Tables for two

We're thinking of taking a river cruise in Europe next year. All the other cruises we've done that didn't include friends or family always had tables for two. How available are tables for two on the river cruises?

We're thinking of taking a river cruise in Europe next year. All the other cruises we've done that didn't include friends or family always had tables for two. How available are tables for two on the river cruises?

Depends on the line and the boat as they are not all equal. We have never been a boat where they are plentiful.

We were able to find tables for two on AmaBella and AmaCerto. I don't remember table set up on AmaDante.

We were not able to find tables for 2 on Avalon Panorama. I can't recall our other Avalon experiences.

Tables for 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10 on Scenic.

We're thinking of taking a river cruise in Europe next year. All the other cruises we've done that didn't include friends or family always had tables for two. How available are tables for two on the river cruises?

It all depends on who your cruising with. I've been on 6 Vantage cruises and if they have any two tops, it would only be one. Quite frankly, I don't think they have any for two. Most of them are 4, 6 and 8. But room service is always available. I've never had a problem because if you sit with people you don't gel with, it's only one meal and you can sit somewhere else the next night. River cruisers are generally more tolerant and friendly than the big ships, I know we've made permanent friends on 3 of our 6 cruises.

Part of the fun of a river cruise is the open seating and meeting new friends at meals. With minimal evening entertainment (no casino or stage shows) a leisurely dinner with a congenial group is a lovely ending to a tour filled day.

We were on the Avalon Panorama in 2012, there were about 6 or 8 tables for 2 (3 or 4 on each side of the dining room entrance), but this year on the Creativity and Scenery there weren't any.

There were no tables for 2 in the main dining room on our Tauck cruise but you can dine in their Bistro and have an intimate dinner for two.

There were no tables for 2 in the main dining room on our Viking river cruise. Mostly 6, 8 or 12.

Part of the fun of a river cruise is the open seating and meeting new friends at meals. With minimal evening entertainment (no casino or stage shows) a leisurely dinner with a congenial group is a lovely ending to a tour filled day.

Personally, we prefer to have the option and not be forced into it. DH and I do not have much leisure time alone as we both work long hours and our lives are very busy. Unless we meet people we want to dine with, we really enjoy dinner alone.

Part of the fun of a river cruise is the open seating and meeting new friends at meals. With minimal evening entertainment (no casino or stage shows) a leisurely dinner with a congenial group is a lovely ending to a tour filled day.

Sitting with 6 or 8 others may be fun for you but some do not like the forced groupie thing. Still after many years of marriage we prefer to eat at a quiet table for two. This is another negative of river cruising from all we have read.

On Uniworld River Queen there is exactly 1 table for 2 but at dinner it was usually the last table to go. At breakfast and lunch it is easier to sit at a larger table by yourslef. Most people are very sociable and quite frankly, if one wants to keep to oneself a River Cruise is not that great a choice. You are in close proximity to other pax just about anytime you are out of your cabin. Meeting other people is part of the appeal for most.

Sitting with 6 or 8 others may be fun for you but some do not like the forced groupie thing. Still after many years of marriage we prefer to eat at a quiet table for two. This is another negative of river cruising from all we have read.

Same here would love to do a river cruise.. but lack of privacy, and having to socialize keeps me from going on one:(

Same here would love to do a river cruise.. but lack of privacy, and having to socialize keeps me from going on one:(

The Amacello (AMA Waterways) have several tables for two. About 6 or 8.

I also prefer a table for 2 and we managed to get one every night.

I just went on my first river cruise and I'm not the most sociable person in the world so that worried me too. I was SOOOO happy when I saw the table for 2 in the corner (which screams I don't wanna play).

So we weren't forced into anything. There were several other couples who kept to themselves.

Sometimes the others tables are so close it's like you are sitting next to them and sometime we had great people sit next to us where we chatted - other times not.

There are some great tips here on the ships with tables for two so take advantage and plan from there.

It's a luxury not to be missed!

On Most people are very sociable and quite frankly, if one wants to keep to oneself a River Cruise is not that great a choice. You are in close proximity to other pax just about anytime you are out of your cabin. Meeting other people is part of the appeal for most.

We are quite sociable actually, and just prefer dining alone when we choose to. We have done 7 river cruises so far with 3 more booked - obviously for us it is fine choice for a vacation.

We've always love sitting and meeting new people for dinner. Have made many friends this way which we still are in contact with. Have done 6 Vantage tours with one more next June. If we happen to sit with a couple who are not too friendly we avoid them for the next night. Willard

Sitting with 6 or 8 others may be fun for you but some do not like the forced groupie thing. Still after many years of marriage we prefer to eat at a quiet table for two. This is another negative of river cruising from all we have read.

we feel the same as you…we are not fans of the "whats your name and where you from" sessions…having said that we love river cruising and adapt to it…not having tables for 2 isn't a deal breaker for us.

For some reason, my wife and I almost always request and get a two-top on our ocean cruises but would never do that on a river cruise. We've been on three river cruises - all on Viking and have never seen a table for two!

What's the difference? I suppose the answer is in the difference between ocean and river cruises - really like night and day. Both are wonderful and sometimes magical but viva la difference - and I love both. The river cruise passengers all share a common experience, whilst on the ocean cruise, not so much. Also, the myriad of dining choices on the ocean cruises tend to not foster table bonding!

On our river cruises, we bond quickly with kindred spirits and usually have a quite festive table of 8 by cruise end. On ocean cruises, only once or twice in 25+ cruises have I experienced a great group table, hence our preference now on Princess which not coincidentally was among the first to offer a choice.

Have a great trip and enjoy the other passengers! On our last river cruise, the fellow passengers really made the cruise much more fun for us.

We feel the same way and from what I have read, it may have to be Tauck with their bistro and tables for two. After a b2b on a river cruise and 20 some nights having to share our dinner is quite tiresome. I hope I can get my husband back on one but a week to 10 days max. We love our private and intimate evenings.

Part of the fun of a river cruise is the open seating and meeting new friends at meals. With minimal evening entertainment (no casino or stage shows) a leisurely dinner with a congenial group is a lovely ending to a tour filled day.

This is it exactly. I don't understand the folks who don't want to get to know a stranger better. For example, on our last River Cruise we had interesting conversations with lawyers from Istanbul and sheep farmers from Australia, geologists from Texas, to name a few. . . To tell you the truth if somebody comes on here complaining that they don't like to meet new people and have pleasant conversation with them, then River Cruising is not for you. River cruising is a communal activity. If you want to be alone you are probably better off hiring a private yacht to steer you down the river of your choice. jmo.

Hello All

My wife and I are taking the Avalon Expression from Budapest to A-Dam run later this month. We have extensive European experience, although it is all tour bus-based and all through the Globus/Cosmos etc. umbrella. This is an experiment for us: we have no problem with the pace and tone of the bus tours and they have all been good, however, this year we decided to try something different. In other words, it's my wife's idea and I'm going along with it because after 30+ years of marriage, I've figured out that 1. When she's happy, my life is strangely calm...and 2. Do I really have a choice?

Anyway...anybody out there been on the newest Avalon boats who can relate their experiences as to seating for 2? It's not that we're antisocial, not at all...just inquiring as to the possibilities of an occasional quiet dinner alone surrounded by 100 people....thanks in advance for any info

Hello All

 

Anyway...anybody out there been on the newest Avalon boats who can relate their experiences as to seating for 2? It's not that we're antisocial, not at all...just inquiring as to the possibilities of an occasional quiet dinner alone surrounded by 100 people....thanks in advance for any info

We were on Panorama and there were very few, if any, tables for 2. We looked for them all the time and never were able to snag one. Not sure if this is the case on Expression.

We were on Avalon Artistry (new almost 2yrs ago) Rhine and there older boat on the Rhone. A few tables for two but no privacy and a rush to get to them so unlikely to happen. Notes: not worth getting $$$ upper deck cabins because most often you are docked next to another boat and only view is of their stateroom. Very small cabins vs: ocean cabins. Food the same on both boats and not very good. We are younger and fit and found tours good, but we most went out early and covered the whole towns on foot on our own if a slow tour is not to your liking. We really disliked the pushing for gratuities in the end and prefer all inclusive. Avalon was not for us :(

Hello All

 

My wife and I are taking the Avalon Expression from Budapest to A-Dam run later this month. We have extensive European experience, although it is all tour bus-based and all through the Globus/Cosmos etc. umbrella. This is an experiment for us: we have no problem with the pace and tone of the bus tours and they have all been good, however, this year we decided to try something different. In other words, it's my wife's idea and I'm going along with it because after 30+ years of marriage, I've figured out that 1. When she's happy, my life is strangely calm...and 2. Do I really have a choice?

 

Anyway...anybody out there been on the newest Avalon boats who can relate their experiences as to seating for 2? It's not that we're antisocial, not at all...just inquiring as to the possibilities of an occasional quiet dinner alone surrounded by 100 people....thanks in advance for any info

Wise man! ;) Just be aware that if you manage to snag a two top, you will still be surrounded . . . Biergarten and cafés ashore can provide for just two time.

One way to possibly dine alone is to come to dinner at the end of the line if the ship is not totally full. You may be able to snag two seats at an otherwise empty table. The downside is that you might get stuck with two seats at the table with the "worst" people on the ship. :rolleyes:

You do realize that with all inclusive you have paid the tips up front?

Yes, of course I understand that it is all done upfront. It is much easier and I do like the pushiness of it along with all of the in your face smiles and compliments last day of cruise in hope for a larger tip. Tacky