Getting a private table in the diningroom

My husband and I are sailing just the two of us in October, and we are wanting a private table, just the two of us. I know that I can try to contact the maitre'd prior to the cruise, or I can speak with them on the first night, but I was wondering which one would be more likely to be successful?

You can try to contact the MD, but they aren't required to respond to emails though some have done this successfully.

Even if the MD does contact you, I would still go to the MDR soon after boarding and check out the table assignment.

Even if you get a two-top, they aren't private at all. There's 4-6 inches of space between tables.

 

Even if you get a two-top, they aren't private at all. There's 4-6 inches of space between tables.

I know this, I just don't want to be at the same physical table as other people. In the past we have been seated at tables of 4-8 and I didn't mind it, but this is a specialish vacation for us, and we do not want to feel obligated to talk to other people, or seem rude if we don't.

My husband and I are sailing just the two of us in October, and we are wanting a private table, just the two of us. I know that I can try to contact the maitre'd prior to the cruise, or I can speak with them on the first night, but I was wondering which one would be more likely to be successful?

Probably your best bet would be to go talk to the Maitre D soon after boarding on embarkation day. That would be a better time than waiting until dinner time.

I assume from your question that you are planning traditional dining rather than anytime. My experience has been the best thing to do, in the case of early or late traditional dining, is to go to the MDR the first day and first see where you are assigned and if not to your liking request the 2 top.

IMO using anytime dining eliminates this problem all together. Simple be seated at a 2 top each night at the time you are ready to dine.

I assume from your question that you are planning traditional dining rather than anytime. My experience has been the best thing to do, in the case of early or late traditional dining, is to go to the MDR the first day and first see where you are assigned and if not to your liking request the 2 top.

 

IMO using anytime dining eliminates this problem all together. Simple be seated at a 2 top each night at the time you are ready to dine.

I dislike the any time dining. Part of the experience for us is having the same staff each night.

My husband and I are sailing just the two of us in October, and we are wanting a private table, just the two of us. I know that I can try to contact the maitre'd prior to the cruise, or I can speak with them on the first night, but I was wondering which one would be more likely to be successful?

My husband and I are in the same situation on our upcoming cruise. We have always sat at tables of 8. We have been very lucky with our table mates. However this time we wanted it to just be the two of us. I emailed the maitre'd and asked for a booth. No response but my fingers are crossed. I will go check as soon as we board as well. I have emailed them before regarding table location and was given my requested location. Good Luck!

I dislike the any time dining. Part of the experience for us is having the same staff each night.

Past few cruises we've been placed with the same waitstaff almost every night. Must depend on the hostess.

Past few cruises we've been placed with the same waitstaff almost every night. Must depend on the hostess.

I think it also helps if you show up at about the same time each evening. If you have Any Time Dining, and one night you show up at 6:00, and the next night you don't go until a different time (say 7:00), chances are you may not be able to get the same wait staff. You might be able to if you ask for them, but if that section is full, you might have to wait awhile.

Past few cruises we've been placed with the same waitstaff almost every night. Must depend on the hostess.

We ask for the same wait staff when we find a group we like.

I respect each cruiser to choose what they want however I don't understand the comment that the reason for Set Dining is to have the same wait staff. What if you are assigned a less then desirable group or one you just don't fit with? You are stuck with them. :(

Don't know about a private table, but you can get a table for 2. You will still be close enough to somebody else to say HELLO

We ask for the same wait staff when we find a group we like.

 

I respect each cruiser to choose what they want however I don't understand the comment that the reason for Set Dining is to have the same wait staff. What if you are assigned a less then desirable group or one you just don't fit with? You are stuck with them. :(

I have never had an issue with dining staff on any of my carnival cruises. Not something I am concerned with.

Don't know about a private table, but you can get a table for 2. You will still be close enough to somebody else to say HELLO

We just want our own table. We know we will be close to other people, that's not the concern. We just don't want to physically be at the same table as another party. Our honeymoon cruise we were seated with another couple, and it was okay, but they weren't the most personable and we weren't comfortable at dinner it was awkward. Previous cruises we never had an issue and were with friendly people. This time, we just want our own table, not that we don't want to be close to people.

I feel the same way you do. My husband and I are taking am anniversary cruise soon and we would also like a two top. Even if it is close to other people it's still not technically the same table. I also dislike ATD as I find the service isn't quite as streamlined as set dining. My plans are to email the maitre d' a week-ish before boarding and to check out our table immediately upon embarkation.

Good luck!

Pardon me for butting in but this is my first Carnival cruise. I'm not sure we'd enjoy sharing a table either. Is it likely or unlikely for a family of 5 to be seated with others?

I've been on 5 cruises and on 4 of them I just went to the dining room before sailing and didn't have a problem with getting our own table. The time I didn't go, our party of 4 was seated at a table for 10 with 2 other groups. One of the groups was like us, really content to just talk among themselves. But the other group had a quite sociable man who was determined to get us all to interact. It was very uncomfortable.

Like you, I don't care if there is only a couple of inches between my table and the next. Close enough to exchange pleasantries and then go about your own business. When I'm traveling with my daughters, we are quite silly and laugh throughout the meal. When I'm traveling with just my husband, it's a break from our full house and I have no need to be sociable with strangers. Making a stop in the dining room to get our own table will always be at the top of my list of things to do when I embark!

I think I will just do both to make it a better chance. It won't ruin our cruise but it would definitely be a downer if we are seated with others.

Your best bet is to go to "The place that shall not be named" and request it of John Heald a week or so prior to departure.

Although others have suggested e-mailing the Maitre D, or contacting John Heald, there's no guarantee that you'll get a reply back. Soon after you've embarked, go to the MDR and speak with the Maitre D. He'll do his best to accommodate.

I understand that you don't like the idea of AnyTime Dining, but really, there's only one way to GUARANTEE a table for two.

1) Sign up for ATD.

2) Request a table for two, and be willing to wait.

3) If you want the same wait staff, request that as well, and be willing to wait a little longer if needed.

We've sailed twice on the Valor and followed that procedure. On this second cruise, the first night was open seating due to 10pm departure, so we didn't bother request a table for two. We ended up at an 8-top, and had a fine time. On both cruises, we had one night where we had to wait a bit to get our wait staff... but that was our choice. I don't think we would have had to wait for a 2-top either time... just because we wanted a particular team.

All of the other answers given in this thread MAY result in a table for two... but if it's vitally important, then I'd go for ATD.

I understand that you don't like the idea of AnyTime Dining, but really, there's only one way to GUARANTEE a table for two.

 

1) Sign up for ATD.

 

2) Request a table for two, and be willing to wait.

 

3) If you want the same wait staff, request that as well, and be willing to wait a little longer if needed.

 

We've sailed twice on the Valor and followed that procedure. On this second cruise, the first night was open seating due to 10pm departure, so we didn't bother request a table for two. We ended up at an 8-top, and had a fine time. On both cruises, we had one night where we had to wait a bit to get our wait staff... but that was our choice. I don't think we would have had to wait for a 2-top either time... just because we wanted a particular team.

 

All of the other answers given in this thread MAY result in a table for two... but if it's vitally important, then I'd go for ATD.

It is less important to have a private table than it is for us to have set dining. I will be disappointed with a shared table, but I would be very unhappy with ATD. It'd rather risk it than do ATD.

We are going in Feb. I have info to send to MD of the ship we are sailing on. "I would like to request a table for 2 in the MDR.

name:

Booking #

Number of guests (appears redundant)

Room #

Dining time:

Sail date:

Or go to MDR as soon as you board and speak to MD.

We have always asked the night we go and may have had a small wait time but always had our table for two. Should be an issue at all.

Also with the set dining, when you do go see the Maitre D on the first day, it may take a day or two before he assigns you a private table, if he is able to do it at all. We've had good luck doing this in the past.

However, from now on, if ATD is available we'll do that and then stick with a wait staff we enjoy for the duration of the cruise always requesting a table for two.

In most cases, the tables are one top of each other. There are a few gems that are a little more isolated. You can also request that favorite table when ATD albeit with a longer wait depending on when you get there.

We just want our own table. We know we will be close to other people, that's not the concern. We just don't want to physically be at the same table as another party. Our honeymoon cruise we were seated with another couple, and it was okay, but they weren't the most personable and we weren't comfortable at dinner it was awkward. Previous cruises we never had an issue and were with friendly people. This time, we just want our own table, not that we don't want to be close to people.

Hello , I am a platinum cruiser and have cruised 13 times with carnival. My children grew up cruising and I have always emailed the maitre d before the cruise and asked him for my preference in Seating? Usually we asked to be seated with others my children's ages just to give them a head start with meeting others their age so they were not alone but we have also asked for just two seating when the children were not with us. I find it best to email close to cruise 1to 2 weeks out . I have always gotten a reply and my preference met. Make sure your subject line in the email catches his eye! I know it sounds stupid but it truly makes a difference ! Hope this helps