Would you pay $95 for a behind-the-scenes tour of a cruise ship? Carnival thinks so

[DreadPirateRobert]

[quote name='Kcarp'][URL]http://www.usatoday.com/travel/cruises/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=68495190.blog[/URL][/QUOTE]

[FONT="Comic Sans MS"][SIZE="4"]$95 seems a little steep to me. I'm sure many who think it worth the $$ will pay it. [/SIZE][/FONT]

[salty dingo]

I would very much love to see those things, but $95 is a lot of money for an excursion that costs them little but their time.

Maybe the price is high because they do not want to run many tours, so supply and demand kicks the price up.

I'll wait for the time when I can do a freighter cruise - I'll spend hours on the bridge and tour the engine room (which BTW, I understand you cannot go to even for $95 on Carnival.) You get to go to the control room but not into the actual engine room. I hear you can see it on video.

[Wolfie48]

DW and I are going to try and get on it when we are on the Splendor in 2 months. It should be interesting.....I'll take pictures!

[Rosefloater]

[quote name='yogi2929']I have my baby blue hard hat from the "mechanical" tour of Hoover Dam. They cancelled those after 9/11.

Mom, Sis and I would do it. Don't know about DH.[/quote]

Sorry, but mom said she wouldn't pay and I don't see paying $95 for the tour. Maybe if it was the same price as a city tour (approx. $40), then yeah, I would do it.

I love my blue hard hat. Might take it next time I go camping, so no more pine cones hit me!!:D

[Casino Player]

[quote name='Tralynn']They already do this on the Princess ships (owned by Carnival Corp.) and they charge a heck of alot more than that on those ships. Believe it or not, there's a wait list for it and people who go rave about it.

I would personally rather save that money.[/quote]

[SIZE=3][COLOR=darkgreen]They used to offer those tours as complimentary. My guess is it's anything to make a $$$$. I'm with you Tralynn, I would rather save the money and use it for something else.[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[golfadj]

I have been thinking about it.

On past cruises have done the galley tour and have done a bridge tour and even a backstage tour.

For $ 95 would see the control room for engineering and perhaps the dining room for the crew and laundry facilities and upon reflection probably not worth it to me.

BTW do understand you get a hat.

[pe4all]

Nope - not worth it to me. As long as things work/run smoothly, I don't care how they do it "behind the scenes."

[KatSt]

My DH and I are planning on doing the tour when we go on the Splendor in January. I will pay the price only once. I've only been on a Galley tour in the past so seeing the rest of the ship will be very interesting.

[sharecruises]

I have heard that photos are NOT allowed on these tours anyhow...so that makes it even less appealing

better off watching the travel channel and enjoying some other activity with the $95
that buys a LOT of foo foo drinks <grin>

[Georgiagolfer]

I probably would not pay to take this tour. Not sure about the DW, but if she was interested, then I would pay the $95.

[ready1]

I've been on 28 cruises and been to the bridge and galley before also. I did this tour on the Valor a couple of weeks ago and found it worth every dime. My wife and daughter weren't interested and didn't go.

I'm not sure I would do it again, but its well worth it once.

[falkcor]

[quote name='ready1']I'm not sure I would do it again, but its well worth it once.[/quote]

i was just about to ask 'so, has anybody been on this tour yet?', and voila :)

is it true, as another poster mentioned above, that you can't take pictures? and did you get a hard hat lol :D

[ready1]

They do enforce the "no cameras" and "closed toe shoe" policy. You meet in the library and a security guard shows up to wand everyone down with a metal detector. The guard also escorts the group in the engine control room and the bridge. Those who show up in flip flops are sent back to change their shoes before the tour begins.

They take a picture of the group on the bow and the bride and also a picture with you and the captain on the bridge. The guide delivers the pictures to you in the dining room that night. The pictures are included in the price along with a cap, lanyard, carved soap, and a desert tray delivered to your cabin while your on the tour.

[falkcor]

[quote name='ready1']They do enforce the "no cameras" and "closed toe shoe" policy.[/quote]

thanks for all the details :)

[salty dingo]

[quote name='Wolfie48']It should be interesting.....I'll take pictures![/quote]
I have learned that pictures are a no-no!

I wonder if they will allow a sktech artist to draw pictures, like they do in courtrooms?