What kind of tablemate are you?

[Frieda]

I was just curious. When you share a table with other families are you pretty quiet or very chatty? Years ago, we were at a resort in the Dominican Republic and we had to share a table for dinner. We made small talk but I wasn't totally comfortable doing it. We're pretty shy. I'm gong to try hard on our cruise to open up a little but not be totally annoying.

And since I'm here, what kind of tablemates have you had. Anyone really great or really annoying?

Sorry if this has all been discussed already.

Eeeeeeee....two weeks from today we'll be flying to Orlando!!! (or we'll be hanging around the airport because we missed our US Airways connection )

 

[ducklite]

We're pretty social, and enjoy meeting new people. On our cruise we were seated with a family who was also quite outgoing, and we had an enjoyable time with them.

I'd be very uncomfortable seated with a very quiet family that barely spoke. I think most "shy" families will open up after a meal or two, but quiet families, well, that's just the way they are. Not that there's anything wrong with it, but I think it would be somewhat uncomfortable for both families if they were true opposites.

Of course I'd rather sit with a quiet family than one who told crude stories/jokes, debated politics or religion, or fought constantly at dinner.

Anne

 

[kajohn]

My husband and I are very social and talkative at dinner. We sailed the Radiance of the Seas last year to Alaska and were seated at a table for 11 and had the BEST tablemates. We had planned to eat at one of the alternative restaurants, but had so much fun at dinner we ate lunch there instead, so we wouldn't miss dinner.

We were quite dissappointed with our tablemates on our DCL cruise. We were sailing with our 3 boys and were seated with another family of 5, with kids basically the same age as my two youngest. The husband never spoke once in 7 nights. The wife would say hello and that was it. She finally talked to us a little on the last two nights!

It was an oval table, so we sat our family at one end and theirs at the other, so we could just talk between ourselves.

Had it just been my husband and I seated with a couple like that we would have probably gone insane! (or asked for different table).

 

[PiperG]

We are very social tablemates! On our first cruise, our dining partners were very nice, but pretty reserved, so we didn't get to know them to well. In addition to that, it was a three day cruise. There really isn't much time to get to know people.

When we did the 7-day cruise, we got to know our tablemates much better. I think the longer trip makes a big difference from that effect. Even if you start out somewhat reserved, as the days go by you have more and more to share which just lends itself to conversation.

I want to throw out another question. . . . .does anyone every correspond with their dining partners after the cruise? We sent pics from our 7-day cruise to the family with which we shared a table, but they never sent anything back.

Of course, on both trips we sent pics to our servers and stateroom attendents.

 

[mmouse37]

We are like to talk to other people but the few times we were seated with others we found them to be very quiet...we tried repeatedly to include other in conversation...but they just didn't want to.

Last month when I sailed on the Wonder with my 84 year old Aunt we were at a table for 4, but just the two of us. It was fine...we had lovely dinners and liked the fact that we did not have to try to have conversations with people who might not want to talk!

Anyway, I would have died if I was at the table next to us....there was a mom and 2 young kids from one country, a mom, dad and 2 kids from another country, and a mom, dad and 1 kid from a third country....they all spoke English but were obviously from vary different cultures...none of them spoke to each other the whole cruise. It was weird. Each family kept to themselves and hardly even spoke with their own families. The whole table looked so uncomfortable!!! Almost complete silence during all the meals. One dad literally did not open his mounth except to eat....I heard not one word come from him the whole cruise!!!

MJ

 

[Hygiene99]

We like to sit with a large group, so there will be lots of different people to talk to. We recently sailed on the 10/11 Magic cruise and found out before our first dinner that we were seated at a table for only 4! So we went to the restaurant ahead of time and asked to be switched. We got put at a table of 10 and had the best time!! We found our original table, it was a very young couple, they actually looked like they were enjoying their time together, thank goodness!

 

[Cruisin]

On our first 2 cruises it was just our family of 4 at a table of 4 which was fine. The third we took our family of 4 plus my inlaws, at a table of 10 with a family 3 with a small child, we never saw them after the first night, i think they switched to early seating, so we had the table to ourselves again. These were 3 day cruises.
My husband and I on a 4 day cruise were seated at a table of 8 with a single mom with a 9 year old son and a couple with a 2 year old son. It actually worked out not too badly, the boys were great fun to have around. We talked quite a bit with our tablemates, and had an enjoyable time.
Our next 3 day is scheduled in Jan 04. My husband, myself, our daughter and niece, both 16, and friends with a 9 year old son. My niece is a very nice girl, but she sports a Mohawk and has several piercings. My daughter is the opposite, and sometimes she is not so nice!! I wonder what effect that Mohawk might have on tablemates? How would you react to such a situation?
I think if my husband had a choice he would always eat at a table with just our family, he is not much of a small talk maker.

 

[LG123]

Originally posted by PiperG
I want to throw out another question. . . . .does anyone every correspond with their dining partners after the cruise? We sent pics from our 7-day cruise to the family with which we shared a table, but they never sent anything back..

We are still in contact with our tablemates from last year. Was a couple of girls from New York.

We have had good luck with past tablemates. Most of them were very nice and talkative.

 

[kimtenn]

DH and I sat by ourselves on our first 3-day cruise, which was fine. We have no kids, and have no problem eating with each other alone, although it would have been nice to have another couple to talk to. I know many people try to get a table alone purposely, and that's fine too if that's what you want.

Then on our second cruise, which was a 7-day Eastern, we were sat with other couples without kids, which was terrific! There were 4 or 5 other couples of varying personalities, and we found out in the beginning we were all big dog lovers, so we got along great from there! Everyone was very friendly, and we enjoyed sharing the day's events, along with some good-natured kidding.

Tip -- If you're shy, just keep the conversation light (no religion, politics or controversial subjects), smile a lot (that works wonders in breaking the ice) and just be polite as you would normally. If the other people don't respond to you, just respect their wishes and enjoy your own company.

As for keeping in touch afterward, we haven't done much of it. We exchanged email addresses with one couple, but only emailed them once with one response from them, which was fine. We aren't out to make lifelong friends when we cruise, but if it happens, great, and if not, that's ok too. One other friend of mine, whose DH is VERY outgoing, are planning future trips to see another couple they met on a Carnival cruise. So it can happen.

Just another opinion!

 

[lbgraves]

We haven't cruised yet but will be dining with fellow DISers on our 7 day and am really looking forward to it. It already feels like we have been friends a while and have so much in common. Our boys are each celebrating their birthdays the first night and we are planning to bring some things to make our table a little festive when the cake arrives. It is nice not to have to worry about who we will be sitting with.

 

[aprilgail2]

I'm the kind of tablemate who wants their own table! I would truly be unhappy if I had to share my table with strangers. I don't mind sharing a table for drinks, shows or anything else but for meals I want to be with just my family.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

We had great tablemates on our cruise. We sat with a family of 4 - parents and 2 DD's about the age of our 2 DS's. We really enjoyed them. Our DH's worked in similar industries and we managed to find lots to talk about. We found out later that they were in the cabin right next door to us too! They were nice folks - even gave us their passes to use the bikes on Castaway Cay since they weren't going to use them.

We did exchange emails and photos a couple of times after the cruise.

 

[dianthus]

We are pretty social people & were looking forward to meeting new families at dinner on our first cruise. We were seated with another family of 3, who were like the Adam's family.. & an older couple that were pretty crusty crabs! After about 15 minutes we knew they weren't PLU ( people like us) & so did the servers. We got our table changed by the Head Server to a single table for the next night & all was good with the world for the rest of the trip! We told them we didn't like the server stations being in our way ( which was true & was a motivating factor... ) but I don't think the 3 of us would have gone back to dinner for the rest of the cruise if the HS didn't move us. Every time we saw this group, they looked so bored or mad. By Thursday, that table was empty at dinner time... We were so glad we moved!

I think if you are seated with fun people, it would be a great time! I guess it's the luck of the draw...

We met another couple on line in the terminal with a DD the same age as ours & we became fast friends. We tried to get dining linked together, but we had different rotations, so it didn't work out. We met them after dinner for shows & activities though & our daughters still email & IM each other.

 

[KathyTX]

We love to sit at larger tables with a variety of people. We find it makes for lively and very entertaining evenings! Although we have found that, in a large group, there's usually one "odd" couple. But that just gives the rest of us someone to talk about!

(We've had the done-it-alls: Whatever you've done or seen, they did it better or saw it first. And we've had the we're-SO-fabulous couple: they met cute, had FABULOUS jobs, knew *everyone* you can imagine and were leaders in their community. At least to hear them tell it.)

We were lucky enough to be seated with a terrific DIS family on one Magic cruise. That was a happy surprise, and we had a great time. (Hey, tecdavidt gang! Hope all's well up your way!)

We have kept in touch with several of our former dinner partners, exchanging Christmas cards and occasional emails, and even getting together with some of them when travel finds us in the same cities...

 

[wdw1972]

I'm usually cruising with a girlfriend, so we're not looking for a romantic table for 2! I prefer a large table, but want it to be all adults....no kids, please. I also hope the people are interested & willing in carrying on a conversation during dinner, as opposed to sitting there silently like bumps on a log. Dinner should be the highlight of the day, and it can be great fun when you've got good tablemates. When you don't, well....you might as well not even be there <g>!

 

[goodstarr]

My husband and I look forward to being with other people at our table and make it a point to practically "force" people to interact with us. We both do theater, so we basically make things into a show. We play the name game and see who can remember everyone's name, etc. You might even find us running around the table to give clues Even the quietest people open up (or else they don't come back -just kidding- we've never had people come the first night but never come back.)

 

[goodfaerie]

We were fortunate enough to have wonderful, silly tablemates! They were really great, and we had some of our best times with them. One night after dinner, we all went on a quest for the ship's brig. But that's a whole "nother" story...

I am so freakin' ready for this cruise I could just scream!!!!

I need to switch to decaf.




GoodFaerie

 

[CRB#33]

We sat with a woman who was on a "wish" trip with her daughter. She was very nice and we made small talk. Our clan of 5 are pretty quiet (except me----I have a big mouth). I'm very apt to try and make as much conversation as I can and try to have fun. It's hard with my family, but I would love to sit with a group of "fun" people!

My DH and his son are the kind of people you would look at and wonder what their problem is. My DD is extremely shy and my DS just wants to be somewhere else, LOL.

So next year, June 26 Eastern? Any people who don't mind 4 fuddyduddies and one chatterbox? LOL

 

[heart4dis]

to having table mates. With a family of 6, we're not sure we'll be seated with others. Our whole family is social. My children love to meet other people. We try not to be overbearing, but if others want to talk, we sure will! My DH can talk to ANYONE and make them feel like they are the most important person the world. He's just a great people person. Unfortunately, the roll calls CRSNDSNY and I have tried for 12/14 have turned up sparse. She and I and the other two parties may have the ship to ourselves!

 

[trishy]

We like to talk........a lot