Dining Solo - Advice Please!

[jeanaa]

I am traveling solo on the Diamond Princess in January, and although I am a fairly independent person, and excited about the cruise, I am definitely stressing about dining options. I booked traditional dining (late seating) but I don't know if this is the best thing to do. Last time I did this, despite the fact that I requested to be seated with others either traveling solo or "odd numbered parties" I ended up with three couples celebrating their anniversaries. They were all great, but it was a little awkward for me. And worse - one night, each of the three couples must have booked alternative dining and I was at the table alone. Needless to say, it was a little uncomfortable! Should I consider PC dining and just show up and hope for the best? Also, for the alternative dining rooms , -will I be placed at a table for one, as I suspect most people who book these restaurants request a table specifically for their dinner party. Please help! Thanks!

[crusdiva]

Jeanna,

 

I've never been on the Diamond but I hear there are MANY dining options onboard.

In just thinking about your concerns, I would suggest switching to PC where you can choose where, when and with whom you'd like to dine (peak times could effect your choices;) ).

 

At alternative restaurants ask for a table by yourself if you'd like - they'd be happy to do that for you.

 

Also I don't know if you know but the first night onboard there is generally a singles get together - where you can meet others traveling alone. It would give you the opportunity to meet others who share your views and concerns regarding tablemates, and might help you avoid feeling like "the fifth wheel" at dinner.

I hope I've been some help.

Sharon

[sue d. miller]

Sharon is right!! That is exactly what I would do!! That would leave ALL of your options open!!! Have a great cruise!!! :)

[curlyred]

I think that PC dining is your best choice, you can meet others and plan to eat with your new friends.

I know that PC is pretty darn easy and even w/o reservations the wait shouldn't be too long.

[Coral]

I also would advise going PC/Anytime on the Diamond/Sapphire just because of the dining options. My TA told me she had some clients who wanted Traditional on the Diamond and for a table of 8, it was just the 2 of them at dinner each night.

 

It appears on the Diamond/Sapphire - fewer people do Traditional dining or they may select it but change once on board.

 

I would recommend going to the 4 themed dining rooms and just ask to sit with a large table.

[paulm]

We'll I agree with you folks too. I cruised alone on Golden Princess in 3/03 and I had PC dining. I had no problem with this as I showed up early (when they're not busy) and they immediately seated me after asking for a table of 6 or 8. I made of lot of new friends that way. Even one night I remember, 2 people I met here on Cruise Critic who also had PC dining invited me to have dinner with them and I accepted. Go for it and have a great time. As a matter of fact I booked PC dining again for my 4/05 Dawn Princess cruise sailing alone.

[kryos]

I am traveling solo on the Diamond Princess in January, and although I am a fairly independent person, and excited about the cruise, I am definitely stressing about dining options.

Wish we were gonna be on the same ship. I'm traveling solo in January as well, but on the Sun Princess.

 

I would stick with traditional dining. Ask for the largest available table. If you find yourself at a table with all couples, ask for a table change the next evening. If you find yourself ever dining alone, tell the Matre De that you want to be moved and NOW. I've never heard of leaving someone dining alone. First of all, it's inefficient for the wait staff to have the extra table to worry about. When such a thing happens, they should move you to another table that has empty chairs.

 

As for PC dining, I've never tried it, but I would imagine it would be far more uncomfortable as you would never get the chance to know your tablemates. They would change every night!

 

And, if all else fails, you could always eat in the Lido. :)

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[1cruiselvr]

Just got off the Diamond 11/6/04. If your main goal is to be seated with others at dinner and not dine alone or with couples every night, then I suggest PC because it's your best opportunity. If your goal is to have the best food dining experience, then I would suggest traditional as all the complaints I heard on the Diamond were about PC and the poor service and hassle of reservations. We had traditional and were glad we picked it after hearing all the moaning about PC. That's my 2 cents...Happy Sailing!

[kruisey]

On my first solo cruise it was Pc and I was placed at table for 8...different each nite....so I felt I never really got to know my tablemates or they me....we just made polite conversation.

Another time on PC I met up with another single cruiser in the Horizon Court who like to dine on table for two,which we did....although found out we had different life styles....she liked Bingo and the Casino.!!!!!!

Then another time I bribed the Maitre on the first day PC...told him my requirements and had a wonderful crowd,table of 8 and great waiters,plus a laugh a minute....we all stayed at the same table for the length of the trip nobody dropped out.....the table was reserved for our group.

I like to dine with a group that like me,and I like them....stay with them at dinner for the whole trip.........like returning to a comfy home for dinnner each evening.

Have found sometimes on my morning walks that I am joined by another...often people can talk to someone more openly that is a stranger than to a close family member...they ask for another point of view...Then there was the family man SKINNY AS A RAIL...telling me about the THRIPLE DINNERS he ate every nite...........I wonder were did it go to.....Ha....theres me struddling up the stairs after dinner trying hard to shed it!!!!!!!!!!

[Solo Cruiser]

I haven't been on the Diamond but they Star and Grand treated me wonderfully as a solo diner and cruiser for that matter. Some nights I ate dinner with newly made friends, sometimes I ate dinner with folks I didn't know who became newly made friends for the rest of the cruise. Even when seated with all couples, I was never uncomfortable. It seems that folks are so interested in someone who will cruise all by themselves that the conversation was always lively.

[ERsecurity]

I would be strongly in favor of PC. Each night when you arrive they will ask if you would like to join with others. If you arrive about the same time each night you will see many of the same people. Feel free to join or get a group together. And as a PC person you are not tied to any specific time.

 

The biggest problem with Traditional is that many drop out for PC. Then you are by yourself. DW & I had many nights alone or with one other couple at a table for eight.

 

Have a great trip....

[PescadoAmarillo]

I vote for traditional. I cruised alone in 2000, on Celebrity. There were 2 couples and 4 singles seated at a table for 8. It was a wonderful situation. I tried to have breakfast and lunch in the dining room, and meet a lot of people that way, but I always had my dinner "family" to come home to each evening. One night I opted to dine in my cabin, and had 4 phone calls...people were checking up on me!

[kryos]

I vote for traditional. I cruised alone in 2000, on Celebrity. There were 2 couples and 4 singles seated at a table for 8. It was a wonderful situation. I tried to have breakfast and lunch in the dining room, and meet a lot of people that way, but I always had my dinner "family" to come home to each evening. One night I opted to dine in my cabin, and had 4 phone calls...people were checking up on me!

As a solo cruiser ... first time on Princess ... the Sun in January ... I have a question.

 

PC dining ... can you request to be seated at a table with others? I thought the whole purpose of PC dining was that you could dine when you want and with whom you wanted. It would seem that with PC dining, a solo cruiser would be at a disadvantage since others may be doing PC dining specifically because they want to dine with their spouse or a group of friends, and not at a table including strangers.

 

My TA told me that solo cruisers were better off with traditional dining, and that always made perfect sense to me. Also, with PC dining, isn't it entirely conceivable that you would be dining with different people every night? Doesn't that make it difficult for a solo cruiser to forge new friendships on the cruise?

 

Like I said ... since I've only sailed HAL in the past, I'm totally unfamiliar with PC dining. Am I misunderstanding something here?

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[PescadoAmarillo]

You can do PC dining and simply asked to be seated at a large table (usually 8 or 10) with others. They will seat people as they come in and fill the table quickly. It's pretty much the same as breakfast and lunch in the dining room. And it is a good way to meet people. But I still preferred having a set of dinner friends I met up with every night, and meeting additional people over breakfast and lunch in the dining room. The option wasn't there on Celebrity, but even if I was cruising solo on Princess, I would still opt for traditional dining, if it was available.

[Coral]

When I sail with friends - I always seem to go with traditional.

 

When I sail alone - I always go with Personal Choice. When sailing alone, I don't want to be tied to one dining time and like the flexibility of dining with others and if I do not like my tablemates - I have new ones the following day. If I do like them, I can arrange to eat with them the following night.

[kryos]

You can do PC dining and simply asked to be seated at a large table (usually 8 or 10) with others. They will seat people as they come in and fill the table quickly.

Oh, okay. Now I understand. I thought the pc dining was similar to going to a restaurant at home. You are seated with your group at a table containing only your group. I didn't realize you could request to sit with others.

 

Thanks for the info.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[seastar2]

I have traveled both solo and with a group. My first solo expereince was similar..seated with couples..only recall one nite that all were there. The one night I thought I would be alone the watier never suggested moving to another table even thought it was also half empty. Another couple showd up as I was ready to place my order. It was an 8 person table with 7. I did pc one night with some people I met on a shore excursion that day..did the Horizon/Pizza another cause I wanted to be on deck at sailaway.

 

On my next trip this Feb on the Dawn again going solo but there is a group of us, CC's that meet on a cruise last year, so I am sure that many nights we will meet for dinner. A night or two alone will be fun. As stated earlier if you go the same time each night you will see familar faces and do as we did last year ask to be seated together. :)

 

If traveling with close friends or family I would do traditional again. I love princess, overall the ships are great, service wounderful..etc BUT they don't do much for the solo traveler...prices, consiteration in the dinning room... oh well :o