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Request dinner partners?


wave18
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When you enter the MDR you may be asked by the seating staff at the front desk if you want to join a table with others. And if you are not asked you might request a table with others. We have never done so and so don’t have a view in it. Of course we have linked up with friends at the Club or Observation Bar, walked in together and requested a table. No risk then.

 

That said we don’t readily join officer or staff hosted tables unless we already know who will be there. Why? On occasion we have had to endure some badly behaved types who insisted on projecting selfishly their views about their politics and/or money on the table. As if anyone is interested. No one needs such boorish and tiresome noise! Not acceptable period... Dinners are to be enjoyed, not just endured.

 

Does that help?

 

Happy and healthy sailing!

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On some ships, we have been able to request being matched up with random dinner partners. Is that possible on the Encore? If so, has anyone had good(or bad) experiences?

 

When you enter the MDR we have been asked if we want to dine by ourselves or share a table. We usually opt to dine alone, if we aren't dining with friends, but have sometimes shared a table.

 

The last time we did this about 18months ago, we shared a table for six. One couple was lets say interesting, the other couple was lots of fun. So much so we still keep in touch and have plans to sail with them next year.

 

So, as in many things in life, it is a gamble but it can work well.

 

Julie

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We usually prefer to join a large table so it's good to know we can ask for this (I can be an introvert - at a large table by husband has lots of options for conversation and it doesn't tend to be as noticeable that I might be more quiet....)

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Good to know that this practice is common on Seabourn, since we're used to asking to share a table with others on the other luxury lines that we've done. Great to have the choice, and it is usually a wonderful way to meet people. I avoid tables for 4, since if the other couple is really not your cup of tea (to be polite), you can't escape them. For me a table for 6 is perfect, since it's small enough to have conversations around the table. With a table for 8, you tend to just talk to the people next to you, since shouting across the table doesn't really work well.

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We've either joined another table or had a couple join us three different times (over two cruises) with pairing made by the hostess of the MDR. All three were enjoyable dinners, with one being the start of a very good friendship. None were disasters.

 

I agree about a table for eight being less than ideal as it is impossible to talk to more than two people. I do enjoy round tables for six (it is a squeeze, but works well) as conversation is so easy.

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Once I was seated next to an elderly English doctor. I spoke to him, but he said I was on his deaf side, so I said in a loud voice, “I see you are a doctor”. He replied “Yes.” After a long pause I asked “Were you a specialist?” He replied “Yes.”

I wish I could tell you more about our conversation that evening, but there’s nothing more to tell.

Nevertheless, we often ask to be seated with others and have enjoyed the experiences, for the most part. And we agree that six people at a table is ideal.

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