1337mom Posted February 26, 2009 #1 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Can anyone tell me about the Ultimate Ship Tour - what happens, how does one sign up and if it's given on all the cruises? Sailing on the Emerald in April. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colo Cruiser Posted February 26, 2009 #2 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Sign up as soon as you board, only 12 are chosen and it fills fast..... News Article 9/2/2008 Princess Cruises Debuts New "Ultimate Ship Tour" with Launch of Ruby Princess Rare Behind-the-Scenes Access Will Give Passengers Exclusive Insider's View of Ship Operations SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (September 2, 2008) -- Most cruise ship passengers are aware that behind the scenes of their relaxing cruise vacation there's a bustle of activity to deliver an excellent experience, but few have gotten an up-close look at these inner workings. This will change in November with the debut of Ruby Princess as Princess Cruises introduces an industry first, The Ultimate Ship Tour, an exclusive opportunity to experience an array of "back of house" areas that are key to a ship's daily operations. This pioneering concept will give passengers the unique opportunity to explore beyond the public areas with visits to the ship's engine control room, medical center, print shop, laundry, photo lab, bridge and other spaces for a rare insider's view of many areas typically seen only by the ship's crew. Participants will also receive a variety of themed mementos at many of the stops along the route. "This tour is really the ultimate opportunity for some of our passengers to get a very unique view of the new Ruby Princess, and meet some of the ship's senior officers in their working environment," said Jan Swartz, Princess senior vice president. "I'm sure people will be amazed at what goes into running a city at sea, particularly since our onboard staff makes it appear so easy." The Ultimate Ship Tour lasts approximately three hours, and will be offered once or twice per cruise on a sea day. Space is limited for the tour, which will be available for $150 per person, and can be reserved onboard at the Passenger Services Desk. Following its debut aboard Ruby Princess, the program will be introduced aboard all Princess ships. The innovative tour will feature: Back Stage Area -- Passengers start the tour with a glimpse behind the glitz in the Princess Theater, home to Princess' sparkling stage productions. They'll meet the cast and production staff, who will show them all that goes into making sure the show goes on night after night -- including costumes and dressing areas, scenery and technical operations such as lighting and sound. Galley and Food Production Areas -- In the galley, guests will meet the executive chef, learn about the process of providing thousands of passengers meals each day, and see the inner workings of the ship's kitchen areas while enjoying a glass of French champagne, caviar and canapes. In addition, passengers will get a peek into some of Ruby Princess' vast food storage and production areas, each specially equipped and temperature-controlled for a specific type of food. Each guest will also be presented with an official chef's jacket. Engine Control Room -- At the center of the vessel's mechanical and electrical systems, the engine control room is where the ship's technical team monitors everything from the operation of the ship's propellers to the water supply in each stateroom. Participants will meet the chief technical offer and his staff who will explain the numerous functions overseen by the control room, including the vast amount of power generated to operate Ruby Princess. Print Shop -- Passengers will see where their daily Princess Patter, among other things, is produced. The ship's printer will meet the group and demonstrate the printing equipment and explain which materials passengers see each day are printed right onboard Ruby Princess. To mark their visit, each passenger will receive their own set of personalized stationery printed on board. Photo Laboratory -- Princess was the first cruise line to go completely digital, and each ship operates a full photo lab with the latest in digital printing equipment. The group will meet the Ruby Princess photo staff and learn how they manage the thousands of pictures taken and printed each day. Participants might even see their own smiling faces print out during their visit. Medical Center -- The ship's doctor will meet the group to show them the state-of-the-art medical facilities, including treatment rooms, laboratory facilities, intensive care unit, and digital x-ray system. Participants will learn how the ship's doctors and nurses -- all full-time maritime medicine specialists -- keep both passengers and crew healthy and handle medical emergencies. They'll also learn about the most common reasons passengers visit the medical center. Main Laundry -- Ruby Princess' onboard laundries operate 24 hours a day to wash tons of passenger and crew linens, towels, and clothing -- including more than 20,000 towels a day alone. Here visitors will meet the laundry master and will see this impressive operation in action. Participants will also receive a luxurious bath robe usually reserved for suite passengers. Funnel -- The group will then travel to the upper most deck of the ship to join the staff captain for the opportunity to peek inside the ship's funnel area high atop Ruby Princess, where they will be treated to spectacular views of the ship and the surrounding ocean. Bridge -- The tour concludes at the ship's command center, where passengers will meet the captain and his bridge team and learn about the state-of-the-art navigational equipment and safety systems aboard Ruby Princess. Passengers will also take in the dramatic front-of-ship views from the bridge's wraparound windows, while they enjoy special refreshments and pose with the captain at the ship's wheel for a complimentary photo. The framed photo and a tour completion certificate signed by the captain will later be delivered to each participant's stateroom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caber Posted February 26, 2009 #3 Share Posted February 26, 2009 That sounds good. Is there a charge for it and how do they choose who gets on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tcsmithh Posted February 26, 2009 #4 Share Posted February 26, 2009 is this on all ships or just the ruby? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colo Cruiser Posted February 26, 2009 #5 Share Posted February 26, 2009 $150 PP, it is on several ships but I don't know which. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrysalis Posted February 26, 2009 #6 Share Posted February 26, 2009 That sounds good. Is there a charge for it and how do they choose who gets on? they answer your questions in the above description. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1337mom Posted February 26, 2009 Author #7 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Thanks very much - just what I needed to know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tcsmithh Posted February 26, 2009 #8 Share Posted February 26, 2009 fyi just checked the crown does have it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sox Fan Cruiser Posted February 26, 2009 #9 Share Posted February 26, 2009 That was the first thing we did when we got on the ship. We didn't even go to our room! Straight to the pursers desk. We boarded first with the platinum folks and there were already 3 people ahead of us!! It was wonderful experience. Being on the bridge while we were moving was amazing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbeckett Posted February 26, 2009 #10 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Does anyone know if it on the Island? tcsmithh - where did you check to see it was happening on the Crown (it'll give me some hints to see if it in the Island) Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare A&L_Ont Posted February 27, 2009 #11 Share Posted February 27, 2009 fyi just checked the crown does have it We asked about it on the Crown in February 1st cruise and they didn't have it then :(, so take the tour now if you can:). It sounds great. I can't wait to take it October on the Emerald. The CB didn't have it in October 2008 but maybe now?? Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raydon Posted February 27, 2009 #12 Share Posted February 27, 2009 We did the tour on the Ruby and it was worth every dollar ...especially as we sit here in those plush ...really plush Princess robes that were part of the "gifts" from the tour! Donna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romy40 Posted February 27, 2009 #13 Share Posted February 27, 2009 $150/pp ? ouch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmo Posted February 27, 2009 #14 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Does anyone know if this tour is available on the Island Princess? It sounds fabulous! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sox Fan Cruiser Posted February 27, 2009 #15 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Does anyone know if this tour is available on the Island Princess? It sounds fabulous! I doubt it, but I don't know for certain. All these new additions (Chef's Table, Ship's Tour, English Pub Lunch) are first being rolled out on the Super Grand Class Ships (or however you want to refer to them as) and then rolled "downward". I assume it will hit the grand class ships next and then the sun class. I think the Island is a sun class ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judyjudy56 Posted April 3, 2009 #16 Share Posted April 3, 2009 We just got off of the Golden and we took the tour. It was fantastic and worth every penny we paid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
don-d Posted April 3, 2009 #17 Share Posted April 3, 2009 Is the tour given on a sea day? We are on the Crown April 19 and I am already excited to sign up for this. It sounds fantastic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyFred Posted April 3, 2009 #18 Share Posted April 3, 2009 We just got off of the Golden and we took the tour. It was fantastic and worth every penny we paid. Now I am excited! I will be on the Golden with my son in May and I did not think the tour was available on her. This really made my day. I will at the purser's desk as soon as they let me board to sign up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrystine Posted April 3, 2009 #19 Share Posted April 3, 2009 Does anyone know if this tour is on the Caribbean Princess? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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