captains table

debbie_lovescruising@.com · #1 (**permalink**) March 28th, 2009, 02:22 PM

I have allways wanted to sit at the Captains table. Has anyone sat with him and is it worth it?

felix_the_cat · #2 (**permalink**) March 28th, 2009, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by debbie_lovescruising@.com

I have allways wanted to sit at the Captains table. Has anyone sat with him and is it worth it?

We did once - back forever ago on your very first RCL cruise. Things were much different then and we enjoyed it immensely. I'm not sure we would now - but we haven't been asked since.

Gwynne · #3 (**permalink**) March 28th, 2009, 03:49 PM

I would'nt mind sitting at the Captains table of the Liberty. He seems like a nice funny guy. 8)

critterchick · #4 (**permalink**) March 28th, 2009, 03:49 PM

I'm not sure what you mean when you ask, "is it worth it?" You don't have to pay for the privilege, and all you're giving up is a meal someplace else on the ship.

We've been invited several times, all on Monarch of the SEas, and it has been a blast. I think the usual setting is stuffy, but one of the two Captains and the Hotel Directors who have hosted those tables have always been relaxed and fun. Wine has flowed freely, cocktails and after dinner drinks are on the house, the conversation is usually a lot of fun, and the food is better than the regular stuff that comes out of the kitchen. What's not to like?

And it's fun to mess with the snobby ones who sit there, too. I never say how many cruises I have, but am often the most travelled cruiser at the table. I once sat next to a woman who was making a huge deal over her 50th cruise credit. Imagine her mortification when I got the bottle of wine for my 70th at the P/D party the next day.

thecruisequeen · #5 (**permalink**) March 28th, 2009, 04:32 PM

Sat at the Captains table on the Enchantment with Captain Screko Ban from Croatia.

Turned down an invitation once.

I guess it depends on who the captain is and who else is on the table.

cruisermeg · #6 (**permalink**) March 28th, 2009, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thecruisequeen

Sat at the Captains table on the Enchantment with Captain Screko Ban from Croatia.

Turned down an invitation once.

I guess it depends on who the captain is and who else is on the table.

you dined with Shrek??? (mom and i coiined that for him on our B2B..but it's an insult to shreak...sorry...IMO he spent too much time preening....!)

We've never been asked---i think Capt George from Serenade would have been fun (cowabunga) and maybe Capt Ryan (our "norwegian cousin")...and Leif Otto Bang maybe-cause i like saying that name....

Royalchump · #7 (**permalink**) March 28th, 2009, 04:47 PM

We have had the pleasure eating with Captain Bang, his wife, and son it was a great experience. I met Mrs Bang in the hall and had a nice conversation, the next day an invite.

thecruisequeen · #8 (**permalink**) March 28th, 2009, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruisermeg

Quote:

Originally Posted by thecruisequeen

Sat at the Captains table on the Enchantment with Captain Screko Ban from Croatia.

Turned down an invitation once.

I guess it depends on who the captain is and who else is on the table.

you dined with Shrek??? (mom and i coiined that for him on our B2B..but it's an insult to shreak...sorry...IMO he spent too much time preening....!)

We've never been asked---i think Capt George from Serenade would have been fun (cowabunga) and maybe Capt Ryan (our "norwegian cousin")...and Leif Otto Bang maybe-cause i like saying that name....

Shrek?????

Shrek has a great personality!! 8)

I would like to dine at Captain Johnny's table (Marnier and future Allure) I hear he is a nice guy and very funny.

Capt. Bang was on vaca when I was on the Navigator.
He does have an awesome last name though

Manuel · #9 (**permalink**) March 28th, 2009, 05:23 PM

We have had dinner with the captain twice on Celebrity. The people that sat with us were very pleasant both timis and we had nice conversatios and plenty of wine . We enjoyed talking with the captain on both ocasions.
We will accept the next invatation when it comes our way.

TM

WildRover · #10 (**permalink**) March 28th, 2009, 05:24 PM

Alright, how do you graciously turn down an invitation to dine with the captain? This is something I have wanted to know for a while but was afraid of getting flamed for asking. Mind you I have no problem with it but if others in my party did, I wouldn't force them. So .... how do you graciously turn down an invitation to dine with the captain?

Manuel · #11 (**permalink**) March 28th, 2009, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildRover

Alright, how do you graciously turn down an invitation to dine with the captain? This is something I have wanted to know for a while but was afraid of getting flamed for asking. Mind you I have no problem with it but if others in my party did, I wouldn't force them. So .... how do you graciously turn down an invitation to dine with the captain?

Just say (no thank you)

TM

thecruisequeen · #12 (**permalink**) March 28th, 2009, 05:37 PM

Yep call the number that is on the invitation and say you will not be attending.

8)

Ephraim · #13 (**permalink**) March 28th, 2009, 05:43 PM

We've never been asked. Best we ever did was a bottle sent over by the Hotel director was a member of the "Family."

coxswain · #14 (**permalink**) March 28th, 2009, 05:53 PM

We had the pleasure of having Cpt Teo at our table on the IOS last year - and had a lovely meal and he was very funny

jj.....

Mike L · #15 (**permalink**) March 30th, 2009, 09:11 AM

I have never been asked. Anyone know how people are selected to dine with the Captain

Royalchump · #16 (**permalink**) March 30th, 2009, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike L

I have never been asked. Anyone know how people are selected to dine with the Captain

That is a secret formula, We think it can come from the Dining Room, the CL , or a high ranking officer.

felix_the_cat · #17 (**permalink**) March 30th, 2009, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Royalchump

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike L

I have never been asked. Anyone know how people are selected to dine with the Captain

That is a secret formula, We think it can come from the Dining Room, the CL , or a high ranking officer.

I have been told it's up to the Capt. social hostess. She talks to people as she wanders the ship and when she finds anyone she thinks would be a "fit" (talkative, friendly, outgoing) she recommends them.

Trip · #18 (**permalink**) March 30th, 2009, 07:53 PM

Many years ago, on the Majesty. our entire table was invited to dine with the Captain....we had a wonderful 3 hr dinner..we finally left the dr, when the crew sat down there to eat....

Our dinner was white glove service with a special menu and wine list. The table talk was lively! We discussed the "new" ship coming soon, the Rhapsody, and when asked who the godmother would be, he said that is always a big secret

The Capt. left with my husband to grab a smoke, that's how chummy we all got, and the next day we had souvenir pictures and menu, in our mailbox. We had a wonderful time, and, is a fond cruise memory.....

We figured the mait'r d, got us the invite, so the whole table tipped him well....

gottacruz · #19 (**permalink**) March 31st, 2009, 12:22 AM

Hi guys, i asked the maitre'd once, how you get to sit at the captains table, an he said book the penthouse suite, then you might get an invitation.

Surfguyxxx1 · #20 (**permalink**) April 4th, 2009, 08:03 AM

I sat next to the captain's table one time; does that count?

Robbie H · #21 (**permalink**) April 4th, 2009, 01:07 PM

We were invited to dine with the Hotel Director and Activities Manager last month (same format as with Captain) and it was great. In our case it must have been because we were the top repeat cruisers on that particular cruise since it was the second night.

As for the formula with the Captain, the only time it happened to me it was based on a recommendation from a Head Waiter (he wouldn't admit it but we had him for two cruises in a row and I'd bet $ on it). It was also a nice experience with Capt. Sullivan when he had the "Legend o/t Seas."

debbie_lovescruising@.com · #22 (**permalink**) April 6th, 2009, 09:09 PM

sounds fun sitting with the top dog so to speak. If I get invited I will say yes yes yes.....

barryandtrish · #23 (**permalink**) April 7th, 2009, 08:09 AM

I have had many a meal with the captain..Captain Morgan that is.

soccernut1984 · #24 (**permalink**) April 29th, 2009, 01:21 AM

We were on Serenade of the Seas 2/7/09-2/14/09. We sat at the Captain's table the second formal night. I don't know how we were chosen, but had an invitation sitting in our room when we came back for our activities. The captain of the ship was Stig Nielsen at the time. He was very nice, and talked with us the entire time we ate. The food was better, with nicer presentations. A group picture was taken (and we got to keep it for free!) Plus we got to keep the menu, which he signed. This really made my first cruise something special!

WildRover · #25 (**permalink**) April 29th, 2009, 10:56 AM

Hi soccernut.
Welcome to CruiseMates!

Umm...you got to sit with the Capt on your first cruise?!!!

Wow. Talk about Beginners Luck.

How'd you do in the casino?

soccernut1984 · #26 (**permalink**) April 29th, 2009, 11:22 AM

I pretty much broke even in the casino. I only played slots though.

addicted2 · #27 (**permalink**) May 2nd, 2009, 07:13 PM

Our entire table was invited to sit at the Captain's table in Sept. on the Liberty. We ate with the staff captain a very nice young man fron Norway don't remember his name. Have no idea how we were invited other than one of the couples fron Israel had a problem with their wine service the first night and complained to guest relations. It was a wonderful evening, a definate once in a lifetime experience. We were a very close knit group of strangers at our table and hit it off and did a lot of things together. We all got a group picture and signed menus as souvenirs. We also were invited to the bridge for a private tour (the only tour given by the Staff Captain himself) Don't know if we will ever be that lucky again so we really appreciated the experience we had.

Pocono Pug · #28 (**permalink**) May 4th, 2009, 02:44 PM

I have eaten with the Captain...... Capn Crunch that is

joeyanddavid · #29 (**permalink**) May 4th, 2009, 03:04 PM

I have done it once .. but with the Hotel Director at the head of the table..
My next cruise on the Mariner I have heard I have a 50/50 chance of doing it again.. I will have to wait and see.

Royalchump · #30 (**permalink**) May 6th, 2009, 09:21 PM

On our last cruise, they had a platinum and diamond breakfast , a senior officer it was a nice touch.