Hosted tables

[BrisbaneGran]

I am one to delight in invitations to hosted tables; they are usually very pleasant experiences, and one gets the opportunity of meeting more guests than those one usually meets in public spaces. My one rather odd experience was when, before dessert was ordered, the host (a well known lecturer) got up and said "I don't think we need dessert, let's all go to the show". Most guest tentatively got up and followed, but we stayed with another couple and enjoyed our dessert. A bit unexpected, but the overall experience was very good.

 

One of our experiences was even better than that! On the CAPTAINS table! Before dessert, the Captain announced, "well I'm going to bed now", and got up and walked out! The rest of us just sat there with our mouths open....we did have our dessert though, and had something to talk about!

[Winner]

One of our experiences was even better than that! On the CAPTAINS table! Before dessert, the Captain announced, "well I'm going to bed now", and got up and walked out! The rest of us just sat there with our mouths open....we did have our dessert though, and had something to talk about!

 

I believe we were at the same table, and all of us were happy when the Captain went beddy-bye. The Captain "retired" after that cruise!

[sassyw]

Occasionally my husband and I will accept an invitation but the problem is that we like to sit next to each other and they spread us around. Once I was placed in the middle of 2 non-English speaking passengers. What a boring dinner!! Also there is usually a majority of single women and while they may be interesting, my husband would prefer for us just to dine alone.:rolleyes:

[BrisbaneGran]

I believe we were at the same table, and all of us were happy when the Captain went beddy-bye. The Captain "retired" after that cruise!

 

He didn't even get to finish that cruise! He was ~retired~ halfway through that cruise....sort of like...."in the dead of night".........last I heard he was working on freighters......as they say "not quite Seabourn".........

[jenidallas]

Also there is usually a majority of single women and while they may be interesting, my husband would prefer for us just to dine alone.:rolleyes:

 

As one of those single ladies, I reciprocate your feelings. There is nothing worse than trying to make polite and interesting conversation with someone's husband while the wife is giving us the death glare from across the table.

 

I've watched this happen (either to me or to other single girlfriends I travel with) more than once and it's extraordinarily uncomfortable for all involved.

[Shellback2014]

Occasionally my husband and I will accept an invitation but the problem is that we like to sit next to each other and they spread us around.

 

My wife and I have dined at hosted tables many times, but like you, wish they wouldn't seat us so far apart. When we get back to the room after such a dinner, we don't have many common conversations or people to talk about...we might as well have been at different tables! We don't need to be seated next to each other, but would prefer to sit at the same end of the table so that we can both be in the same conversation and meet the same people. Maybe if my ears worked better, or if the room were not so noisy, dining at the large hosted tables would be better than it is at present.

 

We have asked to be seated with another couple or two in the MDR sometimes, and that has generally worked well.

[JPH814]

I am enjoying this conversation.

 

Two reactions: i love the fact that they follow traditional etiquette of not seating couples together. We came back after dinner and have so much more to talk about.

 

Also, i am surprised with the people saying they feel the dinner "drags on" for 90 minutes or two hours or more. I look at my watch after dessert and am amazed how quickly the time passes after two hours. I enjoy leisurely dinners with good conversation.

 

 

 

 

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[tv24]

On our 68-day cruise we were never ever invited to a hosted table. Maybe we were being shunned due to personal hygiene problems? Anyway it was weird. Still we had great success in putting together convivial parties amongst fellow passengers, and we do enjoy the company of just us 2. But it did leave us wondering what is the Seabourn policy regarding composing the hosted tables. Solo travelers? Folks who requested hosted tables? Folks who demanded personal escorts?

[divsec]

On our 68-day cruise we were never ever invited to a hosted table. Maybe we were being shunned due to personal hygiene problems? Anyway it was weird. Still we had great success in putting together convivial parties amongst fellow passengers, and we do enjoy the company of just us 2. But it did leave us wondering what is the Seabourn policy regarding composing the hosted tables. Solo travelers? Folks who requested hosted tables? Folks who demanded personal escorts?

Always check in with guest services and express a preference, yes or no to hosting. We are on Odyssey and had a wonderful dinner for 7 hosted by Jon Delaunay, super pianist and very amusing and entertaining attentive host. (The invitation just arrived) Lucky you to have 68 days😋💚

[lincslady]

tv24 - very unusual not to get any invites to hosted tables. I feel sure you do not smell!! Maybe someone with a similar name had said no invites please, must be something like that. We nowadays do say no invites please to the staff in the Square soon after boarding. Reading the various stories here, it can be hit or miss. I am pretty sure that singles get lots of invites, as we have met quite a few on hosted tables, and this is an excellent idea (they can always refuse if they don't want to meet up with other singles or couples).

 

As someone has said, it can be nicer to just join a larger table if you are in a sociable mood.

[sassyw]

My husband also has a hearing problem and cannot handle conversation from many different locations. I always know to sit to his right or across from him!!

[nolatravelgirl]

Also there is usually a majority of single women and while they may be interesting, my husband would prefer for us just to dine alone.

 

My husband also has a hearing problem and cannot handle conversation from many different locations. I always know to sit to his right or across from him!!

Sounds like hosted tables are not for you. There is always the option to ask to be seated with another couple that way you can not be bothered by single ladies making polite conversation and you can keep your eyes and ears on him.

[lincslady]

nolatravelgirl - my DH also has a hearing problem, the main reason we do not do hosted tables. However, I would have absolutely no problem seeing him chatting merrily to any single woman, young or old, and I would like to think most of us long married old girls would be the same!

 

If I were now to be on my own, I hope I would have the courage to cruise as a solo, and if I did would certainly take advantage of hosted tables - even if mainly to make friends with the other solo ladies.

[nolatravelgirl]

nolatravelgirl - my DH also has a hearing problem, the main reason we do not do hosted tables. However, I would have absolutely no problem seeing him chatting merrily to any single woman, young or old, and I would like to think most of us long married old girls would be the same!

 

If I were now to be on my own, I hope I would have the courage to cruise as a solo, and if I did would certainly take advantage of hosted tables - even if mainly to make friends with the other solo ladies.

I know that hearing problems can be a challenge at a large table so following multiple conversations would be frustrating. My comments were directed at sassyw who seemed to take issue with a non married female conversing with her husband.

[stamfordian]

My understanding was that it was what her husband said he preferred:

...my husband would prefer for us just to dine alone.

[jenidallas]

I think the easy solution is for those who prefer not to fine at hosted tables to ask for no invitations. That will allow for those who do enjoy them to be more likely to be invited. Problem solved.

 

When I've cruised with single girlfriends we've been invited almost every evening throughout the cruise. When I cruised with my mother, we only received invites from individuals who asked us personally first and then issued an invite to their hosted table but we joined others many times on our own.

 

I am doing my first solo this month and look forward to hopefully being invited several evenings just in case I don't quickly make friends on my own. I promise not to be too friendly with anyone's husband! 😉

[Isklaar]

My understanding was that it was what her husband said he preferred:

 

That was my understanding too and I was confused why the messenger (sassyw in this case) was being shot.

[dbackus]

My wife and I were on our first Seabourn Cruise last month in the Med and were invited to dine at a table hosted by the violinist that was on board. We accepted and thoroughly enjoyed it. As mentioned we did not sit adjacent to one another or even across from each other. I was placed between two ladies, one from San Diego and the other from England. I had delightful conversations with both. it was fun to keep two different conversations going at the same time. But I have always been told that I talk too much anyway.:)My wife was between the violinist and the husband of the English lady. She did have difficulty understanding the English of the Englishman but other than that she enjoyed it as well.

[stamfordian]

She did have difficulty understanding the English of the Englishman but other than that she enjoyed it as well.

 

Where does she hail from?

[dbackus]

I wish I could remember, I want to say the southern part of England. Sorry

[stamfordian]

I actually meant your wife...

[dbackus]

Oh, We are both from Connecticut, US

[Flamin_June]

This is shaping up to be a fascinating, albeit Pinteresque, conversation.

My apologies for interrupting.

 

Perhaps the Englishman was a Geordie ?

[2SailingNomads]

Quite humorous as it develops...:)

[stamfordian]

Perhaps the Englishman was a Geordie ?

 

Wey man, divvn't cast nasturtiums!

 

Could be she's from Purley, nudge nudge, wink wink say no more!

Edited October 8, 2016 by stamfordian