FlyerTalker

Perhaps this has changed, but one thing that bothered me is that at SFO, they charge for the baggage carts in the customs area. Complimentary at LAX and DFW. Perhaps Bruce can confirm/deny the SFO situation, since I've tended to avoid returning through SFO - perhaps because it just bothers me to go through that hassle when returning. As for the luggage/security issue at LAX, I've had no problems. Bags usually arrive without delay, there are many carousels to handle the flights, and the bag drop for all airlines is right outside the customs exit. And easy to go through security at any terminal for your onward flight.

So much for posting some assistance.

Absolutely correct. Airlines are flying at over 80% load factors systemwide, with some markets running at almost 100%.

Dates would always help in researching. As Globaliser says, what is your definition of "best"? Are we talking coach, premium economy, business or other? How significant is cabin layout? Inflight service? Connections? FF alliance? And how wedded are you to using Princess as your supplier?

Initial thoughts -- you're on a 773 for more than 13 hours each way. The current config is a lousy 2-3-2 with angled business class seats. Yes, the 777s are set to be given a cabin redo, but that is a) supposed to start this summer, b) with no schedule announced and c) nothing showing actual cabin mockups - just "it will be like the 350 product". You have no assurance what kind of config you will get next year, nor whether or not it will get swapped out at any time. Yes, it may be a "great deal" in terms of price. Is it one in terms of value received? One big thing to remember is that these are not "free flights" (which is what airlines want you to think). They are flights being purchased with an alternative currency that has value. And that you will no longer have that currency if you spend it on this flight. Will you have a better use for those Aeroplan points at another time? Also, are those just AC points, or transferable ones that can be used in multiple programs (Amex, Chase etc)? Further thought. Many carriers have not released schedules for your flight dates. Perhaps you should wait a bit.

Always remember....Blacklane is NOT a transportation provider. They are only a front-end booking service. Everything you can get through Blacklane you can get directly from providers. Think of them as Viator for cars.

Did you pre-request that they have this? If not, then this come down to a simple question of "just how extensively must a ship stock their larder to be able to cater to non-standard requests from guests?" I guess they didn't anticipate your unspoken needs until the ship was sailing and already provisioned. How dare they not FedEx in a supply at the next port. And FWIW, this is the first time I've ever heard of a guest wanting pomegranate juice. So maybe it's not as desired as you might wish.

Well said. There is just something you feel different on a luxury line. It's not just about cabin size, or all inclusive, or butlers or whatever. The atmosphere is different, sometimes quite significantly. And, I will concede that some probably don't notice or care. It's all about the hard quantifiable for them. NOTHING wrong with that. But, no reason to continue this kind of differentiation in that case.

Even when promised something, perhaps having backup contingency planning is in order? As you now well know.

Never said that. You are projecting, IMO. What is important is that Seabourn understand the preferences of their DIFFERENT market segments. It's not one monolithic lock-step group. A smart company knows how to recognize market segment differences and how to address each of those in a unique fashion. They may or may not feel the need to send out surveys to other demographics. Or they may take a different research approach. The presence of, or lack of, surveys does not indicate how much they "care". Obviously.

Completely concur. Somebody put some time into crafting this. And it was crafted, not just thrown together. As for the folks that wanted to list their own separate opinions....that's not what this was for. Send in a letter to express your feelings.

Did it ever cross your mind that, for this specific survey, they may have only wanted the opinions of USA customers? And that they were fully aware of this, going in? Or are things automatically flawed if they don't include your geographical demographic? Example: A survey is sent out, but only to those who are under 50 years of age. Is that necessarily flawed? Or is it a way to determine opinions OF THAT SURVEY TARGET? Why should it matter to anyone outside Seabourn what their survey goals and parameters are? It only matters that THEY know that when evaluating responses.

They were part of an initial "ranking" of various cruise features that you started off the survey with. Later questions with them being an important variable serve as a check-value to measure the internal consistency of participants answers. Further, surveys often include irrelevant questions to test the validity of the overall responses. This survey was a combination of ranking and A/B questions. Running a number of A/B questions can be used to develop preference matrices, which can be cross-tabbed with the ranking results.

Not silly. I've been involved with a number of survey/group sessions where non-disclosure agreements were part of the package. They obviously didn't want to have wide dissemination of what they were asking, and yet when their "loyal" customers ignore the company's wishes, it isn't far fetched for the reciprocal feeling to be "who needs these people that can't respect our wishes". IMO, there were a number of well-placed red herrings in these scenarios. Some were put in to test for response consistency, some to measure against the initial "ranking" of features. Anyone who believes that all were being seriously considered is unlikely to have ever been on the drafting/evaluating side of customer research.

And someone at HQ will likely say "See, they won't keep a confidence. Why bother running options past them."