PBinGB

Oh! And the leaving the spot for a "minute" thing...I usually ask someone close by if they can watch things for me.

I become really ticked with people who leave possessions/notes/whatever at 14:00 to save their spot so they have a seat with a view for double bubble at 16:00!

It's always an adventure! That's the fun of cruising! I discovered long ago that cruising as a single person is MUCH easier than any land trip I have ever done. Dining is one of the areas that make the difference. There are always choices.

On my latest cruise I requested a table for 6 in the MDR. This is what works best for me. I am hearing impaired, so big, round tables make it difficult for me to understand conversations. I have also found that a table for 6 is usually a mix of couples and singles. That cruise, we started with a married couple and 4 singles, "lost one" the second night (wanted early dining), and on the fourth night when we added one and lost another. All in all, it was a delightful time and I looked forward to seeing my four table mates and chatting each night about anything from the happenings of the day to (gasp) politics!

That said, I have also shared a table (for 6) with an obviously mentally ill woman who nightly loudly spoke of "The G-- D--- Germans shooting bullets into me!" I spoke with the maître d' saying, "Either move her or move me."

With SO many options for dining now, I don't see it as an issue. If I choose to be alone, I can do so, but more often than not, I enjoy being with people. The things memories are made of!