Behind The Scenes Tour??

[KateLovesCruising]

Hi everyone! My parents are going on their first cruise this March (:D) on the Norwegian Breakaway. My dad really wants to go on a behind the scenes tour of the ship. A friend of his mentioned that they did this, but I don't know if it was on a Norwegian ship. Ideally he'd love to see the engine room, but I have no idea what they would have access to IF this is a tour that is even offered. If anyone has any information on this, please let me know! TIA

[cliffd64]

On NCL ships they do offer "Behind The Scenes Tour" (free if you are Platinum and for a fee otherwise).

 

The tour takes you many places, including backstage at the theater, all the various galleys and food prep areas, laundry area, sometimes the bridge, and much more, but the engine room is strictly off limits due to security.

 

Its a good tour and very educational.

[triptolemus]

The tour is almost always offered, typically on the first full sea day. Check in with the shre excursion desk, or your concierge, if applicable. The price was $55 pp when I last did it, I'm sure it's gone up by now.

 

You won't get to the engine room, but you will get to the galley, laundry, waste management, backstage, and most times, the bridge. Sometimes the bridge won't happen, at captains discretion.

 

Bring good walking shoes, the tour lasts about three hours and, amazingly, is quite a hike!

Edited February 20, 2015 by triptolemus

[cruiserssandr]

We were just on the Getaway and the cost for the behind the scenes tour was $79. We did the free Platinum tour and only went to 3 areas. We were not allowed to take any pictures but some one we knew did the $79 and they were allowed to take pictures. Closed toe shoes MUST be worn

[xlxo]

I did a similar tour on a HAL ship. I encourage signing up for these "captain's" tours. It's like a port on a sea day. You really get to appreciate how hard the crew is working to make your stay enjoyable.

http://www.usatoday.com/experience/cruise/cruise-buzz/behind-the-scenes-tour-how-a-cruise-ship-works/2986403/

 

For a ship with a few thousand people there may be a dozen spots.

[chengkp75]

Hi everyone! My parents are going on their first cruise this March (:D) on the Norwegian Breakaway. My dad really wants to go on a behind the scenes tour of the ship. A friend of his mentioned that they did this, but I don't know if it was on a Norwegian ship. Ideally he'd love to see the engine room, but I have no idea what they would have access to IF this is a tour that is even offered. If anyone has any information on this, please let me know! TIA

 

Some lines allow the behind the scenes tour into the Engine Control Room, but I don't think NCL does. Access to both the Engine Control Room and the Engine Room are restricted access, and are off limits to 95% of the crew as well. It is a liability issue for the engine rooms, since they are hot, noisy, and the "stairs" are far narrower and steeper than even the ones in the crew spaces that tour takers comment on.

 

We had one CD in Hawaii years ago that made videos of places behind the scenes like the engine room, and put it on the TV, and I think that would be a good thing for those areas not covered by the tour.

 

Take a chance and drop a note to the Chief Engineer when you get onboard (drop it at the Guest Services Desk), and you might be surprised, or there may be an invite to a reception or dinner where the Chief can discuss his favorite topic (marine engineering) (at least it's mine) with your dad.

Edited February 20, 2015 by chengkp75

[dexddd]

Some lines allow the behind the scenes tour into the Engine Control Room, but I don't think NCL does. Access to both the Engine Control Room and the Engine Room are restricted access, and are off limits to 95% of the crew as well. It is a liability issue for the engine rooms, since they are hot, noisy, and the "stairs" are far narrower and steeper than even the ones in the crew spaces that tour takers comment on.

 

We had one CD in Hawaii years ago that made videos of places behind the scenes like the engine room, and put it on the TV, and I think that would be a good thing for those areas not covered by the tour.

 

Take a chance and drop a note to the Chief Engineer when you get onboard (drop it at the Guest Services Desk), and you might be surprised, or there may be an invite to a reception or dinner where the Chief can discuss his favorite topic (marine engineering) (at least it's mine) with your dad.

 

They did the picture and presentation thing on the last full day before getting back to NY on the BA. The captain and chief engineer plus a few other people were there.

[chengkp75]

They did the picture and presentation thing on the last full day before getting back to NY on the BA. The captain and chief engineer plus a few other people were there.

 

That's great. They have enough production and IT people onboard to make a quite nice presentation, and I thought it a shame that we didn't do it on more ships on a regular basis.

[hpecorari]

I just came off the Sun and never go to the 'pay' Behind the Scenes Tour. Heck, as Platinum I never go the free one anymore either! LOL

 

However, the cost was $99.00 on the Sun two weeks ago if you wished to pay for it.

 

The Pay BTST is longer and you go to more places.

 

Harriet

[gooch47]

The free Platinum tour was just so-so. I've heard the one you pay for is well worth it.

[Copper_beeches]

If one pax is platinum (me) and DH isn't, would he be able to pay to go on the platinum one? Has anyone done both or is it sure that the platinum tour covers much less? If that's the case maybe we'd just both do the pay one...

 

I've heard there's lots of walking, but are there lots of stairs or "fast" paced areas that might cause issues for someone with asthma?

[hpecorari]

If one pax is platinum (me) and DH isn't, would he be able to pay to go on the platinum one? Has anyone done both or is it sure that the platinum tour covers much less? If that's the case maybe we'd just both do the pay one...

 

I've heard there's lots of walking, but are there lots of stairs or "fast" paced areas that might cause issues for someone with asthma?

 

The information I received stated it was for Platinum members only. On the Sun I was Platinum and my niece was not and she couldn't go.

 

Harriet

[GreenValleyDogWalker]

My DH and I took the Behind the Scenes Tour recently on the Dawn. I think the cost was $85 (can't remember for sure) We are not (yet) Platinum

 

Not nearly as lengthy as the ships tour offered by Princess - but very interesting - would recommend to anyone that hasn't taken a similar tour - yes - they require closed toe shoes - and yes - lots of walking

 

They started with a slide show of sorts - talking about the history of NCL

(and how "Norwegian" became part of the name)

 

Warning - however - most all of the individuals that spoke to our group had such strong accents that it was very, very difficult to understand them !

(Laundry room was most interesting - too bad we couldn't understand him)

Edited February 22, 2015 by I'll cruise anywhere

[bob brown]

I have been on the NCL tour, both the Platinum and the paid tour, and for a few years, the paid tour was only $55.00....a real bargain compared with the fees other lines I have sailed have charged, (some three times as much), although those did give some nice souvenir's at the tours conclusion.

 

For someone interested in ships, it is highly recommended. I will take that tour each time I sail in a new class of ship. I will also take the gratis Platinum tour when it is offered...:)

[L-in-CLT]

in January 2015, the Behind the Scenes tour on Breakaway was $89/pp and included: slide presentation in cirque theater; tour of theater areas by production manager including dressing rooms, wigs, costumes; one main galley; meat prep area including Q&A with master butcher; procurement/stocking including freezers including Q&A with head of procurement; tour of laundry including Q&A with head of that area (can't remember title); tour of recycling including Q&A with environmental officer; tour of bridge including Q&A with security officer. Pictures are allowed in all areas with exception of theater areas and any ship schematics on walls. You receive a commemorative photo at the end.

 

It's a good tour if you've never done one. If you have done a ship tour before, you don't really learn anything new or specific to Breakaway.

[cruizinwithkids]

A few years back - 2010, I would guess - I went on a tour of the ship. The friend I was traveling with paid and I didn't because I was Platinum. I thought it was very comprehensive. The best part was when we went through the laundry, we saw our clothes all clean and folded and sitting in a basket. What are the chances? We saw a lot of different places. It sounds as though this is no longer what is offered? At least to platinum. Maybe whoever was in charge didn't realize how it worked? Maybe I was the only platinum who was interested in a tour so they just put me on the regular tour. Based on everyone's postings this seems a bit unusual, doesn't it?

[Demonyte]

A few years back - 2010, I would guess - I went on a tour of the ship. The friend I was traveling with paid and I didn't because I was Platinum. I thought it was very comprehensive. The best part was when we went through the laundry, we saw our clothes all clean and folded and sitting in a basket. What are the chances? We saw a lot of different places. It sounds as though this is no longer what is offered? At least to platinum. Maybe whoever was in charge didn't realize how it worked? Maybe I was the only platinum who was interested in a tour so they just put me on the regular tour. Based on everyone's postings this seems a bit unusual, doesn't it?

 

They started to cut back and having a separate and shortened Platinum tour around 2013 (based on other posters here), the Platinum tour is nowadays usually very different from the paid tour.

 

If we hadn't gotten (because of a clerical error in GS) also the real tour after our first Platinum tour in 2013 and seen what the real tour includes, I'd have said that the paid tour is not worth the money. Now that I've seen both, the paid tour is still worth the money but I probably won't be attending many Platinum tours anymore because of the low quality compared to the real thing.

Edited February 22, 2015 by Demonyte

[bob brown]

They probably trimmed down the Platinum tour account a lot more Platinum level cruiser's....

 

As for me....I would be happy if they just offered a bridge tour for Platinum....not too interested in the rest of the stuff.....

[cruizinwithkids]

They started to cut back and having a separate and shortened Platinum tour around 2013 (based on other posters here), the Platinum tour is nowadays usually very different from the paid tour.

 

Thank you. I thought I was losing my mind.

 

They probably trimmed down the Platinum tour account a lot more Platinum level cruiser's....

 

Agreed!

[cruisingcasinos]

We were just on the Getaway and the cost for the behind the scenes tour was $79. We did the free Platinum tour and only went to 3 areas. We were not allowed to take any pictures but some one we knew did the $79 and they were allowed to take pictures. Closed toe shoes MUST be worn

 

Hi. do you remember when the Platinum tour was offered? I will be on the Getaway next Saturday!

Edited February 22, 2015 by cruisingcasinos