Liz54 Posted November 18, 2016 #151 Share Posted November 18, 2016 We have generally had wonderful tablemates which is why we like fixed seating. At first it can be awkward but I am always fascinated and delighted with how much they "improve" as we all relax and we get to know one another. I hope they would say the same about us! By the 3rd or 4th day we are all having a whale of a time. One time travelling with my sister and my teen aged son he said mid cruise "At first I did not like eating with strangers, now I am looking forward to hearing how their days went!" A great lesson there! Once we had a VERY difficult woman with husband, son and daughter in law. She spent each dinner browbeating her family. After awhile we just stared siding with the family and teasing her. It lightened the mood and we spent the whole cruise giggling about how wild she was and how to encourage the husband and son to push back with her. That may have been our BEST table, in the end! It is what you make of it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoppyandNana Posted November 18, 2016 #152 Share Posted November 18, 2016 (edited) We have generally had wonderful tablemates which is why we like fixed seating. At first it can be awkward but I am always fascinated and delighted with how much they "improve" as we all relax and we get to know one another. I hope they would say the same about us! By the 3rd or 4th day we are all having a whale of a time. One time travelling with my sister and my teen aged son he said mid cruise "At first I did not like eating with strangers, now I am looking forward to hearing how their days went!" A great lesson there! Once we had a VERY difficult woman with husband, son and daughter in law. She spent each dinner browbeating her family. After awhile we just stared siding with the family and teasing her. It lightened the mood and we spent the whole cruise giggling about how wild she was and how to encourage the husband and son to push back with her. That may have been our BEST table, in the end! It is what you make of it! We have had all manner of table mates: Two gay couples who ran a singing telegram business Four female heavy equipments operators from Texas A family of four sitting at a table for six. Didn't want us there because one of the women was terminally ill and this cruise was her last hurrah. They relented and turned out to be a great week. She laughed and had a great time. Unfortunately, she did pass six weeks later. A husband and wife programmers from IBM. He was literally not allowed to speak or answer questions. He was like a dummy sitting on her lap. A DJ from Florida who almost got thrown off the ship because he refused to wear anything but shorts and a Dolphins tee shirt and had a fight with a head waiter. Two British spinsters who cruise 40 to 60 days a year An airline pilot based in Detroit who lived in NH; married to a stewardess who lives in Detroit. Two couples who were pig farmers from Iowa on their first cruise. Wow, were they a blast, not! An elderly black couple in their late 80's. The table location was terrible and only for four when we asked for a large table. We wanted to change because of the table location, not the people. We were afraid they would draw the wrong conclusion so we stayed. Turned to be a real joy. They were funny and had interesting backgrounds. An Italian couple from Italy. She spoke absolutely zero English. Her husband did. We had great fun with them. There many more but these are the most memorable that come to mind. In 26 cruised I think there was only one time we asked to change tables because of passenger issues. Edited November 18, 2016 by PoppyandNana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troykahack Posted November 18, 2016 #153 Share Posted November 18, 2016 We have had all manner of table mates: Two gay couples who ran a singing telegram business Four female heavy equipments operators from Texas A family of four sitting at a table for six. Didn't want us there because one of the women was terminally ill and this cruise was her last hurrah. They relented and turned out to be a great week. She laughed and had a great time. Unfortunately, she did pass six weeks later. A husband and wife programmers from IBM. He was literally not allowed to speak or answer questions. He was like a dummy sitting on her lap. A DJ from Florida who almost got thrown off the ship because he refused to wear anything but shorts and a Dolphins tee shirt and had a fight with a head waiter. Two British spinsters who cruise 40 to 60 days a year An airline pilot based in Detroit who lived in NH; married to a stewardess who lives in Detroit. Two couples who were pig farmers from Iowa on their first cruise. Wow, were they a blast, not! An elderly black couple in their late 80's. The table location was terrible and only for four when we asked for a large table. We wanted to change because of the table location, not the people. We were afraid they would draw the wrong conclusion so we stayed. Turned to be a real joy. They were funny and had interesting backgrounds. An Italian couple from Italy. She spoke absolutely zero English. Her husband did. We had great fun with them. There many more but these are the most memorable that come to mind. In 26 cruised I think there was only one time we asked to change tables because of passenger issues. Most all of these you know their occupations. Did they volunteer it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoppyandNana Posted November 18, 2016 #154 Share Posted November 18, 2016 Most all of these you know their occupations. Did they volunteer it? Good question. We, none of us, started out with asking. It just kind of came up over the course of the week. Someone would tell a story which gave way to what do you do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted November 18, 2016 #155 Share Posted November 18, 2016 John...what would be the best oil weight for changing the oil in the motor of our land yacht? [emoji14]:p :p Not really sure, I deal mainly with WTI (West Texas Intermediate) probably not a good choice. 😉 Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iancal Posted November 18, 2016 #156 Share Posted November 18, 2016 (edited) Prior to switching to anytime dining we usually had very good tablemates. We only asked to be moved once. We had the misfortune to be sitting with a couple of religious zealots who it seems thought it was their role to spread the word as it were. Edited November 18, 2016 by iancal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted November 19, 2016 #157 Share Posted November 19, 2016 (edited) Prior to switching to anytime dining we usually had very good tablemates. We only asked to be moved once. We had the misfortune to be sitting with a couple of religious zealots who it seems thought it was their role to spread the word as it were. We have had some evangelists once, remarkably, the conversations on religion stopped after the first night. Perhaps it was when they asked me 'How could I not believe in Christ' and I answered him with a query of 'Did they believe in Krishna or Mohamed?', to which they said 'no' and then I answered, 'It was the same way'. Edited November 19, 2016 by MicCanberra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz54 Posted November 19, 2016 #158 Share Posted November 19, 2016 (edited) editing error - ignore! Edited November 19, 2016 by Liz54 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz54 Posted November 19, 2016 #159 Share Posted November 19, 2016 We have had some evangelists once, remarkably, the conversations on religion stopped after the first night. Perhaps it was when they asked me 'How could I not believe in Christ' and I answered him with a query of 'Did they believe in Krishna or Mohamed?', to which they said 'no' and then I answered, 'It was the same way'. Love this response! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troykahack Posted November 19, 2016 #160 Share Posted November 19, 2016 Good question. We, none of us, started out with asking. It just kind of came up over the course of the week. Someone would tell a story which gave way to what do you do? That is a awesome way to get to it. We might even not mind sharing after we know a little bit of attitudes of the others. This is a awesome way to start. Why do so many believe it is the best way to break the ice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troykahack Posted November 19, 2016 #161 Share Posted November 19, 2016 Prior to switching to anytime dining we usually had very good tablemates. We only asked to be moved once. We had the misfortune to be sitting with a couple of religious zealots who it seems thought it was their role to spread the word as it were. You met my Mom? LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted November 19, 2016 #162 Share Posted November 19, 2016 That is a awesome way to get to it. We might even not mind sharing after we know a little bit of attitudes of the others. This is a awesome way to start. Why do so many believe it is the best way to break the ice? I've never used that question to break the ice. I always start by asking their status. Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SherriZ366 Posted November 19, 2016 #163 Share Posted November 19, 2016 Bucky and I would love to share your table anytime Sherri! :) Hope to cruise with you again soon! Chuck and I would love to share a table with you and Bucky. We have to coordinate cruises!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted November 19, 2016 #164 Share Posted November 19, 2016 I've never used that question to break the ice. I always start by asking their status. I never start by asking what status they have but by how much they earn and what type of cabin they are in and how much they paid for he cruise.:p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted November 19, 2016 #165 Share Posted November 19, 2016 I never start by asking what status they have but by how much they earn and what type of cabin they are in and how much they paid for he cruise.:p All good choices. 😉 Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted November 19, 2016 #166 Share Posted November 19, 2016 All good choices. Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Forums mobile app Trust me, I am full of great ideas for starting awkward conversations.:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted November 19, 2016 #167 Share Posted November 19, 2016 (edited) Trust me, I am full of great ideas for starting awkward conversations.:D Marital status, religion, race relations, politics, age. 😱 All potentially more awkward than job Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Forums mobile app Edited November 19, 2016 by John&LaLa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troykahack Posted November 19, 2016 #168 Share Posted November 19, 2016 I've never used that question to break the ice. I always start by asking their status. Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Forums mobile app Now that is a good one John. Had a good laugh. But sometimes so true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troykahack Posted November 19, 2016 #169 Share Posted November 19, 2016 I never start by asking what status they have but by how much they earn and what type of cabin they are in and how much they paid for he cruise.:p Even better. Reason we avoid M&G and cabin crawl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troykahack Posted November 19, 2016 #170 Share Posted November 19, 2016 Marital status, religion, race relations, politics, age. 😱 All potentially more awkward than job Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Forums mobile app Just think about it. Why does any of this matter when one is on a cruise. Why can't people just get along and just enjoy. ???? How come it is so important to find these things out?? Lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
payitforward Posted November 19, 2016 #171 Share Posted November 19, 2016 (edited) Just think about it. Why does any of this matter when one is on a cruise. Why can't people just get along and just enjoy. ???? How come it is so important to find these things out?? Lol You DO know they were joking right? lol I would guess the "what do you do for a living" question is especially difficult for doctors. I can see people sharing every illness or injury they've ever had, and asking for advice on new issues. I've always had great tablemates. That said, I sometimes worry about being the bad tablemate. 1.) I've gotten MUCH better about this but...when I'm insecure, or in a new environment, I tend to talk too much. 2.) I've done so many different things in my life that I'm sure people think I'm lying. Water ski show performer Call Center Manager Travel Agent Firefighter/EMT 911 Dispatcher Preschool Manager Author Professional Speaker I don't "jump" from job to job. Many of these things were done simultaneously. But, when a story from yet another career comes up in conversation, I can almost hear people thinking "she's so full of ****!" lol Edited November 19, 2016 by payitforward Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare John&LaLa Posted November 19, 2016 #172 Share Posted November 19, 2016 Porn star. Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
payitforward Posted November 19, 2016 #173 Share Posted November 19, 2016 Porn star. Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Forums mobile app Hahaha! I can just HEAR the questions they might ask. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug R. Posted November 19, 2016 #174 Share Posted November 19, 2016 (edited) One time when asked what I did for a living I replied "As little as possible." Most of the tablemates laughed, but one sour old gentleman said "You are what is wrong with America." Luckily we were on anytime dining and never sat with him again. Edited November 19, 2016 by Doug R. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
payitforward Posted November 19, 2016 #175 Share Posted November 19, 2016 One time when asked what I did for a living I replied "As little as possible." Most of the tablemates laughed, but one sour old gentleman said "You are what is wrong with America." Luckily we were on anytime dining and never sat with him again. Too funny! What did he think you were cruising on his tax dollars? Haha! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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