Dinner seating

[Island Annie]

I think the maitra di (sp?) tries to seat any "singles" with other singles when he can.

 

If for any reason you're not happy with your tablemates, talk to the mai tra di ASAP and ask if you can be moved to another table. They get this request all the time and are always willing to accomodate when they can.

 

I've only had to ask for another table once. I was on the Carnival Immagination, had requested late seating (which I got) but was seated at a table of 4 with 3 people who only spoke French. I talked to the maitra di the first night and asked if I could be moved. He was able to accomodate my request & moved me to a table of 8 where there were a group of 7 friends from NY. We immediately hit it off & they invited me to join them in St. Thomas the next day to do some exploring. We had so much fun together we ended up island-hopping together all week long and became very good friends:-). We all kept in touch via email & got our group back together for several "reunion" cruises:-)

 

So, please don't hesitate to ask for a different table if you think you'd enjoy yourself more with different tablemates.

 

Until reading about this on the cc board, I didn't know this was even an option. So I hope this info will be helpful to you too.

 

Bon Voyage!

 

Annie

[monakayk]

I've gone solo twice. Once was on Carnival, and once was on Celebrity.

 

The celebrity cruise had me sitting with two couples and a woman and her mother.

 

The Carnival one was a disaster. They had me sitting in the middle of the aisle at a table for two. Whether or not they had someone assigned to sit with me, there was no one else at the table. I sat through dinner alone.

 

After dinner, I talked to my maitre'd. I asked if I could PLEASE be put at ta large table with PEOPLE there. He checked his board and said he had a large table for eight that had an empty space, and he'd put me with them. He said he had walked by that table earlier, and they looked like a good, happy crowd.

 

So, the next night, I show up at my table for eight, expecting to meet seven people for dinner. NO ONE showed up. The waiter finally asked me if the rest of the people in my party would be showing up that night. I said, "I don't know...I'm not with anyone. What were they like last night?" He said, "NO ONE showed up here last night. This table was empty."

 

Needless to say, I spent the other 5 nights eating in the windjammer for dinner.

AGHHHHHHH!!!! That is the maître de's fault.

There has to have been a table within the entire dining room with one seat available?!!!! Seems strange to me that they couldn't help you out more.

 

By chance, did you ask how the seating was for the other dinner time? Maybe they could've found you a seat with a group at that time.

[topguy]

I traveled on a 7 day cruise on the Elation last year solo. I usually travel alone and love doing it, so I can do what I want to when I want to. The best reason I travel alone is to meet other people from around the world. Usually when I travel with other people, we stay in our own clique, and never get to talk and meet others. On the Elation, I was seated with two other solo men on the first night. One of the men never showed on the remaining nights, but I had a most enjoyable time talking with and getting to know the oher one. Even though we live in different cities, it nice to have friends in other cities.

[oc323]

I've had both happen. When I went with another girlfriend (Carnival Spirit) we went to the single social and met others we wanted to dine with. Switching tables was easy.

[FlorenceItaly]

I have cruised on HAL solo two times, and was always seated with other solos or mother/daughters traveling. HAL is very solo friendly in many respects. I cruised solo on Celebrity, however, there was a large group from the board here and we linked reservations together. I have now booked my first solo Carnival cruise, and I am a bit nervous. I leave in 29 days :). My fear is not getting seated with others. I hope and pray that does not happen. Of course, if it does, I will make other arrangements, but it happening even one night is one too many for me. I know that would never happen with HAL.

 

 

 

Marie

[Sansouci]

This thread has been very enlightening. I've taken two solo cruises this year and have avoided the dining rooms like the plague for all the reasons mentioned above. I tend to be a grazer anyway, so until now have been happy grazing the buffets, sushi bars, pizza stands, deli's, and all the other informal dining options. However, I do realize that a big chunk of my change goes towards formal dining. Next time I WILL ask to be seated either at a large table or with other singles if possible.

 

Thanks, guys! :D --Deb

[Lois R]

This thread has been very enlightening. I've taken two solo cruises this year and have avoided the dining rooms like the plague for all the reasons mentioned above. I tend to be a grazer anyway, so until now have been happy grazing the buffets, sushi bars, pizza stands, deli's, and all the other informal dining options. However, I do realize that a big chunk of my change goes towards formal dining. Next time I WILL ask to be seated either at a large table or with other singles if possible.

 

Thanks, guys! :D --Deb

 

Hi Deb:) I sail solo and LOVE the dining room:D...it is one

of my most favorite places on the entire ship;)

You said you avoid it like the plague? I gravitate towards it

like...well a place that serves fabulous food and offers

outstanding service!

IF you know you are sailing solo, I would suggest seeing

if there is a roll called started for your cruise. I have met

tons of people on them and many, many nice folks have asked

me to join them. We usually get an 8 top. I feel like that is a great

size table. You can chat with everyone and the folks I have sailed

with usually end up playing musical chairs as the week goes on.

Great way to get to know one another.

Now of course not every cruise have I been on had an active roll call.

But that is ok too. Last cruise (back in March) I ended up at

a wonderful 6 top... 3 friends together, another gal,

one guy, and myself! We all got along great!

Usually the Maitr'ds and wait staff are very helpful. If you are not

happy at your table~eat there the first evening and go see the

Maitr'd after dinner. They always get many requests for changes

after that first meal.

I feel like I am missing out on a wonderful part of my cruise

by skipping the dining room......so I never skip it:D

[Sansouci]

Lois, thanks for the great advice! :) I have a feeling that my solo cruise experience is about to change drastically. I should also mention that I'm a newcomer to Cruise Critic and didn't really know about Roll Calls or the fact that you could ask for specific seating arrangements once aboard the ship. Eating is for me -- and probably for most others -- primarily a social experience, so I know that I should enjoy it to the fullest, not wolfing down some sushi in a corner of the ship by myself. From now on, I'll definitely use the Roll Calls as a starting point. Again, thanks. --Deb

[Lois R]

Deb, we are almost neighbors:)

Glad I could help! And I hope your crusies become

even better for you now:D

[Deb1113]

Have any of you ever gotten a seating you did not want and were unable to change it? I requested third seating for my 9/3 Victory cruise to Canada. But I keep getting flashes of being assigned to the first seating and having the maitre d tell me there was nothing he could do and that I had to settle for the earliest time. I suppose I could deal with the second seating (the fourth would be my second choice), but to me, the first would be dreadful.

[Aldo Ray]

Hello cruisers!

I have cruised with family, friends, and solo. I find each condition to be enjoyable. When cruising solo I always ask for a large table because you are bound to find someone that you click with. Several years ago I met some people on a cruise that have continued to travel together. With 9 solo cruises I have only switched tables once and that was because I met some people that begged me to come to their table. Their table was already full so they just squeesed me in. I personally hate to dine alone and much prefer to socialise at dinner.

 

Aldo;)

[Hopeelan]

Hi all,

I have cruised 3 times as a solo as well as 2 times with friends...and I will tell you that I have loved every minute of my solo trips! All 3 times I was seated at a large table of 8-10 people and I have never had a bad experience. And the best thing about cruising solo.....no timetables :-)

[Lois R]

Have any of you ever gotten a seating you did not want and were unable to change it? I requested third seating for my 9/3 Victory cruise to Canada. But I keep getting flashes of being assigned to the first seating and having the maitre d tell me there was nothing he could do and that I had to settle for the earliest time. I suppose I could deal with the second seating (the fourth would be my second choice), but to me, the first would be dreadful.

 

There are 4 seatings on your cruise? I cannot imagine changing would

become a problem, especially since you are 1 person.

Hope you have a wonderful time:) and wonderful tablemates abound!:D

[Deb1113]

There are 4 seatings on your cruise? I cannot imagine changing would

become a problem, especially since you are 1 person.

Hope you have a wonderful time:) and wonderful tablemates abound!:D

 

Yes, they have first seating early (5:30?) first seating late (6:15?) and second seating early (7:45?) and second seating late (8:30?). I'm estimating the times. Thanks - can't wait to go.