Ultimate Ship Tour **Review**

[Janet Foster]

The Ultimate Ship Tour aboard the Princess is a three-hour tour

for which a limited number of passengers can pay $150 for a behind-the-scenes look at pretty much every nook and cranny of the ship.

 

 

 

We did the Ultimate Ship Tour on our GOLDEN cruise a couple weeks ago. As stated, 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. Our group of 10 went to sign up for this as soon as we got on board the first day (Saturday). On Wednesday evening, each of us had invitations in our mail boxes. Here is mine.

 

 

We arrived on scheduled time. There was a ship photographer that went along with us. There were 15 people on the tour.

 

Areas Visited

 

 

Back Stage Area -- You begin the tour with a glimpse behind the glitz in the Princess Theater, home to Princess' sparkling stage productions. You meet cast and production staff, who will show you 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, you 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, you will get a peek into some of the 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. (This is delivered to your cabin later that evening)

 

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. You 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 the ship.

 

Print Shop -- You will see where their daily Princess Patter, among other things, is produced. The ship's printer will demonstrate the printing equipment and explain which materials passengers see each day are printed right onboard the ship. To mark your visit, each passenger will receive their own set of personalized stationery printed on board. (This is delivered to your cabin later that evening).

 

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 meets with the photo staff and learn how they manage the thousands of pictures taken and printed each day.

 

Medical Center -- The ship's doctor met with us and showed us the state-of-the-art medical facilities, including treatment rooms, laboratory facilities, intensive care unit, and digital x-ray system. We learned how the ship's doctors and nurses -- all full-time maritime medicine specialists -- keep both passengers and crew healthy and handle medical emergencies. You also learn about the most common reasons passengers visit the medical center.

 

Main Laundry -- The ship 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. This was really facinating (and loud) you 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. (This is delivered to your cabin later that evening).

 

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 the ship, where they will be treated to spectacular views of the ship and the surrounding ocean. We got to also see the chains that hoist the anchors and huge line ropes.

 

Bridge -- The tour concludes at the ship's command center, where we met with the captain and his bridge team and learn about the state-of-the-art navigational equipment and safety systems aboard the ship. The view was spectacular especially with the views from the bridge's wraparound windows, we were offered special refreshments and pose with the captain at the ship's wheel for a complimentary photo. Doesn't the captain look like Frankie Avalon?

 

 

This is just one of five different pictures that was taken throughout the tour. The photos were delivered to our cabin along with the other items.

 

All in all, this tour was A+ Something I really wanted to do, but it isn't something I need to do again. I loved all the gifts especially my nice plush.. (very very plush) bathrobe. If you decide this is something you want to do, be sure to bring along a collaspible back pack or duffle bag to put your robes in. They sure took up a lot of room!

 

We had an especially good time on this tour with our group as after we visited each area, we applauded the crew.

 

The attachment is a flier they gave to us when we were on the bridge that contains interesting facts.

 

Hope you enjoyed your review of the ULTIMATE SHIP TOUR..

UST.pdf

[Loonbeam]

Great summary of the tour!

 

One quick caveat for people reading this later, the locations may vary slightly from ship to ship and tour to tour. For example, we were not able to go up on the funnel when we did it due to crosswinds.

[more cruises]

Thanks for such a great thread. We signed up for it on our last cruise but there wasn't enough interest so they didn't offer the tour. Maybe next time.

[Pam in CA]

Excellent summary. I took this tour on the Sapphire a couple of years ago and it was worth every penny.

[gdisney]

Wow, this does sound fascinating. And some really nice gifts to boot. I don't think I can justify spending $150 on it though... :( Maybe when I win the lottery! lol

[Woobstr112G]

Thank you for the great review/summary of the Ultimate Ship's Tour.....:):):)

 

Bob

[judyjudy56]

We have done the Ultimate Ship Tour and loved it. Even though it was pricey, it was well worth it. The highlight of the tour for us was having tea with the Captain in his stateroom. Captain Nash is quite an entertaining man. We highly recommend this tour to everyone.

[ChrisB123]

Thanks so much, I'm going to use your review to get my dh interested. :o

[Janet Foster]

Excellent summary. I took this tour on the Sapphire a couple of years ago and it was worth every penny.

I didn't really even know about the UST until I read other threads in Cruise Critic about a year ago. I don't recall seeing anything about it in the Patters. I think more people might do it if they knew about it..

[Artrina]

LOVE the detailed review! I'm sending it to hubby with the cost removed - who doesn't know I've started a fund to pay for it when we cruise next year :)

[vickie_bernie]

I did this on the Ruby last year and it was exactly how you described it. Sadly they spelled my name wrong on the stationary, they reprinted it and it was still wrong, they were to reprint it again but I never saw it. But no biggy!

 

Loved every minute of it.

 

Vickie

[luvtravel88]

Thanks for the great review. I'm hoping to take the tour in November.

[rdsqrl]

I didn't read it the review section, only the letter, as I want to be completely surprised when I do it -- hope you understand! However, the captain does TOTALLY look smokin' hot -- er, I mean, does look like Frankie Avalon. Who is it? 'Cause I suddenly feel the need to book a cruise on his ship.

Long trousers? Glad I read the letter; not something I generally bring onboard for warm weather cruises so will have to keep that in mind. Good info; thanks!

[doubletree07]

Wow, this does sound fascinating. And some really nice gifts to boot. I don't think I can justify spending $150 on it though... :( Maybe when I win the lottery! lol

 

That's how I feel. The tour sounds awesome - but $150.00 is rather steep. Personally I wish it were a bit more reasonable.:( I'd rather pay maybe $100.00 minus the robe. Too bulky to pack and bring home.

[Cruzin-K]

I've read in other threads that taking photos during the tour is allowed on some ships, in some areas. I'm planning on taking a small camera to tuck in my pocket if I get selected for this tour in August. If they let us take pictures then I'll have it available; and if not, oh well, not the end of the world.

[BassettMom]

I loved the tour when I went and definitely thought it was worth it, and I'd do it again even without the gifts (especially the chef's jacket--when would I ever use that? :rolleyes:).

 

The best part was being able to have a great discussion with the staff captain on the ship's navigation systems, plotting routes, etc., and comparing it to an aircraft's navigational systems, as well as comparing the airfoil design of the stabilizers with an aircraft's wing design. While everyone else was hovering around the captain, the staff captain was showing me all the different radar images, we discussed the course heading and where the next waypoint was to change headings, what confirmations were needed to actually change the heading, etc. (Ok, maybe I'm not your average "girl.")

 

Anyway, we had such a great discussion, and the staff captain invited me to dinner that night so we could continue to talk. I learned so much about ship operations and I think he learned something about aircraft operations. I would definitely do this tour again when I book a different ship so I could compare the different ships' operations. The tour was awesome!

[caribill]

I've read in other threads that taking photos during the tour is allowed on some ships, in some areas. I'm planning on taking a small camera to tuck in my pocket if I get selected for this tour in August. If they let us take pictures then I'll have it available; and if not, oh well, not the end of the world.

 

Pictures were allowed on the Bridge when we took the tour.

 

However, most of the people had not brought their cameras along.

[caribill]

That's how I feel. The tour sounds awesome - but $150.00 is rather steep. Personally I wish it were a bit more reasonable.:( I'd rather pay maybe $100.00 minus the robe. Too bulky to pack and bring home.

 

Think of it as a shore excursion where you do not leave the ship.

[Astro Flyer]

I didn't really even know about the UST until I read other threads in Cruise Critic about a year ago. I don't recall seeing anything about it in the Patters. I think more people might do it if they knew about it..

The Patter from our 14 day Golden to Hawaii in November had it prominently displayed only on the 1st day but it was never in the Patter on our May 7 day coastal on the Sapphire.

[DougH]

Do they ask your size for the robe and chef jacket or are they a "one size fits all" type? I may finally try this on my Alaska B2B but would much prefer a lower cost without the extra goodies.

[Janet Foster]

I didn't read it the review section, only the letter, as I want to be completely surprised when I do it -- hope you understand! However, the captain does TOTALLY look smokin' hot -- er, I mean, does look like Frankie Avalon. Who is it? 'Cause I suddenly feel the need to book a cruise on his ship.

Long trousers? Glad I read the letter; not something I generally bring onboard for warm weather cruises so will have to keep that in mind. Good info; thanks!

Your post made me crack up. HAAAA

 

The smokin' hot captain is Vincenzo Lubrano, he is the current capt of GOLDEN PRINCESS.

 

I refer to him as Frankie and I am Annette.. :-)

[Janet Foster]

I've read in other threads that taking photos during the tour is allowed on some ships, in some areas. I'm planning on taking a small camera to tuck in my pocket if I get selected for this tour in August. If they let us take pictures then I'll have it available; and if not, oh well, not the end of the world.

I had heard this also Karen. My camera is too bulky to slip in my pocket but hey! Still worth a try!

 

No one pulled out a camera or asked to take personal pictures. If you can bring it, try it!

[Janet Foster]

When you are signing up for the tour the sign up sheet has your name, cabin number and then size. So you do get to pick your size for the chef's jacket.

 

I do believe the robes were all one size fits all. They are so nice and plush. I haven't been wearing it here at home because it is just too hot right how for a hot robe, but look forward to the cooler months when I can wrap myself up in it.

 

Princess delivered the robes and chef jackets in one of those Princess eco friendly bags... so we had something to carry it in if we didn't have room in our suitcases.

 

Not really good pictures but here they are...

 

 

[cruzisme]

Would love to do this but our next cruise is a port intensive one, not sure if we can fit it in. Will wait and see when we get on the ship. Thanks for the great review.

[gertz]

Well worth the price, highly recommended.