Behind the scenes tour recently?

[SugarStar00]

Wondering if anyone has done this recently. My parents are sailing the Caribbean princess and I thought about purchasing it for them. I read an older review where the op said several photos were included as well as a bathrobe? Is this still the case? I also thought I heard the tour skips the bridge now, although the website still lists it in the description. Any info is appreciated!

 

Jen

[Gmanfl]

We did the Ultimate Ship tour on the Emerald last month. I signed us up at the Pursers desk the minute I got on the ship. They only do the tour on sea days and in groups from 6 to 14 people. We met in a room behind the Casino and were given a brief overview of where we would go. First up was the Laundry facilities. Very interesting. The head of the Department explained the process and then gave us a Bathrobe and a very nice Apron. The robe was selling for 90 dollars in the gift shop. We then went to the medical facilities. I was very impressed at the level of care they were able to provide. Although a medical emergency on a ship can be an enormous financial ordeal. Next was the Galley. We saw the storage freezers, where all bread and pastries were made and the head Chef had drinks and small candies for us, as he answered any questions we might have. We then went to the theater. We were taken into the dressing rooms behind stage and taken on the stage, but underneath as the Captain was conducting a service on the stage. It was neat to hear about all the inner workings of a show. Next was the print shop where we were shown how all the patters and other flyers were printed. I was surprised how small this area was considering all the photos taken during the cruise. We received a Note pad with our name on it. Next was the engine room...interesting to see the brains of the ship. We then climbed up to where the smoke stacks were. We finished off the tour on the Bridge to meet the Captain. I was amazed that there were only 4 people running the ship. After about a half hour on the bridge we went to Addagio for Champagne and snacks. There is no photography allowed during the tour, for security reasons but a photographer comes along and takes 5 group shots along the way. We received all our goodies later that night from our room steward. I will say, this was worth every penny. The tour was almost 4 hours long. I think your parents would really enjoy the tour. A lot of walking but not like you were on a land tour though. I thought of this as a Ship excursion and a nice way to kill a few hours on a sea day...Enjoy!!

[Bocagirl1]

I did this on the Diamond Princess last November and I agree with everything Gmanfi says above. It was excellent value for money and the places we were shown were so interesting. The laundry is fascinating and everywhere we went they had drinks and chocolate strawberries or canapes for us. The Captain spent a considerable amount of time with us on the Bridge and we had a photo taken with him. It was a fantastic experience and I would highly recommend it. I didn't know anything about receiving gifts but later on that afternoon when I went to my stateroom, on the bed were a Princess bag, Apron, Luxury Bathrobe, Writing Paper, huge Silver Picture Frame, Photos and Headed Paper. An amazing surprise which made the whole thing even better value for money.

[Cruiselover1951]

We did it the UST on the Royal on the recent TA. As soon as we got on board (before noon), we went to the Concierge lounge to make our sign-ups for Chef''s dinner, wince cellar dinner and made reservations for the Crown Grill. However, the Concierge could not make reservations for the UST as that had to be done at the passenger service desk. She said that it was a lottery amongst those signing up, when asked whether suite guests had any priority she answered "no, not officially" (I swear with with a wink :) - but I may have been wrong!). Immediately went down there and were the first to sign up. Received a letter a few days after that we had been "selected".

 

The tour was great and I felt, revealed as much below decks/behind the scene as could be done to paxes. The tour through the laundry room was canceled because a major piece of equipment had broken (creating pandemonium there bo doubt) as was the tour through the Medical Center (too busy). We ended up on the bridge and had a very nice time with the captain and bridge crew, and even managed to see a pod of big whales while there, pointed out by the watchmen. Non-alcoholic beverages and canapes/pastry were served, lots of pictures taken (but none by us as it was emphasized that pictures during the tour were not permitted - and we all respected that)

 

The day after we were invited back at 8 am to "finish the tour" and at that time were taken to the amazing laundry room and it's (now functioning) machines, as well as to the medical center, that still seemed busy with sick looking people being wheeled about, but with the Chief Medical Officer taking time to tell us all about it's capabilities and answering questions. Amazing the things they can do there. Said the prizes (billed directly to the paxes folio) are about half of what they are in the US (? x5 more than in Europe? :rolleyes: )

 

The tour started out in the Princess theater where everything that went on behind the scene during a show in cramped quaters was explained, then onwards to the kitchen and all the areas/rooms of food storage-preparation, the photo printing and general printing shop were next, the staff quaters (we did not see inside the rooms -even though I teased our waiter with having seen his and his pink teddy bear in his bed!!), we saw the central engine control room and heard all about the technical part of the ship from the chief engineer, saw the front anchor/mooring room, got to walk the closed part of the promenade deck and as mentioned ended up on the bridge.

 

Fantastic and unique expereince that I encourage all to do if they can afford it and are "lucky" to be drawn/selected. Later 2 good quality, fluffy bath robes with 2 Princess aprons and 2 framed photos, one from the engine control room and one on the bridge with the captain, and a pad of princess paper with your name on were delivered to your state room

 

One interesting observation was that by-and-large, it was the same group of people who were on the tour, at the Wine Cellar's dinner and Chef's dinner (and we were the only ones of us in a full suite). Clearly some of us have found the secret to make these limited tours: Be the first on board on embarkation day and immediately go and sign up for these events. In the past when we got on board after 1-2 PM, suite or no suite, we were toast!!

[secretcastle]

Wondering if anyone has done this recently. My parents are sailing the Caribbean princess and I thought about purchasing it for them. I read an older review where the op said several photos were included as well as a bathrobe? Is this still the case? I also thought I heard the tour skips the bridge now, although the website still lists it in the description. Any info is appreciated!

 

Jen

 

We just did the UST in the Grand a couple of weeks ago. ( we have done them before as well) this time we got the lovely bathrobes, chef's aprons , personalized stationary, photo frames, and a number of group photos that the photographer took. The tour included the bridge where we drank champagne and had canapés. Once in the past we did not do the bridge as the weather was very foggy and rough.

We always find this an interesting tour, and well worth the money, more interesting than a lot if similarly priced shore excursions.

Julia :)

[Once Upon A Time]

Took the tour on the Ruby a few weeks ago. This was the fourth ship we have taken the tour on and each has been a little different, but a great experience. Sometimes the Medical Center has not been available because of patients, always have seen the bridge, engine control room, anchor/chain area, kitchen, backstage theatre, laundry, photo lab and printing shop. Sometimes have gone up into the funnel, talked with Purchasing Director and seen all the storage areas and even once met the florist and saw all the flowers onboard.

 

We've always gotten the robe, an apron or chefs jacket from the kitchen, personalized notepad, picture frame and lots of photographs.. sometimes a couple of other small items were in the packet.. keychains, etc.

 

Each ship is different and each tour is a bit different, but every one has been well worth the $$. Even without any gifts (but those are very nice:D)

[caribill]

Next was the engine room...interesting to see the brains of the ship. You probably saw the engine control roomn, not the engine room.

 

 

 

There is no photography allowed during the tour. When we reached the bridge on our tour, I asked the Captain if I could take pictures and the answer was "yes."

 

 

See above in red.

[SugarStar00]

Thanks everyone it sounds even better than I thought! I'm going to call princess and ask later but it doesn't sound like something I can sign them up for in advance? Or even guaranteed?

[Pia1913]

Thanks everyone it sounds even better than I thought! I'm going to call princess and ask later but it doesn't sound like something I can sign them up for in advance? Or even guaranteed?

 

No. It is not guaranteed and you can't book it in advance. This would make a great gift and I think Princess ought to think about advance reservations. Especially when someone wants to buy this as a gift.

[SugarStar00]

Princess sure doesn't make things easy. No wine packages anymore, they can't bring Bon voyage wine to dinner, and now no advance reservations for this! Sheesh. Well hopefully they get lucky. Thanks again for the quick responses!

[swazzie1]

What is the shortest length cruise that the UST is available on? I tried to sign up on a 4-day but it wasn't offered. I'm so interested in going that I'm considering taking a longer cruise just to do this.

 

 

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[The Captain90]

Does anyone know the cost of the tour on the Diamond? Do they run more than one tour?

 

 

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[caribill]

Does anyone know the cost of the tour on the Diamond? Do they run more than one tour?

 

$150 on every ship.

 

Only once, most of the time on the last sea day.

[caribill]

I think Princess ought to think about advance reservations.

 

Twelve spots will be snapped up in advance quickly and I would expect some of those signups will end up not being used.

 

Once the 12 spots are gone, I would expect many angry posts on Cruise Critic that it is impossible to book this.

Edited May 30, 2014 by caribill

[pablo222]

Once the 12 spots are gone, I would expect many angry posts on Cruise Critic that it is impossible to book this.

 

When demand exceeds supply, it is time to raise the price.

[Pia1913]

Twelve spots will be snapped up in advance quickly and I would expect some of those signups will end up not being used.

 

Once the 12 spots are gone, I would expect many angry posts on Cruise Critic that it is impossible to book this.

 

Non refundable reservations might make a difference. There are some tours out there that are done that way now.

[caribill]

Non refundable reservations might make a difference. There are some tours out there that are done that way now.

 

That does not help those who wanted to take the tour but could not even though the tour ended up not being full even if Princess did get all the income (and did not have to provide all the "gifts).

 

Also, this would be a tour that people might book as soon as they reserved the cruise. Should the reservation be non-refundable if they decide to cancel the cruise? If the booking is cancelled and then rebooked to take advantage of a new promotion?

[Cruiselover1951]

If it is true that everyone who signs up within the first 2 days have an equal chance to be amongst the 12 by lottery - then that seems the most fair IMHO

 

I don't think Princess does this for profit as if so, they would make an industry out of it and have 3 tours daily, I do believe they do it because they want to make the "behind the scenes" available to paxes for openness, tradition and goodwill and currently limits it to 1-2 tours on longer cruises due to the disruption it definitely has on every area visited (which could be delt with if "industrialized"!).

 

If increasing the price significantly to limit it to those able and willing to pay exorbitant amounts (and I think it would need to be more than $-3-500 to even start to make a major difference), then the tour is limited to only the already privelleged, and best I can intepret the purpose of the tour, it is not meant to be sold off like a couple's ultimate seaweed massage ($599), but to give a group of lucky passengers from across the spending specter a chance to see something unique related to the cruise and ship

 

Being one of those who can (and would) pay whatever, making it avaialble only to the affluent on one hand, is just fine with me, but my social conscience (which once in a while speaks in my ear) tells me that this not right with what the UST is meant to accomplish.

 

(And who knows, I would not be surpruised if the ultra-rich or celebrity types who by accident find themself on a Princess ship rather than on their friends/own private yacht, are not treated to a personal UST without paying, as that is how the world usually works the few times I have scratched that world!!)

Edited May 30, 2014 by Cruiselover1951

[Gmanfl]

Does anyone know the cost of the tour on the Diamond? Do they run more than one tour?

 

 

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We did a 10 day cruise last month and it was offered only twice, both on sea days.

[secretcastle]

On the Grand btb earlier this month, it was not by lottery, it was first come first served. They only offered the tour once during the 15 day voyage, and it was not offered on the 4 day cruise following.

:)

[Eagleeye]

There is a lot of walking and standing on the tour. There are also many stairways and some are very steep.

[Wehwalt]

There is a lot of walking and standing on the tour. There are also many stairways and some are very steep.

 

Very true, for example inspecting the funnels.

 

I did it on the five day getaway on the Ruby in January. I don't have a lot to add to other people's descriptions. A minimum of six people are required, and they were not able to get that on the first two legs of my B2B2B but did (barely) on the third. We got the bathrobe, stationary, picture frame (I did not keep that), pictures, and probably one or two other things I do not remember. The bathrobe is the heavy one, and it sits in my closet. I will say the Commodore greatly impressed me. But if he didn't, he'd be in the wrong job.