Who from the cruise ship's staff determines the seating arrangement in the MDR ? How is it done ? I've been told that people are seated as they are because of something they share in common such as residence location but I've never been at a table with anyone that I shared a location with .
I have to agree Henry, sometimes it feels like they just pick names out of a hat, no rhyme or reason to the seating. Even when we cruised with the kids, we were never at a table with other kids. I felt the other cruisers may have not wanted a table with kids, since they didn't have any with them, just didn't make sense.
I did notice a large table of single cruisers together on our last cruise. But we have not noticed any particular pattern with our dinner companions.
__________________
Bob
A Bad Day At Sea [with power] Always Beats A Good Day At Work
Alaska 2014 - haven't picked a cruise yet
Carnival: Glory 2004, Destiny 2008, Splendor 2009, Freedom 2011, Valor 2012
Celebrity: Summit 2011
Princess: Ruby 2010, Caribbean 2013
The maitre 'd does try to match similar people. However, I don't think they put as much effort into it as they used to.
On my last Carnival cruise with my Son-in-law. We were seated with two families, with small children, at a table for eight. We asked to be moved because one of the families (the father and mother) were quite abrasive. We were then moved to a table for two. Oh well.
Over the years we've been seated with great people and the good seatings are far far more numerous than the bad ones.
Take care,
Mike
__________________ Cruisemates Community Leader/Moderator
"There is a great difference between being well traveled and just having been to many places." ~Me
On our first two cruises with Royal Caribbean they seemed to go by Passport. First cruise, they apparently used my husbands as we were seated with a bunch of Canadians the second cruise they used mine and we were seated with 8 brits. Princess it seems like they put them in a hat and just start pulling.
__________________
Upcoming:
Hawaii By land x 2
Paris and German Christmas Markets
On my first solo cruise on Carnival Sensation, I was placed at a table of solos, not all singles, and all much younger. They could have been sons in age.
I have to agree Henry, sometimes it feels like they just pick names out of a hat, no rhyme or reason to the seating. Even when we cruised with the kids, we were never at a table with other kids. I felt the other cruisers may have not wanted a table with kids, since they didn't have any with them, just didn't make sense.
Donna, my experience has been different. When traveling with the 3 boys we were always seated with couples with similar aged kids. Our cruises without the boys, we've been seated with other couples without kids. My wife went on a 'girls only' cruise with her sister, and they were seated at a 4-top with a couple of ladies traveling together. RCL, CC and Princess were in this mix. Ours were always booked well in advance with no wait-listing, if that makes any difference...
We always ask for a large table, and 99% of the time, Carnival seats us with other couples, near our age. Once in a while, we'll get an "odd man out" at our large table, but that's certainly been the exception, rather than the rule. I personally, think Carnival does an excellent job of matching up folks at the large tables.
Connect with Facebook
MDR question
Linear Mode
