Captain's Table

[A Little Pixie Dust]

How does one be invited to the captain's table? Do you just receive an invite? Has anyone ever turned down the invite?

 

Thanks for the info.

 

Desiree

[Bruin Steve]

Yes, you just get an invite...and yes, apparently, some people turn it down...

 

Why you get invited is anyone's guess...there seem to be a number of criteria that MIGHT get you invited, including:

 

--Being an Elite Captains Club member, most likely if you're the one who's sailed the MOST with Celebbrity...

--Having booked the Penthouse Suite

--Being a celebrity or dignitary of some sort

--Having the Cruise Director or Social Hostess "notice" you...

--Having a Travel Agent with a lot of "pull" with the folks in the RCCL Corporate Office

--Having done some good deed like giving up your cabin (and transferring to another) for someone with a special need...

--Being from the home country of the Captain...

 

But, really, there is no rhyme or reason...

I've booked suites and was NOT invited, I've gone in ordinary cabins and been invited...I've clearly not been among those with the most cruises and have been invited...

 

Obviously, there are not enough of these honors to go around...On a typical 7 night cruise, there are only two formal nights...four total seatings...If eight are invited to each seating, that's 32 honorees...out of maybe 2,000 passengers...The list of Elite CC members alone on most cruises FAR exceeds that...

 

Best just to sit back and not worry...if the honor comes up, consider it an honor...Of course, if you really feel ill at ease, contact the Social Hostess immediately and decline...

[Ships R Great]

No rhyme or reason for being chosen, now anyway. It used to help if you connected with the Social Hostess but someone said that now invites are set up by land office. We have been invited three times. First time was boring. No fun at all. Second time was delightful. Third time, we declined because the group we were traveling with had already planned to eat in the specialty restaurant. (That may have nixed any future invitations for us.) It can be fun. You meet for drinks before dinner. Have a wonderful meal, with wine. Ladies are presented with a rose afterward and a picture is taken and sent to your cabin next day. If your tablemates are good it can be a very nice experinece.

[smdubowsky]

We were invited to the Captain's table for the second formal night on the Infinity several weeks ago. Actually the ship's hotel director sat in for the Captain.

 

When we started our cruise there was a little mix up with our seating arrangements. I guess we were very understanding and didn't make a big fuss. In any case, the next night the maitre d' came over and asked us if we would accept the invitation.

 

It was an interesting evening, the service was way above and beyond, there was a different wine served with every course, and the ladies all received flowers. The next day a complementary picture of the table was delivered to our stateroom.

 

BTW, we are Captain's Club members (It was our fifth Celebrity cruise) and we had a CC room, but I don't think that either was a factor.

 

Whatever we did right, we'd like to do it again!

[Longboysfan]

Yes, you just get an invite...and yes, apparently, some people turn it down...

 

Why you get invited is anyone's guess...there seem to be a number of criteria that MIGHT get you invited, including:

 

--Being an Elite Captains Club member, most likely if you're the one who's sailed the MOST with Celebbrity...

--Having booked the Penthouse Suite

--Being a celebrity or dignitary of some sort

--Having the Cruise Director or Social Hostess "notice" you...

--Having a Travel Agent with a lot of "pull" with the folks in the RCCL Corporate Office

--Having done some good deed like giving up your cabin (and transferring to another) for someone with a special need...

--Being from the home country of the Captain...

 

But, really, there is no rhyme or reason...

I've booked suites and was NOT invited, I've gone in ordinary cabins and been invited...I've clearly not been among those with the most cruises and have been invited...

 

Obviously, there are not enough of these honors to go around...On a typical 7 night cruise, there are only two formal nights...four total seatings...If eight are invited to each seating, that's 32 honorees...out of maybe 2,000 passengers...The list of Elite CC members alone on most cruises FAR exceeds that...

 

Best just to sit back and not worry...if the honor comes up, consider it an honor...Of course, if you really feel ill at ease, contact the Social Hostess immediately and decline...

 

There is a picking order on how you get to the Captains table.

Bruin Steve has hit them all with the list.

Most times now it seems like the Captains Club Elite people are invited.

The Social Hostess / Captains Club rep is the person who gets the list for each cruise.

[hajekfam]

Most times now it seems like the Captains Club Elite people are invited.

The Social Hostess / Captains Club rep is the person who gets the list for each cruise.

 

Glad to hear that, since they made that an Elite Captain's Club perk:

Invitation to Captain's or Officer's Table

Based on availability.

[WeBeCruisin']

We were invited on the Horizon last October. It was our third cruise on Celebrity and we were in an inside room. This was when they still had the Social Hostess position. We really enjoyed it. You meet in the Martini Bar and have a complimentary drink and then you are escorted by the social hostess to your table a few minutes after everyone else has been seated. It's rather a grand entrance, and pretty spiffy. I'd say go for it, if you're lucky enough to be invited. You might not get the opportunity again.

 

Allen

[MV_Photon]

My wife & I were invited to sit at some Officer's Table for dinner during the first Formal Night of our Alaska cruise on Summit. The printed invitation was delivered at mid-morning for 6:00 PM dinner that evening.

 

What had we done to merit such recognition? We reserved a Celebrity Suite, at full price, one year in advance.

 

Problem: Our two pre-teen children, also guests in the Suite, were not specifically included on the invitation. In response to our inquiry, Celebrity's miserable Guest Relations staff brusquely asserted that they would not be welcomed. Well, we hadn't purchased tuxedos for those two young gentlemen just to dump them off at the Fun Factory. Accordingly, we blew off the pompous SOB's and enjoyed a pleasant evening (...but crummy food) with the peons in Main Dining.

[WeBeCruisin']

What had we done to merit such recognition? We reserved a Celebrity Suite, at full price, one year in advance.

 

Problem: Our two pre-teen children, also guests in the Suite, were not specifically included on the invitation. In response to our inquiry, Celebrity's miserable Guest Relations staff brusquely asserted that they would not be welcomed. Well, we hadn't purchased tuxedos for those two young gentlemen just to dump them off at the Fun Factory. Accordingly, we blew off the pompous SOB's and enjoyed a pleasant evening (...but crummy food) with the peons in Main Dining.

 

You gotta love such an unbiased, objective post without a bit of bile or an agenda. :rolleyes:

 

When my wife and I were at the Captain's Table, I really think the atmosphere and ambiance would have been ruined if someone had insisted on bringing along their two pre-teen children. :eek:

 

Allen

[caviargal]

:

 

--Being an Elite Captains Club member, most likely if you're the one who's sailed the MOST with Celebbrity...

--Having booked the Penthouse Suite

--Being a celebrity or dignitary of some sort

--Having the Cruise Director or Social Hostess "notice" you...

--Having a Travel Agent with a lot of "pull" with the folks in the RCCL Corporate Office

--Having done some good deed like giving up your cabin (and transferring to another) for someone with a special need...

--Being from the home country of the Captain...

 

 

Add to the list being a single, attractive, male or female. I have been included on several oocastions to simply round out a table of couples and have friends who have had the same experience.

[kelmac]

Add to the list being a single, attractive, male or female. I have been included on several oocastions to simply round out a table of couples and have friends who have had the same experience.

 

I think caviargal and Bruin Steve have it right! We have been invited four of our eight Celebrity cruises--all with staff officers, as we always dine early. Every time they have seated my wife next to the officer--so I think being tall, blond and cute really helps!:rolleyes: :D By the way--we prefer inside cabins.

 

Enjoy!

Kel

[Bethwte]

my parents turned it down, as they didn't want to leave their 16 year old at the time (me) and 8 year old on their own for dinner... They also figured someone else might enjoy it more. However, they did completely understand why the children weren't invited. How we got the invite: Penthouse suite... We've always booked the biggest room available on any ship we've been on, always gotten an invite, and always turned it down no matter what cruise line it was... I don't share the opinion, but my parents are always worried it will be a pompous atmosphere at the captain's table, and would actually rather eat in the main dining room at the regular table...

[TEXASMUNK]

(Sorry for those that have heard this already)..

 

Lady Astor was invited to dine with the captain, she replied...'Why would I want to eat with the help?"

 

Been there done that, enjoyed totally...we got invited because we have a series of charters coming up with NCL and I was the Acct Rep that sold the incentive travel program.

[Randyk47]

Only been invited once and that was on the Galaxy this past March. Interestingly we really didn't meet any particular criteria. Invite came the afternoon of the first full day at sea for the following night so it's not like we'd been able to work our charm on the hostess or any of the crew for that matter. Never had sailed Celebrity before so that wasn't an issue. We were in a suite though not the penthouse so that's probably what triggered the invite. Other than that we're just regular folks who got lucky.....and it was wonderful.

[A Little Pixie Dust]

Thank you for the information. We are in a CS on the Summit going to Hawaii next year but I have a daughter who is young so even if we were invited, I guess we would be turning it down. Thanks for the info!

 

Desiree

[OPSoccermom]

We were invited to the captain's table on the 2nd formal night on our first X cruise. We were in a RS, and our young son had developed a special relationship with Leigh, the social hostess. That cruise was really special for our son, so we turned down the invitation so he wouldn't have to dine alone on the last night of the cruise.

 

Was a little wistful as the captain and his guests walked into the dining room that evening, esp. since our table was right by the captain's table. But we had a wonderful evening with our son. When Leigh, the social hostess saw us with our son, she had the dessert being served at the captains table delivered to our table as well. A great ending to a wonderful cruise.

[Arubalisa]

Stupid questions, but are children not allowed at the Captain's Table?

 

I would think that staying in a RS they would at least give you a little consideration...

[sabast1]

My wife and I got married on the ship before we left on the cruise and I guess that's why we got invited to the Captains Table. It was nice...we were seated along with a Marine Colonel and his wife and various "other" people (most of which were not sure why they were picked).

 

We also got to tour the bridge...which the social hostess told us they aren't allowed to do anymore (since 9/11) but the Captain is the boss...at least while they're at sea.

[cechase]

This is a reoccuring thread for Celebrity. On our first cruise on Celebrity in early 2004 on Mercury, we were invited to have dinner at the Captain's Table. The only reason that we can think of for the invitation was that we were in a RS. At that time, we were not a member of the Captain's Club, and did not have any interaction with the Social Hostess. Instead of the Captain, our host was the Hotel Director. It was not really a memorable affair, because our host was not very outgoing. Perhaps, that had to do with the fact that my DW was running a 102 degree fever and didn't want to miss the opportunity, and we excused ourselves just as they were serving a really great looking dessert.

 

On our second cruise, and now members of the Captain's Club on Century in May of 2004, we were again invited to dinner at the Captain's Table, and again accepted. This was a really great evening - and Captain Skylogiannis was a marvelous host. We still talk about that evening, and look at the complimentary picture taken of our table which was delivered to our RS the next day.

 

On our last cruise on Century in February of this year, we again were in a RS, and did not receive an invitation. We really have no idea why we were not invited - other than the fact that the regular Captain was on vacation, and substitute Captain was in charge of the vessel.

 

On both occasions, we thought that Celebrity handled the dinners very well, and went out of their way to make them memorable. All of the invitees met in Ronde-Vous Square for complimentary cocktails and were introduced to each other, then we were led down the grand staircase and were escorted to the Captain's Table. There were place cards with each of our names - fresh flower arrangements on the table. The head waiter for the table was the Asst. Matre'd, white wine was served first, followed by a red wine. The desserts were spectacular - although we only had the dessert at our second trip to the Captain's Table. A photograph was taken of the table and then delivered to our RS the next day. On Century, the photo was in a nice Celebrity brochure with the names and places of all the persons at the table. At the conclusion of each dinner, each lady was given a red long stem rose. All in all, Celebrity does this very very well.

 

So if you get an invitation, treat yourself to a lovely evening, and accept.

[caviargal]

Stupid questions, but are children not allowed at the Captain's Table?

 

I would think that staying in a RS they would at least give you a little consideration...

 

No, in general, children are not welcome at the Captain's Table. Personally, I feel that this is an adult experience.

 

And I don't think the kind of cabin you are in should make a difference.

 

JMHO

 

CG

[janine543]

My husband and I were invited to the Captain's Table on Millie and truly enjoyed it. We had booked a Royal Suite and I was the started of the sailing's Cruise Critic Get Toegether and figured these two criteria helped us get the precious invite.

 

But for those who've asked or wondered.....we received the same menu choices as the main seating guests. Only thing different was more servers (who were excellent) and great choice of wines.

 

It was a truly special occasion that we will always remember. Hopefully we are honored again.

 

 

Janine

[b8tzm]

CAPTAINS TABLE A FEW SEARCH RESULTS--- do people ever search first, or do they just post new threads?

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=211688&highlight=captains+table

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=14601&highlight=captains+table

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=176519&highlight=captains+table

[theduffys]

B8TZM--OUCH--

 

We have only been asked once in 12 cruises (won't be on our first X ship till Dec 06). We were sailing on HAL with another couple and we both had cabins in "steerage". After having wonderfully fun conversations with the Matre D' many nights, he approached and asked if we would like to dine at the Captain's table the following evening. We accepected his kind invitation and when we asked "why us?", he said that he was told to only invite intellegent and fun conversationalists. Man, talk about being under pressure:eek: ! It was a fantastic evening and we still talk about it.

[A Little Pixie Dust]

Thanks to ALMOST everyone for their input - I appreciate it.

[Fang]

My wife and I have dined at the Captains Table three times (twice on Celebrity and once on RCCL).

 

Each time on Celebrity the Social Hostess was Amanda Reed. We had been on several cruises with her as Social Hostess. We brought this up to her and were invited the first time on Celebrity. The second time she was again social hostess on our cruise and we said hello, etc.. We were in a Royal Suite on that cruise and she came by our table. Everyone at the table of eight were in Royal Suites and one couple was in the Penthouse Suite. She invited the entire table.

 

The time we were on RCCL, we were traveling with friends and they asked someone how do we get invited to sit with the Captain. The gave their names and ours and we were both invited.

 

While all three times were very nice, I really do not think it would be a big dear to go again. I would not turn it down, but would not go out of my way to try to do it again.