How to eat on the captain's table

[Jo and Rob]

Do people get invited to eat on the captain's table? How do you become a chosen one? We are a family of four with two children (9 and 6). Do you think we could get an invite? We are first timers on Celebrity but have cruised on Royal Caribbean, Costa, P&O and Princess.

[Gonzo70]

Easiest way would be to book the Penthouse Suite. :D

[Jo and Rob]

Easiest way would be to book the Penthouse Suite. :D

 

We are in a basic balcony cabin so that idea won't work. :o

[skandls]

I have not seen children at the Captains table for dinner.

[ORV]

We're all different but this would be one of the last things I would like to do.

[numbersix]

I've never seen children eating at the Captain's table...not to say that it never happens, just that I've never seen it.

 

We have, a couple of times, on HAL. My understanding is that they use it to 'treat' very frequent cruisers, super-elite ones, or Honeymooners, or sometimes just people that that senior staff come into contact with whom they think would be appropriate. I understand that some (passengers) try to lobby for an invite, but I would imagine that it would be looked upon as being in poor taste.

 

Having been there, I would say that it tends to be somewhat stuffy, and 'stiff'...but it's a nice 'do', especially on Celebrity.

 

Kevin

[MartinsCruise]

We were invited by the hotel manager on the Millie last month. I was a little nervous not knowing what to expect but we had a wonderul time and would do it again. We were in a CC cabin and this was our first cruise as elite.

[Orator]

There are several Captain's Tables. On the typical 7 night cruise there are two formal nights, The tables are usually hosted by the Chief Engineer, the Staff Captain, the Hotel Director and the Captain. The Captain usually has a late seating. I've been to two Captain's tables on Smart Casual nights, the last being with the Captain on the Eclipse.

Corporate usually sends a list of names to be invited. The table host may request some guest receive invitations and the Captain's Club Host/Hostess will fill any available space. People in top Suites, frequent cruisers and even first timers who Celebrity wants to cultivate are usually invited. I've never seen children at a Captain's table. Many times guests at the Captain's table also receive special tours offed by the table host. Each woman receives a rose and guests receive a picture of their fellow table mates. The food is the same as the dinner served that evening in the MDR.

[cruisestitch]

Mostly, the Officer's Table is for those who have cruised repeatedly on Celebrity, or visiting VIP's. I have also never seen children at the head table.

[osborne66]

Do people get invited to eat on the captain's table? How do you become a chosen one? We are a family of four with two children (9 and 6). Do you think we could get an invite? We are first timers on Celebrity but have cruised on Royal Caribbean, Costa, P&O and Princess.

 

Jo & Rob,

 

Your kids will not be invited to sit at the Captain's Table - they have to be 18 years old or above. The two of you could possibly get an invite but you will have to make other arrangements for the kids.

 

If you do like some have said here, the food is the same as what everybody else gets but a few extras - you get served hand and foot, so you wait for nothing - drinks are on the house and everything goes - champagne - the best cognac - you name it - you can have it. The ladies gets roses and you have to sit where the invitation tells you to sit. My wife and I were fortunate to be invited to sit at the table and the Captain was the host and the two of us sat across from him. Then you get a great photo of the entire table which they deliver to your room or give to you in person - it can vary - we have been fortunate to do it twice. But having children like you we had to take care of them before heading to dinner - luckily mine are a bit older - 15 & 11 and they wanted in the Teen Room and Fun Factory away from us anyway, so that was easy.

 

Cheers

 

Scouser David

[PattiKake]

We've had three invites to the Captain's table, two on Celebrity and one on RCI. Don't know if anyone remembers Amanda, she was a hostess on Celebrity several years back. She was quite visible on the ship, roaming the MDR to chat with guests. She stoped to chat with us frequently and twice an invitation arrived in our stateroom. Was apprehensive the first time but the evening turned out to be lovely. The group met in the Martini Bar for drinks prior to dinner and filed into the MDR together. Ladies received a red rose and Amada escorted us to reserved seating at the theater. Don't have a clue as to how we received the invite on RCI other than having done many cruises with them.

[Karynanne]

Many times 1st time cruisers with Celebrity will receive an invite to the Captain's table, but I've never seen children invited. And yes, it's usually frequent cruisers, or friends of the Captain.

[satchiesmom]

We were invited to sit at the Captain's table on our first X cruise. It was a lot of fun, I suppose the tone of the evening is set by whomever is hosting and who the fellow guests are.

[discjoker]

We're all different but this would be one of the last things I would like to do.

 

I am with you...I don't get what the allure is. :confused:

[Gracie115]

We were invited twice...once we went...once we didn't....I'm sure since we turned down the 2nd one we'll never be asked again...names are probably flagged or somthing.:eek:

 

DH loved it, I thought it was okay. It IS very formal, and you DO wait for nothing. The 2nd time we were invited we already had reservations at the Normandie and we LOVE the Normandie....and after some debate...it won! Have always loved our dinners there. Oh well....like I said I'm sure we'll never get another invite...but that's okay..

 

Oh, and we don't know why we were selected either. We were on our 2nd cruise ever the first time and it was the very next cruise when we were asked again...go figure....

[Bruin Steve]

Jo and Rob,

We've dined at the Captain's Table three times on Celebrity--twice on Constellation, then again on Eclipse this past July...

 

I've always tried to figure out what gets us invited...and what seems to get others invited...

 

I think we had an unusual situation on Eclipse...

We were invited along with two other couples from our Cruise Critic circle...

We had a great international group...from the UK, the US and Australia...and about five couples met each night for drinks in the Sky Lounge for the "Elite Drinking Hours"...and had a great time...

I think the Captains Club Hostess noticed that and made sure to invite the three couples to the Captain's Table (a fourth couple from our group was on a back-to-back and I believe they were invited the next sailing...

 

Other times we've been invited, we are not sure why...

 

I am sure being Elite Captains Club members doesn't hurt (nor does being Diamond Crown and Anchor members on RCCL)...

 

We have noticed that those dining with us at the Captains Table have been:

1) Important dignitaries

2) Couples with the "Most Cruises"

3) A couple on one cruise who gave up their pre-selected cabin so that a couple with a cabin next door could have it for their handicapped child

4) A woman (and her friend) who had been a long time Purser on Royal Caribbean ships

5) Other Elite Passengers...

 

Jo and Rob, you may have SOME pull with Celebrity being somewhat of a "celebrity" couple yourselves on Royal Caribbean...

 

But really, it's mostly hit-and-miss past the above categories...Obviously, with 2 or 3,000 passengers on the ship (depending on the ship) and so very few formal nights at which they even have the Captain's Table ...and the limited number of seats, they can't even come close to accommodating all of the Elite Captains Club members or folks with some sort of special status...

 

So, if it happens, it happens...

 

I, BTW, never turn it down...the traditionalist that I am, I consider it an honor...Picture if the Queen invited you to Buckingham Palace...I would find that pretty much impossible to turn down as well...

[Can'tstopcruising]

Picture how the Queen would feel if she knew that you, Bruin Steve, were comparing her to a ship's officer!

 

Kidding aside, we were asked twice out of many cruises. The first time, I have no idea why. It was a bit of a letdown. I figured (naively) that the food would be better. On that particular cruise, the fish was not very good. So, I asked the waiter for Melt in Your Mouth Salmon. Ha! It was so fishy, I couldn't eat it.

 

The second time, we were asked because we remembered an officer from a previous cruise. It was a much better experience. The staff of that cruise was very warm & hospitable and made everyone feel at home.

 

We were never asked before we were elite, so maybe that is a factor.

 

If asked I would recommend to go if you can because it is a different experience and you never know who you will meet. That's why we like select dining, so that we could meet lots of different people. But now I am digressing!

[BonnieVA]

I am with you...I don't get what the allure is. :confused:

 

I don't like uber-formality so I would have to reluctantly decline (I'd be embarassed to, but think I would have to). I think I'd enjoy myself more just sitting with other pax.

[Gracie115]

I don't like uber-formality so I would have to reluctantly decline (I'd be embarassed to, but think I would have to). I think I'd enjoy myself more just sitting with other pax.

 

 

Why be embarrassed? There is apparently no rhyme or reason to the selections and if you would rather not be there then fine. We went once, it was nice, we said no once...and no one treated us like a pariah or anything. Yes, I guess it's an honor, but, really, it's just the luck of the draw...so, in our case, no doubt someone else got asked that would not have otherwise and got a chance to experience it. Happy for them, happy for us....I'm on vacation and I'm doing whatever I can to enjoy it without hurting anyone else,...saying "no" didn't hurt anyone and we had a grand time at the Normandie that night...wouldn't change a thing!!!

[oldmovieguy]

If I was asked to sit at the Captain's table I would refuse, with the money I've paid for this cruise I'm not sitting with the staff!:D

[uktog]

The one thing not to do is ask for an invite!

We have been a few times, it is a nice evening, very much depends on the table host and the other guests if if is nice, excellent or the most memorable night of your life

[Infi]

We've had three invites to the Captain's table, two on Celebrity and one on RCI. Don't know if anyone remembers Amanda, she was a hostess on Celebrity several years back. She was quite visible on the ship, roaming the MDR to chat with guests. She stoped to chat with us frequently and twice an invitation arrived in our stateroom. Was apprehensive the first time but the evening turned out to be lovely. The group met in the Martini Bar for drinks prior to dinner and filed into the MDR together. Ladies received a red rose and Amada escorted us to reserved seating at the theater. Don't have a clue as to how we received the invite on RCI other than having done many cruises with them.

 

I remember Amanda well from my early years sailing X. She was the consummate CC hostess, very friendly and professional and always remembered a passenger. Seemed like X knew that too and always placed her on the newest ships. It's been a long time - probably since 2000 or so - but I've always wondered what happened to her. Does anyone know?

[Esprit]

We had dinner with a drummer in the band and a member of the "Activities" team once.

 

I was particularly impressed that they both tipped our waiter who knew they were crew members because they all must wear their name badges in public areas.

 

Not quite in the same league of dining with senior officers but very enjoyable none the less and what an insight they gave us of life on board below decks!

[excitedofharpenden]

I remember Amanda well from my early years sailing X. She was the consummate CC hostess, very friendly and professional and always remembered a passenger. Seemed like X knew that too and always placed her on the newest ships. It's been a long time - probably since 2000 or so - but I've always wondered what happened to her. Does anyone know?

If that was Amanda Reid in the days of the Social Hostess she's on Cunard now I think.

 

Phil

[jt1120]

Our captain's table story is unusual to say the least. I had always wondered the same thing; how does one get invited and how does it all work? So, I went to guest services and asked the question, "how does it all work?" They told me that the CCH was ill but that they would have her call us later to answer our question. Fair enough. Later that evening as we were getting ready for dinner, the CCH called our cabin and asked if we would be available to dine with the captain that night. That was it. I honestly wasn't asking to dine with the captain, I just wanted to know how it all worked.

 

As for the experience, we would never pass it up. We all met at a lounge outside of the MDR. We were able to order whatever pre-dinner drink we wanted, and when the captain came, we were singly introduced to him and then escorted to the MDR. We were on the second deck of the dining room as we entered and walked down the stairs to the table, EVERY eye was on us. Kinda Hollywood! As it was, my wife was placed right next to the captain (Cpt. Rockstar/Pagonis for those who know him) and we both were beyond thrilled to be there. Everyone else at our table were obvious high rollers: one lady was a modern day Molly Brown, another couple had cruise 157 days that YEAR! and so on. Then there was us. Yes, they wait on you hand and foot and the entire experience was just awesome. No kids, to be sure, everything was very elegant; the women in fine gowns and all men in tuxes. We will never forget it.

 

Since I was sitting one person away from him, I took the opportunity to ask the captain about Greek food and the reason why there was none on the ship even though our captain and his crew were mostly of Greek heritage. He agreed with me and said that he was having the chef prepare a special Greek lunch towards the end of the cruise and he saw to it that we were invited to that as well! This lunch had mostly crew with a few passengers and that was it. WOW was this awesome. Cpt. Rockstar is great!

 

We also had the occasion to dine with the hotel director on another cruise. That time we got the invite because we knew the CCH real well and she invited us. I'm sure it is a combination of who you know, how many cruises you've been on, special occasions and cabin location, but you also need to add in a little bit of luck and chance.

 

To those who say, "who cares, it's no big deal," I have to totally disagree. Yes, it IS a big deal and would surely be a highlight on your cruise. If we were asked and had already made plans, we'd change our plans in a heartbeat. It's kind of an honor really. We enjoy fine dining and all of the ambiance associated with it, and until =X= starts doing a Chef's Table type of dinner, dining with the captain is surely the next best option.