How to eat on the captain's table

[kampinguru]

Two of our most memorable cruises were with people we met at the captains table. That being said, we have been at captains tables where everyone kept to themselves and it almost seemed strained. My wife and I are outgoing so we usually get along with anyone and can strike up a conversation, but that table was as stiff as a wet sheet in winter. I can confirm that there are no children allowed at the captains table and they always invite the Penthouse suite and the top cruiser. If they decline, then the Captains Club hostess has to find some additional replacements.

[jimandtoni]

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

I know what you mean. We have been invited to the Captain's table many times. Sometimes it is delightful. Sometimes it is tediously boring. We rarely accept these invitations any more.

[kampinguru]

I missed mentioning in my previous post that we sat with Captain Rockstar well on one of our visits to the captains table. He is a great ambassador for the Celebrity brand and a very charming host. My wife and I really enjoyed that one and we had a great conversation around the table. My wife sat next to him and I talked with the couple across the table all night so it was a great evening. I didn't get much chance to talk with my wife as she was engaged with the captain most of the time.

[Callyscally]

After spending all your hard earned money, your expected to eat with the crew !!!!!!!!!

Heard it all now !!!!!!

:p

 

 

I am only joking :D

I suppose our invite to the Captains table we be waiting for us when we next cruise!!!!!!!!!!!!

John

[Tudorcruisers]

We have been invited twice now to dine at The Captains table. First time we had only cruised a couple of times and were in a balcony room. We hadn't met or spoken to staff etc so were very surprised indeed to get the invite. Second time we felt it was down to the Captains Club Hostess who was a very pleasant lady and who had chatted to us each day. Each time i was seated to the left hand side of the Captain and had some-one very pleasant to my left as well so I really enjoyed both these occasions.

[Bell Ringer]

Back in 2001, we took our DD and SIL on the Zenith to Bermuda. While checking in, DD saw a staff member and started talking with her, asking questions etc. Later we learned that she was one of the "hostesses" and obviously was impressed with DD. Few days later, they received invitations to the Captain's Table for Formal night. They had a wonderful time, and enjoyed the expeirence greatly. My DH was somwhat jealous, wishing we would have been included .LOL

[SusieV]

We would love to be invited to dine with the Captain. Maybe one day! We don't cruise in top suites and we're not Elite (yet), so I guess there's been no reason to invite us.

[nooosey]

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 very well, she was hostess on a couple of Century cruises, before the ship was enlarged in dry dock and before the RCCL tie up. We used to take letters home from her to post in the UK to her family. She also was prominent in "The Cruise" UK TV show.

 

On a recent Eclipse cruise I was asked to join Simon Weir who was hotel director on his table, we had a most enjoyable evening with great conversation. I was at the Elite cocktail party when the invitation was extended.

[CruisinNole]

"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."

 

Not true. We dined with the Captain on a Solstice cruise last year and I sat beside a young lady who was 15 years old. I would doubt that you'd see very young children at the Captain's Table however.

[Jo and Rob]

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

 

Why it is the largest cruise ship in the World!;)

 

How and where do you find the Captain's club hostess? We are new to Celebrity so we don't know who this is?

[Andy]

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

 

Phil

 

Hi Phil !

 

Yes, I believe the Amanda that Infi was asking about, is Amanda Reid. It was great when Celebrity had the Social Hostess program. Amanda left Celebrity several years ago. As you mentioned... last I heard, Amanda was working for Cunard, though that information, is outdated.

[CateW]

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

 

I guess I'm with you. We were invited to have dinner at the Captain's table the last night of our Solstice cruise in February (and we weren't in the Penthouse). It was the last night of the cruise and we had reservations at Murano that evening so we declined, graciously).

[Orator]

Almost dined at the Captain's Table twice in the same evening. Here's the story:

Was having an extended conversation outside the MDR with a wonderful couple we had just met at the early seating Captain's Table hosted by the Chief Engineer when the CC Hostess, who we had known for years, ran up to us. " Mr. _______ " she said, "I have a big problem. One of my couples invited to sit at the Captain's Table with the Captain just told me they weren't coming." She then explained that it would be very embarrassing to have a table with two places missing. She asked if we could just stick around and if she couldn't solve her problem would we join the table and just pretend to eat. She is a wonderful person and has done more for us than I could ever repay, so we agreed. About 5 minutes prior to the meeting time she received a call from the couple saying that they were on the way down. We were all grateful.

[bellybutton530]

I've been in a PH suite 6 times on Celebrity ships, and have been invited to dine with the Captain all 6 times.

 

I count my blessings .... each time is a wonderful experience, in my opinion.

 

Cheryl

[fleckle]

......... they always invite the Penthouse suite and the top cruiser. If they decline, then the Captains Club hostess has to find some additional replacements.

So that must be the explanation of what happened to us :D

The first time we were ever invited to dine at the captain's table, it was only our second Celebrity cruise and we were in an ordinary, humble balcony cabin (not even the lowest level suite), so we had no idea why they invited us. Now I am guessing that a lot of other people must have turned them down and they were really desperate.

[CRUZBUDS]

We've been invited twice on Celebrity and once on Holland. They are looking for nice sociable people. The Captains Club rep is usually involved in the selection. We knew and had spoken to them both of the times on Celebrity. We were not Elite then and were staying in just an outside cabin.

 

We have no idea how how were were picked on Holland, only our 2nd HAL cruise and we had an inside cabin. We think it may have been our age --- we and the others at the table were all about 20 years younger than the average on that trip. ;)

 

It is a wonderful experience and the first time it happen we figured it was like getting struck by lightening - that it would never happen again. I would never turn it down.

[Gitte]

Hi Phil !

 

Yes, I believe the Amanda that Infi was asking about, is Amanda Reid. It was great when Celebrity had the Social Hostess program. Amanda left Celebrity several years ago. As you mentioned... last I heard, Amanda was working for Cunard, though that information, is outdated.

 

 

I met Amanda last year on the Queen Victoria (Cunard).

 

Gitte

[smtcan]

We were invited to the Chief Engineer's table when were in an inside cabin. I think the CC Host thought of us because we had spoken to him to confirm that we had just become Elite after getting off a TA the same day. We enjoyed the experience all the more because it was completely unexpected.

Sheila

[fleckle]

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

Would you be likely to change your mind if they held it in a small, private dining area?

 

Many who turn it down dislike being rounded up and paraded through the main dining room with everyone gawking at them. A woman described it by saying she felt like a dog being led around on display for the crowd at a dog show.

 

Some people enjoy doing that sort of thing, while others don't.

 

[jcrandle]

The most certain way to dine at the captain's table is to marry him (or her). One of the benefits of dining with an officer as host is that the wine at dinner goes on His/Her account. There are other more intangible benefits.

[Germancruiser]

I never was invitet to actual captains table, but to dine withe senior officiers- which I sadly had to decline, due to other dinner plans! ( Reservation in the Speciality - Restaurant) The only reason I would love to sit on this very table would be the information or experience they might share with their quests.

Well as another poster mentioned- when the Queen would invite me to dine in Buckingham Palace of all places- well then I would consider canceling my Specialty Restaurant Reservation, but just evenutally...... LOL!

Michael

[Taxguy77]

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.

 

The Captain's table is usually served ***** plates, so may not be aas kid-friendly as eating "on the table". :rolleyes:

[kelmac]

The Captain's Club hostess puts "together" a group to dine at the Captain's Table. The Captain does second seating and one, or more, of the senior officers fills in for early seating.

 

Since these officers do this once or twice a week, they want the Captain's Club hostess to mix it up a bit so the whole thing is not too painful.

 

Here is what she looks for:

 

--usually there are some "must" invites, like some Suite guests, and pay backs for major screw ups.

--Elite members are great fill-ins; so if she sees a nice couple (early in the cruise) who look like they would be fun/interesting dinner guests she will send them an invitation.

--for the junior officers, she looks for attractive women that will be seated to the right (#1 babe) and the left (#2 babe); blondes are excellent, but not required. That's the reason for the place cards. Shallow, but true.

 

Enjoy!

Kel:)

[Taxguy77]

My first TA was on a Jap freighter in 1958. ALL the pax dined with an officer every night. There were 4 of us out of 11 total pax and we asked if they would have a Japanese dinner. They said they would love it, but we would have to talk the other pax into it, or only have the French and English dishes prepared by the Japanese cook! :confused: We got a majority vote and enjoyed a great meal with instruction in the use of chopsticks. :) (A skill sadly lost in time.:()

On the Royal Clipper, which is a no-necktie ship, one nite the Capt. was the only man at the table with an open collar!:D All the advice on the ships and charter companies websites and printed material says "No neckties".:eek:

The Capt. on that cruise is the one in the video of the building of the Royal Clipper. A truly wonderful cruise.

[Infi]

Thanks Phil, Host Andy, and Gitte with the updates on Amanda's whereabouts. I had always wondered what happened to her, and it's nice to hear she's still working onboard ships. She really was wonderful at her job and a sweetheart to boot.