Lukehead

When we go to the dining room (for flexible seating) we always indicate we're happy to share. Sometimes we are seated with others, sometimes at a small table but adjacent to another so it's almost the same. Occasionally it just doesn't work. We usually do MDR and simply request a table of 6 or 8. Have met some really nice people that way (as well as a couple of duds) If you want to be with different people each night you'll have more success with "any time". If you want to stay with them, just set a time between yourselves and show up together.

Last June we had a lovely day visiting both. Got off the ship in Warnemunde and did a walk-about in the town center, made my obligatory church-of-the-day visit, a bit of shopping and then got a group (there were 4 of us) ticket for the train to Rostock. This ticket was very inexpensive and included the local transport system in Rostock. Got the local tram to a brewery and the zoo (across the street from each other). Lovely lunch at the brewery and self guided tour of the facility. Took the tram back to town center and street market. Great strawberries! More church visits and lovely architecture around the square. Trained back to Warnemunde and re-boarded in time for a local band performing on the ship and a beer and brats feast. Only disappointment: the shops in Warnemunde close at 18:00 - we had hoped to buy a great pair of shoes we had seen earlier but alas, we were 10 minutes late.

We don't have as many cruise experiences {only 7 completed) as many of the previous posters so perhaps our attitude will change with time but...

We have always asked for a table of 6 or 8 and always been satisfied. We haven't always ended up with that number but that was OK too.

Cruise 1: table for 6, never saw 2, always sat with 2 single men from Canada who had never met before - both very interesting. One an "embedded" journalist analyst covering the middle east, the other a bus driver with an incredible knowledge of hockey.

Cruise 2: Table for 6. One a retired cruise travel agent and friend doing their 32nd trip, the other a French Canadian couple doing their first. The cruise agent and friend ate with us for the first 3 nights and then didn't come again. Said they found eating at the late seating was not good for them - surprising they hadn't figured that out in the first 31 but maybe they were trying to be polite to us. The other couple stayed and we enjoyed comparing wines each evening.

Cruise 3: Table for 6. One couple from US, one couple from Puerto Rico who spoke only Spanish. They had extended family on the cruise who wanted them to be with English speakers. They tried and we tried but they were clearly uncomfortable. They were able to be re-seated with some from their family. The four of us compared daily reviews and enjoyed.

Cruise 4: Table for 6. One couple one night, a different couple the 2nd night, couple #1 the 3rd night, sometimes no one else, then #1 or 2 again (it was football playoffs and games were available on TV). But we really enjoyed the family at the table next to us. And we had phenomenal service.

Cruise 5: Table for 6 requested, assigned table for 4 and no one else ever came. The table for two next to us wanted to stay a table for two but we talked across the aisle each night.

Cruise 6: Table for 6 or 8 requested. Met another couple through the Cruise Critic Roll Call and asked to be assigned together. Found another couple at the on-board sail-away party Had a great time together every night other than nights we ate in the specialty venues.

Cruise 7: Table for 8. Fabulous luck of the draw! Two couples from the US, two from the UK. Similar in age, all semi-retired. Each enjoyed good food and good wine, good conversation and good laughs. Each night we changed our seating position so we had an opportunity to relate to everyone at the table, not always talking across it.We did our specialty dining at noon so we wouldn't miss an evening together. Nightly dinner was probably the highlight of this experience.

It is the luck of the draw - sometimes it works, maybe not. I would describe my husband and myself as sociable but not aggressively so,. We don't do small talk well but I look forward to meeting new table mates on each sailing.

I haven't rerad this entire thread so you may already have your answer but:

There is always a minimum of two fish entrees in the MDR daily, one is grilled salmon on the left (or everyday) side and something else on the right (changed daily) side. Shrimp cocktail and escargot are left side. Always a fish or seafood option in the appetizers, soup and or salad. AND you can always ask for something else, just give your waiter or maitre'de a heads up and they will accommodate you.

The buffets always have multiple fish and seafood options, hot and cold. Fish is even available at breakfast (if you enjoy kippers). Plus in every venue there are innumerable non-red/white meat choices.

The specialty restaurants also have multiple fish/seafood choices.

I wouldn't say that Celebrity "caters" to non-meat eaters, they cater to eaters. You will not go hungry unless you choose to do so.

Xunantunich is outstanding. Excellent guide, extremely large site, lots of variety, you can climb the major points, very good interpretive materials.

It's a long ride but very interesting (especially if you have a good guide). The river crossing is fun. The armed guards on the other side are a surprise (we were alerted so as to not be frightened - you are very close to Guatemala at this point and this is an area where there is a major crack-down on drug activity).

I would do it again.

Because of the time involved, I do recommend doing it through the ship's excursion service.

1) Do Xunantunich tour - it's superb.

2) Do it through the cruise line! It's a long, filled day. Too many things can go awry (mentioned in earlier posts) and if you're on a ship sponsored excursion, they wait for you. Important - Hard to run for the ship in a tendered port.