For those who want to get an insider's look at the inner-workings of a Carnival "Fun Ship," the line has created Behind the Fun, a guided tour that provides guests with a unique insight into the company's shipboard operations. Currently available on the Carnival Valor and Carnival Conquest, the program will be rolled out to all 12 of the line's ships operating voyages of seven days or longer by the end of September.
The three-and-a-half hour tour offers participants a behind the scenes look at a wide range of shipboard venues that are normally off limits to guests. During the tour, key shipboard personnel, including the captain, chief engineer, chef de cuisine and other department heads, share their knowledge in their particular area of expertise.
Behind the Fun begins with a stop backstage in the main show lounge where participants can see exactly what goes into creating Carnival's revues. The tour then moves on to normally restricted areas such as the laundry room, crew galley and dining room, crew gym, and crew training center. The tour also takes in the main galley where the culinary team prepares upwards of 12,000 meals and snacks a day for Carnival's guests. A visit to the ship's bridge and engine control room for Q&A sessions with the captain and chief engineer are also included.
"Cruising is a fascinating industry and our new Behind the Fun tour offers guests an opportunity to not only explore areas that others rarely get to see but also meet some of the people that make the 'Fun Ship' vacation experience so memorable," said Roberta Jacoby, Carnival's senior vice president of hotel operations.
Behind the Fun tours can be booked through the ships' shore excursion desk. The cost is $95 per person and capacity is limited to 16 guests per tour. Guests must be 13 or older to participate.
A version of the Behind the Fun tour is also being planned for Carnival ships that operate itineraries of less than seven days in length.
