I’ve gone on many cruises on my own, however I lately ate within the Predominant Eating Room alone for the primary time.
I lately took a 4-night Bahamas cruise on Freedom of the Seas with out my household. It was a fast cruise to take a look at just a few experiences within the ports of name, and going into the cruise, I assumed I might eat on the Windjammer buffet for my meals.
I take pleasure in cruising solo for a way liberating it may be, however I’ve by no means dined within the Predominant Eating Room alone as a result of it at all times appeared to be a bizarre concept. Whereas I did not suppose anybody would say something to me, I simply felt misplaced to do it.
Learn extra: Eating on Royal Caribbean Information
On embarkation day, I used to be shopping menus and adjusted my thoughts primarily as a result of the dinner menu had a fish entree that sounded good, and a plated fish meal at all times tastes higher to me than a self-service fish I seize from the buffet. For that cause, I made a decision to offer the eating room a attempt.
Scouting forward
Earlier than committing totally to the thought, I took benefit of a great trick anybody ought to do on the primary day of the cruise.
Within the afternoon, I went all the way down to the Predominant Eating Room to see what desk Royal Caribbean had assigned me to. I used to be curious to know if I had a desk to myself, or I might be seated with different visitors.
Learn extra: The right way to not eat with strangers on a Royal Caribbean cruise
If in case you have Conventional Eating in your dinner plans, there’s a deck and desk project on the backside of your SeaPass card to point the place you may be seated.
I walked into the Predominant Eating Room within the afternoon earlier than dinner had begun to search for my desk. If I had waited for dinner to see the place I used to be assigned, it will have been much more awkward if I modified my thoughts as a result of each visitors and crew would have observed me scooting out of there.
There’s often a crew member or two on the entrance performing some work, and also you simply need to allow them to know you are simply wanting round.
Positive sufficient, I had a desk for 2 assigned to me. That appeared prefer it was a secure guess I had a desk to myself.
Some individuals cruising alone may truly favor to be seated at a bigger desk to allow them to converse with others and really feel much less noticeably alone. I truly most popular to be seated alone as to keep away from having to make dialog. I do not thoughts speaking to different visitors normally, however a break at dinner appeared perfect to me.
Attempting it out
I had the 5:45pm supper time assigned, and was escorted to my desk by a crew member as I entered the eating room.
Learn extra: How Royal Caribbean’s Predominant Eating Room works and what to anticipate
Positive sufficient, it was simply me on the desk and I used to be happy I had a desk proper by the window.
Whereas my desk was only for me, the neighboring tables are so shut to one another that one might simply converse with the desk subsequent to you. The individuals on the desk subsequent to me engaged in just a few conversations with the desk subsequent to them.
The wait employees have been heat and welcoming. I believe they requested on the primary night time if I used to be eating with anybody else, however that was the extent of any questions or dialogue that I used to be solo.
I ordered my meals like I’ve previously, and your entire meal went fairly effectively. I by no means felt misplaced, and I did not really feel like different visitors have been looking at me. In actuality, nobody cared.
I had plenty of assist
I shared my first dinner solo within the eating room on the Royal Caribbean Eating Fb group, and a cavalcade of assist adopted.
Many others shared they actually loved eating alone, simply as a lot as cruising solo. I took quite a lot of solace within the reality my endeavor was not that faraway an concept.
Wendy Lamour wrote, “I eat alone on a regular basis. I like the liberty of leaving after I wish to. I additionally take my dessert to my cabin to eat later.”
Cynthia Sirk added, “I took my first solo cruise in August and completely liked it. Peaceable, no worries about time, nobody to think about however myself and typically we’d like that. I used to be handled so effectively by the employees and host. My desk by the window was additionally fantastic!”
Caroline Cullen had a fantastic outlook on the thought, “Do not ever be weirded out about eating alone. I do it on a regular basis. Make your self nice firm for your self!”
There have been over 200 feedback on my put up, and it bolstered how pleasing eating alone might be.
I believed an concept by Daniel Kline was one thing I’d take into account sooner or later, “I sail solo lots and dinner is an opportunity to reset and possibly learn a guide.” Whereas I am not a giant reader, I by no means thought-about bringing one thing to learn as a strategy to move the time between servings.
The brand new menu adjustments made it simpler
I ended up eating within the Predominant Eating Room for dinner on two different nights, and it was a fantastic expertise.
Looking back, I believe Royal Caribbean’s speedier service within the Predominant Eating Room made consuming alone within the Predominant Eating Room simpler.
In 2023, Royal Caribbean revamped its Predominant Eating Room dinner menus. New themes, new gadgets, and an consideration to speedier service. I actually suppose the faster service made a distinction.
Every of my three meals within the Predominant Eating Room was about an hour. On night time three, I used to be out and in in 45 minutes!
Previous to the menu replace, dinner might typically take as much as 2 hours, and I believe not languishing within the Predominant Eating Room made it really feel much less awkward. Meals are lengthy sufficient to really feel prefer it’s a sit down and stress-free expertise with out attending to the purpose that change into stressed.
I might eat alone once more
Having tried consuming dinner within the Predominant Eating Room alone, I might undoubtedly do it once more on a future cruise.
Any issues I had about feeling misplaced shortly disappeared throughout the course of the primary night.
Similar to how nobody notices in the event you’re sitting alone on the pool deck or within the theater, everybody else is wrapped up in their very own meal.
I used to be glad I at all times had my telephone with me to maintain me occupied between programs. Investing in a WiFi package deal for anybody cruising solo is a good concept to have the ability to really feel related with family and friends again residence.
I haven’t got one other solo cruise booked for just a few extra months, however I might welcome the chance to eat alone within the Predominant Eating Room.