First timer question

I will be taking my first Cunard cruise on the QM2 in September. I am wondering: are there dinners with the Captain on the QM2 or other Cunard ships? Have any of you ever been invited to dine with him?

Vanessa

Yes and Yes,

For the Captains Table, You are invited by personal invitation delivered to your stateroom for that evenings dinner, you reply to the Captains secretary if you wish to attend or not.

There are also some hosted tables were on formal nights the host will join you and the company will pay for the wine etc.

You can ask for a Hosted table during the booking process.

(Possibly a picture may appear of forum members dining with the captain):D

Yes and Yes,

For the Captains Table, You are invited by personal invitation delivered to your stateroom for that evenings dinner, you reply to the Captains secretary if you wish to attend or not.

There are also some hosted tables were on formal nights the host will join you and the company will pay for the wine etc.

You can ask for a Hosted table during the booking process.

 

(Possibly a picture may appear of forum members dining with the captain):D

possibly a picture may appear of forum members dining with the captain :confused:

Perhaps some of us are not afraid to show our self . Unlike you we don't hide behind the 'Cunard White Star' Avatar, and at the same time have problems with those of us who truly enjoy the Cunard experience .

I will be taking my first Cunard cruise on the QM2 in September. I am wondering: are there dinners with the Captain on the QM2 or other Cunard ships? Have any of you ever been invited to dine with him?

 

Vanessa

Good afternoon Vanessa.

There certainly are opportunities to dine with either the Captain or the Deputy Captain on board all three ships.

I would say, however, that guests are carefully selected and usually are invited from those guests who have many Cunard voyages under their bely or who may be considered of particular interest to the table.

I say this only because it is not just a matter of course and I would hate for you to be disappointed if such an invitation was not received.

When one considers the number of passengers on board and the few occasions the Captain hosts a table, then only a very small percentage will receive an invitation.

I have been more than lucky in the number of invites my wife and I have had. This particular one was great fun as Captain Kevin Oprey is a delightful host...

The official photographs are always a nice touch and, as Bell Boy says, one shouldn't be afraid to show them off.

In case we don't communicate before September do have a good time and Bon Voyage.

P.S. I have found that in general making oneself known around the ship brings one to the attention of the wheelers and dealers.

Several friends who are Cunard World Club Diamond members have yet to be invited to dine at the captain's table.

However, I've also met passengers (they were in an ocean-view cabin) who were invited to dine with the commodore on their very first cruise.

I was placed at a "hosted table" (for the whole of a QM2 Caribbean cruise) on only my third voyage :) .

Like the workings of the upgrade fairy, I have no idea how any of this is organised :confused:

Best wishes to the OP.

Am I correct in understanding that the hosed tables are generally on second seating?

Am I correct in understanding that the hosed tables are generally on second seating?

Yes

Several friends who are Cunard World Club Diamond members have yet to be invited to dine at the captain's table.

However, I've also met passengers (they were in an ocean-view cabin) who were invited to dine with the commodore on their very first cruise.

 

I was placed at a "hosted table" (for the whole of a QM2 Caribbean cruise) on only my third voyage :) .

 

Like the workings of the upgrade fairy, I have no idea how any of this is organised :confused:

Best wishes to the OP.

Pepper, I have no idea either. When we were invited to dine at the Captain's Table, we couldn't figure out how we were selected as we keep a low profile on board and have no idea who the "movers and shakers" are. Ultimately, we figured it must have been because we're platinum level, but another couple at the table were first time Cunard passengers. So as you mentioned, like visits from the Upgrade Fairy, there doesn't seem to be any set pattern regarding invitations to hosted tables.

BTW, in the past it was possible to request an invitation to the Captain's Table, but that appears to have changed:

'Can I dine with the Captain?

Due to the Captain's responsibilities he/she may not always be available to dine in one of the main restaurants, therefore we can no longer request a seat at the Captain's table".

https://ask.cunard.com/help/mini/cunard/life-on-board/captains_table

Cheers,

Salacia

The OP and I may be on the same trip. As a first timer as well can anyone explain the "hosted tables" already mentioned?

On Formal nights, certain tables are "Hosted" by a ships officer. They join you for dinner and you are treated to wine with the meal at their expense. If there are many Formals then you may find that the officer sends a junior in their place ( but you still get the wine! ) You can ask to be sat at a hosted table at time of booking but there are only a few so you may be unlucky. All of the hosted tables are tables for eight except the Captains which seats 10 I believe. We have been lucky to have been on hosted tables 4 times and it is great fun chatting to the officers about their job on board.

On Formal nights, certain tables are "Hosted" by a ships officer. They join you for dinner and you are treated to wine with the meal at their expense. If there are many Formals then you may find that the officer sends a junior in their place ( but you still get the wine! ) You can ask to be sat at a hosted table at time of booking but there are only a few so you may be unlucky. All of the hosted tables are tables for eight except the Captains which seats 10 I believe. We have been lucky to have been on hosted tables 4 times and it is great fun chatting to the officers about their job on board.

Thanks for the information. Everyone's feedback is appreciated.

On Formal nights, certain tables are "Hosted" by a ships officer. They join you for dinner and you are treated to wine with the meal at their expense. If there are many Formals then you may find that the officer sends a junior in their place ( but you still get the wine! ) You can ask to be sat at a hosted table at time of booking but there are only a few so you may be unlucky. All of the hosted tables are tables for eight except the Captains which seats 10 I believe. We have been lucky to have been on hosted tables 4 times and it is great fun chatting to the officers about their job on board.

Astro and yours on board ! ;)

How did I guess that a photo would appear ... :D

Not difficult when one was suggested a few comments up...

"possibly a picture may appear of forum members dining with the captain

Perhaps some of us are not afraid to show our self . Unlike you we don't hide behind the 'Cunard White Star' Avatar, and at the same time have problems with those of us who truly enjoy the Cunard experience".

Some of us have nothing to hide.

:D:D

So back to topic and hopefully some light towards the OP.

On the last occasion I was invited to join the Captain's Table I was sat between two ladies. One was a Diamond member and the other a first time Cunarder.

It transpired however that the first timer, an attractive youngish lady travelling, like me, on her own, had one fascinating career.

Of course there is a system for selection and being Cunard you can bet your bottom dollar that it's not just names pulled out of a hat. ;);)

Astro and yours on board ! ;)

Unfortunately we don't get to be on hosted tables when working on board. :( I do enjoy sharing my experiences of astronomy but will usually wait to be asked. :)

I will be taking my first Cunard cruise on the QM2 in September. I am wondering: are there dinners with the Captain on the QM2 or other Cunard ships? Have any of you ever been invited to dine with him?

 

Vanessa

DH and I typically dine during the first seating. My understanding is that the Captain has a later bedtime than we do and dines at the second seating. We have had a variety of other interesting dinner companions, but alas never the Captain….

Have a great first Cunard cruise!

I have been seated at many hosted tables over the years. Many have been the Chief Engineers table, the Pursers table. The ships DR. We have been seated with the Hotel Managers and many others.

In years gone by you could ask to be seated at an officers table. This meant he dined at that table every formal night of the cruise, and yes, as some have pointed out he buys the wine:) As a non wine drinker I am cheap to entertain :) The Purser used to buy me Champagne instead. :)

Since around 2010 the hosted tables are not as they were. Now you only get to dine there if you are invited and I think it is a better situation then the select few who knew to ask for an officers table. Now more people get a chance.

I know for certain that in years gone by when I worked at sea, the Captain and Purser would check out who was who in the Burke's Peerage book. Nowadays, it is a lot different. One officer told me last year on QE world cruise he choose his table companions by looking at their embarkation photo. :)

I got invited to dinner by the Chief Engineer after we had an informal chat at a drinks party and he admired my dress and he told me he like a lady who dressed well and I replied I liked a man in a uniform;) We had a laugh and I was at his table the night after.

One lady who is on QE as I write is a character and very eccentric , She went up to the Captain last year and said Captain can I sit at your table to which he replied yes.

Two night later she was there. We sat at the table for the whole world cruise next to the Captains table so I saw who came and went.

I do think there is a bit of who you know involved. On a world cruise you have a concierge that picks who should dine with whom. If that concierge had a few good friends it was very obvious who they were from the amount of tables they sat at.

I do not think the cabin grade comes into it. I have known first time cruiser be invited and also long time cruisers all at the same table.

I have cruised on Cunard for may years and I have never been upgraded or had an invite to the Captains table. I have had lots of invites to officers tables as I mentioned but never the Captain even though I have always met the Captain and the Commodore and socialised with them. However , recently before I disembarked QE I received a letter from the Captain inviting me to his table the next time I am on his ship. So in my opinion there seems to be reason or rhyme to how this works. All I can say to the OP is go and have a great cruise and don't worry about who is dining with whom. Have fun.

maggiemou

You can still ask to be on a hosted table when you make your booking. This doesn't happen on the discount fares though but it is definitely still an option. :)

maggiemou

 

You can still ask to be on a hosted table when you make your booking. This doesn't happen on the discount fares though but it is definitely still an option. :)

While I understand customs differ around the world, but where I come from, it is not customary to ask for an invitation to diner.

However, a passenger paying a 'discount fare' would be no more out of line for requesting a hosted table than would a Grills passenger or any other passenger, if that was their desire.

Many enjoy dining at hosted tables, but that is by no means universal. :)

 

Many enjoy dining at hosted tables, but that is by no means universal. :)

No it certainly isn't.

I can think of more pleasant dining experiences than sitting at a table of fawning passengers and a captain who would likely be happier anywhere else.

And why does the term "free wine" always seem to come into any posts on the captains table?

David.

I can think of more pleasant dining experiences than sitting at a table of fawning passengers and a captain who would likely be happier anywhere else.

We're never bothered with the captain's cocktail party thing either, when a load of toadying paying customers line up just to shake the captain's hand. Last time on the QV the queue went on for miles - why ? What's the big deal about the fawning to the staff ?

No it certainly isn't.

 

I can think of more pleasant dining experiences than sitting at a table of fawning passengers and a captain who would likely be happier anywhere else.

 

And why does the term "free wine" always seem to come into any posts on the captains table?

 

David.

Probably because that is what you get, The drinks bill for that meal is paid for by the company whilst dining when invited to the Captains Table or being seated when hosted at a Hosted table for your cruise.

Probably because that is what you get, The drinks bill for that meal is paid for by the company whilst dining when invited to the Captains Table or being seated when hosted at a Hosted table for your cruise.

This is quite true Pennbank, but you don't have to drink it if you do not wish to do so. I am a non wine drinker so it makes no difference to the rest of the table . Just more for them that do love wine. :)

Gosh, I am sorry my question caused folks to get angry. Not my intention. I have cruised on other lines and have had dinner with the Captain. (I agree it's a mystery how folks are selected. I assure you it wasn't youthful attractiveness in my case!) It's not that I feel some urge to do it again, but I was curious. It seemed that maybe the Grills passengers might see the captain instead of him doing Captain's dinners in the main dining room. Does anyone know if the Captain dines in the Grills restaurants at all?

Vanessa

While I understand customs differ around the world, but where I come from, it is not customary to ask for an invitation to diner.

However, a passenger paying a 'discount fare' would be no more out of line for requesting a hosted table than would a Grills passenger or any other passenger, if that was their desire.

 

Many enjoy dining at hosted tables, but that is by no means universal. :)

I was referring to the fact that it is not an option on the Cunard website when booking a discount fare. I don't know why.