Captain's table and other thoughts

[WeBeCruisin']

My wife and I were on the Oct. 9 sailing of the Horizon to Bermuda and were invited to the Captain's table on the second formal night. Our regular table was right next to his table for the second seeting. On the first formal night, the four couples at the Captain's table were relatively young (30s or early 40s) and all were very attractive. On that night, we had been experiencing very rough water in the wake of a tropical storm and many people were seasick. The dining room was only about 1/2 full, and I was the only person at our table, as my wife and the other tablemates were all suffering from mal du mer. During the evening, the social hostess, Mahalia Van Vliet, came and talked to me for a bit, expressing sympathy for my having to dine alone. A couple of days later, we got a written invitation delivered to our cabin inviting us to the Captain's Table on the second formal night to dine with the Staff Captain. That evening, though, the weather was still rough, so he was tied up with our leaving Hamilton, and we dined with the Assistant Hotel Manager, Mr. Yiannis, who was very charming, outgoing, and personable. We sat next to our spouses with one couple on each side of him and two couples across from him, which facilitated conversation from all. There were place cards with our names printed on them, and the photographer took a picture of all of us, along with the Hostess and the Dining Room Manager. The picture was delivered to our cabin a day or two later. Before dinner, we were asked to meet in the Rendezvous lounge for cocktails and the social hostess escorted us to the dining room. White wine and red winewee both complimentary. Although we had late seating, the invitation was for early seating. During late seating, we went into the dining room to say hi to our regular tablemates, and there was no one at the Captain's Table during that seating. We have been on nine cruises and that was our first invitation. It was only our third Celebrity cruise, and we were in an Ocean View cabin on deck 6. One of the couples at our table was on their first cruise ever. Another couple was on their third, but their first on Celebrity. The third couple had been on one previous Celebrity cruise. I know all this because we were all asking each other, "Why us?" LOL. All four of our couples featured males in their 50s and 60s and wives ranging from 36 (mine) to mid and late 50s. I'm thinking I was invited strictly out of sympathy because I looked so pathetic at a table all by myself. Actually, dining by yourself can be very relaxing and tranquil and all the dining room staff gives you tons of attention because they feel sorry for you. :) I had been a little hesitant in accepting the invitation, because I was afraid it might be very stuffy and perhaps awkward, but it was a very enjoyable, and added to the experience of being treated "Famously". If you have the chance, I would recommend you try it at least once.

 

Allen

[Mary El]

Heavy sigh! I'm an Elite member and on our last cruise to Bermdua we had a CC cabin. Never have been invited to the Captain's table. We are booked on the Mercury this coming February (CC class), and are booked on the Millennium transatlantic cruise on November 2005 (CC class). Maybe we will be invited? Who knows. Maybe the reason why we are not invited is because my husband and I are quiet and reserved. Oh well ...

[Longboysfan]

Ask you TA to look into getting you an invite.

Good TA's always look to enhance your cruising expirence.

[CruiseForever]

We've had the pleasure of dining with the captain twice. On each occasion, the event was wonderful and we wouldn't trade the evening. Both times the social hostess interviewed and selected us from those passengers with "many" cruises or from the larger suites. On the last cruise, we had the penthouse suite so it apparently got the interview. While the other penthouse occupants either declined or failed muster.

[hajekfam]

Heavy sigh! I'm an Elite member and on our last cruise to Bermdua we had a CC cabin. Never have been invited to the Captain's table. We are booked on the Mercury this coming February (CC class), and are booked on the Millennium transatlantic cruise on November 2005 (CC class). Maybe we will be invited? Who knows. Maybe the reason why we are not invited is because my husband and I are quiet and reserved. Oh well ...

Hi Mary El- we're also booked on the November transatlantic - have you joined our roll call yet? Here is a link:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=99908

[sweep]

;) Personally I wouldn't want to dine with the crew!

[KT4209]

My husband and I just returned from our 4th Celebrity cruise (Summit 11/26/04) and we were graciously invited to dinner at the Captain's table for the 3rd time. All 3 cruises were first seating, first formal evening dinners with the Staff Captain. My husband is 42, I am 34 and we have never cruised in a suite until this cruise. We were traveling alone this cruise, but on the 2 prior occasions, our travelmates were invited to dinner with the Staff Captain as well. I have yet to understand the criteria and/or selection method, but my husband and I have certainly enjoyed these experiences.

[Lois R]

Sweep, If you are ever invited, then you can graciously decline the invitation;)

[Mary El]

Longboysfan: I feel that my TA should not have to do this for us. It's like inviting yourself to a party. I feel that since we are Elite members and are booked in CC cabins we should receive an invitation without any intervention by our TA, who by the way is very good. Maybe by cruise #12 and/or #13 we will receive an invation. In the meantime, if we are not invited during cruise #12 or #13 we will still enjoy ourselves.

 

Also, remember what Lady Astor's response was when invited to dine with the Captain: "I don't believe in eating with the help." HA!

[Mary El]

hajekfam: we are very much looking forward to the Millie cruise in Novmeber. I love the days at sea. Finally I might be able to relax.

[idssms]

Eating at the Captain's Table whether with the Captain or his staff is a great experience. The table consists of an across-the-board variety of cruisers and everyone is in a friendly talkative mood. (The pre dinner drinks may facilitate this).

 

Celebrity provides a complimentary group photo to memorialize the occassion.

 

I am not sure exactly how the diners are picked and no one on the staff will give specifics on this.

 

The dinner is a nice chance to hear interesting stories about sea life and get to know a bit about the Captain or his designated staff member.

 

idssms

[Char]

Heavy sigh! I'm an Elite member and on our last cruise to Bermdua we had a CC cabin. Never have been invited to the Captain's table. We are booked on the Mercury this coming February (CC class), and are booked on the Millennium transatlantic cruise on November 2005 (CC class). Maybe we will be invited? Who knows. Maybe the reason why we are not invited is because my husband and I are quiet and reserved. Oh well ...

Mary El, we are Elite members, too. Cruised in CC as well. Never been invited to Captain's table either! :( Have 2 more cruises on the books, so maybe one of those will be the magic number!! It would be neat to have the experience, but the cruises wouldn't be ruined if we didn't get an invite. They shouldn't have that as one of the "perks" of the Elite tier of Captain's Club if they aren't going to follow through reasonably soon after you reach that level. Oh well, Celebrity is still "our" cruise line. :D (we DID get a special invitation on our cruise before last to tour the Bridge, tho!)