How do you request private dining in the MDR?

[pandy1024]

So I came across the thread about the craziest tablemates. I couldn't read the whole thing, it's really long, but that thread was hilarious and scary at the same time!!

I had no idea this was a thing so I'm glad I read about it.

How do you request a private table? And am I too late to request? We leave in a couple of weeks.

TIA!

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

You may call or email DCL, or your TA if using one, to make a request for a table for your family only. You can follow up at the dining changes location specified on the embarkation Navigator you get at the Port to verify if it was possible. DCL is usually pretty good about such requests but there are no guarantees.

 

[Megan Cocke]

My family is 6 adults and 3 children. Does anyone think we would have anybody extra seated with us? I'd totally be fine with it. What's the most that can be seated at one table?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

My family is 6 adults and 3 children. Does anyone think we would have anybody extra seated with us? I'd totally be fine with it. What's the most that can be seated at one table?

With that number of people, you're most likely to be seated by yourselves.

There is at least one large (14-16 people) table in most dining rooms. And smaller tables can be placed together to make larger ones.

 

[DawgDad93]

With that number of people, you're most likely to be seated by yourselves.

There is at least one large (14-16 people) table in most dining rooms. And smaller tables can be placed together to make larger ones.

For some reason I was thinking that our family of four would almost certainly get our own table, but I'm not sure why now. Is a party of 4 usually grouped with others or not? (We will be on the Fantasy for a 7-day trip if that matters.)

 

[gumbypee]

just to clarify - it still is not very "private" if you get your own table. The tables are packed in there!

Depending on packed the sailing is and how many people want individual tables may determine if you get one to yourself. If you want it, request it.

 

[pandy1024]

just to clarify - it still is not very "private" if you get your own table. The tables are packed in there!

Depending on packed the sailing is and how many people want individual tables may determine if you get one to yourself. If you want it, request it.

Thanks! Yeah - I didn't think we'd get a booth or something. I imagine it'll be quite crowded. I just don't want to have someone sit at our table and start flossing her teeth before dessert... LOL!

DH is quite social so maybe he'll want to have shared seating. Maybe we should just play the cards as they lay!

 

[Hundredacre]

My family is 6 adults and 3 children. Does anyone think we would have anybody extra seated with us? I'd totally be fine with it. What's the most that can be seated at one table?

I have read that odd numbers are more likely to be seated with others, but I am not sure if that is true because we are even. Also, your group is not small so that may override the odd number theory.

 

[Iamaplanner]

We are a family of four and last year we were seated with another family of four. Turned out that their two children are twins and so are ours! Plus, my husband and the other man did very similar jobs. It was surprising that we had so much in common. We enjoyed them a lot however we have requested to be solo this year (only because we are fearful that it could be a major miss this time around). I too 'assumed' that with us being 4, we would most likely be alone.

 

[Sir William]

For some reason I was thinking that our family of four would almost certainly get our own table, but I'm not sure why now. Is a party of 4 usually grouped with others or not? (We will be on the Fantasy for a 7-day trip if that matters.)

We've cruised twice with our two adult children and had two totally different experiences, both during the second seating.

The first time we were placed with another family of four. They kept entirely to themselves the entire meal, ignored our attempts to engage them, and appeared to resent us being at "their" table. We discussed asking for a separate table but decided to give it one more try, however the other family didn't show. The next night we were placed at a four-top and the servers told us the other family would not be returning.

The second time we were placed at a four-top. Our neighbors on one side had two young children on their first cruise and we all got along great. We even talked about joining tables except we had a different serving teams. The neighbors on the other side never showed the entire cruise, though our servers said the family was listed as onboard.

When DW and I travel by ourselves we are always seated with 2-3 other couples. We've been very fortunate in having pleasant and entertaining table mates, and more surprising we've had a number of interests and experiences in common.