Anyone else amazed at the way Carnival......

[michelle1836]

For our first cruise we were matched up pretty well. another couple around the same age who lived about 30 minutes from us. the next 2 cruises we sat with people we know. this coming one we are trying anytime dining. I do like meeting new people too and like the traditional dining

[Rottweiler Puppy]

My first cruise was in the 80's on commodore Cruise Lines. We had a nice table with a nice group of folks. Not our age but nice people.

 

This coming cruise we chose anytime dining for the convenience. Well that and to avoid being stuck with annoying disrespectful people. I know chances are they will be great folks. Its just that living in an area (south Florida) where everyone is a self serving entitlement minded sob, we are a little jaded and don't want to take our chances.

[3 MO sisters]

We had a great time with a middle-aged mother/daughter, three sisters with a sister-in-law, the three of us, and one husband/wife, all near our age. We became "sister wives" for our one gentleman and just had a blast! Everyone showed up for dinner each night because we got along so well, even though it was early seating.

[CRUZBUDS]

We've always had at least pretty good tables and several times they have been incredible. We've taken several cruises with people that we've met on previous cruises. It is often the highlight of our trips.

 

We have friends all over the country as well as Canada and the U.K..

 

The ones that were forgettable... well I forgot them ;)

[Froufie]

Just off a b2b on the Destiny and we lucked out again! Great tablemates the 1st cruise - had a blast with the other 2 couples (one also from Canada like myself).....then I thought well for the 2nd cruise could we be as lucky? And we were! Again another fun table (and even a cc member from our roll call!)......good job Carnival! (and you can always ask for a change if it isn't working out you know!)

[kle50]

I, too, assumed it was random. :o

 

On my first cruise I was solo at a table for 6. There was a 40ish gentleman and his teenage son, a lady with her adult daughter and the daughter's friend. The ladies and I totally clicked. We kept bumping into each other all over the ship and found ourselves on the same shore excursion in the last port.

 

When the cruise ended we exchanged email addresses and I've kept in touch with the mom ever since (3+ years). We've even taken 2 more cruises together!

[JaniceB]

We have always enjoyed our tablemates. I thought it was a little odd on a Holland America cruise that they put our family of 4, 2 adults and 2 teenagers, with 2 other couples no kids. We all had a nice time and they seemed to enjoy our daughters. My last cruise our tablemates never showed. My two friends and I were the only ones at the table. They ended up putting a women with us who was traveling alone and we all had a great time. This was a short cruise out of New York and they didn't offer anytime dining. We were told that many people come on that cruise to gamble and I guess they didn't take time out to go to the dining room.

[Haoie]

Our last tablemates we didn't care for [except for a single couple that showed up on 1 night only].

[jaded99]

It does seem like they try to match by age. Our last cruise in particular we met really fun people at our table that we kept hanging out with all cruise long :)

 

As a side note, If I were on a cruise and my tablemate told me they were uncomfortable with what I was ordering, I'd tell them to change to another table or stop complaining. I'm not forcing them to eat/drink it after all :rolleyes:

[SMSACE6]

Not sure if they actually try to match you up with similar age etc, or if it is random, but I have to say that out 4 out 5 Carnival cruises I have had wonderful people at my dining table, Sensation, Triumph, and Valor, had fantastic people at my/our table. My one disappointment on the Liberty can hardly be blamed on Carnival, just wasnt a good match. ( Table for 6, and there was Mom and I, and two ladies about my age, who made no attempt to hide the fact that they were not happy with their table assignment, and that they wanted men at their table.) Ok....so after the 2nd night they didnt come back. While Mom and I love to meet new people we opted to remain with our 6 top table, just the 2 of us, as we had some awesome waiters! Freedom cruise was different, as I had the opportunity to try YTD, so even though travelling solo, I took it, and was pleasantly supprised to find some of the same folks sitting at nearby tables, ( those tables are quite close ), yet I got to know some nice new people, and they showed up most nights around the same time as me, so still had "company" at dinner!:)

[Name Of The Game]

We haven't had good luck with table mates. One cruise we tried Anytime Dining and the different people we ate with were better than ones we normally get. However, the service was slow and indifferent so we ended up eating at the buffet half the time.

[Cardancer4]

My first cruise was in the 80's on commodore Cruise Lines. We had a nice table with a nice group of folks. Not our age but nice people.

 

This coming cruise we chose anytime dining for the convenience. Well that and to avoid being stuck with annoying disrespectful people. I know chances are they will be great folks. Its just that living in an area (south Florida) where everyone is a self serving entitlement minded sob, we are a little jaded and don't want to take our chances.

 

I laughed out loud when I read your reply... very funny. We have always chose traditional dining and enjoyed it.;)

[Rosefloater]

They try to match based on age and group makeup. There is nowhere on the form about personality except table size request.

 

We haven't had good luck with table mates. One cruise we tried Anytime Dining and the different people we ate with were better than ones we normally get.

 

Mom & I were on the Splendor and were at a table with 6 other women. Nothing in common. It was a very quiet table.

 

Another time we were on the Spirit at were at a table for 4. Our table mates were a father/son who were in same age groups as mom & me. We had the best time. We even had similar tastes in food and would often order the same things.

 

Last month on the Paradise, Mom, sis & I had ATD. We sat one night at a table with another family and got along great. When we saw them another night waiting for a table, we decided to join them. We just went up to the hostess and they linked our buzzers.

[CruiseCrazyCouple0611]

We often question how the pairings are done too. For the most part, we've been lucky, but I think sometimes you just have to go into these situations with an open mind. Finding a common thread is easier with some than others, but I remember one time a few years ago, my husband and I were placed at an 8 person table with 6 Chinese Americans from Chicago. Five of them spoke absolutely no English. The first night we arrived at the table after they did, this normally wouldn't have been a problem, except they didn't all sit beside each other which meant my husband and I had to sit apart and at different ends of the table. They had already received their drinks, so we felt it wasn't right to ask them to switch...they talked amongst themselves in Chinese, while we just sat there.....but it gets better.....after dinner, they pulled out their toothpicks and all of them proceeded to pick their teeth at the table ! My husband and I enjoy the MD experience, but really considered not going back. We opted to go the next night, but we showed up first and sat opposite each other at the end of the table to avoid an uncomfortable situation best we could. As it turned out, when they came in that night to join us, the one that spoke English sat next to me and appologized. She said that when they talked about it later, they realized it was rude to speak in their language as if we were invisible. During dinner she acted as interperture and we actually enjoyed the rest of our dinners together and spoke with them whenever we ran into them around ship....and the best thing.....no more toothpicks ! :D

[Prphan2]

We had a time where my mother, sister and I were all on a cruise....

Mom and Dad had moved to Wheaton, IL back in the mid 50's, so we were all born and raised there....

We sat with two couples who did not know each other, but both had spent time in Naperville, which is the town on the southern border of Wheaton....

The next couple showed up to the table and I jokingly asked them what part of Chicago they were from (prior to formal introductions), they looked at me very surprised, and said they were currently living in Glen Ellyn, the town that borders Wheaton to the east.....!!:eek:

Very odd, since we had all moved to various parts of the country....

 

Knowing the area, (I live in Aurora and work in Naperville on the Lisle/Wheaton borders) this makes me chuckle thinking how flabbergasted everyone probably was. Too funny!

[Thoth]

It sure makes me look great when I get matched up with a group of women.

One guy to all those ladies....sweet ! No ambiguity about me there.

[westcruzer]

We often question how the pairings are done too. For the most part, we've been lucky, but I think sometimes you just have to go into these situations with an open mind. Finding a common thread is easier with some than others, but I remember one time a few years ago, my husband and I were placed at an 8 person table with 6 Chinese Americans from Chicago. Five of them spoke absolutely no English. The first night we arrived at the table after they did, this normally wouldn't have been a problem, except they didn't all sit beside each other which meant my husband and I had to sit apart and at different ends of the table. They had already received their drinks, so we felt it wasn't right to ask them to switch...they talked amongst themselves in Chinese, while we just sat there.....but it gets better.....after dinner, they pulled out their toothpicks and all of them proceeded to pick their teeth at the table ! My husband and I enjoy the MD experience, but really considered not going back. We opted to go the next night, but we showed up first and sat opposite each other at the end of the table to avoid an uncomfortable situation best we could. As it turned out, when they came in that night to join us, the one that spoke English sat next to me and appologized. She said that when they talked about it later, they realized it was rude to speak in their language as if we were invisible. During dinner she acted as interperture and we actually enjoyed the rest of our dinners together and spoke with them whenever we ran into them around ship....and the best thing.....no more toothpicks ! :D

 

 

That's a great story of how people keep an open mind (you going in early and working with what you are given) and also show respect for each other (them for making language adjustments)

 

It's always nice to hear. We are all on a vacation and there to enjoy ourselves.

[travelinggrands]

I've always wondered how they match dinner mates. Lately I've cruised with a group of friends, so it has been years...When my youngest was about 11 we were matched with a younger couple with 3 kids from the "other" side of the country. Their kids ages were from "barely toilet trained" to a Senior in H.S. Their middle child was the same age as our son (& equally clueless - missed buttons, shirt tails flopping, bed hair, etc).Even though we were less active than their busy family, we all had fun at dinner. It was my first experience with teenage eating habits. The older son would have 2 of everything every night, even though dad ran him through the sushi bar right before dinner. He never wasted a morsel! Waiters would stand around just to watch him put it away. Every one took a turn walking little sis to the bathroom & the middle 2 boys would amuse us with all the wrong ways to use their utensils. We talked & laughed & had a very good time. :o

[ChelleBee]

we were seated at a table for 4 on our miracle crusie last october. the other couple never came to dinner for the entire cruise. they apparently gambled a lot (and lost) because twice during the week, the amd wanted to deliver a bottle of wine comped to them from the casino. oh well, that couple missed out on our witty banter and snappy repartee. dh and i had wonderful meals and enjoyed each other's company and we got lots of extra attention from our spectacular serving team of manuel and johanes.

[Thoth]

Sometimes the dinner mates don't show up at all, and I had to dine alone. Once they matched me up with another guy who was also abandoned. They move one of us.

[luckycruzer]

all pax listed...info is included of each in a spreadsheet form. Age, language spoken,if it is obvious, M/F, rm #, city of origin..the info given to your booking agent..so no big secret there. number of guests is important as well, and kiddy pax too. Single ladies seems to get tabled together, and I always have a DM, w/DDs.It is rather like filling a hotel with guests for rooms available. Just by a key stroke, it is pretty much done. Of course there are BONGOS, but you may change upon boarding after 130.

[javamom]

Really? On our first cruise (Inspiration), we had people that had nothing and I mean NOTHING in common. They were all in their 40s. We are in our early 30s. They wanted to talk nonstop. We just wanted to eat and relax.

 

I hate feeling like I have to talk nonstop... Big groups make me feel very uncomfortable...

 

 

I can understand Carnival's slip there. The age difference wasnt that great and they have no way to predict personalities reguarding talking...

[vanityfur]

I can understand Carnival's slip there. The age difference wasnt that great and they have no way to predict personalities reguarding talking...

 

I never said that Carnival was supposed to be clairvoyant. :) The thread is about how well people are matched up... We weren't matched up well. Not Carnival's fault, just didn't work in our case.

[Chip1]

On 31 of my 34 cruises I have traveled with just my mom. We have had some really good and some really bad tablemates. The best example of bad tablemates was when we were assigned to a table for 8 with 3 honeymoon couples. Every night the couples would just talk among themselves and act like we were not there.

When you used to be able to request a table size when you booked your cruise we would request a table for 8. On at least one third of our cruises we have been assigned to a table for 2 (with obviously no tablemates) or a table or booth for 4 with no tablemates. You would think is somebody request a table for 8 that they would realize that you wanted tablemates.

[botbienvn]

WELL when the meals started arriving he takes one look at my plate(s) and immediatly signals the waiter to "change his order if it wasn't too much trouble" LOL

 

This cracked me up. :D

 

Silly question: Does it normal if you order two main courses at the same time or people usually order the 2nd one after finishing the first one? Just want to be prepared. ;)