Coral Princess family dining in MDR

[METD]

We are celebrating our anniversary on Alaskan cruise with my son and daughters families. There will be 11 of us - adults and college age except for a 10 and 12 year old.  We really want to dine in the MDR at dinner as a family but the largest table they show we can sign up for is 10 people. Do you know if they can make an exception to add another chair, esp since one is a 10 year old?? Only other option is to signup for 2 tables of 6 but am afraid they will be separated in the room... Calling Princess is no help as they say check once I get on board - probably too late by then . Any thoughts??

[fishywood]

As long as every one of the booking numbers is linked to every other one (all cabins in your party must put in the request, not just one of you calling with list of numbers) you should be all be sitting together in adjacent tables, perhaps one eight top and one four, or two sixes. Yes if you go see the Maitre d' during his open hours on embarkation day it is possible to switch to a table for ten with an extra chair wedged in, though it may take a day or two as there are a limited number of 10-tops. Most of the time they have a party of nine they are accomodated by an extra chair at a table for eight, in order to save the 10-tops for full groups of 10+ 

 

But the service will be much slower that if you were at two separate tables. Even if you have the same waiter it is much easier for them to take six orders, step to the next table and take five more, rather than eleven at the same time. Assuming you wish Traditional Dining each night with your entire party together you will run up against the time limit for your seating possibly without finishing coffee & dessert if you insist on one large table. At a table for 11 it is impossible to chat with anyone but your immediate neighbors; with two tables for six you can rotate and see half your family members up close each night. 

[waltd]

Don't stress over it.   If you are flexible with your dining time talk with the Maitre d once on board.   it will be up to him.   In the past some ships  have be able to accommodate all at one table.   No guarantees but do ask.   Then you can decide if you want smaller tables and then rotate each night or stay at one table. 

[Colo Cruiser]

Yes I agree. Have all the booking #’s linked!

Also.....

See the MD at the time/place listed in the Patter on embarkation day

It is usually held in one of the dining rooms between 2p and 3:30p. He handles the seating for every cruise and has the power to get your issue resolved. 

[Cruise-Crazzy]

They should be able to create a table that will hold 11.  I just got off a cruise with my family of 9.  It is wonderful to eat together as a family.

[skynight]

See the maitre'd on boarding day. The hours and location will be in the Princess Patter.

[bluesea2]

Best of luck, seeing the madre’d And a long to do so was a waste of time for us on Royal

[OCruisers]

The most important thing is to have ALL booking #'s linked.  

At the worst ... you'll get 2 tables for 6 next to each other. 

Often the Head Waiter can be as helpful as the Madre' D in getting you exactly what you really want.  

[Coral]

I think it is more effective to have (2) tables of 6 and then maybe switch off who eats with each other. Having one long table - it is impossible to hear what the people at the other end of the table is saying. I feel like you only hear from 3 others at a long table for 11 or 12. At least in a circular table - you can hear 5 others.

[Renmar]

They can do it. We had a table for 12 on the Island, the sistership of the Coral, a little while back. We were just the 2 of us but when we found out there were 5 couples on board from the country we were born (Holland) we asked if we could get a table large enough for the 12 of us. Answer; No problem and we dined together several times in the main dining room. Maybe it did help that the Food & Beverage manager was also from Holland 😉.

Like others stated above, ask the Maitre'D or the headwaiter when you board although don't count on the first night.

 

Theo