Just Curious -- what's the deal with the 'Captain's Table'?

[Sophaki19]

We were invited to dine with both the captain and the second captain. They were both really nice. The night we ate with the captain was the night they served lobster, and contrary to what the other poster said, we all ate it. Also, the waiter informed us that the wine we were drinking cost $700 a bottle, just as an FYI. We got our pics taken with them and got invited to tour the bridge both times. It was very memorable.

[cim]

We tried once on the Destiny 1998. Were iinformed that we did not have any special circumstance that would warrant an invitation. So I don't believe they pull a name out of a hat or select you for no particular reason.

[Greyt2dogs]

We were invited to have dinne with the captain after meeting him at the Captains Welcome Aboard party on the Vision of the Sea. While having our picture taken, the Captain asked me how I liked his ship. I told him that we loved it, it was our third time on the Vision. He asked for my name and cabin number. I expected to receive a bottle of wine but received the dinner invitation instead. My husband and I felt quite honored. We had champagne with the Captain before dinner. His first officer was also at the table. We also had the bridge tour the next day - my husband was so excited. Captain George was a very gracious man. He even gave a personal tour to a 4 year old boy whom he had met earlier in the cruise.

 

I would do it again in an instant!

[FranKes2000]

I was at a table for six, cruising the East Coast, and an invite to dine was sent to the family at the table, they kindly refused as I would have been left alone as they were a family of parents and three adult children.

[Ladydee]

Never really gave much thought to the Captain's Table.... interesting thread though. Out of curiosity, do they ever invite children?

[cunardqueen]

I was assigned to the Captains table on QE2. Under the command of Captain Nick Bates it was a delight to be seated on that table. Though he only dinned a few times during a 3 week cruise we always had an officer on a sea day from a Deck Cadet to the Staff Captain, everyone had a great time. Aside from having wine provided every night, l knew 2 of the other guests from previous cruises !! and of course we had the coveted invite to his quarters and the wardroom for cocktails.

[CoastieAsh]

I am 14 and got invited to the captains table on the mariner of the seas, all i am going to say is the menu was different from the rest of the ship. Most of us got Fillet Mingon that was as tall as a cellular phone!:) Was very good. The best captain on Royal Caribbean is Captain Svein Petterson

 

 

You give me hope my dear friend :). Haha. I am a little older than you, but eating with Senior Officers and the Captain would be an honor to me. I guess I look at it that way because I am a Coastie and I take it as an honor when the XO, CO, or any other Officers of my command sit and eat with my in the Galley. I think recieving an invite to the Captain's table would be a highlight of my cruise... Sailing Mariner of the Seas 22JULY2007, I could only be so lucky!

 

ALSO, I would love to see the bridge!!

[daisysheridan]

My mother is cruising with us in January. It will be her first vacation in about 5 years. I would LOVE for her to be asked to the Captians table!

[M5M]

Years ago, DH and I received invitation to the Captain's Table: It was made QUITE CLEAR by the Captain (who spoke minimal English) that he was VERY INTERESTED in the ladies in the group. He had no interest in conversation with the men. Even though none of the couples knew each other, the ladies were quickly so very uncomfortable that what should have been a delightful experience was actually quite stressful. Ultimately the ladies, having excused ourselves to the restroom, all agreed we would make our excuses and depart before our host. This was against what we had been told was protocol...... Now, how did we get picked? I think by looks..and I was definitely at the bottom of that list, but did have a pretty snazzy dress on when we went through the line at the earlier Captain's Welcome Party. No one was actually groped, but there were enough

meaningful looks, repeated hand squeezes and pats around shoulders, etc.....it still was an interesting event, with nice service, wine, and premium seating at the after dinner show. Old geezer!!

[marchmonkey]

Last October, I traveled with three female colleagues on the MSC Armonia in the Eastern Med. WE had made this a budget trip by all four adults squeezing into one oceanview stateroom. It was cozy but we had a good time. We had brought enough luggage for a party of 8 as we decided we wanted to dress up all week.

 

On this voyage it was necessary to visit the chef d'hotel upon boarding to be assigned a table for dinner. One of the girls jokingly asked if we could be seated close to the Captain's table. Well that evening we found ourselves assigned to a table that was positioned at the end of the captains table.

 

Though the captain's table was not used every evening, the evenings he was there he had a direct view of our smiling faces. The Captain made a point to parade his guests in and out of the dining room and so passed our table each evening that he dined with greetings of hello to all in the dining room.

 

Well gotta love my friends spunk, the penultimate evening of the cruise, as he passed ahe asked if we would have the pleasure of seeing him next to us for the final night of the cruise. With a giggle and a wink he said only if you are there my dear and kept going. We laughed about it and finished our desert.

 

The next day to our surprise we received those personal invitations in our stateroom. Dinner was everything that others have explained and more. The captain and 4 members of the Sr Staff and the 4 of us in the center of the dining room with aspecial menu and wine that did not stop. The cruise director arrived to thank the passengers for sailing during the week and we all received champagne as well to toast the captain.

 

Another of my friends kept the captain entertained through the dinner which yielded a visit to the bridge right after dinner. The crew there was surprised to have the captain and visitors on the bridge at all let alone after dark.

 

The next morning, fog in Venice had closed the port for entry of ships. The captain calle dour stateroom directly to apologize and invite us to his stateroom for coffee. So cappacino with the captain while waiting for the fog to clear was the finish to our wonderdul week.

 

So I guess you never know what can happen. I never thought I would sit at the Captains table but I did. Who knows you could be next.

 

Christopher

 

 

We were having dinner one night on deck - not in the dining room. It was my in-laws (who have sailed many, many times on Crystal), and 6 others. The Captain was also having dinner by himself on deck. (Very casual) I dont know what got into me, but I went over and asked if he wanted to join us. Yikes! My mother in law was horrified. (I'm glad your adjective was "spunk", I dont think that was the word she would have used to describe my actions.) Anyway, he came over and sat with us. It was a very pleasant conversation and I did leave him an out so he could have said no. The thing was that one of the servers reprimanded me and told me the captain was a very busy man. It has been many years and although it was a terrific night and a great experience, I cringe at my boldness. :o Don't think I will be doing that again.

[awinner]

a long time ago on the viking serenade, my mother and i went on, the head waiter knew my mom from previous cruises, invited us to dine w/ the captain. i must have been in my early 20's. they had name cards on the table and they split you up so you could meet other people. the captain dined with the social host. it was a personalized menu with the captain signing it afterwards. lots of liquor and pictures. it was a good time to be had.

[tahoemc]

My wife and I celebrated our 25th anniversary August 2006 to Alaska on Vision of the Seas with our best friends. Our maitre d' the first night indicated that he would recommend to the Captain's Executive Assistant that the four of us be selected to dine with the captain the next evening. The maitre d' commented to us that he enjoyed our conversation with him and it looked like we were really having a good time. I discounted his comments thinking nothing would come of it.

 

Next morning I woke up and found an invititation had been slipped under the door to dine with the captain that evening. Our friends in the adjoining cabin also received an invite. During the captain's pre-dinner reception (it was formal night), we were seated in a separate area with a couple from Germany, and two other couples from Texas and drank all the champagne the server could pour. After the other guests left to head off to the dining room, the captain joined us for about 30 minutes before he escorted all of us to the dining room and to his table, stopping for a group picture on the staircase in the dining room. We had a separate menu, and as others have mentioned, non-stop wine. The service was beyond excellent. The center of the table was adorned with rose petals in the shape of the RC logo. The captain stayed with us the entire time, and it appeared he was truly enjoying himself. This was the only night the captain dined in the dining room and the only night his table was used.

 

All in all this was a fanastic experience and felt it was an honor to be selected from the hundereds of other guests on the ship. This was our third cruise with RCI, and our friends fifth, and was clearly the highlight to date. We had booked balcony rooms and we are not VIP's, connected, rich, etc., just ordinary everyday joes, so it appears to me its just the luck of the draw. And while we were celebrating a special anniversary, there were other couples on board celebrating milestone anniversaries as well. We saw the captain a number of times during the cruise and in port, and he remembered our names as if we were friends. Which leads to another point, what kind of training do the cruise line employees receive that allows them to remember everyones names? I would like to sign up for that class!

 

If anyone who reads this has the opportunity to dine with the captain at his table, DO IT!! It is an experience I will never forget.

[CruiseGem]

Hi we got invited once on carnival ,valor we are t/a and were new to carnival at the time others at the table consisted of a couple from France that had purchased 200 cabins on the ship and the rest were the hotel director ,ships Doctor who buy the way reminded me of a hollywood :eek: plastic surgen we had a differant menu and free wine and a 8x10 picture of the table all said it wasnt boring and we attracted attention and gained a little fame around the ship ;)

[marle7]

We've dined with the Captain 4 times on various ships. The first time was our very first cruise on Majesty. We were sitting at a 2 top in the dining room, and I think they were looking to fill the last two spots at the table. :rolleyes: We had a lovely dinner, with a separate menu, name cards, pre dinner champagne and the photo. We were invited to a bridge tour the next day. The captain seemed to be having a good time and invited us back up to the bridge that day to watch sail away from the bridge. I think he would have had us there every day!

 

I have no idea how people are picked on these things, nor do I know how they decide on the table seating arrangements, but every time, I have been seated directly beside the Captain to his left. As for children at the table, I think it depends on the Captain. On one occassion our son was sailing with us, but was not invited, so he had room service (which he much preferred) while we dined with the Captain.

[Canuker]

Eat with the crew?

Certainly not!

[tiki23]

We were having dinner one night on deck - not in the dining room. It was my in-laws (who have sailed many, many times on Crystal), and 6 others. The Captain was also having dinner by himself on deck. (Very casual) I dont know what got into me, but I went over and asked if he wanted to join us. Yikes! My mother in law was horrified. (I'm glad your adjective was "spunk", I dont think that was the word she would have used to describe my actions.) Anyway, he came over and sat with us. It was a very pleasant conversation and I did leave him an out so he could have said no. The thing was that one of the servers reprimanded me and told me the captain was a very busy man. It has been many years and although it was a terrific night and a great experience, I cringe at my boldness. :o Don't think I will be doing that again.

 

LOL - that so sounds like something I would do. And I'll bet the Captain enjoyed himself with your family.

[Okie1234]

CruiseGem

How did you notify them of your TA Credentials?

[casandbliz]

:) Twice we have been invited to the Captain's Table. Both times, we were traveling with another couple, and both times, one of the couples was in a Royal Suite. We also had a tour of the Bridge!!!

The dinner was wonderful- lots of wine, and definately a different menu than the rest of the dining room. The only issue was, we were told where to sit- all the couples were divided up, I'm sure to make small talk, but none of us were appreciative of that. We did get a complimentary photo of the entire table, so it was very memorable.

[BroncosFan2010]

My DH and I were invited to dine with the Captain in 2005 on the Adventure of the Seas. It was our honeymoon, and we were seated with other newly-wed couples. We also got to tour the bridge that same day, and got 2 copies of our picture. I will never forget the experience. The food was amazing. I believe we had the same menu as the rest of the dining room, but we had free wine ($100+ per bottle, we drank 4 glasses each), and a special Captain's dessert. They paraded us into the dining room as if we were royalty. It was wonderful and we will never forget it.

We did not spend a lot of money, it was my first cruise (DH's 3rd w/ RCI), and we are not anyone of importance. I think we were chosen because the First Mate was engaged, and they wanted to seat everyone who was on their Honeymoon together.

[chotton]

We have dined with the captain twice. The first time the group was very dry, not much conversation. Then our second time was on Adventure of the Seas (honeymoon cruise) was fantastic. We were the last table to leave the dinning, and god knows how many bottles of wine our table went through.

 

We would do it again if we had the proper clothes with us. We have gone much more causual when it comes to dressing for dinner. No more formal nights unless we are with friends.

[cdn seeking heat]

Carnival Legacy:confused::confused:

lol, Shhhhh, go with it. It could get real interesting.

[Waitin to cruise]

Could you please tell me what a tour of the bridge is? I am a little slow I guess.

[Hatchva]

We went to lunch and I was in a bathing suit. I told my wife that I felt uncomfortable sitting in the dining room in a bathing suit as we stood outside the dining room and looked over the menu. The maitre de' overheard me and grabbed my arm and said I was fine. A few minutes after we sat down someone came up to me and asked if my wife and I would be interested in having dinner with the captain that night. We had a great dinner with four other couples and the captain that night. Wine was free, dinner was similar to what we had at our regular table, but the service was incredible. The captain was a great host. We were invited to the bridge the next night for a tour. We had an inside cabin, we were on our first cruise and had no connections on the ship. One other couple at our table were newly weds. The other two couples were with large groups and may have had connections. We cruise Royal Caribbean.

[shelbird]

Several years ago we were on a Panama Canal Cruise aboard Royal Princess. We had been upgraded to a full suit when we agreed to change our cruise date at Princess's request (also received $1000 pp OBC but that's another story) Traveling companions as well as a couple from England occupying the Penthouse Suite were our other table mates along with one extra chair. When a ship's officer arrived to take the chair I at first thought we were sitting with the Captain but he was the chief engineer. The stories and conversations and wine were sooooo great for the 11 nights we never saw one show and were always the last to leave the dining room.

 

When on a River Cruise in France we sat each evening with 3 other "fun" couples and on one of the last evenings an extra chair was placed at the table. Our waiters told us the crew votes on the most interesting table for the Captain to sit at one night during the cruise and we were it. Understand the Captain was French and spoke no English. Even though I took French in High School and College it was many years ago and once I ask you what your name is and tell you mine about the only conversation in French I have left is asking what time it is. The decision was made to seat my brother in law next to the Captain as he had lived in France for two years about a hundred years ago. Now my BIL enjoys his alcohol....too much... so whenever he was engaged in conversation with the Captain my SIL would quickly down half of his wine. It prevented embarrasment, but she didn't feel too well the next day. The dinner ended abruptly when someone from the dock threw a rock or brick breaking the window directly behind our table and the Captain went rushing out. Fortunately the glass was safety glass and didn't shatter.

[SeaTeach]

While sailing on the AOS the concierge submitted our names. It was really fun and not a stuffy event. The Captain was very down to earth which set the tone for the entire meal.