Pat

Gerry, you and your wife sound like lovely people and wonderful table mates. We vacation ever year, although this cruise is considered 'the big one' for us. But from past trips I have wonderful memories of very nice people we've met along the way. This summer I was in CT for a wedding and spent the day by the pool and was kind of "adopted" by an English women and her two darling young daughters. We spent the whole day together just talking and swimming and it is a wonderful memory that always makes me smile. Hopefully, on this trip I will be ble to make some more wonderful memories like that.

Paul Therault

Yes, I guess there are other reasons that passengers like to eat by themselves but they always look so sad (similiar to a business meeting). It seems to me like they would like to join those at the large tables laughing and having a grand old time.<BR><BR>Oh well, I guess it is just personal choice.<BR><BR>Paul

cruiser bruiser

I've seen people eat by themselves on cruises. They've always looked like losers to me. Not sure why they went on the cruise in the first place.

abc

Cruising to me always seems a bit tacky, unless it is a high end cruise, and this family style dining is one of the reasons. Obviously this type of eating is not all it's cracked up to be since there seems to be so many complaints on this thread. If you're single and on the hunt, great, but if you think two people who want to spend a quiet dinner together are losers, then I'm glad I'm not your better half and you are one person I wouldn't want at my table. I've been toying with the idea of a cruise, but two's company and any more than that is a crowd and not my idea of how to spend a vacation.

Jack

Speaking of tables for 2, isn't the new style Personal Choice dining geared toward these size tables? I would bet people tend to eat by couples than atlarger tables with this system.

Travelpower1

I was under the impression that personal choice dining was going to dine at any time you wanted and that the maitre d would fill up a large table or a small table, depending on how many arrived at the same approximate time......there are not that many tables for 2 on most ships

Frank

It seems more and more people prefer to dine with there own group, be it 2 people or 10. As such the newer ships are including restaurant style dinning rooms (generally for an extra charge) that allow for dining when you want and with whom you want, just like a restaurant. <BR><BR>It is my opinion that, in general, the younger generation, i.e. under 40 prefer not having to make conversation with strangers. That's a societal thing where more and more people feel less and less socially comfortable making "small talk". For myself, we like to try a large table, that is, 8 or 10 people, but have no problem with asking for a table change when it doesn't work out.

anon

I am 29 and i suppose that i qualify as part of the "younger generation" mentioned above. My wife and I both prefer tables with others. Not because we can't make conversation, but just the opposite - we enjoy meeting others. This is a great way to find others to split a cab with and to hear the other experiences - to ensure that you do not miss out on stuff.

Sammy

My husband and I like to socialize and meet new people but there will be plenty of time to do that throughout the day and in the evening on the ship. I believe everything in moderation and a time and a place for everything. I'm not sharing my cabin with others and there may be a night or two when I don't want to share my table.

cruiser bruiser

Sam, these days I'm sure that "your husband" and you would be welcome at any of the tables. I'd like to think that we've moved forward on that count.

Sammy

How funny!!! Thanks for making my day, cruise. For your information my name is Samantha and Sammy is my nickname. "My husband" and I have a very traditional marriage of almost 20 years. But thanks for making me feel welcome at the table!

cruiser bruiser

To each his (or her) own!

Michael

I always used to advocate large tables (I've alwayed travel as half of a couple), but now I'm not so sure.<BR><BR>The first 4 trips worked out well, but then we had a 13 day trip that was a disaster on the way to Europe (QE2in First-Class) has a single seating, one can arrive anytime btwn 7 and 9pm. It's always worked out before (we made quick friends with tablemates and planned dinner times). But on this trip we didn't feel that close to everyone and therefore we all arrived at different times and the service was affected.<BR><BR>On the way home (from Europe) we got "stuck" at a table for two in the Grill, and we noticed how much more personnel the service was, and how the waiter had time to "get to know us" and "hang-out" at the table. I realized they can't really do this at a large table, as then they would have to talk to everyone equally and that would take forever!<BR><BR>So, now I'm torn between large tables & two-tops. I like meeting new friends aboard ships, and a large table is the way to do it. But I fell in love with the great service at a table of two!<BR><BR>I think the large table works best on ships where you have a designated meal-time, and two-tops are best for single seating.

judy cuervo

I've never had a horrible table in 25 years. Even the ones that were questionable in the beginning ended up being great.<BR><BR>What I DID have once were the world's most obnoxious couple at an otherwise wonderful table for 8. And what totally astounded me--and still does!--is that we found out about a week into the cruise was that we were their THIRD table. They, however, were not the ones to request new tables in the first two instances...THEY WERE EVICTED! I never knew that you could actually kick someone out!

jack black

Samantha, It sounds like Bruiser Cruiser doesn't have a clue. My wife and I (traditional marriage) will be going on our first cruise in February. She requested one night for us to dine alone and celebrate the date we met. It sounds like Bruiser Cruiser is a total loser and if he was sitting at our table we would be moving.

Karen

Hi: We went on a cruise at the same time co-workers and his parents went. We were not suppose to be at their table but they requested that we were so we were moved to join them. The last night at meal time an older gentleman at the next table took me to the side. He stated " I was so glad to hear you put that jerk in his place I don't know how you managed the whole week!". The next week they were not co-workers any longer. Karen

Samantha (Sammy)

Jack, I agree with your wife. I see nothing wrong with wanting to spend a meal alone. Makes me wonder why someone would want to spend EVERY night on board eating with strangers especially if they complain about who they are eating with every night. If dining as a group is so great, why does there seem to be so much musical chairs?

Paul Therault

No Sammy there are very few that move around, it just seems that way since there are so many wacky webers on this web site.<BR><BR>Paul

Phillipa

Melissa: Melissa ([email protected] who said that there was a couple at her table who made out all through dinner and had his tongue in the woman's ear - would that person have been a 50+ yr old male Lawyer from Vancouver named Roddy and she Inger? I have just come back from Mexico and we had the same thing with two middle aged people, it was so bad one night that he even let everyone know just "how" excited he was!! Sickening

eric

When I go into a restaurant, would I ever be asked to sit at a table of strangers? Hell no !! Why would I want to sit with strangers for dinner on a cruise. I would never allow that to happen. I don't need that type of FORCED socialization and do not want it.