Dinner at the Captain's Table

[hhalliv]

Hello Cruise Critics!

 

Today I was purusing the "Pre-Cruise" Guide on NCL...something I don't usually do as I'm not a newbie...and it says on Embarkation Day you can go to guest services and request an invitation to dine at the captain's table. Has anyone ever done this? Is it actually true? I always wondered how people got invited to the captain's table...

[steamboats]

Are you sure it said "Captain´s Table" or was it "Chef´s Table"?

 

steamboats

[Demonyte]

NCL has been doing "Dinner with officers" still at least a year ago. After signing up getting invited and who the officer might be is a luck of the draw.

 

And just to be clear, it is different concept from the (now discontinued?) Chef's table.

[Até]

The internet booklet they recently sent me mentions both. It also mentions Nickelodeon characters so I'm not sure if it is still offered.

 

http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ncl/welcomeaboard/?stop_mobi=yes&cheetahid=AAAAAA&cid=EM_MKO_BKG_PGC_EML_wel_EML_OBCHAPTER_03KnowTheirShip_JWL#/12

[hhalliv]

NCL has been doing "Dinner with officers" still at least a year ago. After signing up getting invited and who the officer might be is a luck of the draw.

 

And just to be clear, it is different concept from the (now discontinued?) Chef's table.

 

Sorry, this is what I was referring to. Have you done it before? Is it any fun or just basically sitting at a big table?

[BirdTravels]

The Captains table is done by raffle. The freestyle daily gives you specific instructions, by ship, on how to sign up.

[Cruisin&Relaxin]

When we were invited to dine at the Captain's Table, it was the Concierge that made up the invite list.

[GeezerCouple]

We were invited to dine with an Officer on our first cruise with NCL.

 

It was a table of about 10 or 12 (long, not round), and we had dinner with the Chief Engineer.

I don't think that those who sat at the ends had the same experience as those who sat in the middle, where he was seated. They probably shouldn't use quite a big a table

 

He was extremely personable, and very patient with all of the questions that were asked about "how the ship works".

It was fascinating, and he was also a really pleasant person when we all were not speaking "technical".

 

We need to remember to ask about this again on future cruises.

(We didn't request it, so I don't know how we were selected. However, we'll try requesting it in the future!)

[Clay Clayton]

We have signed up for the "raffle" and been chosen twice. Both times we were seated with two other couples and the officer - so a total of 7 at a round table. Once we were with the Sanitation Officer which was more interesting than you would think and once with the Guest Services Director which led to many benefits as our long (19 day) cruise continued. You dine in the MDR but there is free flowing wine and the service seemed a touch above. Also, during both dinners, the Hotel Director (he is the boss for almost everyone on board) stopped by and greeted the table also.

 

It was an enjoyable evening and we will sign up again.

[Halxoxo]

Oh wow! Glad that I peeked in on this--now I can enter myself into the "drawing" for this December! Thanks for posting about it! Would have never found out about it!

[www3traveler]

I have done a number of "Dinner With An Officer" and enjoyed each one. A couple of times the table was hosted by the Captain. I have yet to have a dinner where the host was boring or bored. Most of them enjoy the interaction with the passengers.

[luckyinpa]

in all my research i never saw this so i'm glad i did today!

[Aunu]

I have dinner with a chief engineer every three weeks for 3 weeks and then he goes back to work for 3 weeks. :) Hes a chief engineer on an oil drilling ship. It always cracks me up when people get so excited when they get to dine with captains or chiefs. I can see the appeal to listen/talk with one but I get to hear it all of the time. When we meet knew people they always want to hear about what he does and he honestly enjoys talking about his work. Of course he doesn't do it day in and day out.

 

I can tell you this..... He puts his pants on the same way you do. He doesnt do his laundry on the ship but he does it at home, he doesn't make his bed on the ship but he does at home. He doesn't do the dishes on the ship but he does them at home. He likes to play on his tractor when home and he likes to go fishing.

 

Ive asked him if he can work on a cruise ship so i can go with him and he says no, "they don't make enough money".

 

He enjoys cruising because he doesn't have to be in charge of anyone or anything.

Edited November 7, 2016 by Aunu

[hhalliv]

I'm glad I brought it up for those of you who didn't know about it!

[Lido_Deck]

I'm glad I brought it up for those of you who didn't know about it!

 

As I said, there is no such thing as "the Captain's Table," but yes, there is dining with the officers on one night.

 

The last time I was on the Epic I was invited by the Hotel Manager to dinner with him at his table the night of Dining With An Officer. To me, the Hotel Manager is more important than the Captain because he will send wine and chocolate covered strawberries to your cabin, give you complimentary dining at the specialty restaurants, invite you to the cocktail party in the Haven or give you priority tendering. All of which I've done on multiple ships by the Hotel Directors. I've learned to identify the Hotel Director ASAP and suck up to him early and often.

Edited November 7, 2016 by Lido_Deck

[jjikids]

On the Spirit we had dinner with the Chief Engineer. On the Epic we had the Staff Captain. Those times it was two coupons and the officer.Three different times on the Gemwe were told it wasn't being done. On the Breakaway two weeks ago, it was posted on the front page of the dailies. We were excited to have the chance again. We ate with the Shore Excursion Manager. It was supposed to be the three couples but one couple was still touring so just two couples. Since we were in the Haven, we were put next to the manager. It was a fun night.

[disneyg1rl]

We were invited to have dinner with the Captain on the Epic a few years ago. It was a really awesome experience.

[smokie36]

Actually on the Crown had a cocktail party iin the Captains quarters for owner' suite guests. Staff officers and a butler present!

Edited November 8, 2016 by smokie36

[Adele1]

Before the Gem discontinued it, I had dinner with the Captain a few times

which was great as he was quite personable & we received wine, ate

from the menu and also had a made-for-us only fabulous dessert.

 

Recently on the Breakaway I dined with the Training specialist.

Could not really speak much w/him as 1 gal commandeered the table

of 8 which was not round. Again wine offered but no special dessert.

 

It is the luck of the draw who is selected and what officer you will

dine with.