Good company can make a big difference in the enjoyment of a cruise. One trip we were seated with a couple we hung out with the whole time; the other we just didn't have much in common with.<BR><BR>Any tricks? Anyway to get seated at a table for 4 couples vs. one for 2? Or do you just pay your dime and take your chances?<BR><BR>Thanks in advance!

I think all you have to do is request how many people you want at your table. We asked for a table for 10. We're leaving June 1, so hopefully it will work out.

I cannot imagine wanting to sit with strangers and eat dinner. I would not share a table with strangers at a restaurant, so why on a cruise? I am going on a cruise next month and have NO desire to make friends or socialize with strangers. Am I the only one who thinks this way ?

Probably so, Joe. I assume you're traveling with your family and want to stay by yourself. More power to you. I sure wouldn't want you at my table with an attitude like that!

My daughter and I went on the Fantasy and I did not request a certain number at the table. Surprisingly we ended up with 3 other mothers and daughters of similar age. Usually they honor requests for table size (there was a table of 4 behind us), but I didn't think they put much thought into the pairing. I had some adult friends on the cruise because of it.

<BR>Carnival prides itself on matching up passengers of similar age. Also singles with singles, families with children with other families with children. This I believe is why all dining times are waitlisted.<BR><BR>Paul

Just got back from a Windstar cruise on the Wind Spirit. As far as dining room seating was concerned, it was the best of both worlds. You could eat alone or with others, at any time the restaurants were open. I'd say we ate with other people for breakfast and lunch 2/3 of the time, and for dinner just over half of the time. We always ate with who we wanted (other [people we got friendly with), never assigned seating.

Get there as soon as the dining room opens, get a table for 2 in a corner. That way you won't have to talk to anyone and no-one will want to talk to you either!

Unless you are with a family, why would you not want to socialize and meet new people. <BR><BR>Cruising is a great way to meet wonderful new people, and a perfect opportunity to socialize with others from all around the world. <BR><BR>Sure, you sometimes get the boring couple who either can't be bothered to say hello...but most of the time, you meet others, who are cruising, and who share similar interests. <BR><BR>I just don't understand how some people can be so socially challenged, as to not want to meet others. <BR><BR>If you want to be alone, stay home and don't travel.

In Joe's defense, I can kind of relate. My spouse and I are both self-employed with a lot of demanding clients. On our down time we are involved in many community activities and several organizations. To put it mildly, we are burned out and by the time we are ready to vacation all we want is a little quiet time with each other. We lead very active, busy lives filled with lots of people and on vacation we just want a little quiet time together. We're not being snobby, or rude. We love meeting and talking to new people, but do not want to necessarily pair up with them our entire trip. We so very rarely, get quality time together that a cruise is really a treat for us and although we will enjoy meeting new people we'd also like a little time to ourselves, and I don't think requesting a table for two is unreasonable. If I want to join a group and vacation, I'll go to camp.

I disagree...there is nothing wrong with putting on your social party face, and being friendly for what...a total of maybe 45 minutes over lunch, and maybe 60 minutes over dinner. <BR><BR>You can have lots of private, personal quality time together, the 22.5 other hours of the day...<BR><BR>Stop being so anti-social...or get your camping gear in order.

Kit, every body has busy lives with demanding clients, patients, or customers. Most of us also do plenty of charity work. Geez, can you believe these prima donnas. "I'm the only one who really works hard." Give us a break.

You missed my point. I'm not saying that I work harder or do more than anybody else. I'm just explaining why perhaps some people would rather sit together and have a quiet, romantic dinner for two rather than a table for ten. It's funny to me how people take offense if somebody wants to sit as a couple. If strangers don't care to sit with you at dinner, what do you care? I would certainly enjoy meeting people by the pool, activities during the day or in the bar for a drink. Don't think it's asking too much for a little quiet time at dinner.

Dear Sweet Bonnie forgets that the cruise I am going on is NOT an invited party where I am a guest who is expected to be social and smile. The cruise was paid by me and I am under NO obligations to smile or say boo to anyone that I do not want to. I never say to my significant other, "Let's go out to dinner tonight in Manhattan and find a huge table full of people to crash." Sorry, but we ain't that lonely. If I want to meet people, I don't have to pay thousands of dollars to do it. I can walk out my front door. If you want to meet and greet everyone on board, what's stopping you. But, don't look our way lady cause we ain't interested in hearing about your grandchildren or your job or your cat or your car engine problems.

For me the issue of dinner companions is that you sit with them every night - there are people I enjoy meeting and speaking with for an hour or so, but not necessarily for the next 7 nights - sometimes I don't even want to see my own family that much!

<BR>Isn't it great that we can choose how we all wish to dine. Cruising is a great way to vacation.<BR><BR>Paul

I am as sociable as the next person, but the last time we cruised, my husband and I were seated at a table for 6 with 4 exceptionally sociable guys. They were producers, directors, and casting directors in the porno film industry. I was glad the kids weren't with us on that cruise. We did hear some fairly interesting stories, but overall were glad when seasickness and hangovers kept them out of the dining room. This was before the days of alternate dining options so we had no choice but to eat at that table.

Wow!<BR><BR>People from the porn industry?! I never get that lucky with my dinner companions! &lt;wink&gt; <BR><BR>Michael <BR>NYC<BR><BR>QE 2 (8x)<BR>Norway (2x)

We've chosen to sail on the NCL Sun on 5/25, and one of the primary reasons that we chose NCL was for the freestyle dining. If we want a quiet, romantic dinner for two, we can chose that. We can also be asked to sit at the largest table in the place.....to me, it seems like the best of both worlds.

I can agree with both points of view. It's just a matter of what you like, some working people who a talking to the public all day, and are sociable in other areas of the ship, might want to eat at a table for 2. Others, like retirees who are together all day at home, might like to socialize at dinner. We have been on 12 cruises at a variety of table size, only 2 cruises have we had a great time, the rest were so-so, not compatible with some of the diners, The worst is a table for 4, making small talk with strangers everynight for 12 nithts with no other couple to break it up. Also, with everyone ordering their meal and not having the same number of courses, it gets tedious waiting etc.. Our next cruise we have aksed for a table for 2, so we can order what we want and leave when we want, we love to socialize in the lounges, poolside, etc.