How to eat on the captain's table

[Birdie1810]

Are solo cruisers every invited to the Captain's table? If one has specialty dining reservations, wouldn't the Restaurant Manager understand and help rebook dinner reservations so one can accept the invitation to the Captain's table?

[80 Wolfpacker]

We booked the Penthouse Suite for our 30th wedding anniversary on the Solstice last year. That very night of our 30th anniversary, we were invited for the Captain's table. I loved it, but my husband hated it! He hated spending the evening with strangers. The group was all uncomfortable and not very happy or fun. The Captain was lovely and entertaining. The other guests were glad to be there, but not interesting or engaging. It was a strained evening, and my husband REALLY hated it. I thought it was interesting and the Captain was just perfect....but if I had to do it over again...because of the other guests, I would decline. If it had not been our anniversary, it would have been interesting. My husband disagrees. On our last cruise, he said if we were to be invited to the Captains table again, he wanted to decline. We were not invited (and not in the Penthouse again), but we enjoyed each evening dining in Blu. It was soooooo wonderful. We could not have happier eating anywhere else! Our food was perfecct each night, and we had a private table for two. My husband was VERY happy!

[DrKoob]

We have been invited four times. I would guess because we are Elite and because we always make friends with the Captain's Club hostess. We especially love Taneeshka who is still out there who we sailed with on Infinity and Mercury. She rocks.

 

We have had good experiences and so-so experiences. Once we were traveling with a group of friends and we turned down the invite because we didn't want to leave our friends behind. Sure enough, without knowing we had turned them down, the Captain's Club hostess offered the seats we turned down to our friends---who took them! LOL! It was OK, they are still our best friends.

 

We were invited on a later cruise and our friends weren't again. But we knew that we were asked first so we asked (I believe it was Taneeska) if we could bring them along. (They are Elite as well but we were in a suite). She said great and we all went.

 

Since we eat at first seating, we have never eaten with the Captain. (Except in the buffet of Azamara's Quest where Captain Smith camped out.) We usually get the chief engineer for some reason. Once on Infinity, it was the Chief Engineer and his assistant. I think he invited his assistant because he was afraid that it would be boring. We had the best time. The two guys were wonderful and made a point to say hi to us a number of times after that all over the ship. Nice guys. Great times.

 

I also want to say that I think it would be much easier to get invited on Century or any of the M class ships that the S class ships. Way too many people to invite in a limited time. Also, it may be easier to do it in Alaska or on a shorter, non-Caribbean cruise. There are not that many Elite on those so it makes it easier to get noticed by the CC hostess.

 

Jim

[PartyAllDaTyme]

Are solo cruisers every invited to the Captain's table? If one has specialty dining reservations, wouldn't the Restaurant Manager understand and help rebook dinner reservations so one can accept the invitation to the Captain's table?

 

A solo cruiser on our last cruise was invited to the Captain's table. I can't answer the question regarding rebooking specialty reservations-- it may depend on how booked up they are on other nights.

[fleckle]

...Picture if the Queen invited you to Buckingham Palace...I would find that pretty much impossible to turn down ......

Perfectly understandable, since there are lots and lots of ship captains and airline captains and military captains with whom you can have dinner, but only one Queen of England.

 

Oh wait! On second thought, since they snubbed us and didn't invite us to the royal wedding, I don't think we should accept the invitation after all

 

But on third thought, perhaps I am being unreasonable since we did not invite the Queen of England or any members of the royal family to any of our family's weddings either.

 

Okay, you are right. We must be sure to invite them to our family weddings and backyard barbecues from now on, and if we receive a dinner invitation from the Queen of England, we will accept it.

See you at Buckingham Palace. ;)

 

Just think, then we can start a whole new dress code thread about what is or is not appropriate to wear to dinner at Buckingham Palace. :D

[Jo and Rob]

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.

 

Please ellaborate!

[bellybutton530]

Are solo cruisers every invited to the Captain's table? If one has specialty dining reservations, wouldn't the Restaurant Manager understand and help rebook dinner reservations so one can accept the invitation to the Captain's table?

 

Yes, they are. And so are triples and quads.

 

Iwas in the PH on Constellation last year with 3 of my friends, and we got the invite. I was in a PH on Galaxy with my brother and his wife and we got the invite.

 

I'm thinking that butlers also have a lot of power in determining who gets invited....

[jimandtoni]

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.

The Royal Clipper is a very special cruise ship /experience. We have been on her three times. I am an early riser and would often bring the Captain or First Officer (whoever was on duty) a cup of coffee to the bridge in the morning. The officers were extremely friendly and accessible. On our first Royal Clipper cruise, the owner's wife was on the ship. I met her in the ship's gymnasium and struck up a conversation. She is a delightful woman. We did not know who she was ( she never brought it up!) until the end of the cruise when we finally got around to watching the video on the building of the ship and there she was!! Without doubt, Royal Clipper is our favorite cruise ship of all!!

[chris209]

We are sailing on the Millenium next spring in a PH suite (2 adults and our 17 yr old daughter). We are travelling with friends in a Royal suite , who also have their teen daughter with them. We chose Select dining and plan to eat with our friends nightly. Do passengers in PH suites always get invited to the Captain's table? What about Royal suites? If we are travelling together would they invite both families? We were assuming the presence of 2 17 yr olds would rule us out but it seems that is not certain? to be honest I think we would rather eat with our friends than sit with people we don't know so if we were all invited that would be nicebut we would prefer not to do it without our friends. Also, does everyone attending the Captain's table have to wear a gown/ or tux? (we won't have those items with us as we are on this cruise after a week on the beach in USVI. Will have a nice cocktail dress and suit but nothing more formal- so maybe that in itself rules us out ?). Is it frowned upon to say no thank you if our friends are not invited?

[Orator]

You will all be invited together. Just a guess based on past experience. May depend on how many different people they need to invite, but your group should be a high priority. DW and I were once seated with a group like yours. A dark suit will be fine. I've been at tables where only 1/2 the men wore tuxedos. One time I was the only one in a tux. The length of the cruise might be a factor. The shorter, the less formal.

[chris209]

Thanks- ours is a 5 night cruise so maybe a little less formal? I had not even thought about eating at the Captain's table until reading these boards- just want to know what to expect in case we are invited!

[Orator]

Thanks- ours is a 5 night cruise so maybe a little less formal? I had not even thought about eating at the Captain's table until reading these boards- just want to know what to expect in case we are invited!

 

Let me know if I'm correct. Believe your table will include your group plus the most frequent cruisers and perhaps another couple. On a five day I was the only one in a tux. Be sure to meet the Captain's Club Host/Hostess early in the cruise. They just may open a conversation that will enable you to discuss your needs. Enjoy your cruise.

[chris209]

Thank you. This is our first time on Celebrity (except for one cruise on Galaxy 11 years ago and never joined then) so didn't think we would have access to Captain's Club? Is it not only for repeat cruisers? Was not keen on idea of dining at Captain's table but it is now sounding more appealing, especially if all 6 of us get invited!

[bellybutton530]

When you receive an invitation, you are asked to call and either confirm or decline.

 

When accepting, it would be a good time to discuss attire with the host(ess.) That person will gladly answer any questions you may have.

[TommyTV]

My DW and I were invited to the captains table after the 'Meet the Captain photo opportunity' on a formal night. I think he took a shine to my wife. We guessed we might get an invite when he asked which cabin number we were in and one of his staff wrote the number down. We received the invitaion in our cabin a few days later for pre-dinner drinks and then dining. He was a rather charming locquatious man (a bit like Capt Stubing off 'The Love Boat'!) and there was a special menu.

These days I think it's down to where your accomodation is and loyalty, but there again there is always the chance that he might take a shine to you during the Captains cocktail party, so good luck.

Martin & Pauline

[PS90]

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

 

I couldn't agree more. Even if I ever did get an invite, I would decline and just hang out with my family.

 

I have had a couple of quick B.S. sessions with cruise ship captains in the past, but I wouldn't want to take it any further than that.

 

I don't even like having dinner with my boss, but I do it to suck up to him; what's the allure of having dinner with an officer on a cruise ship that has no bearing on the enjoyment of your cruise?

[PartyAllDaTyme]

Thank you. This is our first time on Celebrity (except for one cruise on Galaxy 11 years ago and never joined then) so didn't think we would have access to Captain's Club? Is it not only for repeat cruisers? Was not keen on idea of dining at Captain's table but it is now sounding more appealing, especially if all 6 of us get invited!

 

It should be no problem to join Captain's Club. Their records go back that far. Give them a call. Even if you don't get an invitation to the Captain's table, it's worth it for the $5 casino match play coupon, if nothing else.:p

[6MonthsHere6MonthsThere]

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.

 

Agreed Bonnie, We have only been invited once and declined the offer as we enjoy sitting with the friends we cruise with and we still have great fun and get looked after really well at the dinner table.

[Moeve]

Beg to differ - just because you are cruising with friends THAT doesn't mean you will all be invited together.

[ehrlichpuppy]

Our actual 40th anniversary is in August, but we will be celibrating when we cruise in November. If we mention the anniversary to the CC host(ess) would that help us get an invite? We are staying in a C1 aft balcony on the Summit.

Assuming we do get the invite, would my DH & I be seated together? he tends to monopolize conversations, even with strangers & go on & on ... about things that they have absolutly no interest in. If I am next to him, I could kick him in the ankle or squeeze his hand or something if he gets started

[DrKoob]

Our actual 40th anniversary is in August, but we will be celibrating when we cruise in November. If we mention the anniversary to the CC host(ess) would that help us get an invite? We are staying in a C1 aft balcony on the Summit.

Assuming we do get the invite, would my DH & I be seated together? he tends to monopolize conversations, even with strangers & go on & on ... about things that they have absolutly no interest in. If I am next to him, I could kick him in the ankle or squeeze his hand or something if he gets started

 

Yes, you will have the opportunity to kick your husband. You will be seated together. As to getting the invite if you are not in one of the bigger suites you would need to be a X Captain Club member. I believe though that the biggest determiner is kissing up to the Captains Club hostess. She makes the call.

[bellybutton530]

Our actual 40th anniversary is in August, but we will be celibrating when we cruise in November. If we mention the anniversary to the CC host(ess) would that help us get an invite? We are staying in a C1 aft balcony on the Summit.

Assuming we do get the invite, would my DH & I be seated together? he tends to monopolize conversations, even with strangers & go on & on ... about things that they have absolutly no interest in. If I am next to him, I could kick him in the ankle or squeeze his hand or something if he gets started

 

My recommendation is to seek out the Capt Club host(ess) once the ship sails and let her (him) know that you are interested in being considered to dine with the Captain.

 

Depending on how many suite passengers and folks with many many Celebrity cruises have expressed an interest in dining with the Captain, you may or may not be considered. But you will never know if you don't ask.

 

Sometimes people say yes, then change their minds. In that case you could once again find yourself in the consideration pool.

 

Finally, couples are indeed seated side-by-side. No need to kick; simply squeeze his leg, or hand.

 

Good luck. It is really a nice experience.

[Texed]

Your kids will not be invited to sit at the Captain's Table - they have to be 18 years old or above.Scouser David

 

That may be the general rule, but there are exceptions.

[vvnh16a]

DW...is that divorced wife??????

[High Seas Texan]

Being in the penthouse does not get you at the Captains Table. I am just off the Infinity, was in one of the penthouse suites. no Captains Table invite. Actually, no invitations at all except to shop in the onboard shops. The penthouse was a big disappointment. Many things not working, and never fixed correctly. Butler service very over rated. Would not spend the money again for this suite. Service is better on other lines.