No tables for 2 at lunchtime in MDR on Sapphire?

We've just spent a nice week on Sapphire Princess in the Norwegian Fjords (despite the wet weather). However, on two occasions (lunch on embarkation and lunch on the second sea day) we were told at the entrance to the International Dining Room that it was shared tables only for lunch when requesting a table for two. It's the first time this has happened to us on around a dozen previous cruises on various lines (including 4 on Princess) and I wondered if it was specific to Sapphire Princess or if others had had a similar experience. In contrast, we didn't have any trouble getting a table for two at dinner in the Anytime MDR last week.

That's odd! I wouldn't like that. We don't always want a table for two, but when we do I'd find it annoying to be told that.

That hasn’t happened to us ever. Sometimes they make it inconvenient to get a table for two.

Many Sapphires are blue, so maybe the staff was feeling a little sullen on your cruise.

We've just spent a nice week on Sapphire Princess in the Norwegian Fjords (despite the wet weather). However, on two occasions (lunch on embarkation and lunch on the second sea day) we were told at the entrance to the International Dining Room that it was shared tables only for lunch when requesting a table for two. It's the first time this has happened to us on around a dozen previous cruises on various lines (including 4 on Princess) and I wondered if it was specific to Sapphire Princess or if others had had a similar experience. In contrast, we didn't have any trouble getting a table for two at dinner in the Anytime MDR last week.

This is an old game, tell them you refuse to share and seat yourself at the nearest table for 2.

We've always been told that breakfast and lunch only have shared tables ... not at dinner, though. The dining room just isn't staffed as heavily as you'd find at dinner. Many of the waiters you see in the dining room at night are actually working up in the buffet area for lunch and even breakfast.

While sometimes I want a table for two at dinner, I see no problem with them offering only shared tables during the breakfast and lunch hours.

On embarkation day lunch, we take what we are assigned...we've shared and we've had tables for 2. No problems at other times or days.

Embarkation lunch we are happy to share. When we want a lunch to ourselves on other days (not often but once in a while) we have had no problem getting a table for two.

This is an old game, tell them you refuse to share and seat yourself at the nearest table for 2.

so, how'd that work out for YOU, when you did that??:rolleyes:

We cruised on Sapphire in May and one evening asked for a table for 2 in MDR and was told there were no tables for 2 available. On being shown to a shared table noticed loads of tables for 2 empty and when asked Head Waiter why we had been refused was told it was those booking "an enhanced dining experience". Funnily enough they stayed empty for the full duration of our meal and were still empty when we left the MDR.

We have run into this on the Coral, especially at Breakfast. However, if we stated we REALLY preferred a table for 2, we could get it. It was a little annoying as when we were then seated at a table for 2, there was hardly anyone else in the dining room. When we had been seated at a table for 10 the day previously, they served people as they arrived, so everyone was at a different place in their meal. I didn't really see how that made it more efficient for them?

We cruised on Sapphire in May and one evening asked for a table for 2 in MDR and was told there were no tables for 2 available. On being shown to a shared table noticed loads of tables for 2 empty and when asked Head Waiter why we had been refused was told it was those booking "an enhanced dining experience". Funnily enough they stayed empty for the full duration of our meal and were still empty when we left the MDR.

Uhh... If those tables were bespoken, the real question is, "Could the Head Waiter be sure they'd

be free in time even if you dawdled over a second desert and coffee?"

We cruised on Sapphire in May and one evening asked for a table for 2 in MDR and was told there were no tables for 2 available. On being shown to a shared table noticed loads of tables for 2 empty and when asked Head Waiter why we had been refused was told it was those booking "an enhanced dining experience". Funnily enough they stayed empty for the full duration of our meal and were still empty when we left the MDR.

What exactly is "an enhanced dining experience"? never heard of that before! Did he mean "Club Class dining", they are seated in a special section.....

We cruised on Sapphire in May and one evening asked for a table for 2 in MDR and was told there were no tables for 2 available. On being shown to a shared table noticed loads of tables for 2 empty and when asked Head Waiter why we had been refused was told it was those booking "an enhanced dining experience". Funnily enough they stayed empty for the full duration of our meal and were still empty when we left the MDR.

Maybe the head waiter had read your many posts on tipping?

This is an old game, tell them you refuse to share and seat yourself at the nearest table for 2.

Wouldn't you at least want to pick a table in a section that was open, rather than the nearest?

And, do you think the head waiter would go to the kitchen personally to spit in your food, or

simply leave it to the waiter?

I never liked the dining room configuration on the Sapphire and Diamond. Do they still have four small main dining rooms instead of the two on the others Princess ships?

We've just spent a nice week on Sapphire Princess in the Norwegian Fjords (despite the wet weather). However, on two occasions (lunch on embarkation and lunch on the second sea day) we were told at the entrance to the International Dining Room that it was shared tables only for lunch when requesting a table for two. It's the first time this has happened to us on around a dozen previous cruises on various lines (including 4 on Princess) and I wondered if it was specific to Sapphire Princess or if others had had a similar experience. In contrast, we didn't have any trouble getting a table for two at dinner in the Anytime MDR last week.

Matre d decided that, no big deal.

We have always been put at a table for 2 when we asked for any meal. Sometimes we have had to wait in a full MDR but eventually been seated at a table.

Likely just a quirk of the head waiter in charge. Possibly one that his supervisors don't even know about. After the second time I would have filled out a comment card and turned it into the purser's desk.

But I would never judge the MDR from embarkation day lunch. It is rare of me to arrive in time for that first MDR lunch but I did so last year on Royal Princess and for both my Alaska cruises last month. On all three it was assumed I/we wanted a private table, was not even asked to share. And on two of the three was escorted to a table for two in the Club Class section!

My goodness but its hard to imagine being "forced" to socialize with others on a cruise ship. But seriously, the seating policies on any cruise ship are in the hands of the Maitre'd and/or Dining Room Manager. If you do not like the policy, simply express your outrage (quietly) to the person who is handling the seating (near the door). In most cases they will accommodate your wishes. They might even agree to locate you in a quiet unused section of the MDR where there are no other passengers within 50 feet :).

Hank

We've just spent a nice week on Sapphire Princess in the Norwegian Fjords (despite the wet weather). However, on two occasions (lunch on embarkation and lunch on the second sea day) we were told at the entrance to the International Dining Room that it was shared tables only for lunch when requesting a table for two. It's the first time this has happened to us on around a dozen previous cruises on various lines (including 4 on Princess) and I wondered if it was specific to Sapphire Princess or if others had had a similar experience. In contrast, we didn't have any trouble getting a table for two at dinner in the Anytime MDR last week.

I will be doing the Norwegian Fjords on the Sapphire on July 21.

What are your thoughts/opinions/tips for the cruise?

We almost always ask to share tables at breakfast and lunch. On the few occasions where we did not want to, we've always been able to get a table for two. I wonder what they would have done if the OP had asked for a table for four but not sharing. It could have been a communication gap between the OP and person in charge when they had did not have any waiters assigned to places in the dining room where there were actual tables for two.

We cruised on Sapphire in May and one evening asked for a table for 2 in MDR and was told there were no tables for 2 available. On being shown to a shared table noticed loads of tables for 2 empty and when asked Head Waiter why we had been refused was told it was those booking "an enhanced dining experience". Funnily enough they stayed empty for the full duration of our meal and were still empty when we left the MDR.

If you noticed grey tablecloths and napkins that was a Club Class area.