Let's Eat!

Table Allocation & Dining Room Etiquette

Celebrity Equinox is sailing completely full for our sailing. 
The "Friends of Bubbles" group has the early seating for the main dining room. 
The first night (on Saturday) you have been assigned as such:

The dining is on 2 levels.
Now we know our table numbers, which you can tell the dining room greeter as you arrive for dinner.

Table 1 is #218: Carl/Barbara, Dennis/Kathy, Jim/Nancy, Brian/Maryann
Table 2 is #213 : Grant/Karen, Don/Chris, Dennis/Juanita, Wayne/Delores
Table 3 is #214: Jerry/Grace, Tom/Julie, John/Shu
Table 4 is #212: Mina/Larry, Alex/Mary, Rosemary & Mary, John/Ana

AFTER the first night we will be allowed to move to any of our 4 designated tables (this is called round robin).  You will be able to sit with anyone from OUR GROUP, but only with our group.  The reason for this is the ship is sold out, and if you invite someone to sit at our tables, then there will be someone from our group WITHOUT seating.

Here is what you can do. Should you wish to sit with someone you just met, OR in the case of the Rauchs, with friends they know will be on the ship, you must use the ANYTIME seating and arrange to book your individual table nightly with the maitre d'.  

This means you do NOT save seats for anyone.  If you want to dine together, enter the dining room together and choose one of our tables.  It will NOT be acceptable to turn anyone away from our tables or to ask anyone to move.  This has happened in the past on previous cruises, it is very embarrassing, and this is why I find it necessary to post this message. I do not wish any of my friends to be disrespected in this manner.

You may decide NOT to dine at the main dining room each night, and that is certainly acceptable. All of the venues are in competition for your business. The servers receive tips based on how many times you dine at each place. There are many great places to eat, including the wonderful Oceanview Café/Buffet. 

Check the menu of the dining room either on your television or posted outside the dining room. If you like something particularly well, you may ask the server to make it available to you the next evening as well.  If you decide you want two appetizers and no main entrée, you can ask for one of the appetizers to be made in an entrée portion. You may even ask for seconds.

If you have any food allergies, are lactose intolerant, or need a vegan menu please let me know NOW as the ships prefer advance notice! And the waiters will also be asking you again on the first night about allergies.

And don't forget, you will be making your Specialty Dining reservation once aboard the ship, using the vouchers which will be in your stateroom, for one of the four nights.  I highly recommend the final night, but it is your choice.  It is also your choice whether to dine alone as a couple, or to pair up with others in our group.  Be aware, the specialty dining venues publish they do not accept reservations for parties greater than 8.  This is to maintain the intimacy of the venue.

The seating arrangement is a timely and complicated procedure to seat 1400+ guests in each of the two seatings each night. The ship requested our dining preferences several months ago and I am still awaiting our table numbers.