Dining with bad table mates?

[AltarEgo]

Have you ever been "stuck" with strange or appalling table mates at dinner?

Once, we were at a table with 3 other couples. One of the couples was very rude. The husband was from a country that believes that only their "homeland" is good enough to consider as being civilized, despite the fact that they were currently living in the United States. Almost every night at dinner he would make some outrageous comment that shocked and/or embarrassed the rest of us and/or was rude and obnoxious to the service staff.

One evening we arrived early and told our female head waiter that not all Americans share the same racial views. I then told her that she had done a great job, but regrettably, we asked the Maitre D to be seat us at another table. I've never felt the need to make such a statement before or since. We were moved to another table and spent the rest of the cruise dining with some enjoyable and interesting table mates. Life is just too short to be around toxic people.

If you’ve have had an experience you would like to share, please do so.

[mr green]

Happily this has hardly happened to us. There have been two couples whom we, and our other tablemates did not care for, and, in each case they left of their own accord.

john

[blindrid]

I have.

That's why I do only cruises that offer freestyle, anytime, your time, whatever. I do not do table mates.

[6rugrats]

Certainly. On a HAL cruise, we were stuck with two people who at times, had appalling manners. I actually saw one of them pick their nose! They knew nothing of current events and wanted to discuss the silliest television shows; something about a sponge who lived in a pineapple under the sea? He had a snail for a friend?

The other one wanted to talk about a Game Box? Maybe it was a Game Cube? Not sure what this was all about. Was anxious go get back to it, whatever it was. Also he went on and on about sports until I thought I was losing my mind.

They also were finicky eaters and refused to try the gourmet offerings; instead they almost always chose pizza for dinner. I thought I would lose my dinner one night when one of them dramatically gagged on a tiny piece of fat on her steak.

I wanted to change tables after the first night, but my husband reminded me that it was likely that no one else wanted to sit with our children either.

[cruiserbryce]

we did have this happen once...we nicely asked for a switch after the 2nd night and they did it for us...the couple had 4 kids that were non stop movement and yelling and there was no effort made to calm them or get involved...too much for us to deal with and still enjoy the dinners imn the MDR

[navybankerteacher]

I've relocated a number of times - once to join a table which had space and had a few delightful people we had just met - others to simply get away from loud or otherwise offensive tablemates --maitre d's are generally very accomodating.

[cruisemom42]

Originally Posted by 6rugrats

Certainly. On a HAL cruise, we were stuck with two people who at times, had appalling manners. I actually saw one of them pick their nose! They knew nothing of current events and wanted to discuss the silliest television shows; something about a sponge who lived in a pineapple under the sea? He had a snail for a friend?

The other one wanted to talk about a Game Box? Maybe it was a Game Cube? Not sure what this was all about. Was anxious go get back to it, whatever it was. Also he went on and on about sports until I thought I was losing my mind.

They also were finicky eaters and refused to try the gourmet offerings; instead they almost always chose pizza for dinner. I thought I would lose my dinner one night when one of them dramatically gagged on a tiny piece of fat on her steak.

I wanted to change tables after the first night, but my husband reminded me that it was likely that no one else wanted to sit with our children either.

Good one!

[cb at sea]

While we've had tablemates that wouldn't end up being long-term "friends", we've always had pleasant conversations, and in some cases, couldn't WAIT for dinner each evening to "re-connect" and discuss our day's fun!
We love tablemates....dinner is so much more than a time to "stuff your face" and having great conversation with like-minded folks (after all, we all have cruising in common, and most cruisers have been other places, as well!) to talk about our travels, our hometowns, our football teams....you name it...there's never a lack of something to talk about!

[alicam]

We had a table for 10 on the Majesty in March....there were ourselves, another Canadian couple, a couple from Tennessee and a mother, her 2 daughters and 1 boyfriend from who knows where....the Tennessee couple, although polite, made it quite known they didn't want early dining and were seeking MTD if they could, the mother and company made no attempt to communicate with anyone at the table...they just wanted to shovel food into their mouths (especially the boyfriend)...we saw them the next night at the other side of the MDR...so that just left us and the other couple...seeing as we were all Canadian, we had much in common and enjoyed our meals with each other

[kayjo]

My sister and I had the worst tablemates ever on our last cruise- so bad that everyone on the ship was talking about their behavior and "outfits" throughout the week. Fortunately for us they didn't like us and never showed up after the first night, but one night was very eye-opening- the one showed up for dinner almost naked and was very disappointed to be dining with two women. She was "husband-hunting" and we didn't offer her anything! She pouted the whole meal until the photographer showed up and then turned it on for the camera She also spent most of the dinner texting her friends and telling us where you could buy drugs in Nassau (?)- not sure why she thought we were interested. Just hope she had a huge phone bill!

[uppitycats]

Yes, we've dined with bad table mates. And are probably bad table mates ourselves, which is why we always choose whatever flexible dining options are offered by the particular cruise line we're on. We'll eat by ourselves, or with folks we've invited to dinner, or who have invited us, and have a lovely time.

[momofmeg]

Altarego, I have read several threads you have started and also posts you have made in threads. You do seem to have a lot of problems with cruising.

[Sea Hag]

Originally Posted by 6rugrats

Certainly. On a HAL cruise, we were stuck with two people who at times, had appalling manners. I actually saw one of them pick their nose! They knew nothing of current events and wanted to discuss the silliest television shows; something about a sponge who lived in a pineapple under the sea? He had a snail for a friend?

The other one wanted to talk about a Game Box? Maybe it was a Game Cube? Not sure what this was all about. Was anxious go get back to it, whatever it was. Also he went on and on about sports until I thought I was losing my mind.

They also were finicky eaters and refused to try the gourmet offerings; instead they almost always chose pizza for dinner. I thought I would lose my dinner one night when one of them dramatically gagged on a tiny piece of fat on her steak.

I wanted to change tables after the first night, but my husband reminded me that it was likely that no one else wanted to sit with our children either.

Best reply!

[GORDONCHICK]

Originally Posted by 6rugrats

certainly. On a hal cruise, we were stuck with two people who at times, had appalling manners. I actually saw one of them pick their nose! They knew nothing of current events and wanted to discuss the silliest television shows; something about a sponge who lived in a pineapple under the sea? He had a snail for a friend?

The other one wanted to talk about a game box? Maybe it was a game cube? Not sure what this was all about. Was anxious go get back to it, whatever it was. Also he went on and on about sports until i thought i was losing my mind.

They also were finicky eaters and refused to try the gourmet offerings; instead they almost always chose pizza for dinner. I thought i would lose my dinner one night when one of them dramatically gagged on a tiny piece of fat on her steak.

I wanted to change tables after the first night, but my husband reminded me that it was likely that no one else wanted to sit with our children either.

priceless!!!!

[gertz]

We started in 1991. Always 1st seating, always table for 6 or 8. We like to meet new and interesting people. Only had to change once in all that time.

[Fredr]

hello,

We have been very fortunate to have had table mates with whom we had a lot of fun and additionally, learned much. And to me it is one of the nicest things about a cruise that you get to meet and converse with people from different parts of the USA and the world.

On only two occasions did we ask to move. Once when the couple we sat with, the wife did not speak English. They were a very nice couple, successful and lively but the language barrier was difficult to overcome.

The other time was when we (and they) simply had nothing to say...looking back maybe we should have given this table more time.

In my opinion, if a table isn't quite what you would like, ask for a change.

[ILoveScotland]

Three years ago I wound up going solo on a transatlantic cruise after DH couldn't go at the last minute. I was seated at a table for 12, and no one spoke to me. So, I asked to be moved to a table with some members of the very active Roll Call I'd been participating in and had a great time.

Two years ago DH and I were on an Eastern Mediterranean cruise. We were at a table for 10. All our table mates were interesting, but one couple was never satisfied with the food or the service or anything else about the ship. One night the husband sent back 5 entrees and still wasn't happy. They complained to anyone who would listen to the point that one of our table mates finally said something to the couple in private.

On the two cruises DH and I have taken together since then we've opted for flexible dining or just eaten in the buffet. In truth DH would not be considered a good table mate due to a whole host of factors, so it was just better all around for us to dine alone.

[Traveler353]

Only once have I actully had table mates that I could not handle. I simply ask the MD to change tables. I think that most of the others also did that. For the rest of the week only the jerks were at the table.

[euro cruiser]

We had an annoying couple at our table of eight once, but as we made up half of the table and we really liked the other couple, we just did our best to ignore them.

[K&RCurt]

We had one annoying table mate on our first cruise. She complained about everything, from the ship to the food to the embarkation etc. She was sailing with a former co-worker (they were both recently retired). The first night she made such a production our of complaining everyone else at the table just sort of stared in disbelief.

The second night her she "wasn't feeling well" and didn't come to dinner, but her friend did. She appologized to everyone for her "friend's" behavior. She said that she had worked with her for years and they got along fine, but she never really socialized with her much. WHen she booked the her friend "invited herself" along. She told us all "If I knew she was such a B&%CH I would have never let her come.

The crabby friend found another "complainer" to hang out with and went to dinner in the Lido the rest of the cruise!