Dinner Party?

Hello, All. Going to show my "newbie" status here, as I am about to go on my second cruise in August this year.

We are going with 2 other couples,this time. The other gentlemen are less than enthused about formal night. In fact, one of the couples skipped them entirely when they cruised once before. We, OTOH, quite enjoyed getting dressed up.

We don't want to eat in the Lido, as my hubby is not a fan of the whole buffet type experience.

Can we have a "dinner party", ordering from the MDR, in one of our rooms, so we can still have dinner together? Two of us have Neptune Suites.

And on subject, what about entertaining, in general? Can we have an appy party served in our room for all three couples, even the ones who are in an Signature Suite? Sorry, it seems feasible but I don't know how it's done?...Just ask??

There is a table in the Neptune Suite that is low to the floor and would be hard to have 6 people sitting around it.

Also the regular table on the verandah is for 4 people -- again will be crowded to have 6 people around it.

Yes -- Neptune Suites can order afternoon appetizers for guests.

Ask the concierge if she can arrange a card table to be set up for dinner -- but remember a card table can only handle 4 people.

Typical table in a Neptune Suite:

Typical table on the verandah:

What is it about men who refuse to put on a jacket for dinner. Seems like a small concession if it makes your wife a little happier and enhances her cruise experience. Don't tell me they wore suits everyday to work, I also did for 30 years and it's not that difficult. If a more formal dinner makes my wife happy, I sure won't spoil it by refusing something so simple.

Now does everyone understand why the old S Class ships were/are so good!

The table was easily for 6. Table was bigger and so is the balcony!

Back to OP.... it could be arranged for sure. Just two small table join together and for six.

Oh I agree! Neither of these men wore suits to work. One of them wears jeans exclusively, although, he did rock a tux for his daughters wedding.

I am not sure what the big deal is but they have made it abundantly clear they are not dressing. And that's OK, if it will make their time better.

We are considering letting my hubby squire all three of us ladies about on Formal nights. I am looking at the photo we bought from the formal night we attended on our 25th anniversary 17 years ago. We ate in MDR every night and really enjoyed the dressing up part. And MY husband DID wear a suit to work everyday..go figure

And thank you, Topsham, that's what I was hoping..:)

You can have your dinner party in your suite and if you ask your steward, they may be able to bring in a larger table or at least set up the veranda table in the room. Have room service send up the dinner menu (or ask your dining steward for one the evening before), ask the MDR maître d when it would be best to order room service off the MDR menu (some ships have preferred times such as just before or after MDR Service).

It is so much easier to have the men throw on a sports jacket and tie for those few hours - to each their own.

You can usually raise the table by the sofa. It won't come all the way up to full dining table height, but it's much more comfortable than coffee table height. It's done with a twisting motion, but ask your cabin steward to show you. If you use the sofa and bring over the desk chair, and possibly the dressing room chair, you'll have seating. It will be "cozy" though.

You can usually raise the table by the sofa. It won't come all the way up to full dining table height, but it's much more comfortable than coffee table height. It's done with a twisting motion, but ask your cabin steward to show you. If you use the sofa and bring over the desk chair, and possibly the dressing room chair, you'll have seating. It will be "cozy" though.

We've even had the Verandah table brought into our room by the In Room Dining (Room Service) Manager/Director and In Room Dining Steward. It was Alaska and bad weather was expected (and I do mean BAD as in Cyclone!!)

There is room in the Neptune Suites for the table to fit inside where the Coffee Table is (as you can see by Krazy Kruizers photos). The Coffee table can be moved off to the side between the window and the bed which will allow for it to be used if needed for trays, dirty plates, etc...(Whether you have it raised as POA1 suggests or normal height as shown in Krazy Kruizers photos above) The food was brought up covered just like the MDR food is brought to the MDR from the Galley, so it stays nice and hot and/or cold.

As the the appetizers, we've had similar situations as yours and the Neptune Lounge Concierge will ask for all the room numbers of the guests and then fulfill your request(s) with no problem.

IF the weather is good, you can have the coffee table brought out to the verandah and use it out there, just DO NOT forget to have it brought back into the stateroom when you are finished dining.

Enjoy the cruise and relax with friends:)

Joanie

I don't see a problem with having those who want to dress up going to dinner and those who don't fending for themselves. An app party is a nice idea but when we traveled with friends who had different dining likes we finally decided that we did not need to do everything together all the time. Since you and DH like dressing up and since it is a part of the fun of cruising (for some) it would be a shame for you to miss out.

Great feedback thus far!

I think I am going to host a 4 person dinner on my Dec. cruise. Nice having the Neptune staff being able to handle the details for you (we did it for just the two of us this past Jan.)

Great feedback thus far!

 

I think I am going to host a 4 person dinner on my Dec. cruise. Nice having the Neptune staff being able to handle the details for you (we did it for just the two of us this past Jan.)

We did it, as I described above, in a Friends SA across from the NL on the Zuiderdam in September 2013. We have not hosted one in our Aft Wraps, YET, but may on one of our 3 cruises next month. We are now just playing things by ear for what and when:)

I must say that I truly enjoy the White Table Cloth Dining Experience we had on the Nieuw Amsterdam on the verandah back in 2010 and want to do it again, but only where it is warm enough to do it on the verandah.

Joanie

Didn’t realize Cap’n Topsham was following this thread but that’s lucky for me.

Captain Card, if you have the information – would you mind sending me contact information for the person or department responsible for curating the artifacts on HAL vessels?

I have an issue about an artifact on Ryndam that I’ve been brooding about for years. It’s a ship model whose rigging type is incorrectly identified. As a lifelong sailor (vessels with sails) it bothers me. Perhaps if that model will be transferred to another vessel in the future, they will be amenable to correcting the information.

If you don’t have the information or choose not to share it, I’ll understand and no hard feelings.

Email address is n4686a at outlook dot com. Thanks in advance.

By all means, plan your dinner party. Concierge can arrange a table and service for you in your Suite. Enjoy.

Also...... apps for cocktails are commonly arranged for suite guests. :)

We are in an SY suite with the bendy veranda for our Panama cruise so it has the larger table. If we order room service for dinner will they bring along a tablecloth.

We are in an SY suite with the bendy veranda for our Panama cruise so it has the larger table. If we order room service for dinner will they bring along a tablecloth.

Very unlikely. They did not for our aft-wrap on the Zuiderdam in Nov.

Per a suggestion from the CC board, we brought our own and it was a very nice touch. I think it was a 48 inch round one (will ask my wife to verify the size, as what does a man know about such things). Remember to bring table clips to hold the cloth down! I think she got them at a party favors store (worked great).

DaveOKC

Very unlikely. They did not for our aft-wrap on the Zuiderdam in Nov.

 

Per a suggestion from the CC board, we brought our own and it was a very nice touch. I think it was a 48 inch round one (will ask my wife to verify the size, as what does a man know about such things). Remember to bring table clips to hold the cloth down! I think she got them at a party favors store (worked great).

 

DaveOKC

^^ Good job, Dave. You got it right. :)

Okay....not to sound ridiculous or anything but.....do you need to clips that slide onto the actual table or will the weights that hang in the bottom of the tablecloth hold it down?? I plan on bringing this since we looking forward to breakfast sitting out on the balcony

Okay....not to sound ridiculous or anything but.....do you need to clips that slide onto the actual table or will the weights that hang in the bottom of the tablecloth hold it down?? I plan on bringing this since we looking forward to breakfast sitting out on the balcony��

OK - wife said ours is 60 inch diameter but you might be able to use a 52-54 inch one (if you can find that size).

We have clear plastic clips and they worked well (and were very inexpensive), even when it got a bit windy (not bad in the aft wrap cabins, but can blow up now and again. I would be afraid of just weights in the tablecloth, unless they were fairly heavy.

Oh I agree! Neither of these men wore suits to work. One of them wears jeans exclusively, although, he did rock a tux for his daughters wedding.

I am not sure what the big deal is but they have made it abundantly clear they are not dressing. And that's OK, if it will make their time better.

 

We are considering letting my hubby squire all three of us ladies about on Formal nights. I am looking at the photo we bought from the formal night we attended on our 25th anniversary 17 years ago. We ate in MDR every night and really enjoyed the dressing up part. And MY husband DID wear a suit to work everyday..go figure

The last cruise I went on there were 5 women and my husband. He had no problem escorting us every night. Didn't bother him in the least. Go for it!

The last cruise I went on there were 5 women and my husband. He had no problem escorting us every night. Didn't bother him in the least. Go for it!

Ha ha! It should get the attention of some of the other guys.

Reminds me of one memorable farewell party at work for a male colleague. There were 21 of us. He was sitting there like a peacock enjoying it all. Including lots of interested looks from others in the restaurant. At first I thought it was that we were all speaking Spanish- in a Mexican restaurant. Then it hit- 20 women and one guy.

OK - wife said ours is 60 inch diameter but you might be able to use a 52-54 inch one (if you can find that size).

 

We have clear plastic clips and they worked well (and were very inexpensive), even when it got a bit windy (not bad in the aft wrap cabins, but can blow up now and again. I would be afraid of just weights in the tablecloth, unless they were fairly heavy.

Thank you!

Oh I agree! Neither of these men wore suits to work. One of them wears jeans exclusively, although, he did rock a tux for his daughters wedding.

I am not sure what the big deal is but they have made it abundantly clear they are not dressing. And that's OK, if it will make their time better.

 

We are considering letting my hubby squire all three of us ladies about on Formal nights. I am looking at the photo we bought from the formal night we attended on our 25th anniversary 17 years ago. We ate in MDR every night and really enjoyed the dressing up part. And MY husband DID wear a suit to work everyday..go figure[/QUO

 

Since the three ladies and one husband seem to enjoy the idea of dressing up for Formal Night, I say "go for it". If the other two men have made it abundantly clear that they are not going to dress up, then they can go it alone. It seems like a lot of work for the stewards to make room for a party of six -- when a couple of sport coats would make everything work for everyone else! :)

 

Seems like the easiest solution is the one you already mentioned of a party of four for Formal Night! ;)