dining arrangement - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

Tom-the-Cruiser · 06-29-2009, 11:38 AM

Has anyone ever cruised solo on “Radiance of the Seas”? My friends are trying to talk me into a10-day cruise to Mexico, out of San Diego in December.

I have cruised many times solo on HAL, Princess and Carnival but never on RC.

I am particularly interested in the dinning arrangement – I like the old traditional dinning. I usually ask for a large table, second seating.

Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Tom

sue miller · 06-29-2009, 08:23 PM

I have not, but pretty easy. When you book tell your TA to request exactly what you want. When you board, you can go to the DR to check where your table is, and if it is not what you wanted, go to the Maitre D to tell him what you need. They do their best to accomadate

Char · 06-29-2009, 08:26 PM

Tom, are your friends sailing, too? If so, you could have your reservations linked to be seated at the same table. Your travel agent or the reservations agent at Royal Caribbean can do that for you.

Tom-the-Cruiser · 07-03-2009, 01:20 AM

Thanks Sue & Char,

I was hoping to find someone that had actual experience on RC.

On HAL & Carnival, I have found that the Maitre D normally tried to put "singles" at one table. However, my experience with Celebrity and Princess is that they didn't seem to care and just put you at any table there is a vacant seat.

Tom

LuLu · 07-04-2009, 11:54 AM

Tom, my DH and I sail together. On our last RCCL cruise we requested and got late seating TD at a large table (8).

They did seem to make a some effort with the seating. At our table: a younger couple with a mother & aunt (attractive women) who had separate cabins and two men (solo) who did not know each other.

We became great friends with one the solo men. His biggest problem was going to the speciality (extra cost) restaurants where the dining time can be two/three hours ... sort of a long time to sit at a table alone. We invited him to go with us twice and very much enjoyed his company. (Always, he'd meet us in the bar before dinner ... sometimes with another friend or friends he'd made.)

Also, with the speciality restaurants plus other dining options ... on many nights people do these rather than their assigned TD seating. There are times when there might be one person or couple sitting alone at a large table. Of course, it's getting like that on all cruise lines now .... TD will never be what it once was -- too many options.

We always feel lucky when we have some solo cruisers at our TD table. Normally, they are comfortable enough with themselves (as I'm sure you are) to cruise solo and fun to be around.

Tom-the-Cruiser · 07-04-2009, 12:59 PM

Thanks Lulu - that was the info I was looking for and by your response - I would love to be at YOUR table!!!

Keep in mind that my TA always requests a large table – second seating. On my last cruise on Princess - I was seated with 3 couples traveling together and it was clear that I was an outsider and they wanted to keep it that way. On my last cruise on Celebrity - I was with a family - 2 adults and 5 kids . . . but my worst experience was on the old Norway - I was seated by myself at a table for two - I had to ask the MD three times before he moved me.

Believe me, I do not let the little things bother me – I am very easy going and generally can fit in anywhere. Good table mates can make the difference between a good cruise and a great cruise!!

On a side note - How is the coffee? Celebrity has some of the worst coffee in the world, unless you want to buy it - and since Celebrity is part of RCI - I fear more bad “syrup “coffee!!

Tom

LuLu · 07-04-2009, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom-the-Cruiser

Good table mates can make the difference between a good cruise and a great cruise!! Tom

Isn't that the TRUTH! Once we were at a table with someone who would count everyone's fat grams on a Princess cruise. We changed tables.

I'm not a coffee drinker ... and my DH says he can't remember about RCCL even though it was less than two years . Like you, we do a variety of cruise lines. He says to tell you his Jack Daniels later was good and they poured an ample double on RCCL.

That he remembers!

Wish we could be at a table with you too!

earl_m · 09-05-2009, 03:06 AM

I have cruise 4 times alone , Always with HAL. 3 times I share a stateroom
with some one that they assign to me . It work out quite well. I use the share program that Hal has. save me the extra cost . But one time I got the room with no one assign to me. it was great to have the room to my self.
I will never again share a room with a stranger.