Behind the Scenes Bridge

[julie3fan]

Some good information here. I'm thinking since I'm on a B2B that I might offer to host the M&G for the first leg, and if the times conflict I could always do the tour on the second leg. Thank you all so much.

[mking8288]

Breakaway specific only - on BTS tour info (sail her 3X, most recently ... got returned this past Sunday) ... and signed up for all 3 sailing's M&G, decided to skip & go to the Platinum BTS tour on Day 2 (Sea Day #2)

 

M&G has been consistently scheduled by ship's coordinator for Day 2 (Sea Day #1 at 11 AM at LaCucina ... 15 minutes max'd with senior officers, including Capt. in attendance, has not been taking Q&A lately, kind of pro forma only - to show, hello & waive, tell a short story or two about the ship, then march out to resume their duties leaving the "liaison" to mingle with CC that showed up.

 

Platinum's BTS has been scheduled for Day 2 (Sea Day #1) at 10 AM - used to be longer @ 2 hours plus, been cut to 1.5 hours - missed it before, not again. Last month, scheduled for 10:10 AM and signed up on embarkation day @ the Shorex desk no later than 8 PM on Day 1. Group of 26 divided into 2 smaller groups with security escort, lead by a cruise consultant/staff and visited 3 areas - no bridge or environmental stops, and no "hand-outs" unlike the paid tour - finished about 11:45 AM, a little longer than expected with a rep. from laundry & gallery doing the story-telling but the consultant doing the show-n-tell on provisioning as we walked down "I-95" while stopping along.

 

There was no way to attend both the M&G and the BTST, they know it as these have been done - over & over - could've started the tour @ 9:30 & do the M&G for CC at 11:15 Alerted to our M&G organizer but the shows must go on, made the decision @ embarkation to tour below decks ... should they discontinue it completely in the future.

 

In 2014 and 2015, paid BTS were offered on 2 sea days (think it was $75 p/p then) but last month, just offered on Day 7 (last full Sea Day) and still "advertising" it on Day 6 @ $79 p/p - adult or child - for 2 hours / 5 areas visited (no bridge access)

 

Back in 2012 with the GEM, everyone that actually attended the M&G received a non-transferable, private invitation for an exclusive Bridge Tour, not to the "viewing room" with the mermaid, behind the bridge - about a dozen people, on one of the last sea days returning to NY from the Carib's - photo ops with Q&A, 20+ minutes & those that went're vey happy ... visit for at the Capt's discretion then.

[Brighton Line]

On my trips to Bermuda the free M&G bridge tours were during a port day. Big M&G so it was split up into 3 different times. We didn't go, not wasting port time!!

[dexddd]

Breakaway specific only - on BTS tour info (sail her 3X, most recently ... got returned this past Sunday) ... and signed up for all 3 sailing's M&G, decided to skip & go to the Platinum BTS tour on Day 2 (Sea Day #2)

 

M&G has been consistently scheduled by ship's coordinator for Day 2 (Sea Day #1 at 11 AM at LaCucina ... 15 minutes max'd with senior officers, including Capt. in attendance, has not been taking Q&A lately, kind of pro forma only - to show, hello & waive, tell a short story or two about the ship, then march out to resume their duties leaving the "liaison" to mingle with CC that showed up.

 

Platinum's BTS has been scheduled for Day 2 (Sea Day #1) at 10 AM - used to be longer @ 2 hours plus, been cut to 1.5 hours - missed it before, not again. Last month, scheduled for 10:10 AM and signed up on embarkation day @ the Shorex desk no later than 8 PM on Day 1. Group of 26 divided into 2 smaller groups with security escort, lead by a cruise consultant/staff and visited 3 areas - no bridge or environmental stops, and no "hand-outs" unlike the paid tour - finished about 11:45 AM, a little longer than expected with a rep. from laundry & gallery doing the story-telling but the consultant doing the show-n-tell on provisioning as we walked down "I-95" while stopping along.

 

There was no way to attend both the M&G and the BTST, they know it as these have been done - over & over - could've started the tour @ 9:30 & do the M&G for CC at 11:15 Alerted to our M&G organizer but the shows must go on, made the decision @ embarkation to tour below decks ... should they discontinue it completely in the future.

 

In 2014 and 2015, paid BTS were offered on 2 sea days (think it was $75 p/p then) but last month, just offered on Day 7 (last full Sea Day) and still "advertising" it on Day 6 @ $79 p/p - adult or child - for 2 hours / 5 areas visited (no bridge access)

 

Back in 2012 with the GEM, everyone that actually attended the M&G received a non-transferable, private invitation for an exclusive Bridge Tour, not to the "viewing room" with the mermaid, behind the bridge - about a dozen people, on one of the last sea days returning to NY from the Carib's - photo ops with Q&A, 20+ minutes & those that went're vey happy ... visit for at the Capt's discretion then.

 

Thanks for the BA updates. When I was on the BA sailing with you in March 2014 I sent a letter to Prem that they should have the BTS tour and M&G at different times. I did get a ".... thank you for your letter....blah blah blah...." response back - but obviously nothing has changed as others over the years have reported the overlap.

 

The M&G on the BA was just weird - seemed like the officer's couldn't get out of there fast enough and Prem answered two questions before quickly excusing the staff. The two trips we've been on after the BA were great - the officers took their time, answered questions, mingled a bit afterwards - that is what we've experienced in the past as well except BA.

[mking8288]

... I did get a ".... thank you for your letter....blah blah blah...." response back - but obviously nothing has changed as others over the years have reported the overlap.

 

The M&G on the BA was just weird - seemed like the officer's couldn't get out of there fast enough and Prem answered two questions before quickly excusing the staff ...

 

Exactly, Prem was onboard last week - he's probably standing somewhere near the BA gangway now, T minus 5 minutes. Got your BDA portcam switched on - horns blow & I can hear the ship's PA, calling out names ... sounded like - possibly - more than a few aren't back yet? Yet, ship is on her way, released the lines a minute or two early, here she goes ... homeward bound. Then, everybody is back onboard - cool, safe passage for those heading to NY (we counted quite a few doing B2B last week)

Edited June 3, 2016 by mking8288

[DMH15]

Got invite for Plat BTST last April on Jewel. Also got one from Concierge. He told me his was better. We were on the bridge inside controls room about 45 mins. Total tour abt 2 hours.

[BirdTravels]

Any BTST organized by the concierge will be better than the Platinum tour done by the cruise consultant or even the paid tours. The Concierge has got us down into the engine control room and onto the bridge as the ship was getting underway from an anchor port. Fascinating watching the bridge crew secure tendering, maneuver and pull the anchor, and get underway.