Meeting your tablemates!

[mittchelandsophie]

We are booked on our first cruise and we opted for the large table. Ironically my BF wanted it. He is very shy and on our first date I almost did not go back out with him because he did not have any eye contact. I sure am glad i gave him another chance (3 years later). I just worry that someone will think like I did back then and think he is alittle shady because of his shyness. He chose a large table to socialize and meet new people. I am very proud of him and really hope that by the end of the week it all works out for us.

 

Booked on Carnival Legend 9/17

 

Rebecca and Kevin

[McDebbie]

On our last cruise we were with a couple in their 60's and one in their 20's and none of us had the same cabin type or came from the same region so I am not sure how we got paired up. But it was great, we all enjoyed the week very much. The cruise before that was equally as random with ages and regions but we were ALL celebrating an anniversary except for the couple in their 70's who were HONEYMOONERS! :)

[CruiseZapper]

on my first cruise there were 5 women cruising together, all of us ages 45-55. we felt so sad for our table mates (table for 10) when they sat 5 very nice

looking young men at our table. all in their late 20's early 30's. but at the end of our cruise they said they had a ball and that they were asked if they wanted to change and they said no. they said it was the best time they ever had, i guess we were COOL!. they last cruise DH and i took our 18 YeaR old grandson, it was so funny ( table for 6) when they st us with another couple with a 17 year old daughter, both of these teenagers had boy/girlfriends at home and they act like they were scare to talk to each other, and the waiters always sat these kids together. finally the last night they chilled out and went and got ice cream together, we still have HIDDEN PICTURES of them together.

[motherchic]

I must say it has been interesting reading all the responses.....

First.... we sit at our assigned table but have always switched seats every night and NEVER thought anything of it. Didnt know there was assigned seating just assigned tables..... this always gives you a chance to meet and mingle more. We love eating at a large table and honestly can say our fondest memories of cruising have been the conversations and laughter we have shared with other cruisers.

We have always been a mixed group of ages and nationalities...makes for great conversation. we have kept in touch with many of our table mates over the years.

One of our best tables was traveling with my aunt ( first trip without my DH ), she was 74, i was 48, a young couple in there 30's and a brother and sister traveling together who were in their 50's. Now- sounds to me like a horrible match. We all had a ball, never left the dining room till 11pm, then went to the shows together and the casino... just goes to show.... you NEVER know...and we still all keep in touch.

I love my DH but i cant imagine not chatting and shareing with other couples at dinner ( and switching seats ! )

Nadine

[renata102]

I have to say with all my cruises, all my table mates were great and we had great times. Two cruises ago, we really hit it off with our tablemates and stayed WAY TO LONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

that being said my sister went on her first cruise last year on the Voyager. they said that they also hit it off with all her table mates and would have cup after cup of coffee and hang ot with them. something about a cruise does that!!! My first cruise I was a little nervous meeting them the first time. Now on all my cruises we look forward to our table mates.

 

This cruise coming up will be different. We are cruising with 12 people (family) and we are getting our own table. so we will not be seated with stranger (potential new friends). :( ooh well, its for the better because half of my in laws don't speak english so at least we can all be together!

[JolieMadam]

We have always had great tablemates on 5 cruises, it is amazing that a computer can do so much to hook up people whatever criteria it's based on. On last cruise, we were 2 women traveling together seated at an 8 top with 2 couples and a single woman. My seat was next to the empty chair and then came the single lady, her nephew and niece and the other couple. The sgl. was extremely amusing and very talkative and one evening my friend suggested I move into the seat next to her just for a change.....of course, she talked my ear off and I didn't even have time to peruse the menu before the orders were taken......this went on the rest of the meal.

 

Now the dilemna was, do I sit next to her again or go back to my usual spot. Will she be wondering if she offended me if I don't, but I didn't want her talking my ear off every night as I would miss the entire table conversation. The other diners made no attempt to switch seats so that was not going to happen. My friend (who had no desire to seat herself next to this woman either!) and I decided we would close the gap at the table in a different direction each night so every other night I was not seated directly next to her. We were really entertained by the two gentlemen at table and they kept us in stitches.

 

Personally, I don't mind changing seats at the table after several evenings. Couple can still be seated together while giving you someone new to converse with on each side. Someone at the table can suggest it rather than just doing it and having others become perturbed at the change of seats. Everyone should agree as you don't want to upset the applecart. Don't worry about it affecting the staff.....they are used to it and can handle it.