Seating issues

cruznchris · September 18, 2009

Well, We just booked a cruise on the Westerdam last week. Since we booked so late there is only "open seating" left. We were put on the wait list for traditional. We prefer traditional dining, for us its easier we know where to go, what time to go, who we will be sitting with, it is in sync with show times. So far in the 8 cruises we have been on we have never experienced "open dining". For us usually by the 2nd or 3rd night we were past the small talk conversation with the people and the wait staff. Quite a few times we got to know our fellow passangers and wait staff so well that they shared there family pictures and future plans and many things you just wouldnt share with someone your having dinner with you for one night. Having different people sit with us every night and different wait staff will seemingly take the "HEART" out of dining experience, for me. My other big concern is I'm not certain how open dining works. Is it more like a resturant where you show up and wait till a seat becomes available?

Any thoughts?

Chris

lindasuelucas · September 18, 2009

almost no one likes change. i'll bet you may enjoy the difference. keep your mind open and enjoy it to it's fullest. :wink2:

Shaunna · September 18, 2009

Maybe you will get lucky and traditional will open up. I've only done traditional so hopefully you will get good feedback on the open.

cruznchris · September 19, 2009

almost no one likes change. i'll bet you may enjoy the difference. keep your mind open and enjoy it to it's fullest.

I understand what your saying about change, but when your asked to change something that I find to be one of the shining pinnacles of our vacation cruise experience I disagree. The wife and me have dined alone together on many other ships. For us the dinner connection was what has made the cruise experience "special" gives it heart. So I've decided to contact the cruise line to see if there was something they could do for us. Hopefully thy can find a way to get us in.

Ellie · September 19, 2009

Cruznchris, I agree wholeheartedly with your preference for traditional dining. It's nice to have dinner companions each night with whom you become familiar and are able to maintain a nice flow of conversation throughout the meal. To me, it's very uncomfortable to be seated with people who are not "talkers" and silently eat their meals with only an occasional comment. Another time, we were seated at a table with 4 women who were travelling together. Unfortunately, my husband was the only male at the table and attempted to join in on the conversation but without much success. Since we are people who go out to dinner regularly when at home, we do look forward to dining in a comfortable atmosphere, and what better way to meet people! We are waitlisted for traditional dining for our December cruise on the Crown. I do hope they can accommodate our request. We would rather sit at a table for two than be uncomfortable with total strangers each night. Not saying that this would always be the case, but we like the "security blanket" of knowing our dining partners.

cruznchris · September 20, 2009

Glad to hear I'm not the only one out there like that. On our first cruise we went with my mother and father in law, so for the whole cruise it was just us 4 buddies hangin out. I never met a single person. The next cruise the wife and me went alone and the whole experienced changed. We would even sit with our table mates at the show after dinner and save them seats. I havent heard from HAL yet but I hope they give me good news.