Visit the bridge on the ship

[Sonatina1990]

Is it possible to be able to visit the bridge when the cruise ship is at port? If so what do you do to be able to do it. It's our anniversary and I was hoping to be able to surprise my husband.

 

 

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[swedish weave]

Is it possible to be able to visit the bridge when the cruise ship is at port? If so what do you do to be able to do it. It's our anniversary and I was hoping to be able to surprise my husband.

 

 

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Some cruise ships and some captains will offer a bridge tour to some guests, but it is not consistent on all ships or cruise lines.

 

I suggest dropping a polite request to the captain via the hotel director or one of the senior officers. It may be something you can get done.

[Working 2 Cruise]

You'd have to book the Ultimate Ship Tour. It costs $150 per person and visit many places... You also get gifts, such as nice, plush bathrobes to take home. If you're interested, you need to sign up at the Passengers' Desk as soon as you board.

[Bimmer09]

You'd have to book the Ultimate Ship Tour. It costs $150 per person and visit many places... You also get gifts, such as nice, plush bathrobes to take home. If you're interested, you need to sign up at the Passengers' Desk as soon as you board.

 

Another vote for the UST as it gets you to the bridge-with the Captain- and beyond to other equally interesting parts of the ship. When the ship is in port the Captain is probably off duty as he often does the 4 to 8 watch to dock the ship.

 

Norris, UST fan all the way. Get to the Passenger Services desk immediately upon boarding!

[Sonatina1990]

Would it be possible to book or call head?

 

 

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[Colo Cruiser]

Would it be possible to book or call head?

 

 

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No you have to do it onboard.

[cpcanuck]

Is the ultimate ship tour available on all ships? Grand in particular? Also once you are on board - where do you go to reserve this - above post says "passenger desk" is this the main customer service guest relations desk?

Edited September 14, 2014 by cpcanuck

[KruzeKrazy!]

We were in a full suite on the CB a couple of years ago and we received an unsolicited personally signed letter from the Captain to visit the bridge.

 

We, of course, did! We were given a special number to call to make the arrangements and then at that time we met a security officer at a pre-set location. He then escorted us through a crew door to the First Officer's office who visited with us and then took us to the bridge to meet the Captain and several other officers.

 

We chatted with the Captaun for a while, I asked some questions of which he answered every one, and then he turned us over to one of the bridge officers who gave us a guided tour, explained the nav system/ship's controls/flags they fly and why/etc., I took pictures, he took pictures of my DW and me, and we asked more questions about how they run the ship, etc.

 

We were under sail and the views were phenomenal. We were allowed to be there as long as we wanted and spent about 45 minutes. We then left as we didn't want to wear out our welcome and knew they had better things to do.

 

That experience alone was worth the price of the suite! We to this day don’t know why it happened - we've been on other Princess cruises and in another suites and it didn't happen. So we're looking at it for what it probably was - a once in a lifetime experience.

[beg3yrs]

Is the ultimate ship tour available on all ships? Grand in particular? Also once you are on board - where do you go to reserve this - above post says "passenger desk" is this the main customer service guest relations desk?

 

You'll have to check on UST availability when you board. Typically the larger ships have it and it will be on a sea day. Less likely to have it on short itineraries or those with minimal sea days.

 

Yes, passenger desk, main customer service guest relations desk, also called the Passenger Services Desk. Same thing. Go there right away.

[Shogun]

Hi There

Ship tours are normally done at sea, very rare to visit a bridge while in port, and almost impossible while entering or leaving a port.

 

Yours Shogun

 

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[weathermom]

You can also get an invitation to the bridge as part of an anniversary package

http://www.princess.com/learn/onboard/gifts_services/celebrations/honeymoons/index.jsp

 

 

Deluxe Honeymoon / Anniversary

This package includes:

 

All the benefits of the above Honeymoon/Anniversary Package plus these fabulous upgrades:

 

Champagne breakfast in bed - a half bottle of French champagne delivered with breakfast to your stateroom the morning of your choice

Two Princess Cruises waffle robes - gifts for you to take home

A visit to the Lotus Spa® - one 25-minute therapeutic massage or facial per person

Canapés or petit fours delivered to your stateroom on a selected evening

A personalized invitation from the Captain to visit the bridge while in port

 

 

Deluxe Honeymoon Experience Item #1107 - $444.99 per couple

 

Deluxe Anniversary Experience Item #1102 - $444.99 per couple

[lake5298]

Hi There

Ship tours are normally done at sea, very rare to visit a bridge while in port, and almost impossible while entering or leaving a port.

 

Yours Shogun

 

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I was very lucky to visit the bridge of Island Escape a few years ago while leaving Nice - it was just before the harbour entrance was enlarged and it was a very tight manouevre indeed. There were 4 of us altogether - and we were told to "stand still, say nothing, touch nothing" just before the Pilot came on to the bridge.

 

For those not familiar with the ship, she was Royal Caribbean's Viking Serenade from 1989 to 2002.

 

A lot of windage due to her flat sides, and with not much in the way of thrusters, in the very tight berth the manouevre was doubly difficult, so the Captain did it the old way with spring lines. At the time, it was the largest ship to have used the port of Nice.

 

A great experience.

[hawkeyetlse]

Ship tours are normally done at sea, very rare to visit a bridge while in port, and almost impossible while entering or leaving a port.

I assume the main reason the publicly advertised ship tours are scheduled for sea days is because on port days, people generally want to go ashore… I don't see why a private visit couldn't happen while the ship is sitting in port, if everyone is available. It's probably the least interesting time to visit, though.

[Shogun]

Hi There,

I was told that while in port ships security level is higher than that a sea,

 

Yours Shogun

 

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[chrysalis]

A couple of years ago, 4 of us were invited by the Emerald's Captain Tony Yeoman to visit the bridge while departing Barbados. It was a great experience.

[boone2]

I wrote to the captain personally of the Caribbean princess a few years ago. Our good friends were taking their first cruise (they are since hooked!!) and I wanted to make it special for them. There were 5of us and we joined a group of about 10 people. We had to call a number and were met by security. We were also asked not to tell any other passengers. We had a wonderful time although the captain wasn't there,the 2nd officer showed us around. On a side note- a very embarrassing passenger asked the officers what their share of "all these tips we have to pay" was

Terry

 

 

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[Cobraman]

Cruise Directors can (and I assume other Princess management team members) assign a passenger to the "VIP" list, which, among many things includes a bridge tour while at sea. They have a nice handout which describes all of the bridge staff and their roles, the navigation and ships control equipment and a detailed statistics list of the ship.

[Phyljim]

We have received an invite to visit the bridge when we were celebrating our 50th Princess cruise. We were docked in a port when it occurred. What a treat.

[AKman2495]

We had the renewal of vows package last November that included a tour of the bridge. We were on the CB at sea the day of the tour. My DW is not into technical stuff so she took it easy while I took the tour.

 

We had 6 people in the group taking the tour. They also said to keep it quiet. They added that not everyone gets a tour of the bridge and they did not want it known that we had a tour. I do not know if this is something fleet wide or for the CB at that time.

 

While fascinating, I was somewhat surprised to learn that two officers and two seamen man the bridge at any given time and that it was very quiet. The ship runs on autopilot so no barking orders. No big table with charts and officers plotting courses with dividers.....

 

We got the see the flag lockers, the side stations in the wings of the bridge that are used in docking, the radar etc.

 

If you like this kind of stuff the tour is great.

[PescadoAmarillo]

We had been to so many Navigation at Sea lectures in the Princess Theater that, by the time we actually had a bridge tour, it was a bit anticlimatic. It was a thrill to simply be there, and see the view from there, but I found the flags and the little bell used for the noon navigational updates the most exciting part of the whole thing. The rest of it is largely computers.

 

It's funny...our invitation also asked us to use discretion when talking about the tour (it was our 50th Princess cruise) but when we got there, there were at least 16 other people there. It's a poorly kept secret, I think.

[Loonbeam]

For tours other than those included with packages (UST and Anniv) it's basically Captain's discretion. Some are more comfortable than others (due to personality, language, etc). Sometimes the First Officer will offer.

 

The Captains also get to choose who goes in most cases, although other officers can request.

[swedish weave]

We had been to so many Navigation at Sea lectures in the Princess Theater that, by the time we actually had a bridge tour, it was a bit anticlimatic. It was a thrill to simply be there, and see the view from there, but I found the flags and the little bell used for the noon navigational updates the most exciting part of the whole thing. The rest of it is largely computers.

 

It's funny...our invitation also asked us to use discretion when talking about the tour (it was our 50th Princess cruise) but when we got there, there were at least 16 other people there. It's a poorly kept secret, I think.

 

The basic reason for asking you to be discreet is the "entitlement mentality" that prevails in today's world. Some think they should get everything anyone else gets, and it serves to get some "perks" eliminated just to avoid the onslaught of requests.

 

The old saying "Loose lips sink ships" could apply.

[Colo Cruiser]

Hi There,

I was told that while in port ships security level is higher than that a sea,

 

The level remains the same (at sea/port) unless the port is at a higher level then the ship will increase the level upon arrival.

 

Marsec level 1 is the lowest and thats what it will be unless there is a specific threat/incident.

 

(MARSEC Level 1 means the level for which minimum appropriate security measures shall be maintained at all times)

Edited September 14, 2014 by Colo Cruiser

[dfields1814]

The ultimate ship tour will get you to the bridge for sure. But the captain may or may not be there if you are interested on talking with the him.When I did the tour captain was there.

 

Remember there may be a lottery to see who gets on this tour if more people sign up than they can accommodate.

 

It is expensive but the tour is well worth it.

 

I was on the Diamond and a friend wanted to go on this tour. I did not want to spend the money but agreed knowing I would not win the lottery. My friend and I both the lottery. So I was pretty much stuck on going. Now I am glad I did.

Edited September 14, 2014 by dfields1814

[cpcanuck]

You'll have to check on UST availability when you board. Typically the larger ships have it and it will be on a sea day. Less likely to have it on short itineraries or those with minimal sea days.

 

Yes, passenger desk, main customer service guest relations desk, also called the Passenger Services Desk. Same thing. Go there right away.

 

Thank you! I will be on a 10 day itinerary - so maybe there might be a chance! Fingers crossed...I would enjoy something like this.