Table for two in MDR on R-class ships

[Torquer]

We have only sailed on the O-class ships and know there were many tables for two available in the MDR and specialty restaurants.  Now my wife and I are looking at a cruise on Nautica.  We have never been thrilled with sharing a table and now in these Covid times we would definitely not want to do it.  So how hard is it to get a table for two (or a table for four with only two people using it) in the MDR on Nautica or R-class ships in general?  We would be staying in an Owner's suite or Vista suite, but I don't know if the MDR maitre 'd takes that into account.  I assume there would be no problem with getting a table for two in the specialty restaurants when making a reservation.

[1985rz1]

22 minutes ago, Torquer said:

We have only sailed on the O-class ships and know there were many tables for two available in the MDR and specialty restaurants.  Now my wife and I are looking at a cruise on Nautica.  We have never been thrilled with sharing a table and now in these Covid times we would definitely not want to do it.  So how hard is it to get a table for two (or a table for four with only two people using it) in the MDR on Nautica or R-class ships in general?  We would be staying in an Owner's suite or Vista suite, but I don't know if the MDR maitre 'd takes that into account.  I assume there would be no problem with getting a table for two in the specialty restaurants when making a reservation.

I don't think that the Maitre 'd would take into account stateroom level, but we've never had a problem getting a 2-top on the R-ships. It's first come, first serve.  Sometimes we had to wait 10 or 15 minutes, but we always got a 2-top.

 

However, getting a 2-top in a specialty at the time you prefer is a bit more difficult for most, but in this case, your suite level will give you an earlier opportunity to pre-book on line

Edited November 13, 2022 by 1985rz1

[tropicalkerry2002]

We've never had a problem, but we are dining by 7PM.

[LHT28]

Depends on the rest of the pax  but  we have only encountered a problem once or twice  in all the years we have sailed on the R ships

We did  a B2B  one yr   first sailing no problem with a 2 top at 6:30 ish

2nd segment   was a struggle 

we just shared  with others on those nights

YMMV

 

In a top suite  you can always "order in" if the Butler is notified  early that day

[ORV]

2 hours ago, 1985rz1 said:

I don't think that the Maitre 'd would take into account stateroom level, but we've never had a problem getting a 2-top on the R-ships. It's first come, first serve.  Sometimes we had to wait 10 or 15 minutes, but we always got a 2-top.

 

However, getting a 2-top in a specialty at the time you prefer is a bit more difficult for most, but in this case, your suite level will give you an earlier opportunity to pre-book on line

While I usually agree with you I do think the Maitre D does takes in to account not only your room level but your Oceania Status. I do completely agree with the second paragraph. Having said that I don't have an issue getting a good table while being in an OV or Inside. But I've only been in an inside once. 

 

I'm also of the group that we rarely have an issue dining alone if we choose to in the GDR. The only time this is really important to me is in the morning. Until I've had a couple of glasses of Iced tea and a little food I'm not really in the mood for chit chat. 

Edited November 13, 2022 by ORV

[pinotlover]

Just inform the Maitre De in the GDR and he’ll facilitate you.

 

On a completely separate side note. Two tops should not expect faster or more facilitated service than shared tables just because they are on a two top. The staff is very observant to this other wise it can cause a mutiny. Two toppers wait and ( hopefully) enjoy their time together at the same pace as all others. Those with different expectations often find themselves disappointed.

Edited November 13, 2022 by pinotlover

[LHT28]

4 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

Just inform the Maitre De in the GDR and he’ll facilitate you.

 

On a completely separate side note. Two tops should not expect faster or more facilitated service than shared tables just because they are on a two top. The staff is very observant to this other wise it can cause a mutiny. Two toppers wait and ( hopefully) enjoy their time together at the same pace as all others. Those with different expectations often find themselves disappointed.

When we share  it is  1.5 to 2 + hrs  for dinner

 a 2 top we have been in/out in less than 1 hr

 we have all the same amount of courses  & not rushed through them

the big difference is  Shared tables  the others may order more courses

YMMV

[ORV]

I gotta agree with Lyn on this. In and out much quicker when we dine alone. 

[pinotlover]

Part of that is just discussions among the group taking longer, part of it is the people sharing ordering 5-6 courses while everyone else orders 3. 

My point was the staff is careful not allowing a 4-6 top watch a 2 top getting served 3 courses while they get served one.

 

[LHT28]

1 hour ago, pinotlover said:

My point was the staff is careful not allowing a 4-6 top watch a 2 top getting served 3 courses while they get served one.

 

I am not sure  what you are trying to say??

Of course  a table for 2 will be served  the next course long before  the table for 6  next to them  if they both came to dinner at the same time slot 

The wait staff is not going to make the 2 top wait until the table for 6 finish  their  1st course  before they serve the 2 top their next course 

[Mura]

As a couple who prefer sharing, we've fairly often found ourselves at a two-top when no one else at the time we arrived was interesting in sharing.  They obviously don't want to put a couple at a 4-6 top and have no one else show up.  So we understand when this happens.

 

But I think what it also means it that there really isn't a problem accommodating couples who want to dine alone.  Sometimes, perhaps.  But not as a rule.

[jondfk]

We're new to O, first sailing just in April, then again in September for a total of 35 days all on Regatta.  Both sailings in a PH2 cabin.  Some observations from our fresh eyes.

 

- There can be no doubt cabin category plays some role in seating.  This was quite obvious to me even as a first time O passenger.  We frequently dined on the early end, and always got a 2-top if we wanted it, though we occasionally arrived with new friends and shared a table.

 

- We did see a small handful of folks waiting in the bar area to be seated when we exited on a couple of evenings.  The hostess commented that "everyone came at once" on one occasion but the staff worked hard to turn vacant tables quickly.  My guess is the only time you might actually face a wait was sort of 1 hour after the GDR opened, before the earliest two tops started to clear.  

 

- I did note that even on evenings where a wait occurred there were many (many, many) large tables vacant.  There comes a point in the evening when it might be logical for O to seat a twosome at a table for 4 or 6 recognizing it's unlikely that dozens of folks are about to descent with "we prefer to dine with others" requests.  As logical as this sounds to me, I never saw such a modification put into action.

 

- On the question of pacing, for the most part staff were attuned to the differences in number of courses ordered and how engaged the table was with activities other than consuming their meals.  When dining alone, and ordering our typical 3 courses, every service team but one allowed us to follow our own pace, one team did anchor us to a nearby table for 8 which stretched our usual 1 hour 15 minute meal to more than 2 hours but that was a (notable) aberration.  A word with the Maitre'd avoided a repeat.

 

Overall, we found the GDR experience quite good, in fact in our live from I commented that service and meal quality in the GDR was equal to many specialty restaurants on other lines, and indeed far superior to Toscana on our April sailing (for the September sailing Toscana won an award for most improved in our minds).

Edited November 14, 2022 by jondfk

[Roccaforte]

I think  your suite category matters.  When entering the MDR the hostess requests your suite number and keys it in on whatever her device is.  When traveling in a PH we’ve never had to wait for a two top.  In specialty venues we’ve shared (our choice) and they’ve always been good experiences.  I agree with previous poster that I’m not ready to socialize at breakfast.  I need my caffeine.

[LHT28]

I think Oceania  has the dining down just fine

timing is everything 😉

 

Pre covid they encouraged people to share  when 2 tops were not available 

rarely did we get a 4 top for ourselves 

They will seat you at one for 10-15 minutes & if not one turns up to share  then they clear the other settings

 

Other lines  will seat you with others 

one one line  they sat us for breakfast  at a large table  where people were at various stages of their  meal

so some were just finishing  some had  part of their meal others like us  just arrived .. it was not  enjoyable

Another  Luxury line ..were going to seat us at a table  where people had finished their 1 st course 

So they had to wait  for us to have our 1st course  before they brought out the next course

JMO

[MarkWiltonM]

53 minutes ago, Roccaforte said:

I think  your suite category matters.  When entering the MDR the hostess requests your suite number and keys it in on whatever her device is.  When traveling in a PH we’ve never had to wait for a two top.  In specialty venues we’ve shared (our choice) and they’ve always been good experiences.  I agree with previous poster that I’m not ready to socialize at breakfast.  I need my caffeine.

 

If there are no reservations in the MDR, I don't see how your cabin category could matter. If there is an empty table for 2 in the dining room it should be yours. If you see one and the hostess says there are none available, ask her about the empty one you see, and ask if it's possible for anyone to reserve such a table. Am I missing something?

[sunlover12]

My experience is that they will seat a twosome at a table for 4. One evening we entered the GDR after the big 6:30 rush. It was a few minutes before 7:00 and there was no line. We asked for either a sharing table if one is available or a table for 2. We left it up to the Maitre de.  There was no sharing table available so they immediately sat us at a table for 4, told us it will just be the 2 of us and took away the remaining 2 place settings.  I think it just depends on what's available and what they are expecting when you arrive.

[Acrusa]

We like the MDR on the R ships because bar and lounge are near the entrance. Get there around 7:15 request a table for 2 along the widows. We give our name and then order a bottle of wine in the lounge chat with others and when table available we go to dine and the wine bottle follows LOL

[LHT28]

2 hours ago, Acrusa said:

We like the MDR on the R ships because bar and lounge are near the entrance. Get there around 7:15 request a table for 2 along the widows. We give our name and then order a bottle of wine in the lounge chat with others and when table available we go to dine and the wine bottle follows LOL

You can do the same with Martinis & the Casino bar

We have not had a bottle  but the waiter will transport your drinks to the GDR  with you

[GeezerCouple]

8 hours ago, sunlover12 said:

My experience is that they will seat a twosome at a table for 4. One evening we entered the GDR after the big 6:30 rush. It was a few minutes before 7:00 and there was no line. We asked for either a sharing table if one is available or a table for 2. We left it up to the Maitre de.  There was no sharing table available so they immediately sat us at a table for 4, told us it will just be the 2 of us and took away the remaining 2 place settings.  I think it just depends on what's available and what they are expecting when you arrive.

 

We've had something similar a few times, albeit on our cruises on the Riviera.

 

We arrived and requested a table for 2, and we were shown to a table for 4 and asked if this would be satisfactory.  (We did not see any empty 2-tops.)  We said yes, and they asked if we prefered to sit "next" to each other, at a corner, or across from each other, and then they clear the other two place settings accordingly.  Because the table wasn't huge, we prefer "across" under those circumstances, so we don't have to look sideways (although that's not nearly as bad as being seated side-by-side on a banquette, something we hate, especially if it is just the two of us).

 

On one occasion, we were asked if we'd like to join a larger table as there were no 2-tops immediately available, so we glanced at each other, and said, "Sure!"  We had a lovely time, but we generally prefer just a table for two, unless there are others we arrange to meet for dinner, etc.

 

GC