I have to assume there is by tight security surrounding access to the bridge and the ship’s propulsion areas. Given sufficient time to make such a request, what’s the probability of a passenger getting a tour/access to either of these areas?
Carnival allows it but you have to pay for it and IIRC, no pictures are allowed. http://carnival-news.com/2009/07/23/carnivals-new-behind-the-fun-tours-offer-unique-insight-into-lines-shipboard-operations
From my experience on cruise ships people are shown the bridge. I haven’t been there my self but I saw passengers on the bridge on many separate occasions during my last cruise. I am sure it depends on the cruise line and how many cruises you have taken with that cruise line. You will probably have better luck on a ship with 800 passengers vs a ship with 2500 passengers.
Yes, princess cruises have on board tours which take you into the hidden areas such as the laundry, print room, engine room, all the service areas, kitchens, and the bridge. It’s not cheap at around $150 per head, but may be worth it if you are interested in that type of thing. You can book the tour while you are on board, no need to book too far ahead.
I went on the Princess tour on Pacific Princess. It wasn’t really worth the money.
I got to tour the control room of a Celebrity Cruse line ship. I had our travel agent ask before we got on the ship. And the day we got on the ship I gave the Purser’s a letter to the Chief Engineer. In the letter I asked the Chief Engineer if it was at all possible I would like to tour the Engine Room. I explained that I had held a wide open US license as a Third Assistant Engineer and had not been in a ships engine room for over 20 years. And as I had sailed on geared reduction steam ships I would like to see an engine room on a Gas Turbine ship.
The 2nd day out to see I received a note to be at the Purser’s at 2 in the afternoon for the tour.
I was met by an apprentice or Midshipman studying to be an 3rd. I was only allowed in the control room and he showed me the lay out. It was mind blowing the difference to what I had experienced.
$95, according to the link - seems rather a swingeing price.
Captive audience. Would you rather soak in a dirty hot tube ogling women who will not have sex with you, or stuff yourself to gluttony on moderate grade cruise ship food, or spend time looking at overpriced goods in the ship’s shopping areas?
Or get to see the titantic power systems that drive an entire floating city in the ocean?
The link is from 2009, my quote was from 28 days ago, and what’s a “swingeing price”?
Bear in mind it’s not compulsory, if you don’t like the price you don’t pay.
I have done several cruises and never soaked in a dirty hot tube (sic) ogling women, or stuffed myself to gluttony, or ate moderate grade food while on a cruise ship. As a matter of fact the food is very good when compared to land based restaurants, and I eat enough to feel satisfied, and no more.
The shops are not overly expensive, I bought a watch for $280.00 that I saw later in a UK shop for $800.00. You never mentioned the nightly shows, starring professional dancers and entertainers from around the world, or the fully equipped gymnasium, or watching the latest movies in the theater or on the open deck on a balmy evening. Life is not all grubby and sleazy on the cruise ships, try it one day.
It’s amazing what an over active imagination can do when you when you want to make a point.
Back in 2000 the tour of the kitchens on a Princess ship was free. Now everything costs. The NCL ship we took around the Mediterranean had a window letting you look into the bridge. I don’t recall any tours, though.
I’m pleased to tell you it’s still free if attend the (free) culinary demonstration. My wife did it not long ago.
I’m hoping that someone with such an opinion of cruise ships wouldn’t find himself stuck on one anyway.
Royal Caribbean has fucking awesome food. I would eat that every day. And a surprisingly stellar wine list.
But anyway, on those ships you can peer into the bridge from the outside, and I think tours are available, though I’ve never been on one. I don’t think security is intense. That would be extra mouths to feed.
Until I can afford to do a crossing on the Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 Royal Caribbean is our cruise company of choice. We checked out a number of the companies that sail out of Boston and New Jersey/New York and decided that the ship culture on the other lines just did not really suit us. We don’t have kids, and are not young clubber types, and it seemed that the health and safety record of RC was better.
I will definitely agree that without paying any extra for the specialty restaurants the food in the main dining rooms on RC is exceptionally good. The buffet for evening meals not as good. The buffet did an excellent lunch - they had a salad station where a steward made custom salads that were quite good, and though the menu for table service was limited the service and food were still quite good. We did like the buffet for breakfast if we were in a hurry - it was the typical steam table fare that pretty much any breakfast buffet. And eating meals in the cabin was free except for tipping [and after hours, I think there was a small charge between 11 pm and 6 am mainly to keep people from ordering and not answering their doors.] I will say that neither of us drinks much but in the main dining room if you don’t finish your bottle of wine they will recork it and hold it for your next meal. We did that with a couple of bottles so we didn’t feel pressured to finish the bottle off.