No more table mates on DCL

[cruiser21]

We have had mixed assignments....we usually travel with large groups so we have several tables in a section and other times when just my husband and I cruise we have been at a 4 top with another couple and sometimes at a larger table with a group of people. We have been seated just the two of us too...which was a little disappointing as we like to chat with others. We have always enjoyed our pairings....except for the Maiden Voyage of the Magic back in 1998 when our group of seven was seated at an 8 top with a single who turned out to be crazy. He started off OK but we soon realized he was out of his mind. He would take the dinner rolls off my kids plate and eat them and started massaging our friend's back in a seductive way. He would say random inappropriate things to our kids. We thought we were being punked. He made our server cry. It was bizarre. We still don't know how he travelled alone since he was in a wheelchair and didn't seem able to get himself around. My husband left the table and spoke with our head waiter who knew what we were talking about as the server must have complained as well. We asked to be seated elsewhere for the rest of the cruise. The following nights he was seated alone and didn't even remember us as we walked by. It was so odd. Maybe he was off his meds or something.

MJ

Weird. As a nurse I deal with these kind of people all the time. It's surprising someone with all those psych problems could hold a job and afford a Disney cruise. Then again back in 1998 people could act as weird as they wanted and they didn't have to worry about it ending up on You tube or snap chat.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Do you think DCL will go to not assigning random table mates in the future?

I have no idea, but I hope not. I like meeting new people.

 

[janiebubble]

Thanks for sharing and good to know!

However we have requested our own table and not been granted it so please don’t assume it is a given

 

[NCConch]

I think space is at too much of a premium on these ships to allow each family their own table. Besides, most of the tables are close enough that even though they are separated, you are very close to your neighbors. Out of four cruises, we have never asked to be alone but only shared a table once. My DD (21) and I are conversationalists. My wife doesn't care either way and our DS (17) would just as soon be in the teen club.

 

[mmouse37]

Weird. As a nurse I deal with these kind of people all the time. It's surprising someone with all those psych problems could hold a job and afford a Disney cruise. Then again back in 1998 people could act as weird as they wanted and they didn't have to worry about it ending up on You tube or snap chat.

He didn't seem to be traveling with anyone else. We couldn't understand it.

MJ

 

[SherriNichole]

I've always cruised as a family of 4 with my parents and brother. This time it'll just be me and my husband. I've requested no table mates, as he's not a big small-talker and it'll be our honeymoon.

 

[dvcdisney]

I think space is at too much of a premium on these ships to allow each family their own table. Besides, most of the tables are close enough that even though they are separated, you are very close to your neighbors. Out of four cruises, we have never asked to be alone but only shared a table once. My DD (21) and I are conversationalists. My wife doesn't care either way and our DS (17) would just as soon be in the teen club.

We've always asked for a private table and in a lot of cases, we do notice that the neighbouring tables are very close and in a few places looked like it was a long string of tables that could have just been connected. But I'm okay with the fact that it looks like they just moved the table. Sometimes, we do have a little conversation with the table next to ours, but other times we don't. And I like the fact that its not awkward when we don't have conversations with them.

I'm especially glad on one of our cruises where we were seated next to a table of what seemed like a compatible family (both our 2 children were about the same age). However, we soon realized that they were not. My children know how to behave at the dinner table no matter where we are. This was very important to us. The family next to us did not appear to know how to behave properly. And these were not young children....likely between 10-15yrs old. I don't want to get into specifics but there were food being thrown across the table which surprising was started by the father. Although the mother didn't participate, she didn't do anything to stop it...Honestly, it was so surreal that we were all in shock. Our server came over and politely said asked the children to stop. They did, but just for that night. It became dinner theatre for the tables around them. I kept thinking about our poor servers who had to clean up after them and this was when we had early seating.

So I'm very glad we didn't share a table with them.

 

[lorimay]

However we have requested our own table and not been granted it so please don’t assume it is a given

Wow, that's not good. Did you go to the Head Server or Guest Services and ask?
I check when we get onboard to make sure, if you do that they can probably fix it.
But they do say "It's just a request, not a guarantee".

 

[dvcdisney]

We have had mixed assignments....we usually travel with large groups so we have several tables in a section and other times when just my husband and I cruise we have been at a 4 top with another couple and sometimes at a larger table with a group of people. We have been seated just the two of us too...which was a little disappointing as we like to chat with others. We have always enjoyed our pairings....except for the Maiden Voyage of the Magic back in 1998 when our group of seven was seated at an 8 top with a single who turned out to be crazy. He started off OK but we soon realized he was out of his mind. He would take the dinner rolls off my kids plate and eat them and started massaging our friend's back in a seductive way. He would say random inappropriate things to our kids. We thought we were being punked. He made our server cry. It was bizarre. We still don't know how he travelled alone since he was in a wheelchair and didn't seem able to get himself around. My husband left the table and spoke with our head waiter who knew what we were talking about as the server must have complained as well. We asked to be seated elsewhere for the rest of the cruise. The following nights he was seated alone and didn't even remember us as we walked by. It was so odd. Maybe he was off his meds or something.

MJ

I'm glad your husband spoke to the head server, but after receiving the complaint from the server, it would have been better for the head server to speak with you and others on the table. When he/she visited your table, they could say "If there's anything I can do to make your dining more special, please come and see me". We are usually asked at the table if everything is fine...but in this situation, if he invites you to see him, it's a good way for him to signal that he knows there's an issue and he would be happy to speak to you about it. I don't believe he can do anything unless a guest says something. And sometimes people don't want to complain and just accept the miserable situation.

If the head server had done something after the server complained (before your husband spoke to him) your story would be different. This would have been a story about how great your head server was for being aware and engaging so that you have a wonderful dinner experience. Don't get me wrong, I don't believe that Head Servers could see all the issues that are happening, but the fact that the server had spoken with him/her, then that should signal their attention is required.

 

[darnheather]

It is odd to randomly place people with others for dinner - I know it is a cruising tradition but this is not something that most people are accustomed to anymore and does not happen on the land at any restaurants I know of.

This is only true in America. In Asia and some places in Europe it is very normal to sit with others in restaurants. Personally I love sharing tables since it's usually just me and my two girls. They'd fuss with each other if we were alone.

 

[xiphoid76]

This is only true in America. In Asia and some places in Europe it is very normal to sit with others in restaurants. Personally I love sharing tables since it's usually just me and my two girls. They'd fuss with each other if we were alone.

Is that true? Haven't experienced that. Been all over Europe and Asia and never have been seated with anyone else except at a Oktoberfest celebration in Bavaria in September once. I don't mind at all, but I didn't know that was done anywhere anymore. It definitely isn't common in the USA where if we went to eat at Applebee's for example - it would be hysterical to see the looks on people's faces if they sat different parties together

 

[janiebubble]

Wow, that's not good. Did you go to the Head Server or Guest Services and ask?
I check when we get onboard to make sure, if you do that they can probably fix it.
But they do say "It's just a request, not a guarantee".

We did go to check the request had been granted when we boarded and were told it hadn’t. We later got a phone call from the head server saying there was no way they could accommodate the request. We were already on second seating. It was a disappointment.

 

[Kate_45]

I wasn't sure about having tablemates on my recent cruise on the magic, but I'm lazy, you can't request online and I couldn't be bothered to call, so just left it up to Disney. In the end we were seated with a perfectly nice family who seemed to want to smile, reply politely and then keep themselves to themselves. The kids interacted a bit which was nice and I was very impressed by the way the server (Joy from South Africa) served each family at our own pace. If we arrived before them there was no waiting, we could just get on and order and she manged to keep the flow of the meal going even when people at the table ordered a different number of courses. So there really were no cons at all to sharing a table.

 

[Kate_45]

That said I have read the tablemate horror stories thread, so I know that it isn't always the case.

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

We have had decent tablemates but on our last cruise we had a screaming toddler at our table. It was just my daughter and I (she was about 18) and it was not fun! We asked for a new table after night 2 of a kid screaming and throwing food!

 

[lorimay]

We did go to check the request had been granted when we boarded and were told it hadn’t. We later got a phone call from the head server saying there was no way they could accommodate the request. We were already on second seating. It was a disappointment.

I'm sure you were, I know I would be.

 

[mmouse37]

I'm glad your husband spoke to the head server, but after receiving the complaint from the server, it would have been better for the head server to speak with you and others on the table. When he/she visited your table, they could say "If there's anything I can do to make your dining more special, please come and see me". We are usually asked at the table if everything is fine...but in this situation, if he invites you to see him, it's a good way for him to signal that he knows there's an issue and he would be happy to speak to you about it. I don't believe he can do anything unless a guest says something. And sometimes people don't want to complain and just accept the miserable situation.

If the head server had done something after the server complained (before your husband spoke to him) your story would be different. This would have been a story about how great your head server was for being aware and engaging so that you have a wonderful dinner experience. Don't get me wrong, I don't believe that Head Servers could see all the issues that are happening, but the fact that the server had spoken with him/her, then that should signal their attention is required.

Under other circumstances I would totally agree with you but this was the first passenger sailing of Disney Cruise Line...many things went awry that cruise. You could see that all servers and head servers were scrambling all over dealing with issues so I give him a pass. The first seating of the first night of the first cruise of the cruise line I could see how things were missed. Guests and staff were all getting their "sea legs" so to speak. Back on the Maiden Voyage they didn't even had a cruise director....they hired one after the face when they realized they really did need one to keep the flow of activities, etc. going.

Nowadays, after 40 DCL cruises I would definitely expect the head server to come our way if the server reported a problem to him/her.

Remind me to post pic of the bubbles that someone added to the hot tub on that cruise.....I had to tell the CM's (who were just staring in disbelief) that they had to rope off the area and keep people away so they would not slip on the encroaching bubble mass on deck LOL!

MJ

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Our first cruise with HAL is next spring. So glad to read we will have our own table. The tables on the fantasy are extremely close. Having your own table means you have a 2 inch space between your neighbors.

Now on the Wonder and Magic, the tables are much farther apart. Big difference on those ships

 

[Disney1fan2002]

It seems that there are people that like this idea and people that do not like this idea. So whether or not DCL implements something like it, there will be a losing side. I wonder if Disney could have a check off box during the initial reservation, asking if you prefer a private table or if you prefer tablemates. Then, make 1 rotation for private diners only. Each night one restaurant would be set up with separated tables. Just thinking off the top of my head, so I don't know if logistically it can be done.

 

[dvcdisney]

It seems that there are people that like this idea and people that do not like this idea. So whether or not DCL implements something like it, there will be a losing side. I wonder if Disney could have a check off box during the initial reservation, asking if you prefer a private table or if you prefer tablemates. Then, make 1 rotation for private diners only. Each night one restaurant would be set up with separated tables. Just thinking off the top of my head, so I don't know if logistically it can be done.

I think that would be a good idea. I don't think they need to change much of what they're doing now...but if they provide each reservations with a choice, they would likely have a better chance of fulfilling what most people would prefer.

Dining Request:
1. Private
2. Sharing
3. No preference

It seems like a lot of people don't realize that you can request Private or Sharing. What you see in these boards are those who seem to already be in the know. I also have read that some people don't make any request assuming that they would be sharing but end up having their own private table....and then there's others who don't have a preference. And I think there would still be quite a few of these.