Captains cocktail social?

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Soprrrano

Guest
Hi
Has anyone been to the Captains' cocktail party? Do you know anything about it? I called Princess to ask about having dinner at the Captain's table, like I had seen on "The Love Boat" but she said for security reasons he doesn't dine with the guests anymore. She said that there is something called the Captains' cocktail party. Also, this is my first cruise. What do you think I will like the most? What should I not miss? What should I avoid? I'm going to Alaska on Saphire. I've purchased the Frommer's "Alaska Ports of Call" book, booked excursions, read up on the ship and what to see, i.e. the comedians are supposed to be great, the different restaurants the bars, classes, etc. We board at noon in Seattle, but should we get there at 11am or will we be standing around for an hour with our luggage? Should we dine early so that we can get to see the shows and should we arrive to the shows early to get a good seat?

Thanks for all your suggestions!
 
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Cruise cutie

Guest
Hello and =welcome to cruise @ddicts..we love Princess cruise lines but have only done the Caribbean,so I have to pass on alaska questions..BUT if you scroll down this column and go back up to 2-3 pages you will get an incredible array of Alaska info on Princess PLUS..if you go UP to the forum banner theire is an "Alaska Forum" and click to there too...:grin..as to the Captain's Cocktail Party..there is a gala Champagne and mixed drink party for the passengers on a Formal night.. and it is truly smashing..and lot's of photo ops for Formal posed photography..we always purchase some as they are lovely and the kids always want Momma and Poppa photos for theirs to keep..Princess tends to more formal clothes..Dark suits / tuxes and women in chi chi cocktail dresses / gowns..if you want to be more dressed down is fine..but as a rule they do tend to be dressier on Formal nights..2 of them...on a 7 day cruise..we dine at 2nd seating fixed traditional so as to sneak in a nap and enjoy Sailaway and to stay up later..but that is a very personal choice thing.we go to the 2nd show or casino after the Meal in the Dining Room..Have a wonderful time..Please post on the main Community board as well..the answers tend to be much faster at times there too..Happy research...:thumb and you're going to have a great cruise...:)..Joanne
 
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CruiseAholic

Guest
Also, unfortunately this won't apply to you, but there is a cocktail social with the Captain and Officers for the Captains Circle (Past Princess Passengers), you'll be invited to this on your next Princess cruise. Additionally, there is a cocktail party / luncheon for the Most Travelled, and if you like cruising (can't imagine you won't), maybe some day you'll be invited!

Princess hasn't had the Captains Table for a good many years now. My last Celebrity cruise, the Captains Table was still there, although, he did not dine there every evening.

Enjoy...Alaska is spectacular
 
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edwardv

Guest
Hi and welcome aboard! I am sure that you will really love your trip, very beautiful. re: The Captain's Cocktail party - there is a "welcome aboard party" for all passengers, usually the second night of the cruise, open to all passengers with free champagne and a chance to get your photo taken with the captain (not free!) re: dining with the captain, usually there are several "hosted" tables by the senior officers, but these normally are assigned to passengers with a combination of lots of prior cruises and with the most expensive cabins. But sometimes first timers are invited. re: the shows, there are normally two shows, one for each dinner seating, so you will be able to see the shows with no problem.

Re: Alaska, first it is beautiful, you really can't go wrong with the excursions as long as you pick what YOU like. Do plan on getting rained on at least once - just do like the Alaskans do - ignore it, just have a hooded (light weight) rain jacket with you and keep going. NOTHING shuts down for the rain! With the Frommers book you have a good resource for the key things - I particularly enjoy the Totem bight park with show, the train ride and just wandering thru some of the small towns. I hope you will be able to take one of the inland excursions to Denali, it is special, but if not the cruise itself is wonderful.
 
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Soprrrano

Guest
Thanks for all of the advise! Snowblower suggested that we get there one hour before departure so I won't have to wait in 2 hours lines, but I guess I'm just afraid that if I get there later then the gym classes, lectures, other classes, and reservations at Sabatinis will be gone. Did you find this to be true?
 
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sailboat

Guest
We took a cruise (Western Carib) out of Baltimore last spring and our travel agent warned us not to show up right at the embarkation time when "everyone and their rubber floaties" would be there. But did we listen? So we joined the general jam up and stood in line (even tho we had "priority" boarding. Seems like everyone who had priority boarding decided to show up at the same time. If we'd waited a bit (about two hours into embarkation) we could have just walked right on.

You can sign up for lots of things in advance online and if you do miss something, check again for cancellations which always seem to happen.

Hope you love cruising as much as we do --- 19 and counting. (PS The only time we were seated at the Captain's table was on our first cruise. How we got there we'll never know--we kept expecting someone to come up and say it was all a mistake, but no one did. Maybe the same will happend for you.)
 
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Soprrrano

Guest
Thank you for your email. I'll go ahead and take your advice and not show up at the scheduled time but wait until one hour before. Thanks!
 
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Sea-soned1

Guest
Soprrrano,
Don't wait that long. Part of the fun of going on a cruise is actually getting on the ship!!!! You get on and find your cabin, have lunch in the Horizon Court, and familiarize yourself with the ship. There ARE great long lines at the beginning of embarkation time, but they are kind of fun, as everyone is in a good mood, and can't WAIT to get on board. If you don't want to wait in line, and get there early, you could wait til one o clock or so, and be just after the really long lines. Most of the people get there early because they have to check out of their hotels around eleven or twelve, and everyone is EXCITED about getting there, too.
Hope you have a GREAT time.............and don' t deny yourselves one of the fun things about a cruise!
 
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Soprrrano

Guest
I never thought about that. The people in line are the people I'm about to spend a week with, so it will be fun getting to know them there.
THAB\I was planning to get there around 11 which is one hour before they board. Is that too early?
 
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Jeana

Guest
Soprrrano,

Do not worry about signing up for lessons, etc. There will be plenty of time to do that. You won't even know what is available until the newsletter comes out each evening. The only reservations you should make immediately would be for the alternate dining and spa services. I think you can reserve spa services on line now. Not sure about the alternate dining (reserving on line) but I'm pretty sure you'll be able to get a reservation for some time during the cruise. Just try to do that as soon as you can. They usually take reservations outside the restaurant on the first day when people come aboard.

You'll love it! Enjoy and don't try to do "everything" they have to offer! You won't be able to.
 
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pormond

Guest
Hi Soprrrano - I hope that you will be flying in the day before to Seattle. It is such a beauftiful city with much to offer. Dinner at the Space Needle is a much. A little spendy - but well worth it. The Seattle Center has alot to see and do. Of course the famed Pike Street Market is one of our favorites. Puget Sound is beautiful. A lot of diverity. We are Washington residents and drive up to Seattle a couple of times a year for the weekend, there is always something going on. Can't wait to hear about your cruise. This will be our first cruise too.

Patricia
 
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Sea-soned1

Guest
We usually try to get to the ship between 11 and 11:45. The excitement just builds. If you DO come into the port city the day before, I hope you either have a room with a view of the port, or can get outside early and watch the ship come in...................like at around 5 AM. It is SO exciting. Then, you can go back to sleep, wake up, have breakfast, get your luggage together............and wander down to the pier. The ship has to clear customs, and the cleaning staff has to clean the ship after everyone disembarks, so it does take until noon or so before you can get on. This is our 12th cruise, and it is STILL just as exciting as it ever was to actually get ON the ship!
Alaska is very beautiful, and I know you'll enjoy it. We like to go to the early show, as we are not late nighters. We eat early, get to the show a half hour or so, early, and then check out the night clubs or the casinos. A lot of passengers prefer to do the late stuff..............late dinner, late shows, etc, in order to have a liesurely cocktail hour, or late shore excursion. It just depends on your style.
We have never had dinner with the Captain...............except he was eating at the same time we were, in the Horizon Court, one night. :) We have been to a few of t he cocktail parties, which were fun, but not real exciting. Sometimes the Cruise Director introduces some of the staff, and wishes you a great cruise but that often takes place at the first show of the cruise, too. Muster Drill, where you learn about how to use your life jackets, and how to evacuate, in an emergency, seems to always take place around 4 pm, just before Sailaway. There will be instructions in your cabin, and everyone HAS to go.............Federal safety regulations......(take your camera)....and then.....................party time!!!
Have a great cruise!
 
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Einstein

Guest
I also echo getting there early as the excitement of getting onboard will FAR ourweigh any of the boring details. We have been to a few Captains Cocktail parties and will do a few MORE most likely but if U have other plans for that timeframe then IMO do them as that 30 mins and FREE drink are NOT worth delaying another scheduled activity U might have scheduled. Just My =rwocents worth on the subject. :thumb Enjoy that 1st Princess Cruise and I am sure it WILL NOT be your last . :dance

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red stripe

Guest
and the last Captains lunch we did.... we happened to be on a ship with the least Charismatic Captain we have eversailed with :grin... he was notable at this one for keeping his head down and getting out of there as fast as he could.... Einstein... what was his name?
 
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