If you're sitting with strangers in the MDR...

[Jeafl]

[quote name='Normal 1']Hey Jeafl.... We 'do' early dining and prefer a larger table...preferably with similar aged kids. Last March a co-worker and her DH booked the same cruise and requested to have our bookings 'linked'. We ended up at a 4-top with just them. That was fine but they didn't show up 4 of the nights. Was a bit ackward for the servers.

One of the nights they were MIA, we actually joined a group we had become friendly with who were in the same dining room and had a couple spots open as some were attending the steakhouse that night. We had a blast with that fun-loving group.

My DD hopes to be at a large table this year with other older teens (interpret this as 'cute boys'!!)

Looking forward to meeting you! I am so ready for this trip....


_____
Karen[/QUOTE]

Hi Karen! Looking forward to meeting you too! I don't blame your daughter for wanting to sit with cute boys! If I were in her position I would feel the same way!

I am SO ready for this trip, too! I've had a really bad cold lately. In fact, my boss asked me to leave work today, and not come back until I was better. Think I can milk it for a couple of months??? :)

[nw2this]

[quote name='chuckwagon52']The problem with these assigned seating's is that you can always count on someone at the table being an investigator. "Where you from"? "What do you do"? "You got kids"? Please!!!! how will any of my personal information enhance your dining experience.[/quote]

OK, I admit to being socially challenged and I'm hoping for a large table with talkative folks who eat in the MDR most nights and folks who don't mind if my DH orders multiple entrees :o.

But still aren't these questions normal and even expected before the conversation moves to other topics. DH loves to talk current events and might skip the personal statistics, but I don't read the paper as much as he does so I ask people questions about themselves.

[o2banotter]

[quote name='Jeafl']Those kinds of questions don't really bother me, they are pretty benign. Now if someone asked me my bra size, if I've ever been arrested or how much money I make, that would be a different story! LOL[/quote]

Sometimes I'll say "Well since I got out of jail I..." and watch the looks on people's faces LOL My sisters and I are always going on about "Your doctor said you should have only taken one of those pills. I should have listened to him." "Did you get your ankle bracelet pried off again?" My sis Janet will be signing a check and I'll call her Beth. "When did they start letting you write checks again, Beth?" stuff like that. Most people can tell we're kidding...

[MszKitty]

We've been pretty lucky and found conversation easy flowing....except once. We were seated at a table designated for 8, but it was just hubby & I and a family of four (mom, dad, and two sons apprx 12 yr old boy and 16 yr old). It was like pulling teeth to get them to talk...except for the 12 yr old...he was quite a chatter. And although he was a sweet kid, we didn't really want to have to talk only with a 12 yr old all week. We ended up changing tables the next night.

[cdamion]

[quote name='o2banotter']Sometimes I'll say "Well since I got out of jail I..." and watch the looks on people's faces LOL My sisters and I are always going on about "Your doctor said you should have only taken one of those pills. I should have listened to him." "Did you get your ankle bracelet pried off again?" My sis Janet will be signing a check and I'll call her Beth. "When did they start letting you write checks again, Beth?" stuff like that. Most people can tell we're kidding...[/QUOTE]

Never did this on a cruise, but certainly have at restaurants at home when seated really close to other tables. Gotta give people something to talk about.

[parrothead74]

[quote name='LPYRCRUISER']On our last cruise my DH wanted a table for two. Requested it and got it at early seating. On the Sensation the tables were quite close together and it almost felt like you were sitting with others. On my left was a 4 top with very friendly warm people and we chatted at every dinner. On my right was a couple who never made eye contact or acknowledged our presence. People are different...... that's what makes the world go round![/QUOTE]

I had the same experience on the Sensation, except I was the one not making eye contact, LOL. When I am at the bars or the casino I tend to be very outgoing and social, when it's time for dinner I like a 2 top with my wife.

One time when we had breakfast in the MDR a lady sitting at a table next to ours asked about my breakfast (eggs are fairly self explanatory) and I was subjected to a half an hour of her life story. Perhaps I'm peculiar but I don't like to be bothered when I'm eating.

[cdamion]

[quote name='parrothead74']I had the same experience on the Sensation, except I was the one not making eye contact, LOL. When I am at the bars or the casino I tend to be very outgoing and social, when it's time for dinner I like a 2 top with my wife.

One time when we had breakfast in the MDR a lady sitting at a table next to ours asked about my breakfast (eggs are fairly self explanatory) and I was subjected to a half an hour of her life story. Perhaps I'm peculiar but I don't like to be bothered when I'm eating.[/QUOTE]

I haven't been as lucky at breakfast. For some reason there either we don't talk or I've been seated with people that I was quietly happy they weren't my table mates for dinner. Nothing terrible at all though. To be fair, at breakfast, I am probably the quiet one because I am not a morning person. At. All.

[parrothead74]

[quote name='cdamion']I haven't been as lucky at breakfast. For some reason there either we don't talk or I've been seated with people that I was quietly happy they weren't my table mates for dinner. Nothing terrible at all though. To be fair, at breakfast, I am probably the quiet one because I am not a morning person. At. All.[/QUOTE]

If I am a little hung over then just about the last thing I want to hear is a bubbly "morning person"

[Darlene.Gina]

wow, after reading these horror stories of unpleasant table mates, I guess my BF and I should be happy with the people we were assigned to sit with. Our table mates were the exact same age as us, and lived close to the same city as us as well. So with that, it gave us both a lot to talk about. We even got so comfortable we planned shore excursions together, We all still talk via Facebook. It's nice to know that there are still nice sociable people out there.

[jonbgd]

Dinner time have always been lucky I guess. have met some interesting people. My GF still keeps in touch with some.
We do like 2tops and have had a couple over the years. They are nice as the GF feels like we are on a date and she gets me all to herself;)
When I traveled solo they use to put us @ the kiddie table with the other solos. Always had a good time.

Now breakfast is a different story. Ineed a 2top. While Ive been sat @ bigger table im not that social until Ive had my coffee:D

[cdamion]

[quote name='jonbgd']Dinner time have always been lucky I guess. have met some interesting people. My GF still keeps in touch with some.
We do like 2tops and have had a couple over the years. They are nice as the GF feels like we are on a date and she gets me all to herself;)
When I traveled solo they use to put us @ the kiddie table with the other solos. Always had a good time.

Now breakfast is a different story. Ineed a 2top. While Ive been sat @ bigger table im not that social until Ive had my coffee:D[/QUOTE]

I haven't traveled solo on Carnival, but I can tell you that Princess and RCI have never seated me at a table with another solo. Actually RCI has placed me at 4-tops (which I change upon boarding) - and once didn't even assign a table, which the Maitre D said he never saw before.

[jonbgd]

[quote name='cdamion']I haven't traveled solo on Carnival, but I can tell you that Princess and RCI have never seated me at a table with another solo. Actually RCI has placed me at 4-tops (which I change upon boarding) - and once didn't even assign a table, which the Maitre D said he never saw before.[/quote]
On CCL Spirit class ships they have a side room off of the MDR that I call the kiddy room. You know when you have Thanksgiving with the family. All the couples and older people are @ the main table and the kids or singles are at a seperate table or another room.
So the only time Ive ever been assigned to a table in that room was when traveling solo and was a 8-10 top. It happened 3 different times on Pride, Spirit and Miracle, all Spirit class. So I figured it was because of the ship. Not a Maitre'D thing
Now when Ive cruised solo on Destiny they put me @ 8-top with a family and a couple almost dead center of the MDR

[laurenpie]

First cruise we went on, the people we sat with were a lot older than us (then again so were everyone else on the ship) but we always made an effort to chat & we went to shows, etc.

2nd cruise we were sat with 4 other people who were close to our age and we had so much fun with them. :)

3rd cruise we were annoyed a little bit with the people we sat with... The only thing we had in common with them was that they were also from Australia like us. Always late to dinner (we had early dining and they would rock up when we were starting dessert) We found that we chatted more with the couple on the table next to us from London.

I know it would be hard for the people who put all the matches together... Most of the time they do a great job... Sure not a job that I would want to do :)

[MszKitty]

I do consider ourselves very lucky...only one time in 40+ cruises did we feel the need to change tables. And sometimes it amazes me how well we are matched or how much we have in common with the others at our table.

[treasure4two]

[quote name='sparks1093']DW will do enough talking for everyone:eek::D;) (good thing she doesn't read cruise critic:cool:).[/quote]


Love it!! My husband one of those too!!

My husband I and I are very sociable in our lives and jobs(we are both professional photographers plus I have a full time job in the insurance industry) plus both keep extremely busy, so when we go on a cruise, it is to be just with each other when we want to be and dinner at a table for 2. We enjoy eating with others at breakfast and lunch, but dinner is our time.

[gelo7]

[quote name='chuckwagon52']The problem with these assigned seating's is that you can always count on someone at the table being an investigator. "Where you from"? "What do you do"? "You got kids"? Please!!!! how will any of my personal information enhance your dining experience.[/quote]
[COLOR=Navy][SIZE=3][B]I just hate that.....[/B][/SIZE][/COLOR]

[near the beach]

[FONT=Arial][SIZE=3]We have done anytime dinning and assigned seating. With assigned seating we have had our own table and sat with others. We prefer assigned seating to anytime. [/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Arial][SIZE=3]We enjoy talking with table mates in the main dining room. Three things always come up. Where are you from? Cruised before? Excursions, what are you doing or did you enjoy it. These are just ice breakers. All of our table mates talked with us. I would think that if someone wanted to avoid people that they would not take a cruise. [/SIZE][/FONT]

[chuckwagon52]

[quote name='Socref124']On embarkation day, ask the Maitre d to seat you at an 8 top. If one is available he will. Then, if you don't like the people you are with, ask to be moved to another table and he will if one is available.[/QUOTE]

How does this work. You sit down, size up everyone, if it looks OK you eat, if not asked to be moved right then and there??

[chuckwagon52]

[quote name='nw2this']OK, I admit to being socially challenged and I'm hoping for a large table with talkative folks who eat in the MDR most nights and folks who don't mind if my DH orders multiple entrees :o.

But still aren't these questions normal and even expected before the conversation moves to other topics. DH loves to talk current events and might skip the personal statistics, but I don't read the paper as much as he does so I ask people questions about themselves.[/QUOTE]

I agree that the questions are harmless. I just dont want to hurry up and chew fast and clear my mouth so the guy across from me can know what I do for a living! I love to socialize at the clubs and lounges, but at dinner I like to, well I like to eat, and find it hard to converse while enjoying a meal.

[Jeafl]

[quote name='o2banotter']Sometimes I'll say "Well since I got out of jail I..." and watch the looks on people's faces LOL My sisters and I are always going on about "Your doctor said you should have only taken one of those pills. I should have listened to him." "Did you get your ankle bracelet pried off again?" My sis Janet will be signing a check and I'll call her Beth. "When did they start letting you write checks again, Beth?" stuff like that. Most people can tell we're kidding...[/QUOTE]

Now see, you are the kind of people I hope we get to sit with. I think you guys would be a lot of fun! :)

[parrothead74]

[quote name='chuckwagon52']I agree that the questions are harmless. I just dont want to hurry up and chew fast and clear my mouth so the guy across from me can know what I do for a living! I love to socialize at the clubs and lounges, but at dinner I like to, well I like to eat, and find it hard to converse while enjoying a meal.[/QUOTE]

Agreed

[arpie05]

[quote name='MsTabbyKats'] I speak NYese...I don't understand Southern or Mid West. People probably don't understand me. I won't go into the difficulties my husband has with understanding accents....or people understanding him.
/quote]

Sorry, but I find this attitude so sad! This snobbery is what is wrong with our country. If we can't understand each other, then how do we expect to respect each other and live united under one President????

I love going on vacation and meeting new people. If I only wanted to talk to people in my state or my family - I'd stay home. :rolleyes:

We have only once sat at a table with bad dinner partners. The grandson was so rude to his grandparents. My son was only a year older and couldn't believe how immature the kid was or rude. We moved tables and sat with another family with three well behaved kids.

(It was actually partially a dining room error that prompted the move... we sat with the 3 kid family the first night. 2nd night the bratty kid family. Asked to be put back with the other family the rest of the trip. Might not have had the nerve to ask to move if the dining room hadn't started the process.)

[Casino Player]

[quote name='Jeafl']Do you make a concerted effort to keep the conversation going? Or do you prefer to let others do the talking?

This will be our first cruise without other family members in close to 15 years. The last time my husband and I went alone we were assigned to a table for 4 with another couple who spoke only when spoken to. My husband hated how uncomfortable it was, and wants to ask for a table by ourselves this time, rather than go through that again.

I would love to sit with a large group this time, and get to know some other people. I have no problem keeping up my end of the conversation, but it would be nice if other people talked as well.[/QUOTE]

[COLOR="DarkGreen"][SIZE="4"]HHHHHEEEEELLLLLLLLLLOOOOO Jeafl: When sitting with other people I never make an effort to keep the conversation going. If whoever has something to say I'm sure they will say it. If I have something to say I will say it. If my wife does, I'm sure you get the point. If no one wants to talk fine. I hate when people ask, "what do you do for a living?" That seems to be a favorite question. I have a verity of potential responses. I like to try a various eating possibilities on the ship. MDR, Buffett, Specialty Restaurant. Who knows, you may find a few surprises.[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[nbsjcruiser]

[quote name='Jeafl']Do you make a concerted effort to keep the conversation going? Or do you prefer to let others do the talking?

This will be our first cruise without other family members in close to 15 years. The last time my husband and I went alone we were assigned to a table for 4 with another couple who spoke only when spoken to. My husband hated how uncomfortable it was, and wants to ask for a table by ourselves this time, rather than go through that again.

I would love to sit with a large group this time, and get to know some other people. I have no problem keeping up my end of the conversation, but it would be nice if other people talked as well.[/QUOTE]

We just tend to go with the flow. We haven't got bad tablemates in the ten cruises we've been on so maybe we got lucky. Some tend to be more talkative then others but you can never tell what its going to be like really.

[Celandine]

I am curious, why do some people hate being asked what they do for a living?