Cruise Talk: Visits to the Bridge?

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Topic: Visits to the Bridge?

Terry
First Class Passenger
Member # 448

posted 03-28-2000 07:32 AM

Last year when I was aboard ORIANA for her world cruise I was supprised to find that vorganised visits to the bridge had been stopped. When I asked Why, I was fobbed off with 'Oh the Bridges on the new ships are too technical these days.

I wonder is this the case with other Cruise Lines?

Terry

Posts: 391 | From: Brandon, Norfolk, UK | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

starfish
First Class Passenger
Member # 986

posted 03-28-2000 08:06 AM

I do the bridge tours when there offered.I didn't see a Bridge tour offered on the VOTS,but they had the Peek a Poo bridge.On the Grand Princess a nice tour was offered while in port and on the Grandeur of the seas a tour was at sea.I didn't think they would do them at sea but they did.On our Celebrity cruises they wern't offered,because of security.
The Grand Princess tour was excellent.

Posts: 225 | From: Dallas,PA | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

K&K
First Class Passenger
Member # 1040

posted 03-28-2000 10:37 AM

Terry; I do not think that it would have affected you on a world cruise, however I believe that new U.S. Coast Guard rules prohibit bridge tours at sea or anchored! Must be at a dock.
Kevin

Posts: 446 | From: Sandpoint,Idaho,USA | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

gizmo
First Class Passenger
Member # 972

posted 03-28-2000 11:04 AM

Terry,

On my last cruise 2 weeks ago, HAL had a bridge tour for suite passagers only. I think it was when the ship was in port. I had a bridge tour of the Norway a couple of years ago, when the sea was so rough we could not go to the private island.

Posts: 686 | From: Kennesaw Ga. (origianlly from Philly) | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

Fairsky
First Class Passenger
Member # 781

posted 03-28-2000 02:46 PM

Last March I sailed on the Grand Princess and was disappointed to find that I had missed a bridge tour while in port. Later in the cruise, while at sea, I saw from my balcony that passengers were in the bridge. (The bridge wings are so large you can see right into the bridge from most of the balcony cabins). I quickly went up to the bridge and found out that the tour was private and limited to special, I assume suite, passengers. However, I managed to get in anyway and had a wonderful tour. The bridge crew was very friendly and informative. I also took some excellent shots from the bridge wings looking back while at sea.

Posts: 1685 | From: Chicago, Illinois | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

nathan
First Class Passenger
Member # 720

posted 03-28-2000 06:09 PM

NCL offers bridge tours while in port. RCI offers them to honeymooners. Carnival doesn't offer them at all.

Posts: 534 | From: Knoxville, Tennessee | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

geno-r
First Class Passenger
Member # 931

posted 03-28-2000 09:24 PM

The most facinating bridge tour I ever had was when we were on the Oceanbreeze in 1997(when it was still Dolphin). The tour was given by the second in command, he explained everything in detail, including how to use a sextant. The most exciting thing was that the tour took place while we were closing in on Key West and there was alot of radio traffic back and forth and the captain was busy on the radio and giving orders ect. There was also alot of shipping traffic, it was neat to see things in action instead of in the middle of the Ocean with nothing going on.

Posts: 549 | From: Mt. Pocono,Pa. Usa | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

Eric Cruises
First Class Passenger
Member # 957

posted 03-29-2000 03:23 AM

Many new cruise ships, such as onboard STAR CRUISES ~ SuperStar Leo and SuperStar Virgo ; Disney Cruises; Rccl ~ Voyager of the Seas...etc. You can visit Bridge in every time. I am very enjoy this activity when I onboard ships!

Posts: 301 | From: Hong Kong, China | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

Elizabeth
First Class Passenger
Member # 142

posted 03-29-2000 06:49 AM

The QE2 still has bridge tours.

Posts: 177 | From: New England Region N.S.W. Australia | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

nycruiser
First Class Passenger
Member # 960

posted 03-31-2000 09:39 AM

I have had bridge tours of the Zenith while at sea and the Carnival Destiny while in port.

Posts: 665 | From: Westchester County, NY | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 04-02-2000 06:49 PM

I suppose that on todays mega-ships, giving 2000 passengers an opportunity to visit the bridge is problematic - in port or at sea!

The Mercury did not allow Bridge tours when I cruised her

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

jal33406
First Class Passenger
Member # 603

posted 04-02-2000 08:47 PM

According to their daily bulletins, Celebrity does not offer bridge visits due to "security regulations". HOWEVER, vip's are invited to private bridge visits. These include high-repeat guests and invitees to the captain's table. HAL offers them to suite guests, but if you ask the concierge nicely, she will invite you if there is space.

Posts: 35 | From: West Palm Beach FL USA | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

Barryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 33

posted 04-04-2000 11:17 AM

I think that it is truly up to the Captain, and not a company policy, or even a Coast Guard regulation. Some Captains are very strict and private...they don't want anyone on their bridge who is not an officer or crew member. The Bridge becomes the one haven away from passengers. When I was working on the Zenith Captain Iakovos Korres brought the ship out of the shipyard and was Captain of the Zenith until the Century came out, then the Galaxy, then the Mercury. Captain Korres would never even allow crew up to the Bridge. I am usually able to convince the officer on duty to let me on with my background as an ocean liner and cruise ship buff, but I only had a peek of the bridge on the Zenith because her captain was very strict about no one being allowed on his bridge.

So again, I think it depends on the personality of the Captain.

Posts: 1851 | From: Bloomington, Minnesota (Home to the Mall of America) | Registered: Mar 99 | IP: Logged

nathan
First Class Passenger
Member # 720

posted 04-04-2000 06:49 PM

When I was on the Inspiration, they didn't give bridge tours. They did, however, offer a galley tour, which was somewhat interesting.

Posts: 534 | From: Knoxville, Tennessee | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

Gerry
First Class Passenger
Member # 168

posted 04-05-2000 12:28 PM

On one occasion when I was on watch on the Bridge of QE2, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to find an elderly male passenger with a walking stick, out of breath, having obviously climbed the stairs. I enquired if I could help and he replied that he was there for the Bridge tour. I was a little surprised as there was no tour scheduled and explained that to the gentleman. He pulled out the daily program from his back pocket, insisting that there was definitely a Bridge tour.
He pointed to:

"Bridge tournament 11AM in the Card Room"

I gently redirected him.......

Posts: 315 | From: Miami, Florida, (originally from UK) | Registered: Jun 99 | IP: Logged

garrys
First Class Passenger
Member # 581

posted 04-06-2000 08:32 AM

Whilst on the Sunbird we had a bridge tour. Our butler asked on embarkation if we would like a tour and to let him know when we required it. We also invited some friends who we had met.

The staff on duty that day were very polite and informative and I was pleased to say that our butler also had a very good knowledge of systems and equipment on the bridge. All in all a very good tour as we were on the bridge for over an hour.

Posts: 47 | From: Ipswich, Suffolk, England | Registered: Jun 99 | IP: Logged

Guest
First Class Passenger
Member # 1157

posted 04-06-2000 09:51 AM

I have been on the QE2's bridge twice. I got these visits from being in writing contact with the ships Captain.
If you write to the Captain you may be able to get a pass.

Posts: 1888 | From: Earth | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

LizB
First Class Passenger
Member # 1243

posted 04-18-2000 11:39 AM

On HAL ships these days there is no mention of Bridge Tours. However, if you go to the Front Office and ask about one you can generally sign up for a specific day and time if there is enough time at sea. They are only done on sea days with HAL.

Posts: 133 | From: S.Dennis,MA, USA | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

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