Dinner with the Ship's Officers

[Chrislynn55]

I haven't seen this posted on the Norwegian Board before and I don't know if all ships in the NCL fleet do this, but our family had a unique dinner experience last week on the Spirit. In the Sunday "Freestyle Daily" we saw a small notice at the bottom of the front page that invited any interested passengers to submit their name at the reception desk to enter a draw for "Dinner with the Ship's Officers". Our family was lucky enough to be selected! Several days later we attended a lovely pre-dinner cocktail reception in the Art Gallery with a number of the senior ship's officers, including Captain Hammerin. After that, we were escorted to the Windows dining room where we enjoyed a wonderful dinner (wine too!). Tony Rosa, Food and Beverage director was the senior officer who hosted our family at his table. What a fun time! Tony was a very interesting and entertaining dinner companion and we thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. Kudos and many thanks to NCL for a first class experience!

[Surfgirl]

Congratulations on being selected. That sounds like a lot of fun. I'll bet he was really interesting. It's amazing how they are able to feed so many passengers and coordinate those with food allergies, etc.

 

Long before 911, they used to give tours of the galley and where they kept ships stores. It was so interesting to see what goes on behind the scenes.

[lynnemac]

Wish they had something like that on the Sun. Would have been fun to at least be in the drawing for that prvilege.

 

 

Mac :) :) :)

[Cosmopolitan]

I haven't seen this posted on the Norwegian Board before and I don't know if all ships in the NCL fleet do this, but our family had a unique dinner experience last week on the Spirit. In the Sunday "Freestyle Daily" we saw a small notice at the bottom of the front page that invited any interested passengers to submit their name at the reception desk to enter a draw for "Dinner with the Ship's Officers". Our family was lucky enough to be selected! Several days later we attended a lovely pre-dinner cocktail reception in the Art Gallery with a number of the senior ship's officers, including Captain Hammerin. After that, we were escorted to the Windows dining room where we enjoyed a wonderful dinner (wine too!). Tony Rosa, Food and Beverage director was the senior officer who hosted our family at his table. What a fun time! Tony was a very interesting and entertaining dinner companion and we thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. Kudos and many thanks to NCL for a first class experience!

 

 

Thank you for sharing your experience.

We did not enter a drawing but did enjoy a dinner with ship officers which was most enjoyable on the Dawn.

 

We found their company most enjoyable and a wealth of information and amusing stories.

 

Hope we are able to enjoy the same in the future:)

[sue402001]

Sounds like you had a wonderful dinner Chrislynn55. I'll have to keep my eye open when we get our Freestyle Daily when I'm on my cruise in June. Thanks for sharing!

[Chrislynn55]

Yes, it's definitely a good idea to read the Freestyle Daily each day. Friends that we met on board were unaware of the draw because they hadn't noticed it in the newsletter.

[JerseyGem]

This is a great program (other cruise lines- take note!). We did this on the Dawn in 1/06 (with the executive chef) and on the Spirit in 1/07 (one of the engineering officers). Both dinners were delightful- and really added a special "plus factor" to our cruises. On the Dawn, we were selected by lottery (after seeing the notice in the Freestyle and putting our names in for the drawing), but on the Spirit, we were offered a definite place during our CC Meet & Greet. The Hotel manager wrote down the names of all who were interested- another plus to showing up for the Meet & Greet!

[lisaoakmnt@aol.com]

We were invited to a cocktail party with the captain and officers because we were in a Penthouse suite. My son (12) was so impressed! Wish we would have bought the picture. We were on the Pearl

[Joyfredsblondecruiser]

That really does sound very nice congratulations to all of you. I have a question? If you are in and Owners Suite does it mean that you might have the opportunity to dine with the Captain or officers? Happy Sailing, Joy

[Manomet1]

We enjoyed a wonderful dinner with the Captain and 3 officers while on the Majesty last year. There was a wonderful cocktail party for those of us in suites and then 3 other couples joined us for a walk to the dining room with the Captain. Such a wonderful experience and only 12 of us total!:)

 

Jim & Barbara

[Blue Nose]

just browsing through CC and became interested in this thread. We cruised on the Spirit on 2nd Jan and had a wonderfull time. So much so we have booked for the Pearl in December. While on the Spirit we met our CC members at a meet and greet in Henry's Bar. One of the crewe asked if we'd like to put our name in for dining with the crewe, so we did. We recieved a letter to tell us to be in the art gallery for pre meal drinks etc. It was a great surprise to find that we had been chosen to dine with the Captain Frank Julianson. Our table consisted of just me, the wife, a lady from Wales uk and an elderley gentleman who was from Norway and lived close to the captains home town. We made a point of making sure the conversation was light and not too much connected with the ship as we were sure the Captain must have had heard every question imaginable connected with his work.

It was a marvellous evening and we were made to feel very relaxed.

New York was amazing, the cruise was a dream, and NCL should feel very proud.

incidentally, we stayed on deck 11, balcony cabin and flying back to the UK was the most depressing journey on earth!!!

[Plant]

That really does sound very nice congratulations to all of you. I have a question? If you are in and Owners Suite does it mean that you might have the opportunity to dine with the Captain or officers? Happy Sailing, Joy

 

I'd like to know the answer to this, too! We got a great upsell to an OS. We chose cruising on NCL because we wouldn't have to "do" formal night. Should we bring formal clothes, just in case?

[CruisinMatt]

I'd like to know the answer to this, too! We got a great upsell to an OS. We chose cruising on NCL because we wouldn't have to "do" formal night. Should we bring formal clothes, just in case?

 

I see no reason why you couldn't politely decline the invitation. You will most likely have to RSVP anyway.

[Dolphins]

On the hilarious Brit-com "Keeping Up Appearances," the pretentious Hyacinth is upset on not being invited to the Captain's table on the QE2. Her discomfort is increased when she observes her low-life brother-in-law Onslow dining with the Captain. Later, Onslow remarks to Hyacinth, "I spent all this money on a cruise and we have to eat with the crew?"

[Cosmopolitan]

That really does sound very nice congratulations to all of you. I have a question? If you are in and Owners Suite does it mean that you might have the opportunity to dine with the Captain or officers? Happy Sailing, Joy

 

An opportunity to dine with the Captain or officers...yes!

 

But it does not HAVE to happen.

Do not be insulted if it does not happen.

 

Depends on the ship, Captain and officers, weather at sea...how many passengers they already know from previous cruises.

 

If you attend the Captain's party (you will receive an invite to the party), Latitudes party - they have a chance to know you and may invite you.

 

Your cruise will be wonderful...regardless:)

[Cosmopolitan]

I'd like to know the answer to this, too! We got a great upsell to an OS. We chose cruising on NCL because we wouldn't have to "do" formal night. Should we bring formal clothes, just in case?

 

I'm not sure what you mean by formal clothes?

 

DH, a sport jacket and tie is fine.

DW, a cocktail dress or dress slacks and top is fine.

 

I do not believe that they care what you wear and they are good company.

 

Enjoy your cruise:)

[Cosmopolitan]

We made a point of making sure the conversation was light and not too much connected with the ship as we were sure the Captain must have had heard every question imaginable connected with his work.

It was a marvellous evening and we were made to feel very relaxed.

 

We did the same...no "shop talk or questions" - just shared cruising stories...many laughs.

 

Blue Nose...so happy to hear you enjoyed NY. Have a great time on the Pearl.

 

My daughter studied a semester in the UK a few years ago and loved it!