Throwing the dice with dinner mates

[anniemck]

We leave Saturday on the Wonder for 5 nights, just checked and we have late dining which is great. Two adults traveling, my best friend and I. Can't wait until the cruise, 3 more sleeps.

 

[BethC1952]

In all of my 15 Disney cruises, I have had wonderful tablemates. Sometimes we link with other DIS'ers and sometimes not. On our recent Panama Canal cruise, we linked with DIS'ers, one of whom I had cruised with twice before, and a couple that we hadn't met, but I knew they were about my age, and we'd get along just fine. So, we were a party of five. I was very surprised the first night to be shown to a table for 10! Just by coincidence, they were DIS'ers too! We had a wonderful time on that cruise, and I would love to cruise with any of them again.

On our cruise in Nov., 2011, DH and I were seated alone at an eight-top. No one else was scheduled to sit there, it was just us! Our servers seemed to feel obligated to fill up ALL of the space at that table by bringing us all kinds of food LOL!!!

Beth

 

[starchild_217]

We asked to be seated alone on our honeymoon cruise and were accomodated. We were in the Second Seating so I do not know if that helps out as well.

We are conflicted on what to do on our next. My DH and I are super social and easy to get along with, but I am afraid of who we get placed with. We are on a 7 day so we are even more nervous about opting to sit a big table. I love the idea of meeting new people from other cities/states, but I fear getting placed at a table with someone that is rude or not very nice. Is it easy to switch tables if you are not happy?

 

[msbiscuit]

I guess I've experienced the good and the bad.

First cruise: Disney-matched to two other women my own age and we had a great time! Spent some time together on Castaway Cay, too.

Second cruise: Called by the Head Server moments prior to heading down to the MDR for first dinner and asked if I minded dining with others. After the prior fun experience, I said 'no problem!'. Well, we had the Pretentious Couple, the We Think We're Awesome Couple, Me and someone I can only refer to as The Drooler. Most of them were horrified that there were so many children on board.
Now, THAT was a head scratcher for me.

Lesson learned - unless it's a Disney-made match, I'm not doing it. Yes, I could have - and should have - asked to be put back at the single table they'd given me to begin with.

 

[ikelshellmad]

So far on our next cruise it will only be DH and I. I'm undecided whether to request a table for 2 or not. Does DCL ever seat just 2 people together, alone??

I'm the anti-social one...well, not anti-social...just not too comfortable making small talk with strangers. I called DCL and requested for my husband and I to have our own table, and we were granted that request. This was a few weeks ago on the Magic in February 2012. We also had second seating.

 

[tchrrx]

Am I the only one who is paranoid that I'll read thread like this someday and find out that the annoying family they are describing is mine?

We've only been on one cruise. While we didn't find life long friends or anything, we did enjoy dining with the family we were paired with.

 

[mom2jcg]

Am I the only one who is paranoid that I'll read thread like this someday and find out that the annoying family they are describing is mine?
.

Lol, reminds me of a picture frame I saw. It said, "remember, as far as anyone knows, we are a nice normal family!"

 

[PATTERSON PARTY OF 3]

We leave Saturday on the Wonder for 5 nights, just checked and we have late dining which is great. Two adults traveling, my best friend and I. Can't wait until the cruise, 3 more sleeps.

Yay!! For the BFF cruise I have one booked with mine in September!

 

[jrabbit]

Does anyone think that DIsney will switch to anytime or at least open seating. Open seating has become so popular on the other lines. I suppose it would be difficult with the rotation dining but I would like it.

Frankly, I hope not. On other cruise lines with "freestyle" our group check in with our room number, the number of people in our party, and were led off to our table. Part way there the host/hostess would stop and say "Stay right here" and then disappear. 5 Minutes later a server or asst server would stop and ask us what we were doing standing in the middle of the dinning room. We would explain then they would lead us to an empty table. We would be seated and in about 20 to 30 minutes someone would come by and maybe give us our menus and maybe we would get water. Another 10 minutes we might get some bread. Later someone would take our order, and they usually had trouble with that. Once we ordered we usually were done eating in two hours - because they took that long between courses to bring the next item.
So no thank you. I like the personal service we get on DCL. On the other lines we were mostly invisible (and I am hard to miss!!)

On a similar note, I am NOT a fan of DCL automatically charging gratuities to everyone. I understand the issue, especially with the Med cruises that servers and stewards get "stiffed" on their tips a lot on these cruises, but when all of the servers realize that they are getting tips regardless of service, service will decline. I had to work hard with guest services on my last few cruises to ADD money to specific people because the system really wanted to just give the standard amount.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Frankly, I hope not. On other cruise lines with "freestyle" our group check in with our room number, the number of people in our party, and were led off to our table. Part way there the host/hostess would stop and say "Stay right here" and then disappear. 5 Minutes later a server or asst server would stop and ask us what we were doing standing in the middle of the dinning room. We would explain then they would lead us to an empty table. We would be seated and in about 20 to 30 minutes someone would come by and maybe give us our menus and maybe we would get water. Another 10 minutes we might get some bread. Later someone would take our order, and they usually had trouble with that. Once we ordered we usually were done eating in two hours - because they took that long between courses to bring the next item.
So no thank you. I like the personal service we get on DCL. On the other lines we were mostly invisible (and I am hard to miss!!)

On a similar note, I am NOT a fan of DCL automatically charging gratuities to everyone. I understand the issue, especially with the Med cruises that servers and stewards get "stiffed" on their tips a lot on these cruises, but when all of the servers realize that they are getting tips regardless of service, service will decline. I had to work hard with guest services on my last few cruises to ADD money to specific people because the system really wanted to just give the standard amount.

Unlike other cruiselines that have the Hotel Service charge, DCL's policy of automatically adding your tips to your onboard account isn't the same. You can remove the tips from your account at any time after you board (on DCL), and tip in cash, if you wish. Other cruiselines it's difficult (if not impossible) to remove the Hotel Service charge.

We always pre-pay our tips. We've never had a reason to remove any of them, or not tip those who should be tipped.

 

[jrabbit]

On my last cruise my tablemates were the most boring people around. Ooops I guess that I should not talk about my family like that. On more than 10 cruises this was the first time we sat with ourselves. Even though we are all pretty shy, we all really enjoy sharing dinners with our new friends (because only at the beginning of the first dinner they are strangers). Its a small group of new people (less than 10 usually), usually only 3 or 4 other people, 1 or 2 families.

Out of all of the tablemates we have had over the years only one stands out as a "Debbie Downer", most have been pleasant at worst and very friendly and outgoing at best.

 

[WDW Princess 71]

On a similar note, I am NOT a fan of DCL automatically charging gratuities to everyone. I understand the issue, especially with the Med cruises that servers and stewards get "stiffed" on their tips a lot on these cruises, but when all of the servers realize that they are getting tips regardless of service, service will decline. I had to work hard with guest services on my last few cruises to ADD money to specific people because the system really wanted to just give the standard amount.

I agree that it can be hard work with GS to add money to our tips. It was a 15 minute process of getting the manager, voiding the originals altogether, having to fill out a new sheet, waiting for it to reprint. It was such a hassle that last cruise I just brought enough cash to add extra to those that warranted it, even though I hate using cash for anything I planned ahead for this just to not have to waste the time sorting it out at GS. I really miss the old way of filling out my form with my tips and dropping it off at my convenience.

Regarding the table mates, in 7 cruises I only had 1 bad experience, and even that wasn't too bad as at least one of the couples were nice. The other couple spoke no English so that was super awkward, and the last couple were on their first cruise and hated the whole experience so they were total downers. On a few of my other cruises we've met friends we still keep in touch with. I am willing to take the gamble just for that. Since it is just me (26 y/o female) and my dad sailing on our 12 night Med cruise this summer, I really hope DCL pairs us with some other young adults travelling with their parent(s) and we hit it off, because its 12 nights together! But at least you always know in the back of your head, if its really that bad, after the 1st night you can always ask to switch.

 

[gotomu212]

On my last cruise my tablemates were the most boring people around. Ooops I guess that I should not talk about my family like that. On more than 10 cruises this was the first time we sat with ourselves. Even though we are all pretty shy, we all really enjoy sharing dinners with our new friends (because only at the beginning of the first dinner they are strangers). Its a small group of new people (less than 10 usually), usually only 3 or 4 other people, 1 or 2 families.

Out of all of the tablemates we have had over the years only one stands out as a "Debbie Downer", most have been pleasant at worst and very friendly and outgoing at best.

Ha! That made me feel better. We tend to take the longer cruises, and I found out on one 15 nighter that it was going to jut be our family at the table. I said yuck who wants to spend 2 weeks with just their own family for entertainment. We love each other, but we're spending 2 weeks crammed together in one cabin, please let me have others to talk to at dinner. We asked for table mates and met the most awesome family who will still travel with.

In 6 cruises, only 1 bad match. The first night we thought maybe they were not English speakers. They didn't make eye contact or say a single thing for 20 minutes (I timed it). Then the dad looks at my husband and says "you have my bread plate". Uh no, but okay. They spoke a little and mentioned they lived in Seattle. My husband so oh for how long (thinking maybe less than a year since no one else has yet to utter a word)....twenty three years! Needless to say we did not make a love connection. Our server spoke to our head server and we were switched to a new table that evening.

 

[ludari]

It's great to hear your roll of the dice turned out in your favor. I've rolled the dice twice on dinner mates and came up snake-eyes. Since then I always request my own table.

 

[omalley1118]

I have enjoyed reading this thread. We have been on 2 DCL cruises, 2010 and 2011. We are a family of 4. We have never asked to be seated by ourselves but have always ended up this way. We are cruising again in November. The kids will be 9 and 11. It would be nice if the kids met others at meals. My DH is on the quiet and shy side and does not enjoy sitting with strangers. It will be interesting to see what happens this time....

 

[ChristinaDK]

Do you folks think its not fun to be sitting next to us? We are from Denmark, but I speak English better than I write. And my DB is a lot better than me. I had only english for around 50 hours in school, as I was in hospital a lot in my last school year after a bus accident when I was 16. That's making me maybe ask more time on the same thing. Buts that's because I got a brain damish at that time. And because of that in my brain, sometimes I spild the food or my glass. I'm not doing it to be rude

 

[jcarwash]

I cruised on the Fantasy last week 2/16/13 to 2/23/13 and while I made a dining rotation request (that was fulfilled) I did not make a "dining alone" request.

So my family (party of 3) was surprised that we were seated at our own 4 top table. While it was nice I suppose, we were also anticipating meeting another family as we had on our previous cruise on the Magic.

Looking around the dining rooms, I got the impression that the Fantasy (and I assume the Dream) has more capability for private tables? It seemed like our neighboring tables in each restaurant were the same families or groups at each smaller and larger table.

 

[nunzia]

Interesting thread..our last cruise we traveled with another couple and had a table for just the 4 of us. I've been a little nervous about our upcoming cruise because it's just the 2 of us and neither one of us are super social or outgoing. (Dread meals on AMTRAK where they just stick you with the next person who walks in the door to the dining car..they've always been very nice, but for introverted folks it just seems difficult to talk through a meal). Generally if we strike up a converstaion with strangers at Disney it's either with a real Disney freak like me who goes to D23 events and we're rambling about those while DH has nothing to contribute since he doesn't go online, go to events, etc., or they find out he works as a Vet tech and the entire conversation centers about their pets and oozy things and growths and I have nothing to contribute. I think I will call and request a table for 2.