Tour of ship while it’s in embarkation port.

[Lenbro1944]

Has anyone toured a ship while it’s at its embarkation port? I have 2 reservations on the Vista in 2024 and 2025. It will embark on a number of cruises from Miami in the winter of 2023 and 24. I live in southern Florida and would love to be able to tour ship and check out the cabins so I know if I made the right cabin selections.

Thanks for your responses.

[tigerfan75]

5 minutes ago, Lenbro1944 said:

Has anyone toured a ship while it’s at its embarkation port? I have 2 reservations on the Vista in 2024 and 2025. It will embark on a number of cruises from Miami in the winter of 2023 and 24. I live in southern Florida and would love to be able to tour ship and check out the cabins so I know if I made the right cabin selections.

Thanks for your responses.

My understanding is that no one is allowed on board but ticketed passengers.  Sometimes Travel Professionals may receive special invitations for an escorted tour.

[LHT28]

If you have a Travel agent ask if they have invitations to tour the ship

Some can take guests  with them

[DrKoob]

Our travel agent often gets invitations to tour the ship and have a nice lunch on the cruise line. We have done a bunch of them. We usually have to sit through a sales presentation, but that often comes with a nice discount. Find a local TA and give them your business.

[GeezerCouple]

Shortly before our first Oceania cruise, when we were already planning it, a local affiliate of some club sent out invites for "lunch aboard the Oceania Riviera while she is docked nearby for the day".  We *pounced*... the offer was gone within about half an hour.  Anyone who wasn't watching their email just then never had a chance.

 

We were supposed to see a few of the cabin/suite types, but lunch was slow, so we had one very, very quick glance into a single balcony stateroom, and then it was time to leave.

 

We enjoyed the lunch, and thought the appearance/ambiance of the MDR was lovely.

 

It wasn't a tiny group, so I have no idea who arranged it or how, etc.

 

This was circa 2013 or such...

 

GC

[bob brown]

For anyone living in the New York area, I would suggest joining the World Ship Society, Port of New York Branch.

 

Besides other nice membership benefits, they will go on a few ship luncheon’s and tours each year, at all 3 of the NY ports.

 

They charge a nominal fee for this experience, and unlike the Travel Agents, do not have to sit thru a sales presentation, but are free to explore the entire ship, or join a staff-led tour before or after lunch in a dining room, which includes wines.  
 

https://worldshipny.com/