Sea Story - Missing Tablemates

[kruisey]

I've been offered wine bought by members of my table...which I now refuse because what didnot give me a migraine l in my youth now does Worse luck kruisey:eek: .......I have bought a bottle for my table mates,and given a bottle of Champers to my table that was part of cruise package......If I am placed at a table that likes wine...The table mates I mean.:D

Then what the heck I buy a bottle of wine for them.It reminds me of my youth when to eat out always meant + a bottle of wine.:) Nuf said.

[chasetf]

On Mariner of the Seas we had a large table for 8. The first night we were aware we were older than the other three couples, two of whom were together. But it seemed to be ok. We cruise a lot, and have had good and not-so-good dining companions. The next night we arrived, and there was no one at our table. No big alarm bells or concern on our part. But there should have been. Our waiter very nervously would not welcome and seat us....asking us to stand and wait for the head waiter. She arrived and explained loudly for all nearby to hear that the young couples did not want us at their table, that they had met another couple they wanted instead. And they had actually gotten the head waiter to agree to boot us out of our spot without permission or pre-warning. He paraded us through the dining room and stuck us in the back at an empty table for six. The head waiter on that level must have seen my distress because he came up to us and told us he would fix things....and the next day we had a beautiful written invitation to a wonderful table near the windows with wonderful people. It turned out ok......but it was traumatic....like bullies on the playground who won't share. Shame on the head waiter who allowed it to happen in the first place, and barring the good sense not to give into these selfish children, did not notify us about the situation so we could have agreed to a switch discreetly. It was awful to be held up for public display. And RCL felt that nothing wrong had occurred. Needless to say we have found more amiable lines to cruise with.

What a shameful way to be treated. I would have felt the same way.

 

We had a somewhat similar situation in that we had a couple at our table for eight the first night. They were missing the next night and the matre'd told us they wanted to change to another table with the friends they had sailed with. The matre'd told us they would get another couple to fill the table.... which he did the next night.

 

We ran into them the next day and they approached us to explain the situation.... were very apologetic... but did assure it was not any of us. We subsequently saw them many times around the ship and even spent some time together because we had enjoyed meeting each other.

 

But the best thing about our situation was they were the ones to leave.... unlike yours where you got unceremoniously booted. :( :mad:

[jb008]

... on formal night, we saw him entering the restaurant in his wild Hawaiian shirt. We told him that it formal night and a jacket was required, so he went back to his cabin and put on his jacket and tie over the Hawaiian shirt.

 

I'd give him a cookie for at least trying ;)

 

We had a table for 8 on our last cruise, and it felt like the couples just kept alternating:

1)Me, DW with Pleasant English Couple

OR

2)Me, DW with 2 couples that the wives were sisters

I think we only had a single dinner when all were present

[northwoods2]

Not so much a tablemate story - but is dining related:

We were seated at a table for 6 on the Tahitian Princess. The other 2 couples were together, 2 sisters traveling with their husbands. They were about our age low 40s. We got along great with the one couple. The other seemed to be fighting and didn't talk much. They ate at the specialty restaurant a number of nights - even without the other couple. One night we knew both couples were not going to be dining with us and there had been a couple tables for 2 near us that hadn't been occupied all cruise so we asked our waiter if we could sit there so we wouldn't feel so awkward at the big table all alone. No problem. We had just ordered and the maitre'd came up to us and some what rudely asked what we were doing there. So we explained. He let us stay, and he then escorted the captain and his wife to the next table for 2. We had taken the captain's table - oh no! Our waiter felt terrible - he had not known the captain was dining in the dining room that night and I guess that was HIS TABLE.

[dewats784]

My sisters and I were on the Grand earlier this month. We were at a table for 10. We had the cutest young couple from Canda at the table with us. He was a cop and she worked for a construction company. The guy made the comment one night after our 5 course meal, "The biggest decision to make on a cruise ship is whether you have the buffet or room service later in the evening." And every night he did have one or the other. He would walk through the buffet and if nothing suited him he would go back to the cabin and order room service. My sister told him he being a cop and having to wear a belt, that he would have to get a bigger one when he got home. His reply, "Its ok they are velcro!" We truly enjoyed both of them and were saying "Eh" by the end of the cruise!

[dewats784]

Double post!

[notentirelynormal]

Not so much a tablemate story - but is dining related:

We were seated at a table for 6 on the Tahitian Princess. The other 2 couples were together, 2 sisters traveling with their husbands. They were about our age low 40s. We got along great with the one couple. The other seemed to be fighting and didn't talk much. They ate at the specialty restaurant a number of nights - even without the other couple. One night we knew both couples were not going to be dining with us and there had been a couple tables for 2 near us that hadn't been occupied all cruise so we asked our waiter if we could sit there so we wouldn't feel so awkward at the big table all alone. No problem. We had just ordered and the maitre'd came up to us and some what rudely asked what we were doing there. So we explained. He let us stay, and he then escorted the captain and his wife to the next table for 2. We had taken the captain's table - oh no! Our waiter felt terrible - he had not known the captain was dining in the dining room that night and I guess that was HIS TABLE.

 

Don't feel bad.... I have a story about that same table.

 

Its very tight in the restaurant. It was the sixth night and not wanting to bug our waiter since he was busy and the table next to us... which is very close.... had not been occupied but still had the customary bread and butter on the table. Since it had gone to waste the other nights and we were out, we reached over and took the bread and butter off that table. We confessed when he came back, we all laughed. The next night, we just started the dinner by grabbing the extra rolls and butter. Not 5 minutes later in comes the Captain with 2 senior officers and a wife to sit at that table. The DW of the other couple and I cracked up laughing, while the DHs looked away pretending not to know who we were. We finally told the Captain we stole his rolls/butter and chatted for a few minutes. I'm sure the m'd was horrified.

[notentirelynormal]

Not so much a tablemate story - but is dining related:

We were seated at a table for 6 on the Tahitian Princess. The other 2 couples were together, 2 sisters traveling with their husbands. They were about our age low 40s. We got along great with the one couple. The other seemed to be fighting and didn't talk much. They ate at the specialty restaurant a number of nights - even without the other couple. One night we knew both couples were not going to be dining with us and there had been a couple tables for 2 near us that hadn't been occupied all cruise so we asked our waiter if we could sit there so we wouldn't feel so awkward at the big table all alone. No problem. We had just ordered and the maitre'd came up to us and some what rudely asked what we were doing there. So we explained. He let us stay, and he then escorted the captain and his wife to the next table for 2. We had taken the captain's table - oh no! Our waiter felt terrible - he had not known the captain was dining in the dining room that night and I guess that was HIS TABLE.

 

Don't feel bad.... I have a story about that same table.

 

Its very tight in the restaurant. It was the sixth night and not wanting to bug our waiter since he was busy and the table next to us... which is very close.... had not been occupied but still had the customary bread and butter on the table. Since it had gone to waste the other nights and we were out, we reached over and took the bread and butter off that table. We confessed when he came back, we all laughed. The next night, we just started the dinner by grabbing the extra rolls and butter. Not 5 minutes later in comes the Captain with 2 senior officers and a wife to sit at that table. The DW of the other couple and I cracked up laughing, while the DHs looked away pretending not to know who we were. We finally told the Captain we stole his rolls/butter and chatted for a few minutes. I'm sure the m'd was horrified.

[jpg1747]

On my last cruise, I sailed solo, as I usually do. I asked for a table for 8 so that I would have dinner companions and conversation. The first night, all 3 couples showed up. One was in their 60's, one in their 40's and one in their 20's and celebrating a delayed honeymoon. The first night conversation was good and I was looking forward to a good week with my dining companions. The second night only the younger honeymooning couple joined me. We made the best of it but it was apparent that they'd rather be alone. The third night was the same thing. After that, I told them to go ahead and get reassigned to a table for two and that I would find another large table for myself. I ended up with another single woman whose son was in the show band and every night she invited him and some of his bandmates to eat with us, plus there a couple of single gentlemen at the table also. We had a grand time the rest of the cruise. The honeymooners got the table (and privacy) they wanted. We never saw the other two couples. They eventually filled my original table with other people. I felt bad for our original waiter and assistant, since they did a wonderful job. At the end of the cruise, I gave the waiters and assistants at both tables a little extra in addition to my pre-paid gratuities.

[cruisinbuddy]

Let's see, only one real experience that was funny (although some might consider me a bit rude at the end).

On a Princess cruise that was to be just short of a month long, ourselves and a couple traveling with us were sat at a table for 8, the two other couples that were sat with us were related by their kids marriage and travel together often. They had mentioned trips to Africa, South America and everywhere. We were looking forward to some lively conversations about places they had been and what they did there. Come to find out, even though they cruised to these places, they normally never left the ship, so they had absolutely no information about any of the ports. We all cruise for different reasons, so I guess they just go for the ship. That was about the end of the lively conversation for almost a month on their end.

 

Each night, from the first night, the other two couples would order wine and make it loudly known that it was just for the 4 of them and they were not to offer the others at the table (us) any of it. OK, no problem, we would have gladly taken turns purchasing the wine for dinner, but if this is what they were comfortable with, then that's OK to. The conversations at dinner were a bit mute as they seemed to only talk to each other so the couple we were traveling with and us kind of stuck to ourselves conversation wise. We would try to get to know the other 4 but they were so standoffish and rarely left the shp in port so even discussing what anyone had done in port that day was almost impossible.

 

Towards the end of the voyage, at the past passenger party, I won a nice bottle of champagne. They asked me if I wanted it sent to my room and I agreed.

That night at dinner as we walked up to the table, the other two couples looked at my hands and LOUDLY announced to everyone that could hear. "Where is the bottle of champagne you won? Don't you know you are supposed to share that with the entire table at your next meal?" They were quite miffed that I had not brought the bottle of champagne to the diningroom to share with them. HUH????????????????

 

OK, I admit it, I was rude on this one after over three weeks of listening to them only talk to each other and share a bottle of wine each evening without ever asking if anyone else would like to join in and take turns. My reply was "Oh, sorry, I had that sent to my suite for a champagne party we are having tomorrow evening and we needed an extra bottle". Since they were not invited, I mean we met tons of great people on the ship, but they were not included in that group. Needless to say, they barely spoke the last few days of the cruise, which wasn't actually a lot different then the first few weeks to be honest.

 

Rude, not rude? I felt I was justified, but I am sure others will consider that a bit off the wall.

I vote, not rude. We call peoplr like this misers(sp), You can't have mine but I should get yours, Bite Me. Good for you.

[Nliedel]

You're the reason I adore traditional dining!

[Nliedel]

TotoKS, not rude one little bit. They reaped what they sowed.