What I want in a Cruise

Hi Folks

After reports of bad behavior by passengers on a number of cruise lines I'm thinking that I have to choose very carefully the lines on which I want to cruise.

I cannot afford the ultra luxury ships so my choice therefore will most likely be from the main stream of lines such as Princess and RCCL

Possibly I might consider a number of smaller lines running older and smaller ship such as Fred Olsen

Here in Australia for many years we had very little choice we had P&O running in competition with Sitmar Lines

The P&O bought out Sitmar and converted all their cruises to "FUN Ship" cruises using the Old Sitmar Migrant ships

Gone were the Likes of Oriana and Arcadia ....

So lets fast forward to the current day

We have out of Australia

Full time ... Carnival with 2 and soon to be 3 FUN SHIPS

P@O Australia continuing of the tradition of operating OLDER Ships with 4 berth cabins catering for family groups and other groups such as hen parties and bucks nights

Part Time

Princess

RCCL

HAL

Celibrity

All tending to offer a higher class experience than the local lines but to some degree Australianizing there offerings which sometimes is not to the good

So I wonder what we as Australians want when we go cruising

My choice is for a relaxing cruise not disturbed by loud "Bogans" I want a large private cabin and am prepared to pay for it.

I want a nice dining room , would prefer a ship that does NOT have a self service buffet please replace this with a bristio arrangment with meals cooked to order and brought to ones table.

Entertainment should be contained in its venue IE no loud music in hallways and public spaces

A "Lounge" a proper traditional lounge with drinks service but no entretainment or piped music ,,

This on my ideal ship would replace a casino

I would prefer an adults only ship ... no one under 30 y/o , there are ample options for the young on Carnival and P&O

So that rules out childern , again plenty of options for them on Carnival and P&O

Even on board Princess and Celebrity I witnessed incidents of children being most objectionable and their parents not a bit concearned and whist on board RCCL there were a number of groups of late teens roaming around in gangs .

Frankly I dont want them on my cruise and I expect the feeling is mutual ... fair enough

At the moment my choice is a suite on princess / HAL / RCCL ?Celibrity

Or a possible move to Crystal or the suchlike

So what do you want on your cruise ?? please tell it in all reality , dont ridicule others

Regards

John

Actually we pretty well get most of what we want on Princess and Celebrity. Actually my ideal cruise ship would be a combination of the two.

As far as the cabin goes I'd like the bathrooms and balcony (where appropriate) from Celebrity, and the walk in wardrobe and general storage of Princess, a small sofa like Celebrity, and the new Princess bed.

I'd like the Princess dining rooms as having separate rooms tends to quieter than the two story Solstice one, but I'd like sommeliers so I don't have to wait too long for drinks. I don't really like buffet restaurants so I'd like to see a casual dining area like a food court, and a good selection of alternative restaurants without charges. All restaurants should be open for lunch on sea days and some (perhaps alternating) on port days for those who want to come back on the ship for lunch. Also I'd like the MDR breakfast hours to be longer, say until 10:30am, and lunch hours extended to 2:30pm

Crooners Sun Princess style taking up the whole of the atrium area on that deck. The Wheelhouse Bar as a separate bar, not like it is on the Royal class ships. A cafe with lots of seating and savoury as well as sweet food options, so more like the Princess International Cafe than Cafe Bacia. I want quick and efficient service in all bars and cafes.

The Sky Lounge from Celebrity Solstice with the Sanctuary from Princess over it. The Lotus Spa Pool from the Princess Grand Class ships but maybe with a retractable roof. Adults only, of course.

A good theatre, and also the Princess Vista Lounge as an alternative entertainment venue.

As far as I'm concerned the casino and most of the shops could be scrapped but I know that wouldn't be a popular choice by many.

I'd like the ship to be around the size of the Sun class ships, or maybe a little smaller, so that smaller ports can be used. With a wrap around promenade deck big enough for loungers.

I want a ship where the crew aren't afraid to deal with chair hogs, out of control kids (I'd rather see no kids but doubt that is feasible down here), and out of control adults.

Photo galleries should be away from high traffic areas, like on the Royal class ships, and photographers should not be allowed to block the lift foyers to take formal photos.

And, of course, I don't want to pay any more than I do now. ;):p:D

Princess are hear full time with normally three ships. Though in winter two may be on longer cruises, and with Dawn going to P&O it may only be two full time.

For us Princess and Celebrity fit very well.

Sure we’d love to try a few other lines, Silverseas, Azamara, Regent, BUT they offer few, or no, Sydney to Sydney cruises and with flying being ruled out Sydney-Sydney it needs to be.

There are few changes I’d make to X or Princess sure I don’t use the Casino but hey it doesn’t bother me.

I’d like to see more space in the dinning room (I’m pretty sure most ships now couldn’t seat everyone in two sitting in the MDR now) I’d like to see food lifted slightly, I think both lines have lowered there standards over the last 25 years or so. I accept that you will only ever get banquet food but a slightly better banquet would be nice, lately I’ve lt th beef and chicken not as tender, the vegetable range not as wide.

Cabins, we miss having a sofa in many of our balcony cabins so restoring that would be a plus for Princess, Clebrity still seem to include one.

We would love to see the return of smaller ships, but then our first cruises were on Pacific Princess, 680PAX.

Gut, this year and probably next year Princess has no ships doing cruises out of any Australian ports for three months ie while Sea Princess is on the world cruise. Diamond / Golden / Majestic are off in other regions and Sun Princess seems to be relocating to Asia during that period also instead of doing the Top End runs that Princess usually did over winter. :(

Gut, this year and probably next year Princess has no ships doing cruises out of any Australian ports for three months ie while Sea Princess is on the world cruise. Diamond / Golden / Majestic are off in other regions and Sun Princess seems to be relocating to Asia during that period also instead of doing the Top End runs that Princess usually did over winter. :(

Ohh I didn’t realise Sun was off to Asia, that sucks.

And Sea is tied up near on six months with just 4 cruises.

Circumnavigation (28 days)

Hawaii (35)

WC (106)

Hawaii again (35)

Ohh I didn’t realise Sun was off to Asia, that sucks.

 

And Sea is tied up near on six months with just 4 cruises.

 

Circumnavigation (28 days)

Hawaii (35)

WC (106)

Hawaii again (35)

Oops, sorry that’s 2019.

Good luck trying to find any line that doesn't have people misbehaving, no matter where in the world it is sailing or how expensive the cruise price.

You can always just stay in your suite and get room service on any line so you don't have to mix with the misbehaving crowds. :p

Good luck trying to find any line that doesn't have people misbehaving, no matter where in the world it is sailing or how expensive the cruise price.

Too true.

Some of the worst drunks I’ve seen have been in the most expensive locations.

Too true.

 

Some of the worst drinks I’ve seen have been in the most expensive locations.

Afternoon Mr Gut, welcome back to the Nut House. Hope you are getting better old son.

As for inebriates on the ships, I never saw any on Cunard, seen a couple on Princess, but not many. Been awhile since I was on P&O Straya, but not on my favourite cruise line list now. But then we have never done short cruises where the louts and bogans seem to revel.

Afternoon Mr Gut, welcome back to the Nut House. Hope you are getting better old son.

Trying anyway Les. Unfortunately along with pain and loss of mobility comes Mr Churchill’s Black Dog.

Trying anyway Les. Unfortunately along with pain and loss of mobility comes Mr Churchill’s Black Dog.

I know about all the above, get well.:cool:

Actually we pretty well get most of what we want on Princess and Celebrity. Actually my ideal cruise ship would be a combination of the two.

 

As far as the cabin goes I'd like the bathrooms and balcony (where appropriate) from Celebrity, and the walk in wardrobe and general storage of Princess, a small sofa like Celebrity, and the new Princess bed.

 

I'd like the Princess dining rooms as having separate rooms tends to quieter than the two story Solstice one, but I'd like sommeliers so I don't have to wait too long for drinks. I don't really like buffet restaurants so I'd like to see a casual dining area like a food court, and a good selection of alternative restaurants without charges. All restaurants should be open for lunch on sea days and some (perhaps alternating) on port days for those who want to come back on the ship for lunch. Also I'd like the MDR breakfast hours to be longer, say until 10:30am, and lunch hours extended to 2:30pm

 

Crooners Sun Princess style taking up the whole of the atrium area on that deck. The Wheelhouse Bar as a separate bar, not like it is on the Royal class ships. A cafe with lots of seating and savoury as well as sweet food options, so more like the Princess International Cafe than Cafe Bacia. I want quick and efficient service in all bars and cafes.

 

The Sky Lounge from Celebrity Solstice with the Sanctuary from Princess over it. The Lotus Spa Pool from the Princess Grand Class ships but maybe with a retractable roof. Adults only, of course.

 

A good theatre, and also the Princess Vista Lounge as an alternative entertainment venue.

 

As far as I'm concerned the casino and most of the shops could be scrapped but I know that wouldn't be a popular choice by many.

 

I'd like the ship to be around the size of the Sun class ships, or maybe a little smaller, so that smaller ports can be used. With a wrap around promenade deck big enough for loungers.

 

I want a ship where the crew aren't afraid to deal with chair hogs, out of control kids (I'd rather see no kids but doubt that is feasible down here), and out of control adults.

 

Photo galleries should be away from high traffic areas, like on the Royal class ships, and photographers should not be allowed to block the lift foyers to take formal photos.

 

And, of course, I don't want to pay any more than I do now. ;):p:D

What an excellent summary! I found myself nodding away in agreement with every statement.

I want a ship where the crew aren't afraid to deal with chair hogs, out of control kids (I'd rather see no kids but doubt that is feasible down here), and out of control adults.

 

Not just chair hogs either, hand washing, line jumping, dress codes.....

It seems to me there are two problems with enforcement.

1. I’m not sure senior staff stand up for the crew enough when a passenger complains.

2. Tipping. If the crew enforce a rule their tip may disappear.

I’ve been on celebrity and p&o. I far prefer celebrity. But I have enjoyed both cruises for different reasons.

There were drunks a plenty on both ships. And crazy people.

I prefer the size of solstice over the sun class any day. Especially the cabin sizes and areas like the sky lounge. I like ships a little bigger and newer... but not too new.

My next cruise is on princess. Not 100% sure what I’m in for as its from Los Angeles [emoji51]

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What an excellent summary! I found myself nodding away in agreement with every statement.

Maybe someone should pay me to design cruise ships! :D:D:D

Not just chair hogs either, hand washing, line jumping, dress codes.....

 

It seems to me there are two problems with enforcement.

 

1. I’m not sure senior staff stand up for the crew enough when a passenger complains.

 

2. Tipping. If the crew enforce a rule their tip may disappear.

Yes, all those things.

On Aussie cruises there is no tip to disappear, officially.

Also how many people tip the pool attendants and the people overseeing hand washing. The Head Waiters might get extra tips, and the rest isn't probably enforced by anyone in particular.

I think you're right that the crew don't get as much support as they should from senior staff.

Not just chair hogs either, hand washing, line jumping, dress codes.....

 

It seems to me there are two problems with enforcement.

 

1. I’m not sure senior staff stand up for the crew enough when a passenger complains.

 

2. Tipping. If the crew enforce a rule their tip may disappear.

Oh, I thought you meant hand washing your undies in the bathroom?

I lot of passengers, including my good self, would be in a lot of trouble if a ban on this practice was inforced???

As for inebriates on the ships, I never saw any on Cunard, seen a couple on Princess, but not many. Been awhile since I was on P&O Straya, but not on my favourite cruise line list now. But then we have never done short cruises where the louts and bogans seem to revel.

They were there as well, trust me, they were just dealt with a lot quicker.

Afternoon Mr Gut, welcome back to the Nut House. Hope you are getting better old son.

 

As for inebriates on the ships, I never saw any on Cunard, seen a couple on Princess, but not many. Been awhile since I was on P&O Straya, but not on my favourite cruise line list now. But then we have never done short cruises where the louts and bogans seem to revel.

Saw a few on Cunard who had one or two two many g&ts or after diner ports or pre diner cocktails.

Viking Ocean is everything you just described.

No kids, no loud music, no casino, good food, you can get in the pool and hot tubs, a port every day.

Viking Ocean is everything you just described.

 

No kids, no loud music, no casino, good food, you can get in the pool and hot tubs, a port every day.

But at least double the price of a Princess or Celebrity cruise. :(

 

Or a possible move to Crystal or the suchlike

Well worth considering if you can stretch to it - once you start to add up everything that is included and the quality of food, service and entertainment you may find that lines like Crystal aren’t as expensive v suites etc on some of the mainstream lines. Sometimes, depending on what you value, the extra cost is easily justified

Norwegian Cruise Line might be another option. I believe the food and entertainment is very good.

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I would like a cruise line that invites me to cruise whenever I like for free.