Beachdude

The same thing has happened in the US, and in many other counties. Will you be cancelling your holiday plans here in the states because of similar incidents? The chances of being involved in a terrorist attack are much, much less than being involved in a car accident. Do you also never leave your house because of car accidents?

 

You are offended by the comment that Americans stereotype, yet you did exactly that by cancelling your trip to Turkey, a beautiful country filled with very friendly people.

Offended? No, I was dumb struck. Americans aren't anymore concerned (overly in your opinion) about safety than other parts of the world. We talked to many international travelers who changed their plans as a results of incidences all over the world, including the U.S.

My point wasn't that Americans aren't risk takers as you suggest by your scientific poll of an "American forum":rolleyes:. My point is that people always balance risk. As does the travelers in the rest of the world.

People, all over the world, base their decisions from experience and knowledge. But mostly from experience. Do middle easterners have more experience and knowledge of traveling through the middle east than American Cruisecritic posters? I-think-they-do. Visa-versa, common cruise critic posters have more experience and knowledge of local events and public trends.

Should young women all over the world looking to have children consider risk in active mosquito populated areas? (Disney World). Why don't you poll the American Travel forum for an unbiased opinion.

Forecast this weekend for our city is sleet and ice. How much accumulation they aren't saying yet, but do we risk waiting to see if our flight is delayed to Houston for our cruise? Or should we eat the cost of the airline tickets and drive down? What would the "American Stereotype" do?

Shesh,

Burt

I

 

 

Based on my 12 or so years on Cruise Critic and other travel sites, Americans express safety concerns when travelling far more than any other nationality. The most commonly visited ports in the Caribbean have had their port areas turned into a haven of US-based chain restaurants and stores, some with fences to keep locals out. A lot of Americans express concerns about aggressive vendors, foreign food, military presence or anything outside of their "norm". See it all the time, but rarely from non-Americans. Am an American myself and agree it is hardly all Americans as I and a lot of my friends do not have these fears or concerns.

So, based on a basically American travel board, you have determined that Americans are more concerned with safety than other nationalities. Hmm, interesting.

My wife and I are going to Paris this Spring. A close friend just got back and said that while they enjoyed Paris, be prepared for the very tight security and the snobbish Parisians. My daughter and son inlaw just got back from Europe this week. Least enjoyable was Paris because of the tight security and the unfriendly French people who make just getting a meal stressful. Not that they wouldn't go back, they will because the city itself is wonderful. But, on the whole of a two week tour from London to Rome, Paris was the least enjoyable.

Is anyone surprise by their experience? Stereotype?

Stereotype or not, I imagine travelers all over the world measure the risk and the rewards. We cancelled our trip to turkey last year after a terrorist bomb blew up in the airport we would soon be traveling thru. We considered the risk and the rewards and changed our travel plans. I'm sure travelers who are more savvy of the area would have known how to travel more safely. But based on our knowledge and experience of that part of the world, the risk outweighed the rewards. Is that so wrong for us Americans?

Burt

HAL doesn't make immigration rules. There was nothing the HAL rep could do. You forgot your passports, which were required documents for this cruise. It's too bad, but you're going to have to accept responsibility.

And no, Cancel for Any Reason insurance wouldn't cover this, for reasons already stated.

I also question why you didn't have your passports sent to you, and then fly to meet your cruise. Seems a shame to lose all that money.

Gee, late to the party, and cranky. You need a break from the computer. Get out of those jammies and take the dog for a walk.

Burt

It shows your age. Younger folks wear jammies all day long.

Burt

Many many times previous posts have already explained in depth my opinion in depth, so I only add the required words for polling data. If 80% have the same opinion, only a few explanations to the opinions are required.

Let's be truthful, don't you get tired of the same repeated post over and over? So, I personally find ""it's great you'll love it" or "it's bad" refreshing.

Burt

Not so much from cruising again, but from cruising a specific cruise line. We have expectations and when one line quits providing those expectations while another line still provides them, we switch cruise lines.

Burt

Very disorganized in October. We were their first group since the hurricane and it was confusing enough that two members of the catamaran tour got into a bloodied fist fight over the beach chairs. The shore patrol was called in. We didn't get our free drinks and the beach was still being cleaned up. That was a month ago, so I'm sure it's better. But they had a bad day that day.

Burt

We did this very thing last month. We Ubered from Ft. Lauderdale airport to hotel on South Beach for about $30. Then Ubered the next morning from South Beach to the Ship for $7. Then from ship back to Ft. Lauderdale Airport for about $27.

Very fast, very smooth.

Burt

Rules? There are rules to how we discuss? I do like to talk about Sally now and then because she is a babe. But I don't like to use our real names because I like to go commando now and then and people who know tend to stare.

It's complicated.:o

Burt (but not really)

Whoever suggested that St. Lucia is reminiscent (geographically) of any Hawaiian island needs to have their eyes checked.

That said, do the research for a land vacation, start with Kauai, the Garden Isle (Honolulu on Oahu is like L.A. while its north shore is worth a visit). Skip the Pleasant Holidays tour group and do your own homework/arrangements.

Kind of harsh, don't you think. Maybe forums are not your thing.

As for Oahu, to many people put the island down without really experiencing it. Honolulu takes up two percent of the island. Drive out of the Honolulu city limits and you find yourself in the same plush scenery of any other island. The North Shore beaches (and surf) are like none you will see anywhere else in the world. But the view while driving on the east side of the island is breath taking.

We have no favorite islands because each one has own charm that should be experienced.

Bary

I have not read the other posts, but we have done 20 Caribbean cruises, vacationed on four of the Hawaiian islands and cruise Hawaii once. First, Hawaii is a laid back lifestyle that takes more time than a cruise can provide to experience. So I suggest vacation Hawaii before you cruise it. Second, Hawaii is a lot like the Caribbean with all the amenities of the United States like convenience stores, modern hospitals and American laws. Hawaii not only has the best beaches in the world, the state has hundreds of them.

Burt

I could never understand why people would take a cruise to relax only to end it with a very stressful disembarkation. I'd spend the extra dollars and not be forced to rush off the ship. But, that's me and I really don't know the particular circumstances of others.

Some of us get so relaxed from the cruise that we need the stress to get ready for work the next day. It's like getting two shots of espresso.;p

Burt

We were on Equinox in Sept out of Miami and had an 11:55 flight out of FLL. Made it with a couple hours to spare.

We had the same experience last week and we didn't even do the self disembarkation.

Burt

No problem in Miami. Just got off the Equinox and it was one of the fastest debarkations of our 25 cruise experience.

Kind of off the subject, but Miami uses a luggage conveyor belt system similar to airports to retrieve your bags. First time I've seen it at a cruise terminal.

Burt

Yes, there is some noise. And yes, they are the best cabins on the ship.

Burt

For those that like to go on the balcony less than fully clothed, I recommend checking to see if your balcony is facing the sea, or another ship, or a condo building.

 

Even better is the maintenance crew. :eek:

LOL, reminds me of opening the curtains after docking in St. Thomas to discover the crew on the bridge of a Celebrity ship looking down on us. "Look honey, there is a ship in our back yard!".

I read the question as more of quality of time on the balcony vs. quantity of time. We typically get an aft baloney and eat breakfast on it just about every morning. There is nothing like enjoying breakfast as ship slowly sails into port to dock. Alaska is the best.

Burt

Do what you want. Have fun, fancy clothing never made food taste better. Besides who wants to wear formal wear in the humidity of the Caribbean. Not me. I’m pure trash,

If the other posts weren’t convincing, this one hits the mark.

Burt

I gotta say the idea of cutting down on luggage is tempting... In all seriousness, I've sometimes wondered if anyone would notice if I repeated an outfit or two over the course of a cruise. I'd almost convinced myself people don't pay that kind of attention to others but this thread now has informed me otherwise.

Part of the cruising fun is people watching. So yes, we saw you pick your nose.:o

Burt

When the waiter asked for the Seapass card from the inebriated passenger sitting at the table across from us, she pulled her right bosom out of her low cut dress so that she could reach further down for the card.

Burt

Disney has more kids.

Burt

Are the passengers who skip the buffet for health reasons the same ones running to get the nice juicy hamburgers and super cheezy pizzas for lunch and midnight snacks?

Not to hijack the thread, but I find it ironic the workout area is always more crowded at the beginning of the cruise?

As for me, the food I stay away from in the buffet is the coffee. I'm told it is a Moheassian brew, but for me it's worth getting the drink package to get a café blend.

I'm a people watcher, but I find pajamas don't complement anybody in the buffet. Could drive more passengers to get room service.

Burt

Sadly, your experience of life has jaded your opinion of all people. You assumed to much about me from a simple question.

Burt

+1 from someone else with a similar background - while there's a chance of being able to find SOMETHING that a random cruise passenger can actually do, that would be actually helpful, to be totally blunt a few hours help on a port stop is primarily a 'feel good' ego-stroking experience for the visitor.

I gave no information that implied any motivation in my question. I asked for no opinion of motivation, just an inquiry for information. If there were any.

With that being said, whatever anyone's reason to volunteer, contribute, or give their personal effort toward bettering the lives of those in need, no matter how large or how small that contribution, your unsolicited opinion is very sad. Not because you may be right or wrong, but because you have a very dark perspective of humanity.

Burt

I saw that a lady on the first ship back to Key West this week volunteered for 6 hours while in Port. Her husband and family went and spent money. She had researched volunteer opportunities before boarding her cruise.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

This is the kind of responses I was looking for. Thanks.

Burt

Excellent points, Burt. You've observed the move towards marketing Royal Caribbean as the family-friendly, mass-market line offering a wide-variety of services and amenities. Within the package of offerings there are tiers of services and luxury (suite tiers, reward programs, package programs - drinks, food, etc.) Celebrity, has become the luxury line marketed to adults, while maintaining family offerings, and Azamara is the high-end luxury option. Additionally Pullmantur caters to the Spanish-speaking market and TUI to German cruisers. Additionally, the expansion of the brand to the Asian and southern Pacific regions is forecast to maintain increased profit through 2030 coupled with the deployment of ships designed specifically for the demands of regional customers.

As you point out, cruising is different than it was 20 years ago. While the days of turn down service and mints on the pillowcase are dwindling, ships offer a greater variety of overall options but at the sacrifice of personal attention.

Of course they are excellent points, I said them.:cool:

I wouldn't say they are offering a greater variety of overall options, but instead the available amenities are intended more toward the target customer.

Burt