Captains Table?

[KimmyinLA]

My mom and I were invited to the ct on our first cruise. We were asked for our room number as we were boarding and wondered why no one else had to give their room number. We later forgot about it until we received the invitation.

 

As for what makes it special -- for us it was just interesting just to ask questions and get a sense of what goes onboard.

 

On our last cruise (non X) -- we had the pleasure of having a ship nurse dine with us. I loved asking him all sorts of questions (I'm a reporter) and I think he must've enjoyed himself b/c he came back to our table the next night even though he didn't have time to have dinner. He came by for a glass of wine and to send bottles to our table again.

 

It was also a nice feeling to have either the captain or an officer recognize you by name during the cruise.

[StephenJohnson]

Our last cruise was for two weeks. We were in eye shot of the captain's table. The Capt. only had dinner at his table one or two times (rest of time the table sat empty), thus greatly reducing the odds of an invitation. Is this the norm? I got the impression that maybe the old salt didn't enjoy the hotel side of the ship.

 

That's as may be, but many "Captain's tables" are only operational on formal nights. On a previous cruise we were adjacent to the normal Captain's table - a two person table he shared with the Hotel Manager.

[dmarch@islc.net]

Ahh, that would explain why I only saw him twice! LOL Thanks

[wsw]

Hi there! I sailed on a back to back on the Infinity last December. On the first leg travelling with my friend, we were invited to join the Staff Captain for dinner. Invitation just showed up in the cabin. We had a lovely time. On the 2nd leg with my husband, the maitre'd told me that we could request to have an officer join our table on one of the formal nites. We asked for the Bar Manager Tanya (a terrific lady) and she showed up at our table on one of the formal nites with wine in tow. We were dining with 4 other couples so they put a bigger table top on and now we were 11. Great fun was had by all. I know that the Social Hostess runs the Captain's Table but check with the Maitre'd and ask for an officer to be seated with you on a formal nite. Our cabin was a balcony on both legs. Have fun! wendy

[cechase]

In reading the other posts in this thread, you are correct that the invitations to the Captain's table were for dinner on formal nights.

 

Again, I need to say that we really have not run into rude and obnoxious people on either Mercury or Century.

 

Our visit for dinner to the Captain's table on Century in late May was most interesting. Century was cruising at the Eastern end of Cuba and entering the strait between Cuba and Haiti during the storm which caused over a thousand deaths in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Captain Sklogiannis in his early 40's caused the women at the table to bat their eyes and listen to every word coming from his mouth. We were all entranced with his wit and charm. He told us that he would be going to his home in England, because his wife was having their second child, and that after his leave, he was being promoted to a M-Class ship.

 

It was very rough - and I had to escort [holding her] my dear dear lady friend [we are in our 60's and discovered each other a little over two years ago, and just bought a home for us] to the ladies room. Well, having spent two years on an LST in the western pacific, I was able to successfully get her to the ladies room, where people were experiencing sea sickness both inside of the ladies room and outside. Since the captain was so engaging and willing to ask our questions, I inquired as to when it would get smoother! He replied at 10:00 p.m. and you know what, he was right. I am looking at our captain's dinner picture right now, and every one of the invitees and they had such a good and happy time, and no one dominated the conversation. A lovely experience, and my DDLF loved every minute of it, and we hope to be invited again on our 2/19/2005 cruise on Century [RS1028] - which by the way has a wonderful staff!

[rebeljohn]

We had our first experience at the Capt.'s table on the Horizon this past April. Three of the other couples were on their first cruise, and couldn't believe they were sitting with the Capt. one night. Our SH seemed to be the one driving the invitations. We all met her prior to our invite to the Capt.'s table.

[smoothdancer]

Really, it is to much of a generalization to say that people who book suites are all rude!!

 

For the past 5 years or so when we cruise, we book a suite. For us, it is our accomdiations that adds a great deal to our overall experience. We are not wealthy people. Our decision is not to cruise as often so that when we do cruise, we can book a suite.

 

Unless you were to follow me to my cabin, you would not know of my accomdiations. My manners would be the same regardless of where I lay my head.

 

Oh, and I also have never been invited to the Capt. table. Sure it might be fun, but frankly, not dissapointed that I have not received an invite!!

 

Janet

[scapel]

As this is our first cruise we are very eagerly waiting for our Docs and full of anticipation, you all remember your first time, right? So this question begs an answer from you seasoned veterans... what are the odds we will be invited to eat at the captains table as neebies? Do we need to smooze someone? Does our cabin selection influence the chances? Or is it the luck of the draw? And if you have a story to tell of this event please share it with us.

 

We have been invited to the Captain’s table several times on different ships. I have always enjoyed it, but my wife gets a little intimidated. I like it because the wine is free and the before dinner drinks are free and the photo is free. I guess I am a freebie.

You meet at a certain place and have some before dinner drinks and then you are paraded into the dining room and your names are at your place. (They go to a little trouble). We always eat at the Main seating (early), except when we eat at the Captain’s table.

Now here is a new one that we liked.

Have the captain come to your table. Well, it wasn’t the captain, but a ships officer, that the Maitre’d had invited to our table. The wine was paid. I didn’t think to order a before dinner drink. Don’t remember any pictures other than the one’s we took.

My wife liked this much better than the parade to the Captain’s table.

How we got picked. Well once we met the Captain when he was a passenger on another cruise. When we sailed on his ship he told the social hostess to invite us. I had my whole table invited, which was just made up of people we met on the cruise and were our table mates. The Captain put my wife at his right which is considered the position of honor and put me at the other end of the round table. HA

Other times I guess we just talked to the social hostess and she had us invited. Never asked to, but you could. My advice would be to put a group of 4 or six together and talked to the social hostess. Remember this makes her job easier. She already will have four or six people. They like to separate you at the table so you talk to different people than your traveling group. I thought it was nice that the social hostess was impressed enough to invite us. I told my wife you cannot refuse and invitation to the Captain’s table.

I really don't have a clue as to how they pick you. Believe me if you have a Penthouse suite on Celebrity Millenneum ship, the Captain would rather eat in your cabin, than have you at his table. You don't have to have the expensive cabins to be invited.

[trvlcarib]

We have been invited to the captains table a couple of times, however we had declined. We usually cruise with family and don't see them through out the year, so we enjoy as much time together as possible. And no we do not book suites. Just elite CC members.

[FreesiaE]

We just got back from our first Celebrity cruise on the Mercury yesterday and we got an invite to sit with the Chief Engineer at the Captain's table. We met the social hostess through our cruisecritic's party. It was fabulous!

[chellie]

We had a suite on the Galaxy repo in March. The social hostess, who made small talk with us, met us at the check in desk. I mentioned to her that in eight cruises our biggest disappointed was never having been asked to dine at the captain's table. From that point on, we were invited to every private event there was, addressed by name everywhere we went, and invited to the captain's table on the second formal night. Very pleasant. On an earlier celebrity cruise, a senior officer/ engineer hosted our table. It was excruciating. The poor man was shy, did not speak English very well, and clearly preferred top be downstairs with his engines, although he was polite and gallant.