Captain's Table - Formal Night

[late seating]

We will be going on our 5th cruise with Celebrity next month (Jan. 21st on the Horizon). We have always wanted to sit at the captain's table on formal night. We asked our TA about being invited. He said that people are invited at random and there is no one to call or ask for the invite.

 

Can anyone suggest who to contact or how does one get invited other than randomly?

 

Regards, Connie & Angelo (late seating)

[idssms]

From what I have read and researched lately, the Captains Table invitees now come from RCL Corporate depending on a number of things including cabin size, past celebrity spending, famous person (luminary), etc. There may be a few slots left and that where the Social Hostess can confer with the Captain or Hotel Director for advice. The Travel Agent doesnt have much input in this even though it would not hurt if they emailed or called Celebrity and made a recommendation.

 

idssms

[Sea Island Lady]

The wife of the Captain on the Millennium, Captain Adamidis is friends with my TA. The wife, Joyce and I emailed back and forth to each other and I read her book If Were Not Upon the Sea :) . We were invited to sit at the Captain's table on Formal night (Joyce and the Captain were on holiday when we cruised, so she sent an email to the Social Hostess asking that we be included at the "temporary" Captain's table on formal night).

 

I wonder if he is still the Captain?

[SandyR5]

Hi - My husband and I had the pleasure of dining at the Captain's table on our last RCCL cruise. The invitation came from the social hostess who I met at the RCCL cruisecritic party. I think I was the first one to sign up for the party and we spoke to the social hostess during the "party". She was delightful and I guess she liked us. I was actually seated NEXT to the Captain! It was a memorable experience...especially having the great tablemates at our regular table...which was pretty close by...making faces and saluting us. :) :) :)

It was our 2nd RCCL cruise and we're not VIP's...except to our grandchildren.

[ocngypz]

The social hostesses are history. Miami selects the invitees through CRM, although this being the real world, many captains choose to have the final say.

[cechase]

We were on Mercury in March and Century in May, and on both occasions were invited to have dinner at the Captain's Table. These were our first cruises on X, and therefore were not a members of the Captains Club when on Mercury, and new members when on Century. On each cruise, we had a Royal Suite, and we can only surmise that we were invited because we booked a Royal Suite.

 

The first invitation on Mercury was not particularly memorable, because we were hosted by the Hotel Manager, and not the Captain. But, the experience is not to be totally forgotten, since the invitees met in the Roundevous Lounge before hand with complimentary cocktails, and then after everyone was seated we were escorted by the social hostess down the grand staircase to the Captain's Table, and were greeted with place cards with our names on them, and had a very nice dinner, with two wines, white and red both complimentary. However, the Hotel Manager did not have a particularly good personality.

 

The invitation on Century was memorable. While in the Roundevous Lounge, the Captain arrived and visited with us while having cocktails, and then we were escorted to the table. He was witty and a delight to chat with, and a number of the invitees were very interesting and from a number of countrys. It was a grand evening, and on this occasion, a photographer from the upper level took a picture of our table, and a day later, a Century photo brochure was delivered to our cabin with a beautful picture entitled "Captain's Table - M/V Century - 2004" on the right side, and a printed listing of the names and places at the table of the invitees on the right side, together with the date.

 

It was the only time that we ever ate at the late seating!

[Rumorhasit2001]

We got invited to the captains table this past April on Century, It was our first cruise so you can imagine how impressed we were with ourselves :>)) Well during dinner the Captain cleared up why we were singled out- I show boxers and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, and the tote bag I carried with me to the pool has a picture of my Cavie Rumor on it. Well the Captains wife also has a Cavalier and apparently the social director noticed my bag and mentioned to the Captain that there was another Cavie lover on board.The funniest part was after dinner while the social director was escorting us to the show, the Captain stopped me and like a proud father ( we found out he has no "skin-kids") pulled out pics of his dog. Here was this VERY formal, official looking man cooing over his dog.

Everytime Bob(DH) has something to say about my treating Rumor like my baby- I remind him how it was Rumor that got us the Captains table honor

[Trixsea]

Thanks Ginny, great story!!

[cujosmom]

Just back from the Galaxy to Panama Canal. For the first time after many sailings with RCL and Celebrity, we finally received an invitation to dine at the Captain's Table. While seated next to Roxana Mois, the Captain's Club Hostess (I don't think they had a "social hostess" on this sailing), I asked her how they determined the honor. She said it was a "secret" and "many factors" went into the decision.

 

We were booked in an inside "guarantee" cabin -- so it wasn't the fancy cabin

We are Select Captain Club Members -- ??

We went to the Cruise Critic Party and she was there -- ??

We are RCL stockholders -- ??

 

Our dinner was on the last formal night. It started with cocktails in the Rendez-Vous lounge, making the "grand entrance" down the staircase at 8:15 (after everyone in the dining room was seated), the wines with dinner, picture of the table (delivered next day to our cabin), and a long stem rose to the ladies after dinner. I also sat next to a Senior Officier (not the Captain as he was hosting the "farewell toasts" that evening) who was very personable and interesting. Our temporary tablemates were all very interesting and charming, too. We had at least two waiters and two asst. waiters for our table.

 

One thing that Roxana did say to me the next day when I saw her again, was to be sure and introduce myself to the Captain's Club Hostess early-on in our next planned cruise. So maybe that's the "key" to the captain's table.

[MSUSigmaK]

My daughter and I were invited to the Captain's table the first formal night of our 11/29 cruise on Horizon. We had a fantastic time and sat with some great folks who we have kept in contact with.

 

I also asked the Captain's Club Hostess how she made her selection and she also implied that it was a "secret." We met her while we were checking in in Tampa. We are Captain's Club members and we were in a suite, as we have been in the past and we met the hostess then also, so I assumed that this was normal procedure.

 

Later in the cruise, when I again asked, she would only say that she had met those she selected and thought we would all get along well with each other. One couple was selected due to their being in the Celebrity Suite, the rest of us she had met in Tampa. What was surprising was that the couple in the CS were friends of one of the other couples selected.

 

I am glad that we had the opportunity and if given again I would accept the invitation.

[hommebronze]

We were seated with a table full

of braggarts and 'I can top you' people.

 

The next morning,my cruise card did not work so I went to the pursers

office to correct it; the social hostess was there and overheard my

conversation then said to me...would you like to dine with the captain

tonight?....I asked if you get free drinks and she said yes and a free

photo. I humbly accepted :>))

 

So on formal night, my wife and I were led into the dining room by the

social hostess...we had to pass our tablemates who were near captain's

table...we both looked over at them and waved the queen's wave as we

were seated at the captain's table...priceless!

 

Also, we were in inside cabins and our tablemates were suite

people...it just doesn't get better than this

 

http://community.webshots.com/album/235645544qisiEq

[Carol Anne]

Hi, My husband and I have been invited 5 times to the Captains Table. The first time one of the gentlmen at our table had a well known restaurant in NY City and he tipped the Matri'd to get the table invited. Wasn't a good feeling for me. The last two of four times we know that the Social Hostess was responsible because she told us so but this last sailing on Constellation 12/11/04 we believe it came from corporate. Its a lovely memory but even if I had never gone after the first time I would never try to get myself there. It really means so much more to me if they choose us. I had one lady at this last time who was on her first cruise and couldn't figure out why she was there.

 

Thought it was 4 but DH reminded me of a weekend cruise on Majesty where we went also.

[Mary El]

Heavy sigh again. I think I'll always post a reply to CC when I hear about people who get invited to the Captain's table.

 

We are elite members (founders, have booked cruises #12 and #13) always book Concierge Class or outside cabins and once we had a suite and have NEVER been invited to dine at the Captain's table.

 

Oh well ... heavy sigh.

[cruise freak]

Just returned from the Infinity to Hawaii and sat with the Captain on the first formal night. I didn't see him come to the dining room any other time. We had a royal suite and the social hostess came to greet us upon embarkation. Her name is Elizabeth. She is the one that called and sent the invitation for dinner. I sat next to the captain at dinner. I was quite an experience. He gave all of the women at the table a rose. We also received the picture delivered to our cabin. What a nice experience. I talked to him about being a shareholder and he seemed quite impressed. We were also invited later in the cruise for a private bridge tour. We declined as DH had done that before.

[marco]

In retrospect, it's nice to say, "we dined at the captain's table one evening", but it isn't necessarily the highlight of the cruise.

 

Our experience:

 

The captain was delayed, so they did not take orders until his arrival. Dinner was approx 45 minutes behind the rest of the dining room, so we ended up with poor seats after the after dinner show had already started.

 

His English was extrememly limited, so conversation was minimal and very superficial.

 

As we had not dined or met any of the other guests at the table, conversation was minimal between everyone. and actually a bit dull. Since the captain's English was minimal, he did not participate in much table conversation.

 

Yes, it was an "experience", but we enjoyed our evenings with our "regular" table mates much more.

 

I seriously think if asked again, we would "regretfully" decline.

[fireguy091]

Marco,

Your story sounds like a bummer. But for every bad story there many good one's. My friends and I have dined with the Capt. once and would do it again in a heartbeat.... :D It's strange because I haven't heard anyone mention this but our entire table was invited (table for 8)

[tbelian]

I hope not everyone takes my reply here as being 'too negative',but. as shakespeare(sp) once said, 'me thinks they make much ado about nothing'...

 

Never been to the captains table, never thought I missed much. Not a drinker, so the 'free flowing alcohol' would not be a big deal, and, despite what I'm sure people will say about it being 'an honor and a privilege yadda yadda' , I think I'd rather not.

 

On our last Infinity cruise, the social hostess met us at the pier, invited us on some 'special behind the scenes' tours, along with other 'usual' stuff, but NO captain's table invite, although my 'neighbor' did get invited. I guess it's just one of the 'unsolved mysteries' somewhat akin to upgrades, but, I don't fret about it, and really dont worry about missing much.

 

Just my 25 cents, fwiw.....

 

ps, cruise freak, the SOHO on Infinity is Jennifer, not Elizabeth. Here is a picture from someone else's recent Infinity trip (with apologies to hommebronze):

 

http://community.webshots.com/photo/235674893/235667750KwaYeV

[vette2003]

tbelian, you are incorrect. Elisabeth (correct spelling) is the new SOHO of the Infinity as of about 3 weeks ago. Her title is Captain’s Club Hostess. She serves as a dual role as both Social Hostess and Captain’s Club Hostess.

 

Donald

[tbelian]

You could be right. I don't know when hommebronze took his cruise???... The person in the picture is defintely Jennifer, who was the social hostess before.

[joelmarj]

Just got off the Millenium on Sunday. Capt Adamidis is still there. As for who sits at the captains table, we actually got into a conversation with the Maitre'd about it. He said (and this may be just the policy on the Millie),they pick from the suites first. We know this was true on our trip as we happened to see the list of invitees and they were all from the suites. Then the second formal the invitees were based on captains club/frequent cruisers. They went by number of cruises with Celebrity - starting with highest number and worked their way down.

 

It seems that each ship may be run differently. The maitre'd did indicate that gone are the days of the Capt picking "eye candy" as it was no longer politically correct. Now they (at least on the Millie) keep it pretty straight forward.

[ocngypz]

There are no more Social Hostesses. The position has been abolished. Too bad, because at least they tried to put together congenial tables.

[DUCK33]

i dont know how true this is ....so take it for what its worth...but i have read on these boards that they look for out going people who appear to be able to keep the conversation flowwing. the passangers are observed during embarkation.

[SoCalGal]

Our Social Hostess on the Mille (2001 Istanbul to Barcelona)was wonderful. We had a few problems and we ended up dining at the Captain's table on one of the formal evenings. I was taken ill and the hostess stayed with me for much of the time in sick bay. She also had the responsibility of having to inform another couple that their daughter had died in a car accident so they could be taken off the ship and return home. I can't believe that the Social Hostess position has been eliminated....that's a real shame.

[WeBeCruisin']

My wife and I were invited on the second formal night of the Oct. 9 Horizon to Bermuda sailing. The invitation was delivered to our room. We had second seating, but the invitation was for first seating. It was our third Celebrity sailing and we were in an outside cabin. Our regular table was next to the Captain's table and, due to very rough water on the first formal night, close to half of the dining room was empty. I was the only one at our table and received gushingly attentive service from all the service staff, including the maitre d' and the social hostess who chatted with me for maybe ten or fifteen minutes. I'm thinking we got invited out of pity for my being all by myself that night. It was very pleasant and we would do it again.

 

Allen