Nightmare tablemates?

[MicCanberra]

Really..... Nah

 

I do, especially in elevators just before I hope out.:p

[Bizmark'sMom]

oh, I forgot to add something important the head chef told the guy w/ the 'seafood allergy'. The reason this was such a concern is that the chef stated that the seafood is pre cooked and frozen for the ship and the chef is unable to 'guarantee' that the lobster was not cooked 'next to' or in sauces that had been used for other seafood 'that he was supposedly allergic to. I thought that really informative for just why food allergies could be potentially deadly and why the dining staff is so diligent. And yes, allergies can start out as very minor reactions at first encounter, and subsequent reactions can progress to potential life-threatening events. (Speaking as an ICU RN)

I was told exactly this in relation to my mushroom allergy. The kitchen could not guarantee mushroom powder or flavoring wasn't in some of the sauces they reconstitute on board, and wanted to make sure I was ok with some other garnish or accompaniment. My allergy is not life threatening, just really unpleasant. But still, who wants to be sick while on vacation when it's easily avoidable?

[Dcoy]

Was she high needs or just unpleasant.

 

Both, Very demanding thinking all ship personnel reported directly to her. She made her tablemates uncomfortable and requested to move. When new people boarded during the next segment, some were assigned to her table. That lasted one night.

 

Don

[MicCanberra]

Both, Very demanding thinking all ship personnel reported directly to her. She made her tablemates uncomfortable and requested to move. When new people boarded during the next segment, some were assigned to her table. That lasted one night.

 

Don

 

Do you think she noticed or just didn't care? Sounds like one of the two.:(

[Dcoy]

Do you think she noticed or just didn't care? Sounds like one of the two.:(

 

She was elderly and I don't think she should have been traveling alone. She probably didn't even think she was doing anything wrong.

 

Don

[navybankerteacher]

...or they moved because they didn't like their original tablemates. They might have already posted about it on this thread!

 

Astute observation. I'll have to look for Kansas couple posting how they had to request reassignment to escape a dreadful couple. There are two sides to every story.

[davekathy]

...There are two sides to every story.

 

Exactly what I was thinking when I read that particular post and why posted what I did.

Edited December 7, 2016 by davekathy

[Still Dreaming]

Ha Ha Ha

 

Nobody, Say nobody every want's to hear my work story's about Revamping waste water treatment plant's and the corn eyed brown trout.

 

 

.

 

I totally disagree! I think it would be fascinating talking to you!

[MicCanberra]

I totally disagree! I think it would be fascinating talking to you!

 

I am sure that some people would be intrigued to hear about how waste management occurs and combining that with fish is just roping in more possible listeners.:rolleyes:

[Pierlesscruisers]

Yes I hate lying too... One time I told someone that I was a Shepherd the questions keep coming.

I play a game now and try to skirt answering the question for as long as I can

 

I suspect that regardless of the question that a person asks in their attempt to start a conversation at dinner, whether it's "Where are you from?", "What do you do?", "What did you do today in port?" or just about anything else, there will be somebody who will, for one reason or another, take offense to the question for some reason or another. That reason may be "none of your business", "I don't like to discuss that subject" or some other reason none of which might not make any sense at all to the person hearing it. That said, I would suggest that you simply answer politely expressing your true feelings and go from there. If the person can't accept hearing "For personal reasons, I don't like to say what I do." or maybe say "I'm retired now and that is my full-time occupation." and let it go at that. If they persist, just smile and ignore the question.

 

Tom

[Pierlesscruisers]

I'm an RN too and I NEVER say that on a cruise (or really anywhere unless my skills are being called for appropriately) because people just love to discuss their most intimate medical problems with me and ask for medical diagnoses. Ugh.

 

I remember reading a story about a medical person, a doctor as I remember, who had a unique reply when someone would respond by asking a medical question. He would reply by pulling a tongue depressor out of his pocket and telling the person "Open your mouth and say 'aahh'." That usually brought a quick end to that discussion.

 

Tom

[troykahack]

I just hope many have read this thread and will just enjoy their cruise and allow others to enjoy theirs as well. Find something new as a icebreaker if you feel it is really needed. Leave the What do you do, at home.

 

 

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[Haoie]

Had a great table last time [10 top, only 6 including the 2 of us were attended]. We're all connected on FB now.

 

So no nightmare story to add - for now!

[Cro_and_Swan]

I remember reading a story about a medical person, a doctor as I remember, who had a unique reply when someone would respond by asking a medical question. He would reply by pulling a tongue depressor out of his pocket and telling the person "Open your mouth and say 'aahh'." That usually brought a quick end to that discussion.

 

Tom

 

*LOL* But I can only think that pulling out a BLUE LATEX GLOVE might bring and even funnier & quicker end to the discussion! :D

Edited January 6, 2017 by Cro_and_Swan

[Cro_and_Swan]

On the very first night of our recent cruise, one couple at our table for 6 was already slight inebriated when they got to the table and was very impatient to get their first of many drinks. From the moment they sat down, they made it clear that NOTHING about the meal - food (which, I admit, was sort of mediocre) or service (which I thought was fine) pleased them. The rest of us silently tolerated them and just sort of ignored the complaining, but tried to keep a reasonably pleasant though mundane conversation going.

 

At one point the (drunk) gentleman began to rant about 'those d**n Indians' (Native American, not India) and their casinos and crime and scams. He would not let it go. The husband from the other couple seemed to try to avoid directly responding ... neither agreeing with nor contradicting the guy, but just trying not to be rude to him. My travel partner didn't say anything either way ... he tends to be silent when he disagrees with a conversation ... but I could tell he was not happy with the guy.

 

I have my own thoughts, but I'm not an 'activist' with super strong feelings on the subject politically/economically and I don't generally make any issue of distant family heritage ... but I eventually was not able to hold my tongue and when he addressed an off-the-wall 'anti-Indian' comment to my travel partner and I (as opposed to the gentleman of the other couple) I spoke up and said ... "Well my father was half Cherokee and my mother is of McIntosh-Creek Indian dissent ... but we've never owned a casino nor committed any felonies..." :rolleyes:

 

I honestly felt kind of rude ... but it did end the 'Indian-bashing' and that couple soon found it was time to head back to the bar. The rest of us enjoyed our dessert in relative peace ... and the conversation turned back to general 'chit chat'.

[Bankshot]

Once, having lunch in the dining room, my wife and I were seated at a table for six. Two couples who were travelling together were already seated and talking among themselves. We said hello and they ignored us. Never once during the entire lunch did they acknowledge we were at the table. When we left I interrupted them and said, "It's been nice NOT meeting you."

[kitty9]

This wasn't a rude table mate, but we had one guy at our table who would pick up his plate and lick it clean if it had some kind of sauce or gravy on it. He was especially good at "cleaning" his ice cream dish.

[davekathy]

This wasn't a rude table mate, but we had one guy at our table who would pick up his plate and lick it clean if it had some kind of sauce or gravy on it. He was especially good at "cleaning" his ice cream dish.

 

I hope he licked his fingers when he was finished. Waste not, want not.

[Pierlesscruisers]

I hope he licked his fingers when he was finished. Waste not, want not.

 

Hopefully he never dropped any food on the floor or his lap! :eek:

 

Tom

[celebrity]

Asking people what they do for a living is not rude. Perhaps they are trying to find common interests. I see people on this board get offended by this a lot and I don't get it. People are trying to make conversation and find out more about you. It's not that it matters, maybe they are just trying to make a connection.

 

I don't usually ask it but I never mind if I get asked. Sometimes I will volunteer it because my profession is "glamorous and exciting" to some people and it often creates conversation and people have fun talking about it. I'm never offended by that.

 

I agree! Why is that offensive? It's just an ice breaker. I am very chatty and always ask first where are you from, is this your first cruise?

Lost track of number of cruises I've sailed but literally have formed lasting friendships from people across the globe. Fortunately have sailed with a number of them multiple times.

[carolmacey]

I agree. I hate being asked what I do. I usually give a generic non-specific answer and hope the person asking doesn't pry any further. Nine times out of ten they keep prying. Sigh!

 

I'm a terrible liar, but I really should pick a made up career and stick with it.

 

We sat at a table with a group of folks obviously upset with a recent building contractor. They complained about the "damn builder" several times. eventually they asked my DH, a building contractor, what he did and he said he was a damn builder. They all went right along and thought he was a "Dam Builder". So they asked all these questions about fish ladders and power stations and such. We still laugh about that.

[carolmacey]

I've never used that question to break the ice. I always start by asking their status.

 

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Such a naughty fellow!

[carolmacey]

Porn star.

 

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Forums mobile app

 

I need to use this one in my size 24 body.

[carolmacey]

Did you mean tablemate?

 

Split personality???

[bluegiraffe]

OMG we had the worst table mates on a 10 night cruise. We suffered for 9 nights...yeah, why we did not move earlier is beyond me. But that last night I said we are not sitting here. We asked to be moved and we were, but had the same waiter. The table had 3 other couples and they all were drunks. They would leave us out of conversations since we were not of their Grey Goose Status. They would also ridicule our education. My husband has a PHD and I have a masters. They would brag that they make more in life and did not go to college. It was evident by his wife and himself. Both of them could not even pronounce creme brulee properly. He bought a bottle of expensive wine each night and showed the receipt to all the couples. When it was our turn to see it, not that we cared, he would say, "they don't need to see it, it would not impress them anyways since they are so educated." We never talked over them so this was a real source of irritation. He would show up after being in port and show off diamond bracelet that he bought his wife. Each night they talked about drinking stories and booze and material things. They would also make fun of people at other tables. They would comment on their clothes and say how little they talked at their tables--must be boring folks. The husband then would say no one was as pretty as his wife.... She was not all that!! It was the worst. So now, I do MTD when on RCCL and especially for a 10 night cruise.

 

We must have had their relatives on a cruise with us. Table for 6, DH and me, Mr. and Mrs. Obnoxious and another couple. Mr. O.'s first question to the table (excuse me, just the men at the table; I don't think it occurred to him that women could work outside the home) was "what do you do for a living? I own the biggest construction company in **whatever state it was**" DH says "I'm retired." Man from other couple says he is a scientist at one of the national labs - the one that was responsible for the Mars rover. Interesting, right? Not to Mr. O. whose insecurities showed up immediately. He started belittling the scientist and kept that up all through dinner - exactly as you described in your post. And then Mr. and Mrs. O. started in with the bragging about their houses, jewels, cars - you name it. What's the old saying about knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing? Mr. O. moved on to politics and wouldn't get off that subject even when other couple and DH& I told him we weren't interested in discussing it. Mrs. O finally capped the evening by giving me a drunken look and saying - apropos of absolutely nothing - "Ya know, you could be pretty if you put some work into it."

 

Oh, and they were terribly rude to the waiter.

 

That could be why we no longer eat at shared tables......

Edited January 8, 2017 by bluegiraffe