Does Oceania offer behind the behind the scenes tours?

[Laszlo]

I've done 5 or 6 on NCL. I'm a geek when it comes to seeing how things work. Does Oceania offer the tours?

[cotto22]

• On our last Oceania cruise (October 2019) we thoroughly enjoyed a behind the scenes backstage tour hosted by the Entertainers.  On an earlier TA cruise, my husband participated in a bridge tour. We also had a galley lunch on that cruise. We have enjoyed Galley tours on Regent several times. However, I don't know what to expect on our November cruise in these Covid times!

[ORV]

I've never heard of a galley tour/lunch or bridge tour on Oceania. I've done them on other lines though. Anyone else been on either on Oceania? 

 

Did you pay for any of these tours/lunches, or were they complimentary? 

[Jancruz]

2 minutes ago, ORV said:

I've never heard of a galley tour/lunch or bridge tour on Oceania. I've done them on other lines though. Anyone else been on either on Oceania? 

 

Did you pay for any of these tours/lunches, or were they complimentary? 

They were complimentary but bridge tours are out since 9/11... Galley tours ane few and far between it depends on who you know..

Jancruz1

[Laszlo]

41 minutes ago, cotto22 said:

• On our last Oceania cruise (October 2019) we thoroughly enjoyed a behind the scenes backstage tour hosted by the Entertainers.  On an earlier TA cruise, my husband participated in a bridge tour. We also had a galley lunch on that cruise. We have enjoyed Galley tours on Regent several times. However, I don't know what to expect on our November cruise in these Covid times!

Thanks for the info

[Laszlo]

11 minutes ago, Jancruz said:

They were complimentary but bridge tours are out since 9/11... Galley tours ane few and far between it depends on who you know..

Jancruz1

Thanks, maybe just Oceania. I've done 3 bridge tours on NCL sine 2011. The one I shot the video of us lasted about 30 minutes and it was the end of a 3 hour tour. 

 

 

[ORV]

3 hours ago, Jancruz said:

They were complimentary but bridge tours are out since 9/11... Galley tours ane few and far between it depends on who you know..

Jancruz1

Yes, and that was 2001, before Oceania existed, I think. 

[slw207693]

We were on Marina in 2018 and invited for bridge tour.  It’s up to the Captain.  A gentleman joined us and we had barely begun the tour when a medical emergency happened.  All communication is recorded on the bridge and they asked us to leave but said gentleman said he was an EMT, it wasn’t a real medical emergency and refused to leave.  We were eventually escorted out and re-invited back (he was not).  The biggest surprise was the orchids that are in staterooms were being revived and cared for up there!
Husband has been invited to tour kitchens,  wine cellar and store house.  Sometimes it’s a yes, sometimes a no and sometimes a total surprise of where they take you to.   

[Flatbush Flyer]

9 hours ago, Laszlo said:

Thanks, maybe just Oceania. I've done 3 bridge tours on NCL sine 2011. The one I shot the video of us lasted about 30 minutes and it was the end of a 3 hour tour. 

 

 

Gee - that video only violated a ton of MARSEC policies!

[Laszlo]

9 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Gee - that video only violated a ton of MARSEC policies!

Not saying your wrong......but like what? That tour is given week after week. From what I understand its up to the Captain to let people on the bridge or not. This Captain could talk and talk Lol

[Flatbush Flyer]

33 minutes ago, Laszlo said:

Not saying your wrong......but like what? That tour is given week after week. From what I understand its up to the Captain to let people on the bridge or not. This Captain could talk and talk Lol

Subchapter H - MARSEC...(regarding the Vessel Security Plan)

...104.106.c. (c) Passenger access areas may not include any areas defined as restricted areas in the VSP.

.....§104.270 Security measures for restricted areas........
(b) Designation of Restricted Areas. The vessel owner or operator must ensure restricted areas are designated on board the vessel, as specified in the approved plan. Restricted areas must include, as appropriate:
(1) Navigation bridge, machinery spaces and other control stations;

[PaulMCO]

1 hour ago, Laszlo said:

Not saying your wrong......but like what? That tour is given week after week. From what I understand its up to the Captain to let people on the bridge or not. This Captain could talk and talk Lol

But he is.  Each cruise line sets a VSP for each ship.  VSP on most vessels allows for supervised access for visitors. 

Edited June 26, 2021 by PaulMCO

[Flatbush Flyer]

8 minutes ago, PaulMCO said:

But he is.  Each cruise line sets a VSP for each ship.  VSP on most vessels allows for supervised access for visitors. 

Let’s agree to disagree. After all, the cited MARSEC items above are US - DHS (USCG) requirements. And what they do say (very clearly) is that a VSP MUST include the bridge as a restricted area and passengers CANNOT access restricted areas.

[Jancruz]

2 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Let’s agree to disagree. After all, the cited MARSEC items above are US - DHS (USCG) requirements. And what they do say (very clearly) is that a VSP MUST include the bridge as a restricted area and passengers CANNOT access restricted areas.

As far as O is concerned no one on bridge..if the Captain chooses to break that rule he is flirting with trouble..

Jancruz1

[Jancruz]

OK color me incorrect..the boss said probably..

Sorry for the confusion..things do change..

Jancruz1

Edited June 26, 2021 by Jancruz
spelling

[mamaclark]

On 6/25/2021 at 2:58 PM, Jancruz said:

They were complimentary but bridge tours are out since 9/11... Galley tours ane few and far between it depends on who you know..

Jancruz1

We were very fortunate to receive a Bridge tour on our first Oceania cruise Athens to Istanbul September 2010. My husband made an inquiry and that night we had an invitation for a tour the next day! It was wonderful.

[njhorseman]

4 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Let’s agree to disagree. After all, the cited MARSEC items above are US - DHS (USCG) requirements. And what they do say (very clearly) is that a VSP MUST include the bridge as a restricted area and passengers CANNOT access restricted areas.

USCG MARSEC rules are not applicable to foreign flagged ships sailing outside US waters. IMO and flag state rules would apply.

Edited June 26, 2021 by njhorseman

[Flatbush Flyer]

4 minutes ago, njhorseman said:

USCG MARSEC rules are not applicable to foreign flagged ships sailing outside US waters. IMO rules would apply.

Yes, which is why I added the clarification of “US” MARSEC in a follow-up post. Just another downside to “flags of convenience” that some common sense rules are lax at sea. (Isn’t that part of the reason why the cruise industry has suffered the Pandemic curse?)

[jwindham]

Best behind the scenes tour I have ever had was the engine room on an RCCL ship. We had eaten at the captains table and my friend I travel with is an engineer and she asked it if was possible. Two days later we were contacted and were offered a personal tour. A security officer followed us as the head engineer took us below deck and showed us everything. We had to wear long sleeve shirts and closed toe shoes. But it was great. That just proved to me that it does not hurt to ask nicely. Julia

[Waynetor]

For an example from another cruise line - Princess offers a Bridge tour on the voyage when you hit 500 nights at sea, then again at 750 and again each additional 250 days after that. 

 

We have gone once - the Captain welcomed us and then a Navigator took over doing around 20 minutes of explaining procedures and Q&A.

[Flatbush Flyer]

Just now, Waynetor said:

For an example from another cruise line - Princess offers a Bridge tour on the voyage when you hit 500 nights at sea, then again at 750 and again each additional 250 days after that. 

 

We have gone once - the Captain welcomed us and then a Navigator took over doing around 20 minutes of explaining procedures and Q&A.

500 nights? On Oceania, with the right combo of cruises totaling 500 nights, you could have already earned 2-3 complimentary fourteen day cruises to anywhere. Still want the tour? Watch a video.

[Waynetor]

My point was not which cruise line has the best loyalty benefits but to point out that, regardless of some regulation, access is granted with an invitation.  The regulation would seem to be open to the Captain's interpertation. 

[Flatbush Flyer]

1 hour ago, Waynetor said:

My point was not which cruise line has the best loyalty benefits but to point out that, regardless of some regulation, access is granted with an invitation.  The regulation would seem to be open to the Captain's interpertation. 

Some regulations are not open to the Master’s interpretation in US territorial waters and, therein lies one of the weak spots that has endangered an entire industry. Foreign “flags of convenience” allow for varying interpretations of IMO rules and look where that got us last year with Princess and HAL.

[Ski Mom 2]

If you'd like to tour the Bridge, head over to Windstar Cruise lines. They have an open Bridge policy and you are welcome to come up and visit almost any time. They are closed going in and out of port and a few other times. Our favorite time to visit is at night as you're sailing. It's so dark and the stars are everywhere. They usually have someone that will point out constellations and show you the equipment they use. It's fascinating and open to all who cruise.

 

Our first cruise on Oceania is January 2023...looking forward to it!

[mauibabes]

While we had a Bridge tour on Marina about 5 years ago, it was while in port, not while at sea. I am sure it is bye invitation and we along with friends had befriended the Captain’s wife one day by the pool. Anyway, she offered us the tour and HE said, Yes dear.
We have never had an invitation since. 
My understanding is the Galley is off limits due to size and activity involved there but that could be wrong. While it would be amazing, I am happy to watch the Cooking Demonstrations by the Executive Chef and a Specialty Chef down in the theatre or even cooking in the Bon Appetite Culinary Center for some hands on cooking. 
Gerry