How Can You Be Selected to Dine at the Captain's Table?

[BND]

My DH is a US Navy reserve Captain and I'm the admiral in our house.:D We were in a GS this past March and met the Captain and other officers but didn't get any invite to the Captain's table. We have never been asked to dine at the Captain's table. I do love people who say "we're celebrating a birthday, anniversary, etc" thinking that will get them invited. I would say at least 75% of cruisers are celebrating something so it really means nothing. I think some of it is random and some is either tied to some unknown that each Captain and his staff looks for.

[renae83]

You could always look extremley desperate, and beg the captain everytime you see him, and hang all over him like you are the hired help. All of this worked for my mother in law when she went with us on our wedding cruise.:o

[WET193]

We got to dine with the Captain on our first cruise. Our entire table, which consisted of honeymooners, was chosen. We asked our server the following night how we got picked and he said that the captain wanted some fun people to dine with so our table got recommended. This was a Med cruise back in 93, and most of the people on it were older - I'm sure we had the youngest table there. He knew about each of us and we were told exactly which seat to sit in. I guess he liked my passport picture because I got to sit next to him. ;) It was a fun dinner, with free wine, which we enjoyed so much that we still talk about it once in awhile.

[rubrrick]

Aw, come on, Rick! You're bursting my bubble here! After three times there I've come to know that as "my" seat! ;) Of course, each time their wife was not aboard.

 

Yes, we keep missing cruising together! I guess we need to get serious planning a local meet up, IF we can find a time when one or another of us are NOT on a cruise, lol! :D

 

Terri.........we are back onboard on November 7th.

 

Between now and then..........how about lunch or dinner.......somewhere between Scottsdale and Mesa............your pick.

 

We need to meet!!

 

Rick

 

Our last Captains dinner, with everyone helping us celebrate our Th cruise.......I know that there are pictures on youtube etc.

 

We are fortunate, as we know several Captains......to have more than the normal invites listed here.

 

But that does not answer the question........of "the best way to be invited to the Captains table".

 

So, a couple of suggestions. First........sometimes the Captain knows everyone at the table......and wants them to sit with him.

 

Second........the Captain looks to the Maitre D' for suggestions of who would likely fit in........meaning that during your dinner.......you would be observed.........and if the Maitre D" thinks that you will fit in......you will be asked of your cabin number........and a special invite will show up at your door or bed the next day.

 

We have been very fortunate in the number of Captains tables we have been invited to......but because of many things.........it's not important.

 

Rick

[rubrrick]

Somehow........the TH........should read 100th cruise.

 

Rick

[dirtgirl]

I must be odd, because I have no desire to sit at the Captain's table. :)

[PhoenixCruiser]

I must be odd, because I have no desire to sit at the Captain's table. :)

 

Carol, you are not alone :D We were invited to dine with the Captain on our Mariner December 2009 cruise. We already had reservations at Chops and were just not willing to cancel Chops for a long meal in the MDR.

 

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[dirtgirl]

Carol, you are not alone :D We were invited to dine with the Captain on our Mariner December 2009 cruise. We already had reservations at Chops and were just not willing to cancel Chops for a long meal in the MDR.

 

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I just want to be me, and not stand at attention. ;) If anyone has eaten with me in a group at a table in the dining room - they would understand. I laugh too much. :o And loudly, too. :p

[critterchick]

I just want to be me, and not stand at attention. ;) If anyone has eaten with me in a group at a table in the dining room - they would understand. I laugh too much. :o And loudly, too. :p

 

There are Captains who would appreciate that.:D

[dirtgirl]

There are Captains who would appreciate that.:D

 

 

Maybe the Captains would, but would the rest of them? LOL:o

[cruisecrasy]

As a famous lady once said, when asked if she dined with the Captain onboard an ocean liner crossing the Atlantic, a long time ago - 'I don't dine with the help' :D..

[joanne59]

Although we cruise on both Royal and Celebrity, we've been invited to dine at the Captain's table more often when we are on Celebrity ships. In particular, on our Century cruise last month, the Captain was extremely gracious to his dinner guests and invited all of us to the bridge for our sail up the Grand Canal into Venice. I find on the smaller ships, it is easier to get to know the staff and for them to feel comfortable enough with the passengers, to be invited into their world to enjoy these special occasions.

 

Happy cruising....Joanne

[RayJacki]

Carol, you are not alone :D We were invited to dine with the Captain on our Mariner December 2009 cruise. We already had reservations at Chops and were just not willing to cancel Chops for a long meal in the MDR.

 

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We actually had kind of the opposite happen. On our one and only time to be invited to dine with the Captain (on the 2nd leg of a B2B on the Navigator in December of 2007), we had existing reservations for Chops. Our fear was that if we accepted the invitation (which we received the afternoon of the event), we would get charged for the Chops reservation if we cancelled that late. But apparently, our excuse was valid enough for them to change their charge policy for that one time.;) BTW - I was the lady seated to the Captain's right and my mirror and I can both testify that it was NOT because I was either the youngest or the prettiest woman at the table!

[kauppias]

I have a few cruises under my belt and yet I have never been invited to the captains table nor anyone else... I have heard that this is more common for D+ but still no :) could have something to do with my three kids all under 6 :D but maybe next time I go on a adults cruise I luck out.... would like to do it ONCE just for the experience :)

[ChipLondon]

That just shows how ignorant some people can be, I personally always enjoy dining with others that are clearly intelligent and knowledgeable about any subject, be they captains or fellow cruisers.

We ( as regular cruisers ) have had the pleasure of dining with various Captains over the years, including clebrating both Christmas and New Year with the very pleasant Capt Bill Wright on The Oasis last year. On the captains table we have meet a real mixture of fellow passengers, some of whom were very social and others half asleep, either way I would always accept if the invitation was extended our way. :)

 

 

As a famous lady once said, when asked if she dined with the Captain onboard an ocean liner crossing the Atlantic, a long time ago - 'I don't dine with the help' :D..

[waterbugohio]

So how large is the captains table. Would love to dine with the captain, but we are a group of 12.

[ChipLondon]

The table can accomodate 8-12 diners (plus the Captain) depending on which ship, it would be very rare for an entire group to get an invite. Although on occassions when the ship is sailing full the captains table is used for regular diners, and therefore in use each night. On those occassions the Captain might invite guests to dine in on of the speciality restaurants, if he still wanted to extend any invite.

 

So how large is the captains table. Would love to dine with the captain, but we are a group of 12.

[cravingthis]

Based on our RCCL cruise last year, you needed to be very female, very young and extraordinarily beautiful to dine at the officer's table. The captain didn't host a dinner while we were on board but one of the other officers did. All of the women at the table that evening were gorgeous. And, at one point, the officer nearly tripped over the crippled Make-A-Wish child dining at the next table in his hurry to greet one of the beautiful women. It was all rather distasteful to watch.

 

Wow, in my opinion, that sounds horrible :eek::eek:

[constantcruiser]

On a Med cruise, DD & DSIL got to know the Casino Manager quite well...I think they must have "donated" a lot of $$ to the craps table! A few months later our whole family sailed on the same ship; and when the Casino Manager found out they were on board, he requested that they be invited to dine with the Captain. So apparently other staff can also make recommendations, too.

[sjcruiser]

I have been close to the Captains table on several cruises, and the table seems so serious (except for the Captain). Not something that I'd be interested in either!!!

[Host Kewlguy]

[COLOR="Black"]We've had the honor at dining at the Captain's table eight or nine times and our tables have been anything BUT stuffy or serious. The conversations are usually lively and interesting. Of course me being at the table may have something to do with that.[/COLOR] :)