Who says standards are changing? re: menus

[arzz]

Found this last night among cruise souvenirs given to me by my aunt:

R.M.S. Carmania Christmas and New Year's Cruise
Programme of Events Saturday, January 4, 1964

CRUISE SOUVENIR

As a Log of your Cruise and a reminder of pleasant days afloat, suitably bound folders containing a set of "Cruise News" together with Programmes of Events and a selection of Menus, Revue Programmes, etc., are being prepared for those who desire them.

They will be on sale Today on Promenade Deckk Square Aft from 2:30 pm

There will be a limited number only.

[arzz]

and didn't they used to charge for deck chairs also? That is real nickle and diming!

[Krazy Kruizers]

And to think that HAL is now selling the menus on some of its ships amd people are complaining about it and way back in 1964 ships were selling the menus along with other items. Bet the people bought them then and didn't complain.

[~Nereus~]

Bet the people bought them then and didn't complain.


And I bet people have been complaining since the second word was spoken...
:p

[~Nereus~]

Bet the people bought them then and didn't complain.


And I bet people have been complaining since the second word was spoken by either Adam or Eve...
:p

[bdmarine]

Eve spoke the second word. It was "No." The first word was spoken by Adam. It was "Please?"

[lknick]

In the early 1800's, you were expected to bring on board your own food. In the early 1900's, ie on ships like the RMS Titanic, you were charged separately for you food.

The only thing included in your ticket was your passage. Everything else was extra.

The first word spoken may have been 'mama,' but the first complete sentence was 'they're ripping me off.'

[HeatherInFlorida]

I'm not really following the meaning of this thread ... maybe I'm slow this morning. But I will say that when we cruised all through the 80's, we were ALWAYS given the menus ... there was no charge for them.

The ships you're all talking about, however, were not "cruises". They were a method of travel. So the pricing was handled differently.

When the idea of cruising came along, it was considered all inclusive. We also received (in our cabins) a passenger list along with stateroom numbers. This idea lost popularity because so many people wanted their privacy, but I loved the passenger lists because sometimes you found there were people you knew on the ship.

Drinks and shore excursions were much cheaper in the 80's and early 90's as well.

All this said, however, I also believe cruising was much more expensive in the 80's. We're still paying the same amount for a cruise today and getting much nicer cabins with verandahs and many more amenities. So I can understand why they charge extra for some things now that used to be included.

[localady]

In the early 1800's, you were expected to bring on board your own food. In the early 1900's, ie on ships like the RMS Titanic, you were charged separately for you food.

The only thing included in your ticket was your passage. Everything else was extra.


Sure gives new meaning to
"that's the way they used to do it!":eek: ;)

[allen.crawford]

On our first cruise in Dec 2000 on HAL, we were presented with all of the menus (including the one we had at the Captain's table) on the last morning of our cruise. We thought it was such a nice touch.

It is such nice little touches that makes a person want to return again and again. Too bad there aren't more.

[LizB1]

We still do receive the one from the Captain's Table after he signs it.

[jhannah]

Isn't it just suite guests who get the menus?

[sail7seas]

We were on Zuiderdam last month and had the privilege and honor to dine with Captain John Scott. He signed our menus and they were delivered to our cabin. All the Captains do that and we always greatly appreciate it.

Great momentos of wonderful memories.

Until about 1 1/2 years ago, our HAL dining stewards always signed the last night's menu and presented the ladies with a full set from the entire cruise. I started seeing stacks of them left behind in the ladies room or even on the dining room tables. Many folks apparently did not want them and they left the ladies' room a mess. Maybe that is one of the reasons they stopped giving them to pax??? I'm sure others remember seeing them scattered all over. HAL had good reason to begin thinking pax no longer wanted souvenir sets of menus.

[lknick]

Isn't it just suite guests who get the menus?Suite passengers receive menus before dinner so they can be better prepared on what to order. So therefore, if suite passengers want to keep them as remembrances, they have them.

Can’t tell you how many menus I’ve dragged home, only to throw out. So, the policy seems to make sense…if you want them, you buy them.

[sail7seas]

:) We've brought home many, as well. I sorted through the pile some time ago and only saved the menus that 'favorite' stewards had signed and a few 'representative' sets to refer back to and reminesce.

I sometimes bring home the whole set that we get one by one each day of our cruise in the Suite. I can refer to them if someone here on the board has a particular question and I once posted the whole set.

I'd be up to the ceiling in clutter if I held onto all of them for any length of time.

[Cruising Jake]

We usually take our daughters and their husbands on a yearly cruise. This past January it was just DH and I on the Oosterdam in a suite. I brought home the menus and each day typed one up and sent it in an email to each of DDs and SILs to ask what they would have ordered. They enjoyed reading them and also got hungry. (One DD is a pastry chef and enjoyed reading the desserts.)


Of course, the SILs sent humorous comments about how they could have ordered for real if we had taken them this year.

[HeatherInFlorida]

We usually take our daughters and their husbands on a yearly cruise.
I recently did a search on my true parentage and you may be surprised to hear this but you guys are my true parents!

Please let us know when we should pack for next year's cruise:D

(.....I couldn't resist;) )

[RuthC]

Oh, Heather! You're good.

ROFLMAO!

[Cruising Jake]

Heather, if you are my true daughter, can I visit and stay for a while in your house with you to take advantage of the warm winter? Michigan is getting cold and wet.

[since1982]

Are menus giving to the SS suites?

Thanks,

[sail7seas]

No. Only to "S" and "PS".

[Krazy Kruizers]

I stopped bringing home the menus from our longer cruises (DH reminded me about all the extra weight when flying in a polite way).

So the only ones I have are the ones signed by the captain and/or other officers.

[since1982]

Oookkkaaayyy, thank you.