Is the walking ship tour worth it?

[chik1987]

First cruise on the Dream in October. I have been looking at navigators and see the walking ship tour early on the first day.

I have been worried about being able to find my way around and thought it might be useful to attend the walking tour. I also am worried about our kiddos (10 and 12) who will be able to leave clubs on their own finding their way around as well.

If you did attend it do you think it was helpful or do you think you would have eventually found your way around without it?

 

[mmouse37]

I think it would be very helpful for 1st timers. It will give you a good overview of the layout of the ship. Of course you could also find your way around on your own but the tour is helpful. I think it is offered more than once.

MJ

 

[swooshbear]

My first cruise was on the Wonder and I didn't do the tour but was able to find my way around pretty easily. I have done the tour and there are some cool tips that you learn:

If you look at the stars on the carpet, the top of the star points north = front of the boat.

The little hooks outside of every room are either Fish or Seahorses. Fish = Port = Left (all four letters), Seahorse = Starboard = Right. This is another way to figure out which direction you are going.

 

[Bishoparc]

For note, there are two different versions of the tour. The one on the first day is advertised as "Walking Ship Tour" which is more of an orientation to the ship. The other is called "Art of the theme show" which is on days other than embarkation and is more detail about the ship, why they chose certain design aspects, etc. Personally I would recommend the latter.

 

[bumbershoot]

I haven't done the walking ship tour, but my cousins did, and they knew the ship MUCH better than we did. I would do it; and if we get on a DCL ship again I will do it.

 

[chik1987]

I haven't done the walking ship tour, but my cousins did, and they knew the ship MUCH better than we did. I would do it; and if we get on a DCL ship again I will do it.

Thanks! Yea seems to be the consensus that its worthwhile. Hopefully we can fit it in with our meet with the wedding coordinator!

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

Thanks! Yea seems to be the consensus that its worthwhile. Hopefully we can fit it in with our meet with the wedding coordinator!

As long as you go in with the right expectations, it is great. If you are hoping for a behind the scenes look, this isn't that. (They mostly don't do that on DCL ships.) But if you want something to help you "get familiar" with the ship and have a fun walk while you are at it, then you will enjoy it. The best thing to get you comfortable with the ship is just being on it. By the time your trip is over, you'll be quite comfortable. That just means you'll be all set when you go back next time!

 

[chik1987]

As long as you go in with the right expectations, it is great. If you are hoping for a behind the scenes look, this isn't that. (They mostly don't do that on DCL ships.) But if you want something to help you "get familiar" with the ship and have a fun walk while you are at it, then you will enjoy it. The best thing to get you comfortable with the ship is just being on it. By the time your trip is over, you'll be quite comfortable. That just means you'll be all set when you go back next time!

Oh no I'm not looking for anything behind the scenes. I'm just worried about being able to find my way from point A to point B efficiently as well as making sure my kiddos will do ok. I want them to be comfortable with me saying "meet us at the_____ at 6" and they can find their way there.

 

[FigmentSpark]

How large are the groups that go on the tours?

 

[Bishoparc]

How large are the groups that go on the tours?

The group I was in was about 8-10 people. It varies per cruise. There isn't a max that I'm aware of.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I was thinking it might be a nice way to meet a few people.

 

[kiford]

It's not difficult to find your way around even on the larger ships but, yes, I think it's worth it. They'll give you information you might not know, tips and hints for finding your way about, and it's just generally interesting.

 

[GPaLarry]

We did it the first time on the Magic and Fantasy. You can leave at any time if you feel you have seen enough. Study the deck plans of the ship you are going to board before your cruise if you feel that you will not have time once aboard. The ships are all laid out about the same, just the names of the places change from ship to ship. We always take cruises of at least seven days, so a tour and/or research up front is most helpful in keeping the mouse fun flowing every precious day.

 

[xlxo]

Is this the Art of the Theme tour? Loved it. Here's some highlights before the drydock reimagining....

 

[Dug720]

Is this the Art of the Theme tour? Loved it. Here's some highlights before the drydock reimagining....

Just as a note, there is a difference between the embarkation day walking tour (which I think is what the OP is asking about) which basically shows you where things are - and the Art of the Theme Show which is 18+, later in the cruise, and more detailed about the little things - not so much where things are.

I make a point of doing the Art of the Theme Show tour on every cruise. The embarkation day tour? Meh - there are only so many places you can go on the ship, and I've never found it difficult to get around. We did it on the first cruise and honestly we were ready to peel off about 10 minutes in realizing that it's NOT that hard to find your way.

 

[Jim Libasci]

I was thinking it might be a nice way to meet a few people.

It's a great way to meet a few new people.

 

[Bishoparc]

Art of the Theme Show which is 18+

Just fyi, when we did this on the Dream it wasn't 18+.

 

[Dug720]

Just fyi, when we did this on the Dream it wasn't 18+.

Ew. Not cool. It used to be, which meant we could hit some really cool places like Remy and the adult areas. No bueno if it's gone to all ages.

 

[Bishoparc]

Ew. Not cool. It used to be, which meant we could hit some really cool places like Remy and the adult areas. No bueno if it's gone to all ages.

We still went to those places. They aren't "open" at that point so it wasn't a big deal.

 

[Markonefive]

Yes for first timers. (San Diego cruise last May). Group of 10-15 people. Neat way to get oriented to the ship, opportunity to ask questions of the cruise staff. The next day, we did the exercise walk on Deck 4 of the Wonder - cool day. It was only my wife and I and the activity staff person. We enjoyed chatting with her about the ship, her job, her career plans etc - was lots of fun.