Dining Room: Forced to share table?

[sassy0930]

The first cruise we got along with our tablemates really well. the second, our honeymoon, we were stuck with another honeymooning couple who had a not nice or pleasant nickname with us. They came to dinner like 3-4 nights out of the 7. They kept us guessing as to whether they would come or not so we didn't want to change our table. PLUS we had an excellent view and they kept sitting on "our" side of the booth and taking the good view. To top it off they would be late for dinner when they came. like 15 minutes regularly. So we would give up on them and order, then they'd show up right before we got our appetizers then our server would make us wait until THEY were caught up so we'd be sitting there hungry and waiting for these jerks to finish their appetizers. I would prefer either a very BIG table or a table for two in the future if I have a choice.

[cruisetobeaches]

Originally Posted by sassy0930

The first cruise we got along with our tablemates really well. the second, our honeymoon, we were stuck with another honeymooning couple who had a not nice or pleasant nickname with us. They came to dinner like 3-4 nights out of the 7. They kept us guessing as to whether they would come or not so we didn't want to change our table. PLUS we had an excellent view and they kept sitting on "our" side of the booth and taking the good view. To top it off they would be late for dinner when they came. like 15 minutes regularly. So we would give up on them and order, then they'd show up right before we got our appetizers then our server would make us wait until THEY were caught up so we'd be sitting there hungry and waiting for these jerks to finish their appetizers. I would prefer either a very BIG table or a table for two in the future if I have a choice.

That is one of the top reasons we get a table for two when we cruise alone! Been there................Done that....................

We are not anti-social and have had some good table mates in the past, but prefer not to have to wait for those who show up late (if at all) or gripe all through dinner about some trivial thing!

[terri910]

This turned into a much more interesting thread to read than I anticipated! *LOL*

But....something in this post did especially catch my eye:

Originally Posted by sassy0930

They kept us guessing as to whether they would come or not so we didn't want to change our table. PLUS we had an excellent view and they kept sitting on "our" side of the booth and taking the good view.

To the best of my knowledge, we've only ever been assigned a table, we've never been given assigned seats at the table. Is my memory failing me (again)? I've always sort of figured "first come, first served" when it comes to seating choice at the assigned table....

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Originally Posted by terri910

This turned into a much more interesting thread to read than I anticipated! *LOL*

But....something in this post did especially catch my eye:

To the best of my knowledge, we've only ever been assigned a table, we've never been given assigned seats at the table. Is my memory failing me (again)? I've always sort of figured "first come, first served" when it comes to seating choice at the assigned table....

no there are no assigned seats. I think what most people do is stake claim to the same seat that they sat in the first day.

I like to watch people on excursions. In Alaska in September we had a tour bus and when we first got on and sat down that's where everybody sat the rest of the day. Every stop we made and got off and then got back on everybody sat in the same seats.

Kinda funny!

Bill

[bobsfamily]

My 2 cents...
If traveling with the kids we get whatever table comes along... the 4 of us can enjoy others or if it is a bad situation we can make jokes among us and laugh so hard that they move on. If DW and I are cruising we try hard to get a table for 2. Like the time together.

[lady_cruiser]

Originally Posted by marshhawk

Dining with strangers small talk......

Hi my name is...and you are?
..........As far as the people that did not speak English, well they were brave enough to travel on a cruise line that is primarily English speaking, and my hats off to them!............

WELL SAID! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! And to the person who does not want to share a table with non-speaking English people - SHAME ON YOU. I hope you never cruise the Mediterranean because you will then be the person who speaks a foreign language.

[wanderlust402]

Originally Posted by NutsAboutGolf

Great info! I'd love to see the formula. Cabin location is very vague...I wonder if they're saying it puts you next to your neighbors...Or goes by deck...Or goes by categories...IMO, that seems useless...

I'm also wondering about dining rooms based on cabin locations. It seems that their large ships have an aft and midship dining room. My cabin is forward, and I would hate to be assigned to the aft dining room. Since each dining room has its own maître d’ how would you request assignment to the other dining room if they have you hiking too far?

[jpg1747]

On my Thanksgiving cruise last year I was at a table for 8 with my sister, two ladies from the mid-west, a couple from England and a couple from Spain. The couple from Spain indicated they spoke almost no English and said nothing the first night. It was obvious they were uncomfortable. But by the end of the week, we were all socializing easily, using all of our limited knowledge of Spanish. As it turned out, they knew more English than they thought but were just shy about trying it.

[jpg1747]

On my Thanksgiving cruise last year I was at a table for 8 with my sister, two ladies from the mid-west, a couple from England and a couple from Spain. The couple from Spain indicated they spoke almost no English and said nothing the first night. It was obvious they were uncomfortable. But by the end of the week, we were all socializing easily, using all of our limited knowledge of Spanish. As it turned out, they knew more English than they thought but were just shy about trying it until we all drew them into the conversations.

[Kurbanfan]

Originally Posted by lady_cruiser

WELL SAID! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! And to the person who does not want to share a table with non-speaking English people - SHAME ON YOU. I hope you never cruise the Mediterranean because you will then be the person who speaks a foreign language.

On our first cruise my dh and I were seated with 2 Asian couples who spoke no English......one Japanese and one Chinese.......we stuck it out for a couple nights but I am not ashamed to say it was horrible.........

[Nunu]

Originally Posted by Kurbanfan

On our first cruise my dh and I were seated with 2 Asian couples who spoke no English......one Japanese and one Chinese.......we stuck it out for a couple nights but I am not ashamed to say it was horrible.........

Two words: "Domo Arigoto"

[bobsfamily]

Originally Posted by Nunu

Two words: "Domo Arigoto"

LOL...
As a young child I lived in Japan and learn "don't touch my mustache" which if said fast over and over becomes the above...