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Behind the fun tour info

airlink diva

By airlink diva,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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cruisetobeaches

cruisetobeaches

Posted
Posted

Don't know about all ships, but on the Legend, it is done on the last sea day and took us almost four hours. there is a LOT of walking, btw. I took the tour last Saturday.

 

Price was $95.00 per person and included three 8 x 10 photos taken by ship photographers. You are not allowed to take photos and will be checked before the tour for cameras or cell phones by security with a wand, which is so sensitive, it picked up the small pin inside my right wrist from an accident long ago!

 

You wil see back stage of the shows, the engine control room (NOT the actual engine room which is very loud and HOT), meet with the chief engineer, see the ship waste control area (VERY clean, by the way), the galley for the MDR and meet the chef. Next part of the tour takes you through the crew area and the three dining areas for them as well as the crew galley and the crew bar. we were not able to see any crew quarters up close since there were no empty crew cabins. I did see inside one as we walked by and they are quite small compared to passenger cabins. Not room for much of anything. We also saw the training room where staff are trained and was surprised to learn that after training, there is no longer a "base salary" for room stewards or wait staff. Pay is strictly from tips.

 

Next, you will go to the bridge and meet the captain and get a full tour of the area as well as an explanation of how the different instruments work. From there, we went to the Golden Fleece Supper club galley and met the chef there where we were 'educated' about the different types of beef. In the dining area, we were given champagne and filled out a short survey sheet. we were given a tote bag/backpack, a behind the fun hat, a lanyard and a figure carved out of soap that we had been watching a man carve in the MDR galley.

 

In my opinion, it was well worth the money. You have ample chances to ask questions of staff and officers.

 

The number for the tour was limited to 18 and is NOT advertised. I saw a purser to book ours. It was not availble at the excursion counter.

 

The three photos were a one-on-one with the captain, a group photo with the captain, and a group photo with the head chef.

 

Chocolate covered strawberries were sent to our cabin later that day. My wife and granddaughter left me "one"...............

 

As I mentioned earlier, it is long and there is a lot of walking, including stairs. Did not bother me at all. The one downside was after going through all the galleys and dining rooms, I was starving!

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aubreysmom

aubreysmom

Posted
Posted

Cruisetobeaches I have 2 questions for you :)

 

1. Did you tip your guide?????

 

2. I think some people have signed up at the shore excursion desk - but you said to go to the purser's desk (guest services) - correct???

 

Thanks for your help!

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Rosefloater

Rosefloater

Posted
Posted
Cruisetobeaches I have 2 questions for you :)

 

1. Did you tip your guide?????

 

2. I think some people have signed up at the shore excursion desk - but you said to go to the purser's desk (guest services) - correct???

 

Thanks for your help!

1. No. Our guide was one of the workers from the excursion desk.

2. You sign up at the Excursion desk. Do so as soon as you board.

 

On the Spirit, it was on the 3rd sea day. They had 24 people signed up, so they broke it into 2 groups of 12.

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cruisetobeaches

cruisetobeaches

Posted
Posted
Cruisetobeaches I have 2 questions for you :)

 

1. Did you tip your guide?????

 

2. I think some people have signed up at the shore excursion desk - but you said to go to the purser's desk (guest services) - correct???

 

Thanks for your help!

 

 

No one that I saw tipped our tour guide. She is the head HR director on the Legend and according to her "Makes a very good salary". Her husband is also on the ship and is an officer.

 

When I asked at the shore excursion desk, I was directed to see a purser since this was such a limited tour and they had the roster.

 

If you intend to book this tour, do it right away. Don't wait or you will miss out. I've heard that on some ships, they will organize a second tour if the first sells out. That was not the case last week. It sold out quick and a second one was not scheduled.

 

I should add one thing about the tour: a few had expected to see the actual engine room. This will not happen. On a Spirit class ship, there are six diesel engines running six 10 megawatt generators. This creates a great deal of heat and noise and would not be deemed safe for passengers! I did have the opportunity to see the engine room on a fantasy class ship once (whole different story), so can attest to the heat and noise factor! Hearing protection is required and you would never be able to hear someone talking anyway.

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aubreysmom

aubreysmom

Posted
Posted

Thank you Rosefloater and Cruisetobeaches. I appreciate your help :)

 

I do have VIP embarkation and had planned to go and sign up for this tour immediately. I just wasn't sure where to go.

 

My parents tried to do the tour on their Hawaii cruise on the Spirit - but missed out. :o

 

My DD and I will be on a Fantasy Class ship - the Inspiration.

 

Again, many thanks for your help :D

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LBC77

LBC77

Posted
Posted

We are going on the Freedom in April. I have a son in a wheelchair due to a motorcycle accident. He can manage some steps with assistance. Would this tour be possible for him? My son was a chef in a former life and my husband worked on a dredge as a chief engineer. It sounds like this tour would interest both of them.

 

Thanks for any info.

 

Leah

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cruisetobeaches

cruisetobeaches

Posted
Posted
We are going on the Freedom in April. I have a son in a wheelchair due to a motorcycle accident. He can manage some steps with assistance. Would this tour be possible for him?

 

Thanks for any info.

 

Leah

 

 

I would talk with a staff member on board. The tour I took last week moved along pretty quick from place to place. The steps in the crew area a quite a bit steeper than those the pax use and some are quite narrow. There was a man with a cane on our tour, but he was still pretty agile and I didn't see him use it much other than when we were standing still for a 'prop'.

 

There are a lot of steps to be taken going down to the decks below the water line and back up again.

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carads

carads

Posted
Posted

My wife and I did the Behind the Fun tour on the Glory last week. We went to the purser to sign up but were sent to the excursion desk where they took our information and sent the tickets to our cabin later that night. Both of us found the tour extremely interesting and would highly recommend it. My wife was especially thrilled having our picture taken on the bridge with the captain.

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chadci

chadci

Posted
Posted

THIS. SOUNDS. AWESOME!

 

I was just wondering if they ever let anybody see the behind the scenes stuff. My other half could care less... so she'll take a nap or start getting ready to get off the next day.

 

I just hope I remember to book it when we get on!

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OneOneNiner

OneOneNiner

Posted
Posted
Don't know about all ships, but on the Legend, it is done on the last sea day and took us almost four hours. there is a LOT of walking, btw. I took the tour last Saturday.

 

Price was $95.00 per person and included three 8 x 10 photos taken by ship photographers. You are not allowed to take photos and will be checked before the tour for cameras or cell phones by security with a wand, which is so sensitive, it picked up the small pin inside my right wrist from an accident long ago!

 

You wil see back stage of the shows, the engine control room (NOT the actual engine room which is very loud and HOT), meet with the chief engineer, see the ship waste control area (VERY clean, by the way), the galley for the MDR and meet the chef. Next part of the tour takes you through the crew area and the three dining areas for them as well as the crew galley and the crew bar. we were not able to see any crew quarters up close since there were no empty crew cabins. I did see inside one as we walked by and they are quite small compared to passenger cabins. Not room for much of anything. We also saw the training room where staff are trained and was surprised to learn that after training, there is no longer a "base salary" for room stewards or wait staff. Pay is strictly from tips.

 

Next, you will go to the bridge and meet the captain and get a full tour of the area as well as an explanation of how the different instruments work. From there, we went to the Golden Fleece Supper club galley and met the chef there where we were 'educated' about the different types of beef. In the dining area, we were given champagne and filled out a short survey sheet. we were given a tote bag/backpack, a behind the fun hat, a lanyard and a figure carved out of soap that we had been watching a man carve in the MDR galley.

 

In my opinion, it was well worth the money. You have ample chances to ask questions of staff and officers.

 

The number for the tour was limited to 18 and is NOT advertised. I saw a purser to book ours. It was not availble at the excursion counter.

 

The three photos were a one-on-one with the captain, a group photo with the captain, and a group photo with the head chef.

 

Chocolate covered strawberries were sent to our cabin later that day. My wife and granddaughter left me "one"...............

 

As I mentioned earlier, it is long and there is a lot of walking, including stairs. Did not bother me at all. The one downside was after going through all the galleys and dining rooms, I was starving!

 

 

We just took the tour on the Liberty and it was exactly like you describe.

Allthough they did mention the tour in the Fun Ashore Talk (Day 2, first sea day).

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Colorado Beach Bum

Colorado Beach Bum

Posted
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Colorado Beah Bum,

 

How was the Freedom? I heard it is or has gone into dry dock. We are going Easter week and have an aft balcony cabin, Any insider info would be appreciated!

 

Thanks

 

The Freedom was GREAT! We were on the last week before it went to dry dock and the ship was in excellent condition. On the Behind the fun tour they did tell us that they are doing major things like carpet, moving one of the age groups camp carnival rooms to Deck 3 by the library, putting in an adult serenity area, things of that nature.

 

We had a Forward Balcony room (7220) and put the kids in 2 inside rooms. Love, love love the balcony room. Plenty of storage space.

 

Crew was great! Cabin stewards did an excellent job as always on Carnival. All 8 of us were greeted every morning and evening by name by the steward and his assistant. A nice touch I think.

 

I hope you have a great time. I'm a firm believer in "Expect to have a great cruise and you will have a great cruise." Works for us, we have NEVER been disappointed.

 

Happy Travels:)

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