Cunard Line Now Offers Behind the Scenes Tours

Many passengers wonder what happens on their ship’s bridge, behind the stage in the main theater, or where the crew lives and relaxes. A number of cruise lines have introduced tours to show them and now Cunard Line has added one to its comprehensive list of on board activities by offering Behind the Scenes Tours for the curious guest.

Led by Cunard senior officers, the tours offer guests unprecedented access to the ships’ private areas, such as the Medical Centre, Engine Control Room, Butchers Shop and the Mooring Deck. Topics range from environmental concerns, such as recycling 15,000 liters of used cooking oil, to the logistics of stocking more than 5,000 lines of consumable products, such as shower gel and beef joints.

Guests get a “back of house” look at the Bridge
(left) and the Mooring Deck  (above) during a voyage 
aboard  Cunard Line’s flagship Queen Mary 2.

During the 222-step tour, guests learn first-hand of the many provisions required to manage Cunard Line’s ocean liners. Tour stops include:

The Bridge – At the widest part of the ship, the captain and navigational officers greet guests and give a tutorial of all the dials, buttons, radars and navigational charts that help them safely helm Cunard’s Queens.

Royal Court Theatre – Guests peruse more than 3,000 costumes in the costume store, and light and sound engineers give hands-on lessons in operating the stage equipment.

Galley and Provisions – Guests catch a glimpse of the complex logistics of moving provisions around the world in containers and picking them up in different ports mid-voyage, to accommodate 11 tons per day. The tour includes stops at the Food Stores, Butchers Shop, Freezers, and the Galley.

Mooring Deck – Guests learn the purpose of the anchor winches, windlesses and other critical machinery on the most forward part of the ship.

Medical Centre – Guests tour Cunard’s floating hospital and meet the exceptional medical staff that keeps everyone on board healthy and well.

Burma Road – Guests tour the only main crew passageway to run the entire length of the ship and get a look at where the crew and officers socialize after work.

Waste Handling Room – Guests observe Cunard’s round-the-clock waste handling operation, and learn the differences between five waste sorting streams: hazardous, recyclable, suitable for incineration, food waste and suitable for donation.

“Similar to a feat of magic, our seamless ocean travel experience results from a delicate balance between what’s seen and not seen,” said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line. “Our Behind the Scenes Tours offer the inquisitive guest an intimate glimpse of what goes into the way we run our ships to ensure their comfort, safety and satisfaction.”

Available on board Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, and Queen Elizabeth, Cunard’s Behind the Scenes Tours last three and a half hours and cost $120 per person. Currently, one tour with a maximum of 16 guests is available per voyage and can be booked on board through the Tours Office. For more information about the Behind the Scenes Tours, visit Cunard.com.

Images Courtesy of Cunard Line