dining room/sharing table

[Carol28]

I just read the post that discussed Perry Golf cruises as I am interested in a 2021 Scotland cruise and it is a Perry Golf cruise.  We are not golfers. However, it seems that the golfers and non-golfers get along well. 

We cruise as a couple, just the two of us, but we enjoy meeting others at dinner.  What is the possibility on Azamara to be seated with one or two other couples for dinner who we don't know? I have a feeling that a golfer may prefer to enjoy each other's company instead of sitting with a non-golfer.

[Jimmycruiser]

Since we enjoy a nice leisurely dinner alone, we would not want somebody we do not know to ask if they can join us for dinner and have to tell them no. I know we may be in the minority but one of the advantages we enjoy about Azamara is not assigned seating and being able to dine alone whatever time we want to. There are lots of opportunity to meet other guests and if compatible discuss having dinner together in a casual manner which we have done on a couple of occasions. 

 

As as a side note, we have found on two occasions that the Perry golf cruises are the most expensive per night cruises Azamara offers because of the popularity of the golf packages so unless you are a golfer you will most likely be paying a premium for the itinerary it offers which you may be okay with?

[Baynanno1]

21 minutes ago, Carol28 said:

I just read the post that discussed Perry Golf cruises as I am interested in a 2021 Scotland cruise and it is a Perry Golf cruise.  We are not golfers. However, it seems that the golfers and non-golfers get along well. 

We cruise as a couple, just the two of us, but we enjoy meeting others at dinner.  What is the possibility on Azamara to be seated with one or two other couples for dinner who we don't know? I have a feeling that a golfer may prefer to enjoy each other's company instead of sitting with a non-golfer.

 

You will be asked your seating preference each evening when you arrive to be seated. You will have the option to be seated with one or more other couples.

Just be aware, if you plan on seeing a show at a particular time, a larger table may take longer to fill and orders will not be taken until all are seated.

 

Jimmycruiser posted while I was writing.

You do not seat yourself.

If you request a table for two that is what you will be taken to.

If you ask to be seated with others that is what will be arranged by the Maitre'd.

 

Edited August 17, 2019 by Baynanno1

[Jimmycruiser]

I did not say we seat ourselves except in Windows and the Patio. We have been on 3 AZ cruises and have never been asked about our seating preference, but we have never asked to be seated with people we do not know. Yes we were escorted in the MD to a table but always to a table for two and moved if we ask to be moved to a different table. We eat mostly in the specialty restaurants at our reserved time but again were never asked about seating preference.

 

I was not aware there were tables that you could request to be seated at that you wanted others you did not know to join your table?

[marinaro44]

29 minutes ago, Jimmycruiser said:

We eat mostly in the specialty restaurants at our reserved time but again were never asked about seating preference.

 

I was not aware there were tables that you could request to be seated at that you wanted others you did not know to join your table?

You are never asked in an Azamara specialty restaurant if you'd like to share a table with others.  In the main dining room you can always ask to be seated at a shared table, if that's what you'd like.

[hiccups]

We’ve gone on two PerryGolf cruises, with a third booked.  There are always couples like us where only one is a golfer, so we’d sit with anyone at dinner 😃

 

Also, aside from the British Open cruise, there usually aren’t a lot of golfers on the cruise—PerryGolf has a set number they accept.  On our last cruise golfers and spouses didn’t total more than 30 people.

 

With the exception of the British Open cruise, we haven’t found the PeryGolf cruise itineraries have a premium—we wouldn’t book them if they did.  It could be if the price is higher, it might be the itinerary in general.

[oddjob16]

In the Main Dining Room ( MDR) and you show up as a couple the Maitre’d would natuarally ask: «Table for two?» Then you could say: «We would like a shared table tonight» . 

In the speciality dining venues you get what you have booked and in Windows and the Patio it is free seating. 

[Grandma Cruising]

We always ask to share a table in Discoveries (MDR). We tend to eat late (7:30/7:45) and sometimes in the past we’ve been told there were no sharing tables available. On our last cruise in July we shared most nights. The other thing is that the tables for 2 are quite close together. We have some great conversations with our neighbours when on a table for two.

There is no option to share a table in a speciality restaurant. However, we have shared in the past by asking people we’ve got talking to during the cruise, who intend to eat in one of the speciality restaurants if, they would like to share a table, then we booked a table for 4 using both cabin numbers.

Edited August 18, 2019 by Host Grandma Cruising

[uktog]

Unfortunately the tables in the Speciality restaurants have been amended so they can seat more covers.  Many are now very (too) close together so a quiet meal a deux is now difficult and some guests will want conversations even if you don’t. If you want to have a Greta Garbo be alone night tell them when you book the table. 

[manc]

After 14 cruises on Azamara we have always been asked if we wish to sit at a shared table. We usually decline as you can chat to the other people at either side of you but sometimes we agree to meet specific people or chat to someone new. The choice is the passengers. 

[oddjob16]

On sunset veranda for breakfast or lunch you can alwys ask if extra seats are available. We always accept company if we have a table for ourselves at the back of the ship. 

Making new aquaintances is part of cruising. 

Edited August 18, 2019 by oddjob16

[excitedofharpenden]

13 hours ago, oddjob16 said:

On sunset veranda for breakfast or lunch you can alwys ask if extra seats are available. We always accept company if we have a table for ourselves at the back of the ship. 

Making new aquaintances is part of cruising. 

Same here.  I always start with (in my best English accent) “would you mind awfully if I joined you?” And no one has said “no” so far. Lol

 

Phil

Edited August 19, 2019 by excitedofharpenden

[Bloodaxe]

34 minutes ago, excitedofharpenden said:

Same here.  I always start with (in my best English accent) “would you mind awfully if I joined you?” And no one has said “no” so far. Lol

 

Phi

 

Then again I could always say Hey Up got room for 2 more, in my best Yorkshire accent (just kidding I don't really).

Edited August 19, 2019 by Bloodaxe

[uktog]

2 hours ago, excitedofharpenden said:

Same here.  I always start with (in my best English accent) “would you mind awfully if I joined you?” And no one has said “no” so far. Lol

 

Phil

There’s a first time for everything 😜😜😜

[laurieb]

5 hours ago, excitedofharpenden said:

Same here.  I always start with (in my best English accent) “would you mind awfully if I joined you?” And no one has said “no” so far. Lol

 

Phil

We've been declined once, on our July cruise 😞 I guess not everyone enjoys meeting their fellow cruisers

 

[hiccups]

28 minutes ago, laurieb said:

We've been declined once, on our July cruise 😞 I guess not everyone enjoys meeting their fellow cruisers

 

While attending the muster drill on our Oceania cruise, a crew member specifically directed us to two seats at a table for four in the dining room, where a couple was already sitting.  The wife spoke up and said, "We're saving those seats."  My husband replied that the crew member had told us to sit there, and as we didn't see other seats in the area, we proceeded to sit down.  The husband again said, "those seats are saved," and we again said that's where we had been directed to sit.  We could tell the couple was miffed, and about ten minutes later when their friends showed up, the husband of the couple told them, "We tried to save you seats, but..." and then pointed to us and gave an eye roll.  My husband was furious, and told the man if it was that important that they sit with their friends, THEY could leave the table.  To this day I'm still flabbergasted people could behave so poorly over something so ridiculous. 

[Wonderingabout]

31 minutes ago, hiccups said:

While attending the muster drill on our Oceania cruise, a crew member specifically directed us to two seats at a table for four in the dining room, where a couple was already sitting.  The wife spoke up and said, "We're saving those seats."  My husband replied that the crew member had told us to sit there, and as we didn't see other seats in the area, we proceeded to sit down.  The husband again said, "those seats are saved," and we again said that's where we had been directed to sit.  We could tell the couple was miffed, and about ten minutes later when their friends showed up, the husband of the couple told them, "We tried to save you seats, but..." and then pointed to us and gave an eye roll.  My husband was furious, and told the man if it was that important that they sit with their friends, THEY could leave the table.  To this day I'm still flabbergasted people could behave so poorly over something so ridiculous. 

A classic case of behaving poorly is always in the mind of the beholder.  The problem was with the Maitre D who directed the second couple to the table that was already taken.  (perhaps the Maitre D mistakenly thought that they were the other couple for that table)  The first couple  obtained a table for four because they intended dining with a specific other couple.  When the second couple showed up,  the first couple  properly indicated that the seats were saved for another couple that would show up in a few minutes.  The second couple should have returned to the Maitre D pointed out his mistake and request to be reseated.   Instead the second couple proceeds to take seats at the table where they obviously were not wanted and against the protest of the first couple.  And in the process ruining the dinner for them and the other couple.

 

The ball was in the second couple's court in that having been informed that they were not wanted at that table (and in this case for a very good reason) they could choose to start over with the Maitre D or create a confrontational situation.  The second couple choose the confrontational route.  That the first couple handled the confrontation with just a roll of the eyes shows tremendous restraint on their part.

[marinaro44]

2 minutes ago, Wonderingabout said:

A classic case of behaving poorly is always in the mind of the beholder.  The problem was with the Maitre D who directed the second couple to the table that was already taken.  (perhaps the Maitre D mistakenly thought that they were the other couple for that table)  The first couple  obtained a table for four because they intended dining with a specific other couple.  When the second couple showed up,  the first couple  properly indicated that the seats were saved for another couple that would show up in a few minutes.  The second couple should have returned to the Maitre D pointed out his mistake and request to be reseated.   Instead the second couple proceeds to take seats at the table where they obviously were not wanted and against the protest of the first couple.  And in the process ruining the dinner for them and the other couple.

 

The ball was in the second couple's court in that having been informed that they were not wanted at that table (and in this case for a very good reason) they could choose to start over with the Maitre D or create a confrontational situation.  The second couple choose the confrontational route.  That the first couple handled the confrontation with just a roll of the eyes shows tremendous restraint on their part.

It was a muster drill, not a dinner.

[mrbluesea]

Lunch or breakfast is fine to share a table, particularly if we are on a table that seats 4. I am more than happy to share. But during an evening meal if we are on a table for 2 then sorry but the name is in the title (table for 2).  More than happy for a 'goodevening' etc to people at the next table but some people really do need to be able to pick up the hint that sometimes we all like our own privacy.  

[Baynanno1]

5 hours ago, marinaro44 said:

It was a muster drill, not a dinner.

 

And at a muster drill one goes where one is directed by crew!

[Baynanno1]

On 8/18/2019 at 8:19 AM, Jimmycruiser said:

Since we enjoy a nice leisurely dinner alone, we would not want somebody we do not know to ask if they can join us for dinner and have to tell them no.

 

On 8/18/2019 at 9:06 AM, Jimmycruiser said:

I did not say we seat ourselves except in Windows and the Patio.

 

The OP's post was enquiring about sharing at dinner.

 

Although you did not say in so many words you did not seat yourselves, I assumed from your first post you were seated for your leisurely dinner at a table that could be shared.

"we would not want somebody we do not know to ask if they can join us for dinner and have to tell them no"

 

So, in the edit to my post :

"You do not seat yourself.

If you request a table for two that is what you will be taken to.

If you ask to be seated with others that is what will be arranged by the Maitre'd."

 

I was clarifying for an apparent first time Azamara cruiser who asked :

"What is the possibility on Azamara to be seated with one or two other couples for dinner who we don't know?"

 

 

 

 

[hiccups]

21 hours ago, Wonderingabout said:

A classic case of behaving poorly is always in the mind of the beholder.  The problem was with the Maitre D who directed the second couple to the table that was already taken.  (perhaps the Maitre D mistakenly thought that they were the other couple for that table)  The first couple  obtained a table for four because they intended dining with a specific other couple.  When the second couple showed up,  the first couple  properly indicated that the seats were saved for another couple that would show up in a few minutes.  The second couple should have returned to the Maitre D pointed out his mistake and request to be reseated.   Instead the second couple proceeds to take seats at the table where they obviously were not wanted and against the protest of the first couple.  And in the process ruining the dinner for them and the other couple.

 

The ball was in the second couple's court in that having been informed that they were not wanted at that table (and in this case for a very good reason) they could choose to start over with the Maitre D or create a confrontational situation.  The second couple choose the confrontational route.  That the first couple handled the confrontation with just a roll of the eyes shows tremendous restraint on their part.

Please re-read the post.  As has been pointed out, it was a muster drill, not dinner, and we sat where we were directed to sit by a crew member.  So no, we didn't need to "return to the Maitre D" and ask to be seated elsewhere. 

 

At a meal, we never would have sat down at a table uninvited, and that you would think someone would do this assumes you believe no one except you has any manners.

[Wonderingabout]

37 minutes ago, hiccups said:

Please re-read the post.  As has been pointed out, it was a muster drill, not dinner, and we sat where we were directed to sit by a crew member.  So no, we didn't need to "return to the Maitre D" and ask to be seated elsewhere. 

 

At a meal, we never would have sat down at a table uninvited, and that you would think someone would do this assumes you believe no one except you has any manners.

I apologize.

Since the thread was about dining / Sharing a table,  I assumed.  I missed where the thread was hijacked to cover muster drills.    I must read more carefully and never assume.  My Mistake.

[hiccups]

38 minutes ago, Wonderingabout said:

I apologize.

Since the thread was about dining / Sharing a table,  I assumed.  I missed where the thread was hijacked to cover muster drills.    I must read more carefully and never assume.  My Mistake.

 

Someone commented that not everyone enjoys meeting fellow cruisers, so I shared our experience.  Consider it a hijack if you will.