Table for 2 - quicker dining experience?

[TipsyT]

Does anyone know if a table for two in the MDR at the late traditional seating will be a quicker dining experience than a table seating more people? Or, do the courses come out en masse for the entire serving area for that waiter/waitress and we'd have to wait for everyone else to finish the previous course before we get our next one anyway?

 

We eat mostly vegan (for health reasons) and often skip courses. It gets a little tedious watching people eat night after night while we just wait for our next course to arrive.

 

Thank you.

[dorisis]

Does anyone know if a table for two in the MDR at the late traditional seating will be a quicker dining experience than a table seating more people? Or, do the courses come out en masse for the entire serving area for that waiter/waitress and we'd have to wait for everyone else to finish the previous course before we get our next one anyway?

 

We eat mostly vegan (for health reasons) and often skip courses. It gets a little tedious watching people eat night after night while we just wait for our next course to arrive.

 

Thank you.

 

We have found tables for 2 to be faster service than most others. We only eat 2 or 3 courses, so do not need to wait for others to finish.

[IECalCruiser]

We usually have a table for two. Service is usually significantly faster.

[WWCJR]

Does anyone know if a table for two in the MDR at the late traditional seating will be a quicker dining experience than a table seating more people? Or, do the courses come out en masse for the entire serving area for that waiter/waitress and we'd have to wait for everyone else to finish the previous course before we get our next one anyway?

 

We eat mostly vegan (for health reasons) and often skip courses. It gets a little tedious watching people eat night after night while we just wait for our next course to arrive.

 

Thank you.

 

It is not always faster. We have noticed that they have groups of tables for two and tend to treat them almost as single table. But if you skip courses then you probably will get out faster.

[TorontoTL]

With good wait staff it will be faster. However, we have had wait staff that timed our meals with those of a larger table they were serving. This, of course, slowed us down immensely.

[sept10dsm]

It is not always faster. We have noticed that they have groups of tables for two and tend to treat them almost as single table. But if you skip courses then you probably will get out faster.

Yes, we found this as well on the Island Princess. They had many tables for 2 set together about 6 inches apart. They were mostly 2 of these tables together but to me not really a table for 2. If privacy is what you are looking for these did not present it. I have found on other ships the tables for 2 were a little more apart. But yes, I think the table for 2 is a little quicker.

[ILVTX]

We have been fortunate on our last several cruises that our table-mates have been so pleasant to be with, that whatever extra time we were at the table just flew by.

 

However, we always have a table for 2 if we eat breakfast or lunch in the MDR, as they don't even take your order until the entire table is seated, and that could take a while.

[Pam in CA]

My suggestion is that after boarding, check with the Maitre d' whether you're at a table for two. Explain that you are vegan and prefer to eat just a couple of courses. He should be able to accommodate you. When you meet your waitstaff, also let them know. Good waitstaff will adjust to your preferences.

[pris993]

Does anyone know if a table for two in the MDR at the late traditional seating will be a quicker dining experience than a table seating more people? Or, do the courses come out en masse for the entire serving area for that waiter/waitress and we'd have to wait for everyone else to finish the previous course before we get our next one anyway?

 

We eat mostly vegan (for health reasons) and often skip courses. It gets a little tedious watching people eat night after night while we just wait for our next course to arrive.

 

Thank you.

 

Yes, i can be. We get a table for 2, we don't order courses either for health reasons.

 

To insure you don't wait, let the Head Waiter/waiter know you want to be served first. Technically a table for 2, should be served first but sometimes you do need to remind the staff. We do remind them if need be. My DH is a European trained Matre'd.

[cnd crsr]

We have always found the service faster at a table for 2.

[caribill]

Even if at a table for more than two, if we are wanting to get out faster trhat evening we just let our waiter know. He/she usually moves us along as fast as possible no matter where the rest of the people in the table are in their eating.

[Husky61]

We always opt for a table for two, and yes we have found the service to always be faster. Not that we try to rush through our meal, but just seems to go smoother.:)

[shellbeachjim]

We also usually dine at a table for two. We actually prefer to slow the dining experience down, so we tend to be among the last to leave the dining room. Because we are a table for two we can work with out waiters and head waiter so they are aware of our preference. This is one reason we prefer the small tables - it's much easier to personalize the dining experience.

[sunsetbeachgal]

Even if at a table for more than two, if we are wanting to get out faster trhat evening we just let our waiter know. He/she usually moves us along as fast as possible no matter where the rest of the people in the table are in their eating.

 

Our experience exactly...if we want to get to a particular show we just let him/her know that we wish to have dinner served quicker...or we order less courses. Some nights we skip coffee/dessert and grab a quick treat in the IC!!

[Love.II.Cruise]

We've found service is faster, but we've also found that these table aren't intimate at all. They are too close to other tables.

[Loonbeam]

It also depends on what you order. Most items are pre-staged or line prepped but a few are prepared to order and may not be ready to go right at the start of the meal, so for example if you skipped the salad course, the entree may not be ready immediately.

 

This is less likely to happen in anytime as they prep for a constantly revolving group so the kitchen runs a little differently.

 

A good waiter will know if specific items will delay your meal (unless they are still fairly new)