Requesting a separate dining table dilemm

[MeeskaMooskaMickey]

Hi, currently wondering whether or not to request a separate table in the dining rooms for our upcoming cruise - we just can't decide what to do for the best!
On one hand we are very happy as a family spending time just us together. We love each other's company and have fun. We are also a bit shy and have to make an effort with conversation, we aren't naturally chatty types.
On the other hand we would love it if our children made friends in the trip and it seems likely we would get seated with other families with children. I also feel that we make look anti-social and a bit aloof if we are sitting alone.
So then I think that maybe it would be for the best to share a table....but then I remember reading about nightmare table mates!
My thoughts are going round in circles- should I put in a request to be seated alone or not???

 

[MUN]

Hi, currently wondering whether or not to request a separate table in the dining rooms for our upcoming cruise - we just can't decide what to do for the best!
On one hand we are very happy as a family spending time just us together. We love each other's company and have fun. We are also a bit shy and have to make an effort with conversation, we aren't naturally chatty types.
On the other hand we would love it if our children made friends in the trip and it seems likely we would get seated with other families with children. I also feel that we make look anti-social and a bit aloof if we are sitting alone.
So then I think that maybe it would be for the best to share a table....but then I remember reading about nightmare table mates!
My thoughts are going round in circles- should I put in a request to be seated alone or not???

You raise very good points for both options. I suggest you flip a coin to decide. Or better yet, go on 2 DCL cruises and dine alone on one, and sit with another family on another.

MUN

 

[MeeskaMooskaMickey]

Nun - that is a great reply and one that I wasn't expecting!
...now which should I choose first?

 

[MickeyEarrings]

No one has ever started a thread (to my knowledge) to hear about awesome table mates...just the nightmare ones. I've had wonderful table mates, but no one ever asked!

There's always the chance that Disney will put you at your own table anyway, depending on the size of your family. Remember, whatever you request is only a request.

 

[MUN]

Nun - that is a great reply and one that I wasn't expecting!
...now which should I choose first?

It's MUN, not Nun.

You should flip the coin to decide which one to do first.

MUN

 

[OrcaPotter]

Requesting a private table is just that--a request--though I have not heard of anyone not succeeding in getting what they want. If you are a family of 4, you should have nothing to worry about if you request "private". No one will think you "anti-social" as there are tons of tables squeezed into the dining rooms and many of them are 4-tops with single families.

I was unlucky during my last cruise that my all-adult family of 3 with "private table" noted on our reservation was seated at our normal 4-top with a solo adult traveler. Those 4-tops are pretty small so it was especially awkward. We are, however, too nice and felt bad for the woman... So we endured. Now I need to request, if possible, no solo travelers at our table. I have nothing against sharing a table: one of my past cruises with my best friend had us sitting with 2 gentlemen and we hit it off great to the point we are still Facebook friends. But when I'm with family, I want it just family.

 

[Mr. Drauer]

as posted, depending on the size of your family, it is not really that big of a deal, as a majority of the tables are 4-tops. With a family of 5 or larger, you would tend to be placed at 6-tops or 8-tops and be more likely to be seated with others. It also is different depending on main or late seating - you often have more success at private tables at late seating. We have just 4 of us, and have private tables on 4 of 5 cruises.

 

[The Sasquatch]

nobody is going to notice that you are sitting alone, its not that big of a deal. In addition, you are seated very close together so you will most likely talk to those people anyway. We always request our own table but find ourselves talking to the people around us. As far as the kids, they are much more likely to make friends in the clubs and those are the ones they will want to hang out with. My daughter has multiple girls that still remain in contact

 

[Vijoge]

How many people are in your family? There are tables for two, four, and I believe 8, but maybe ten.
If you are any number other than these you will most likely be seated with other passengers.

 

[YayDisney]

Everyone has their personal preference, so if you like to meet new people and want to spend dinner time with them, then go ahead. But if you prefer to just sit with your family, many many people do that and don't look aloof or antisocial. I really don't think anyone will judge you for that and if they do, that is their issue not yours

Before we had kids, my husband and I cruised on another cruise line and were sat with perfectly fun and polite people - and it was fine - we had a good time. However, since we have had the kids, I unapologetically cherish and jealously guard my family vacation time. With the hustle and bustle of life, it is hard to spend quality time together and so when we go on vacation, I like to try to keep it just "us" as much as possible. We have been on several Disney cruises over the years and have never been seated with others - usually just the 4 of us - I actually thought this was the norm for Disney. My kids have made plenty of friends in the pool or in the Oceaneer's Club - and over dinner, we have relived the day with one another, made plans for the next day, etc. If one of us isn't chatty that day, no one feels pressured to talk politely to anyone - it's just more relaxed for us.

Like I said, everyone has personal preferences and in the end, it's your vacation, spend it how you like.

 

[Markonefive]

During our trip on the wonder in May, we requested in advance (by calling DCL) and getting our private table for two for my wife and I. Didn't care how it looked, we were on an anniversary cruise and just wanted to enjoy our time together. We would have understood if the ship was full and we ended up being grouped.

For the amount of money you are spending, decide what you would like and ask for it. Dont worry about what other think in this case. It's not a big deal. And if you end up being paired with others, make the best of it. We ended up being seated with two other couples during breakfast one day.

While awaiting our cruise at the Embassy Suites in San Diego, it had been my assumption that our balcony would have a view of the aircraft carriers, but we were put in a southern facing room instead. So I went to the front desk and politely (always the key) asked if we could have a west facing room instead. Fortunately, one was available, they were willing to switch rooms, and I got what I wanted. It beat spending three days in disappointment.

 

[bumbershoot]

No one has ever started a thread (to my knowledge) to hear about awesome table mates...just the nightmare ones. I've had wonderful table mates, but no one ever asked!

So true.

We've had really good tablemates, and I don't think we've been the awful ones, LOL. Apart from our very first cruise (honeymoon) when only 4 of the 8top showed up ever, no one has ever stopped coming to the table or gotten seated elsewhere, and there has been lots of conversation and laughter.

We were seated alone on one of them (our first DCL concierge before we realized that they generally seat concierge alone, and during the honeymoon cruise the other two at the table were a very obvious wealthy man and his "secretary", so we tried to ignore them), so that's 6 cruises with really good tablemates.


I'm an introvert, but I also love hearing peoples' stories and learning about them, and our lives aren't filled with hustle and bustle and our family has LOADS of quality time, so we enjoy having others join us.

I vote for dining with others.

 

[Sytrace]

We have had one good and one not as good dining with tablemates experiences.
The first cruise we were seated with a lovely family of 4 from NC. They had cruised many times before and were quite helpful and friendly and had a daughter the same age as mine. Unfortunately, we never saw them again after that first night (late dining of course) because they had a young son who they did not want to keep up that late so they went to Cabanas or had room service every night.
At least that is what she indicated would happen. I hope it was that reason and not because we were "THOSE" tablemates. lol

The second time we had tablemates was last September and it was not a good DCL match at all. We were all sort of uncomfortable even though they had 2 daughters the same age as mine and had sailed on the same ships as we had. (It was their first time on the Fantasy, but had sailed the Dream many times)
Anyway, we gave it a whirl, but by the end of dinner the first night it was apparent that it would not work out. AWKWARD silences and nothing in common were two key points.
We requested to be switched to our own table but was told they did not have one for our serving team (which was not so bad either) so we switched serving teams and they gave us another table. It all worked out.

I would really suggest dining with others on your first time out to see if it will work for you and your family. In the best case scenario, you are paired as we were with experienced DCL cruisers and who can help you with questions if they come up.

 

[YayDisney]

our lives aren't filled with hustle and bustle and our family has LOADS of quality time, so we enjoy having others join us.

That is such a fortunate situation for you. Truly, a wonderful thing.

 

[MeeskaMooskaMickey]

Thank you so much for all the wonderful replies. They've been really helpful and I'm now convinced that dining alone as a family will be preferential for us and I'm also more confident that it won't look strange or anti-social.
So I'll put in a request to DCL and we'll have a wonderful time whether or not they are able to grant it!
X

 

[chunkymonkey]

FYI not sure which seating you have, main or second, but it was much easier to get a private table with second seating.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Thank you so much for all the wonderful replies. They've been really helpful and I'm now convinced that dining alone as a family will be preferential for us and I'm also more confident that it won't look strange or anti-social.
So I'll put in a request to DCL and we'll have a wonderful time whether or not they are able to grant it!
X

I think you made a good choice. If your main objective was for your children to meet other children that they might become friends with, your best bet would be to put them in the kids club where there will be MANY children and they can make friends on their own. Sitting with a random family with a few children your children's ages will not guarantee compatibility or friendship and may end up being awkward and uncomfortable (been there, done that). We request private tables and my DS has always made a few friends in the kids club where he will gravitate toward the children with shared interests.

 

[NZMUM]

You wouldn't look aloof. We have sailed 7 times, 5 times have been just the 4 of us, twice we had extended family. We have never been seated with others. We haven't requested to be seated privately, and we have always had main seating.
However, if you decide to request seating alone, I wouldn't worry about your children making friends. Our kids have always made friends through the clubs, and now Vibe & the 18-20 society.

 

[Pooh2]

We had main dining and requested and received a table for two. We saw at least 3 other couples near us who also had a table for 2. We enjoyed having our dinner time for the two of us and not having to make small talk each night with new people.

 

[buffyj]

OP, I'm relieved to know another family like mine exists!

FYI not sure which seating you have, main or second, but it was much easier to get a private table with second seating.

I'm soooo happy to know this! We have second seating and hoping DCL can accommodate our wishes.