What do you like and/or dislike about sharing a table with strangers?

I'm trying to read comments from people in response to Strophic's new, on-topic question. How about you?

 

No, the beeping horn of you backing up is distracting me. I am trying to focus back to the discussion though. With fingers in ears: la la la.........

 

Burt

The problem a lot of people have with many of the changes is that the brand that used to actually provide what they want no longer does so: a traditional experience at a main stream line cost.

 

Save your breath (or your fingers in this case). You're trying to reason with someone who has a superiority complex.

 

Agree; it appears IMHO, that the poster which lead to this discussion, is in marketing which often rationalizes comparing apples and oranges and calls it a trend. Marketing research is very often weak data and not well done. (another discussion)

 

One piece missing in this discussion is that the cruise lies have encouraged and fostered, strongly, their loyalty programs. This is why people often are loyal to the same cruise lines.

The cruise line corporations make changes based on the bottom line not because of a trend to make a more luxury cruise line. The loyal customers get upset because their experience has been cheapened or is less of a value for them.

 

To suggest just to go somewhere else really can be disheartening for some who are loyal customers; it seems the company is saying 'to bad for you' and you are being kicked to the curb.

 

(Mea Copa for contributing to a off topic discussion)

Edited July 20, 2017 by Cruisercl
typo

To suggest just to go somewhere else really can be disheartening for some who are loyal customers; it seems the company is saying 'to bad for you' and you are being kicked to the curb.

Yes, it can be disheartening if you hold proprietary feelings toward a company that clearly is holding no such feelings toward you, seeing you as a living, breathing future revenue stream. However, we're here to help each other get the most out of our vacations. In that context, what better advice is there than to either change yourself so that you want what your chosen cruise line is offering or change your cruise line so that your chosen cruise line offers what you want?

To suggest just to go somewhere else really can be disheartening for some who are loyal customers; it seems the company is saying 'to bad for you' and you are being kicked to the curb.

 

Disheartening is a good description and I have little patience for folks who lash out as bUU has.

 

Most of us here have some amount of emotional passion for cruising. Lucky for us this forum provides an outlet to express that passion with like minded friends. Cruising is just fun to talk about.

 

The problem is that sometimes posters comments attack our passion and it hurts because we have so much emotion tied up in it. Our instinct is to react by attacking back. Luckily most of us have enough pragmatic sensibility to balance the emotion instinct so that we don't react to every single comment that strikes at our passion.

 

But not everyone has the maturity to control their emotion. I actually feel sympathy for members here who consistently react by lashing out every time they feel offended by a post. If they lack the maturity to control their emotions of cruising, imagine how well they deal with the hard stuff like work, marriage, and raising kids. As much as they struggle here on the forum, this might just be the happiest place of their life.

 

Burt

So much for your trying to focus on the topic. It's apparently all about you and all about your grudges. Since you seem intent on just posting personal attack after personal attack and not allowing the on topic discussion to take place go ahead and have the final word.

So much for your trying to focus on the topic. It's apparently all about you and all about your grudges. Since you seem intent on just posting personal attack after personal attack and not allowing the on topic discussion to take place go ahead and have the final word.

 

Oh, good heavens. Here we go again. Don't you ever get tired of fighting with people? When are you going to learn that you can't keep forcing your opinions on those who disagree with you. My goodness, you're getting into these tiffs every day lately.

Oh, good heavens. Here we go again. Don't you ever get tired of fighting with people? When are you going to learn that you can't keep forcing your opinions on those who disagree with you. My goodness, you're getting into these tiffs every day lately.

 

 

 

I've noticed that too!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

So much for your trying to focus on the topic. It's apparently all about you and all about your grudges. Since you seem intent on just posting personal attack after personal attack and not allowing the on topic discussion to take place go ahead and have the final word.

 

 

Ah, like the lonely cloud sliding in with temporary relief from the blazing hot Cuban sun (isn't it always hot while passing Cuba?), we can refocus on the fun stuff.

 

On the discussion of the buffet, I'm a bit introverted, so I struggle to invite myself at a table with others already at the business of eating. But of the times I pushed myself and asked, I have never been refused or made felt unwelcome. In general folks are friendly and inviting. Even the big guy with the skull tattoo turned out to be very friendly. We don't always have discussions, but do once in a while.

 

I'm not a big fan of buffets in general, but that is more because Sally and I are in the habit of skipping buffets at home to watch our weight. Buffets on the ship are a fun people watching place and the food is ok. I especially enjoy buffets after boarding because everyone is excited and we feed off their energy.

 

Buffets on cruise ships can also be kind of a pick-me-up for those days when cruising zaps the energy from us. I don't know how, but Sally and I have a habit of going back to the ship for a buffet lunch after a long hot humid morning of shopping on shore. We use the buffet to re-energize our batteries for the trip back out to the beach.

 

Sorry, I wandered off for a moment there. Blame it on age. :cool:

 

Burt

We have had some great discussions whilst sharing a meal table - whether that be in the MDR or buffet. We always prefer to share and, while we have not made long-term friends, we have met many nice people. Although we have not cruised as often as some of you (we are into double figures for cruises and treble figures for nights onboard), I can remember only 1 person we would rather not have dined with.

 

We also talk fondly of a meal we had in France where we shared a table with 2 elderly Parisian gentlemen and a young Dutch couple. It's a shame that it is not the 'done thing' generally here at home - although we did invite 2 people to join us at a table when we were out at the weekend and spent a happy hour chatting to them. They just happened to be fellow cruisers!

We were relocating from Miami to the SF Bay area .... long drive! dd was 5 and along the way mentioned "I can't wait to see my friends"

 

hmmmm??? we've never been to the west coast b4 ... "sweetheart, you don't have friends there."

 

"Yes I do, we just haven't met yet ......"

 

*********

 

if I can paraphrase lyric of a jazz singer I enjoy:

 

to the other guy ... you're the other guy ......

 

*******************

We are actually ok if there is a table for two next to our table for two. This way we and our neighbors can have an occasional conversation, but not obligated to interact all the time.

We were relocating from Miami to the SF Bay area .... long drive! dd was 5 and along the way mentioned "I can't wait to see my friends"

 

hmmmm??? we've never been to the west coast b4 ... "sweetheart, you don't have friends there."

 

"Yes I do, we just haven't met yet ......"

 

*********

 

if I can paraphrase lyric of a jazz singer I enjoy:

 

to the other guy ... you're the other guy ......

 

*******************

 

 

 

Too cute! We should all have that kind of attitude. [emoji847]

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Too cute! We should all have that kind of attitude. [emoji847]

 

 

With that attitude I would love to have you as a fellow passenger:cool:

We were relocating from Miami to the SF Bay area .... long drive! dd was 5 and along the way mentioned "I can't wait to see my friends"

 

hmmmm??? we've never been to the west coast b4 ... "sweetheart, you don't have friends there."

 

"Yes I do, we just haven't met yet ......"

 

*********

 

if I can paraphrase lyric of a jazz singer I enjoy:

 

to the other guy ... you're the other guy ......

 

*******************

 

The fact that this attitude does appear among people who like traditional dining is one of the primary reasons we prefer traditional dining. Then, too, the fact that people who do not like to engage in conversations with strangers can get their own two-tops improves the chances of having a compatible dining group.

The folks we met up with via shared tables were terrific. Lots of interesting stories, advice, etc.

We prefer to have a table for two. Not that we are not sociable but with poor hearing I find trying to hear others with so much background noise difficult and embarrassing. We have in the past enjoyed the company of a large table with fixed dining and made some very good "friends" .But, alas with the change of circumstances we are forced to change.

Our experiences have taught us that odds are we're better off on a two top. For example, during one prior cruise, we were seated at a table of eight, and the family of four at the table never showed and never called to say they were not coming. The staff refused to take our orders until they waited almost a half hour for this family that never came.

 

Is that situation usual? We haven't done assigned dining for years, but must do so on an upcoming cruise (MSC). I forgot how assigned seating works....

Do we need to wait til everyone at our table gets there before ordering?

We (2) had a table for 10 many years ago and ate alone.The other 8 did not show until the 5th evening and we still basically ate alone as they were from the orient and none of them spoke English, they seemed nice ,smiled and nodded a bit but did not return the following evenings. They had trouble ordering and it upset the waiter. It was interesting watching them pour thousand island dressing into their soup.:confused: No worries though as we were enjoying all the table space.:)

they were from the orient

 

 

You mean...Asia?

 

 

Man, sometimes I feel like these forums are a time portal back to the 50's.

Just respect other people's ways and sit quietly for the one minute it might take.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

 

Doesn't that respect go both ways? Maybe they should respect my way - which is to eat when the food is placed in front of everyone. You want to pray - fine, do it silently while I eat.

 

This and so many other reasons is why we get a table for 2 or just our group. I enjoy having dinner and good conversation with my DH. We have a vast variety of things in common that we like to discuss.

 

I have no problem meeting people, and will chat with people all over the ship, but if I find that those people are not ones I want to have further conversation with, I can suddenly remember a spa appointment and move on. You can't really do that at a big table. Yes you can ask to change, but then you have the same situation - what if you don't like them - or they don't like you. I can understand that people might not like me either - I wouldn't want to force them to spend 7-8 dinners in my company :D

 

We had 2 women at the last table where we sat at a big round one who had changed table 3 times before arriving at ours - a table for 10 which up until these 2 women showed up and no one else sitting at it. And yes we had to wait each night before they would take our orders. The women were very nice, but we had absolutely nothing in common with them. We finally let them talk between them, while we carried on our own conversation.

 

Sorry - I don't want to sit with the visible prayers or the hand holders or the drunks or the people who don't approve of our shared bottle of wine (I heard someone tell of getting nightly lectures from the non-drinking couple at their table). I have strong opinions on a lot of subjects, and don't choose to argue or debate over dinner with someone who shares equally strong, but opposite views. I've seen and encountered quite a few people on cruises I wouldn't want to have dinner with for 7-8 nights. And again - maybe they wouldn't want to have dinner with me. I'm okay with that and my 2 top for my husband and myself. If the people sitting nearby are nice, we can share a few words, but there isn't that obligation to chat for 2 hours.

Doesn't that respect go both ways? Maybe they should respect my way - which is to eat when the food is placed in front of everyone. You want to pray - fine, do it silently while I eat.

 

This and so many other reasons is why we get a table for 2 or just our group. I enjoy having dinner and good conversation with my DH. We have a vast variety of things in common that we like to discuss.

 

I have no problem meeting people, and will chat with people all over the ship, but if I find that those people are not ones I want to have further conversation with, I can suddenly remember a spa appointment and move on. You can't really do that at a big table. Yes you can ask to change, but then you have the same situation - what if you don't like them - or they don't like you. I can understand that people might not like me either - I wouldn't want to force them to spend 7-8 dinners in my company :D

 

We had 2 women at the last table where we sat at a big round one who had changed table 3 times before arriving at ours - a table for 10 which up until these 2 women showed up and no one else sitting at it. And yes we had to wait each night before they would take our orders. The women were very nice, but we had absolutely nothing in common with them. We finally let them talk between them, while we carried on our own conversation.

 

Sorry - I don't want to sit with the visible prayers or the hand holders or the drunks or the people who don't approve of our shared bottle of wine (I heard someone tell of getting nightly lectures from the non-drinking couple at their table). I have strong opinions on a lot of subjects, and don't choose to argue or debate over dinner with someone who shares equally strong, but opposite views. I've seen and encountered quite a few people on cruises I wouldn't want to have dinner with for 7-8 nights. And again - maybe they wouldn't want to have dinner with me. I'm okay with that and my 2 top for my husband and myself. If the people sitting nearby are nice, we can share a few words, but there isn't that obligation to chat for 2 hours.

I may have written this myself. You stated perfectly how I feel. Period.

After reading this thread I shall cease from wearing my hat into the MDR, I shall check it at the hat and coat check prior to entering.:cool:

I don't think anyone here has asked others to 'pray' to another God/Allah/the devil/etc. All that was mentioned was table mates could bow their head in silence OR give thanks to whatever their deity is. Be it a sheep, a sun, a river, whatever. It is an act of giving thanks. If you boil it down to something that simple, most everyone should be able to find a path that suits them to "feel" comfortable for 1 minute.

 

My path leads straight to the food. I don't even take food porn photos because I'm too busy eating to remember. ;p

You mean...Asia?

 

 

Man, sometimes I feel like these forums are a time portal back to the 50's.

 

Yes Asia, I'm sorry to be wrong or offensive. I was unaware.

Yes Asia, I'm sorry to be wrong or offensive. I was unaware.

Don't be sorry. Just some anal retentive person that needed to show his "politically "correct word.

Edited August 12, 2017 by champagne123
...........