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All About The Art of Shipboard Dining
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Dining on cruise ships is truly a social experience.
I've met really
memorable people in ship dining rooms -- people whose conversations linger
in my mind and whose addresses I've carefully written down, if I ever want to
send a holiday card, or happen to be passing through their hometown in
Tasmania or some such place. I've also dined with people whom I never want or need to see again. Ship dinner partners are partly luck of the draw, partly the cruise line's
idea of a good match, but also partly under your control. Most often, you will be dining with the same people nightly, and sometimes even at breakfast and lunch. Enjoying each other, or at least having something to talk about, is therefore, very important.
Most cruise lines do their best to match passengers: A family of four will likely find themselves with another family; honeymooners will be seated with other newlyweds, unless they request a table for two; and on voyages with international clientele, Americans, or at least English-speakers, will be seated together.
However, you may make requests to gain more control.
Pick the meal time that's right for you. Most ship dining rooms are
not big enough to handle all passengers at one seating. As a result, your
will be asked for your preference, early or late seating. Early seating,
typically usually around 6pm, tends to attract older passengers and families with
small children, and is a slightly more rushed affair. Late seating, usually
around 8:30pm, is a more adult experience, more leisurely, and likely to
attract people who enjoy a longer evening.
Choose the number of people at the table. Most ships have tables for
four, six, eight, ten and 12, and you may indicate your table preference in
advance. I prefer a table of 8, large enough to find someone you like, or avoid
others who leave you speechless. If you're a couple booking a romantic getaway
and absolutely don't want to sit with anyone else, let the cruise line know
well in advance, and reserve a table for two. The same applies if you are a
solo traveler who wants to dine alone. Tables for one or two are not available on all ships; be sure to check this out before you book if you insist on dining alone.
Make changes. Most ships assign a table when you board, although in
some cases you may be given the table number in advance. If you discover that
your dinner companions are "lacking," request a reassignment. Ask the maitre
d' (greasing his palm may help), and don't accept the response that the
dining room is full.
Choose smoking or non-smoking. On some ships you may indicate in
advance your preference of a smoking or non-smoking section. Many cruise lines have
completely banned smoking in the dining rooms, making this a moot point.
Single, Open Seating. If you're fortunate enough to be sailing on a ship with
a single, open-seating policy, you may dine when and with whom you like, although
experience has taught me that aggression is required if you prefer to
dine alone. Be friendly. After all, the people seated next to you have chosen this
time, this cruise, this itinerary for their vacation. They already have more
in common with you than most people. If you see them again at the show or
disco, that's more that you seem to share. Take advantage of the coincidence.
They could turn out to be lifelong friends!
Phone: 360 794-4886 * 800 433-5945
Fax: 360 794-0311
www.vacationshop.com * Travel@Vacationshop.com
