapist and I listen to people's problems all day long five days a week. I talk to people for 50+ hours a week. The last thing I want to do is go on vacation and continue to talk to people. That may sound rude to a lot of people but I'm exhausted mentally and emotionally every Friday. I really don't want to go on vacation to try to relax only to have to talk to somebody for an extended period of time. Again, I don't want to make anybody upset by my statements here and if we have to be seated with someone else for our dinners then I'll probably make it known right upfront that we're not talkers. Unfortunately, not everyone is as understanding as you. The moment you say something like that to someone no matter how delicate you put it that other person is going to get offended and then the entire dinner is still awkward. This is why we're hoping for a private table.

 

[otten]

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?

You can request a private table but it's not guaranteed. You have a better chance at a private table with late dining vs the earlier one.

 

[bbn1122]

Were you notified before you were on the ship?

No, I got a message late afternoon on embarkment day on the APP.

 

[bbn1122]

This is the first I've heard of DCL notifying that a table request has been denied (or granted). We've always just found out when we went to the dining room the first night.

Me too...I never received a notice before dinner. The message was sent via the APP.

 

[Goofy1932]

Do you think if I wore this pin to dinner it would help?

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Do you think if I wore this pin to dinner it would help?

Thats a nice idea, but people wont know what that means and it will be a talking point and do the opposite of what you want. Honestly just be direct and honest. Just say I'm not really into conversation, if you dont mind and have a book or ear phones.

 

[auntlynne]

Do you think if I wore this pin to dinner it would help? View attachment 877750

Looks like a conversation starter.

 

[Goofy1932]

Thats a nice idea, but people wont know what that means and it will be a talking point and do the opposite of what you want. Honestly just be direct and honest. Just say I'm not really into conversation, if you dont mind and have a book or ear phones.

That was just a joke.

 

[sponica]

We’ve been sat privately with a party of 4 on our last 3 cruises- as recently as May on the Fantasy. We are open to sitting with others so we never request private, but we’ve had it each time.

I have read that the Wish has a harder time accommodating this request due to table spacing, but late dining makes it slightly more likely. Presumably the Treasure will be similar.

If I recall the table sizes on the wish are 4, 6 and 8. We were a party of 6 and had our own table. Marvel they actually had us at an 8 top

 

[auntlynne]

That was just a joke.

And, look, you got us talking to you.

Hope you are having a nice day. Now, I am going to enjoy my lunch.

If you respond, this is how extroverts are invited in…

A smile or thumbs up is okay and non- inviting.

 

[JiminyCricketNJ]

We were on the Wish last September, celebrating our 25th Wedding Anniversary. Our travel agent noted it and I made the request. They granted it, so hopefully they do consider certain circumstances.

 

[Lucien Franciosa]

We were on the Wish last September, celebrating our 25th Wedding Anniversary.

Congratulations.

 

[MinnesotaDisneyFan]

I have an experience to share in addition to everyone’s standard advice of selecting late dining, requesting a private table in advance, and checking on-board (which is all true and good advice).

This is an anomaly but worth double checking—we once were on a rare cruise where early dining was LESS busy than late dining. We checked when we boarded and told dining service we would do ANYTHING to get a private table (switch rotations, etc.) and were told we were on the waitlist. When we showed up the first night to late dining we were told our request could not be honored and were at an 8-top with three other couples. We came to find out there was plenty of private table availability at early dining, which had come and gone for the first night (but we moved for the rest of the cruise).

So again, an anomaly but double check for BOTH seatings if you have that flexibility and a private table is the priority.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

I have an experience to share in addition to everyone’s standard advice of selecting late dining, requesting a private table in advance, and checking on-board (which is all true and good advice).

This is an anomaly but worth double checking—we once were on a rare cruise where early dining was LESS busy than late dining. We checked when we boarded and told dining service we would do ANYTHING to get a private table (switch rotations, etc.) and were told we were on the waitlist. When we showed up the first night to late dining we were told our request could not be honored and were at an 8-top with three other couples. We came to find out there was plenty of private table availability at early dining, which had come and gone for the first night (but we moved for the rest of the cruise).

So again, an anomaly but double check for BOTH seatings if you have that flexibility and a private table is the priority.

This is what the Europe cruises are like. The Europe cruises are port intensive , with long days. Most people choose or want late dining, as they are out all day. The all aboard times are usually very near early dining time, so people dont want to rush back on the ship.

 

[MinnesotaDisneyFan]

This is what the Europe cruises are like. The Europe cruises are port intensive , with long days. Most people choose or want late dining, as they are out all day. The all aboard times are usually very near early dining time, so people dont want to rush back on the ship.

Good insight. The odd part of our experience was it was a standard 3-night Wish cruise where you’d expect early dining to be very popular.

 

[Rob1872]

Our 5th cruise was the only one where we didn't get a private table. Our family of 4 was paired with another family of 4. The strange thing was that the second night we were seated at our own 4 top, but then were back with the other family on the 3rd night. We both thought that the other family had requested a change; it turned out that they had just juggled the tables at the 2nd restaurant and both times we were at the 2nd restaurant we split into our own tables and then rejoined for the 1st and 3rd MDR.

 

[Girl of the South]

Hey Goofy 1932!

I am the same way. Leave me alone! When you board, go to the desk they do restaurant stuff and explain you suffer from anxiety and you need the most private of tables, behind a pole or against the wall. I actually pile the table number and bread basket along the side of my table to make a little barrier. I used a little Christmas tree one time. Sure, bring a nice hard cover book and have it opened to a section and make it like a little wall. If people don’t get the hint, break out your best high school French!

Here’s my tree. My table number. And a cardboard Happy Birthday decoration.

 

[Goofy1932]

Hey Goofy 1932!

I am the same way. Leave me alone! When you board, go to the desk they do restaurant stuff and explain you suffer from anxiety and you need the most private of tables, behind a pole or against the wall. I actually pile the table number and bread basket along the side of my table to make a little barrier. I used a little Christmas tree one time. Sure, bring a nice hard cover book and have it opened to a section and make it like a little wall. If people don’t get the hint, break out your best high school French!

Here’s my tree. My table number. And a cardboard Happy Birthday decoration.

View attachment 878760

I don't want to tell them something that's not true though. It's not really massive anxiety as much as it is that I just don't want to spend my cruise meals talking to people I don't know. I spend five days a week eight hours a day talking to people about their problems. I really don't want to do it on a vacation. i'll still go to guest relations and ask them again to put a little more emphasis on it.