Ice breakers at dinner

[jwlane]

ways to break the ice with tablemates?

Any of ya'll swingers?

[SueOverend]

My husband always does his "cork" trick after dinner - which normally works a treat.

 

We jokingly suggest before we go down to our first dinner to pretend to be somebody different than we actually are to liven up our table. However, we've always chickened out when we sit down! Maybe one year we will, but it will be tough to carry it through for the whole week.

[TennisLover]

On every cruise I've been on, it's been a family situation -- 10 or 12 of us. Not official "strangers" (although my DH might actually agree with the word "strange" for some of them).

 

Wish I could set some conversation rules with them. Also, after reading this board, I'm thinking it might be nice to actually sit with new people at dinner and chat sometimes!

 

Will have to go back to this board before my next cruise to find some ice breakers (not my strong point).

[MrsPete]

I have no problem with discussing where we're all from or what we do for a living -- provided, of course, people keep it positive. No one wants to hear, "Oh, I visited your state once. I got food poisoning there." And, of course, no one should be so imposing as to push beyond the realm of casual conversation when discussing work, "So, since you're an accountant, can you tell me what to do in this situation . . . " But as long as you avoid extremes and negatives, home and work can be fine topics.

 

Children -- if everyone has them -- can be a good topic (whether they're present or not). Have your kids taken part in any of the onboard activities? Are they enjoying the kids' clubs? Everyone should refrain, of course, from bragging about their son the quarterback and their daughter the Merit Scholar. Again, avoidance of extremes.

 

Perhaps the best topic, however, is the cruise itself. Excursions are a wonderful topic: What are you planning to do in St. Thomas? Have you visited the island before? Then, the next night you can discuss where you ate on St. Thomas, the transportation, etc. Do you plan to see the show tonight? Have you visited the casino, and can you explain the rules of roulette to me?

 

Books, movies, popular culture are all up for discussion. Just ask open-ended questions and pay attention to see if people are interested in the topic. For example, if you talk to me about sports, you're going to get short, unenthusiastic answers; that's a good indication that it's time to choose a new subject.

 

If children are present, do include them in the conversation too: Have you visited the kids' clubs? Are you going to try the rock climbing wall?

 

Like most people, I'd agree that politics and money are best avoided. Also avoid anything that could bring embarassment to your tablemates: "We're in a royal suite -- where are you staying? Oh, an inside. That must be nice."

[parrotthead]

You could just buy a round.:rolleyes:

OK, now your just being a trouble maker;) :p

[akh40]

Oh, I get so, so, so tired of being asked that. Especially when the reaction is "you gotta be kidding!!??" for 5 minutes when I say no, it's my fifth.

 

Also get tired of being asked "Where are you from?" I'm sailing out of Galveston, d'oh. Where are you from? is what I ask the people who work the cruise, they're from all over the world!

 

We sailed out of Vancouver and we live in Boise. I think it's possible to NOT live in the city where the cruise leaves from! :)

[aucruiser]

Cruise topics are always safe. The first night, you can ask or talk about travel to the ship. How early was your flight, etc.? If they came in a day early, what did they do in the port city? Ask about pets. But don't continually ask questions just to keep the conversation going. Its o.k. to have times when no one is talking-IMHO.

[akh40]

Cruise topics are always safe. The first night, you can ask or talk about travel to the ship. How early was your flight, etc.? If they came in a day early, what did they do in the port city? Ask about pets. But don't continually ask questions just to keep the conversation going. Its o.k. to have times when no one is talking-IMHO.

 

I so agree with that last statement. My MIL is one who always fills in any gaps of a conversation with whatever jumps in her head. She cannot STAND to have silences in a conversation. Drives me insane!!:rolleyes:

 

Amanda

[MargaritaPlease]

"Let's mix it up a little this week -- let's try to sit in different seats each night, next to different people, so that we get an opportunity to talk with each other better."

 

Oh boy. Right there is where my entire family is suddenly excused and we slip to an opposite corner of the dining room for table reassignment.

 

Just be yourself and relax - or try the fart jokes.

[Xine]

 

For example, it is often said not to ask about one's job, however, I LOVE my job (I'm a teacher). On my last cruise, I was very careful NOT to ask others what they did for a living, but on the third or fourth night, someone asked me, and as is turned out, she was a teacher as well and we spent the rest of the cruise talking about it.

 

On my last cruise everyone avoided talking about their jobs for most of the cruise, until the last night. Then, as we went around the table and told what we did for a living, it turned out that one lady was a phlebotomist for a certain national lab company, and one of the other couples OWNED THE COMPANY! HA!

 

That cruise was also fun because this older lady had one the lottery and was very flamboyant with her money. Every night she would flaunt all the goodies in her suite and once she actually started bragging about her engagement ring -- not how pretty it was but how much it cost! We were all a little embarassed for her.

[Xine]

Oh boy. Right there is where my entire family is suddenly excused and we slip to an opposite corner of the dining room for table reassignment.

 

Just be yourself and relax - or try the fart jokes.

 

 

I guess you've never gotten stuck sitting next to the lady who doesn't know how to make conversation while your spouse is animatedly talking to the person to his/her other side??

 

At a round table it's not always convenient to have a conversation across the table, so if you're the one that ends up next to an introverted person the whole cruise, it can really make dinner a chore instead of an experience.

 

I never understood the whole "assigned seats" thing anyway -- no matter what it is in life (not just cruise dinners) -- church, classes, etc. Mix things up a little people! See things from a different perspective!

[JLC@SD]

We jokingly suggest before we go down to our first dinner to pretend to be somebody different than we actually are to liven up our table. However, we've always chickened out when we sit down! Maybe one year we will, but it will be tough to carry it through for the whole week.

Here is a good story........

 

Posted by Xine....That cruise was also fun because this older lady had won the lottery and was very flamboyant with her money.

 

Tell em you won the lottery.....:)

[dad son team]

"We will not be buying any rounds this cruise, but feel free to include us in your purchase"

 

or

 

"I don't know about you, but I could use a drink...who's buying?"

[Crazy Cruiser Man]

Ask if anyone has ever heard of the Cruise Critic boards... 2 cruises ago, it turned out we were seated with another couple who I'd actually been chatting with on the boards and we didn't even know we were on the same dining time, much less table! It was a blast! If no one has heard, you might get someone hooked when you tell them all the great tips you got here...

that happened to me too

we were on the serenade last feb and the people beside me started talking about cruise critics and that person was one of the ones that i have been communicating with on the board and the conversation started with that.

[parrotthead]

"We will not be buying any rounds this cruise, but feel free to include us in your purchase"

 

or

 

"I don't know about you, but I could use a drink...who's buying?"

Oh, goodness:eek: ...now YOU are being a troublemaker...;)

[mcfaddensfarm]

We sailed out of Vancouver and we live in Boise. I think it's possible to NOT live in the city where the cruise leaves from! :)

 

Hey neighbor! We live in Nampa! It's hard to come by people who live out this way on these boards.

 

I think that usually RCCL does a good job of putting people together at tables. My husband is not into cruising so my son & I always cruise together. We've been very lucky each cruise so far to end up at tables that always had at least one child/teen who was near my son's age. On the last cruise, that person was a teenage girl, same age as my son. Since my son and I were the last to arrive at the table on that first night, I quickly walked ahead of him and made sure I sat down so that the only open chair was next to her. At first they were both very shy, but by the end of the cruise they were laughing like old friends about stuff that happened in the teen activities. He still stays in contact with her (and several of the other teens from the program) via email & instant messages. The family & friends that she was traveling with (all of the adults) made me feel very welcome at the table & even invited me to sit with them each night at the shows after dinner. I had a great time!

[chorder]

I am glad that I started this thread,every reply was helpful and positive and some were a hoot .If our tablemates are half as friendly as all the posters we won't have any problem at all . thanks again

[zeldaone]

I understand where you are coming from. I had a huge problem on our first cruise because my W (not DW at this point) -said we would get a table for 2 but that never happened. What did happen was that we met another couple,(we had a table for 6 - the other 2 never came) that were absolutely amazing! We had an absolute blast! (DW status then restored). DH status reduced to short form of Richard - from that point onward I was the one that wanted eat breakfast, lunch and dinner in the main dinning room to meet people!!!! - who woulda thunk?;)

What does DW stand for? Am I stupid for asking?

[BubbleCruiser]

Last cruise we were on, we bumped into a couple that we had been seeing the day before and day of all over the ship. The first night, they sat down at our table of 6 and we introduced ourselves and they turned out to be someone who I spoke to on Cruise Critic. We spend most of the vacation with this couple and they encouraged us to go on a cruise they went in the past. Had the greatest time...small, small world!

 

Wish I spent more time trying to keep in touch but we got engaged a month or so after the cruise and wedding planning started....

[parrotthead]

What does DW stand for? Am I stupid for asking?

Not stupid, I didnt know at frist either;) ...

DW= Dear Wife

DH=Dear Husband (somethimes 'Dear' is substuited for another "D" word:p )

DD=Dear Daughter

DS= Dear Son

you get the picture...MIL= mother in law...etc..

[suznf]

Whatever tidbits from here you choose...I always try to remember that it is best to be more interested than interesting.....

[Bigbudman]

To break the ice I always ask the wife what color panties she has on, and if she's wearing bikinis or thongs. I found that gets everyone engaged in the converstion. You'll be surprised at the resppnses I get!

 

Wow, we think alike....

[Bigbudman]

I am glad that I started this thread,every reply was helpful and positive and some were a hoot .If our tablemates are half as friendly as all the posters we won't have any problem at all . thanks again

 

We are on the same cruise. The last cruise we were on I started by making jokes about myself. It disarms people. You may not like everyone at the table, but you will find 1 or 2 couples that you have something in common with. Most people respond well to jokes and compliments.

Maybe you will be sitting with us?

[zantedeschia]

We sailed out of Vancouver and we live in Boise. I think it's possible to NOT live in the city where the cruise leaves from! :)

Ah, there's this joke on cruises that sail out of Galveston. Seems 75%+ of the people on them are from Texas! People start realizing this the first couple days of sailing, it seems. :) I think it has something to do with how difficult it is for out-of-towners to get from the airport(s) to Galveston, tho it's extremely convenient for me to just drive down to Galveston. I've never parked in the lot, I get a friend/relative to drop us off, then pick us up again at the end of the cruise. (I live in Houston, btw)

[zantedeschia]

Keep in mind that people are usually trying to be nice when asking such questions.

Smalltalk makes me uncomfortable. And it always seems after they've done the obligatory what's your name, where are you from, how many cruises have you been on, oh I see nods, they go back to chatting with whomever they've come with at the table, even if I try to participate in those conversations (it feels like a snub). This has only happened at breakfast/lunch in the dining room, I've had pretty good luck with tablemates otherwise. It makes me only want to eat in the Windjammer for breakfast/lunch.