New to Freestyle, dining question..

[SWACK]

We're first timers and enjoy eating with and meeting new people.. is that not an option, are you always seated by yourself?

[yankees111]

We're first timers and enjoy eating with and meeting new people.. is that not an option, are you always seated by yourself?

 

 

Norwegian is probably not the right cruise line for you.

 

 

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[DinaS]

We're first timers and enjoy eating with and meeting new people.. is that not an option, are you always seated by yourself?

 

There are very few people who actually WANT to share tables with complete strangers at dinner. I have read just few posts like yours over the years.

 

We enjoy dining by ourselves, or with people we have met via the roll call forum or at the meet and greet.

 

You can ask to be seated at a bigger table and let the host/hostess know you would enjoy sitting with others.

 

You may or may not have anyone join you.

 

If this is something that is very important to you, then NCL may not be a good fit for you.

[NMLady]

We're first timers and enjoy eating with and meeting new people.. is that not an option, are you always seated by yourself?

 

Just ask the host/hostess for a shared table or say you want to share. They will seat you with others who also want to share. There are always people who enjoy meeting others at dinner. The best time for this is shortly after the MDR opens.

We have rarely had a problem being seated with others.

Edited March 15, 2014 by NMLady

[Azure Moon]

There are very few people who actually WANT to share tables with complete strangers at dinner. I have read just few posts like yours over the years.

 

We enjoy dining by ourselves, or with people we have met via the roll call forum or at the meet and greet.

 

You can ask to be seated at a bigger table and let the host/hostess know you would enjoy sitting with others.

 

You may or may not have anyone join you.

 

If this is something that is very important to you, then NCL may not be a good fit for you.

 

This is what we've done, too. In addition, we enjoy being able to dine with people we meet during excursions or from participating in activities on the ship.

 

SWACK, welcome to Norwegian.

[ryarger]

Don't listen to those telling you that NCL may not be for you. Of course you can ask to be seated with others in the MDRs!

 

The specialty restaurants, on the other hand, have seating more like traditional restaurants (2 or 4 to a table), except for Teppanyaki where you are seated with a group and get to meet new people while you enjoy the performance and food.

[Magickpyggie]

We have made many friends on all our cruises, by asking to share a table, or by offering to share. We have eaten two or three times with the same couples as we find more of interest. The best was eating with.a French couple, where the common language was German, and the waitress was totally confused. Enjoy the moment, and write a review!

 

 

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[che5904]

OK I'm just going to add to what others have said about asking the host/hostess to share a table.

 

Since this is not NCL's concept, and a lot of people choose NCL so they don't have to be set at a table to eat with strangers. There may be a wait involved as they try to find others that wish to share a table as well.

[ARI421]

This is only going to be our second time on ncl cause we dislike freestyle dining! But don't be discouraged! You can ask to share a table and make sure you join the roll call as well! You will meet people!

 

 

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[scottishtink]

I had a very bad experience last year with my daughter in teppanaki on the jade ! We were seated at the table with 4 other people when a single man - about 50ish was brought in and seated by a butler ( or concierge ) ! He was very drunk and or high and started to harrass us straight away asking very inappropriate questions , he then asked my daughter if her and I would like to join him later in his suite for "some fun" !!! At that point I got up and asked to be moved ! They had no spaces available the rest of the night so the maître D gave us a table in Shanghais and a drink all free of charge ! He was escorted from the restaurant about 10 mins later so I'm unsure if he propositioned anyone else !!

 

 

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[che5904]

This is only going to be our second time on ncl cause we dislike freestyle dining! But don't be discouraged! You can ask to share a table and make sure you join the roll call as well! You will meet people!

 

 

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Since freestyle dining is identical to going to restaurants on land. May I ask what you disliked about it? :confused:

 

The written word is sometimes confusing and maybe I'm misunderstanding what you have written. I can completely understand how some can enjoy and prefer traditional dining when they are on vacation where they sit with others. I just don't understand when people say they dislike freestyle dining.

 

I completely agree with joining the roll call you can meet people. There are also many activities on board where you can meet others and plan to share dinner with the new people you meet on the ship.

[numberguy]

It's been the years since I've cruised, but I definitely remember being asked at every dinner in the MDRs if we wanted to eat with others or if we wanted a table to ourselves. It may be more prevalent than some realize on NCL.

 

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[SWACK]

It's been the years since I've cruised, but I definitely remember being asked at every dinner in the MDRs if we wanted to eat with others

 

That's good, that's what we always do when we go to lunch in the MDR on the other lines.. some of our best memories of cruises are the good (and bad-or at least interesting) memories of our tablemates.

[KeithJenner]

It's been the years since I've cruised, but I definitely remember being asked at every dinner in the MDRs if we wanted to eat with others or if we wanted a table to ourselves. It may be more prevalent than some realize on NCL.

 

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On my first NCL cruise, about 10 years ago, we were always asked if we wanted to sit with others.

 

In the last two years we have never been asked. Things have changed.

[numberguy]

I just realized I had a typo in my post. It should read that it had been three years since my last cruise...

 

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[KeithJenner]

I just realized I had a typo in my post. It should read that it had been three years since my last cruise...

 

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I suspect that even in that amount of time things have changed a bit when it comes to them asking if you want to sit with others.

 

If anyone wants to do so then I'd really recommend they are proactive about it and specifically ask to sit with others.

 

Actually, I have been asked once. It was when I was on my own at lunch on the Breakaway. I joined a table with some others who had specifically asked, so I don't know whether that was normal for lunch, or whether they saw an opportunity to save me taking up a table for two as there was room on the bigger one.

 

 

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[rajones007]

One thing I really hate is when the very first response to a thread is completely incorrect. I wish that person would come back and delete it.

[DinaS]

One thing I really hate is when the very first response to a thread is completely incorrect. I wish that person would come back and delete it.

 

 

That response was simply an honest opinion in response to a question. Opinions aren't incorrect since they aren't facts.

 

In addition, people cannot delete their comments after more than about 20 minutes have passed since they posted.

 

I happen to agree - if you really base your enjoyment of a cruise on sitting at a big table with other people every day - then more traditional (fixed time) seating is probably a better choice for you.

 

Freestyle dining was created as an alternative to the traditional, fixed time, early or late seating option.

[SeaShark]

One thing I really hate is when the very first response to a thread is completely incorrect. I wish that person would come back and delete it.

 

I don't know how someone's opinion (which is all that Post #2 is) can be "completely incorrect". After all, it is just one person's OPINION, it isn't a qualifiable fact. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, right?

 

 

The OP is entitled to call themselves a "first-timer" . . . even though they have been on 16 cruises over 6 different cruise lines.

 

The OP is entitled to think they are "new to Freestyle" . . . even though "Freestyle" is simply the way we live our lives each and every day.

 

You are entitled to have an opinion different than the one posted in the very first response.

 

 

The thing that bothers me (and this is just MY opinion) is when one person's opnion causes others to resort to the something called "hate".

 

YMMV

 

 

 

 

 

...and FWIW, a person can't just come back and delete a post.

[yankees111]

One thing I really hate is when the very first response to a thread is completely incorrect. I wish that person would come back and delete it.

What was wrong about my post? I never said you could not eat with other's on NCL. It is my opinion though that if you wish to eat with others in the main dining room then NCL is probally not the best cruise line to go on. The majority of people who sail NCL like the freestyle concept and enjoy dining by themselves. You may asked to be seated with others at meals but that may or may not result in waiting a longer time for others to join you at the table. It is also possible that there may not be anyone else eating a meal at that time that wants to eat with strangers.

[SteveH2508]

What was wrong about my post? I never said you could not eat with other's on NCL. It is my opinion though that if you wish to eat with others in the main dining room then NCL is probally not the best cruise line to go on. The majority of people who sail NCL like the freestyle concept and enjoy dining by themselves. You may asked to be seated with others at meals but that may or may not result in waiting a longer time for others to join you at the table. It is also possible that there may not be anyone else eating a meal at that time that wants to eat with strangers.

 

If you had elaborated your reasons for your statement in your initial post then it would have been better received. There are a lot of 'seagull' posters who fly in - make a disparaging comment about NCL with no real evidence to back it up - and fly off again. NCL fans can get a bit touchy about this at times;).

 

You have now posted a reasoned argument for your (rather brusque) initial post. I would tend to agree with some of your basic rationale except most people do not book Freestyle to dine on their own - we certainly book it for the freedom of choice and the ability to make spontaneous dining decisions.

 

It amazes me how many people come on here, having booked an NCL cruise, and then whine about no traditional dining or everyone not wearing penguin suits. If they don't see the Freestyle marketing that NCL promotes, then their heads must be further up their a**es than is almost physically possible.

 

I am so glad we found NCL straightaway (loads of internet research) - they are a great fit for our cruising preferences - shame that they are withdrawing from Europe in the winter somewhat.:mad:

[meaclasact2]

We love the freestyle dining on NCL - your hostess will ask you if you want a table for two or sit with others. We are going on our first RCI cruise this Fall...they have a version of this as well which we will take advantage of. And remember if you want, you can always make a reservation and sit in the same area at the same time. That's freestyle. Enjoy your cruise.

[Troy McClure]

If you have dietary concerns, ( My DW is a vegetarian) does freestyle work for you? I quite enjoy that our waiter knows after the 1st day and on RCL he and the Maitre D each would actually have a few different meal recommendations ready each night that were not on the menu. How does NCL compare... I am thinking about going out on the Epic very soon but am worried about her dining experience.

[Demonyte]

If you have dietary concerns, ( My DW is a vegetarian) does freestyle work for you? I quite enjoy that our waiter knows after the 1st day and on RCL he and the Maitre D each would actually have a few different meal recommendations ready each night that were not on the menu. How does NCL compare... I am thinking about going out on the Epic very soon but am worried about her dining experience.

 

Yes, NCL is very, very good with special dietary needs. However since it's Freestyle, it requires a bit more work from the passenger compared to traditional dining. There are always vegetarian options on MDR menus but if you get in touch with the staff in advance, they can also provide next day's menu for review in advance and to sort out the dishes (we have done this but because of an actual physical dietary restriction). One can contact NCL's access desk in advance for the special dietary needs.

[SWACK]

Wow... defensive much??

 

Yes, I have cruised, even once with NCL, but not with the Freestyle concept. I'm not even sure if they have all tables for 2, large tables, anything like that.

 

But I'll tell you one thing for sure.... if the attitudes expressed here represent the average NCL fan, I'm pretty sure I'll be happy to sit alone, and book another line in the future..