Opinions on dinner seating with others

[Dreamtrip*]

Hi all,
This question is in regards to being seated with other people at dinner. From what I understand, you sit with other families? Is this correct? If so, I have no problem with it, but my husband kind of wants to just focus on his family while we are dining. What is everyone's opinion? If you are seated with other people, is it a big deal? Do you feel that it takes away from the dining experience with your family? My husband wants me to try to make it so we have our own private table, but I'm not so sure.
Thanks in advance!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

As your TA or DCL direct for a private table.

Many prefer to be on their own, thier family, and small talk, or others turning up late do your delayed can be an issue.

Children may not like it, feel uncomfortable.

There are tables for four, upwards, do put in a request.

 

[Bishoparc]

How many are in your family?

As just a couple we really enjoyed the table mates we were seated with. We're actually friends with then now and we're all planning on cruising together again in the future. As a family though I totally understand wanting to sit alone.

We traveled with my wife's parents last year so we were a party of 4 and were seated by ourselves without asking. From my understanding the odd number parties are usually seated with others but as the PP said, you can put in the request it should be accommodated. When you arrive at the port your personal navigator will tell you the location onboard that you can go to make dining changes. They will be able to tell you if you're alone and if not can help with changes.

 

[lorimay]

For us, we like family tables. We have done 12 cruises and have only sat with family or friends we were traveling with. It works for us. We just feel more comfortable that way.
If that's how you feel as well, call and make your request, its not guaranteed, but we have always been accommodated.

 

[TrySomethingNew]

We've never been seated with anyone, 2A, 2C, and we've done both main and late seating on Dream and Magic. While this can be nice Bc sometimes you just want time to yourself and family. We never requested our own table on any cruise.
However, I'm an extrovert, DH and teen DD are most definitely introverts and are quite happy to sit by themselves. I would love the company (as would youngest), most likely. I figured if we had table mates that were not a good match for us, we would just request to be moved and I hear this is successfully done.
You can search this forum for this topic and you will likely find some very interesting/entertaining stories of interesting table mates. You will also find a lot of people indicating they had the best experience and made great friends with their table mates.

 

[jenmiller114]

We usually go with another family or my mom so we tend to take up a whole table by ourselves. However, last time we sailed, we only had two of our boys with us so we were a family of 4. They seated us with another family of 4 with kids who are about the same age. It is my understanding they try to pair you up that way. We had a great time visiting with them and the boys had new friends to hang out with when they went to the clubs. I suppose it could be awkward if you got stuck with a really boring family but I haven't met anyone on a cruise who I haven't enjoyed talking to. As far as them showing up late goes, the server will go ahead and take your order if they are late so that isn't really a problem. I know Disney is very accommodating to those who do not wish to share a table if you would prefer to sit with just your family. It really depends on your comfort level.

On a side note, years ago, my husband and I sailed on Norwegian and met a lovely (much older) couple and we had such a great time having dinner with them each evening. We stayed in touch for 10 years, until his wife passed away. We never sailed together again but loved sending holiday cards and sharing stories about our journeys and our families. It was really one of my best cruise memories.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We love sitting with other couples or families. It's always interesting to meet new people and share experiences.

 

[CamColt]

We too prefer to sit alone. With our kids out and about all day, dinner is really the only time we are guaranteed to see them so its nice to spend sometime with just us. Plus we are fast eaters and don't like to linger at the table. Our servers usually see this and keep things moving along for us. It's nice not having to wait for others to get every course while we just want maybe 2 courses. We also have an allergy in the family so not having to worry about what others order is nice too.

With that said, in some restaurants the tables are really close so sometimes it feels like you have table mates. We have had times when we have gotten to know some people around us as if we were seated together. However I feel if you are together you are obliged to make conversation, when just seated near others its nice if it happens but there is no pressure to make small talk.

 

[Dreamtrip*]

Thank you everyone for your input. We are a family of four. I love getting to know new people and usually make friends wherever I go....especially on a trip! My husband knows this and that is why he probably wants a little quiet table time. I am going to put in a request for a private table, but if it can't be accommodated, no biggie.
Does anyone know - could I put the request in online beforehand, or should I call?

 

[JW9DVC]

Just call ahead of time to however you booked it. Through DCL Direct or through your travel agent.

JW

 

[Bishoparc]

Call but also make sure to double check when you get on-board.

 

[sonocruiser]

I am traveling as a party of 3- one adult and 2 kids. So odds are we will be seated with others?

 

[over50visits]

If you don't call to request your own table, my experience is yes...odds are you'll be with others. We have had such different table mates over the years and have enjoyed them all!

 

[rosaciri]

We completed our first ever cruise in May 2014 and we sat on our own (family of 4 - x2 DD aged 4 and 8) as my husband didnt want to sit with others in case we didnt click. We luved it, the tables are so close and even though we were sitting on our own DCL do an excellent job of sitting you within the vacinity of similar families. We meet a family who had 2 DD aged the same as my girls and they were wonderful. They are from Pennsylvannia and we had a great time with them. We even spent time with them on the ship and at the islands. The tables are really close to each other so you can actually talk to others sitting on tables close by which is how we met our new friends. In saying that it worked out for us but I have heard stories where ppl dont get along, they move tables and then its a little uncomfrotable when they see them around the ship or at dinner. Enjoy ur cruise - what ever option u pick u will have a great time. We are planning our third cruise and travelling all the way from Australia to Florida to do our next one with DCL. My girls just luv all things Disney.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We love sitting with other couples or families. It's always interesting to meet new people and share experiences.

Us, too. Only times we've had a "family only" table was the cruises where were a party of 5 or 6. Otherwise, we've always been seated with others.

 

[wdw_monster]

When it was just me and my husband we were seated with 3 other couples and I hated it. The couples were very nice, I just felt like I couldn't be myself

 

[esue72]

I emailed DCL to request a table to ourselves for our family of three. It's our first family vacation and I just want to be able to focus on my family during dinner without feeling obligated for small talk. I feel like we will be able to meet plenty of people during other times on the ship as well as just those tables near us.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

I've been on 8 cruises I still talk with the table mates I've been with.

I've done without and with and definitely the times with Ive met amazing people.

 

[richkaryn]

We are a family of 3, and got seated with a family of 5 on our last cruise. They had a son the same age as ours, and they then played with each other in the club/lab when in there at the same time. We really enjoyed meeting the other family and it was sad when we had to say goodbye at the end of the cruise.

 

[2-pointdoe]

On our first cruise we were a family of 3 and our daughter was only 2.5 so no club for her to make friends in. Our table mates had an almost 3 yo and a 21 yo (we left our grown son at home). We had a blast and hooked up with them regularly to do things. It was so nice for our daughter.
On our up and coming cruise we have not requested to be by ourselves as I like getting to know people. Daughter is 8 and I am hoping for table mates with kids around her age.