CAPTAINS TABLE GUESTS First time cruiser.

[jackdec]

Can anyone please tell me how the guests are picked for his table on the formal nights.

:confused::confused::confused:

[Keith1010]

This really varies by cruise line and can easily vary by voyage even on the same cruise line.

 

Selection could be based on the following:

 

Their accommodations

Number of previous sailings

Their profession

A Celebration they are having

A recommendation from someone

A request

 

Keith

[CruiserBruce]

As Keith said, there are a number of variables. And some cruise lines essentially don't do a Captain's Table except for very rare occaisions like friends of the Captain, or something like that.

 

Are you asking about a particular cruise line? If so, best to ask on the baord for that cruise line.

[paul929207]

On many ships, the Captain rarely eats in the MDR

[Hlitner]

There are quite a few different reasons you can end up at the Captains table. We have dined with the Captain 4 times on over 60 cruises and each was for a totally different reason. In one case the dining room manager had been our waiter on the same ship about 12 years earlier, had us invited to the Captains table and then he (dining room manager) personally waited on us (the Captain thought this was funny and wanted to know "who do you know") Another time happened on a Princess ship (we are Elite with that line) when some guests cancelled dining with the Captain (one was sick) and the hostess asked us at the last minute to help her out. The other two times we have no clue. By the way, that time when we knew the dining room manager we were cruising with friends who were on their first cruise. Because we had a table for 4 and did not want to leave our friends alone for dinner we were able to arrange for them to also be invited to the Captains table.

 

On Celebrity lines they do try to get quite a few of the "Elite" cruisers to dine at an officers table (sometimes the Captain). And as others have said, most cruise ship Captains do not dine with the passengers very often. Some Captains will only do it on formal nights which means on a short cruise (7 days) only twenty of so passengers will get to dine with the Captain.

 

Hank

[jackdec]

Thanks will have to book ALOT of trips to get the feet under the captains table. As first cruise it may take some time. Great that pople answer questions and help stupid guy like me.

 

 

There are quite a few different reasons you can end up at the Captains table. We have dined with the Captain 4 times on over 60 cruises and each was for a totally different reason. In one case the dining room manager had been our waiter on the same ship about 12 years earlier, had us invited to the Captains table and then he (dining room manager) personally waited on us (the Captain thought this was funny and wanted to know "who do you know") Another time happened on a Princess ship (we are Elite with that line) when some guests cancelled dining with the Captain (one was sick) and the hostess asked us at the last minute to help her out. The other two times we have no clue. By the way, that time when we knew the dining room manager we were cruising with friends who were on their first cruise. Because we had a table for 4 and did not want to leave our friends alone for dinner we were able to arrange for them to also be invited to the Captains table.

 

On Celebrity lines they do try to get quite a few of the "Elite" cruisers to dine at an officers table (sometimes the Captain). And as others have said, most cruise ship Captains do not dine with the passengers very often. Some Captains will only do it on formal nights which means on a short cruise (7 days) only twenty of so passengers will get to dine with the Captain.

 

Hank

[6rugrats]

Most people never sit at the Captain's, or any other officer's table. I agree with the poster that said on many cruises, the captain never even eats in the MDR.

[jkudzu]

On our last trip on the Emerald, I ran into the Captain one night at the buffet. He was very sweet and chatted with everyone. The only problem was that the poor thing could not get through the line because everyone was chatting him up. :o

[Kudos2Fly]

One time I requested to eat the Captains Table. I just wrote a nice letter and asked the front desk to give it to him. Of I wasn't expecting it to happen. But at dinner the Matre' de said the Captain would like to have us dine with him. So I guess it worked. This was on Carnival Destiny. It was fun and interesting...

 

Then one time my parents booked their 40th anniversary on the Carnival Valor. We were going to cruise the week before on Carnival also. So I wrote a letter to the Captain on the Valor asking if you would ask my parents to dine with him. I told him my parents were on their 40th anniversary and that my dad was also a Captain on a Merchant Marine Ship. I had this letter routed to him, of course I didn't know if this would get to him or even if this "request" would be granted.

 

It turns out that they didn't get invited to dine with him, but the Captain called their room and invited my parents to see the bridge. My dad went I think my mom wasn't feeling well and didn't go. But my dad probably enjoyed that more then the dinner.

 

He has been to the bridge twice. The second one I didn't have anything to with...

 

It would be interesting to know how many people "request" to dine with the Captain on each cruise. I would think this happens more on 7 day cruises and longer, I mean dining with the Captain.

[kitty9]

We've dined at the Captain's table a few times, and I guess it was because we were in the penthouse. But our fellow diners were there because of special events. One couple was celebrating their 50th anniversary, another couple were on their 75th cruise.

[sail7seas]

We've dined with Captains through the years and many cruises. Our 'dinner mates' and we are invited for a variety of reasons.

 

What is interesting is that of the cruise lines on which we have dined with Captains, they all follow a very similar routine for the evening. The guests meet in a designated lounge, are introduced to eachother, we chat for a bit and our drinks are served and Captain then joined us. He might have his wife or another lady with him or maybe not. We all were escorted to the dining room after the rest of the room was seated, proceeded to Captain's Table and had a lovely evening.

 

Fewer Captains on fewer ships are hosting these dinners these days....... for a number of reasons. If you have the opportunity, don't hesitate. It will be a very memorable evening. They are all fabulous hosts and so interesting to speak with. Oh the places they've been, the things they've seen, the people they have met.......

 

Same for Hotel Manager, Chief Engineer...... these are all very interesting, very wonderful hosts.

 

If you are looking for a reason to be sure and have proper clothing just in case you are invited to a special dinner, pack what would be appropriate....... just in case. :cool: Wouldn't you hate to have to send regrets to such an invitation because you had not brought the proper clothes? :eek: ;)

 

[Love.II.Cruise]

What if you are invited to dine with the captain on a formal night and you didn't bring formal wear??? :eek:

[sail7seas]

That is the point I made at the end of my post.

It wouldn't be 'cool' to appear for dinner on formal night at Captain's Table and not be dressed in formalwear.

 

It would be so disappointing to have to send regrets and miss a special evening because you didn't pack proper clothing.

 

[DanJ]

During the behind the fun tour on the Pride, naturally the question of where the Captain dines came up. The tour guide said that the Captains generally dine in the officers mess downstairs, and our Captain specifically liked to dine in his stateroom. She also said that the Captain can also have an assigned table in the MDR, but that he also has to give it up when the ship is sailing quite full (which in our case, was about 128% of double occupancy).

[kitty9]

What if you are invited to dine with the captain on a formal night and you didn't bring formal wear??? :eek:

 

You decline the invitation. The captain will be in his dress uniform and it would be in very poor taste to arrive in the dining room on formal night in casual clothing. I know that on some lines, they make a big deal of the invited guests when they walk down the grand staircase and walk to the table after everyone is already seated. It would not look good to be wearing dockers and a shirt.

[Keith1010]

Thanks will have to book ALOT of trips to get the feet under the captains table. As first cruise it may take some time. Great that pople answer questions and help stupid guy like me.

 

You asked a good question and remember the number of cruises is not always the deciding factor.

 

Keith

[paul929207]

What if you are invited to dine with the captain on a formal night and you didn't bring formal wear??? :eek:

You would have to decline.

[Keith1010]

What if you are invited to dine with the captain on a formal night and you didn't bring formal wear??? :eek:

 

You respectfully decline.

 

Keith

[paul929207]

I guess an alternative would be to rush to the Purser's Desk and inquire about renting a tux.

[DanJ]

I'm surprised this thread made it 18 hours without someone saying the usual "I never dine with the help anyway" LOL. Oh well, leave it to me LOL.

[Hlitner]

Really enjoying this thread. And I should have mentioned that we did decline an invitation, on one cruise, to dine at the Captain's Table on a formal evening when the table was to be hosted by the Hotel Manager (it is not unusual for the Hotel Manager or Staff Captain to host the Captain's table). It truly was one of those times when we "did not want to dine with the hired help." We already had a group of friends that we enjoyed at dinner and just did not want the formality (and often stiff conversation) that happens at the Captain's table. At the time DW was a bit surprised I would opt not to go since we are not known as folks who turn down free wine :)

 

Hank

[sail7seas]

;) Probably because it is such an old, stale joke. :D :D :cool:

 

 

It is true that when the ships sail at full capacity, Captain often does not have a table at which to host guests. Sometimes they really need every table and every chair to accomodate all the guests in the Dining Room.

 

It is also true for first time cruisers to be invited. We dined several times with couple on their first cruise and it was great fun. EVERYTHING was so brand new to them, it was interesting seeing the cruise through their eyes. They were 'wowed' !!

[sail7seas]

Thanks will have to book ALOT of trips to get the feet under the captains table. As first cruise it may take some time. Great that pople answer questions and help stupid guy like me.

 

Really enjoying this thread. And I should have mentioned that we did decline an invitation, on one cruise, to dine at the Captain's Table on a formal evening when the table was to be hosted by the Hotel Manager (it is not unusual for the Hotel Manager or Staff Captain to host the Captain's table). It truly was one of those times when we "did not want to dine with the hired help." We already had a group of friends that we enjoyed at dinner and just did not want the formality (and often stiff conversation) that happens at the Captain's table. At the time DW was a bit surprised I would opt not to go since we are not known as folks who turn down free wine :)

 

Hank

 

 

:) They do order wonderful wines, don't they? :)

We've learned new wines at such tables that we still order now and enjoy.

Because of Captain or Hotel Manager's choice, we also got some 'wine education'. It's all good. ;)

[texaridian]

We've never been invited to dine with the Captain, but were pleasantly surprised on our HAL cruise to arrive at dinner one evening to find an extra place setting. We were told we would have a guest. Turns out it was a woman from the cruise director's staff. She was like an assistant CD I think. It was so fun. I lived for 25 years in her hometown, so we had a lot to talk about. She did provide wine for the table.

 

Several nights later she joined us again.

 

I don't have any idea why we were chosen--we were a group of 6 women and only 2 had been on previous HAL cruises.

 

Carol

[DanJ]

 

I don't have any idea why we were chosen--we were a group of 6 women and only 2 had been on previous HAL cruises.

 

Carol

 

Could be blind luck the first time, out of the tables big enough to seat her at. And perhaps she enjoyed your company enough the first time, that she decided to come back again.