Open seating: 2-person table

[Vince1980]

Hi,

I guess since I only booked my cruise beginning of September, traveling in January, I won't have any choice between fixed and open dinner times. At least I was never given the choice through my TA.

I don't think I mind the open seating as we usually eat quite late (my gf is Spanish, they like to eat late, around 9pm). However we do appreciate having a private table. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind to mingle and get to know new people, but at least a few nights it would be nice to have our own table.

Being a first time cruiser, is this realistic or are most tables shared?

Thanks,

Vincent

[Mary Ellen]

Just be aware that MANY of the 2-tops on the lower level (open seating) are about 6-inches away from another table (or tables). They aren't exactly 'private' and people talk amongst the tables.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I am reading bad reports about the tables for 2 in the Open Seating. People are reporting that many people come in early for the tables for 2 -- and there are quite a few tables for 2. But when late diners come in after 7:30 -- the tables have not been set up again for more diners. They have been forced to sit at larger tables.

By the way -- we have never dined at the Lido -- buffet -- for dinner -- yet.

[Gunther1]

We just got off the Oosterdam on a seven day cruise and of the four nights we ate in the MDR, we asked for a two person table two of those nights. We made no reservations any of those four times.

Sometimes we like to be social and sometimes we want to be by ourselves.

Both nights we asked , we got a two person table. One night we got it immediately, and the other we waited less than ten minutes.

BTW, both of the times, it wasn't close to another table.

[debsjc]

Last year on the Eurodam we had no problem getting a table for two, on the occassions we wanted one. We were eating around 7.45 pm

[MauiGirl55]

On our Eurodam cruise last December, we had open seating and dined in the MDR 5 of 7 nights. We had a table for two all 5 of those nights, and dined at varying times from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. We did make reservations each evening and had no issues getting a 2-top. You are able to make reservations for up to 3 evenings at a time. You can either call first thing in the morning, or there is usually someone up near the Lido around the noon hour to book reservations.

[Opinions]

We have cruised 4 different cruiselines including HAL with Open seating and always were able to get a table for 2...I doubt if we had traditional we would have always been able to get a table for 2...As others have said some of tables for 2 on HAL are very close to a table for 4...A little strange at first but we found that we had a choice whether we wanted to have a conversation with the other table...We respected their privacy and they did the same.

[gemini g]

Just off the Nieuw Amsterdam and had no problem with open seating table for two. We never went before 7:30 and our table was never close to anyone. If your are going to eat late you should have no problems. One night I was told it would be about 15 min. wait and I got one of those pagers that flash red. I said I would be at the bar, it went off as soon as I sat down. I think 3 min. might have ticked by

[overthesea]

Do most people that request a table for 2 make prior reservations or do they just wait till they get to the dining room and request it? Not sure which works best.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Do most people that request a table for 2 make prior reservations or do they just wait till they get to the dining room and request it? Not sure which works best.

You definitely should make a reservation as tables for 2 are very popular.

[GmaPajama]

I've found this thread interesting, as we're about to do our first ever Open Dining. I'm surprised we're not at all stressed about it - we've always been "early-upper-table-for-two-set-in-stone" people. Very recently, we've started to skip the MDR once or twice a cruise and do the Lido at whatever time we happened to be ready. It was surprisingly relaxing, and we look forward to trying an entire cruise without a dining schedule. It's just 7 days though ... so will be an easy way to find out if we really like this or not.

[LDVinNC]

Recently on the Ryndam we requested a table for 2 several times. We always got it, but
the gentleman who assigned the table was clearly not happy with our request. And, the service at nearby larger tables was much more attentive.

[LindaKE]

You definitely should make a reservation as tables for 2 are very popular.

Would this be for every dining time? I know some times are busier than others. We're new to HAL, but on Princess and NCL, we're used to just showing up. We've never had more than a 5-10 minute wait if we couldn't just walk right in.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Would this be for every dining time? I know some times are busier than others. We're new to HAL, but on Princess and NCL, we're used to just showing up. We've never had more than a 5-10 minute wait if we couldn't just walk right in.

Just about

Some people have reported that on some ships the staff would not remake the 2 -top tables that had already been used.

[Cruz'n Couple]

Table for 2 in Open Dining did not work at all for us this past May in Alaska on the Ryndam! We found a waiter we really liked, and he told us we could reserve for the next two nights, and then keep adding a night! We tried this, but they wouldn't honor our request at all. Never got that waiter again! Also couldn't get the time we wanted when we would try to reserve for the next night! Nothing worked for us with Open Dining, and the horror of all, we were seated at a table for 8 at MCD. MCD is bad enough without being with a bunch of people you really don't want to be seated with. Thank goodness on our upcoming Volendam Japan/Alaska we have late seating at a table for 2! And, believe me, if it turns out to be something else, I will be requesting a change!

[serendipity1499]

I am reading bad reports about the tables for 2 in the Open Seating. People are reporting that many people come in early for the tables for 2 -- and there are quite a few tables for 2. But when late diners come in after 7:30 -- the tables have not been set up again for more diners. They have been forced to sit at larger tables.

By the way -- we have never dined at the Lido -- buffet -- for dinner -- yet.

Of course if one just walks up & does not make a reservation that might be true...

However we made a reservation each day & had the same table for two every night at 7:45 in Open Seating on our recent Veendam Cruise..We liked the Stewards & in effect turned it into fixed seating ..One night when there was a street fair, we changed it to 5:45 & were accomodated..

To the OP if you want a table for two, especially at late seating, be sure to make a reservation every day..Not sure if you could get one at 9 but they may be able to seat you around 8:15...Be sure to ask the first day..Usually there is a Steward, at a podium in the Lido at lunchtime, taking MDR reservations for the night..You may even be able to get reservations for more than one night..

Enjoy your cruise..

Cheers.....:)Betty

P.S. there is no such thing as a stupid question! Keep on asking & we'll be glad to try to help..

[k-town girl]

Of course if one just walks up & does not make a reservation that might be true...

However we made a reservation each day & had the same table for two every night at 7:45 in Open Seating on our recent Veendam Cruise..We liked the Stewards & in effect turned it into fixed seating ..One night when there was a street fair, we changed it to 5:45 & were accomodated..

To the OP if you want a table for two, especially at late seating, be sure to make a reservation every day..Not sure if you could get one at 9 but they may be able to seat you around 8:15...Be sure to ask the first day..Usually there is a Steward, at a podium in the Lido at lunchtime, taking MDR reservations for the night..You may even be able to get reservations for more than one night..

Enjoy your cruise..

Cheers.....:)Betty

P.S. there is no such thing as a stupid question! Keep on asking & we'll be glad to try to help..



On the "O" do you still see the M'D (usually up near the MDR) on boarding day to arrange seating preferences for fixed dining?

[serendipity1499]

On the "O" do you still see the M'D (usually up near the MDR) on boarding day to arrange seating preferences for fixed dining?

I've never been on the Oosterdam, however I believe it would be like any other HAL ship..Usually the Dining Room Mgr. or the Maitre d' is near the MDR to help those who are looking to change their fixed or open seatings..

He will not take reservations though for open seating..

Cheers.....:)Betty

[k-town girl]

I've never been on the Oosterdam, however I believe it would be like any other HAL ship..Usually the Dining Room Mgr. or the Maitre d' is near the MDR to help those who are looking to change their fixed or open seatings..

He will not take reservations though for open seating..

Cheers.....:)Betty


Thanks for the info. That's what I thought. Sharon

[k-town girl]

Thanks for the quick reply.

That's what I thought.

Sharon

[Krazy Kruizers]

Table for 2 in Open Dining did not work at all for us this past May in Alaska on the Ryndam! We found a waiter we really liked, and he told us we could reserve for the next two nights, and then keep adding a night! We tried this, but they wouldn't honor our request at all. Never got that waiter again! Also couldn't get the time we wanted when we would try to reserve for the next night! Nothing worked for us with Open Dining, and the horror of all, we were seated at a table for 8 at MCD. MCD is bad enough without being with a bunch of people you really don't want to be seated with. Thank goodness on our upcoming Volendam Japan/Alaska we have late seating at a table for 2! And, believe me, if it turns out to be something else, I will be requesting a change!

Sorry you had such a bad time getting a table for 2. In spite of what some people are posting here -- you are not the first one who has had trouble getting a table for 2 at the Open Seating dinning.

Glad you have the fixed dining time on your next cruise.

[Jojo's Mama]

Today my husband & I returned home from a trip to Bermuda on the Veendam. We did not make reservations, had open seating and never had a problem getting a table for 2. Actually, when we walked in together they asked if we needed a table for 2 and were seated immediately every time. We went to the dining room for every meal. Maybe we lucked out but never waited, never received a pager or anything. It is true that at times the people at the table next to us did strike up a conversation but everyone was respectful of our space and was not intrusive.

[Tarey]

We just got off the Oosterdam - 5 day Pacific Coastal. 1st night - MDR - pretty close to when it opened. Table for 2 was 6 inches from another table for 4. Not at all private. The next night we made a reservation for 5:30 in the MDR; showed up with the written confirmation in hand - the maitre'd ignored it and had us taken to a table for 6! When we went back to the front door, and asked for our table for 2 he said he didn't have any - even though many were empty. As we were leaving to go to the Lido instead - he magically found a table for 2. After that we either ate in the Canaletto - awesome - or the Lido.