Genuinely curious about wanting a private table

[cruiser21]

I always request a table for just our family and Ive always gotten one. If I'm going to sit down to a two hour dinner and a bottle if wine I want to be able to talk about whatever I feel like talking about. It could be current events, politics, religion, parenting, my job etc. In other words I don't want to worry about offending someone or have to worry about being politically correct.

 

[Aerin75]

In other words I don't want to worry about offending someone or have to worry about being politically correct.

There is definitely something to be said for this logic!

 

[elvispursley]

I requested a private table for DH and I this cruise as it is our 15th anniversary and we would like to focus on just us. Plus, our one experience with sharing a table was not as I wished it could've been, and it's something I don't want to repeat on my anniversary!

Our family (4 plus grandma) was seated with another family of 3. The little girl was about my youngest DS age, but bless them, they spoke NO English. They were from Argentina, and actually the mom could speak just a tiny bit English. The head waiter said they wanted to practice their English and requested to sit with another family who spoke English. Well, this would have been great if the family DCL paired them with had some ability to speak Spanish also!! DH and I both took Spanish in high school (over 25 years ago) and I make use of only medical phrases in broken Spanish that relates to OT/PT, so yeah...we weren't making out really well at all. The kids wanted nothing to do with each other. The family always arrived late (but at least our drinks were waiting on the table for us ). And I'm a slow eater and they felt they needed to wait on me to finish my entree before they could order dessert, despite me saying "go ahead." We'd try to communicate and talk what little we could amongst each other about what we did for the day but it became frustrating (although our asst. server, who was from Peru, would interpret some). It was definitely weird when the server would have a long conversation with the family, laugh, and then no one would fill us in on the joke. I don't blame this other family for the awkwardness, it just was. They were a lovely family and we always waved and said "hola" when we saw them around the ship. I just wish we could have communicated better.

I think if this wasn't our anniversary, and it was just DH and myself, we wouldn't mind trying a group table again except I am now totally turned-off by what I've read on the board. I've read instances where people have walked up to a table and said, "uh-huh", "what are they doing here?", etc and turned heel and stomped off, complaining that they were supposed to have a "private" table. Or people who ignore you completely, acting like you just don't exist. Or people who speak another language the entire meal and then will clearly speak English to the servers. I just don't want to risk having someone be purposefully rude to us, like other posters in this thread have mentioned they would be if they "had" to sit with other people at "their" table.

I totally understand everyone wanting to eat with just their family. I, too, enjoy my family-time during meals and if I had my way, would prefer to sit with just my family. I think it would be wise if DCL would just make that change across the board and make more 2, 4 and 6-top tables (with the ability to push more table together for larger groups). But until then, why do people find the need to be rude to others if you happen to be unfortunate enough to be sitting at a table with strangers. If it's such a horrible an experience for you after than one meal, make the request afterwards to be moved. My other suggestions would be that if you can't risk being seated with another family, ask when you board if your request for a private table has been filled; if it hasn't been granted yet, maybe take your family meals in Cabanas, pool-side, or with room-service until your request is filled, that way you aren't ruining someone else's dining/cruise experience. Or lastly, as I've read, you can always sail concierge, where you are booked a private table status quo.

 

[2Bnºoºt2B]

Thanks - I am very excited!! Maybe I should just put my trust in Disney to do what they do..

Don't forget ... you can always ask for a seating change or even a different rotation if you get "stuck" with a table ...

 

[sptfr97]

I use these forums for information (and entertainment, if I'm being honest), but I don't post. Have to answer this, though. I request a private table for my traveling party, and will continue to do so. I am fairly introverted, and although I am perfectly capable of making conversation, some times I'd really rather not. I don't feel a driving need to meet new people or listen to them while on vacation, I'm there to relax... and my idea of relaxing is to be with the family and friends I love. I don't mean that to sound rude or condescending in any way, that's just how I feel. I can tune out crowds around me but not when they're within six inches of me at my dinner table. My friend, Nicole, and I did the Halloween on the High Seas last year (her first Disney Cruise), and she's EXTREMELY outgoing; at her request, we were seated with six other table mates that really made me question what Disney is looking for in terms of table mate matching. LOL It was interesting, and made for some fun conversations when we were back in the room (and back home!), but I won't do it again. My mother and I did the Norway cruise in June and sat by ourselves, because we are exactly alike. We can talk if we need to, but we can also just people watch and be comfortable with silence. Simply put, I find it fascinating (and, most times, heart-warming) to observe other families and groups interact with each other... but I don't want to join them. I like mine, thanks.

 

[undertheradar]

I use these forums for information (and entertainment, if I'm being honest), but I don't post. Have to answer this, though. I request a private table for my traveling party, and will continue to do so. I am fairly introverted, and although I am perfectly capable of making conversation, some times I'd really rather not. I don't feel a driving need to meet new people or listen to them while on vacation, I'm there to relax... and my idea of relaxing is to be with the family and friends I love. I don't mean that to sound rude or condescending in any way, that's just how I feel. I can tune out crowds around me but not when they're within six inches of me at my dinner table. My friend, Nicole, and I did the Halloween on the High Seas last year (her first Disney Cruise), and she's EXTREMELY outgoing; at her request, we were seated with six other table mates that really made me question what Disney is looking for in terms of table mate matching. LOL It was interesting, and made for some fun conversations when we were back in the room (and back home!), but I won't do it again. My mother and I did the Norway cruise in June and sat by ourselves, because we are exactly alike. We can talk if we need to, but we can also just people watch and be comfortable with silence. Simply put, I find it fascinating (and, most times, heart-warming) to observe other families and groups interact with each other... but I don't want to join them. I like mine, thanks.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

I agree with the vast majority of these comments. It seems like the idea of group seating on cruises is kind of an antiquated thing from the days when cruising was much more about aristocratic social imteractions than family time. This isn't the titanic and I'm not looking for a family of good breeding to marry my daughter into, LOL.

 

[airplanegod]

I'm all for people choosing whether they want to sit with other people or just their family but if your BRAT is making a scene shouting, screaming, throwing food at other diners/tables and YOU do NOTHING about it, I WILL interject myself into your table.

 

[GraceMonica]

I've never cruised before and I'm just looking into it. I have really bad anxiety and the thought of someone else sitting with my husband and I terrifies me.

If I were to cruise, I could request my own table?
What happens if the request isn't granted? Is room service every night possible?

 

[elvispursley]

Well said @airplanegod!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

My TA put in the request for a table for 2. I am expecting to have our own table. I don't see anywhere written where this is only a "request" and "not guaranteed". I fully expect to be seated for a table for 2.

 

[Andasibe]

We are requesting a private table for our upcoming cruise. For the same reasons many have mentioned here. I go on vaca to spend time with my family, not someone else's (no offense, I am sure you are great, but...) This cruise will be the first time my Mom, Bro and SIL have all traveled together, and my Bro will just be returning from deployment. We also like the freedom to speed things along or SLOW them down at meals if we are enjoying each other or if we are tired from the day. It would be rude to force a pace of a meal on another family.

 

[Billinaz]

It is all personal. With that said to me a part of cruising is if you have a smaller group you are going to be assigned a shared table. So we go wth jt and bave met some awesome people and well some characters over the course of 4 DCL experiences.

You can request a table alone. We have done just that on 14 cruises.

 

[elvispursley]

I just requested a table for 2 for the first time last week for our upcoming cruise next month. The CM I spoke to said "no problem" and put the request down on our reservation form. I would anticipate that we will have a private table given that we are 2nd seating as well as one of us has a couple of food allergies. As mentioned earlier, if not for our anniversary, DH and I probably wouldn't care and just call it an adventure, given that our family isn't traveling with us. However, this is an important time for us, as I'm sure it is for many of you, and would rather gaze at each other...not at the person across the table *LOL*

And here's to hoping that the MDRs on the new ships will be configured to allow this as the new norm! With requests for "stranger seating" as an option, not the standard!

 

[jiminyC_fan]

I ask for a private table because I am extremely shy and awkward at small talk. I am sure that I would bore anyone.

 

[elvispursley]

I feel I'm the exact way (although for my career I have to be an "extrovert" and constantly make "small talk" and I've learned to do it, but feel awkward nonetheless)! But I don't think you'd bore anyone--you have great conversational skills here (I know, totally different, but still)

 

[2Bnºoºt2B]

I've never cruised before and I'm just looking into it. I have really bad anxiety and the thought of someone else sitting with my husband and I terrifies me.

If I were to cruise, I could request my own table?
What happens if the request isn't granted? Is room service every night possible?

Check with Guest Services when you board as to where to go to confirm your dining preferences as they can help make adjustments if necessary. You can go to Cabanas during evening dining hours where it is casual dress ... no reservations ... menu is a sampling of foods from the other dining rooms. The servers here are usually training for the main dining venues. So please don't resort to room service for your evening meals ... on other cruise lines we've even had a meal delivered to our stateroom after my DW would have to leave the dining room because she wasn't feeling well - haven't tried that on Disney yet though, thank goodness.

 

[CaseyJo]

I've only cruised once and we were seated with a lovely family, but in the future I will request our own table. I agree with most people I dread the small talk.

 

[Dug720]

Check with Guest Services when you board as to where to go to confirm your dining preferences as they can help make adjustments if necessary. You can go to Cabanas during evening dining hours where it is casual dress ... no reservations ... menu is a sampling of foods from the other dining rooms. The servers here are usually training for the main dining venues. So please don't resort to room service for your evening meals ... on other cruise lines we've even had a meal delivered to our stateroom after my DW would have to leave the dining room because she wasn't feeling well - haven't tried that on Disney yet though, thank goodness.

Just to note Cabanas is NOT an option on night 1 or the final night.

 

[Feigned]

My TA put in the request for a table for 2. I am expecting to have our own table. I don't see anywhere written where this is only a "request" and "not guaranteed". I fully expect to be seated for a table for 2.

It's not guaranteed. On all but one of my cruises, this request was granted. On our Mediterranean sailing on the Magic in 2013, we were placed at a table for 8, with 3 other parties of 2. Unfortunately, they said they had nowhere to move us to because the second seating was full.

I recommend going to whichever restaurant they are doing dining changes and requests the first day and double check that they have given you a private table. That is what we make sure to do almost immediately after boarding. If not, they should be able to help you then, depending on how full the dining time you have selected is. They would have been able to have given us a private table at the earlier seating, but we did not want to switch because several of our port adventures were getting back just around the time dinner would be starting. Good luck!