tours of QM2

[mak5598]

I just read that the Explorer of the Seas does tours of the ship - galley, engine room and the bridge. Does anyone know that they offer this on the QM2 - leaving Wed, 10/31/07

 

Thanks

Muriel

[Terrence Richards]

The only tour that is done, when offered, is a visit to the Bridge. There is a viewing hallway that looks into the Bridge area through large glass windows. You are not allowed into the actual Bridge area where the officers are on duty.

 

I have been on the QM2 three times and have never read in the Daily Programme any tours of the galley or engine room. Thanks to the idiots in the World who have caused so much trouble, security is now quite different than it was years ago.

 

If you know an officer very well or are related, maybe you would be able to get a private tour.

 

Terrence

[travel-to-go]

There have been galley tours, I know. Maybe special programs or something.

I don't remember if any were offered on QM2 on my previous two journeys on her. (Though I have been on them on other ships) I seem to remember someone here having been on one. Doug? Was it you? But then, Doug is a travel writer. That would make a difference. And I believe she was in port, not moving!

 

They used to even allow engine room tours. But no more.

I suppose with the right connections. I think those were curtailed way back when. Mid nineties we ate at the chief engineer's table, and I don't believe they allowed them even then. I can imagine the liability could be horrendous!

[southwestie]

There have been galley tours, I know. Maybe special programs or something.

I don't remember if any were offered on QM2 on my previous two journeys on her. (Though I have been on them on other ships) I seem to remember someone here having been on one. Doug? Was it you? But then, Doug is a travel writer. That would make a difference. And I believe she was in port, not moving!

 

They used to even allow engine room tours. But no more.

I suppose with the right connections. I think those were curtailed way back when. Mid nineties we ate at the chief engineer's table, and I don't believe they allowed them even then. I can imagine the liability could be horrendous!

 

I have heard that some passengers have toured those areas, passengers who in past have worked those areas and in the know have done.

 

otherwise who would want to see a galley or engine room, I like to just enjoy what those areas do for me lol

[pnhmrk]

I have heard that some passengers have toured those areas, passengers who in past have worked those areas and in the know have done.

 

I've been on the bridge of the QE2 twice and in the galleys once. All three times they were on public tours and it wasn't because of who or what we knew. I don't think they run anything like that anymore - security and health and safety concerns mean that it can't be done. (Although, if I were to get another chance, I'd jump at it:) )

[exlondoner]

The last time we saw a visit to QE2's bridge offered was on a New England cruise in August 2001. I suspect the date is significant, and security obsessions since then have ruled out such pleasures.

[lexxity]

I'm sure that galley tours are still offered on the QM2 but you have to arrange them through the pursers office.

 

Doug - I want your job!

[crossponder]

Bridge visits and tours are not entirely out of the question, although it does depend a lot on "who you know", and also on the captain - some are stricter than others. As for the engine room, forget it unless you are a really close relative of someone with the discretion to offer a tour.

I don't think anyone has mentioned the "Virtual Bridge Tour" which I witnessed a couple of weeks ago. This is a lecture with slides given by a couple of deck officers, who then take questions. It follows the spirited auction of the navigational chart used on that voyage - proceeds going to merchant seamen charity. On my trip, the chart went for $2000 and I've been told it varies between a few hundred and more than $5000.

BTW the Virtual Tour and auction were in Illuminations, and it was packed to the gills - SRO.

[Kindlychap]

On QM2 Galley tours of the Britannia Galley were offered to Club passengers - and come well recommended.

 

Neither Bridge tours or Engine Room tours are offered these days. That isn't to say that passengers never visit the bridge - we know they do from posts on this board. How one achieves this is a matter between those individuals and the Master of the vessel. I do know for a fact that merely occupying a Q1 grade cabin is NOT sufficient to warrant a bridge tour.

 

I am not aware of anyone with recent (say in the last ten years) experience of an engine room tour.

 

As always, bowing to the great god "Security" has spoilt the fun of the rest of us.

 

Matthew

[bob brown]

The only tour that is done, when offered, is a visit to the Bridge. There is a viewing hallway that looks into the Bridge area through large glass windows. You are not allowed into the actual Bridge area where the officers are on duty.

 

I have been on the QM2 three times and have never read in the Daily Programme any tours of the galley or engine room. Thanks to the idiots in the World who have caused so much trouble, security is now quite different than it was years ago.

 

If you know an officer very well or are related, maybe you would be able to get a private tour.

 

Terrence

I wasn't aware there is a bridge viewing area on the QM2. Is this area always open, or do you have to be escorted through it?

I have seen bridge overviews on RCCL Voyager class vessels that are always open except at night when shades are lowered to prevent glare into the bridge.

The best bridgeview I have seen is on the NCL Spirit. It is directly behind the bridge. It even has duplicates of some of the nav. screens for passengers to enjoy.

I also like HAL's 'S' and 'R' class ships, where you can go down a stairway and view directly behind each of the bridgewings. Day or night.

I like to do this and compare my handheld GPS with the ship's instruments.

 

Does anyone know of additional ships offering similar?

[GAV BOY]

The last time we saw a visit to QE2's bridge offered was on a New England cruise in August 2001. I suspect the date is significant, and security obsessions since then have ruled out such pleasures.

 

I have been very lucky, in being invited to the Bridge on my last two QE2 trips. It was by private invitation though !

 

regards,

 

Gavin :cool:

[exlondoner]

The bridge viewing area on QM2 is pretty much always open, except when manoevring into port or in the hours of darkness. You just walk through the door and stand there. I think a lot of people are unaware of its existence, because when we used it, there were few others, but I found it utterly engrossing, and the view wondrous.:)

[bob brown]

On every cruise I take, I stop at the reception desk and request a tour of the bridge. The stock answer is "unfortunately, due to security issues, we can no longer offer this". Sometimes they say write a letter to the captain, which they will forward. Which I did on the Constellation in Oct. of 2005.

Imagine my surprise and delight a few nights later when I found on my bed one evening a printed invitation!

It gave an appointment time and meeting location. We were escorted by a cadet officer for a twenty minute tour on a sea day. To our delight the captain joined us and posed for photos and answered questions. We reluctantly left, as the next group was awaiting its turn.

Although this activity is not advertised in the ship's program, it seems to be a a regular occurence, as Celebrity had it down to a science. They sure made a lot of fans that day!

I wonder if they still do it?

As for 'security', is there an actual regulation forbidding such tours, or is it simply the discretion of the line?

[xrayjon]

While the QM2 daily program does not advertise for a galley tour, if you ask your waiter, and also the maitre'd, they will tell you when the tour is. It is not advertised, but for those who are interested and ask, they have one scheduled.

[RobertQM2]

On every cruise I take, I stop at the reception desk and request a tour of the bridge. The stock answer is "unfortunately, due to security issues, we can no longer offer this". Sometimes they say write a letter to the captain, ...........

 

And this I did on HALs Westerdam, which worked out as an invitation from the technical engineer for a two hours trip around the whole "cellar" of the vessel.

That let my technical heart beat like a drum. To see into the hole where the azipods are mounted and turning slowly one or two degrees to keep a straight path. Also to see the 5 swiss diesels running full throttle and the g/t(dead). Ending up after two hours at the huge fridge with 6 coffins in it (empty at that time). At least 6 pages where filled in my diary with this experience.

 

I hope I'll work on QE2 next year too.