Cruising Solo, Steakhouse question

[tbone77]

Hello all,

 

Have any of you solo cruiser dined in the steakhouse?  Were you seated with a group on anyone else? Were you seated by yourself?  I've been cruising solo for the last 9 years after my divorce and am used to dining alone, but I don't want to get the awkward stares from other diners.  

 

Thanks in advance

Robin D

[balcony bound]

I doubt they would seat you with others.  I'm sure someone else knows for sure but I can't see them doing that.

[WhaleTailFlCruiser]

I cruise solo and every time I have gone to the Steakhouse I sit Solo and it doesn't bother me, Crew tends to take better care of you and strike up conversation with you as well. 

[BlerkOne]

I've dined solo before and never bothered to notice what others were looking at.

[sid_9169]

Been to the Steakhouse solo on multiple occasions, and always at a table by myself... If people give you "awkward stares" just ignore them...

[Saint Greg]

 You can always try to scope out the place ahead of time and see if there's a table you like. If I can find a table for two in the back not near other tables, where I can face a wall or something, that's great for me. 

[travelplus]

On 8/5/2021 at 10:04 AM, sid_9169 said:

Been to the Steakhouse solo on multiple occasions, and always at a table by myself... If people give you "awkward stares" just ignore them...

I would report them to the Cruise Director 😁 Solo travelers have way too much fun and get to plan their own schedule without having anyone interfering in their plans!

 

I'd say go Solo!

[MeHeartCruising]

Not on Carnival, but I’ve dined solo in NCL’s steakhouse (and other specialty restaurants) on many occasions.  It’s not uncommon to see others doing so at the same time.  Don’t fret about it.  Go. Eat. Enjoy your cruise.  

[NCTribeFan]

Solo cruiser here, but I've only dined in the steakhouse solo once (often have cruise friends on the same sailings and we usually dine together).  It was actually for my birthday.  No singing, but lovely dessert, which I'm sure I didn't have room for.

 

I decided a few decades ago that if I wanted to go out to eat on my own, I'd go out to eat!  A co-worker (who was single) asked, "aren't you afraid people will look at you??!!"

 

Uh, no!  Why would I care what strangers think of me.  None of their business.

 

For me, one of the best reasons to dine solo (in the MDR, at least) is that it gives you a chance to really watch the servers, who are working their butts off.  So please, folks, remember that next time you want them to stand and chat in the middle of dinner service.  They have to make up that time to ensure that others get good service, too.  

[NW Native1]

I cruise solo and I've dined in the steakhouse several times. I've always been seated at a table by myself. I would hope that strangers have better things to think of than why I'm dining alone.

[travelplus]

They need to let Solo travelers order two entrees!

[MCC retired]

Those stares may be just Envy 🤔

[firefly333]

Lol I've eaten alone and it never occurred to me to wonder why or if people were looking at me lol. I will be asking to eat in pay restaurants onboard. ..solo. 

[htkodiak]

My wife and I went to the steakhouse and after our drinks but  before we had our appetizer  course my wife started feeling sick.I let the waiter know and they were fine with it.It just so happened that the ships Head Chef was waling thru and he stopped to say hi,we had met at chefs table,I told him what had happened and for the rest of the meal I was shown much special attention.

[glrounds]

On 8/5/2021 at 12:19 PM, WhaleTailFlCruiser said:

I cruise solo and every time I have gone to the Steakhouse I sit Solo and it doesn't bother me, Crew tends to take better care of you and strike up conversation with you as well. 

 

I cruise solo most of the time and try to go to the Steakhouse at least once per cruise. I've always been seated alone. I prefer it that way and, yes, waitresses tend to stop at your table and converse when they have a chance (think TIP). 🙂

 

[Jasonsterling]

On 8/5/2021 at 1:33 PM, tbone77 said:

Hello all,

 

Have any of you solo cruiser dined in the steakhouse?  Were you seated with a group on anyone else? Were you seated by yourself?  I've been cruising solo for the last 9 years after my divorce and am used to dining alone, but I don't want to get the awkward stares from other diners.  

 

Thanks in advance

Robin D

Never have but I am on my next cruise- I assumed as others have confirmed here that it would be a table for one which I'm okay with. It's an early dining time that night so I can get on to other stuff so it might not even be that crowded yet. Can't wait to get there!

[joelheather]

On 8/5/2021 at 2:33 PM, tbone77 said:

Hello all,

 

Have any of you solo cruiser dined in the steakhouse?  Were you seated with a group on anyone else? Were you seated by yourself?  I've been cruising solo for the last 9 years after my divorce and am used to dining alone, but I don't want to get the awkward stares from other diners.  

 

Thanks in advance

Robin D

you’re post is a bit strange, if you been solo on cruises before for almost a decade, why worry now? 

[Elaine5715]

On 8/5/2021 at 4:04 PM, sid_9169 said:

Been to the Steakhouse solo on multiple occasions, and always at a table by myself... If people give you "awkward stares" just ignore them...

I believe those are "I am so jealous of that person enjoying a meal in peace" looks

[travelplus]

On 8/8/2021 at 12:25 PM, MCC retired said:

Those stares may be just Envy 🤔

Hungry Eyes One look at you and I fantasize😁 Eric Carmen says it best!

[RWolver672]

On 8/5/2021 at 2:33 PM, tbone77 said:

but I don't want to get the awkward stares from other diners.  

 

Thanks in advance

Robin D

 

This reminded me of when I was maybe 7 or 8 and my Grandfather took me out to a restaurant.  I told him that I felt like everybody was staring at me.  His response was "If you weren't staring at them, you wouldn't know they were staring at you."

[Roz]

I ate solo at the Steakhouse on my last cruise.  Took advantage of the first night free bottle of wine.  There were a few other singletons but we all had our own table.  I wanted a quiet dinner alone and would not have liked it if I had been forced to eat with others, especially since there is a surcharge to eat in the Steakhouse.  

[Ilovesailaway]

Honestly, I think its a little sad when I see someone eating dinner alone. Other meals like a quick lunch or breakfast in a more casual setting and I don't think twice. 

Sorry if you disagree, I am sure many don't give it a second thought but when I see someone dine alone I want to invite them to join my table.

[sgttami]

On 8/5/2021 at 2:33 PM, tbone77 said:

Hello all,

 

Have any of you solo cruiser dined in the steakhouse?  Were you seated with a group on anyone else? Were you seated by yourself?  I've been cruising solo for the last 9 years after my divorce and am used to dining alone, but I don't want to get the awkward stares from other diners.  

 

Thanks in advance

Robin D

I've dined solo at David's a few times on Pride and had a nice little table.  The first time I thought I'd feel awkward but I noticed couples sitting together and some never said a word to each other during the entire dinner. LOL.  I also dine solo in the MDR at early seating and enjoy that too so David's wasn't much different, just a longer meal.  I'll never do a MDR seating of mixed strangers again on a cruise.  It was torture. I enjoy meeting new people at the bars, casino or shows but prefer to dine alone.

 

I've never heard of anyone being seated at a steakhouse with anyone other than their own party. whether, it's 1 or 10 people.

[JHU]

On 8/5/2021 at 2:33 PM, tbone77 said:

Hello all,

 

Have any of you solo cruiser dined in the steakhouse?  Were you seated with a group on anyone else? Were you seated by yourself?  I've been cruising solo for the last 9 years after my divorce and am used to dining alone, but I don't want to get the awkward stares from other diners.  

 

Thanks in advance

Robin D

Along with a light jacket or shawl in my evening tote, I always have a book to read at a solo table.  Reading allows me to tune out noise and relaxes me.  It's also an ice breaker.  

[Shake-n-Bake]

On 8/7/2021 at 5:53 PM, NCTribeFan said:

Solo cruiser here, but I've only dined in the steakhouse solo once (often have cruise friends on the same sailings and we usually dine together).  It was actually for my birthday.  No singing, but lovely dessert, which I'm sure I didn't have room for.

 

I decided a few decades ago that if I wanted to go out to eat on my own, I'd go out to eat!  A co-worker (who was single) asked, "aren't you afraid people will look at you??!!"

 

Uh, no!  Why would I care what strangers think of me.  None of their business.

 

For me, one of the best reasons to dine solo (in the MDR, at least) is that it gives you a chance to really watch the servers, who are working their butts off.  So please, folks, remember that next time you want them to stand and chat in the middle of dinner service.  They have to make up that time to ensure that others get good service, too.  

Totally agree Joan. Remember I was one of your solo cruise friends that dined together on the same sailing.  Never thought twice of dining alone in MDR or any of the other dining places on the ship. I do remember once in the MDR a couple asked me if I was dining alone and when I said yes she said she was sorry. I said sorry about what! I'm having the time of my life doing what I want to do when I want to do it for as long as I want to do it.