Do you eat with other people on NCL?

[jarz85]

Hi, I was just reading this thread about "worst table partners etc" http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1271443

 

My question is, do they sit you with random strangers on NCL? I think it would be fun to sit with random people, but would suck if they changed tables. I know this is what happens on the 'formal' cruise lines but not sure how it works for 'freestyle/anytime dining'

 

THanks

[hunterJay]

As a rule no. You go to dinner with your party and are seated with them, unless there's a wait (and they ask you if you mind sitting with others) or you request to sit with other people.

You're not forced to sit with people but have the choice to.

[emcelh]

That's right. Freestyle is all about choices. When you go to the dining room you may be asked if you want to share a table. You can if you want, or you can request a table just for your party. No one has assigned tables. If you meet people you'd like to dine with , you can do that too.

[Barb Nahoumi]

Usually our group is large enough to occupy an entire table. On occassion, we have just been two, and were happy to share.

 

This is a great way to meet new people.

[Pugs]

Glad you answered that at 1am last night my hubby ask me that question:rolleyes:

[raventhebouv]

At dinner we generally love to eat alone, just the 2 of us and have never had a problem getting a table quickly...usually on the wall of windows, looking out over the ocean...ahhhhhhh, so nice. They do ask you if you would like to share a table but we decline and they always are pleasant about it and quickly find a table for 2 for you. Dinner is the only time of day that we can sit with one another and chat about the day, family, funny things we saw that day, etc. so for us it works. That's what is so great about NCL Freestyle...whatever works for you works for them!

[coachnip13]

Hi, I was just reading this thread about "worst table partners etc" http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1271443

 

My question is, do they sit you with random strangers on NCL? I think it would be fun to sit with random people, but would suck if they changed tables. I know this is what happens on the 'formal' cruise lines but not sure how it works for 'freestyle/anytime dining'

 

THanks

 

No, because imagine if you are the random stranger. If my wife and I were having dinner on NCL and some other couple just decided to sit down with us, I would consider that to be pretty presumptious.

[guyver]

One time we were asked to sit with others on lobster night because they were so busy. They put quite a bit of pressure on us to do this but we politely refused and with a short wait, we were seated alone.

 

The thing that bothered me about it was that they didn't say anything until they escorted us to a table that had 4 people already sitting at it. It was somewhat embarrassing to refuse right in front of them. Naturally, they joked with us with the "What, are you too good for us" llines and such.

[Traveller20074]

I keep to myself (and my cruise companions) normally. 3 cruises, and I've yet to meet anyone on one. People all seem to be keeping to themselves too...never had anyone just start talking to me...except once. The alaska cruise LOL I was standing there getting a towel at the towel bar in my swimsuit. A man was standing there with a down coat on.

 

He grins and says: "only on an Alaskan cruise will two people be standing next to each other, one in a down coat and the other in a swimsuit" LOL!

 

I have yet to have a seating problem on a cruise. We just sit alone and no one has asked to sit next to us. I probably wouldn't mind if they did though. Better not yak my ear off though.

[cartervan]

Now this is interesting to me--the reactions of most of you to this question. When they ask us if we'd mind sitting with someone at dinner we almost always say "sure"! We've met some wonderful and interesting people that way. And if they're not interesting and wonderful then it gives us something to talk about later. We figure we're together just the two of us most of the time--so why not have a little conversation with someone else.

[newmexicoNita]

Hi, I was just reading this thread about "worst table partners etc" http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1271443

 

My question is, do they sit you with random strangers on NCL? I think it would be fun to sit with random people, but would suck if they changed tables. I know this is what happens on the 'formal' cruise lines but not sure how it works for 'freestyle/anytime dining'

 

THanks

 

When you get to the MDRs you can ask to share a table or sit alone. The nice thing about sharing is, if you don't have anything in common with the others it is just a one night thing, not like the old traditional dining where you sit with the same people the entire cruise. We actually did ask to be moved once.

 

Nita

[newmexicoNita]

One time we were asked to sit with others on lobster night because they were so busy. They put quite a bit of pressure on us to do this but we politely refused and with a short wait, we were seated alone.

 

The thing that bothered me about it was that they didn't say anything until they escorted us to a table that had 4 people already sitting at it. It was somewhat embarrassing to refuse right in front of them. Naturally, they joked with us with the "What, are you too good for us" llines and such.

 

On another line we were never asked, just put with 6 others every night. we got pretty tired of sayin, on, we are from such and such and yes we have cruised X number of times.

 

Nita

[coachnip13]

Hi, I was just reading this thread about "worst table partners etc" http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1271443

 

My question is, do they sit you with random strangers on NCL? I think it would be fun to sit with random people, but would suck if they changed tables. I know this is what happens on the 'formal' cruise lines but not sure how it works for 'freestyle/anytime dining'

 

THanks

 

No, because imagine if you are the random stranger. If my wife and I were having dinner on NCL and some other couple just decided to sit down with us, I would consider that to be pretty presumptious.

[lambs2]

Now this is interesting to me--the reactions of most of you to this question. When they ask us if we'd mind sitting with someone at dinner we almost always say "sure"! We've met some wonderful and interesting people that way. And if they're not interesting and wonderful then it gives us something to talk about later. We figure we're together just the two of us most of the time--so why not have a little conversation with someone else.

 

We feel exactly the same way as above. We also like eating with folks we meet on the roll call boards from time to time and just arrange to meet at a certain time so we can dine together. One of the many great things about NCL and freestyle cruising is this wonderful freedom to CHOOSE whether or not we want to eat alone or "risk" it (and how bad can this really be folks for the short time a meal takes???) and dine with fellow cruise mates. :)

[Shelli]

On the first few nights of our Jewel cruise-- our first freestyle-- we asked to sit with others. Each time, we were told that's just not possible "right now." After that, we just gave up asking!

 

I like meeting people, and I think the best way to do that is by sharing a dining table. I was a bit disappointed that it didn't turn out to be possible on that cruise.

[keichman]

On the first few nights of our Jewel cruise-- our first freestyle-- we asked to sit with others. Each time, we were told that's just not possible "right now." After that, we just gave up asking!

quote]

That's interesting...my parents were on the Jewel a week after you (Thanksgiving week), and had the same experience. They were never asked to share a table with others and were disappointed (to be fair, they never specifically requested it, either). We chalked it up to being Thanksgiving week with large groups traveling together.

 

I asked me boss about his experience (he was on the Jewel the SAME DATES as you!). His experience was just the opposite. They were asked whether they wanted to share at every meal in the MDR (and enjoyed it). I wonder if it has to do with what time of the evening it is or something?!?

[Sauer-kraut]

We were a party of 3 so we were always asked if we wanted to dine with anyone or just us. Since we took a four top anyways it was never a problem. We often said we'd share and we did that only on one night. We were sat at a six top with another couple who were very friendly and we had a nice evening chatting. I would always offer to share, you can really meet some interesting people and it changes every night. You are not "Stuck" with the same dining party. (Unless its your own party who's getting on your nerves....:D)

 

I don't think it would even be possible to just join a table with people already sitting. Although we did do that in the Buffet we had the extra seat and we offered that place to someone who was looking for a place to eat. It was no big deal to us to invite the person over as the dining area was pretty full at that point.

[Dayenu]

I like to meet people, so this is the only thing what I don't like about Norwegian - no set seating. For some reason, they do communal tables and breakfast and lunch, but not at dinner.

 

We had early dinners around 6 pm, probably not their busy time, so even though we said we wouldn't mind companions, we still got a table for 2 each time.

[commission1]

One time we were asked to sit with others on lobster night because they were so busy. They put quite a bit of pressure on us to do this but we politely refused and with a short wait, we were seated alone.

 

The thing that bothered me about it was that they didn't say anything until they escorted us to a table that had 4 people already sitting at it. It was somewhat embarrassing to refuse right in front of them. Naturally, they joked with us with the "What, are you too good for us" llines and such.

 

That is awesome, we eat alone (once we met some people we liked but that was it) I dont think I could have said no right in front of people, you are a much stronger than I, good for you, we dont like people all that much for the most part, but like to be around them. I personally cant not stand and will not answer: "so what do yo do for a lving?" in other words how much money do you have.

[nhquilter1]

I keep to myself (and my cruise companions) normally. 3 cruises, and I've yet to meet anyone on one.

 

So glad to see this! My brother-in-law who has cruised a lot just can't understand why we like to just sit by ourselves!

I was beginning to think we were weird!

[jarz85]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm glad they don't pressure you to sit with other people. I guess we could arrange to have dinner with people from our roll call!!

[Micchi]

We also prefer to keep to ourselves during meals... glad to see we are not "strange" :p

[jmcdon7230]

We always ask for a table for two. Except when we were on the Pearl, we were having a drink in a lounge and struck up a conversation with the onboard NCL Alaskan heritage lecturer and his wife. For the rest of the week we had dinner in the evenings with them and some of their very interesting friends. One of the beauties of Freestyle.

[STARFISH*4]

that is why we LOVE FREE~STYLE and NCL we dont have to be at the MDR certain time, same table, same people...if we dont cruise with our friends we prefer to eat by ourselves or with people we have met on our Roll Call!

once or twice if they are real busy and have asked us to share we have, but in general no...its OUR CHOICE!!!

[mking8288]

DH and I sometimes cruise alone for privacy to get away, and we prefer to dine alone at dinner time in MDR - and best odds for getting a table for 2 (since there are limited # of them - average meal time easily over 1 hour) is to go "early" when it's open or go "late". If you go during the busy period, it's more difficult and there might be a longer wait - say on sea-days when everyone is onboard. On newer ships with electronic boards indicating wait time in all dining rooms, you can sometimes walk to a different one and try your luck - maybe getting one by the windows.

 

When you have a larger group of say 5, 6 or 8, etc. (like we did on several NCL cruises) - getting a table all to yourself usually isn't a problem on most nights. With all of our NCL cruises, what I've noticed is that there are always those round or long tables open & empty for groups of 8, 10 or more in the "middle".

 

With specialty restaurants (extra cover charges) - tables are never shared unless you specifically asked and have names/cabin #'s of other parties also booked (or, paying for theirs as your invited guests)

 

What "Dayenu" noted is true that they try to group more guests together & share tables at breakfast & lunch in the MDR's than at dinner time - fewer crew working the shift as they rotate & some of them get time-off (in ports - shore leave for a few hours, etc.) but the pace is slow enough and if you insist, they will honor your request for seating of 2 or 3 or 5, whatever.

 

Our next upcoming cruise on the Jewel is 2/13 and with Valetine's Day being on the 14th on a sea-day, I'm pretty sure there will be lots of request in the dining rooms for table of twos - and they will be selling roses, LOL :D Our own group numbered 11 thus far on this sailing so we will be getting our own table for sure and unlikely to share anyone, unless members in our group wanted to split up & dine on their own schedule (that's Free Style Dining a la NCL) ;)