Help Needed before 8:30pm tomorrow!!!

[gdulaney]

I've never posted anything like this before...but we seriously need help....

After 7 cruises, the unthinkable has happened, we are seated in the middle of two families (one from PA and one from Venezuela) and nobody is talking. My throat is hoarse and my brain is overtaxed...I need topics for dinner tomorrow night. There are eight of us. The Venezuelan family is a dad and two daughters (approx ages early teens) and the PA family is a mom, dad and 13-yr son. If anybody has any ideas of how to jump start this conversation, please, I need to know. I've complimented bracelets, shirts, and volunteered enough info to get myself a job as a travel agent, but still....nobody is talking.

We'd prefer not to switch tables, since that is unfair to our servers and table-mates...we'd rather make friends.

One last - funny thing --- we've recognized our server from days gone by, when he was a newbie assistant server. We don't know what's wrong with our current assistant server, he mentioned something about his tonsils hurting (he had a hard time talking and kept clearing his throat...imagine a hrggg sound). We hope they don't explode.

Thanks!!!
Ginny

 

[justmestace]

Maybe after you've hit your first port, everyone will talk about their excursions.

At this point, I don't know that I would try anymore. I think I would be seated, say hello...and just be polite after that. There's only so much you can do. Some people just don't talk when they are eating. And some are just plain unfriendly.

The only reason I would maybe think about moving is the Asst Server's throat. Ick....I'd hate to think of catching a cold from him.....or whatever.

 

[Laurabearz]

YOu could start with stuff like... What was your favorite thing you did today? What did you like least? Fave room service dish... lol Aways a tough spot to be in, but between my DH and I, we can get anyone talking...

How about asking them the meaning of Hanname?

 

[Verandah Man]

Hi Ginny,

I wish I could help with some topics for you, but I just read your post to Hazel and she said you need her around to help you!!! If it hadn't been for Angelina starting school this week, we probably would have booked this cruise!!!

Good luck at dinner tonight!!!

 

[aprilgail2]

I would change tables! I am sure the servers are used to that. One cruise me and my friend were put at a table with a bunch of people that did not speak English..after the first night we decided we could not deal with that the whole cruise so we never went back to the dining room again, we ate elsewhere the whole rest of the cruise...we were young and didn't realize that you could have told them to move you to another table!

 

[Dreamer04]

How about giving out some tips you've learned on the DIS? Like the secret deck 7? Or explaning why its really a great deal to rebook onboard?

Or about dropping off a tshirt at guest services for the characters to sign?

 

[pearlieq]

I think you've maybe done all you could. I guess I would just say hi, ask how everyone's day was, then just go back to talking with your spouse.

You could also discreetly ask your server is there is another table open in his/her section that you could move to. You many need to change dining times, but it's got to be better than sitting there in stony silence. Right before you move just drop by your old table, say you made some new friends at X activity and that they've invited you to dine with them for the rest of the trip. Wish them a great rest of their vacation and be on your way!

If that's not an option you could look into dinner at Topsiders or keep trying to suss them out. Maybe asking about their hometowns would get them talking as it's something they're familiar with.

Good luck!

 

[bstsuda]

OMG - i can't even imagine all this...we had such great table mates - our conversations centered around the kids' activities (on board and at home - school - etc.) ....how many cruises we had been on - and what other cruise lines....and then yes each night after excursions, how they were - and even shared photos.....good luck!!!!

 

[gdulaney]

Thanks for all the tips and hints -- some we've already tried and some we'll try tonight (and Andy, pls thank Hazel for her offer to come onboard and help us out, we wish you were both here!).

We're going to try it tonight and see what happens. If it doesn't get better, we've got some other DISers that have offered us space at their table.

The sun is shining, the sea is calm and we're on the Magic...so really - life is good!!

Ginny

 

[my3kids]

I would ask to change. I had to do thhis on my August cruise. We ended up swapping with another family so it all worked out in the end....we tipped the servers we ended up with, hopefully the other family tipped our origional servers. I asked the headwaiter about that issue and he said not to worry, it always worked out in the end.

 

[Cindi0511]

Let us know what you try tonight and if it works. That is a tough spot to be in. Has either of the other families been on a cruise before or is this their first? Maybe ask the girls about their school and what classes they like or extracurricular activities they're in. Good luck!

 

[LynnTarrant]

Our tablemates on our last cruise were very quiet on our first night but they did, become more and more friendly as the week progressed, I think they were tired from travelling, the first night and just quite shy and quiet anyway.
By the end of the week they were sharing shipboard stories having pics taken with us and promising to write. Hope all goes well tonight.

 

[BuzzBoyMom]

I would also ask to change. I can't imagine NOT having something to talk about with all the wonderful things going on...

But if you need some conversation starters, can you play the question game? When my boys aren't in the mood to talk, we each ask the person beside us a question...like "What is your favorite food" "If you could hop on a magic carpet and go anywhere, where would you go?" "If you could be any animal what would you be and why"... Just go around the table one way and when you get to the starting point, reverse the order. Some of the answers are really funny ... and it might loosen things up a little.

Sorry 'bout all this. Hope you enjoy your cruise.

 

[gdulaney]

It was better last night. One family approached the table smiling and the conversation was a bit better. It helped that we were in AP and the show is always a source of conversation.

Thanks again for all the ideas!!!

Ginny

 

[Cindi0511]

It was better last night. One family approached the table smiling and the conversation was a bit better. It helped that we were in AP and the show is always a source of conversation.

Thanks again for all the ideas!!!

Ginny

Excellent! May conversation only continue to improve each night. Thanks for letting us know.

 

[Laurabearz]

I am glad things are going better. I have the same concerns for our up coming cruise, and I hope things goes smoothly, but I fear that we will scare our table mates away with all our chatter and small kids! LOL

 

[gdulaney]

I understand completely! This is our 7th Disney cruise and we've never had bad tablemates....this is the only weird thing that's ever happened.

Ginny

 

[Verandah Man]

I understand completely! This is our 7th Disney cruise and we've never had bad tablemates....this is the only weird thing that's ever happened.

Ginny

Soooooooooooooooooooo...how was dinner tonight???

Or should I say last night, since it is after midnight, this not having to get up for work is spoiling me, LOL!!!

 

[gdulaney]

It was Pirate Night....(and we ate with Jan & Dave). In between yummy crab cakes, bbq wings, jerk chicken salad, beef tenderloin, and white chocolate cheesecake, we laughed so hard that we almost cried. It was a very funny dinner!!!

Ginny

 

[Verandah Man]

Early wake up call for the St. Thomas immigration check today, huh!!! Have a fun day whatever y'all decide to do today!!!