Special Nights on the 7 night Fantasy

[lolomarie]

Based on others previous experiences it seems that in this Covid era of cruising the special nights are downplayed but some guests are still participating. I’m wondering what nights are being observed/semi-observed on the 7 night Western Fantasy cruises?

Night 2 formal optional?
When is the downplayed Pirate night?
Is there still a captains gala where you get to meet with the captain? Complementary drinks in the atrium?
When would the optional semi-formal night be?

Thanks for your help. We’ve decided we want to participate even if events aren’t what they used to be.

 

[Douglas Dubh]

I was on the Fantasy February 19 to 26.

Formal night was Day 2. Pirate night was Day 4, which was the day we were in Tortola. It wasn’t announced but some characters and guests wore pirate themed clothes. Pretty sure Day 5 was semi formal. Day 6 was Star Wars. Didn’t hear anything about complimentary drinks.

 

[jcarwash]

I was also on the Fantasy Feb 19 sailing.

No captain's gala reception/complimentary drinks. :-(

As noted above, no specific pirate night on day 4 Tortola but people still dressed up and the characters were in their pirate costumes.

For Star Wars Day at Sea, there was Star Wars fireworks on Monday day 3 (day at sea) and then the Summon the Force show on Day 6 (the actual SWDAS), both with distanced viewing spots in the main pool deck area. Areas outside the pool deck and on deck 12 were open for wherever you wanted to stand. And there was lots of people in costume for SWDAS all day and for dinner.

Formal night was day 2 and semi-formal night was day 5. Both were listed in the app navigator.

 

[Kwami]

Back in 2018 or 2019, "Captain's Gala" was turned into a menu that's served on the 2nd night at Royal Court. It's no longer a ship-wide menu. I'm betting that the reception with the captain isn't going to come back.

 

[mamaburrito]

Only cruises 8 nights and longer have the Captain’s reception.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Only cruises 8 nights and longer have the Captain’s reception.

And that's for the Gold & Platinum Castaway Club members only.

 

[mamaburrito]

I’m only Silver and they’ve always been held in the atrium. Isn’t that a separate thing?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I’m only Silver and they’ve always been held in the atrium. Isn’t that a separate thing?

The reception that's only on 8 night and longer cruises is the CC reception for Gold & Platinum members.

There used to be a Captain's reception in the atrium on most other cruises, but it's not been done for several years now. This one was typically just a champagne cocktail and the officers mingling in the atrium prior to the Captain's Gala dinner seatings.

 

[Geomom]

The reception that's only on 8 night and longer cruises is the CC reception for Gold & Platinum members.

There used to be a Captain's reception in the atrium on most other cruises, but it's not been done for several years now. This one was typically just a champagne cocktail and the officers mingling in the atrium prior to the Captain's Gala dinner seatings.

We had the atrium Captains reception on formal night (day 2) on our 2016 Wonder (Alaska) and 2018 Magic (Baltics) cruises. The 2018 one already had switched to individual menus in each MDR vs having Captains gala dinner in all 3, etc. I remember seeing 3-4 types of cocktails being handed out for free. Did they stop doing them pre-covid or since they started sailing again post Covid?

 

[Kwami]

We had the atrium Captains reception on formal night (day 2) on our 2016 Wonder (Alaska) and 2018 Magic (Baltics) cruises. The 2018 one already had switched to individual menus in each MDR vs having Captains gala dinner in all 3, etc. I remember seeing 3-4 types of cocktails being handed out for free. Did they stop doing them pre-covid or since they started sailing again post Covid?

I just checked my personal navigators' from the 12/7/2019 Fantasy cruise and there was a "Captain's Welcome Reception" on the second night at 5:15pm in the atrium. It was a 30-minute event, but there's no description for it. Perhaps that's what you mean?

EDIT: Looks like there was a second iteration at 7:30pm for 45 minutes. I guess to cover both dinner seatings.

 

[Geomom]

I just checked my personal navigators' from the 12/7/2019 Fantasy cruise and there was a "Captain's Welcome Reception" on the second night at 5:15pm in the atrium. It was a 30-minute event, but there's no description for it. Perhaps that's what you mean?

EDIT: Looks like there as a second iteration at 7:30pm for 45 minutes. I guess to cover both dinner seatings.

Yes, free drinks in the atrium with officers/captain that you could meet.

 

[Kwami]

Yes, free drinks in the atrium with officers/captain that you could meet.

I guess it's another victim of Covid, then. Maybe they'll bring it back once they lift the mask mandates.

 

[mamaburrito]

We had one in 2020 on the WBPC cruise. Looking at the navigators for the most recent PC cruise they had it too.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I guess it's another victim of Covid, then. Maybe they'll bring it back once they lift the mask mandates.

I suppose it could be because of the indoor masking requirement with large crowds. The atrium is actually fairly small to accommodate the number of people who are headed to dinner for the reception.

 

[Kwami]

I suppose it could be because of the indoor masking requirement with large crowds. The atrium is actually fairly small to accommodate the number of people who are headed to dinner for the reception.

Well, and you can only take your mask off to drink indoors if you're stationary and socially distanced. That would be difficult or impossible at an event as described here. I guess they could do it without the drinks, but as you say, they're probably also trying to avoid large crowds indoors. Most (all?) of the atrium special events have been canceled since the restart, or else they were moved up onto the pool deck.

 

[Me'Me 9]

I just checked my personal navigators' from the 12/7/2019 Fantasy cruise and there was a "Captain's Welcome Reception" on the second night at 5:15pm in the atrium. It was a 30-minute event, but there's no description for it. Perhaps that's what you mean?

EDIT: Looks like there was a second iteration at 7:30pm for 45 minutes. I guess to cover both dinner seatings.

I recall those gatherings too. I thought they correlated with formal night ( or it was a coincidence). Comp cocktails and wine for 30 minutes.

 

[Kwami]

I recall those gatherings too. I thought they correlated with formal night ( or it was a coincidence). Comp cocktails and wine for 30 minutes.

Yes, they took place on formal night for that cruise. The change of menu systems happened some time in 2018 or 2019 and so there was no longer a "Captain's Gala" night. It's just the 2nd menu at Royal Court, now.

 

[Geomom]

Yes, they took place on formal night for that cruise. The change of menu systems happened some time in 2018 or 2019 and so there was no longer a "Captain's Gala" night. It's just the 2nd menu at Royal Court, now.r

The menu change started on the Magic when they added Rapunzel's Royal Table--they already had 2 menus for that restaurant, and then assigned 2 to the rest of them...what used to be Prince and Princess, and Captain's Gala. Magic had this in place sometime in 2018, we were on an August cruise and had the menus like that. Not sure when the other ships changed. It did not affect the welcome reception though which was held on formal night...but makes sense why they wouldn't do them right now, lots of people mingling in the atrium while drinking with no masks. I'll miss it though...free drinks!

 

[lolomarie]

Thanks for everyone’s replies! Looks like another thing gone away. Oh well, we’ll still enjoy our time aboard.

 

[Kwami]

Thanks for everyone’s replies! Looks like another thing gone away. Oh well, we’ll still enjoy our time aboard.

Well, now that DCL has lifted almost all of the mask requirements, maybe they can bring back the Captain's Welcome Reception!