Captains table

[noppy]

How do they choose the passengers that dine with the captain on formal night?

[ksuds]

From my experience, they base it off of status sometime, suite guests, or just how often you travel on a particular ship.

 

I get invited everytime we are on one ship, but not on others. I've heard of guests getting invited just because they happen to be sitting and talking to an officer or captain early in the cruise and they take a liking to the guest and invite them.

[Missus Makkem]

How do they choose the passengers that dine with the captain on formal night?

 

if you ever find out the formula please let us all know!!!!

[138east]

I always wondered myself. I got invited to the Captain's table in Sep. The guests were 4 folks from the Royal Suite, 2 folks who the Captain had met about the ship, 1 super frequent cruiser, and 4 of us who had had a bad customer service experience plus the captain and another officer.

[Janet524]

It's a mystery to me! On our first cruise ever 25 years ago we were invited to the Captain's table. Didn't get another invitation for 20 years...Then it seemed like we'd be invited almost every cruise.

[MrCruzeaddict]

I have been lucky to have dined with the captain on 3 different occasions. All of the factors that have already been mentioned are true, but it never hurts to know the Captain :D

 

 

Joe<----Just countin' down the days! :D

[grand isle joe]

Why would I want to dine with the Captain? Then I would have to put a tie with my formal Tuxedo "T shirt". Those clip-on ties can be a real pain when you eat soup.:cool:

[JMG]

We dined at the Captains one time. It was a nice experience. It started with a cocktail hour in a relatively secluded spot in one of the bars. The hostess trained us in the ettiquette involved with dining with the Captain. The Captain appeared shortly before we were to go to the dining room. We were escorted to the dining room and to our table. Seats were assigned...typically you do not sit with your significant other. The menu is different from the "normal" dining menus. I remember ordering Lobster Thermidor... very good!!

 

Our table consisted of The Captain and Cruise Hostess, first time cruises that talked about "the boat!" They were employees of a vendor that did work for RCI. They apparently made arrangements to sit with the Captain with their contact in Miami. We were in a suite and it was my birthday.

 

We got a complimentary photo of all of us at the Captains Table and a trip to the bridge on the next sea day. It was very nice but not something that I need to do every cruise! DH had a sport coat and tie that night...I informed the hostess prior to accepting the invitation and she said it was acceptable for the evening.

[Trainman-2]

We were invited to the Hotel Director's Table (the same one the Captain uses) on the Vision recently. He invited all of the Back-to-Backers over two nights.

 

We have been invited before when we were doing back-to-back cruises.

[JimAOk1945]

DW and I were invited to dine with the Captain on our August Alaska cruise on the Radiance of the Seas.

 

The day before, the concierge asked us whether we would accept the invitation and I said yes. :D

 

The next day my wife asked how the selections were made, and the concierge said he decides who gets invited.

 

That was the only time we have received an invitation, but hopefully it won't be the last. The food was outstanding! :p

[cruzinlady1947]

We were invited last month, but had to turn him down. We didn't bring any formal clothing with us that cruise. I guess we will be "black listed" now.:o:( We saw him in the Windjammer the next day and apologized. We told him we would be back on the ship this month, but he said he will be on vacation. Our luck.:rolleyes: From now on I will always be ready. ;) We talked to him several times before when he was Captain on the Explorer. I guess maybe that was why we were invited.

[cruisefanaticx6]

My dh and I were married on the mariner and mil and fil came on the cruise with us along with several of my family members. This was their first cruise with rccl. Mil begged and begged the captain to invite them to the table and sure enought he did. She was very persistent and would not leave it alone. So as dh and my family enjoyed our last formal night on the cruise fil and mil were nowhere in sight. Turned out to be better for us!!! :D

[GaryfmCol]

DW and I were invited to dine with the Captain on our August Alaska cruise on the Radiance of the Seas.

 

The day before, the concierge asked us whether we would accept the invitation and I said yes. :D

 

The next day my wife asked how the selections were made, and the concierge said he decides who gets invited.

 

That was the only time we have received an invitation, but hopefully it won't be the last. The food was outstanding! :p

 

We've been invited about 5 times.

Once on our very first cruise on Celebrity.

The last time a personal invite from the Captain of the VOYAGER of the SEAS.. Captain Martinsen

He asked us to join him...

 

One time, on Celebrity, the Concierge invited our whole MDR table because we were talking and, laughing and, having a good time, so she asked ALL of us...

One gentleman at our table was an Air Force General.

 

Another time, in talking with Captain Patric on the VOYAGER of the SEAS, while talking with him, a lady ASKED him if she "could be invited to dinner at the Captain's table?..." He told her, that he does not "do that, with guests that someone else decides that". When she turned and, walked away, he just rolled his eyes... :D

[Zou Bisou Bisou]

We've been invited about 5 times.

Once on our very first cruise on Celebrity.

The last time a personal invite from the Captain of the VOYAGER of the SEAS.. Captain Martinsen

He asked us to join him...

 

One time, on Celebrity, the Concierge invited our whole MDR table because we were talking and, laughing and, having a good time, so she asked ALL of us...

One gentleman at our table was an Air Force General.

 

Another time, in talking with Captain Patric on the VOYAGER of the SEAS, while talking with him, a lady ASKED him if she "could be invited to dinner at the Captain's table?..." He told her, that he does not "do that, with guests that someone else decides that". When she turned and, walked away, he just rolled his eyes... :D

 

I would think that Captain Patric would not appreciate your broadcasting that he rolled his eyes at a passenger. Some things are left better unsaid.

[sandy toes]

Dad, USN officier retired, reading over my shoulder just now, rolled his eyes and laughed! Then said, it really isn't proper to put such things in writing much less out there in cyber space.

[grand isle joe]

Dad, USN officier retired, reading over my shoulder just now, rolled his eyes and laughed! Then said, it really isn't proper to put such things in writing much less out there in cyber space.

 

 

 

 

.......but then again Dad was a "real" officer......Thanks Dad for your service to our beloved country.:)

[BillOh]

How do they choose the passengers that dine with the captain on formal night?

 

This is a question that comes up frequently. I've read many hundreds of experiences here on this forum, talked with dozens of people while on ships and other places. The following opinion has no basis for fact, but is my belief. I think it varies from one ship, possibly one Captain to another. Some Captains seem more involved in that process than others while some seem to delegate that responsibility to others.

[BillOh]

Ok, here is a question to those of you with experience at the Captain's table. Is this something only done on formal night? I've seen it a couple of times on formal night. I've seen Captains eating in a couple of the other restaurants like Chops, or even the Compass Deli on other nights. I'm so blue collar that even when I do formal might, it would never be in a tux, so I don't expected to be invited. I would probably be happy to do so on a smart casual night just for the experience.

[Pomperaugrr]

When we were invited to the Captain's table, it was also on a formal night.

 

Eric

[philip_g]

I saw the captain wandering around the gift shop looking for something, had I known I would have tried to lay the schmooze on to get an invite :D

I figured he didn't want to be bothered.

[bluecookies]

I have yet to see the Captain dine in the dining room.

[gerif]

We happened to be at a table next to the Captain's table on one cruise. The only evening it was occupied was formal night (now, we did have late seating so I can't say that it was never used during early seating). One of the couples from our table had been invited. We saw them earlier in the CL and they told us they wouldn't be dining with us that evening.

 

They were an older couple from England who had obviously been on a gadzillion cruises and were staying in a suite. They did not flaunt all of their cruises as some would do and were very low key. I realized that they were pretty well heeled when we were discussing our pets and I asked who cared for their several dogs while they traveled and they told me the groundskeepers looked after them.

 

Anyway, while I don't know the magic formula, I can assure you that those who say I'm on vacation and if I want to wear shorts and jeans in the dining room I will are not getting invites.

[cruisegirl1]

It is not everyone’s cup of tea, but we enjoy the experience and have had the pleasure of many “officer” dinners. I guess our more recent invitations are because of our C&A points. The “officer” in our experiences has been the Captain, Staff Captain, Hotel Director, Food and Beverage Manager or Chief Engineer. I suspect there are other officers who may host dinners. Most of the comments noted on this thread are the experiences we’ve had except for the one about the seating. We have ALWAYS been seated next to our significant other.

 

There are many ways a passenger may be invited. Most were mentioned such as specific accommodations, (think Royal Suite), folks with lots of C&A points, friends of the officer, friends of high ranking RCCL (Miami) staff, familiarity with particular staff on a ship, B2B2B cruisers, etc., or for some reason no one ( not even the person invited) can ever figure out. Most times, our table seems to be some sort combination of the above and maybe even other situations. I would never ask a passenger why they were invited, but through “small talk” one learns a little about others at the table.

 

 

Yes – it is generally on formal night, and can be in contrast to your regularly scheduled dinner time.

 

The invitation usually notes formal attire or jacket and tie. I honestly can’t recall if it notes the particular attire is suggested or required. I’ve never seen any type of very casual atire often described on these board.

 

The menu is sometimes a little more upscale from the standard menu, bottled water and wine is offered, there is usually another officer or ship staff also at the table, the conversation is often very interesting and the officers are generally very engaging.

 

M

[BillOh]

I saw the captain wandering around the gift shop looking for something, had I known I would have tried to lay the schmooze on to get an invite :D

I figured he didn't want to be bothered.

 

I understand the sentiment. I've past or been seated by a decent list of celebrities and most of the time I say nothing. I've walked by Captain's on the ship a few times. Most times I just smile and or nod. If its past the first day, I'll add a quick, "Having a great time". The Captain on Jewel did come to the Crown and Anchor reception and was quiet personable. Several people talked to him after.

[BillOh]

It is not everyone’s cup of tea, but we enjoy the experience and have had the pleasure of many “officer” dinners.

 

M

 

Thanks for sharing the experience, this is something I just have a casual interest in. I did hear in one case with a guy I was talking to on a cruise (Take that for what its worth.) He said the Captain happen to be looking at a manifest and saw a couple from his hometown and asked that they be invited.