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Corpus Christi, TX, United States
Everyone has one - they may not call it a "Bucket List" it may be a list of travel ideas, a list of places to visit, or things you want to do. My desire is to help you bring these dreams into reality and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Behind -the Scens Tour: How a cruise ship works

Ever wondered what it takes to operate a cruise ship at sea on a 24-hour basis? Take a behind-the-scenes tour to find out.

Special for-a-fee tours offer exclusive access to areas of the ship normally only seen by the crew.
The tours are offered on a limited basis on sea days, the group size usually limited to 16 or fewer passengers. If you're interested, inquire at Guest Services your first day on board to check availability. These tours sell out.

With a senior crew member or officer leading the way, on the tours there's often opportunity to chat with dancers in the theater, spend time in the galley — where some 12,000 meals are prepared daily on larger ships — and meet the captain and officers.

Check out these back-of-house tours.

Carnival
The Behind the Fun tour ($55 to $95) includes briefings by key ship personnel such as the captain, chief engineer and chef de cuisine. Stops include the main show lounge, main galley, laundry room, crew galley and dining room, crew gym, crew training center, engine room and ship's bridge. Bonus: A commemorative gift pack and photos with the captain.

Princess Cruises
On the Princess Cruises Ultimate Ship Tour ($150 per person), passengers visit the galley, backstage at the theater, the engine control room, the print shop, the photo lab, the medical center and the laundry room. You also stop by the bridge to see the officers and meet the captain. Bonus: A bunch of take-home mementos and refreshments.

Norwegian
On the two-hour Behind the Scenes tour ($55), passengers see the galley, the laundry, backstage at the theater, the ship's environmental systems and the bridge — with opportunity to talk to the captain and officers along the way. An enhanced seven-hour tour ($150) adds a sushi-making demonstration and sake tasting, a specialty coffee, a group photo on the bridge, pre-dinner cocktails and dinner at the Cagney's Steakhouse (with a glass of wine).

Holland America
The Behind the Scenes tour ($150) takes you backstage at the theater and to the laundry, engine control room, environmental/waste-management area, galley (including coolers and storage areas) and the bridge. Bonus: Champagne, hors d'oeuvres and a gift pack including a cookbook.

Royal Caribbean
The guided All Access Tour ($150) lets passengers visit such crew-only areas as the bridge, galley, backstage of the main theater, the engine control room and laundry, letting passengers "step inside the crew's shoes," at least for a few hours.

Celebrity
The Inside Access tour ($150) provides a comprehensive look at ship operations including the bridge, mooring deck, engine control room, main dining-room galley, crew mess hall, crew gym, officer's offices and store rooms. Bonus: Includes a wine-paired lunch in the dining room.

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