Were you invited to dine with the captain?

[PescadoAmarillo]

We enjoyed dinner hosted by the Chief Engineer and his assistant at the captain's table on Celebrity. The Captain hosted the early sitting dinner that evening. It was a good experience, cocktails first, then we were escorted into the dining room. The service was impeccable and wine flowed freely. Each lady received a rose. I wondered what I would do without a vase in the cabin, but when we returned there was a vase with baby's breath waiting. We later received a photo of the group at the table. The conversation was very interesting, as were all the people at the table. I have no idea why we received an invitation. We were in an inside cabin, and the other guests were either at a high loyalty level or in a large suite. We suspected it might be mistaken identity, but we didn't complain.

We were invited for our first time on RC after just 2 cruises. We thought the invite had been mis-delivered too (;)), but we sure enjoyed that same special treatment. It's very much like the Chefs Table on Princess...but free. Once on a Celebrity cruise, when we were both still working long hours, DH decided we were just going to be unsocial and have all our dinners on our balcony. I talked him into taking his tux, just in case. Sure enough, we received an invitation to the captains table. As unsocial as he was feeling, he dressed up that night to dine with the captain. I don't think we'd ever turn down that opportunity.

[PescadoAmarillo]

I was invited to the Bridge on my Celebrity cruise as part of a CC group. We spent a few minutes on the Bridge with the Captain but it was crowded and hard to see or hear. We were hustled out after about 10-15 minutes.

Still, it was free, and it was nice that Celebrity did that for you. For some people, who had never been on a bridge, I suspect that it was quite a thrill.

[Pam in CA]

Still, it was free, and it was nice that Celebrity did that for you. For some people, who had never been on a bridge, I suspect that it was quite a thrill.

True. However, standing in the hallway waiting for our turn and so many people you couldn't see or hear, it might have been disappointing to someone who has never seen the Bridge.

[Oxo]

True. However, standing in the hallway waiting for our turn and so many people you couldn't see or hear, it might have been disappointing to someone who has never seen the Bridge.

 

You were lucky that you were invited with such a big group. Been on Celebrity and Princess bridges with normally small groups of 10 or less. That is when you have time to see it all.

 

How many people get to see the bridge, very few. In fact, it is considered a security risk in todays world.

[Coveguy4]

I was fortunate to sail out of New York past Lady Liberty on the bridge of the CB a few years back as a guest. What a great day that was!

[Bill B]

On Princess, I've had the ship's doctor assigned to my table because her parents were on board as pax and seated at my table.

 

On HAL, I've had the captain join my table (almost every night for a 21-day cruise) because there was a 'spare seat' (I was cruising solo at a table for 8) and he 'took a shine' to one of the girls at the table. It was great! - never had to buy wine, the service was exceptional and my trivia team were all jealous... LOL.

[pennst8r]

In 2000, we were invited to have dinner with the Staff Captain, Stefano Ravera. He's the Captain on the Ocean Princess now.

 

Eight years ago, on the old Regal Princess, the MTP cocktail party was held in the officer's private lounge. We got to take a "secret elevator" that went to a private area by the bridge where the officers stay.

 

DH and I did get to have lunch with "Captain Andy" Procter. I had made the MTP, and we also announced our engagement. We met his wife too, and they were such a beautiful couple and quite charming.

 

Anyway, nothing that exciting lately, although we usually do make the cut for MTP. I really enjoy meeting the people that work on the ship as their jobs and stories are always so interesting.

 

Oh my gosh...Andy Proctor! Back in the day when officers hosted tables of passengers, I was seated at his table. He wasn't a captain then; when we asked him what he did on the bridge, he said he was a driver. Quite fun talking to him and we got a very nice bridge tour one afternoon.

 

I also had the pleasure of dining several times with engineering officers. A whole lot less formal that what I expect it would be like to dine with the captain. ;) One of my favorites was Marcus James who was a chief engineer. Now that man was definitely a character. I suppose he's retired, too; after all, I started cruising 30- (ahem!) something years ago. :D

[smtcan]

I forgot (maybe because I have blotted the whole cruise from my mind) that on our only NCL cruise, you could sign up to eat at a table with an officer on one particular night. We didn't sign up, but did go to the Cruise Critic M&G. Every one from that group received an invitation to one of the tables. We ate with the Ship's Doctor. It wasn't particularly special, but still an interesting evening.

[swedish weave]

I forgot (maybe because I have blotted the whole cruise from my mind) that on our only NCL cruise, you could sign up to eat at a table with an officer on one particular night. We didn't sign up, but did go to the Cruise Critic M&G. Every one from that group received an invitation to one of the tables. We ate with the Ship's Doctor. It wasn't particularly special, but still an interesting evening.

 

Many of the NCL officers attend the M&G and they do a lot for the Cruise Critic group.

[sprinkles]

In 2004 on the Old Tahitian Princess we were seated at Staff Captain Ron Willson's table for the entire 10 day cruise in F.P. (he is a full Captain now, I believe). He and his wife always "kept" a table. I loved every minute of it (DH desperately wanted to move tables, as he thought the whole things was too stuffy, but I won the argument) - the service was incredible. Capt. Willson was charming and we all looked forward to seeing what his wife was going to wear to dinner each night. The six of us "regular tablemates" became good friends on the cruise and did a lot of things together. Including a special invitation to the bridge while we were sailing into one of the small islands

 

I do remember that there was one or two nights when the Capt and his wife did not come to dinner and we would instantly loose half our waiters - lol. But for me, the whole thing was a blast and something that will probably never be repeated.

 

Happy Sailing Everybody,

Tammy