Welcome to Cruise Talk the Internet's most popular discussion forum dedicated to cruising. Stop by Cruise Talk anytime to post a message or find out what your fellow passengers and industry insiders are saying about a particular ship, cruise line or destination.
>>> Reader Reviews >>> CruisePage.com Photo Gallery >>> Join Our Cruise Club.
Latest News...Delightfully carrying more guests to Alaska than any other cruise line, Princess Cruises begins its 2025 season in less than a month with seven amenity-filled ships, five pristine wilderness lodges and an expanded catalog of renowned cruisetours, visiting five awe-inspiring national parks featuring the most visits to Glacier Bay National Park. Departing from five convenient home ports, including Los Angeles ...
Latest News...Seabourn was honored to welcome the President of French Polynesia Moetai Brotherson on board Seabourn Pursuit on Sunday, April 7, during the ship's call to Papeete, Tahiti in French Polynesia. While Seabourn Pursuit has visited Tahiti before, this marked the first time President Brotherson officially visited the vessel, highlighting the growing importance of French Polynesia...
Latest News...Holland America Line guests who embarked Oosterdam in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, this past weekend are seeing several major upgrades and enhancements to staterooms and public spaces throughout the ship. Oosterdam spent the past two weeks in dry dock in the Bahamas and is now crossing the Atlantic Ocean to reposition for the ships Mediterranean season...
[ 08-11-2006: Message edited by: 6263866 ]
Yes, there are photos everywhere. On a cruise this year I was told out of the question.. yet in the photo gallery were pictures of people on a Bridge Tour!
It does seem to be very much who you know, get friendly with or what category cabin you are. It seems it is nothing to do with 'security risks' despite the ISPS rules being quoted at you, but more of they don't want hundreds traipsing all over the bridge so pick and choose who to permit.
Anyway, one bridge is much like another Only the older ones are worth visiting these days. Some lines still do allow people in.. but on others you have to know the right person. Or go on a vessel which has glass partitions.
Finally join the kids club they always get a trip to the bridge to meet the Capt... not with parents though.
Pam
[ 08-11-2006: Message edited by: PamM ]
With many lines the people in the top suites seem to get an automatic invitation to the bridge.
I have been lucky enough to visit a few bridges simply because I write a nice letter to the Captain, at home, on nice paper/envelope. I tell him that I am very intetested in ships etc. Then I take the letter and hand it in at the Pursers desk on the first day of the cruise. It normally works.
QM2 and the Voyager class have glass viewing windows - although this in not quite the same, is it! As Pam has said many bridges are pretty similar, in reality.
In Alaska the Captain also invited the people who were in the PS Suite to join us.
At the captain's Q&A he was asked about bridge visits. He said...
British-flagged ships - and that includes Bahamas - are subject to the UK's Aviation And Maritime Security Act (I think that's the right name). It was brought in straight after 9/11 and means that the bridge is subject to the same restrictions as an airplane's cockpit.
quote:Originally posted by sread:Just back from a great cruise on P&O's Oceana.
Welcome back read, so how does P&O compare to RCI and Airtours/Thomson then?
[ 08-11-2006: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]
quote:Originally posted by sread:Give me a chance to unpack!
Sorry, I thought your Butler did that?
I would join the kids club, because I still can , but I plan on taking pictures, enjoying the scenery and spending time with my family instead of staying at a kids club, but it would be nice being able to visit the bridge.On my last cruise, I had the chance to bump into the captain on Navigator of the Seas on the last day of the cruise, it just didn't spark in my brain the ask him if we could take a look on the bridge, one thing I really regret!! Why couldn't I have thought of that when I was asking him questions like fuel consumption, and why this ship doen't have gas turbines.
Rich
quote:Originally posted by Linerrich:[...] Unfortunately as a passenger, one would never get to see the bridge like that.Rich
I can only again encourage everyone who is interested in this kind of expierience (which finally is what travelling by ship is about) to go with smaller ships having an open bridge policy - or cargo ships. (mind you not all cargo ships have open bridges)
quote:Originally posted by Frosty 4:One neat thing on the bridge is to see the video/bridge camera where video is sent to the Web. A lot of cruise ships have these now.Frosty 4
We have links to all of them on our Ship Cams page.
Joe at TravelPage.com
However, these are for visits on the sea day, first day out of port, so you have to act quick to not miss it.
I recommend "Navigate with the Captain" (never really advertised, you need to ask at the excursion desk)
You get 1/2 hour on the bridge while the ship leaves port.... I did this in Nice this May, and was amazed just how tight the harbour is. The harbour pilot was also on the bridge, and there was a photo opportunity with the captain once we got to more open waters.
Numbers are very, very limited, so book as soon as you board.
Not a very modern ship, manouvering is even more of a challenge for the Captain as there is massive windage, only one, very low powered bow thruster and no stern thruster at all.
So its all done the old way, with spring lines. Well worth seeing.
[ 09-08-2006: Message edited by: andyc ]
It used to amaze me, the number of people that were surprised to learn that the bridge is in pitch darkness at night so the officers could see out into the dark. It would take a good 20 minutes for your eyes to get completely adjusted to the dark which is one of the reasons for a long handover between the watches. It used to amuse me at the end of the watch when the new guys came out onto the bridge. They couldnt see a thing and would walk in with arms outsretched but I could see perfectly as if it were daylight. 9 times out of 10, they would want to stand in the same space I was occupying !
quote:Originally posted by andyc:Island Escape sells tickets for Bridge visits!
Sell? For how much?
What ever next, buy a lock of the Captains hair.
quote:Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:Sell? For how much?What ever next, buy a lock of the Captains hair.
Reminds me of so many times when novice cruisers thought they had to purchase a tender ticket to go ashore!
quote:Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:Sell? For how much?
Only a few pounds for the sea day visit, which is guided by a member of the entertainment team (and the captain is not usually on the bridge at that time) , but £15 for the "Navigate with the Captain"
Mind you, that included a free photo taken by the ships' photographer.
And I thought it was good value anyway.... last time I got on the Bridge was 20-odd cruises ago (my first ever cruise) on "Golden Princess" when she was new.
quote:Originally posted by PamM:Makes mockery of the 'sorry no bridge visits due to security & ISPS rules'...
The Master can have anyone on the bridge that he wishes. For £15 he has a lot of friends.
Linnerich, I could amagine going up to the bridge at night, what an experience, I would love the photo opportunty.
Ernst, are you a Diamond Crown and Anchor member? Right now were just gold but we got some nice girfts throughout our cruise, and a coupon book which was pretty nice.
So if you are Diamond, you could go just about anywhere? any time? There was someone on our cruise with over 175 cruises, imagine that!
Ultimate Bulletin BoardTM 6.1.0.3
More Vacation & Cruise Specials...