Tablemates in the MDR

[PuterMonkey]

I have a question for the more seasoned cruisers. I've heard stories that Royal will often match up tablemates based on something they may have in common, birthday celebrations for instance. Indeed on our last cruise, we were seated with two couples celebrating anniversaries and it now strikes me that we were as well (our honeymoon). This time around, we have no particular celebration except a long awaited and sorely needed vacation. What I was really curious about is whether, being registered for the Meet and Mingle, anyone has ever been matched up with other CCers in the same way. Does that happen?

[CRUISEBOY305]

I have a question for the more seasoned cruisers. I've heard stories that Royal will often match up tablemates based on something they may have in common, birthday celebrations for instance. Indeed on our last cruise, we were seated with two couples celebrating anniversaries and it now strikes me that we were as well (our honeymoon). This time around, we have no particular celebration except a long awaited and sorely needed vacation. What I was really curious about is whether, being registered for the Meet and Mingle, anyone has ever been matched up with other CCers in the same way. Does that happen?

 

From my experience, they've always matched according to age groups. Not sure if they can set every CCer up at the same table but mytime dining would be one way to go. more flexible and you don't have a set table so if you wanted to get together with certain CCers you can arrange it that way.

Edited March 7, 2014 by CRUISEBOY305

[ChipLondon]

Unfortunately the science of matching table mates, is something that was more evident in years gone by. Now it is more a simple matter of trying to get people the table size and location they like, however we always make the most of meeting new people, and learn alot from their life experiences, no matter of age, race, religion or sexuality. :D

[Goes Cruising]

We've had some amazing table matches, then some not so much. I have so rarely been paired with CC Roll Call members, that I think the 1-2 times I have were luck of the draw.

 

You can however link reservations with CC Roll Call members, and hopefully that will get you all at the same table. I have heard that doesn't even always work.

[Lynne95]

Well it did happen to us, but only once without requesting it. We did a Panama Canal sailing with a very active CC group. We sat at a 6-topper, and one of the couples were CC'ers. By the end of the trip, I think we convinced the other couple to join. It sure was one of the best cruises ever!

 

We've also met a lot of people at our breakfast and lunch tables in the MDR, that were on CC.

[FOXTROT]

We used to get paired with newly weds. We were always the old married couple. Then they tried to match age group. Now we do MTD with a table for two.:rolleyes:

[Donut23]

I guess we have just been lucky. We have always enjoyed our table companions. Well, we did have 2 very quiet ladies last cruise but it was a very large table and everyone was so animated, we just didn't notice them.

 

We always seem to be the United Nations table with multiple countries represented.

[cb at sea]

We've had a wide ranges of ages as our tablemates. So far, so good! We enjoy eating with others....we've been seated with newlyweds, older folks and (I guess because we're in the majority) folks in our age range.

 

I think some people are just easier to get along with than others....we have never had tablemates that we couldn't stand! Some are more vivacious than others, that's true, but we've gotten along with everyone just fine!

 

I would be miserable with a table for 2...that's how we eat almost every meal at home...we ENJOY having others to talk to!!! It's simply more fun!

[seb]

We did get lucky on one cruise. As always, we were on CC and the Meet n Mingle board for our cruise. On our first night in the MDR, we were sitting at a large table (10) and just introducing ourselves to each other. I mentioned that we were CC members and 2 college kids said they were also on CC. We gave our screen names, and as it turns out the 2 kids were people I had given advice on regarding hotels in FL and a couple of excursions they might enjoy. Neither one of us knew ahead of time we'd be at the same dinner table. We had a blast talking to them and enjoying their company throughout the cruise. Never been able to eat with a fellow CC Meet n Mingle person since that cruise.

Edited March 7, 2014 by seb

[trev71]

My first cruise with my mom and sister we were pared with a child and their grandparents

 

on my second I went on my honey moon with my wife and we were pared with other newly weds and people our own age

 

thrid cruise we were paired with someone who could have been our parents

 

4th cruise on the allure we had a table for two by the window it was nice.

 

5th tbd

 

 

I dont mind sitting with anyone dw and I are pretty social for the most part once we start talking to someone.

[UCF_Knight]

On our honeymoon cruise in 2001, we were at a table for 10 with four other honeymoon couples. It was a great table assignment job by RCCL and we had a lot of fun.

 

Some of our other pairings haven't made quite as much sense. For instance, my wife and I were on our 10th anniversary cruise a few years ago. We're a couple in our late 30s and our reservation was marked that it was our anniversary. However, we got put at a table for 6. The other 4 people at the table were all single women in their 60's who were cruising solo and didn't know each other. Very strange.

Edited March 7, 2014 by UCF_Knight

[AeroBaldness]

On our honeymoon cruise in 2001, we were at a table for 10 with four other honeymoon couples. It was a great table assignment job by RCCL and we had a lot of fun.

 

Some of our other pairings haven't made quite as much sense. For instance, my wife and I were on our 10th anniversary cruise a few years ago. We're a couple in our late 30s and our reservation was marked that it was our anniversary. However, we got put at a table for 6. The other 4 people at the table were all single women in their 60's who were cruising solo and didn't know each other. Very strange.

 

Sounds to me like Royal was just trying to spice up your anniversary. Talk about WOW :eek:

[cage keeper]

We have not had other CC members as table mates. Our last time on RCCL we were the only 2 at a table for 10. It was OK but if it happens again we will ask to sit at a smaller table or one for 2.

[Valchie]

Personally, I think it's totally random. They take down your age, and then mix you up with a different group. In one case, they had us at a table of 6, and the other 4 were sisters with their husbands about 20 years younger than us. They were cute, and sweet, but I really felt like their mother. This trip we're doing MTD and I'm excited about it and will ask for a table for 2, and for the first time I won't have to wonder who I'm sitting with :D

[BekkaW]

Our last cruise we sat at an 8 top with 2 other couples and 2 solo cruisers. They were all in their 60s or 70s (which was pretty standard for that cruise) while we're in our early 30s! But we actually had a really great time, the whole group was quite lively and outgoing. One night after dinner (we take late seating) the 75 year old gentleman danced up a storm at the poolside party.

[kc320]

On one of our first cruise after discovering CC we were sailing on the Sovereign & planning to meet up for the 1st time with another CC member who happened to live in the same town as we did...we met as arranged in the Windjammer for lunch and as we were talking discovered we were also seated together for dinner! Totally unplanned or expected...we had a great time & are still friends to this day!:D

[bonnyweed]

Sometimes I cruise solo and I like to dine at a large table so that I get the opportunity to meet a variety of people. One time I was at a table for 10 and the other 9 people were all 1 family. They really resented my presence at their table and it was horrible. The first night the conversation disintegrated into a horrible fight when a son announced he was gay and the entire family treated him as an object of revulsion.

I made it through that 1 meal and asked to change tables for the rest of the cruise. My request was granted and I joined a very welcoming and varied group of 7 and some of us kept in touch for a long time afterward.

Lesson learned: it's ok to bail out if the going gets rough.

[JamesEM]

DW and I were on an RCCL cruise out PR and were seated at 8 top, the problem was our six table mates refuse to speak English except when they were ordering their meal.

[Nami]

On Oasis we got table of 4 and there were another couple from Finland with us. I don’t think it is coincidence, because there were only 20 (or something) people from Finland onboard. We had wonderful time with them.

[cruzinlady1947]

On one cruise my husband and I were assigned a table with 6 young boys (ages 5 to 16) from England. Their parents (3 couples plus 1 more younger boy) were seated at the next table. Made for some interesting adventures. By the last couple days, the parents invited us to sit with them and the youngest boy sat with his brothers. They were all very nice, but boy were those boys active. :eek::p:D

 

Gwen :)

[BND]

What we have found is we are in JS or GS (except one time in a balcony) and are always seated with other suite guests at or near our C&A level also. On Allure, eveyone at our table was in a GS or higher and D. We've found that on every cruise on RCI. We only knew each other's C&A status because we all saw each other in the D event. That's one thing we never discussed at dinner.

Edited March 8, 2014 by BND

[avalon007]

We have found set dining a bit hit & miss, one cruise was great the other we were the only ones that turned up on a table of six.

 

So now we do My Time Dining & ask to be seated on a large table, we find that these tables are usually filled with a wide variety of people that are happy to socialise since they to have been happy to sit with strangers.

 

By being flexible at MTD we also get seated quickly even though we haven't made a reservation.

 

Meeting new people is the one of the highlights of a cruise for me, but if you do happen to be seated with people that just aren't your cup of tea then it's easy to avoid being near them in the future if you're on MTD. :D

[threeofus]

We only got lucky ONCE. On two other cruises we had very strange and unfriendly tablemates. One guy had an anger problem and was horrible to the wait staff. Now we sit with "family only" or go with my time dining.

[banderboo]

I always feel bad for my table mates. I generally cruise with the whole family (6-10) and request a table just for us. In veritably they'll put one couple at the table. We try to include them in conversations but sometimes it difficult. With that said we did meet two wonderful ladies from Ireland one trip and their stories were great to hear.