issues with tablemates?

[happy cruzer]

If there is an existing thread (focusing on HALs dining room experiences) on this one please point me that way. I searched but no luck.

 

I've been at tables were there has been one person or couple who want to have the same seat each night ( and it is usually one of the better seats either because of view or out of traffic). My DH is very nice. He always insists that we comply. I like the arrangement that either we all change around each night or first come first serve. Have you had this happen? Is there a standard way of seating?

 

Related to the previous instance, if you come into the dining room and one of your table is seated, should you sit next to them? If you don't, and no one else shows for dinner, you'll either move to be by them or talk over empty chairs?? Seems easier and more polite to sit next to them (but it might put you in the traffic area or bad view).

 

Now concerning groups at tables. We are a couple and we normally like a bigger table to meet people. Twice we have had large tables where 5 people have been together. At the table for 9, we enjoyed the group of 5's company, it was the other couple that kinda was hard to get on with and of course since the 5 always wanted to sit together we were always next to the couple. I did not become aware of this until the 4th night of an 8 night cruise. At the other large table, the group of 5 was the problem and that also did not make itself obvious until the first formal night or 3rd night of a 7 night cruise. What would you do? Would you change tables in the middle of the cruise?

 

NOTE: these things do not ruin my cruise. I have booked a large table again on my upcoming cruise. I simply want advice from others who may have solved/dealt with these things too.

[arabrab]

I never thought about changing dinner positions each night. I'm hearing impaired, so my major issue is picking a chair that gives me the very best possible chance to see everyone's face. The round 8 tops on the Maasdam were wonderful, but if I'm at a rectangular table I either need to be at the end or in the middle of one side. One lady at our Maasdam table needed a cane, and I noticed that she picked a table where there was a wall against which she could lean the cane.

 

But it might be nice to switch around on different nights -- I certainly wouldn't take it amiss if a tablemate suggested it.

[esther e]

We like to change each evening. Having said that, though, my husband has an equalibrium problem and cannot sit "backwards"--if the ship is moving forward (as it usually does!) he needs to face that way or similar. Cannot sit with his back to the forward movement. On our last cruise, a lady was in a wheelchair and we kept pretty much the same seats each evening so she could have the first seat, as not to have to maneuver around the rest of us.

[lougee1043]

If there is an existing thread (focusing on HALs dining room experiences) on this one please point me that way. I searched but no luck.

 

I've been at tables were there has been one person or couple who want to have the same seat each night ( and it is usually one of the better seats either because of view or out of traffic). My DH is very nice. He always insists that we comply. I like the arrangement that either we all change around each night or first come first serve. Have you had this happen? Is there a standard way of seating?

 

Related to the previous instance, if you come into the dining room and one of your table is seated, should you sit next to them? If you don't, and no one else shows for dinner, you'll either move to be by them or talk over empty chairs?? Seems easier and more polite to sit next to them (but it might put you in the traffic area or bad view).

 

Now concerning groups at tables. We are a couple and we normally like a bigger table to meet people. Twice we have had large tables where 5 people have been together. At the table for 9, we enjoyed the group of 5's company, it was the other couple that kinda was hard to get on with and of course since the 5 always wanted to sit together we were always next to the couple. I did not become aware of this until the 4th night of an 8 night cruise. At the other large table, the group of 5 was the problem and that also did not make itself obvious until the first formal night or 3rd night of a 7 night cruise. What would you do? Would you change tables in the middle of the cruise?

 

NOTE: these things do not ruin my cruise. I have booked a large table again on my upcoming cruise. I simply want advice from others who may have solved/dealt with these things too.

 

we always switch around with no problems --- on our last cruise a person took the seat of another pax at their table and there was hell to pay in the d/r when the party arrived

 

we always sit at a table for 6 and that eliminates a lot of the problem you make reference to

 

if all else fails you could try to get your table changed

[kryos]

We like to change each evening. Having said that, though, my husband has an equalibrium problem and cannot sit "backwards"--if the ship is moving forward (as it usually does!) he needs to face that way or similar. Cannot sit with his back to the forward movement. On our last cruise, a lady was in a wheelchair and we kept pretty much the same seats each evening so she could have the first seat, as not to have to maneuver around the rest of us.

Interesting. As for rotating seats each night ... I don't think I've ever been in a situation where we've switched seats. Usually I've been at large tables that only had a few people seated at them ... so surely we could have switched. Seems people just got comfortable in their place and stayed there.

 

As for requesting a table change ... If I found myself at a table with people I simply couldn't enjoy my dinner with, I would ask the matri 'd to have me moved to another table. I wouldn't hesitate one minute to make such a request. After all, mealtime is a very social time on a cruise ship, and if I can't enjoy mealtime, then yes ... my entire cruise experience has just been degraded. I don't care much what time I eat, but I sure don't want to take my meals with a group I am not comfortable with ... for ANY reason. If I have to, I'll switch seating times so as not to offend, especially in a case where I am just not comfortable at a certain table ... and it's not the fault of my dining companions. This happened on my last cruise when I just didn't feel comfortable seated at a table for four ... two of which could barely hear and converse. I didn't want to hurt their feelings, so I switched from early to late seating so that I could sit with a fellow cruise critic.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[whogo]

Kryos said it well. I would like to think I could enjoy almost anyone's company at dinner, but on our China tour we had to avoid sitting with a man who made racist comments. There are limits.

[duckman715]

We are unabashed "chair switchers". Yes, I admit it. Out at last!!

 

If we are first to the table we will opt for a different seat every night.

I think it's a little selfish for one or two to grab the best view, if there is one, and then claim it as "their" seat for the remainder of the cruise. If someone has a special need then that is entirely different and all should work to accomodate as best as one can.

 

If someone ever started demanding the return of their seat I would just have to ignore them - especially if they were late for dinner. We have never had a problem though and look foreward to making more friends on future cruises.

[kakalina]

I have had an issue once. I was seated at a table for 4 but there were just 3 of us. The female half of the couple was sweet but the man; OMG. He was rude and belligerant but when he started making ethnic slurs against everyone I told him to his face he was a bigot should be ashamed of himself. Then, in the middle of my dinner, I had the maitre' d escort me to another table and had wonderful dinner companions the rest of the cruise. This is the only time something like this has h appened but boy was I uncomfortable.

[shonuf]

We don't usually travel with anyone else so we (generally) enjoy a large table for the companionship. We've met many lovely people that way and have nearly always moved around the table so as to get a chance to get to know our tablemates better.

 

On the couple occasions where we absolutely could not tolerate anyone at the table (one was a table of 11 unattached women and DH & I) we asked for a re-assignment and were very pleased with the results.

[The Tsar]

We have cruise HAL fifteen times since the mid 80s, and have always had a table for two on every cruise. Generally it is the exact same table, especially on the S Class ships.

 

We have been married for over 46 years and I still feel that I do not need or want anyone else's company - Other than my sweet loving wife's. I always seat my wife in the seat with the most desirable view, so there is never any need to switch chairs during the cruise.:)

[Waxer]

We reserved our cruise rather late, and were assigned the 8:15 seating, but the maitre'd on the Zuiderdam was able to reassign the four of us to the 6:15 seating on the 2nd day.

 

We had such fun at the Pinnacle Grill, and chowing down on king crab ashore at our first Alaska stop, that we didn't get to the main dining room until the third day, only to find we had two ladies from a different country (name of country kept secret so as not to defame all the wonderful people I've met in the past from Australi...oops). Anyway, the younger of the two was rabidly anti-American.

 

Now, don't get me wrong, I live an hour north of San Francisco and am as "blue state" as they come, what all that that implies :cool: but after 5 or 6 minutes her comments became insuffrable. We tried to politely steer the conversation away, or even ignore her, but to no avail.

 

Well, we liked the Pinnacle well enough to eat there one more night, and the other nights found the Lido to be much more preferable than sitting back with those two. It was a table for 6, so I'm assuming they had it all to themselves the rest of the cruise...

 

It never ocurred to me to ask to be reseated again; could I have done so, do you think?

[newmexicoNita]

We have traveled both with family and friends, plus freestyle and by ourselves. We have had tables for 4,6 and 8. Never would it occur to us to change seats. Wherever we sit the first night becomes our seat for the entire cruise. I take that back: I think on our Alaskan cruise we did change places, but that was the choise of the other 3 at our table. if they arrived prior to us they sat where they wanted to. NMNita

[Bodger]

We generally like to be at a table for eight, and as it seems we are usually first or second at the table we take different seats so that everyone has the opportunity to try different locations and sit next to different people. Our worst cruise had an old European couple that had language problems and the other couple the fellow must have been in early Altzheimers as we heard the same thing every night. We weren't smart enough to ask for a different table although we tried the Lido one night.

 

On our second cruise on the second night we arrifed at the table that was rectangular with four on a side and sat opposite each other one seat in from the end. There was a group of four and they felt they needed to have the four middle seats and the other two unrelated couples were to be on the ends of the table. For all the rest of the nights they were at the table first to be sure they had 'their' seats.

 

If this happenned now I would be quicker to look to change tables. The majority of the time we have had pleasurable table mates and everyone was flexible as to where they sat.

 

Bodger

[the2ofus]

I always like to change seats. I agree with duckman715, it seems unfair that some people get the best view or the least desirable seat for the whole cruise.

 

Recently, my sister and I were seated with two other couples at a round table for six. We were a very compatible group.

 

One couple preferred to sit in pretty much the same position, however, depending on who arrived first, their position might have changed one chair to the left or right. My sis and I sometimes sat together and sometimes opposite each other. In the course of the seven day cruise, each of the six had the chance to sit beside every one of the other people at the table.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Gave up on larger tables - prefer our table for 2!!

[happy cruzer]

We reserved our cruise rather late, and were assigned the 8:15 seating, but the maitre'd on the Zuiderdam was able to reassign the four of us to the 6:15 seating on the 2nd day.

 

We had such fun at the Pinnacle Grill, and chowing down on king crab ashore at our first Alaska stop, that we didn't get to the main dining room until the third day, only to find we had two ladies from a different country (name of country kept secret so as not to defame all the wonderful people I've met in the past from Australi...oops). Anyway, the younger of the two was rabidly anti-American.

 

Now, don't get me wrong, I live an hour north of San Francisco and am as "blue state" as they come, what all that that implies :cool: but after 5 or 6 minutes her comments became insuffrable. We tried to politely steer the conversation away, or even ignore her, but to no avail.

 

Well, we liked the Pinnacle well enough to eat there one more night, and the other nights found the Lido to be much more preferable than sitting back with those two. It was a table for 6, so I'm assuming they had it all to themselves the rest of the cruise...

 

It never ocurred to me to ask to be reseated again; could I have done so, do you think?

 

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. I'm getting alot of info. But no one has mentioned changing tables in the middle of the cruise like Waxer wanted to to do and I also wanted to do? Please keep sharing all your seating issues.

[dakrewser]

We always get a table for two - and we've never had a problem with tablemates!:rolleyes:

 

We do, though, switch seats every night or two just to vary the scenery...

[Ottawa_cruise_man]

On the couple occasions where we absolutely could not tolerate anyone at the table (one was a table of 11 unattached women and DH & I) we asked for a re-assignment and were very pleased with the results.

11 unattached women and just you to fend them off your DH! Well, I can understand why you need a table reassignment! hehe! Did your DH try to talk you out of relocating? ;)

[elmorejj]

Unless we are travelling with friends, we always have a table for two, and it has always worked out great. We seldom stay for dessert, and do not like to disrupt our tablemates with us leaving the DR early.......jean:cool:

[GarySuzy]

We were at a table for 12 and on the first night 5 couples showed. One couple was not comfortable with being waited on and left to go to the buffet. Another couple stated they did not want to be at a large table and we would never see them again. We the 6 of use had a great time sitting at different spots at the table, infact on formal night the other 2 couples did not show so we were at a table for 12 with only DW and me. On other cruises we generally limit it to a table for 6 and dependent on the other couples we move around or not. As we are usually there first we try to sit were we can see out a window or around the dining room.

[RuthC]

Sometimes I'm slow to catch on, but eventually I do get it.

The first time it took about 20 nights of a 33-night cruise before I changed tables. I'd had much more than enough of "The Hat Lady" when a CC'er I'd gotten friendly with ;) asked if I would join her that night. The next day she suggested we make it permanent.

On a 35-night cruise I didn't wait nearly so long! I knew by the third night that I was either going to be miserable, or switch. I left the table and made straight for the maitre d'. The new tablemates were lovely people and lots of fun.

[traveller123]

I've only been on 2 cruises and was at a large table both times. We changed seats every evening just to mix things up and get to know everyone else. On a 20 night cruise, we chose a topic of discussion for the next night's dinner (at the end of dinner)... that way we never grew bored with each other or spent 20 nights discussing the same things over and over again. On the one formal night that one of our group had dinner in the Pinnacle Grill, we invited a couple from a nearby table for 2 to join us. I noticed that all the large tables around us were mixing it up every night. But I can certainly see why some people would prefer to sit in the same seats every night. Heck, I sat in the same seat at my parents' dinner table for 50 years.

[HoneyGV]

Our first choice is a table for 4...my DP and I like to sit across from eachother because I like looking at the person I'm talking to.

Second choice is table for 2, third choice would be a table for 6, but never more than that.

I believe that whoever gets to the dining room first on the first night should get to choose their seats and I would keep my seat for the duration of the cruise...if I don't show up for dinner or am late, then whoever wants my seat can have it and I will take what's left.

We had a VERY strange experience on our last shortie cruise a few weeks ago. As always I request early dinner (6:15 preferably) or earlier if I have to and my choice to table seating...4, 2, or 6.

Well, when I got onboard, I found out that they scheduled me for 8:30pm seating at a table for 10...I'm diabetic, and this just wouldn't do...so I spoke to the Maitre di and he said he'd change us, no problem. Fine...I got 6:15, went down to dinner and there were already 2 ladies there sitting across from eachother at a table for 6...rectangular table. Ok, my DP and I sat on the end facing eachother. No problem. Well, during dinner, our waiter came to us and said there would be another couple and they wanted to sit NEXT to eachother....well, it became 6:30, then 7:15 and they never showed up..so we stayed where we were.

The next evening, they never showed up again..so we kept our seats...this time the Maitre di came to the table and told us again that someone else was coming who wanted to sit NEXT to eachother...ok, where are they...they never showed again.

The 3rd night...of a 4 night cruise the same thing happened again and this time I told the Maitre di that they've never shown up, we were comfortable and if and when they showed up, they could sit across from eachother as we've already been settled for 3 nights. The Maitre di told me not to give him a rough time!....wrong thing to say to me.

They never did show up even on the last night and the maitre di came to our table again and I let him know in no uncertain terms that he had upset our table for 3 nights and it was unacceptable. He then said he tried to make everyone happy.

I told him that I booked my cruise 2 months earlier and I requested 6:15 seating and a table for 4...I was given 8:30 and a table for 10, and I had to settle for a table for 6 and never got my table for 4..so we're not all happy all the time and his behaviour every night about that phantom couple was uncalled for.

Of course at the end of the cruise, when they want us to fill out the comment cards I did so...very diplomatically. I got to the part where you can add comments and there was a paragraph there where they ask that just because you had a bad experience with one person, don't take it out on the whole department. OK....I put down:

Casino Staff and Miss Harber...wonderful

Dining waiter and assistants.....exceptional

Room steward....marvelous

Maitre di....fire him or put him on a ship that I'd never sail on because I don't ever want to see him again.:D

[OceanLiner]

If there is an existing thread (focusing on HALs dining room experiences) on this one please point me that way. I searched but no luck.

 

I've been at tables were there has been one person or couple who want to have the same seat each night ( and it is usually one of the better seats either because of view or out of traffic). My DH is very nice. He always insists that we comply. I like the arrangement that either we all change around each night or first come first serve. Have you had this happen? Is there a standard way of seating?

 

Related to the previous instance, if you come into the dining room and one of your table is seated, should you sit next to them? If you don't, and no one else shows for dinner, you'll either move to be by them or talk over empty chairs?? Seems easier and more polite to sit next to them (but it might put you in the traffic area or bad view).

 

Now concerning groups at tables. We are a couple and we normally like a bigger table to meet people. Twice we have had large tables where 5 people have been together. At the table for 9, we enjoyed the group of 5's company, it was the other couple that kinda was hard to get on with and of course since the 5 always wanted to sit together we were always next to the couple. I did not become aware of this until the 4th night of an 8 night cruise. At the other large table, the group of 5 was the problem and that also did not make itself obvious until the first formal night or 3rd night of a 7 night cruise. What would you do? Would you change tables in the middle of the cruise?

 

NOTE: these things do not ruin my cruise. I have booked a large table again on my upcoming cruise. I simply want advice from others who may have solved/dealt with these things too.

 

We have found that we prefer to have tables for two for dinner, but at lunch you have the option of sitting with other people, and we always use that option. We have had the best time meeting wonderful people, and at lunch things tend to be alittle more relaxed. Even if you get an occasional dud, it's just for one meal.

 

Meanwhile, we have changed tables during a cruise because the next table over was really obnoxious. Lewd stories, bad language, just vulgar. And of course there was also the 8 top that had 7 crazy widows and their TA, we moved closer.

[SF49erfan]

We always ask for a large table so that we can meet people from all over. We have had a couple of occaisions where the other people haven't shown up. Most of the time we have had a great time at dinner sharing our day's experiences. It has been about half and half about switching seats. If people seem to stay in the same seats, so do we. If they move around, so do we.

Our last cruise - we had a table for 6 and noone else showed, but we stayed in the same seats each night. :o Go figure!