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The above comments are the reason we always opt for a table for 2. We have done this on 4 cruises and will continue to do so if possible. We enjoy social interaction with other guests before and after dining and on occasion have had lovely conversations with people sitting close by. I know that these tables are in limited supply but we have been fortunate each cruise and requested ahead of time without any problems.
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LL<BR><BR>I wonder why the number of cruises ships keeps increasing every year? Are the cruise ship companies poor business people? They must be according to you.<BR><BR>If you pay bargain basement prices, why would you expect intellect and courtesy at your dining table??<BR><BR>Cruise upscale lines and you will not be disappointed. The tablemates on our cruises have been well-mannered professionals. Go figure...
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Tania, if I buy a fare on one of your up-scale lines, can you assure me that my well-bred tablemates will not be boring snobs?
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My husband and I have been pretty lucky so far. We've made friends with some or all of our table mates during every cruise we've done so far. The only exception was our last cruise on Princess. We had personal choice dining and were seated alone each night. We actually missed the friendly banter of other cruisers, so we've opted for traditional dining for our next crusie (which leaves this Saturday....Yea!) If our table mates turn out to be crummy, we'll just switch back to personal choice dining.
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You win some and well... Our last cruise this summer we met an American couple from the US West Coast(we are Canadian). Great people and lots of fun. It was a table for 4. I would recommend larger tables but I like the opportunity to meet people when travelling.<BR><BR>However, a large table could also be a large problem. I remember our first cruise and the nightmare table. The ship had people from all over the world. Our table was entirely Canadian. I hate to say it but better they inflicted themselves on us than give other world travellers a bad impression of Canadians. These people complained about everything... They even brought their personal problems with each other to everyone's attention. The ship was terrible and yes you could spend your entire vacation complaining... but why? You do have the rest of your life to speak to, reflect upon and yell at everyone else about your experience. Why not use your vacation time to... oh vacation. We asked nicely to move but it was not possible. It was a table of 8. My wife (then girlfriend) and I with 3 other couples. The one older couple started getting nasty and slowly it infected the other couples. We tried but it was almost hopeless. However, we enjoyed each other's company and loved the ports of call. We have travelled all over and found bad service and people in many spots. Advance planning, being assertive and trying to find the humour in the moment are among your best weapons.
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Merriem:<BR><BR>I understand perfectly, I spent a week on the Caronia earlier this year, and if I had been at almost any other table than my own I don't know what I would have done. I was terribly lucky and had wonderful companions (not all but most) at a table for eight, but when I saw how it could have gone it made my blood run cold. <BR><BR>Three meals a day is far too many to spend in the company of people I don't know and I got around it by having breakfast in my room every morning and lunch ashore when I could. I don't do buffets so that wasn't an option... <BR><BR>I don't think I'd ever sail the Caronia again, for having seen what the worst-case dining scenario could be I wouldn't trust my luck again. I did like the cruise very much but had I been at most of the tables in that dining room I would have hated it.<BR><BR>And by the way, those who suggest tables for two haven't seen the ones on the Caronia. NOT recommended!!
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The Caronia is a horrible ship, and frankly I cannot say much for Cunard in general. One think I can say is the food was good especially in the Italian restaurant, but we could only eat their one time.<BR><BR>Cunard gave me a $2000 voucher and I am still so irritated at them that I told them I had no intention to use it or cruise on their ships again.
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I'm a publically elected Democrat. We sailed to Alaska with Celebrity during Clinton's impeachment. We joked that it would be just our luck to be seated with extreme right-wingers...I was picturing an oilman type with a diamond pinkie ring.<BR><BR>Celebrity gave us first seating instead of our requested second seating, so we were changed at the last minute to a table for six. Our table mates were a mother and daughter...mother was 98 and daughter was in her seventies. We were in our mid forties, so when the Russian immigrant couple appeared at the table we were relieved that there would be someone closer to our ages.<BR><BR>First words out of Mr. Russian..."I hate Beeel Kleeenton!" and that was all he wanted to talk about. Mrs.Russian was impossible to please and complained no matter how hard the waiters tried to please her. She really became a source of entertainment..."What will Ms. Czarzina do tonight?" :-)<BR><BR>Mother and daughter turned out to be wonderful. Both were very interesting. I still keep in touch with the daughter.<BR><BR>I think there's something to be said for sticking it out with your tablemates...at the very least you will have stories to laugh about for years to come.
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Hi Ted,<BR><BR>What ship were you on where the maitre d' would not change your table? I have never heard of anyone ever being refused a table change.<BR><BR>Paul
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About a maitre'd who wouldn't arrange a table change ---<BR><BR>On our infamous LEGEND cruise (August/Baltic), our tablemates never appeared for dinner the first night. Glancing around the room, we noticed a young couple (perhaps honeymooners) who had been seated with an older couple. We watched as a few words were exchanged between the two couples, then frozen looks appeared on all four faces. After that, the pairs sat with eyes downcast, speaking only to each other. <BR><BR>Feeling sorry for the two couples facing 12 days of silence, we called the Maitre'd, pointed out the very visible problem and volunteered to exchange with either couple. He dismissed us out of hand, saying it was not possible. No explanation of "why not possible" was given...guess he only wanted to ruin our dessert by singing. [Another horrible "Fun Ship" tradition]<BR><BR>We found it amazing -- but it happened.
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Hello, knock, knock, who's there? Of course he is not going to ask that young couple if they would like to change tables. The young couple has to make the request. I am sure he isn't going to go to the young couple and say "how would you like to change to that table over there and sit with that couple who do not like the singing and dancing waiters."<BR><BR>Paul
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Paul, when you're right, you're right...on all scores.
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I think that having to spend time every day with people you can not stand has to be the biggest reason a person would have a terrible vacation.<BR><BR>I am surprised there are not more postings about terrible table mates on cruises. Keep the stories coming!
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More more...gimme more!!!!!!!!
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Cruised the NCL Starward out of LA several years ago and were seated at a table for 6 with a producer, a director, a cameraman, and a casting director.......from the porno movie industry. They sat and compared notes on various stars in the industry, and told the most incredible stories. Then they all got drunk and seasick and never showed up at the table again. It was a memorable experience.
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Face it how many of you would like to spend the next 10 days spending three hours a day sitting with people you have nothing in common with trying to make small talk?
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Of all the ships I have sailed I had the greatest time sitting at a large table. You do not have to have something in common since you are not going to marry them. If there happens to be a couple that does not know how to handle themselves in a social situation they do not talk and naturally no one talks to them.<BR>I've always looked forward to dinner and my tablemates. <BR><BR>It seems to me that all the passengers that wish to have a table for two are either shy or do not see enough of each other at home. Can't knock these passengers since everyone is different and has their own likes and dislikes.<BR><BR>Paul<BR>
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Paul:<BR><BR>Just because you had a nice time visiting with strangers in large tables does not mean that most people do. I hate the idea of making small talk to a group of people I have nothing in common with. The orginal story makes me very nervous about taking a cruise!
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It seems most people enjoy the opportunity to meet and chat with others...but if this is not your desire, there are lines in which you need not sit with the same table mates, specify a two-top or dine elsewhere.<BR><BR>Of my 30 or so cruises....dining with about 250 people...I only found a few I wanted to take home, and only a few I wanted to throw overboard. But I did enjoy most of my table mates, even though their life experiences and interests were different than mine. But then again, I don't go in with expectations.
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As I said, to each his own. those who do not wish to sit with others or are afraid should request a table for 2. You are in the minority.<BR><BR>The more upscale ships have more tables for two. Princess has Personal Choice Dining but expect to wait for a table for two. Other cruise lines you will have to visit the maitre d' as SOON as you arrive on the ship to request a table for 2.<BR><BR>Don't let dining options stop you from crusing.<BR><BR>Paul
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