Ultimate Ship Tour

[Thrak]

I really don't understand the thrill of the robe. Maybe it's gender related or maybe I'm just "an old poop" but I don't find the robe to be an enticement to take the tour.

[djms11504]

Done it twice.

 

Short version is its a guided tour of the areas you don't get to see and meet with the people who run them. Last one we did was galley, freezers, butcher shop, print shop, photo lab, engineering control room, theater stage, dressing room, forward mooring area, and the bridge. You also get some swag , this trip was a spa robe, embroidered apron, personalized notepad, and some photos from along the way (you CANNOT take your own)

 

Really depends on how interested you are in how things are done. In engineering for example, we spent a lot of time talking water production with the chief engineer.

 

You have to PAY for this??? Same thing is offered on Carnival for free, I don't understand why you should pay for it/???

[pjrockman]

DW and I took this tour on the CB three years ago. We absolutely loved the tour as well as the swag. I get all kind of compliments on my chefs jacket that DW had my name embroidered on when we got home. I got both chef jackets and DW got both robes. She hasn't even worn the second one yet since they are so thick and plush. They aren't the (too short) terry cloth ones. They are the good suite robes. We also enjoyed the pics and stationary. Loved the galley most of all where Chef Antonio Cereda spent a great deal of time with us. He was very accommodating. We ran into him on the CB a year later and he remembered us and engaged us in conversation. Also enjoyed laundry operations, print room, backstage, medical center, funnel, bridge and engineering room. All of the top staff and officers, including the Captain, were very generous with their time and they were very friendly and informative. Chief Engineer was a little long, but his passion for his ship was undeniable.

 

For us it was worth every penny.

 

Paul

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[Bostonjetset]

You have to PAY for this??? Same thing is offered on Carnival for free, I don't understand why you should pay for it/???

 

I took the tour on the Carnival Glory and it certainly was not free. It was about $100, so cheaper than the Princess tour but no robe was included so I assume that about makes up for the price. On Carnival we got a group picture on the bow and a group pic with the captain [8x10s so worth about $22 each] that were delivered to our cabin along with chocolate covered strawberries later that evening. We also had champagne at the end during the chat with the chef of the extra-fee steakhouse. In addition to that, we got a "swag bag" full of mostly useless stuff like a baseball cap, rubber bracelet and a lanyard. I actually would have preferred a nice plush robe but the tour was still worth it if you are into learning about life at sea and how a ship operates. As others on here stated, the laundry was my favorite part as well. I figured I need one of those huge sheet-folding machines in my laundry room! HAHA. It really was quite amazing how it was done. The backstage talk with the performers was also quite cool.

 

I am not sure I would take another tour in the near future as most ships are probably quite similar. However, maybe some years down the road I would check it out on a different ship. I felt it was worth the price considering one could easily drop that much in the casino or on a heavy night of drinking.

[Loonbeam]

As noted Carnival is certainly not free. They do offer a free galley tour (so does Princess) but this is way more in depth.

 

You have to PAY for this??? Same thing is offered on Carnival for free, I don't understand why you should pay for it/???

[djms11504]

Hmm it's been awhile. I guess things have changed. :-(

[2DesertGuys]

How does one know if these tours are offered, just go to guest services upon boarding?

[caribill]

How does one know if these tours are offered, just go to guest services upon boarding?

 

It is usually in the embarkation day Patter, but may not be obvious.

 

But, best idea is just head to Guest Services soon after boarding and ask to sign up for it.

[FawnRiver]

I really don't understand the thrill of the robe. Maybe it's gender related or maybe I'm just "an old poop" but I don't find the robe to be an enticement to take the tour.

My DH loves his robe, mine is still folded up and in the back of the linen closet.

 

We felt that the tour was worth every penny we paid for it, but we both like seeing how things run behind the scenes.

 

We did the tour on the Emerald and there was no ladder climbing.

[flexsmom]

We did the tour on the Ruby on the last sea day of the BI itinerary. It was one of the highlights of the trip for both DH and me! Was supposed to be about 2 1/2 hours but ended up to be about 4 hours and well worth it. Laundry was my favorite. I'd kill to have mini-version of the iron/fold machine in my home!

 

What really struck both of us was how truly interested in telling us about their jobs the crew members in charge of those various areas were. Many of them were in places that don't have much interaction with passengers, if at all. It was very insightful, and nice to be able to actually eyeball some of the behind-the-scenes people and say thank-you for what they do. We see the photographers and the entertainers all of the time, but never would encounter the person who's job it is to label and prep individual laundry, for example. The tour definitely gives an appreciation for the level of activity that goes on that most never see.

[jak378]

Is there a lot of walking involved, and is there an occasional place to sit down? This would be on the Regal, also are the robes one size fits all or are they sized? I have seen nothing of this in the Personalizer, so I assume it must be booked on board, correct?

[pjrockman]

Is there a lot of walking involved, and is there an occasional place to sit down? This would be on the Regal, also are the robes one size fits all or are they sized? I have seen nothing of this in the Personalizer, so I assume it must be booked on board, correct?

 

We only learned about it on the Cruise Critic forums. We went directly to the guest services desk as soon as we boarded and signed up for the tour. We were the first two to sign up; but, as I understand (and others have already commented), it is not first come, first serve. If more than 12 sign up, then they do a lottery. However, that may have changed.

 

There isn't a lot of walking because you are just moving within the confines of the ship, but there is a lot of standing when the Crew and Officers are explaining the details.

 

Robes are one size fits all. We were the shortest on the tour and the robe goes to DW's ankles. I think that they are the same ones that they sell for about $90 dollars and you could probably try one on if you ask.

 

Paul

 

Paul

[GolfMom321]

So there's a tour that just goes to the Galley? For free? THAT would be right up my DD's alley. Never heard about this before, but will absolutely check it out on the Regal in Feb.

[gertz]

Yes & Yes. Robes make good xmas presents.

[NavyVeteran]

So there's a tour that just goes to the Galley? For free? THAT would be right up my DD's alley. Never heard about this before, but will absolutely check it out on the Regal in Feb.

 

I'm not sure about the Royal and the Regal, but Princess ships usually have a galley tour on one of the sea days. It will be immediately after a cooking demonstration by the executive chef and maître d'hôtel in the theater.

 

So there are three ways to get a tour of the galley:

• Ultimate Ship's Tour
  
• Chef's Table
  
• Free galley tour after cooking demonstration
  

 

The free galley tour is a mass walkthrough with hundreds of people at a time that the galley is not busy. It's interesting if you haven't seen it, but it is very limited.

 

The Ultimate Ship's Tour takes you to more of the galley in a small group with a guide. For example, you may see storage rooms and other areas.

 

The Chef's Table takes you into the galley while they are busy serving dinner. You eat appetizers and drink champagne in the galley in a small group while talking with the executive chef.

 

As stated elsewhere, the UST shows you a lot of other areas too. The laundry room is definitely very interesting.

 

If your DD is a real foodie, the free galley tour may not be enough. If interested only in the food, the Chef's Table may be better than the UST. If interested in behind the scenes of the rest of the ship, then the UST.

[mmckm]

You have to PAY for this??? Same thing is offered on Carnival for free, I don't understand why you should pay for it/???

 

Carnival charges for their tour and you get a picture and glass of wine is about it unless its changed. We paid around $100 for the tour on them.

[GolfMom321]

I'm not sure about the Royal and the Regal, but Princess ships usually have a galley tour on one of the sea days. It will be immediately after a cooking demonstration by the executive chef and maître d'hôtel in the theater.

 

So there are three ways to get a tour of the galley:

• Ultimate Ship's Tour
  
• Chef's Table
  
• Free galley tour after cooking demonstration
  

 

The free galley tour is a mass walkthrough with hundreds of people at a time that the galley is not busy. It's interesting if you haven't seen it, but it is very limited.

 

The Ultimate Ship's Tour takes you to more of the galley in a small group with a guide. For example, you may see storage rooms and other areas.

 

The Chef's Table takes you into the galley while they are busy serving dinner. You eat appetizers and drink champagne in the galley in a small group while talking with the executive chef.

 

As stated elsewhere, the UST shows you a lot of other areas too. The laundry room is definitely very interesting.

 

If your DD is a real foodie, the free galley tour may not be enough. If interested only in the food, the Chef's Table may be better than the UST. If interested in behind the scenes of the rest of the ship, then the UST.

 

She's a real foodie, but at a different level than you may be thinking. She's 19. She doesn't drink. She's certainly not a gourmand. She's in a vocational school culinary and baking program. Not 5 star cuisine by any standards, but she loves everything about cooking and baking. And if a chef actually spoke to her, she'd be like jello! I'm thinking the galley tour would be just right for her. I suspect all the other stuff would bore her to tears.

[caribill]

I'm thinking the galley tour would be just right for her. I suspect all the other stuff would bore her to tears.

 

The free Galley tour after the cooking demo is a quick walk through and does not involve talking with any of the staff.

 

To actually converse with the head chef would require the Ultimate Ship Tour or the Chef's Table options.

[mammajamma2013]

We did this past August on the Grand and really enjoyed it. I've always had an interest in seeing how things work. It was worth it to me.

 

We did a lot of walking, stairs, no ladders, no elevators.

 

The medical center was exactly like an urgent care clinic, including three examining rooms and a pharmacy. I was hoping to be able to see the morgue and I did ask if there was one but the EMT guy didn't offer, just said they have one and "it's dead center" of that area. Very dead-pan but I'm sure the pun was intended.

 

We got to look down the corridor where the crew's quarters are but didn't see them as the stewards hadn't finished their work.

 

Loved all of it, actually.

Edited November 1, 2014 by mammajamma2013

[kaytamar]

Thank you for mentioning this - will be booking this as a gift for my husband!!

 

 

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[NavyVeteran]

She's a real foodie, but at a different level than you may be thinking. She's 19. She doesn't drink. She's certainly not a gourmand. She's in a vocational school culinary and baking program. Not 5 star cuisine by any standards, but she loves everything about cooking and baking. And if a chef actually spoke to her, she'd be like jello! I'm thinking the galley tour would be just right for her. I suspect all the other stuff would bore her to tears.

 

I would suggest you give her the Chef's Table as a surprise gift. It would be the absolute highlight of her cruise. She would get to see the galley while it's working, and she would be able to ask the Executive Chef questions. I think the cost is about $15 less since she will not be drinking alcohol.

[GolfMom321]

I would suggest you give her the Chef's Table as a surprise gift. It would be the absolute highlight of her cruise. She would get to see the galley while it's working, and she would be able to ask the Executive Chef questions. I think the cost is about $15 less since she will not be drinking alcohol.

 

Guess I'll have to look into that.

[Dinotoll]

We did do the UST twice on the Ruby and on the Royal and its worth every cent. Remember there is a limit of 12 person for the UST and you must have a little bit luck to be selected .

At the Princess Theater you begin the Ultimate Ship Tour, a behind-the-scenes look throughout the ship which will last about 3 hours.

You explore the engine control room, medical center, print shop, laundry, photo lab, bridge, and other areas typically seen only by the ship's crew.

Highlight was a tour of the bridge and meeting Captain Dino Sagani, a charismatic and surprisingly young captain who truly seemed to enjoy talking about the intricacies of his new ship.

There is a small buffet prepared enjoy some special refreshments and the captain and later 1. officer is explaining everything about the ship, this was really very interesting. ( you can not compare this with any galleys tour...)

Talking about the robe, its realy smooth high quality but we gave it away as a present.

 

Edited November 1, 2014 by Dinotoll

[Susie51]

My friend and her husband really enjoyed the tour. They received a complementary 8 x 10 framed photo and plush robes for both of them.