I’ve gone on many cruises on my own, however I just lately ate within the Most important Eating Room alone for the primary time.
I just 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 a couple of 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 Most important Eating Room alone as a result of it at all times gave the impression to be a bizarre thought. 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 searching menus and altered 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 purpose, I made a decision to offer the eating room a strive.
Scouting forward
Earlier than committing absolutely to the concept, I took benefit of an excellent trick anybody ought to do on the primary day of the cruise.
Within the afternoon, I went all the way down to the Most important 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 friends.
Learn extra: The right way to not eat with strangers on a Royal Caribbean cruise
If in case you have Conventional Eating to 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 Most important 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 friends and crew would have observed me scooting out of there.
There’s normally a crew member or two on the entrance performing some work, and also you simply must 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 wager I had a desk to myself.
Some individuals cruising alone may really choose to be seated at a bigger desk to allow them to converse with others and really feel much less noticeably alone. I really most popular to be seated alone as to keep away from having to make dialog. I do not thoughts speaking to different friends generally, however a break at dinner appeared ideally suited to me.
Attempting it out
I had the 5:45pm time for supper assigned, and was escorted to my desk by a crew member as I entered the eating room.
Learn extra: How Royal Caribbean’s Most important 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 may simply converse with the desk subsequent to you. The individuals on the desk subsequent to me engaged in a couple of conversations with the desk subsequent to them.
The wait workers had been heat and welcoming. I believe they requested on the primary evening 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 prior to now, and your entire meal went fairly effectively. I by no means felt misplaced, and I did not really feel like different friends had been gazing me. In actuality, nobody cared.
I had a lot of help
I shared my first dinner solo within the eating room on the Royal Caribbean Eating Fb group, and a cavalcade of help adopted.
Many others shared they actually loved eating alone, simply as a lot as cruising solo. I took a whole lot of solace within the truth my endeavor was not that far off an thought.
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 beloved it. Peaceable, no worries about time, nobody to think about however myself and generally we want that. I used to be handled so effectively by the workers and host. My desk by the window was additionally great!”
Caroline Cullen had an awesome outlook on the concept, “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 submit, and it bolstered how satisfying eating alone might be.
I assumed an thought by Daniel Kline was one thing I’d take into account sooner or later, “I sail solo loads and dinner is an opportunity to reset and possibly learn a ebook.” Whereas I am not a giant reader, I by no means thought-about bringing one thing to learn as a method to go the time between servings.
The brand new menu adjustments made it simpler
I ended up eating within the Most important Eating Room for dinner on two different nights, and it was an awesome expertise.
On reflection, I believe Royal Caribbean’s speedier service within the Most important Eating Room made consuming alone within the Most important Eating Room simpler.
In 2023, Royal Caribbean revamped its Most important 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 Most important Eating Room was about an hour. On evening three, I used to be out and in in 45 minutes!
Previous to the menu replace, dinner may generally take as much as 2 hours, and I believe not languishing within the Most important Eating Room made it really feel much less awkward. Meals are lengthy sufficient to really feel prefer it’s a sit down and enjoyable expertise with out attending to the purpose that turn into stressed.
I might eat alone once more
Having tried consuming dinner within the Most important Eating Room alone, I might positively do it once more on a future cruise.
Any issues I had about feeling misplaced shortly disappeared through the course of the primary night.
Identical to how nobody notices should 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 cellphone with me to maintain me occupied between programs. Investing in a WiFi bundle for anybody cruising solo is a good thought to have the ability to really feel related with family and friends again house.
I haven’t got one other solo cruise booked for a couple of extra months, however I might welcome the chance to eat alone within the Most important Eating Room.
