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My fiance and I are planning a June 2002 honeymoon. One of the vacations we are considering is a caribbean cruise. Our dilemma? My fiance does not want to eat with "strangers" on our honeymoon. He would prefer a table for 2. Are there any cruise lines/ships that offer this option? Please let me know if you are aware of any. Thanks alot!!

We have had tables for two on NCL and on Celebrity. Most cruise lines have tables for two. Make sure they know you're honeymooners. Too bad though, meeting new people is half the fun of a cruise.

Hi Liz, It is correct that you will have a great time and meet other people at a larger table. There will be plenty of time to be alone, especially after midnight up on deck. Carnival is the only cruise line that does the age appropriate thing very well. But here is my advice: When you arrive on board call the information desk (always call, never go and wait in line). Ask them where the maitre 'd is located. You can request who you wish to sit with or by yourselves and what time you wish to dine. Very easy. Happy days together. Paul

ON OUR first cruise which was NCL Sea by the way Paul.. we were seated at a table for honeymooners.. Since we were celebrating our 30th anniversary we asked to be moved. But you miss all the fun..of not meeting people..we just went on a trip to Bermuda with three couples we met on our last cruise..they were at our table..Three couples from different parts of the country, different opinions and we just hung around together... Other cruises we have met one or two other couples that we had things in common...It's fun.... and if you don't like your tablemates ask to be moved...

Princess has Personal Choice dining which allows you to choose to dine alone or meet others as you choose. You can do a bit of both if you wish, plus you aren't locked into early or late seating. You also can choose restaurants instead of being assigned a dining room. A very detailed report about Personal Choice that you might want to skim is at www.cruisenewsdaily.com/nf10517.html. My husband and I thought we wanted to dine alone when we sailed with NCL, but when we got there we found that we enjoyed the other people at our table. We had plenty of opportunity to eat alone at breakfast (often room service) and lunch. We had one supper alone at the small restaurant on board, and that was very romantic. Even my husband who also wasn't wild about eating with strangers found he enjoyed our dinner companions from the first night.

Liz- just about all the cruises have table for 2--RCCL does a good job of seating honeymooners together--your travel agent should put this in her request---also specify 2nd seating dining as there are less kids on that seating (815pm) and it give you more time to spend in the ports ,then come back and relax in room prior to dinner. I would seriously (if budget could stand it) get a room with a balcony-very romantic and you can have breakfast in your cabin overlooking the water---For dinner,I would serously get a table for 8 with other honeymooners--you will really enjoy meeting other people your age--Friends of mine did it last year--got balcony room on RCL ,had large table to 8 with other honeymooners and said they were totally spoiled and can't wait to go again!!!!!!!!!!! I don't know your ages or even where you want to go,but in June -if budget permits-you could do a Windsurf cruise in the Med- it's a 5 masted sailing yacht with open seating dining and you can have a table for 2 and eat anytime between 730-930pm--it's a very laid back upscale cruise-don't need coat and tie except for monte carlo-Look into that also--

Liz: On our last cruise 05/01, Dawn Princess, we were set to dine with others. I made the decision to really read and read and read every complaint and positive perspective on cruisecritic.com and on other cruise boards about dining with others. After my reading and reviewing how little my DH and I actually talk to one another when we dine w/others, I contacted Princess Cruises several times to change our table from 6 or 8 to a table for 2. I got go "freaked" out by all of the negative tales( People who pick there bodies, cough phlem, talk non stop, complain, eat like piges, hog the wine, never buy a bottle for the table, are late, leave early, argue, silent treat one another, leave others out etc.) that I made this table for 2 my new cruise beacon. My DH and I also entertain ALOT at home. We work with the public on a daily basic and we volunteer extensively. I/He do not say NO to any request to lead/chair/drive/help. This gives us very little time alone. The short story: WE LOVED the table for 2! My DH brought special/surprise wines for every night. He brought wines that we poured at our wedding nearly 10 years ago. He brought the wine that we drank when he asked me to marry him. HE aslo brought wines from some of our more memorable Winemaker dinners where we sit 8 or 10 to a table where we have met fantastic people. Liz, we met people on our cruise and during all of our travels but, I would never/ever switch from a table for 2 again. You also pay so much for a cruise and I don't know about you but the time that I have w/my DH w/out interruption is down to maybe 2% of our total time together. After your wedding the one person that you REALLY want to keep meeting over and over again is that one going down the aisle of life with you. Additionally, It would have been a "shame" to share the wines that my DH brought w/others who were not nearly as connected to the "surprise" bottle as we were. This was my DH's way of saying thank you for researching/ planning/preparing us and packing us for 99% of this trip Sorry to be so "winded" but, I wanted to give you something else to consider. We are also a "young" 40 years old...(smile) After midnight we were exhusted...on our honeymoon too... Oh, after the honeymoon (we were in Greeece and Turkey for 2.5 months) we selected 1 night where we cut the phone off for the evening. On that night it's candle light no matter what we are eating or how we may be feeling. My DH swore that he would die as he is on the phone or answering the door from the time he gets home until the time he falls asleep. Well Liz, he's still here! (smile) Have a GREAT wedding, a LOVELY honeymoon and a WONDERFUL life in marriage! My Best Oaktown

OK Oaktown, I have heard of an MD, an RN, a VP, an ASAP and a RSVP but what the heck is a DH? Paul

Man you never miss a chance to put in a comment, no matter what the post. You must be really bored. P.S. Are you an insomniac or are you afraid you just might miss something.

DH is obvious. Dear Husband.

Hey Paul: As Hal said DH= Dear Husband or Darling Husband. DD= Darling Daughter. DS=Darling Son. Thanks for asking. My Best Oaktown

That's pretty nice Oaktown. He must be a dear. Paul

I am not an overt people person and I really depend on my wife to be the social pusher. On our first "Big Ship" cruise (Monarch of th Seas) after 3 windjammers I wanted a table for 2 max 4 and she and our TA said table for 6 the reasoning being out of 4 others at the table your probably gonna find people to "get along with". I was really in deep fear of this and when we checked out our table it was for 10. I was really worried but hey were all great, except for the one guy who blew his nose in the napkin.