Dinner Guests

[64Driver]

Hello all- new to CruiseCritic, and new to Seabourn. My wife and I will be on the Odyssey in late September, Athens to Istanbul. One of the things we enjoy most about cruising is being seated with other passengers for dinner. We aren't recluses, but not the most outgoing people in the world, so we liked "forced" companionship to some degree. :) I read in another thread about "hosted tables" in the Main Dining Room. Does that mean that certain tables are set up for people to get to know other passengers over dinner? That sounds like a great plan. Thanks.

[TootyJane]

Hosted tables are a wonderful way to meet your fellow passengers and ship personnel. Your "Host" can be any of the following people: Cruise Director; Assistant Cruise Director; Entertainers; Guest Lecturers; Ship's officers (usually on Formal Nights only): Captain; Hotel Manager; Chief Engineer; Doctor, etc.

 

You will usually receive an invitation the night before when your Stewardess turns down the bed and leaves the Herald. You can accept or decline by calling the Purser's Desk. If you would like to be seated at a Hosted Table, you might slip a note to the maitre d’ asking him to place you at Hosted Tables. HTH

 

Lisa :)

[JaneBP]

You may also just ask the MD on your arrival to the DR if you might be seated with others. Not a hosted table, just other cruisers who are dining, perhaps alone.

 

As Lisa said, if you would like to try a hosted table, be sure to tell the MD, don't leave it to chance.

[jam52]

I also think the excursions and Trivia are great places to meet people. We have found that when you spend a half day on an excursion with about 12-20 people you are likely to find someone that seem to share some affinity with. You can invite or be invited to share a dinner.

[1straveler]

Although we have enjoyed the "hosted tables" on each of our three Seabourn cruises, we found that on our last cruise we sat with the same people almost every night. While we were able to get to know people very well, we did not enjoy the exposure to as many people as on previous cruises. We do not plan to abandon the "hosted tables", where we have developed some continued relationships. We do plan to have a conversation with the maitre d' each day before we determine our plans for the evening.

[64Driver]

Great feedback, thanks all. It really sounds like the Seabourn experience is a lot more intimate and friendly. Can't wait.:D