文章基本信息

标题：Captain's table a lifelong memory - Letters - Letter to the Editor
作者：Jacqueline Major
期刊名称：Cruise Travel
印刷版ISSN：0199-5111
出版年度：2001
卷号：Dec 2001
出版社：World Publishing Co.

Captain's table a lifelong memory - Letters - Letter to the Editor

Jacqueline Major

I thoroughly enjoyed Pam Kane's article on the captain's table ("Messing With The Help" Cruise Travel, October 2001), and would like to share my experience as a guest at the captain's table on a Princess cruise.

In September of 1995 we sailed on the Crown Princess for an 11-day Panama Canal cruise. There was open seating on our first night onboard, so we did not sit at our assigned table. The next day we walked through the dining room after lunch looking for the table we had been assigned to. Just as we found our table for six, the maitre d' came over to us and asked if we would like to change to a larger round table in the center of the dining room. This was clearly a better location, and since we had requested a table for eight when booking the cruise, we agreed.

When we arrived for dinner, which was the first formal night of the cruise, there were two other couples at the table, and it was set for seven. We all speculated about who the seventh passenger might be. We found out when Captain Cesare Ditel arrived a few minutes later that the maitre d' had placed us at the captain's table!

What a wonderful experience. We were seated at the captain's table for the entire cruise, and we had the pleasure of Captain Ditel's company for six of the 11 nights. We received outstanding service and special dishes ordered by the captain, as well as wine with dinner and a complimentary photo taken with Captain Ditel. We were also invited to a cocktail party in the captain's suite one night prior to dinner.

One of the couples at our table was also from Long Island and live 30 minutes from us. We have become close friends and often reminisce about how we met at the captain's table! We have planned another cruise together, and we eagerly await our upcoming 10-day Caribbean cruise aboard the Ocean Princess.

We have taken eight cruises since 1993, seven of them on Princess. While every one has been wonderful, we will always look back on our Panama Canal cruise with a special feeling, knowing how fortunate we are to have had this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Jacqueline Major, Coram, NY