Cruise & Access to Bridge

W

wetpaint

Active Member
Nov 2, 2007
2,370
Cape Cod/Caribbean
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41 Lipari Catamaran
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2 x Volvo 30hp
I am taking a cruise (Royal Caribbean) in June for my parents 50th wedding anniversary.....I have 6 cabins on my reservation form and was hoping to get access/special permission to view the bridge for my dad and me. Has anyone ever requested this? If so, what approach did you take? How receptive were they? Any info would be great as I was going to write a letter this week...
 
I just came off of a Celebrity cruise (owned by RCL). It was the first time since I've been cruising that they offered a complete ship tour, including machinery spaces and the bridge. Unfortunately, I didn't hear about it until it was too late to sign up.
 
RollerCoastr said:
I just came off of a Celebrity cruise (owned by RCL). It was the first time since I've been cruising that they offered a complete ship tour, including machinery spaces and the bridge. Unfortunately, I didn't hear about it until it was too late to sign up.
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They muat have relaxed some of there security policies then, I know for a few years now it would require an act of God to get in the bridge of a cruise ship....
 
Carnival offers an extensive tour of the ship and systems for a couple hundred bucks.
 
John,

Larry is right. On RC ships (so far we've done lots of cruises and only with them) due to the security control this is hard to get. I did however get a bridge tour on the biggest ship at the time. Unfortunately, the way I got it wasn't the best approach. They messed up something and it was their way of compensating to keep loyal customers happy. If you don't find a better way, at least you can keep this "clue" as a plan "C", just in case. I think there should be a way to get the tour on RC ships, maybe your agent can give you some tips as well.
 
Thanks.......I will write a letter and see what happens...I have a TWIC card as part as my captains license which might help a bit..
 
I was told it was a security issue but when I offered up my TWIC card they were happy to oblige on RC (that useless card they made us get to keep captains license). Guess it wasn't so useless!
 
Wetpaint, based on what I see in your blog you definitely seem to have the personality to get an invitation. If your travel agent, or your letter doesn't work, approach the Cruise Director or the Loyalty Director when you get on-board.

Royal Caribbean does provide Bridge Tours as a perk to the the two highest levels in their loyalty program on all cruises longer than 5 days. So they are prepared to handle a reasonable number of guests on the bridge.

In fact, I had the opportunity to get a private invite years ago when the Admiral and I happened to meet the Captain and his wife in one of the ships lounges. Not only did we get to tour the bridge, but were also invited after dinner at the Captains table to have drinks in the Captains quarters. This was on the Navigator of the Seas and at the time it was the newest and largest ship in the fleet. It was an unbelievable experience. I hope you succeed and I'm sure your folks will enjoy it.

BTW, take your mom too on the tour. Not only will she enjoy it but it won't hurt your chances in getting the invite!!!!

Good luck, Art
 
Thanks Art......I don't believe women including my mom should be on the bridge of any boat.....they belong in the head and galley, and of course if a chick is good looking in my stateroom....Russ when I travel I keep my TWIC card in my passport holder and you would be amazed how different security treats you.......By the way, kidding about my mom on the bridge......she is welcome anywhere I go in life!!!
 
OK, I am going to ask.... TWIC card?
 
TWIC = Transportation Worker Identification Credential

Thinking about it, I could actually believe that having this card would be a mandatory requirement for anything beyond passenger area access (Probably a *legal* requirement for *UNESCORTED* access, but merely a company policy for ESCORTED access).

You basically need one of these cards for access to anything marine related in the U.S., including ports and any refinery with an ocean terminal. This includes Captains, Dock hands, Construction workers, or anyone else who wants to be inside a port facility or on a Ship.


When asking for access, you definately mention you have one of these cards.

(yes. . .only one step away from a National ID card)
 
I know this is not totally related but; I was taking a train trip up the royal gourge somewhere out west a few years ago and when we were buying tickets I just happened to mention to the Ticket sales lady if there was a way I could ride in the engine. She said, no problem, there was somewhere around a $25 extra charge to the regular ticket. Very, very cool thing to do riding in the cab of a Diesel train up and down a winding mountain.

Bill
 
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On Disney Magic last February our group had seven rooms, and we simply asked for a tour of the mechanical decks. It took them a couple days to organize but they allowed the Chief Engineer to give a tour to 5 people max of all the mechanical areas down below. We had the only two 2-bedroom suites on the ship (the only larger room is the one Royal Suite), which may have had something to do with it. One of my friends in one of the big suites (not me, unfortunately!) asked their concierge who got it organized.

We were more interested in seeing down below than the bridge...I don't know if they would have accommodated a tour of the bridge or not. The tour they provided was very cool.
 
Just came off Celebrity Solstice today. As described by RollerCoastr, a complete tour including the bridge and mechanical decks was offered. Here's the catch...the price for the tour was $150!
 
bajturner said:
Just came off Celebrity Solstice today. As described by RollerCoastr, a complete tour including the bridge and mechanical decks was offered. Here's the catch...the price for the tour was $150!
Click to expand...

So much for security concerns excuse.
 
bajturner said:
Just came off Celebrity Solstice today. As described by RollerCoastr, a complete tour including the bridge and mechanical decks was offered. Here's the catch...the price for the tour was $150!
Click to expand...

Missed you by a week, we were on the eastern cruise on the Solstice the week before. The $150 also included a luncheon in one of the specialty restaurants, if that makes a difference, we did not sign up.

John, congrats to your folks, and hope you all have a great time.
 
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