On the Kobras Aquiarre, the bridge tower is near the stern, just above the luxury quarters.  I'd say that the monorail does spiral up the bridge tower, just for the cool factor.  The luxury quarters can be used for officers, though there are more modest accommodations in the bridge for officers to rest in between watches.  (and a particularly career minded officer might simply not have any assigned regular quarters, since all of his time is spent on the bridge.)<br/><br/>As for advancing the scene, it was something I intentionally hesitated on, so that I could get the names and personalities of the Concordia's command crew straight in my head.