"Peg Caldwell-Ott" wrote
> I enjoy being at the Captain's Table, or
> being invited to visit the Bridge, or finding a bottle of wine or an
> appetizer in my cabin with a little card that tells me someone on
> board still cares!!! I am used to it and I expect it. To me, that is
> a VERY large part of what a voyage is all about!!!
While I understand the way you feel, my feelings about this are totally
different.
I have turned down way more offers for "dinner with the captain" than I ever
accepted. I am usually traveling with friends and I don't get to see them
that often so I like the time we have together. I find "captain's dinners"
to be a bit stultifying. How much fun can it be for the ship's officers to
answer the same questions every week... week in and week out? Where are you
from... how did you end up choosing your career.... do you miss your family.
On one cruise a few years ago, I accepted the invitation to the Captain's
table on condition that my entire dining table be invited. Imagine my
surprise when that happened. It was fun... but face it, how much
conversation can you have at a table for 14? You can't hear half the people
you are sitting with.
One other memorable cruise I accepted an invitation to a private cocktail
party in the Captain's quarters. Nice.... about 30 people, milling about,
chugging free drinks as fast as possible and making small talk with
strangers.
(OK... this is a personal phobia and peeve of mine. It seems that at any
Captain's Party with free drinks, many people act like they have never seen
alcohol before and have to gulp down as many drinks as possible in the
shortest period of time. If these parties are supposed to be "elegant and
sophisticated", why do they more resemble a college chug-a-lug contest in
formal clothes?)
When you stay in a hotel for a week, few people expect to be invited to dine
with the hotel manager. If you purchase a one week tour package to
DisneyWorld, you don't expect to meet and socialize with any of the property
management. I guess the closest thing would be to have your picture taken
with Mickey Mouse... instead of the Captain.
I guess I am more of a "modern" cruiser rather than a "traditional ocean
liner" type of person.
BTW - it is good to see Peg posting again. For those who weren't around
years ago, Peg was one of the driving forces behind the organization for the
first GGC.
--
George Leppla http://www.CruiseMaster.com
January 20, 2008 - GGC2008 - http://cruisemaster.com/adventure.htm
October 26, 2008 Sleazy 5 http://www.cruisemaster.com/sleazy5.htm
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