Carnival Cruise Line’s common “Behind the Fun” onboard ship tour will quickly be returning for the primary time because the industry-wide pandemic shutdown. This distinctive tour takes company into crew-only areas of the ship and presents insights into what it’s actually like working, working, and residing on a cruise ship.
Behind the Fun to Return
Carnival Cruise Line will quickly be bringing again the extremely common “Behind the Fun” tour that takes company into crew-only areas onboard the ship, together with operational areas. The cruise line’s model ambassador, John Heald, hinted of the tour’s return lately on social media.
“A look behind the crew only door will be returning in early February,” Heald mentioned.
The unique, small group tour is likely one of the final options nonetheless on maintain since cruising resumed in mid-2021.
Initially, together with different group options resembling VIFP loyalty events, youngsters’s packages, and elite occasions such because the Chef’s Table eating expertise, the tour was suspended to reduce crowding and scale back the danger of potential illness transmission. In the case of the Behind the Fun tour, this precaution was not only for taking part company, but in addition for crew members working behind the scenes.
Once cruising resumed and restrictions started to ease, staffing points continued to trigger challenges with providing small group experiences, and the cruise line centered its efforts on maximizing service to essentially the most quantity of company. As staffing improved, nevertheless, completely different options had been progressively introduced again.
The events for Carnival’s “Very Important Fun Person” loyalty program resumed in late June, for instance, whereas the Chef’s Table expertise resumed from June 30, 2022. Children’s packages and different onboard programming have additionally resumed.
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Now, the Behind the Fun tour is slated to return in February 2023, although apart from “early” there was no affirmation of the precise date the tour will start to be accessible. It is probably going that the tour will begin on completely different ships on completely different dates, with tweaks and changes as wanted to supply the most effective expertise for company on completely different vessels.
About Behind the Fun
Behind the Fun is described because the “ultimate tour” onboard Carnival’s ships, exploring past public areas. While the precise tour will range based mostly on ship operations and sophistication of vessel, every tour sometimes visits unique areas such because the bridge, engine management room, principal galley, meals retailer rooms and freezers, and laundry rooms. Tours may embrace a take a look at the ship’s brig, backstage present areas, the “I-95” crew hall, and extra.
Furthermore, the tour often additionally contains some seems at crew residing areas, resembling crew eating rooms, lounges, and quarters, giving company distinctive insights into the every day lifetime of residing aboard a cruise ship full-time.
Behind the Fun is barely supplied as soon as per crusing on every vessel, and is restricted to not more than 16 individuals to make sure expertise and to take care of safety protocols. At completely different places, crew members provide quick lectures and reply questions on operations.
Tours final from 2-3.5 hours relying on the ship and accessible areas to see, and vary in worth from $55-95 (USD) per particular person. Tours on bigger vessels, resembling Carnival Celebration and Mardi Gras, are longer and extra elaborate than excursions on smaller vessels resembling Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise.
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Due to safety protocols, no baggage, cameras, cell telephones, or different recording gadgets are permitted.
Guests taking part within the Behind the Fun tour should put on close-toed footwear and be capable to navigate steep stairways and slender hallways, and the tour contains average to in depth strolling. Bathing fits and skirts usually are not permitted. Guests have to be at the very least 8 years previous, and all company beneath age 18 have to be accompanied by a taking part grownup.
Mementos of the Event
Not solely do company becoming a member of the Behind the Fun tour get wonderful reminiscences of the expertise, however every visitor additionally receives some commemorative presents as a part of their tour.
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Each visitor receives a restricted version baseball cap embroidered with “Behind the Fun” and “Honorary Team Member”, caps that aren’t accessible for buy. Complimentary pictures of the group in addition to people (or household teams) are additionally supplied.
Additional presents which are sometimes included are unique lanyards, drawstring tote baggage, soaps, drink samples, and goodies, relying on the vessel and what facilities can be found onboard.
Guests excited about reserving the Behind the Fun tour ought to accomplish that as quickly as they board their Carnival cruise to order their spot. This tour, sometimes supplied on the final sea day of every crusing, just isn’t accessible to guide on-line. Because it’s a small group, once-per-cruise expertise, accessible areas replenish rapidly.
