Behind the Scenes Tour and Dinner with Officers

[Heronymous]

Does anyone know if the NCL ships, in this particular case the Getaway, are providing behind the scenes tours and dinner with the officers? We were on the Breakaway on its first sailing since Covid back in September and they understandably were cancelled for those cruises.

Also, what exactly does the Saphire and up benefit “dinner with the officers” entail? 

[shof515]

i was on the getaway last week and they are not doing the tours or dinner with officers due to covid

[Heronymous]

1 hour ago, shof515 said:

i was on the getaway last week and they are not doing the tours or dinner with officers due to covid

Thanks, totally understandable. Any idea how the dinner with the officers normally worked pre-Covid?

[julig22]

Not offered so far.  But you can go to the CN desk and get a little OBC if you ask, along with your latitudes pins if you don't have them yet.  And yes, they gave me all the earlier level pins when I asked for them.

[GeezerCouple]

1 hour ago, Heronymous said:

Thanks, totally understandable. Any idea how the dinner with the officers normally worked pre-Covid?

 

We had a dinner with the Chief Engineer a few years ago.  But it wasn't a little threesome.

There were something like 8 of us, so there was a lot of jockeying for attention to ask questions, etc.

He was very pleasant, and I suppose it was a bit of an ordeal for him, to be asked what may have been silly questions, over and over, etc.

 

We also had a behind the scenes tour that time, and that was fascinating.  We had the good fortune that it was while visiting the Bridge was still allowed.  That was *really* interesting, and several of us lingered a bit with good discussions with the Captain.  We are very glad that we had that opportunity.

 

GC

[TSUmom]

11 hours ago, julig22 said:

Not offered so far.  But you can go to the CN desk and get a little OBC if you ask, along with your latitudes pins if you don't have them yet.  And yes, they gave me all the earlier level pins when I asked for them.

I am happy to hear that they did give you all levels of pins.  My DH thinks I am a bit silly but I collect things like pins.  I have ship pins from many years ago.

[The Traveling Man]

15 hours ago, Heronymous said:

Also, what exactly does the Saphire and up benefit “dinner with the officers” entail? 

Prior to the Covid shutdown we have enjoyed dinner with 24 different NCL officers.  Sometimes it was one officer and about a half-dozen passengers, but more recently it usually involved two officers, one senior and one junior, plus about eight or ten passengers.  It's usually in the MDR, but we've been to Cagney's once and Le Bistro three times for "Dinner with an Officer."  The experience differs according to the enthusiasm with which the officers, notably the GM, embrace the concept.  Sometimes we were treated like VIPs and dined with a senior officer.  A few times it felt like they foisted us upon a very junior officer because none of the senior officers wanted to be bothered with us.  I'd say that far more often than not, however, it was a very positive experience.  We have gotten to know the officers, learned about their careers, what drew them to cruising, and have heard some stories of their interesting experiences onboard.  At a couple of those dinners in specialty restaurants, my wife and I had an exclusive experience, just us plus one or two senior officers.  I assume this was because we have sailed often with NCL and have gotten to know many officers, so they sometimes have gone out of their way to afford us a special evening.  We always have made a point of dressing up for the occasion, though some of our fellow passengers have opted for cruise casual attire.  I figure that since the officers will be in coat and tie, why shouldn't I do the same.

[Heronymous]

Thanks for sharing all of that information, it’s very informative.

[Heronymous]

22 hours ago, GeezerCouple said:

 

We had a dinner with the Chief Engineer a few years ago.  But it wasn't a little threesome.

There were something like 8 of us, so there was a lot of jockeying for attention to ask questions, etc.

He was very pleasant, and I suppose it was a bit of an ordeal for him, to be asked what may have been silly questions, over and over, etc.

 

We also had a behind the scenes tour that time, and that was fascinating.  We had the good fortune that it was while visiting the Bridge was still allowed.  That was *really* interesting, and several of us lingered a bit with good discussions with the Captain.  We are very glad that we had that opportunity.

 

GC

That’s pretty neat, I was able to get a bridge tour on the Escape once, I was soooooo thankful since I know they stopped doing them and was lucky enough to get invited since we got married on the ship. They captain was hysterical too, all the staff were amazing. Hopefully Covid goes away for good and some day they can resume the dinner with the officers, sounds like an interesting time.

[Smq123]

I was on the Breakaway in November ‘21, 14 day cruise. No behind the scenes tour & no dinner with the officers. We were provided a letter that said canceled due to Covid restrictions. I was on the Gem in February & we received a letter stating those activities were canceled but to please go to the cruise next office. When we went to Cruise Next office we were given Lattitude pins and my husband & I were told we were receiving OBC in lieu of that platinum perk. I believe we received $100 OBC. 

[casofilia]

Dinner with an Officer

The norm was to go to the Latitudes/Future Cruise office the first day and "sign-up".   A few days later the GM's secretary will send an RSVP letter offering you a place and a date.   Normally you have to turn up about 7pm for a drink and chatter before going to a dining room.   We have only ever been to one of the MDRs; usually the more "formal" one.   We have found that it is a 8 seat table with one or two officers and 3 couples.   We have had senior officers and junior officers and have found most of them really great at taking part.

It is just the normal meal but with plenty of wine!!   At the end you are escorted to the VIP seats for the show.

 

 

[CDR Benson]

As recently as 2018, one of the touted perks of residency in the Haven was a "private cocktail reception with the captain and ship's officers".  I had planned on taking my service dress blues along for that event.

 

However, I see that evolution has dropped off every current on-line source with a list of Haven perks.  And no mention of it on the NCL site.  I guess it's been a casualty of the Plague.  Understandable, and the captain and officers probably weren't too wild about playing social lion in the first place.  (I'm still bringing my dress blues, though, for at least one dinner in a specialty restaurant.)

 

I wouldn't buy into a tour of the ship---I've seen my share of galleys and engineering spaces.  I wouldn't mind visiting the bridge, to see how things have advanced technologically since my day.  But I know how busy it can get up there.  The last thing the bridge team needs is some old relic in the way.

 

 

[CDR Benson]

18 minutes ago, CDR Benson said:

And no mention of [a private cocktail reception with the captain and ship's officers] on the NCL site.  

 

Belay that.  I just saw that's still listed on the NCL site as a perk of Haven residency.  I wouldn't be surprised, though, if NCL has simply neglected to delete it from the site.

[Heronymous]

9 hours ago, CDR Benson said:

As recently as 2018, one of the touted perks of residency in the Haven was a "private cocktail reception with the captain and ship's officers".  I had planned on taking my service dress blues along for that event.

 

However, I see that evolution has dropped off every current on-line source with a list of Haven perks.  And no mention of it on the NCL site.  I guess it's been a casualty of the Plague.  Understandable, and the captain and officers probably weren't too wild about playing social lion in the first place.  (I'm still bringing my dress blues, though, for at least one dinner in a specialty restaurant.)

 

I wouldn't buy into a tour of the ship---I've seen my share of galleys and engineering spaces.  I wouldn't mind visiting the bridge, to see how things have advanced technologically since my day.  But I know how busy it can get up there.  The last thing the bridge team needs is some old relic in the way.

 

 

We were on the first two sailings out of NY since Covid on the Breakaway back in October and they did the VIP cocktail party both weeks, will be interesting to see how it goes. The staff all wore masks, but passengers weren't required to.

[Treasure Hunter]

Just got off the Getaway. No officers seen. We were told that the Captain doesn’t leave the bridge except to sleep. They are protecting him from getting sick. Almost all passengers acted like it was pre pandemic. There were no announcements about any Illness. I felt pretty safe. We only wore masks in the casino( smoke was terrible), theater and elevators. We had a great time

[luckyinpa]

Pre virus princess had 4 hours of tour including one hour with the captain on the bridge. Got tons of swag too. Highly recommend a cruise just for that

[itsnotjustme]

As Platinum, my wife and I recently received $25 each OBC for the cancelled wine tasting and behind the scenes tour. 

 

Maybe when I hit Saphire (next year) the credit will grow!

[julig22]

2 minutes ago, itsnotjustme said:

As Platinum, my wife and I recently received $25 each OBC for the cancelled wine tasting and behind the scenes tour. 

 

Maybe when I hit Saphire (next year) the credit will grow!

Sapphire gets $50.  But some ships are offering the wine tasting so you get nothing, even tho the tours haven't been reinstated.

[YVRteacher]

I am Diamond.  On our last cruise 3 weeks ago we did not receive any OBC in lieu of the Behind the Scenes Tour and the Dinner with the Officers.  We did have Wines Around the World which was pretty much useless and the cocktail class which we skipped.  When I asked about the OBC we were told NCL is not doing it any more but there seems to be a lack of fleet-wide consistency.

[BirdTravels]

We were just on the Breakaway. No behind the scenes tour. No dinner with the officers. No OBC. I talked with the Cruise Next manager who said that since the offered the latitudes returning guest party and wine tasting, they owed their loyal guests no additional compensation. 

[The Traveling Man]

1 hour ago, BirdTravels said:

We were just on the Breakaway. No behind the scenes tour. No dinner with the officers. No OBC. I talked with the Cruise Next manager who said that since the offered the latitudes returning guest party and wine tasting, they owed their loyal guests no additional compensation. 

Now that sounds like a great way to win friends and influence people, doesn't it?

[ChiefMateJRK]

9 minutes ago, The Traveling Man said:

Now that sounds like a great way to win friends and influence people, doesn't it?

I highly doubt it was phrased in the manner presented.

[The Traveling Man]

19 minutes ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

I highly doubt it was phrased in the manner presented.

Regardless of how it was phrased, the fact remains that NCL continues to promise Latitudes benefits on their website which they seem to have no intention of fulfilling.  That is simply disingenuous, and that's no way to win friends.

[julig22]

1 hour ago, The Traveling Man said:

Regardless of how it was phrased, the fact remains that NCL continues to promise Latitudes benefits on their website which they seem to have no intention of fulfilling.  That is simply disingenuous, and that's no way to win friends.

True.  I keep suggesting that they offer alternatives, but for reasons beyond their ability to provide the current benefits. Choice of options - pick 2 from column a, 1 from b and so on.

No wine or strawberries for me because of allergies.  It would be so simple to have a door hanger checklist for a special snack.  

Alternatives to tours/ wine tasting could be obc (not just for wine tasting), additional discounts/drawing tickets for jewlery, art, spa, wifi, casino credits...

They might even benefit because you usually have to spend money to use a discount.

I always get a thank you, your comments have been forwarded.....

[snorklinbarb]

16 hours ago, YVRteacher said:

I am Diamond.  On our last cruise 3 weeks ago we did not receive any OBC in lieu of the Behind the Scenes Tour and the Dinner with the Officers.  We did have Wines Around the World which was pretty much useless and the cocktail class which we skipped.  When I asked about the OBC we were told NCL is not doing it any more but there seems to be a lack of fleet-wide consistency.

Have been on several cruises since restart and no Wines Around the World on any of them yet but hopeful they will have that back plus Dinner w/officers and Latitudes parties.  Has any Diamond/Ambassador heard anything about the new perk Mixology class or seen that offered yet?  Or is that what you mean by cocktail class?  I thought it was a custom wine making?

 

As for OBC in lieu of no offerings, it's been a mixed bag. Nothing on Breakaway or Gem last year and early 2022 but on Escape April-May Diamonds offered $50 (only thing that was offered was Latitude parties).  I'm fine with the OBC but also enjoy the activities especially on longer voyages.  

 

Any recent experiences on Escape?

Edited August 20, 2022 by snorklinbarb