"Captain's Lounge" Sailaway
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Topic author - Captain
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- Location: Oxfordshire
"Captain's Lounge" Sailaway
On Oriana this Christmas, they were offering "limited places" for passengers to participate in a sailaway from selected ports in the "Captain's Lounge", located directly under the bridge. The package cost £25 per head and included Prosecco, canapes and senior officers in attendance. We did not participate but, to my knowledge, it was only available on the sailaways from Funchal and Lisbon.
I would have thought that it might be worthwhile in places like Venice, New York and Sydney but, unless you have a fetish for mingling with the officers at every opportunity, I am not convinced it is for me.
We did speak to a couple who had done a similar thing out of Venice and they said the Prosecco kept coming until it came out of their ears and they had so many canapes they couldn't manage dinner !
Is this just an Oriana thing, or does anyone know of it being available on other ships ?
I would have thought that it might be worthwhile in places like Venice, New York and Sydney but, unless you have a fetish for mingling with the officers at every opportunity, I am not convinced it is for me.
We did speak to a couple who had done a similar thing out of Venice and they said the Prosecco kept coming until it came out of their ears and they had so many canapes they couldn't manage dinner !
Is this just an Oriana thing, or does anyone know of it being available on other ships ?
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- First Officer
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Re: "Captain's Lounge" Sailaway
This offer was available when we were on Ventura in May but we didn't take up the offer. We usually only go to the "Great British Sail away" as the individual quiz is on at the same time and my husband does like trying the quizzes!
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Topic author - Captain
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- Location: Oxfordshire
Re: "Captain's Lounge" Sailaway
Me too - I was devastated when I only managed to win one on Oriana. Mind you there were 2 or 3 "teams" regularly entering the "individual" quiz this time !!Happydays wrote:This offer was available when we were on Ventura in May but we didn't take up the offer. We usually only go to the "Great British Sail away" as the individual quiz is on at the same time and my husband does like trying the quizzes!
I suppose the Captain's Lounge malarkey can only be available where there is a suitable room and I am not sure whether all the ships have one ? No doubt some knowledgeable soul will advise us. Still, I suppose it's another nice little earner for them.
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- Second Officer
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- Location: Mold
Re: "Captain's Lounge" Sailaway
It was certainly available on Aurora in November when I went to the Med.
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- Senior First Officer
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Re: "Captain's Lounge" Sailaway
Our favourite sailaway treat is being invited to be on the ship's foredeck for sailaway. We've been lucky enough to have a couple of these, and either involving bubbly or hot soup - depending on the location and weather conditions. Our were straight invites - nothing to do with paying.
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- First Officer
- Posts: 1195
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- Location: Nottingham
Re: "Captain's Lounge" Sailaway
On Oceana at Christmas they had a raffle in aid of charity, the top prize was a visit to the bridge at eight bells and to announce the ships location over the PA, I never heard an announcement about the result of the draw, I only knew that someone had won it when a strange voice came over the address system next day.
As for the other prizes it remains a mystery, I would have thought that the result would have been published in the Horizon at least.
I'm not interested in the Captains Lounge, the canapes or the fizzy wine but I would pay to visit the bridge and engine room, strangely there was an invite for anyone to have a walk through the galley. Considering that Mrs. Nora Virus seems to be a regular visitor to P&O ships I think it is a bit of a risk inviting any old Tom, d**k or Harry through the kitchen at a time when we can't have salt & pepper pots on the tables.
As for the other prizes it remains a mystery, I would have thought that the result would have been published in the Horizon at least.
I'm not interested in the Captains Lounge, the canapes or the fizzy wine but I would pay to visit the bridge and engine room, strangely there was an invite for anyone to have a walk through the galley. Considering that Mrs. Nora Virus seems to be a regular visitor to P&O ships I think it is a bit of a risk inviting any old Tom, d**k or Harry through the kitchen at a time when we can't have salt & pepper pots on the tables.
Last edited by Raybosailor on 11 Jan 2017, 08:49, edited 1 time in total.
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- Senior First Officer
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- Location: Gower Peninsula, South Wales
Re: "Captain's Lounge" Sailaway
We have never been invited to the fore deck for sailaway, but have been invited to the bridge on several occasions, including the bridge wings which were great fun.
Gill
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Topic author - Captain
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Re: "Captain's Lounge" Sailaway
I'm envious, I've never been invited anywhere, even into the public lavatories on board !!
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- Site Admin
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Re: "Captain's Lounge" Sailaway
Too much informationqbman1 wrote:I'm envious, I've never been invited anywhere, even into the public lavatories on board !!
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- Senior First Officer
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Re: "Captain's Lounge" Sailaway
We've been so very lucky, and we are so grateful - we've had a couple of bridge invitations, special Captain's invitation afternoon tea, and a couple of fore deck invites for sailaway. The fore deck invites are our absolute favourite. When we did the bridge trips, OH would insist on standing on the plate glass floor bit on the bridge wing - and I felt distinctly ill at ease, as we were at sea at the time.GillD46 wrote:We have never been invited to the fore deck for sailaway, but have been invited to the bridge on several occasions, including the bridge wings which were great fun.
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Topic author - Captain
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Re: "Captain's Lounge" Sailaway
We were invited to the Chief Engineer's cocktail party once, but it hardly compares with the invites Gill and Em have been lucky enough to receive. Bah !david63 wrote:Too much informationqbman1 wrote:I'm envious, I've never been invited anywhere, even into the public lavatories on board !!
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- Senior First Officer
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Re: "Captain's Lounge" Sailaway
Ah yes, well - despite the fact that we've had numerous Cunard outings, never an invite or treat with them. The kindliness came from Celebrity. I'm not cruise-line bashing, just being informative. We also had to 'eat with the crew' on Celeb at the Capt's table, which was nicely done.
That meal started with drinks in what I think was Cellar Masters, and the female guests were each given a nicely presented red rose. Then we had to walk along to the MDR (lower floor), and then pose at the table for photos (which were another little gift), and then it was nosh time. There would have been after dinner drinks, too - except that we had other plans.
That meal started with drinks in what I think was Cellar Masters, and the female guests were each given a nicely presented red rose. Then we had to walk along to the MDR (lower floor), and then pose at the table for photos (which were another little gift), and then it was nosh time. There would have been after dinner drinks, too - except that we had other plans.
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- Senior First Officer
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Re: "Captain's Lounge" Sailaway
A lot of our bridge invitations were when we dined at the Captan's table. Twice we were lucky enough to dine with the Captain and his wife - for the whole cruise each time - and then bridge visits were very frequent. We went to the Captain's quarters then for a very private party. Another time, one of the Captains was again on the ship, though we weren't in his table, and we bumped into his wife, so she invited us to the bridge because we had got on very well on the previous cruise, when we were dining with them.
We also went to the bridge when we renewed our vows and when we did a backstage tour.
We also went to the bridge when we renewed our vows and when we did a backstage tour.
Gill
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- Senior First Officer
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Re: "Captain's Lounge" Sailaway
It sounds like you have had some wonderful times. However, inasmuchas some folk like kippers and some don't, that much involvement with staff wouldn't 'float my boat'.
We do sometimes have a meal or two with cruisepals, but we prefer a table for two and peace and quiet when it comes to nosh time.
We do sometimes have a meal or two with cruisepals, but we prefer a table for two and peace and quiet when it comes to nosh time.
Last edited by Boris+ on 14 Jan 2017, 09:20, edited 1 time in total.
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- Senior Second Officer
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Re: "Captain's Lounge" Sailaway
I once said "hello" to one of the Headliners dancers
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- Senior First Officer
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- Location: Gower Peninsula, South Wales
Re: "Captain's Lounge" Sailaway
Hasn't happened for years - we are not on the same cruise line these days. But it was fun at the time.
Last edited by GillD46 on 14 Jan 2017, 11:57, edited 1 time in total.
Gill
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- Commodore
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Re: "Captain's Lounge" Sailaway
Best we can manage is that the Captain once asked if he could eat with us. Naturally we said yes
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- First Officer
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Re: "Captain's Lounge" Sailaway
Love itkaymar wrote:I once said "hello" to one of the Headliners dancers
Maureen
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- Second Officer
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Re: "Captain's Lounge" Sailaway
Was that going in or out of the theatre?kaymar wrote:I once said "hello" to one of the Headliners dancers
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- Senior Second Officer
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Re: "Captain's Lounge" Sailaway
Both - I was just so lucky.
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Topic author - Captain
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Re: "Captain's Lounge" Sailaway
Did I ever mention that we once had lunch with two of the Headliners' girls.........?!kaymar wrote:I once said "hello" to one of the Headliners dancers
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- Deputy Captain
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Re: "Captain's Lounge" Sailaway
.........only in about 10% of your 11000 posts!qbman1 wrote:Did I ever mention that we once had lunch with two of the Headliners' girls.........?!kaymar wrote:I once said "hello" to one of the Headliners dancers
John
Trainee Pensioner since 2000
Trainee Pensioner since 2000
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Topic author - Captain
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Re: "Captain's Lounge" Sailaway
That's OK then - I must look out the pictures !
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- Cadet
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Re: "Captain's Lounge" Sailaway
Before Carnival this wa a standard treat for suite passengers. The Americans have clearly decided profit before customer experience