Dining with the Captain

[AllAboard]

I'm sure many of us remember the Love Boat, with passengers being invited to dine with Captain Stubing. When I first started cruising many years ago, we often saw the Captain's table with guests dining. I used to wonder who these passengers were, and how they got invited to dine with the captain. However, I haven't seen this in quite a few years. Has anyone ever been invited to do so, and if you have, what was the reason for getting the invitation. Just curious if it is still done, and if the invitations are merely random.

[5waldos]

From what I have read it is a mystery as to why this person and not that person is invited to join the Captain. People on their first cruise and people on their 20th, people with special celebrations and people without. It seems almost random. Old and young. Maybe someone grabs names out of a top hat?

[paul929207]

We only ate with the Captain once, and he sat at our table. On that cruise, he did not have a table.

[Atty]

From everything I've heard, the decision on who is invited to eat with the Captain (or other senior officer) is at the discretion of the Captain. Some s/he chooses or the Head Waiter or the Hotel Manager. It really isn't anything set except they try to pick people who are entertaining and engaging and who they believe will bring diverse conversation to the table.

[luv2cruise450]

On our Noordam cruise last fall...we were invited to sit at the Captain's table for the Mariner's luncheon...I think it was just random...we were asked as we walked into the dining room and I was reluctant 'cause I didn't get very 'dressed up' for the luncheon...I wore a nice sundress and DH was wearing a button down shirt with a pair of dockers but I saw that others at the table were dressed in cocktail dresses and a few of the men had on sportjackets/suits...but the maitre d' who asked us and was escorting us to the table as I was saying it was OK to ask someone else just kept saying to 'please sit here'...so we sat down at the table and it was a very nice hour...the captain of the Noordam is one of the most visible and congenial captains that we've ever sailed with. So I think that there are no specific critieria for being invited to sit with the captain for a meal...I wasn't even wearing my copper pin or medallion so there wasn't any way that they knew if this was my 2nd or 10th cruise with HAL.

Happy sailing!

[JanineM]

We were invited to the Captain's Table on Celebrity Summit last spring. The Captain didn't sit with us, but the Staff Captain did.

 

We have no idea why we were picked ... my husband guesses that our head waiter suggested us. We had a table for 2 and spent a lot of time talking to the head waiter and our wait staff each evening. My guess is that it has something to do with Cruise Critic because of the five couples invited, three were pretty active here. But that doesn't seem to be a guarantee either as there are many people who post here all the time and have never been invited.

 

It was an honour and we did enjoy it. I hope sometime again we'll receive that invitation!

[maureengk]

Way back in the mid 90's we were on the Dolphin IV I believe and we were invited to dine with the Captain. We sat with the captain at the

captains cocktail party and then we all went to dinner together and all

sat together again. It was an amazing time we had wine with each course and after dinner drinks. The captain was so friendly he told stories of at sea adventures and about his family. Asked about all our travels and families. I was so nervous (?sp) he sat right next to me but I had nothing to worry about. All went well.

We were invited cause we got very friendly with the Cruise Director Tom and he got the invite for us...MO

[sail7seas]

On our Noordam cruise last fall...we were invited to sit at the Captain's table for the Mariner's luncheon...I think it was just random...we were asked as we walked into the dining room and I was reluctant 'cause I didn't get very 'dressed up' for the luncheon...I wore a nice sundress and DH was wearing a button down shirt with a pair of dockers but I saw that others at the table were dressed in cocktail dresses and a few of the men had on sportjackets/suits...but the maitre d' who asked us and was escorting us to the table as I was saying it was OK to ask someone else just kept saying to 'please sit here'...so we sat down at the table and it was a very nice hour...the captain of the Noordam is one of the most visible and congenial captains that we've ever sailed with. So I think that there are no specific critieria for being invited to sit with the captain for a meal...I wasn't even wearing my copper pin or medallion so there wasn't any way that they knew if this was my 2nd or 10th cruise with HAL.

Happy sailing!

 

That's a nice story. Thanks for sharing it.

 

We've had dinner with Captain Scott and agree he is very congenial and engaging. Great Captain and wonderful host.

[Hflors]

On my sister's cruise three years ago all four of us were invited to sit at the Captain's table one night. It was a wonderful experience and one that made my brother in law pretty envious. He has worked on ships for 20 some years and had never been invited. They actually sent an officer to our cabin with a formal invitation. It was quite formal. We met the hospitality hostess at one of the lounges before dinner and after all the passengers were seated we were then paraded in and stood at the Captain's table as the hospitality hostess went to get the captain. He came down a long flight of stairs and was walked around the table and introduced to each of us. Then we were seated and a photo was taken of the whole table from the floor above. Dinner proceded and at the end each guest was presented with a picture.

 

Why we were invited is still a mistery. We like to think that we are four remarkable sisters. Thats my story and I'm sticking to it! :D

[gmomof3k]

You can sit at the Captains Table on Princess cruiser for 75 dollars a person...

[AllAboard]

Thanks to all who shared. We've been on more than 25 cruises and have never been invited to the captain's table, nor have I ever met anyone who had. Guess we travel in the wrong circles! :-)

[LARGIN]

You can sit at the Captains Table on Princess cruiser for 75 dollars a person...

It is called the Chef's table not the Captain's table and it is worth the $75pp charge.

[retiredonthesea]

We where invited to the Captains table for dinner on our Alaska cruise. I don't know the reason other than we visited with some of the crew the evening before we received our invitation. It was hand delivered to our suite by an officer and we where asked if we had formal wear along as it was required when dining with the Captain. (I'am glad we did) There was 12 of us at the table including two other officers besides the Captain. We all met for cocktails at a small lounge before hand then all walked down a flight of stairs to this huge table in the dining room. All I could think of was not to trip over my floor length gown.:o We also rec'd an invite to the Captains table on the Celebrity Mercury. Have no clue why, but was very enjoyable both times. Reminds me I should dig out that pix of us from the Alaska cruise.:rolleyes:

[AllAboard]

"Retiredonthesea", I wonder if being in a suite had anything to do with your invite. We have never reserved a suite, and generally do not even stay in a balcony. Most of the time, we just stay in a standard oceanview, and occasionally an inside. Perhaps they reserve the invites for only the upper categories??? Just curious....

[retiredonthesea]

"Retiredonthesea", I wonder if being in a suite had anything to do with your invite. We have never reserved a suite, and generally do not even stay in a balcony. Most of the time, we just stay in a standard oceanview, and occasionally an inside. Perhaps they reserve the invites for only the upper categories??? Just curious....

 

I thought too that might be the case, but another couple who also where invited where in an inside cabin, but had cruised over 20 times with NCL. Another couple first time cruisers staying in a oceanview. But all of us had a common denominator---we had spoken with officers and crew & asked alot of questions about the ship ect. before we had the invites. Who knows how one gets invited, but if you do it's a real honor and very entertaining.

[BroncosFan2010]

DH and I were invited to dine with the Captain on the AOS back in 2005. We did not have a suite (just a regular balcony), nor are we any type of "special" people. We were dining at a table for 2 one night, and the head waiter came over and asked if we liked to get dressed up for formal night. We said yes, and he then asked if we enjoyed fine wine. We said yes, and he then invited us to dine with the Captain the next night. We received invitations in our stateroom that night, as well as invitations to tour the bridge.

It was a fabulous dinner and a wonderful experience. I will never forget it!

[Smokeyham]

This is an old thread, but I thought it would be fun to hear some more recent stories of people who have been invited to dine with the Captain.

 

We had friends who were travelling in a suite, and they got an invitation to have dinner with the Captain. We were also included, since we were travelling with them (but not in a suite).

 

We were looking forward to a wonderful evening, and imagining that we would hear stories from someone who had grown up at sea and visited many exotic ports.

 

Our evening started out well when we met in a small lounge and then were escorted to a closed section of one of the specialty restaurants. Our party consisted of the Captain, the four of us, and a younger woman crew member who had won an employee-of-the-month type of award. She was charming, but the Captain turned out to be very self-centered. Throughout dinner he monopolized the conversation and only talked about himself. We learned about his hunting prowess (he seemed to think this would impress us and the young woman crew member), and how he loved to ride his bike when he was in port. I don't think he ever asked about what anyone else at the table did or was interested in.

 

It was a very tasty meal, but we were quite glad to escape at the end of it!

[JimAOk1945]

This is an old thread, but I thought it would be fun to hear some more recent stories of people who have been invited to dine with the Captain.

 

We had friends who were travelling in a suite, and they got an invitation to have dinner with the Captain. We were also included, since we were travelling with them (but not in a suite).

 

We were looking forward to a wonderful evening, and imagining that we would hear stories from someone who had grown up at sea and visited many exotic ports.

 

Our evening started out well when we met in a small lounge and then were escorted to a closed section of one of the specialty restaurants. Our party consisted of the Captain, the four of us, and a younger woman crew member who had won an employee-of-the-month type of award. She was charming, but the Captain turned out to be very self-centered. Throughout dinner he monopolized the conversation and only talked about himself. We learned about his hunting prowess (he seemed to think this would impress us and the young woman crew member), and how he loved to ride his bike when he was in port. I don't think he ever asked about what anyone else at the table did or was interested in.

 

It was a very tasty meal, but we were quite glad to escape at the end of it!

 

DW and I had a similar experience. We were on the Radiance of the Seas in August of 2012. While we were in the Concierge Lounge, the Captain (I don't recall his name) came in and mingled with all the guests. We chatted with him for a while as he was very easy to engage in conversation.

 

The next day, we received an invitation in our room inviting us to dine with him on Formal Night. We were amazed to say the least. Fortunately, we had packed appropriate attire. We had an wonderful evening with him and three other couples. My wife still talks about how much she enjoyed walking down the staircase into the dining room and being placed on the Captain's right at the dining table.

 

Later in the cruise, while chatting with the concierge, she asked him how we were chosen. He said he had recommended us. It was a memorable experience and one of the highlights of that cruise.

[Hlitner]

DW and I have had the pleasure of dining with Captains of 5 ships (3 different cruise lines). We understand why it happened on 2 of the ships, but the other 3 are total mysteries. We also declined another invitation to dine with a Captain because we enjoyed our regular table and did not want to miss a meal with that particular fun group.

 

So, why does it happen? There are a few reasons of which we are aware, and sometimes its just fate. For the record, DW and I cruise in regular cabins so that has never had an impact. But those who are in the most expensive suites have a good chance (especially if they tell the concierge they would love the opportunity). On one occasion we just happened to be at a regular "Elite" cocktail party on a Celebrity ship when the Captain's Club host ask if we could dine with the Captain that same night. In that case it turned out that the Captain decided at the last minute (a few hours before dinner) that he would dine with passengers that evening and the Captain's Club host simply asked folks that he knew and liked. In another case we happened to be on a RCI ship where the Dining Room Manager was an old friend (he had been our waiter on another RCCL ship many years earlier). So he got us an invite to the Captain's Table and then personally waited on DW and myself (he had a great sense of humor). After a few minutes the Captain finally looked at us and asked, "what did you do to get my dining room manager to demote himself to a waiter." When we explained the entire table had a good laugh.

 

I should finally mention a very old cruise ship tale that goes something like this. Once upon a time an English "Lady" was invited to dine with the Captain on the old Queen Mary. She responded, "Sir, I do not dine with the hired help!"

 

Hank

[JimAOk1945]

Hank,

 

Thanks for posting your comments. I enjoyed reading them especially that last bit about the English "Lady!" It gave me a good laugh! :D

[Troyer5]

Your bit about th English lady reminds me of "George":,who on my Alaskan cruise on the Infinity was invited to the captians table. They were called ahead of time as they cruised with Celebrity 80X,many on the Infinity. He told his wife that he doesn't dine with the crew. He is a little hard of hearing.

 

Doug

[CrusinCyndi]

On my cruise in October on the Carnival Fantasy, I got to have breakfast with the Captain..I was sitting waiting on DH to get his breakfast and the captain took a small table across the way...we chatted a bit...it was pretty cool...by the way he had Special K and skim milk and a banana...LOL

[ducklite]

We've sailed in suites on two lines and never received an invitation (perhaps because our son was traveling with us?) but sailing in the cheap seats last year, we were invited to dine with the Captain during our cruise. Perhaps due to it being a B2B? Perhaps he simply enjoyed our company as we had several conversational opportunities with him throughout the week. There didn't seem to be a rhyme or reason to it, as others who also were on the B2B and who had also engaged him during the week weren't invited.

 

We got back to our cabin after breakfast (or maybe it was lunch) and found the invitation on the message clip next to our door.

 

 

Autocorrect responsible for most typos...

[Gunner22aa]

On a TA on the QE 2. First formal night I was wearing my military mess kit, my equilivent of a tux. Somebody must have seen me that counted because two nights later, again a formal night we were invited to dine with the Captain. Had a great chat as I was seated across the table from him. Turns out he was the First Officer on board when the ship was seconded to be a troop carrier during the Falklands war. No doubt it was my uniform that got us the invite.

[bean24]

I've been lucky enough to do this twice. The first time the captain actually came to our table for dinner. One of my table mates was a higher up with Homeland security and that was why. We travelled with him. The second time we were on NCL and they have a dine with am officer program. We were lucky enough to be seated with the staff captain who was absolutely charming. Friends who were seated with the captain said they were jealous, we seemed to be having more fun. We were actually the last table in the dining room.