Is switching tables a good idea?

Old Jul 4th, 2002, 12:11 PM
  #1  
Kurt Fonger
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Is switching tables a good idea?

I thought about switching tables on my last cruise, but I heard horror stories. I heard that when you switch tables (to say a table for 6, 8 or 10) that you will usually be sat with other people who complained about their seats. Thus you increase the likelihood of sitting with people who will complain the whole cruise about everything under the sun.

Has anyone experienced this?
 
Old Jul 4th, 2002, 12:13 PM
  #2  
Joe
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I switch all the time and actually like the complainers that I meet.
 
Old Jul 4th, 2002, 01:13 PM
  #3  
oldpro
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Kurt, all depends on the cruise lines. If you are on Carnival or Royal Caribbean just keep what they assign you, as most are nuts to begin with and
it will do little good to switch.You would just be going from one table of nuts to another.
 
Old Jul 6th, 2002, 06:16 PM
  #4  
Fred
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If you're going to switch, do it early.
 
Old Jul 9th, 2002, 06:25 AM
  #5  
Jackie
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Dinning is too important to be stuck with people who you have nothing in common with or obviously don't know the difference between appetizer & entree.

We have only felt the need to switch one time. It was on a Cunard cruise. We were @ a table for 8. It was evident that we had nothing in common with the "rolly pollies" @ this table. After dinner the first night, we asked for a switch. We were changed to the captains table.
 
Old Jul 9th, 2002, 09:32 AM
  #6  
Rick
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On our honeymoon my wife and I switch from the early seating to the late seating. We were seated in a table of 8 in the center of the ship (no windows nearby). All people at the table (except us) weighed 300 pounds and/or were disabled, and constantly complained. One couple spoke hardly any english.

We cracked up the whole time because their days consisted of flooding the floor with water because their showers did not accommodate their wheelchairs. We laughed at their troubles.

Sometimes you should just not change. I cannot imagine much worse group to have been seated with.
 
Old Jul 10th, 2002, 08:38 AM
  #7  
Lynn
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There's nothing worse than sitting with 8-10 people at dinner (or breakfast, or lunch) and you have nothing in common with them. Happen to us on the first cruise. Dinner should be enjoyable - switch!
 
Old Jul 10th, 2002, 02:38 PM
  #8  
Newbie
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Those of you who are veteran cruisers, what have your experiences been? I told my husband we should get a table for two. What are our chances of a congenial table? I would hate to keep changing tables!

P.S. I hope this doesn't sound like I am hard to get along with (lol). It's just that you have to sit with the same people every day.
 
Old Jul 10th, 2002, 02:47 PM
  #9  
Nanette
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Hi Newbie:

We had an unpleasant experience in April. (First cruise).

Background.... I'm 42, housewife. Husband is pushing 57, retired.

All that I can think is that Carnival saw the word "RETIRED", and seated us at a "logical table".

We were stuck at a table for 8, surrounded by retired couples in their late-60's, early 70's.

They were nice, pleasant enuf folks, but we had absolutely nothing in common with them. Pleasant chit-chat, period.

Thankfully, some internet folks we had met had us move to their table.

 
Old Jul 10th, 2002, 06:35 PM
  #10  
Newbie
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On the other hand...about 20 years ago, we went to a hotel in Bermuda. Meals were included and we chose the early seating (sounds familiar??). We had a table for 2, but the tables were right next to eachother. They put us next to a couple in their 70"s. I complained to my husband that they put us next to such old people when there were so many younger ones there. To make a long story short, we got to know this delightful couple. They never had kids and travelled all over the world and had lots of interesting stories to tell us. So it all worked out for the best.

I think luck plays a role in this.
 
Old Jul 12th, 2002, 11:27 PM
  #11  
Paul Therault
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I always choose a table for 8 - 10 since I enjoy sitting with bunch of "nuts." We all have a great time telling stories, joking with the waiter and Maitre d.' Everyone loosens up after the first night. When we go on vacation we want to have fun. If we want quiet we go to church. If we want a table to ourselves we can do that at home.

If there a a dud couple at your table you just ignore them. When passengers complain that is only part of the American profile. It is just a means of conversation. Complain and laugh.

My opinion entirely.

Paul
 
Old Sep 1st, 2002, 11:04 PM
  #12  
Paul Therault
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We always look forward to dinner and conversing with our new "companions." We think it is the most important part of cruising.

There is no whining at all.

Paul
 
Old Sep 2nd, 2002, 11:03 AM
  #13  
Dawn
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I have been on numerous cruises on different lines. I have never switched tables, but have switched seatings. The folks I have met as dinner partners have been very enjoyable and have added greatly to my cruising experiences. I still correspond with a few of them. I cannot imagine what kind of people would come up to your standards, if you want to - or have- changed tables.
 
Old Sep 2nd, 2002, 12:01 PM
  #14  
Rick
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I've criused 5 times and have never had the need (or desire to switch). I usually book a table of 8-10 and usually find that most of the people are fun to have dinner with. If by some fluke we wound up with 6 people we didn't like, we'd move.
 
Old Sep 2nd, 2002, 02:52 PM
  #15  
Steve
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On our first cruise, we were seated at a table of 4, with a older couple from Brazil. They were nice enough, but didn't speak much English. We didnt request a change, but reading the posts, and thinking back,, maybe THEY did..when we got back to our cabin the first night, there was a note informing us we had a table change. "Captains table and #" it said. We go to the table number and find two other couples as puzzled as us..they too had been at tables for 4 and moved. As it turned out it REALLY was the "Captains table".
He ate with us both formal nights, which was pretty neat. He had two bottles of wine brought to the table each night he was there. We never did find out why, out of 1500 people we 6 were picked. What we found strange though, was that they left our former table mates, along with the table mates of the other two partys at our table, to dine alone the rest of the cruise,,
 
Old Sep 2nd, 2002, 09:20 PM
  #16  
BILL
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Only had to switch twice in 12 cruises ,one time they put us with two "gay guys"& the other was on Galaxy out of San Juan & were at a table for eight with six locals who spoke no english, My wife can speak a little Spanish & tried to strike up a conversation ,but they just ignored us!Ship was booked solid (mostly locals who got loooow prices) So we had to get a table for two they set up by kitchen door , not very pleasant! We won't sail from San Juan any more!
BILL
 
Old Sep 9th, 2002, 06:38 PM
  #17  
Andy
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Only switched tables 1 time in 28 years of cruising--we were younger then-ages 39 and 45 and they seated us at a table for 4 with a couple in their 70's who did NOT talk--
So we switched the very next day from EARLY dining to LATE dining and got a terrific table for 6 of 2 other couples who did NOT like their tables either- one couple was our age and the other one was a honeymooner--ALL 3 couples had a blast--

Haven't had to change tables since...
Love meeting different people even if they aren't in our socio-economic existence-and LOVE all of em!
The reason to cruise is to relax,meet new people (yes ,there are a few nuts, and yes, some of us need a diet)--but that is what makes the world go round!
 
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