Come Dine With Me ?

Last week I talked about the speciality restaurants on Oceana and this made me think of the issues around where, when and with whom to dine on a cruise.

Traditional dining in the main restaurant used to be the only option. 1st sitting around 6.30 and 2nd around 8.30, tables of 4, 6 or 8 with a table for 2 always on request. Simple choices but not always so, I have known many people not to book the cruise they really want to go on because their preferred seating is either on a wait list or not available at all. There are always issues around tables for 2, they can never be confirmed and, quite often, there are not many of them.

What size do you go for ? I would never opt for a 4 as the worst thing must be to have to sit with people you have nothing in common with, but dread to ask to move in case you cause offence. That makes a 6 or an 8 the best option in my opinion if you can`t get the romantic table for 2 that you really want.

The advent of ” freedom ” or ” open dining” has removed some of the problems, but added a third choice to decide between.  Open dining is a bit like going to a restaurant, you make your reservation on board at the time suitable for you, and maybe at a different time or venue ever evening. If you meet new friends on board you can all dine together, the maitre`d will organise your table for you. Open dining could also be the perfect option if you really can`t manage without that table for 2.

I was lucky enough to be able travel transatlantic to New York on Queen Mary a couple of years ago. There were 4 of us travelling together, I booked the 2 cains and cross referenced the bookings for dining and  asked for a table for 8, an easy option you might think ! We arrived in the Britannia Restaurant on the first evening to find we were not even on the same table as each other !

My friend and I were shown to a table of 4, to be seated with a honeymoon couple who obviously did not want to sit with anyone else, my other friend and her daughter, who was about 12 at  the time, were seated at another table for 4 with 2 rather elderly gentlemen. This was exactly the opposite of what had been confirmed at the time of booking, and we were not happy to day the least.

We immediately went to the maitre`d, expecting a bit of hassle to get what we wanted, but no hes sorted a table for 4 for us all for the first evening and after that we had a lovely table foe 8 and had a great time.

My advice would always be to do what we did, if you don`t get what you want,  do go and try to sort the situation out and in 99% of cases you will be happy, nothing is set in stone is my motto!