PrincessLuver Posted December 31, 2013 #1 Share Posted December 31, 2013 We have only done Anytime Dinning and have never done Assigned Dinning. We are going to be on the Ocean Princess later this year and the only option is Assigned Dinning. We like meeting people but are not sure which number of seat mates too choose in this dinning situation. It has been our experience that when there are more then six people at a table it is easier to have conversations then when there are more. We have also read that not everyone always shows up for Assigned Dinning and you can end up being the only one at the table. I would appreciate what your experience has been if you are traveling as a couple with no others. Also, we usually like to sit at round tables. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nan_Sea Posted December 31, 2013 #2 Share Posted December 31, 2013 We prefer a table of six. The tables for eight are oval and we find it makes conversation difficult. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FishOn55 Posted December 31, 2013 #3 Share Posted December 31, 2013 We prefer a table of six. The tables for eight are oval and we find it makes conversation difficult. I agree. Tables for 10 are almost impossible for conversation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul929207 Posted December 31, 2013 #4 Share Posted December 31, 2013 We also like a table for 6. There are times when you will be the only ones or there may be another couple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wineforhealth Posted December 31, 2013 #5 Share Posted December 31, 2013 Agree table for 6 works best for all the same reasons posted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cr8tiv1 Posted December 31, 2013 #6 Share Posted December 31, 2013 My preference is for a table of 6. On my last cruise, one couple left and there were just 4. We had a great time. Yes, there were a few nights we were the only ones at the table. Even with a table for 6, I have found that dinners take so much longer. Could it be because I eat slowly? Too much? Or we just enjoy our table mates? I've given up on anything larger. Most of the time, I've had great table mates regardless of table size. You make dinner what you want out of it. I have tried anytime and enjoy my traditional settings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdnguy Posted December 31, 2013 #7 Share Posted December 31, 2013 (edited) Always ask for a table of no more than six. Seems to be everyone's favourite table size here. Probably why so many times it's difficult to get a table for six.:) Even with a table for 6, I have found that dinners take so much longerAny dinner longer than 1 1/2 hrs is too long for me. Edited December 31, 2013 by cdnguy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WmFCoyote Posted December 31, 2013 #8 Share Posted December 31, 2013 My wife and I prefer traditional dining. We have found that a table for 8 works best for us. Our logic :cool: tells us that with this table we probably will not be eating with 3 other couples traveling together as that many people would prefer to eat as a group. If there are 2 couples traveling together at the table and they are into their own trip then there will be one other couple for us to talk with. Unless all of the other 3 couples decide to eat elsewhere, we will still have someone to enjoy a conversation with. Table of 6 is too chancy. Table of 10 is to large to have conversations without a mega phone. JMVHO. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruise_me_Crazy Posted December 31, 2013 #9 Share Posted December 31, 2013 We opted for a table of 10. We figured at least a few won't show and the chances of a group will be small as they would have requested their own table. We ended up with 8 booked, & 2 never showed. The remaining 6 of us became firm friends & enjoyed each other's company during sea time. Perfect # for trivia teams! darts games & Cludeo games ;):D! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Go-Bucks! Posted December 31, 2013 #10 Share Posted December 31, 2013 We always do Anytime Dining and are willing to share a table, but we do request a table for 6 or 8. Six is best, but 8 is OK. Did 10 a couple times, but way too big for having conversations with anyone but the people next to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holomoku Posted December 31, 2013 #11 Share Posted December 31, 2013 (edited) We have been AT for quite a few cruises now, since the last time in TD we had the table for 6 to ourselves most nights.(I even took a shower before dinner??) In AT we just say two to share and usually get a 6 or 8 round, but once in while a 10 oval that really makes conversation hard. We really like meeting so many great people in AT rather than just being there with the same other couple each evening. Our next cruise is 25 days so too long to be lonely each evening. Anyway, AT with 6 or 8 is for us.;) Edited December 31, 2013 by Holomoku Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuzzyape Posted December 31, 2013 #12 Share Posted December 31, 2013 During our Hawaiian trip we dined at a table of 8. We had a good group, so after a few nights we started changing our seating around so we got to sit next to new people. We were lucky and as some have pointed out this idea doesn't work in every situation. However you decide, I hope you have a great cruise, and get the chance to dine with fun and great people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caribill Posted December 31, 2013 #13 Share Posted December 31, 2013 Since the OP will be on the Ocean Princess where there is no anytime dining, it is unlikely that the others assigned to a table of six or eight would fail to show up most evenings. There will be some evenings not all will be there due to wanting the buffet/bistro that evening or wanting to dine in the specialty restaurant, but the table will usually have all that are assigned to it eating almost every evenings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
satxdiver Posted December 31, 2013 #14 Share Posted December 31, 2013 We do ATD since it started. Sometimes they ask if we would like to sit at a table with others when entering the MDR. Our answer is yes but only for a table of 6. We have sit at bigger tables and it is hard to carry on any conversation and invariably we have one pax that is an extremely slow eater so we sit there twiddling our thumbs waiting for the next course. We don't mind sharing the table with others and have for the most part met some really nice people. That experience far outweighs the skunks we have had so we continue to do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam in CA Posted December 31, 2013 #15 Share Posted December 31, 2013 We have also read that not everyone always shows up for Assigned Dinning and you can end up being the only one at the table.The OP is sailing on the Ocean Princess so discussing Anytime is moot: there's none on this ship. When the only option is Traditional/fixed seating on a small ship, it's more likely that you won't be sitting alone at the table. After boarding, go to the Maitre d' to check where you're assigned and the table size. You can request a change then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flamomo Posted December 31, 2013 #16 Share Posted December 31, 2013 I much prefer a table for 6, because it is easier to hear what others are saying and participate in the conversation. While I admit my hearing is not quite a sharp as it used to be, it's also not uncommon to have sufficient ambient dining room noise to make it hard to hear what tablemates are saying, particularly at larger tables. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Husky61 Posted December 31, 2013 #17 Share Posted December 31, 2013 We prefer a table for two. Not interested in making small talk with others at diner. Anytime dining is our preference. Individual taste is what is important.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner22aa Posted December 31, 2013 #18 Share Posted December 31, 2013 We used to do assigned early dining but have since switched to anytime as it works best for us now. On our very first cruise my TA of over ten years now gave me one of the best pieces of advice ever about assigned dining. If you want privacy then try for a table of two. If you want to meet other people than the bigger the table the better and never ever a table for four. With a large table you stand a really good chance of meeting at least one other couple you will really hit it off with and maybe more. With a table for four if you don't hit it off with the only other people you are dining with it can become a very miserable trip. We did one cruise at a table for eight. Two of the couples were cruising together and totally ignored the other four of us. Actually so rude as to tell us, the other four to limit our conversation so they could talk to each other. We hit it off really well with the other couple so we totally ignored them and found even more things to discuss. Like a lot of things, bigger is better in this case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfgdbg Posted December 31, 2013 #19 Share Posted December 31, 2013 We prefer a table of six. The tables for eight are oval and we find it makes conversation difficult. We either have a table for 6 or 8. The tables have always been round including the tables for 8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caribill Posted January 1, 2014 #20 Share Posted January 1, 2014 We either have a table for 6 or 8. The tables have always been round including the tables for 8. On the Ocean Princess (ship the OP is on) many of the tables for six are rectangular. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruise_me_Crazy Posted January 1, 2014 #21 Share Posted January 1, 2014 We assumed our missing couple ate at the buffet or pizzeria etc as there was no AT on our ship either, but they still never showed, nor notified the staff! The 6 of us decided that we were awesome company though, so it was their loss LOL! :D :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FritzG Posted January 1, 2014 #22 Share Posted January 1, 2014 (edited) Our best ever dining experience was a table for 10. It wasn't what we requested, but we all hit it off so well that dinner was the highlight of the day. We switched seats every night so that we got to talk to each person at some point during the cruise. It was an oval table which made conversation easier than a round table. On one trip several years ago there was a round table of 10 behind our table, and we kept getting bumped by waiters and those at the table. The dining room was full so there was nowhere to move us, and it was very inconvenient. I think an oval table is better for a group of 10. On our last cruise we had a table for 8, and we were cruising with my cousin and her dh. We were seated with people that we were totally incompatible with including one man who wanted to argue the values of fracking at great length, and a man who put his wife down every time she opened her mouth. We were able to book a table in Anytime with the same waiter for the rest of the trip which worked out great. Edited January 1, 2014 by FritzG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Coral Posted January 1, 2014 #23 Share Posted January 1, 2014 I like 6. You can hear what everyone is saying. When it is 8 or 10, you seem to converse with just those person immediately next to you as it is difficult to hear across the table. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Coral Posted January 1, 2014 #24 Share Posted January 1, 2014 We prefer a table for two. Not interested in making small talk with others at diner. Anytime dining is our preference. Individual taste is what is important.:) This is not a choice of theirs. Anytime dining is not available on this ship and Table of 2 is also not a choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessLuver Posted January 1, 2014 Author #25 Share Posted January 1, 2014 This is not a choice of theirs. Anytime dining is not available on this ship and Table of 2 is also not a choice. I really appreciate everyone's suggestions. The great thing about CC is that there are so many knowledgeable people. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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