Tables for two

[grapau27]

On 9/22/2019 at 12:36 PM, dgs1956 said:

Why do you need a pretext. I would just have said I don't want to sit at that table and if asked why I would give the real reason. Ignorant and bad mannered people get away with it because most people keep quiet or don't challenge them

Actually that is a very good and relevant everyday question and you are right a lot of us don't want to appear to be rude and put up with individuals like this plus bores and braggers when really we shouldn't have to.

 

Edited November 6, 2019 by grapau27

[peteukmcr]

Interesting read regarding tables for 2 and the use of pagers. I can't get over how this line and others (RCI, Celebrity, Carnival) cannot organise their dining rooms with more tables for 2 on Freedom dining. The need is there, that's obvious. Moreover how this line does not (or will not) offer reservations for Freedom dining unlike others (which does negate the wait times and the need for pagers) is beyond me. I suspect as Iona will be all Freedom dining that things will have to change.

 

Norwegian have this cracked, never waited for a table for 2, invariably sat at a table for 4 and the extra place settings removed. When there is just 2 of us cruising, we don't and won't share unless we know our fellow diners.

 

Luckily when we sail Britannia we will be a party of 4 so hopefully not too much of a problem for a table. We will not be sharing, we don't cruise to eat with others, we happily socialise away from the dining room, but eating with strangers, no. 

 

 

[terrierjohn]

1 hour ago, peteukmcr said:

Interesting read regarding tables for 2 and the use of pagers. I can't get over how this line and others (RCI, Celebrity, Carnival) cannot organise their dining rooms with more tables for 2 on Freedom dining. The need is there, that's obvious. Moreover how this line does not (or will not) offer reservations for Freedom dining unlike others (which does negate the wait times and the need for pagers) is beyond me. I suspect as Iona will be all Freedom dining that things will have to change.

 

Norwegian have this cracked, never waited for a table for 2, invariably sat at a table for 4 and the extra place settings removed. When there is just 2 of us cruising, we don't and won't share unless we know our fellow diners.

 

Luckily when we sail Britannia we will be a party of 4 so hopefully not too much of a problem for a table. We will not be sharing, we don't cruise to eat with others, we happily socialise away from the dining room, but eating with strangers, no. 

 

 

Never really felt the need for a table for 2, we normally dine together the rest of the year, so it's a nice change to have different dinner companions every day on a cruise. As for pre booking a time and table, that just seems to negate the benefits of Freedom Dining, and if our RCI experience this summer is any guide then it's rather pointless, both pre reserved and no reservation lines had massive queues every day, resulting in dozens of laid but empty tables in the MDR.

[wowzz]

8 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

Never really felt the need for a table for 2, we normally dine together the rest of the year, so it's a nice change to have different dinner companions every day on a cruise. As for pre booking a time and table, that just seems to negate the benefits of Freedom Dining, and if our RCI experience this summer is any guide then it's rather pointless, both pre reserved and no reservation lines had massive queues every day, resulting in dozens of laid but empty tables in the MDR.

I agree - surely booking a table in freedom dining is an oxymoron.

We also very rarely choose a table for two - plenty of time to eat as a couple at home - we certainly don't want to endure each others company on a cruuse as well? 

[brian1]

If it's outside the allocated sittings,booking times inbetween are very convenient.We always prebooked on Princess.

[peteukmcr]

4 hours ago, terrierjohn said:

Never really felt the need for a table for 2, we normally dine together the rest of the year, so it's a nice change to have different dinner companions every day on a cruise. As for pre booking a time and table, that just seems to negate the benefits of Freedom Dining, and if our RCI experience this summer is any guide then it's rather pointless, both pre reserved and no reservation lines had massive queues every day, resulting in dozens of laid but empty tables in the MDR.

 

4 hours ago, wowzz said:

I agree - surely booking a table in freedom dining is an oxymoron.

We also very rarely choose a table for two - plenty of time to eat as a couple at home - we certainly don't want to endure each others company on a cruuse as well? 

Well this is where we're all different and I believe we are part of a group that enjoy our own company and don't enjoy being forced to share with strangers. Pre booking does not negate the benefits for us because we don't like the formal times of say 6:30 or 8:00, but prefer to book as you would in the high street at a time that fits in with our daily plan, maybe one day 7:30, another 8:30 or even 09:00. We have never had an issue on RCI having rebooked, if we didn't then yes there's a line, but we plan, and just go straight to the podium for those with reservations. 

[peteukmcr]

2 hours ago, brian1 said:

If it's outside the allocated sittings,booking times inbetween are very convenient.We always prebooked on Princess.

Exactly, and all lines who offer 'freedom' dining (except P&O) allow this and this is something I believe will have to offer on Iona when the whole ship is Freedom, otherwise it's likely to be organised chaos.

[terrierjohn]

44 minutes ago, peteukmcr said:

Exactly, and all lines who offer 'freedom' dining (except P&O) allow this and this is something I believe will have to offer on Iona when the whole ship is Freedom, otherwise it's likely to be organised chaos.

We will continue to agree to disagree then Pete, I can definitely confirm that on our RCI cruise this year there was queueing at both reserved and non reserved podiums every night, and lots of fully laid but empty tables as a result.   I do hope that P&O continue to resist pre booking, for me their operation of freedom dining is by far the best and has far less queuing  than our experiences on Celebrity, RCI and Princess.

Edited November 6, 2019 by terrierjohn

[wowzz]

I think I'd be pretty upset if I had freedom dining, to find that I couldn't get a table because they were all reserved.

Personally, I think no reservations should be allowed for freedom dining.  You turn up when you like, and have the same table options as everyone else.

[jeanlyon]

We changed to Freedom Dining after a bad experience in the MDR on Club Dining.  We had always had great tables, but this was awful.  We won't go back.  Freedom suits us  If you don't particularly like your companions one night, you know there will be different ones the following night.  I live with my other half all year, so a table for 2 would be a bit boring.  We like to meet others, but maybe not eat with them every night.

[brian1]

It's bad enough sitting with a coachload of strangers on excursions,let alone dining with them,lol.

[AndyMichelle]

4 minutes ago, brian1 said:

It's bad enough sitting with a coachload of strangers on excursions,let alone dining with them,lol.

Come and sit with us Brian, you don't get much stranger than us... 

Andy 

[Harry Peterson]

36 minutes ago, jeanlyon said:

We changed to Freedom Dining after a bad experience in the MDR on Club Dining.  We had always had great tables, but this was awful.  We won't go back.  Freedom suits us  If you don't particularly like your companions one night, you know there will be different ones the following night.  I live with my other half all year, so a table for 2 would be a bit boring.  We like to meet others, but maybe not eat with them every night.

My sentiments exactly, Jean.  Always different people to talk to, always different topics of  discussion, always something new - but if things don't quite work out you can never see them again. That only ever happened once though - everyone else was just great.  My wife and I eat together at the table all the time, three meals a day + tea + coffee.  We love each other dearly, but we both enjoy the company of others at a table for 6 or 8 - isn't that shared experience what cruising's all about?

[AndyMichelle]

14 minutes ago, Harry Peterson said:

My sentiments exactly, Jean.  Always different people to talk to, always different topics of  discussion, always something new - but if things don't quite work out you can never see them again. That only ever happened once though - everyone else was just great.  My wife and I eat together at the table all the time, three meals a day + tea + coffee.  We love each other dearly, but we both enjoy the company of others at a table for 6 or 8 - isn't that shared experience what cruising's all about?

I get that, but I like the experience of getting to know people over the course of the cruise and building a rapport with our waiters. No pagers, no small talk after the first night, just good laughs and great company. 

Perhaps we have just been lucky. 

Andy 

[peteukmcr]

5 hours ago, terrierjohn said:

We will continue to agree to disagree then Pete, I can definitely confirm that on our RCI cruise this year there was queueing at both reserved and non reserved podiums every night, and lots of fully laid but empty tables as a result.   I do hope that P&O continue to resist pre booking, for me their operation of freedom dining is by far the best and has far less queuing  than our experiences on Celebrity, RCI and Princess.

We always do disagree don’t we? After 21 sailings with RCI we’ve never had a problem with MTD dining nor Celebrity and I hope P&O do introduce reservations as any decent restaurant would do as our experience has been awful with downright rude door hosts. 

Edited November 7, 2019 by peteukmcr

[peteukmcr]

4 hours ago, wowzz said:

I think I'd be pretty upset if I had freedom dining, to find that I couldn't get a table because they were all reserved.

Personally, I think no reservations should be allowed for freedom dining.  You turn up when you like, and have the same table options as everyone else.

So what do you do when you arrive at a popular land based restaurant that tells you because it’s busy and there are no tables free and have you made a reservation? Would you be happy to hang around then? This is where we differ, I strongly believe that for a flexible dining concept that gets away from the dictated inflexible dining hall concept of “you will eat at our prescribed time with people we choose for you”, one should be able to make reservations that suit you, the customer, not the other way around. 

[peteukmcr]

4 hours ago, brian1 said:

It's bad enough sitting with a coachload of strangers on excursions,let alone dining with them,lol.

Totally agree! But perhaps we’re strange because the majority here seem to say that as for the rest of the year they spend most time eating with their partner they want distraction from that with strangers on a cruise. Seeing we still enjoy eating together and prefer that as opposed to having to make polite conversation with strangers we’re the odd ones out. So, explain to me why there appears to be a greater demand for tables for 2 and cruise lines except Norwegian appear to be reluctant to provide it? This is where the “Butlins at sea” impression comes from with being fed the same food on large tables shared with strangers as I was as child at Bognor Regis, Skegness, Filey etc. Perhaps that’s why I prefer eating with my partner or only with very close friends.  

[brian1]

9 hours ago, AndyMichelle said:

Come and sit with us Brian, you don't get much stranger than us... 

Andy 

Cheers mate,you're one of the few on here that are on the same wavelength.It's just that we dine late and drink our voddie and wine before we dine and then only drink water with dinner.Sacrilege I know,lol.When we have to sit with others,we do socialize,but prefer to just eat.My Mrs has a bit of a phobia about eating in front of strangers,she was even like that with me when we first met for quite a while.So there are hidden reasons why people prefer 2 tops,not cos they're miserable sods,lol.

[AndyMichelle]

3 minutes ago, brian1 said:

Cheers mate,you're one of the few on here that are on the same wavelength.It's just that we dine late and drink our voddie and wine before we dine and then only drink water with dinner.Sacrilege I know,lol.When we have to sit with others,we do socialize,but prefer to just eat.My Mrs has a bit of a phobia about eating in front of strangers,she was even like that with me when we first met for quite a while.So there are hidden reasons why people prefer 2 tops,not cos they're miserable sods,lol.

Stop using Mrs Brian as an excuse, you are just a miserable git😊

I get why people prefer tables for 2 and we sometimes do, but our last few tables have been great and definitely added to our holiday experience, so happy to carry on for now, but bad companions will probably put us off in the future. 

Andy 

 

[brian1]

In the pub my nickname was Brian the bucket,cos I was a plumber.My mates called my OH Mrs Bucket,lol.Perhaps we'll introduce ourselves as the Bouquets at the next 6 or 8 top.

[AndyMichelle]

7 minutes ago, brian1 said:

In the pub my nickname was Brian the bucket,cos I was a plumber.My mates called my OH Mrs Bucket,lol.Perhaps we'll introduce ourselves as the Bouquets at the next 6 or 8 top.

Ha ha. 

I have a floor layer friend called Lino Richie and a girl we know is called Titanic.. I will let you work out why😊

See, this is the sort of insightful conversation you are missing out on at your table for 2..

Andy 

[Hols4]

Hols4

Love your comments Andy hope you are on our table one night. Just  come off of Aurora on Sunday and we asked for the same table for 6 every night as we like liked the waiter who was efficient and very witty.

We noticed they were putting only 2 people on a table for 4 every night I presume to save people waiting.One evening a couple were complaining that the table was too big and caused a fuss demanding to be moved to a small table, no pleasing some people.

 

[Sheep Flavour]

Hi Rose,

 

I am currently on the Ventura. Myself and my wife will only do table for two dining. Just our think no offence to others. But like most say if you don’t mind a wait it’s fine. We go to the restaurant on deck 6 Saffron and get a pager then go to the sports bar which is a very short walk on the same deck put some songs on the free jukebox and relax with a drink....maybe a few.....until called 😀

 

have a great cruise.

[jeanlyon]

But I can see major problems with "booking" for Freedom Dining.  Firstly, it goes against the whole concept of Freedom Dining.  I can see people booking for a certain time and not turning up, so the table is ready, those who haven't booked have to wait because bookers are late or don't turn up at all.  It works fine the way it is.

[kenhem]

13 hours ago, peteukmcr said:

Totally agree! But perhaps we’re strange because the majority here seem to say that as for the rest of the year they spend most time eating with their partner they want distraction from that with strangers on a cruise. Seeing we still enjoy eating together and prefer that as opposed to having to make polite conversation with strangers we’re the odd ones out. So, explain to me why there appears to be a greater demand for tables for 2 and cruise lines except Norwegian appear to be reluctant to provide it? This is where the “Butlins at sea” impression comes from with being fed the same food on large tables shared with strangers as I was as child at Bognor Regis, Skegness, Filey etc. Perhaps that’s why I prefer eating with my partner or only with very close friends.  

We agree with your comments and prefer just tables for two as you do. And I don't mean like those on the Arcadia that are classed as side by side but with about an inch between them. How they can be classed as tables for two is something even a politician would have trouble explaining. And I don't understand why they don't occasionally use any empty tables available in the club dining restaurant to seat freedom dining guests like we've seen Celebrity do at times. Also even use tables for four occasionally as tables for two as other lines do.