Worst table companion you have had

[Tudorcruisers]

We were once at a table near a large family with many offspring. One of the lads vomited during dinner. If anything would put you off your feed that would be it.

 

I know there are a lot of really dreadful stories about dining companions but your story for me is the big No No. Can't deal with vomit at all:(

[Kentchikan]

I know there are a lot of really dreadful stories about dining companions but your story for me is the big No No. Can't deal with vomit at all:(

 

I'm with you. It makes me sick to see someone do it. I'd be of no help at all as I'd either join them or I'd run for the nearest exit.

[tigercat]

I am not sure I would call them the worst table mates but we have had difficulty a couple of times. One time my husband and I were seated with 2 couples and one of the mums. They were from Broklen NY (spelling wrong). They had a very strong accent and they were also italian. They spoke a lot of Italian during dinner and ignored the 2 of us. It was very uncomfortable.

Another time we were again seated with 2 older couples that were friends and cruise with each other all the time. They did speak English but were really not interested in talking with us.

The other tables we have had weren't bad. One time we were seated with another couple at a booth. They had thought that they were going to be alone at the table and weren't happy when we were seated with them. We ended up having a great time but the booth was horrible for me. I am short and the table came up to my chin. After dinner I went to ask for another table and our table mates came up behind us. They told us that they were happy with us and if we didn't want to change they were okay. I had to tell them it wasn't about them but the table itself. I felt bad but I wanted to be able to eat. They ended up with a table for 2 so I am sure they were happy about that.

Our Disney cruise we had my husband, my daughter and my 5 yr. old granddaughter and me. We were seated with another couple and their 2 children. They wanted to sit at one end of the table and have us at the other. That way they could pretend that they had a table for 4. It was okay as we talked with each other anyway.

tigercat

[CaveDiving]

...On the last morning aboard my husband and I ate breakfast in the MDR. We were seated next to a gentleman slightly older than us who LOVED to talk. By the time our quick breakfast was over we knew ALL his children's names, ages and occupations, and where they resided, all his grandchildren's names and even heard about his daughter-in-laws fertility woes and subsequent miscarriage...

 

Just think of it this way. You did a great mitzvah (favor) to an elderly gentleman who was obviously really lonely.

 

It was a very nice thing to do.

 

Scott & Karen

[Kentchikan]

Just think of it this way. You did a great mitzvah (favor) to an elderly gentleman who was obviously really lonely.

 

It was a very nice thing to do.

 

Scott & Karen

 

True that. One of my favorite sayings is: "Sometimes the kindest thing we can do for another person is to just listen."

[momofmeg]

True that. One of my favorite sayings is: "Sometimes the kindest thing we can do for another person is to just listen."

 

I just thought of something-with us on the same cruise in october, we could end up as dinner companions a night or two-I hope I do not come back here and read about myself-lol!

[momofmeg]

Just think of it this way. You did a great mitzvah (favor) to an elderly gentleman who was obviously really lonely.

 

It was a very nice thing to do.

 

Scott & Karen

 

I know my MIL is like that when it comes to talking about her children and grandchildren. Hubby does not mind if she tells everyone about us but his sisters do not like it. I do know my hubby and his sisters give her tons of attention too so she is not neglected. We would all have her live in our homes but she chooses not to leave hers. I have a feeliggn too this man with all the knowlege he has of his children and grandchildren that his chidlren obviously spend alot of time with him. If they did not he would not know all of that.

[Kentchikan]

I just thought of something-with us on the same cruise in october, we could end up as dinner companions a night or two-I hope I do not come back here and read about myself-lol!

 

I know. I thought the same thing but surely with US it would be stories for the "Best Dinner Companions" ever thread.;)

[CntPAcruiser]

Our worst were a couple who appeared on the second night of the cruise (didn't see them the first night), arrived late, placed their orders after introducing themselves, husband very congenial, wife very, very drunk. Among other oddities, at one point during the meal, the wife tells my husband very loudly, "I LOVE YOU." ??? Chalk it up to being drunk, I guess.

 

The next night when they show up, late again, wife is not drunk this time, apparently. Orders placed. Awkward conversation and reintroductions since she doesn't remember anyone from the previous night. Food is picked at, until the entrées arrive. The wife stares at her lasagna with Bolognese sauce but doesn't touch it, while everyone else is eating. Refuses to respond to any questions about whether there is a problem, even tells the waiter there is not. A minute later, she and husband leave the table in a huff, inexplicably, shouting, "I'm never coming back."

 

We never did find out what set her off that night, but after she left, I turned to one of our other, most delightful, table companions and quipped, "I liked her better when she was drunk."

[DSXM]

On our very first cruise and it was on Carnival. there was a group of 4 women in their late 30s who were on a "Girls Getaway" They were all married with kids, but left the families home. Three of the Four met up with some Younger guys on the ship and then had the waiter add them to our table.

They spent the whole cruise (4 nighter) drinking and flirting with these guys.

Not passing judgement on their flirting and other activities, but I just wish that they weren't so loud and obnoxious. Loud Drunk people are not fun.

 

This was our very first cruise so we didn't know about asking to move tables or figure out alternatives. It almost became our last cruise, but thankfully we never had a problem like this again.

Well that sounds uncomfortable...

[DSXM]

The only cruise we have been on was a group of 16 of us. Our evening meals were all wonderful spent catching up with our group.

 

On the last morning aboard my husband and I ate breakfast in the MDR. We were seated next to a gentleman slightly older than us who LOVED to talk. By the time our quick breakfast was over we knew ALL his children's names, ages and occupations, and where they resided, all his grandchildren's names and even heard about his daughter-in-laws fertility woes and subsequent miscarriage! TMI!!!

Yeah fertility issues at the table, especially with strangers, are a no-no.

[DSXM]

We had MTD on the Conquest last fall. We are 57 and 60 just so you'll know and have two grown children. Everything was fine until the last night. We were seated with a family of four, the two boys being 7 and 4 perhaps. They were crawling under the table, the waiter went out of his way to provide something they would eat, but when the little one took off his flip flop and threw it across the table and it landed on my husband's charger plate, that was it. Thank goodness the husband took the two brats back to the cabin. Not how I wanted to spend my last night on a cruise. Recommendation: don't seat a 60ish couple with a young family.

Children being allowed to do whatever they want at the dinner table is a no-no as well.

[Donder1]

Donder, this WAS on HAL Zuiderdam (partial Panama Canal) and I did ask our waiter-who told me (as though I was an ignorant dufous,) that this man had not finished his course. (this was when the wife apologized for his slowness and explained about dental work) Then the waiter brought him another of that same course. His third- Lol! which is why I spoke to the maitr'd as I left. I suppose I could have made a scene and asked the waiter to get the maitr'd, I hated to do that because the wife was already embrrassed by her husband. if I had scense I wouldl have politely and nicely as I could, said we were missing the show and so needed to go and left.

 

I would have left. I think you were great in trying to be polite. the second and third entrees would have annoyed me. After so many cruises, we now opt for a table for two. But, we do enjoy dining with others, sometimes, at breakfast and lunch in the MDR and at tea. You can have a lot of fun with folks on a cruise. My experience is that most people are polite and interesting. I have no interest in engaging with rude, ill mannered people.

 

That said, I personally eat very slowly but don't ask for seconds. I'd never have folks waiting on me. I would feel too embarrassed and would likely say I was finished, even if I wanted to linger over my meal. And, we always tell folks to go ahead and start their meal if we are waiting for our dishes to arrive. I hate to see a great meal get ruined because it is getting cold.

[momofmeg]

I would have left. I think you were great in trying to be polite. the second and third entrees would have annoyed me. After so many cruises, we now opt for a table for two. But, we do enjoy dining with others, sometimes, at breakfast and lunch in the MDR and at tea. You can have a lot of fun with folks on a cruise. My experience is that most people are polite and interesting. I have no interest in engaging with rude, ill mannered people.

 

That said, I personally eat very slowly but don't ask for seconds. I'd never have folks waiting on me. I would feel too embarrassed and would likely say I was finished, even if I wanted to linger over my meal. And, we always tell folks to go ahead and start their meal if we are waiting for our dishes to arrive. I hate to see a great meal get ruined because it is getting cold.

 

If I remember correctly this was the second course when I realized how slow he was eatting and that he was ordering multiples. We did leave before dessert but we had our main course first. Of ocurse we finished ours and said we needed to go as we wanted to go to the hsow-he was still working on his first and had another coming when we left. We realized only 15 minutes of the show was left so we did not go.

[CowPrincess]

At one welcome-aboard lunch, we got seated with a fellow who was in his 80s. Who was losing his hearing, so was pretty loud. Who spent most of the lunch time talking about all the great porn you can find on the 'net, and the women he's met for one-night stands :eek: DH and I just SAT there, shocked, not having a clue what to do. If it ever happens again, I am announcing that I have a migraine, and insisting we leave the table.

 

Our last cruise, we got seated with Mr and Mrs Important and Wealthy, who spent a lot of time talking about their expensive house, their expensive cars, their expensive this n that everything. And their gated community. Every dinner time, Mrs would announce what "designer label" clothing she was wearing. Mr would expound on everything, as he was an expert on everything. When challenged, he would be extremely aggressive. I decided on the first night that I'd better only have one glass of wine with dinner or my mouth would run away on me. One night I corrected him on an absolutely incorrect "FACT" he was stating, and OMG, I thought he would have a stroke. I was so hoping he'd ask me why I thought he was wrong -- he WOULD have had a stroke! They were actually pretty entertaining, overall.

[Kentchikan]

[quote name='CowPrincess']At one welcome-aboard lunch, we got seated with a fellow who was in his 80s. Who was losing his hearing, so was pretty loud. Who spent most of the lunch time talking about all the great porn you can find on the 'net, and the women he's met for one-night stands :eek: DH and I just SAT there, shocked, not having a clue what to do. If it ever happens again, I am announcing that I have a migraine, and insisting we leave the table.

Our last cruise, we got seated with Mr and Mrs Important and Wealthy, who spent a lot of time talking about their expensive house, their expensive cars, their expensive this n that everything. And their gated community. Every dinner time, Mrs would announce what "designer label" clothing she was wearing. Mr would expound on everything, as he was an expert on everything. When challenged, he would be extremely aggressive. I decided on the first night that I'd better only have one glass of wine with dinner or my mouth would run away on me. One night I corrected him on an absolutely incorrect "FACT" he was stating, and OMG, I thought he would have a stroke. I was so hoping he'd ask me why I thought he was wrong -- he WOULD have had a stroke! They were actually pretty entertaining, overall.[/QUOTE]

Reminds me of the old saying, "I wish people who 'know it all' would get out of the way of those of us who really do." :rolleyes:

[CowPrincess]

[quote name='Kentskie']Reminds me of the old saying, "I wish people who 'know it all' would get out of the way of those of us who really do." :rolleyes:[/quote]

:rolleyes: DH and I don't say anything about our cabin category ever. Mr Important who knew everything about everything was expounding on the category of cabin DH and I were travelling in. He knew ZERO about the category but was happy to yap and yap with completely incorrect information. So I corrected him. He'd have had an apoplectic fit if he'd known what cabin we were in ;) because it would then have been obvious to the entire table that maybe he didn't have a good "read" on us ;) and his dismissive and/or superior attitude towards us was [B][I]perhaps[/I][/B] not warranted.

[Kentchikan]

[quote name='CowPrincess']:rolleyes: DH and I don't say anything about our cabin category ever. Mr Important who knew everything about everything was expounding on the category of cabin DH and I were travelling in. He knew ZERO about the category but was happy to yap and yap with completely incorrect information. So I corrected him. He'd have had an apoplectic fit if he'd known what cabin we were in ;) because it would then have been obvious to the entire table that maybe he didn't have a good "read" on us ;) and his dismissive and/or superior attitude towards us was [B][I]perhaps[/I][/B] not warranted.[/QUOTE]

Once on a cruise we were lucky enough to be upgraded to the Royal Suite. We had dinner one night at the Captain's table. There was a know it all Jackal who went on and on about how he and his wife were superior to everyone and everything they had and did was better than ours. After the dinner we each got a picture of the table and a list of the guests and their cabin numbers. We immediately looked on the deckplan to find what kind of luxurious penthouse Mr. Superior was in. Ironically it was an inside cabin.

[islandhoppingfool]

[quote name='Kentskie']Once on a cruise we were lucky enough to be upgraded to the Royal Suite. We had dinner one night at the Captain's table. There was a know it all Jackal who went on and on about how he and his wife were superior to everyone and everything they had and did was better than ours. After the dinner we each got a picture of the table and a list of the guests and their cabin numbers. We immediately looked on the deckplan to find what kind of luxurious penthouse Mr. Superior was in. Ironically it was an inside cabin.[/quote]
Ha ha ha ha ha.:o

[euro cruiser]

[quote name='CowPrincess'] I was so hoping he'd ask me why I thought he was wrong -- he WOULD have had a stroke![/quote]That's an intriguing statement - why would he have had a stoke?

[CowPrincess]

[quote name='euro cruiser']That's an intriguing statement - why would he have had a stoke?[/quote]

That comment that I made was insensitive and thoughtless, and I apologize.

[CowPrincess]

[quote name='Kentskie']Once on a cruise we were lucky enough to be upgraded to the Royal Suite. We had dinner one night at the Captain's table. There was a know it all Jackal who went on and on about how he and his wife were superior to everyone and everything they had and did was better than ours. After the dinner we each got a picture of the table and a list of the guests and their cabin numbers. We immediately looked on the deckplan to find what kind of luxurious penthouse Mr. Superior was in. Ironically it was an inside cabin.[/quote]

Hey, there is NOTHING wrong with inside cabins, I've had my share of them ;) but yup, that is pretty entertaining.

[donaldsc]

[quote name='Kentskie']Once on a cruise we were lucky enough to be upgraded to the Royal Suite. We had dinner one night at the Captain's table. There was a know it all Jackal who went on and on about how he and his wife were superior to everyone and everything they had and did was better than ours. After the dinner we each got a picture of the table and a list of the guests and their cabin numbers. We immediately looked on the deckplan to find what kind of luxurious penthouse Mr. Superior was in. Ironically it was an inside cabin.[/QUOTE]

You should have called him and asked him how the view of the dolphins outside his cabin window was!

DON

[Gunner22aa]

Some of the worst people I have met, and just not on ships really had the least to brag about. Maybe it was just to pump their own self worth or something. On our Asia cruise we became gerat friends with a State Senator from Carolina. He had money, let there be no doubt but if it wern't for the extensive array of diamonds that his lovely wife wore on occasion you could have mistaken this guy for a poor dirt farmer. This guy was modest. Never bragged about his extensive land holdings, that became apparent when we were talking hunting one evening which he loved. We both took to them right away because of how down to earth and genuine they were.

[Kentchikan]

[quote name='CowPrincess']Hey, there is NOTHING wrong with inside cabins, I've had my share of them ;) but yup, that is pretty entertaining.[/QUOTE]

I agree that there's nothing wrong with inside cabins and I know lots of people prefer them it was just the irony of it that I found humorous.