Galley Tour

[Monstro]

I'm seeing mention in these forums about a Galley Tour. I'm assuming that is a kitchen tour of some sort. What exactly is it? For those of you who have done it, how would you rate it? And how often is it offered?

 

[EmmasGrammy]

The galley tour was quite interesting. (But I work in the food service industry too!!) It amazed me the way they work like a machine to get out those meals (special requests included) in such record time. A tidbit I found even more intresting was that they feed 900 crew members in addition to the 2100 passengers, and with all the ethnic and cultural needs of the 60 countries represented by the staff, and the fact that they all work different shifts, the chefs basically have to have meals ready 24/7 to feed the staff.

The tour was offered on a Wednesday (we were on a 4 night Wonder cruise) which was our day at sea at 2:45 in the afternoon. I would highly recommend it!!

 

[pittcrew]

The galley tour is just offered once during the 7 night cruises and you have to pick up tickets earlier that day. They bring people through in groups of 10-15 during a 45 minutes period. We found it very informative and interesting. They usually have some food displays set up as well as offer you fresh chocolate chip cookies - YUM!!

 

[disneyholic family]

i noticed the galley tour on the 4 day cruise navigator (i think at Barb's site)....definitely something i'm planning on doing....
i'm sure DH will also be very interested....

 

[Hannosmom]

This was a very interesting tour and worth it for the cookies alone .

Everybody lines up and they take in about 20 people at a time. If you end up toward the back of the group, let some go in front of you, and then you will be at the front of the next group.

There is a lot of stainless steel in the galley area and if you are in the back, you are going to get echo's, which makes it hard to understand the speaker.

 

[drclaws]

Additional tidbits...

There are three Chefs for Room Service. One for each 8 hour shift.

It was mentioned that provisions for the entire trip are loaded at Port Canaveral and only from the US suppliers. I asked about the 14 day repositioning cruises and if they'd have the room to load that much on board at once. They don't, but he expected that a tender would meet the ship somewhere to resupply and that it would be from the US, possibly coming from L.A.

Staff clocks in and out using fingerprint recognition technology.

Kids food galley is a separate area and has three chefs working. That food is always prepared in advance of the "adult" meals so that it's ready immediately.

Uneaten plated food is put through a grinding process and released at sea at least 50 miles from any coastline.

 

[disneyholic family]

interesting...
i wonder how much "extra" food they have on board for each cruise (to ensure that everyone gets everything that they want)...

 

[4myguys]

DH and I thought it was very interesting. We did the tour on the first cruise but missed it unintentionally on the second. On our tour we got to see a wedding cake for a couple getting married during the cruise.

 

[Jeanny]

we went on the tour in January, we had to get tickets earlier in the day, we had tickets for the 3:15 tour. We met in front of Luminere's and went through all the kitchens and came out in Parrot Cay! everything was so clean and gleaming... Two chefs were creating a wedding cake while we were there too.

 

[Monstro]

Thanks for all the great and interesting information! It sounds like something worth doing.

 

[CM_Mom]

About the "extra" food. The chef was asked if they ever ran out of an entree because too many people ordered it and he said the numbers are pretty consistent because there are enough people on board for averages to work. He couldn't tell you "who" would order what but the percentages of how many of each item were ordered stayed pretty much the same.

I thought the galley tour was very interesting also and the hot chocolate chip cookies were a bonus.

 

[disneyholic family]

it's definitely on my list as a must...
i suspect that DD and DS will want to come along with us....(they're 17 and 20)..
it sounds like something they would also find interesting...

 

[drclaws]

Our guide mentioned that they review the past ten cruises to obtain an idea of what people are ordering and in what quantity. How's that for a statistical analysis position?

Originally posted by CM_Mom
About the "extra" food. The chef was asked if they ever ran out of an entree because too many people ordered it and he said the numbers are pretty consistent because there are enough people on board for averages to work. He couldn't tell you "who" would order what but the percentages of how many of each item were ordered stayed pretty much the same.

I thought the galley tour was very interesting also and the hot chocolate chip cookies were a bonus.

 

[invaderzim]

We took the galley tour and loved it! It was so informative, fun and I could not believe how all the restaurants connect and how big the area was! We were shown where the elevators were for transportation of food up to the other restaurants, etc. It was SOOOOOO clean.

My DD missed it last time, but this time I told her we have to do it because I know she would find the details interesting. Plus, the free cookie is great.

I just hope they have a bridge tour this time. Last time we missed it and I really wanted to see that.

 

[disneyholic family]

we want to do that too....doing the bridge and galley tours would make my cruise.....i'm easy...

 

[Zandy595]

Are these tours for all ages. I think DS(8) might be interested.

 

[RKB]

When I went on the galley tour (before they described the grinding and tossing of the leftovers) I asked if the crew was offered the leftover meals (I was thinking Filet Mignon, Lobster, etc...). The tour guide seemed taken aback at my question as if that would be a terrible thing - to serve that food to the crew. They get their own meals made from scratch. I hate to think of the waste of good food going right into the ocean.... But what do I know.....

 

[mmouse37]

The Navigator lists the galley tour for ages 18 and older so it is an adult only activity. We have taken the tour twice and no kids were there. There is actually a CM taking tickets at the door so I doubt they would let any children in.

http://www.dcltribute.com/navigators/east_carib/daily.htm


MJ

 

[Zandy595]

Does anyone know if there's something similar for kids? Maybe through the Oceaneers Lab activities or something?

 

[Tinkmom]

Originally posted by mmouse37
The Navigator lists the galley tour for ages 18 and older so it is an adult only activity. We have taken the tour twice and no kids were there. There is actually a CM taking tickets at the door so I doubt they would let any children in.

MJ

My children accompanied me when I went to get tickets for the Galley tour. I made some comment to the CM handing out tickets that I only needed two since it was for adults only. She said that it was fine for older children to attend, if they wanted to to so. She then gave us tickets for all four of us. I saw at least a few other older children in the groups ahead and behind us.

I think it might be a problem for young children, but certainly was fine for older ones.