Table Sharing: Yes or No?

[bwvBound]

We happen to enjoy sharing a dining table while cruising. We tend to travel either alone (just 2 of us) or with one or two other couples. In 18 years of cruising, we've only had one poor experience with our table-mates. Our recent table on the Dream was an incredible fit -- causing us to wonder how much Disney really knew about each of us!!

How about you -- do you enjoy sharing a table?

 

[BW813]

On our recent Dream cruise, we were seated with a family of 5 who had 2 younger children very close in age to our child. It was really nice getting to know them over the course of our trip and the kids being able to entertain each other as well. I didn't mind at all, except when my child had enough of sitting and was ready to get up and go play. It became a little embarrassing then because she was not very well behaved but with them having small children, they were used to a little dinner excitement too.

 

[shelbell77]

I mostly travel with my mother, so when sharing we always get seated with other groups of 2. In 2008 we were seated with two couples who are now our dearest friends. We've since taken many more cruises together, along with traveling to WDW, visiting each other in our home locations, etc. And we all talk daily. In fact we have a group text thread that is always quite busy. So without question sitting with others on that cruise was one of the best experiences of my life.

You'd think lightening like that only strikes once, but last year instead of cruising together our group split up. Mom and I did the WBPC. We were seated with two couples, and again had the time of our lives. One of the men commented on how they'd never "hung with table people" before on any of their other cruises - but because we all enjoyed each other so much we spent more than just dinner time together throughout our two weeks. Again, so glad we met them all.

Now I'm not saying its all roses, we once were lead to our table the first night to see it was a family we'd seen very loudly arguing with each other at sailaway and generally being rude to everyone they encountered. We promptly turned around and saw the dining room manager about getting a different table and were accommodated without a problem.

But since our experiences are more positive than not, I recommend people do it if in a smaller group. You might make lifelong friends!

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

Out of seven cruises, two of them we were dining on our own and we were disappointed. We have always enjoyed our cruises where we shared a table with other people. We never had an; awkward silent time, rude children, uncomfortable conversations, etc. In fact on our 15 night Wonder western Panama Canal cruise (too many years ago) we were with two other couples. Not only have we kept in touch with one of the couples we stayed with them last year when we were in northern California. They are going to try to make it to Minnesota sometime this year and stay with us. Really hoping they can make it so we can show off MN. They have never been to our state, yet!

 

[ZerasPride]

Our Dream cruise last month was my second (first Carnival) and DH's first. So I knew about the whole sitting with others arrangement. I didn't even know you could request a table for 2 until I read about it on this board

For us sitting at our own table was preferable because i knew my husband would be uncomfortable with people we didn't know. I though was up for limited interaction but wanted mostly to focus on us as a couple and we both got our wish! A 4 top table for the two of us but since the tables are so close together we bonded with the folks at the large family reunion table next to us and we were able to chat some and focus on just the two of us the rest of the time.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

We absolutely LOVE IT! We love meeting new people and our kids do very well when they meet other kids or even once at a table of all adults! On our honeymoon, we were given our own table, but would not have minded sharing then either!

 

[diznymom]

We love eating with new people.

The first cruise the other family was a little awkward w/ each other. There were a recently married couple w/ tween and teen children. I didn't think they were very comfortable around each other just yet. We all got along fine, though.

The second cruise we were seated w/ a wonderful extended family. A G'ma, G'pa, Mom, Son and Cousin. The grownups were fun. The teenagers were so-so.

Our last cruise, we were seated at our own table. I really missed talking to others.

 

[DLgal]

Nope. Our kids have autism and mealtime is some times stressful, full of drama, etc. Don't want to subject others to that.

 

[bwvBound]

Nope. Our kids have autism and mealtime is some times stressful, full of drama, etc. Don't want to subject others to that.

 

[tvguy]

Sharing a table to us is part of the cruise experience. 8 of our 9 cruises we had tablemates. Disney being the only one where our family of 4 had a table to ourselves.

 

[Bishoparc]

causing us to wonder how much Disney really knew about each of us!!

Our last cruise was the same way. It makes me really wonder exactly how much dirt Disney actually has on us lol. eHarmony couldn't have done a better job of matching us with the other 2 couples (who we are now friends with and trying to find dates that work for everyone to cruise together again).

I've thought about making dinner requests like for a specific rotation but it makes me nervous to think that might mess up their seating algorithm and we might not find as good of table mates as we did last time lol

 

[Agent 86]

We've only cruised once, but I enjoyed it.

We're an Australian couple with no kids and they seated us with two sisters from Japan (one of whom worked at Epcot) and a honeymooning couple from Germany. It was great to share our experiences each day, learn about other cultures, etc.

 

[sandydk]

We've just booked our first cruise, and the thought of sharing a table makes me nervous! Your stories are comforting. I'm hoping Disney has enough dirt on us to make a great match!

 

[bwvBound]

We've just booked our first cruise, and the thought of sharing a table makes me nervous! Your stories are comforting. I'm hoping Disney has enough dirt on us to make a great match!

Oh, I bet they do!
Disney was our first cruise ... 18 years ago ... and began a delightful addiction! Enjoy!

 

[bwvBound]

eHarmony couldn't have done a better job of matching us with the other 2 couples ...

Exactly!

 

[Twilight Terror]

Our first and only encounter of shared dining was okay, but not the nicest. We were a party of three, paired with another party of three; so all female adults. We did not gel that well, not helped by the fact we had issues with our server the first night (our table and several others). No one was happy or impressed, so that didn't help the mood. Long story short, they demanded to be moved to another table, we just raised our concerns with the head server (everyone has bad days after all). The next night, we had a different server for our table (and the ones around us), and the ladies were moved elsewhere, so we became a non-sharing table! I have no objections to sharing a table, and really hope that we get paired with others so we can share in the similar experiences to previous posters!

 

[engle]

Dh and I are child free and we HATE sharing. Unless we travel with our friends, we request a table for 2. Our request has always been met but if it wasn't, we would skip the main dining room after the first go around unless we got super lucky with table mates.

 

[ludari]

I voted no. I had a bad experience with my table mates on my second Disney cruise and I don't feel I need to tolerate bad behavior when I'm on vacation especially when I have a choice.

 

[dreadpiraterose]

My first cruise with my husband was our honeymoon, and we were seated with 3 other honeymooning couples. It was wonderful, and we still keep in touch with one of them three years later. For the next two, we used social media to connect with other people on our sailing, and found people that shared some of our interests. We then called Disney and had them connect our reservations so we could dine together. It has worked out wonderfully, and we consider those people as our friends. We keep in touch and even plan future cruises together now.

 

[dsdeleon]

No way Jose. The last thing I want is my memories filled up with some strangers that I will never see again. I hate having to call for this, wish they would make it an online selection.