Have you ever eaten with the Captain?

[justluv2cruisewithhubby]

If so, what was the dress attire? Business casual (jackets for men/dress for woman)

What is the menu like when eating with the Captain?

[Colorado Babe]

We haven't but our table was right next to the captains table. Everyone was dressed up and it appeared like they ordered off the regular menu. There was lots of bottles of wine shared. I was impressed that the captain chose a young military man and his wife.

[cello56]

Not yet, but it would certainly be a treat! I look forward to maybe being chosen to do this someday. :)

[Clarea]

If so, what was the dress attire? Business casual (jackets for men/dress for woman)

What is the menu like when eating with the Captain?

Coat and tie are typical for the Captain's dinner. The menu varies ship to ship, but it's usually a very nice selection of beef or seafood.

[Cruzin Carol]

I have 3 times. Dress is formal on formal night and very smart on casual nights. Every time, we had a different menu that said captains table and the table was over seen by the maitre d. Very interesting table mates, every time. Twice we had cocktails in the captain's quarters prior to dinner. How did we get invited? The first time we were talking to the captain and he invited us. The other two times, no clue.

[mcca2]

Its definitely not casual dress, as it is formal night. I would say a coat and tie would be the minimum, although on my last cruise there were two people at the Captains table who were not even in smart casual. The menu is usually a special one, not from the regular menu. and they take a picture of everyone at the table and after dinner you get the picture and the menu signed by the Captain or Officer as a souvenir.

 

As the previous poster mentioned you are served by the Maitre D.

 

Its a very pleasant experience.:)

[killtheump]

Really don't know how but out of 6 cruises we have been at the Captains Table 3 times. We were asked to wear a suit and tie and my wife a dress. The menu was different then the other menu. All 3 times I had Garlic Tiger Shrimp. Seemed a little larger then from our regular table. It was very nice. We have always had to wait at one of the lounges for someone to escort us to the table. One time we dined with the Staff Captain and not the Captain of the ship. Really I do not know how we have been asked so many times, we have never went to a Captains Recption or waited in line to have our picture taken with him.

[paulsurf]

Out of 24 cruises it has happened once for us. It was actually on Princess and we were in a suite. Dress was coat and tie for me,dressy for my wife. We did have a special menu with two waiters . The fine wine flowed freely. It was a pleasure and the Captain convinced us to try Alaska with his stories of sailing that itinerary.

[Jetdriver787]

Yes. The dress code was formal.

 

The menu was not the regular items, but a selection of three or four tems per course. The wine flowed, the conversation was interesting, and the host was very gracious.

 

At the end of the evening you receive a special photograph.

[twocc's]

The Captains table can be hosted by various officers. Most people dress formal, can be a suit and tie, sport coat and a tie; rarely without a jacket. Women usually wear dresses or pant and top. The menu can be a set menu. Wine is usually served. We have done it quite often and love it. Occasionally they have taken us to the specialty restaurant. One of the times it was the Captain, LA and us. If you get an opportunity go if at all possible.

 

Charles and Connie

[twocc's]

Sorry did not mean to say quite often meant to say some times:)

 

Charles and Connie

[LovesCruising]

Yes. The dress code was formal.

 

The menu was not the regular items, but a selection of three or four tems per course. The wine flowed, the conversation was interesting, and the host was very gracious.

 

At the end of the evening you receive a special photograph.

 

This was our experience as well. It was formal night so we dressed accordingly.

Special menu - great interesting conversation.

Met at the entrance to the dining room and was escorted to the table - no pre dinner cocktails.

In addition to the special photograph, we received a copy of the menu and an invite the next day to tour/visit the bridge.

It was an experience I would love to repeat.

Edited August 5, 2013 by LovesCruising

[MADflyer]

Interesting to read these replies as I have had a completely different experience and wondered about RCI policy for 'hosted' tables.

 

I was at the table next to the Captain's table on Navigator in May and it was never set the entire 7 night cruise for second seating. So, on the formal night I went to take a look at the first seating and found it had not been set either. This was Friday the 17th of May and the captain did host a private cocktail party for all Norwegian guests onboard celebrating their national day.

 

On my April, 12 night TA on Liberty the table was set nightly and I sat on balcony overlooking the table. I saw it used on only one night during the cruise and it appeared to be other officers, but I did not see the Captain. Here the Captain was very visible at lunch time and I did select my salad ingredients just behind him and had a brief conversation there.

 

On the first cruise following refurbishment on Serenade in December I did notice officers and staff enjoying the then new additions of Giovanni's Table and Izumi on my visits there. The Captain was very involved in all the entertainment functions, but I did not see her in the dining room.

 

On Brilliance last July and then Vision prior to that, no Captain at table for second seating at least on the only formal nights on those port-intensive itineraries.

 

So, you get the picture, 5 cruises and not a single personal observation of the Captain's table in use as a 'hosted' table.

[DragonOfTheSeas]

Really don't know how but out of 6 cruises we have been at the Captains Table 3 times. We were asked to wear a suit and tie and my wife a dress. The menu was different then the other menu. All 3 times I had Garlic Tiger Shrimp. Seemed a little larger then from our regular table. It was very nice. We have always had to wait at one of the lounges for someone to escort us to the table. One time we dined with the Staff Captain and not the Captain of the ship. Really I do not know how we have been asked so many times, we have never went to a Captains Recption or waited in line to have our picture taken with him.

 

Wow--you are the lucky one!!:)

[xpcdoojk]

We have been to the captain's table one time, and it happened because of the meet and mingle, and a previous cruise. We were in Tahiti in 2003 on the Legend of the Seas, with Captain Rick Sullivan. At the meet and mingle on the Navigator on a fall transatlantic. Captain Rick came to the meet and mingle. I shook his hand and said remember when we did the Dolphin Encounter at the resort in Tahiti and we were with our friend and you were with your wife. He said, of course, outside of the dolphins and his lovely wife, I doubt he remembered any of this. (We were on a non RCI resort excursion while on Moorea). Anyway, I get back to the stateroom and my wife is all excited and she says the maitre d in the restaurant called and we are supposed to eat at the captain's table tonight. We hit it off with the captain's friend from Maritime college and his wife, and we hung out quite a lot with the captain and his friend for the rest of the sailing. We ate another night at Chops together.

 

Dress was formal. I would be screwed if I get invited on my next cruise, because we have quit sailing with any formal wear. My tuxedo may be moth bitten for all I know.

 

kjc

[Scotty G]

Yes. Dress is usually as represented here:

 

[jagsfan]

Never on Royal, haven't even seen the table used. Several times on other lines, but I especially remember the first, even though I can't recall which ship. The captain asked if any of us was celebrating an anniversary or birthday. The answer was no, so he had the waiters sing "Happy Special Occasion to You"!

[SHICHIDAN]

Yes, on RCL, Carnival, the World and a snooty Captain and wife on a snooty cruise line.

 

We stick to a cocktail party dress level. Menu varies from place to place. It is always top notch and smartly presented. Have had a very interesting variety of tablemates that ranged from those who acted like they were supposed to be there to those who had requested to be included.

 

After over 50 cruises we still don't know how selection happens. We have been told several things from people you would think knew the inside scoop, but it is not a set policy from what we have seen.

 

One Royal Caribbean Captain opened up more than we had heard before and told the seated guests that the table selection can be suggested by corporate staff on that sailing, ships officers, call from shore side office, his own wishes and so on. He did offer than some ships Masters never involved themselves in the selection but did request a list of names to study prior to sitting down.

 

I mentioned in a past post on this subject that it seemed to work much as I would expect in a Corporate setting.

[Tam Tam]

We have dined with the captain twice and I believe both times were on formal nights. The first time was on our first cruise many years ago on the Monarch of the Seas and then again on our second cruise on a NCL ship. I thought maybe our travel agent might have had something to do with it but I don't know how she could. Both dinners were certainly memorable but the RCI dinner was far more enjoyable. I believe we still have a nicely printed copy of the menu as well as a picture of the entire table from the Monarch.

[ticktoneer]

If so, what was the dress attire? Business casual (jackets for men/dress for woman)

What is the menu like when eating with the Captain?

We dined at the Captains table with him last September on Freedom of the Seas.

 

We met 45 mins before dining and were served cocktails. Dinner was a special menu and you got to keep the menu along with being presented with a photo of all the Captains Table diners and the Captain that evening.

 

It was a formal, really memorable occasion.

[sjb317]

We have been invited 3 times, once each on Brilliance, Enchantment and Monarch. We've never figured out why or how!:D Each time was formal night. The menu was different from the regular menu, the last time we had a choice between a filet, a whole lobster, prawns or some type of chicken. Both wine & food were very good.

 

Sherri:)

[Norwegianlatvian]

We was invited to dine with the Chief Engineer during our 12 night Holy Land cruise. Semi formal attire, and quite an international crowd around the table. Enjoyable.

 

Originally we sat on a table for two during dining in MDR, and had a lot of contact with the maitre d. I guess that was one of the reasons why we was invited.

[Clarea]

Never on Royal, haven't even seen the table used. Several times on other lines, but I especially remember the first, even though I can't recall which ship. The captain asked if any of us was celebrating an anniversary or birthday. The answer was no, so he had the waiters sing "Happy Special Occasion to You"!

For a while, we also thought that there were no Captain's dinners on our cruises, until we found out that that most (not all) Captain's dinners are second seating. We have always had traditional first seating.

Edited August 5, 2013 by clarea

[Aquahound]

If so, what was the dress attire? Business casual (jackets for men/dress for woman)

What is the menu like when eating with the Captain?

 

Never on RCI, but for some reason, we have been invited on every single one of our Celebrity cruises. This past June on the Millennium, we had no intention of eating in the MDR on formal nights and packed no formal wear. Upon our invite, and telling that to the Captain's Club host, he gave the men in our party ties and suit jackets.

[Polarbear Pa]

Never on RCI, but for some reason, we have been invited on every single one of our Celebrity cruises. This past June on the Millennium, we had no intention of eating in the MDR on formal nights and packed no formal wear. Upon our invite, and telling that to the Captain's Club host, he gave the men in our party ties and suit jackets.

 

We were never invited but we have stopped bring formal attire and go to the windjammer on formal nights. I was wondering what would happen if we were ever chosen. Thanks this answers my question.