Too Much Dining Space Given to My Time?

[tomatosauce]

My experience is different to those who have posted so far. I love the flexibility of MTD but also speaking to people at dinner. As a solo traveler I turn up and generally end up at a table with others. So I end up speaking with and getting to know so many more people than if I did traditional dining.

[brfan]

NO Lets not do that, that is why MTD is so full, Traditional diners who miss their table then take two tables for the night. If you choose Traditional DO NOT wander over and take my MTD table, you had your choice and missed it. Please enjoy the buffet or any of the other food options, but to play both sides of the fence is disrespectful and rude IMO. If you card says Trad you should never be let in to MTD and it should be strictly enforced. MY 2 cents

 

My understanding was if someone (say a group of 4) that have traditional, but don't show up for several days (I would say not showing the first 3 days being a good limit) that they lose that table and switch over to MTD. Then the table that they had, which has been empty could also now be used by MTD passengers. Chances are the people who don't show up for their traditional dining for several days in a row likely aren't interested in dining in the dining room either. Therefore the solution that Clarea proposed might just provide more tables for MTD passengers with little to no impact to them. At least that's how I read the post.

[2CatsInFlorida]

I have zero desire to eat and converse with strangers.

 

 

A stranger is a friend you haven't met yet.

Wife is very sociable and we have always had fun with

our table mates. On Silhouette now and met a fun couple we will visit this Summer. Sad when people are so isolated.

 

 

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[squadron]

The only thing that comes to mind is the number of empty tables I see in traditional, most every night. Those tables cannot typically be used by folks in MTD waiting for tables, so the space goes wasted.

 

I don't think the current system (traditional and MTD) can last with the way it's currently implemented. I think they either go to an all MTD system, or give the traditional folks some set amount of time to get to their table, after which they lose that spot for the night and have to go to MTD if they still want to eat in the MDR.

 

Have never see many empty spots except for maybe 2 when people go to specialty dining. It is very hard in fact to get a MDR spot unless you book a year or so out. If not early booking you go on a waiting list.

[MattInFLL]

Yes, exactly. I want to enjoy our dinner in private, just the two of us.

 

 

 

And you should. It's great that there are ways for the ship to accommodate that. I'm just saying there was a time when our social fabric was different. Especially on an "ocean voyage".

[Slugsta]

We prefer to dine with others but like the flexibility of deciding when we want to eat - early one day because we want an early night, late another because we lingered over cocktails first. MTD, whatever name you give it, suits us perfectly. For us, it is not about wanting dinner a deux every night.

[Miryam1234]

There are More and more non English speaking cruisers onboard. Although I am confident in speaking English, I still prefer not to combine eating and speaking a foreign language and my husband shares the feeling. That is why MTD is our thing, better changes in getting a table for two.

[freezincruiser]

I have zero desire to eat and converse with strangers.

I very much agree!

 

Never enjoyed it. Nor have I ever understood the desire unless it's a singles cruise/meetup. Or of course you're extremely social. Granted, I have met some great people when "traditional" was it.

 

At the end of the day when on vacation as a family or couple or whichever, it's nice to have a more intimate relaxed setting and enjoy your meal. Order and enjoy what you want without being watched or asked any questions. Not feeling you have to make conversation or fit in.

 

If I'm going to meet new people, let it happen naturally by the pool or during daily trivia. Not forced.

Edited April 2, 2016 by freezincruiser

[Slugsta]

Can't think of anything worse than sitting across the table from my hubby every night. I can stay at home and do that! :D

[Beachammo]

I have zero desire to eat and converse with strangers.

 

Every friend in my life was once a stranger....

[spookwife]

Do they get to use the tables 3 times a night in My Time?

 

 

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it is indeed possible to turn a table over that many times and more during MTD.

 

I know we can be in and out in 45 minutes as we seldom get every course, typically only 2-3.

[spookwife]

That's a shame in a way. We've always enjoyed dining with "strangers" and with very rare exception (maybe 3 times in 30 years) have always met fun and interesting people, a number of whom we've kept in touch with for years. Guess we're just old fuddie-duddies. We like traditional late seating and would be very disappointed if the "traditional" was done away with.

 

when you go to land restaurants do you ask to be seated with strangers?

 

we prefer MTD for 2 reasons: one we can split the difference between early and late seating ( we could care less about the show) and 2 we are not tied to the whims of any seat mates who spend too much time hemming and hawing between the shrimp cocktail the french onion soup as their first course and even LONGER deciding between the Duck or the Chicken for their entree.

[SamFritz]

when you go to land restaurants do you ask to be seated with strangers?

 

 

 

we prefer MTD for 2 reasons: one we can split the difference between early and late seating ( we could care less about the show) and 2 we are not tied to the whims of any seat mates who spend too much time hemming and hawing between the shrimp cocktail the french onion soup as their first course and even LONGER deciding between the Duck or the Chicken for their entree.

 

 

 

If I wanted a land based experience I'd do a land based vacation. If they make cruising just like a resort, what's the point?

[Beachammo]

when you go to land restaurants do you ask to be seated with strangers?

 

we prefer MTD for 2 reasons: one we can split the difference between early and late seating ( we could care less about the show) and 2 we are not tied to the whims of any seat mates who spend too much time hemming and hawing between the shrimp cocktail the french onion soup as their first course and even LONGER deciding between the Duck or the Chicken for their entree.

 

If I was going to the land restaurant 7 or more nights in a row and know I would be sitting with the same strangers all 7 nights.....i would definitely ask to be sat with strangers. We've been very lucky to have met some wonderful people that are friends for life.

 

I don't like to be sat at breakfast/lunch with different strangers each day because there is not enough time to be bothered in telling "our story" without any follow up the next day.

[Truluv]

When we first started cruising 20 years ago, traditional dining was our only choice. Our kids grew up dining with other families. When we were able to request a table for 6 just for our family, our kids surprised me by saying they preferred larger tables and meeting other families in the dining room. They didn't like our NCL cruises as much, because of the lack of assigned dining tables. Over the years we have met some great people at dinner, including a gentleman who did some mentoring of one of our kids in his chosen profession, a generous couple who took us on a kitchen tour that they had won in a raffle, and another family's kid who became a pen pal and then ended up dating one of my kids 10 years later... (eye roll...oh well). We've corresponded and exchanged photos with dining companions. We've shared birthday and anniversary cakes, bought bottles of wine for the table, and generally had a blast. In about 20 or so cruises, I've had only a few MDR experiences that weren't great. On one cruise, the other families at our table never showed up and the waiter hovered over us nonstop during every meal worrying that we would be upset about it. We had one cruise with a couple that spoke no English, and one breakfast in the MDR at a shared table with a couple that would only speak to others in monosyllables. (We did not share a table the year we buried my spouse's ashes at sea on Anthem, because of the personal nature of that cruise).

 

Ultimately, the hour or so in the MDR has been an opportunity to meet interesting new people. It has been a plus, not a negative.

 

When I took my first solo cruise last year, I was stuck in MyTime dining and told that Traditional was full. I asked to share a table (Freedom) and was told that solos were required to be seated alone. However, I was told that they would try to put me near other passengers who appeared friendly, so I could "try to talk to them." WJ here I come.

 

A simple solution would be to have a few larger tables for MyTime, and give passengers the option of dining alone or with others.

Edited April 2, 2016 by Truluv

[steveru621]

I see none of the arguments for or against MTD and traditional dining have not changed in the last 5 years.

 

RCI does not do an adequate job in allocating dining space. Too many passengers sit at traditional dining at a large table all by themselves. Mainly because passengers are forced to make a choice they don't want.

[heatherb1958]

We always do MTD now but invariably have the same table at the same time .

We see long lines for MTD all the time and the traditional dining room with lots of empty seats.

On the Vision at New year we regularly saw the restaurant manager escorting guests from the MTD line down the dining room staircase. We could only second guess that they were utilising the empty tables there. I don't have a problem with that. If traditional dining guests are not at their allotted table within a certain time then the space should be used .

[msmayor]

There are More and more non English speaking cruisers onboard. Although I am confident in speaking English, I still prefer not to combine eating and speaking a foreign language and my husband shares the feeling. That is why MTD is our thing, better changes in getting a table for two.

 

We had a somewhat uncomfortable experience on our Westerdam cruise last year with this. We requested a table for two and though assigned to a four-top, no one else was at the table for the first four nights. We just assumed that those two seats would remain unused, and after the first two nights our servers only set two places.

 

On night five, another couple showed up to sit at our table with us. We were mildly confused, but looked forward to the opportunity to meet someone new. Except they spoke very little English. We tried to make small-talk but it was forced and uncomfortable because of the language barrier. We never learned where they had been the first four nights, and they never returned after that fifth night.

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

A stranger is a friend you haven't met yet.

Wife is very sociable and we have always had fun with

our table mates. On Silhouette now and met a fun couple we will visit this Summer. Sad when people are so isolated.

 

 

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I guess you could say that...

 

Until you get put with a rather strange couple that choose to try and push their religious beliefs upon us, while questioning ours.

[Beachammo]

I guess you could say that...

 

Until you get put with a rather strange couple that choose to try and push their religious beliefs upon us, while questioning ours.

 

Never speak of religion or politics at the table....i thought tjat was a rule?

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

Never speak of religion or politics at the table....i thought tjat was a rule?

 

Well that rule is usually followed...Unless your luck is up.

 

It was not fun.

[Paulette3028]

When we first started cruising 20 years ago, traditional dining was our only choice. Our kids grew up dining with other families. When we were able to request a table for 6 just for our family, our kids surprised me by saying they preferred larger tables and meeting other families in the dining room. They didn't like our NCL cruises as much, because of the lack of assigned dining tables. Over the years we have met some great people at dinner, including a gentleman who did some mentoring of one of our kids in his chosen profession, a generous couple who took us on a kitchen tour that they had won in a raffle, and another family's kid who became a pen pal and then ended up dating one of my kids 10 years later... (eye roll...oh well). We've corresponded and exchanged photos with dining companions. We've shared birthday and anniversary cakes, bought bottles of wine for the table, and generally had a blast. In about 20 or so cruises, I've had only a few MDR experiences that weren't great. On one cruise, the other families at our table never showed up and the waiter hovered over us nonstop during every meal worrying that we would be upset about it. We had one cruise with a couple that spoke no English, and one breakfast in the MDR at a shared table with a couple that would only speak to others in monosyllables. (We did not share a table the year we buried my spouse's ashes at sea on Anthem, because of the personal nature of that cruise).

 

Ultimately, the hour or so in the MDR has been an opportunity to meet interesting new people. It has been a plus, not a negative.

 

When I took my first solo cruise last year, I was stuck in MyTime dining and told that Traditional was full. I asked to share a table (Freedom) and was told that solos were required to be seated alone. However, I was told that they would try to put me near other passengers who appeared friendly, so I could "try to talk to them." WJ here I come.

 

A simple solution would be to have a few larger tables for MyTime, and give passengers the option of dining alone or with others.

 

So sorry to hear of the loss of your cruiser-mate. Just from reading this little bit, I imagine you had a wonderful and long life together. I also give you a great deal of credit for trying the 'solo cruiser' path.

[Paulette3028]

That's a shame in a way. We've always enjoyed dining with "strangers" and with very rare exception (maybe 3 times in 30 years) have always met fun and interesting people, a number of whom we've kept in touch with for years. Guess we're just old fuddie-duddies. We like traditional late seating and would be very disappointed if the "traditional" was done away with.

 

If enjoying dinner with strangers, makes us fuddie-duddies....I will gladly take that label. As empty nesters, we can have dinner any night we want by ourselves and that is often how it is after a day of work. So on a cruise we love to have a table with 6-8 others. I can find a way to involve almost anyone in a conversation and I have learned over the years that even language barriers can be overcome.

 

We have had wonderful conversations and met some fun people that I hope we can find a way to cruise with again.

[Livvie]

A stranger is a friend you haven't met yet.

Wife is very sociable and we have always had fun with

our table mates. On Silhouette now and met a fun couple we will visit this Summer. Sad when people are so isolated.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

 

Call it what you wish. I think it is sad when people can't stand to have a private dinner with their spouse.

I am also an introvert and have no wish to converse with strangers. I don't find it fun or relaxing or any other word others have attributed to dining with strangers. It is uncomfortable and makes me anxious. Since it is my vacation, I chose to spend my time doing things I enjoy.

[Clarea]

Every friend in my life was once a stranger....

Indeed.:)