Crown Princess Traditional Dining Table for 2 question

[HKG]

Hello Everyone.

 

Just booked a Western Caribbean cruise on Crown Princess and first time on a princess cruise, just got a rookie question? Does the Traditional Dining time offer table just for 2 or do you have to seat with other tablemates? Thank you in advance.

[paul929207]

They do have tables for two, but there are usually fewer tables than there are requests for 2 tops.

[cb at sea]

Almost all "rookies" are worried about dining with others....don't be! It's fun! Once you introduce yourselves, you'll no longer be strangers, and it's fun to compare your days adventures and next days plans! Tablemates make dinner a special time...we look forward to dinner BECAUSE of our tablemates! Don't be worried!

[willysgrandma]

You can add a request for a small table, but you won't know until you arrive for dinner if it will be granted. If you really don't want to dine with others, when you get on the ship, go immediately to the dining room you have been assigned to and see the maitre 'd - he may be able to change you to a table for two.

 

Or opt for Anytime Dining - you can request a table for two when you arrive to eat. May entail a wait if you are dining at a popular time though.

 

But as the others have said - we've made many friends meeting people we've been assigned dining with!

[1 HappyCruiser]

If you really want a table for two be sure to check in with the Maitre D' on the first day after boarding. The tables for two disappear quickly since most people don't really want the interaction between other cruisers at dinner but settle for it since it may lead to extra long waits some nights.

We don't normally eat at large tables at home so why should we have to settle for it on a cruise ship. :cool:

[paul929207]

Be aware that many of the tables for two are just a table for 4 (or more) with one table pulled 6 to 12 inches from the next one.

[RickEk]

Almost all "rookies" are worried about dining with others....don't be! It's fun! Once you introduce yourselves, you'll no longer be strangers, and it's fun to compare your days adventures and next days plans! Tablemates make dinner a special time...we look forward to dinner BECAUSE of our tablemates! Don't be worried!

 

I'd agree. We also usually eat breakfast and lunch in the MDR with others too. It's fun to meet other people, especially if they are from different countries. And it's amazing too how often you'll be at a table with people who live in the same town as you...:)

[Tralynn]

There are very few tables for 2 that are not almost touching the next table. If it's really important to you to have a table for 2, go extremely early and request one, specifying that you don't want the ones lined up together.

 

I, personally love dining with others and have met some wonderful people that we now cruise with every year. Our group just keeps growning from cruise to cruise as we meet new friends.

 

Either way, enjoy!

[jean s]

We love meeting new people in the dining room. It really adds to the cruise experience. It truely is a small world because a number of times we have ended up eating dinner with people who live in our town. Another time we sat down and I turned to introduce myself and it was someone I had gone to elementary school with a very long time ago. I think you will enjoy the experience.

[caribill]

Hello Everyone.

 

Just booked a Western Caribbean cruise on Crown Princess and first time on a princess cruise, just got a rookie question? Does the Traditional Dining time offer table just for 2 or do you have to seat with other tablemates? Thank you in advance.

 

Don't know if you booked directly with Princess or with a travel agent, but either way you should have been asked dining room table size preference.

 

Check with whomever you make the booking with and make sure your request for a table for two is the selected option.

 

You may or may not get what you requested (depending on earlier demand), but you should make sure what you want is part of the reservation.

[crews4fun]

When are you going on the Crown? We booked last week for March 19. This will be our 5th Princess cruise and love the anytime dining. You may also request to be alone in that dining room, especially if you make a reservation. From our experience on our last cruise, there are more people choosing the anytime dining and they had trouble filling the traditional dining room and would take people from the anytime dining room to fill tables in the traditional. I was ill so really liked it when they took us up to the traditional and a table for 2.

[pablo222]

Be aware that many of the tables for two are just a table for 4 (or more) with one table pulled 6 to 12 inches from the next one.

 

We were having breakfast one morning on Ruby. When we enterered

the dining room, they offered us the option of joining a large table,

or a table for two.

 

We took the two-top, which was as Paul describes, in a line of about

a dozen two-tops with 12" in between each one.

 

This was fine.

 

A woman at the next table talks to us. And keeps talking to us.

And keeps talking to us.

 

What I didn't get -- if she was so talkative, why didn't she just

opt for the larger table?

 

It was fine, just a little amusing.

[1 HappyCruiser]

We were having breakfast one morning on Ruby. When we enterered

the dining room, they offered us the option of joining a large table,

or a table for two.

 

We took the two-top, which was as Paul describes, in a line of about

a dozen two-tops with 12" in between each one.

 

This was fine.

 

A woman at the next table talks to us. And keeps talking to us.

And keeps talking to us.

 

What I didn't get -- if she was so talkative, why didn't she just

opt for the larger table?

 

It was fine, just a little amusing.

 

Most people who opt for tables for 2 don't really like to continue conversations since that is the exact reason they go out of their way to choose them. Weird..

[Decpl]

We are on the Crown in two weeks.We used the anytime dining on the Star, Golden and Caribbean Princess's and never have too long a wait for a two top. If theres a wait we just step over to the the bar near by and have a drink while waiting. We deal with schedules all doing the year, on cruises we just kick back!

[HKG]

When are you going on the Crown? We booked last week for March 19. This will be our 5th Princess cruise and love the anytime dining. You may also request to be alone in that dining room, especially if you make a reservation. From our experience on our last cruise, there are more people choosing the anytime dining and they had trouble filling the traditional dining room and would take people from the anytime dining room to fill tables in the traditional. I was ill so really liked it when they took us up to the traditional and a table for 2.

 

 

Going on March 26th, First Princess Cruise, but been on NCL and Royal Caribbean, it'll be fun to compare.

[HKG]

Don't know if you booked directly with Princess or with a travel agent, but either way you should have been asked dining room table size preference.

 

Check with whomever you make the booking with and make sure your request for a table for two is the selected option.

 

You may or may not get what you requested (depending on earlier demand), but you should make sure what you want is part of the reservation.

 

 

Booked with a travle agent and did request a table for 2, so we'll see what happen. Thank you to everyone on their previous expenience.

[Alison48]

Planning a cruise in the spring on Princess. Husband wants anytime dining which we had on the Ruby in 2015. It was fine, but having to call in the morning for a reservation seems to defeat the title "anytime" dining. Phone was often busy. Why can't they have a system where you can reserve using your phone. My concern is if we choose traditional dining, what if we do not enjoy the company of the people at the table. We are pretty easy going, and do like most people, but eating with the same folks every night for 2 weeks? Can one request a different table if one chooses "traditional dining?" Thanks for your answers.

[geri]

If you are seated at a traditional dining table and are not happy with your table mates just speak with the maitre'd and you will be moved elsewhere.

[Alison48]

Thank you, Geri, for your prompt reply! :)

[floridalover5623]

Planning a cruise in the spring on Princess. Husband wants anytime dining which we had on the Ruby in 2015. It was fine, but having to call in the morning for a reservation seems to defeat the title "anytime" dining. Phone was often busy. Why can't they have a system where you can reserve using your phone. My concern is if we choose traditional dining, what if we do not enjoy the company of the people at the table. We are pretty easy going, and do like most people, but eating with the same folks every night for 2 weeks? Can one request a different table if one chooses "traditional dining?" Thanks for your answers.

 

 

In the days when we used to select large tables we often switched after the first meeting if the others didn't seem compatible. We've since learned to just request tables for 2- much quicker & less stressful. We can socialize all day long but at dinner time we'd rather just eat alone.

[Colo Cruiser]

Hello Everyone.

 

Just booked a Western Caribbean cruise on Crown Princess and first time on a princess cruise, just got a rookie question? Does the Traditional Dining time offer table just for 2 or do you have to seat with other tablemates? Thank you in advance.

 

 

You can ask for a 4 top table set up for 2.

[Alison48]

In the days when we used to select large tables we often switched after the first meeting if the others didn't seem compatible. We've since learned to just request tables for 2- much quicker & less stressful. We can socialize all day long but at dinner time we'd rather just eat alone.

Thanks for your reply. When we did anytime dining, some nights we sat with others. It was fine, but we did not click with anyone, some singles were there, others too old/young. Maitre D didn't pair us up well. Some nights, after a long day, we just wanted to eat alone so he gave us a table for two. As others have said, a table for two meant 2 inches from the next table for two. No privacy for couple conversation, etc.

[floridalover5623]

Thanks for your reply. When we did anytime dining, some nights we sat with others. It was fine, but we did not click with anyone, some singles were there, others too old/young. Maitre D didn't pair us up well. Some nights, after a long day, we just wanted to eat alone so he gave us a table for two. As others have said, a table for two meant 2 inches from the next table for two. No privacy for couple conversation, etc.

 

True but we've never had problems with neighbors insisting on a conversation. Most people that get a table for 2 just want to eat & go to the show without dragging out the whole meal with small talk.

[1964pilot]

We have been on 10 princess cruises. Only once tried anytime dining and were able to get a 2 topper every night. We were not always happy with the table location with the anytime. We prefer the late traditional dining and have always been assigned a table for 2 as we requested. We enjoy being able to walk in to our table and not having to wait for the other table mates to decide, order and eat. We can eat as quickly or slowly every night. Some evenings we go a little early and other evenings we may be a little late in arriving. We love the individual attention from the staff. To each his own and I do love talking (just ask the Husband) with everyone but don't want the dinner time that way. This is such a personal decision.