What would you like to see improved?

[sherri3802au]

I do understand that no cruise line is 'all inclusive' and I don't expect them to be. But most of the general lines do make a point of advertising the advantage of cruising as being how much is included in the price. They advertise as 'most' things included.

 

Naturally, if someone is paying a premium for dining, they would expect the food and service to be better. But like anything, it isn't always so. I sometimes read the reviews of various ships (on this site) and one recurring theme amongst quite a few is that they were very disappointed with their premium dining experience. It may only be a minority whose experience is under par, but it still happens.

 

Ships can move till the cows come home but basically, they still have to find a market somewhere to remain viable. The customer is king. It isn't a case of us having to please you or your company, it is the other way round. If you come to Australia then later have to pull up stakes unexpectedly, it will be because you failed to read the market.

 

I would think a big part of being viable would depend on the size of the population base and the number of cruise destinations. Over here in Australia, a lot of cruises seem to go to the sth pacific, NZ or else perhaps round Aust or up to Far north Qld.

There are a few other choices, but they are the main ones for cruises of eg 7-12 days.

Just speaking for myself, what I would like to see are more fly/cruise/land tour options.

 

But back to the wish list.:)

 

Even instant coffee sachets next to the tea bags would have to be a better option than some of the coffee I've had on board in the buffets.

[BruceMuzz]

I do understand that no cruise line is 'all inclusive' and I don't expect them to be. But most of the general lines do make a point of advertising the advantage of cruising as being how much is included in the price. They advertise as 'most' things included.

 

Naturally, if someone is paying a premium for dining, they would expect the food and service to be better. But like anything, it isn't always so. I sometimes read the reviews of various ships (on this site) and one recurring theme amongst quite a few is that they were very disappointed with their premium dining experience. It may only be a minority whose experience is under par, but it still happens.

 

Ships can move till the cows come home but basically, they still have to find a market somewhere to remain viable. The customer is king. It isn't a case of us having to please you or your company, it is the other way round. If you come to Australia then later have to pull up stakes unexpectedly, it will be because you failed to read the market.

 

I would think a big part of being viable would depend on the size of the population base and the number of cruise destinations. Over here in Australia, a lot of cruises seem to go to the sth pacific, NZ or else perhaps round Aust or up to Far north Qld.

There are a few other choices, but they are the main ones for cruises of eg 7-12 days.

Just speaking for myself, what I would like to see are more fly/cruise/land tour options.

 

But back to the wish list.:)

 

Even instant coffee sachets next to the tea bags would have to be a better option than some of the coffee I've had on board in the buffets.

 

If coffe is important to you, Princess is not the line for you.

Their standard coffee is not even coffee at all.

It is made from an artificial syrup.

 

If my corporate colleagues do fail to "read the market" in Australia, their failure and our departure will cost us nothing. We will schedule a repositioning cruise to Asia or Europe and have the passengers pay for the fuel to move us elsewhere.

[sherri3802au]

:p Oh get away with you! Where else would you be sending your older ships in retirement, if not to Australia!:D

 

Bruce-

If coffee is important to you, Princess is not the line for you.

 

You will be happy to know that I am not with Princess. In the past year they have made such drastic cutbacks in food quality and service that I would never consider sailing with them.

 

I am starting to suspect you DO work for them. I'm alert to your little tricks. You're just trying to turn me off them, aren't you!!;)

 

(PS I hate to admit it to you, we buy a coffee card:))

 

And yes, appalling coffee in the buffet. And there I was, thinking Americans knew a thing or two about coffee. Not on their ships though.:rolleyes:

[Aussieflyer]

My ship has 11 alternative restaurants onboard (in addition to the main dining rooms and buffets). Currently 7 of them carry an additional charge and 4 do not.

 

Is the food and service worse in the main dining room? It is the same as it has always been.

However, now our passengers have a new point of reference.They compare the higher quality of the new specialty restaurants to the same old quality of the main dining room and decide that we have cut back in the dining rooms. It's all a matter of perspective.

 

I love the "my ship" reference.- I think you must "work" for one of the lines that has these megaships in their fleet as not many ships include hat number of dining areas.:)

As to food and service worse in the MDR. It is nothing to do with cruisers' perceptions, the squeeze on costs has had an effect. Reduced staff levels means more tables to be served (some lines have done away with the assistant waiters). This does reflect in poorer service. Food costs have also been rationalised - even on Cunard comments are made that what was previously available in QG for example is no longer there. Mass market lines are cutting back - and it does have an impact on the quality of the product.

[Gold Coast Cruisers]

Maybe Princess could start pricing their cruises comparitively to the rest of the world and other cruiselines... that would be a good start.

 

Jilly:rolleyes:

[keagle]

BINGO is highway robbery and I'm sure many of us would love an hour or 2 of down to earth bingo fun for smaller rewards. 5 games - 3 of them line games is pathetic.

Yep, Bingo needs altering. There is so much time some days that more games could be added for less cost (or the same) with lower prize money. Spread the wealth and lower the jackpot game. It would not cost the cruise line anything. If shore based bingo games can do it, so can ship based.

 

I think the casinos don't take enough opportunity to assist people on the tables. Have more host & hostess moving around explaining the games. And when the tables are empty as they often are - run more lessons. I speak to many people who are not game to try the tables because they are not confident .

 

Di

This is another thing that needs changing. From the last cruise that I did, the Black Jack (21) tables were never full.

 

Could it have been the $5.00 AU minimum. Yes - of coarse it was. I think there are 4 Black Jack tables on the Sun Princess, why not have one that is $1.00 minimum. It would open it up for those that can bet $20 but not $100. I actually think that they would get more players at $1.00

[ceejay3377]

BruceMuzz,

 

Thank you for your candid replies. A word to the wise though, I think it is not so much your message, but the way you phrase it that is creating such a stir on this thread ;).

 

I must disagree with you (and agree with others) on one point, and that is MDR food and service. I have enough cruises with both P&O (2002, 2006, 2011) and HAL (2010, 2011, 2012) to note the deterioration of food quality and service standards on both these lines over time. The cuts of meats are cheaper, the quality of other ingredients overall is poorer, and the dining stewards are doing A LOT more work. For example, on HAL the stewards now have to arrange diners drinks as well as meals, resulting in slower, less attentive service (not their fault, but a result of the increased work load and pressures). I own and operate a (successful and profitable) food business, so I feel I too have some authority on these matters, as you do. Our business, however, has a much more customer friendly business model than that of your employers (based on your comments and replies to this thread).:p I do believe you believe your comments to be accurate.

 

The thing is, HAL only have one specialty dining venue on the majority of their ships, (Although I am led to believe that they are now charging for the appalling "Italian" style restaurant, Canaletto. I would love to hear an Italian's review of this dining experience :confused:). So where else do we dine? Do we make reservations to eat meals in ports?

The trick to maintaining business profitability and integrity (both being essential to long term business success) is being able to operate under tighter and tighter budgetry constraints without it affecting the product and level of service the customer perceives to be getting. In this case, cruise lines are not meeting the mark. It is only a matter of time before people vote with their feet. While cruiselines offer a better value for money holiday than land based holidays, I will cruise frequently. I am now starting to look elsewhere, because the value I perceive to be receiving on my cruise holidays is far lower now than it was just a few years ago. I love cruising, but my holidays are precious and cruising is no longer the value for money holiday it used to be. My last holiday was land based (Bali) and was comparable in price to a cruise in the same area.

 

(And unlike you, Bruce Muzz I am speaking as an employer, wage payer and financial controller of a successful, profitable food and retail service business).

 

Oh, I also think that the ships could rethink the location and number of lifts. I need knee replacements in both knees, but as I am only 40, I have to wait another 10 years. Stairs are a problem for me. Most days I can manage the stairs for a few levels, but some days that pain is just too much and I have to use the lifts. I get sick of letting the oldies and go carts on first :p.

[MMDown Under]

 

Just speaking for myself, what I would like to see are more fly/cruise/land tour options.

 

 

I would also like to see more fly/cruise/land tour options.

 

This would open up more interesting itineraries, with time for more stops at ports en route. Some different ports could be visited on the return trip for those who wanted to do b2b cruises.

[Pushka]

About the food. We cruised on the Oriana, the original, 30 years ago. There was no such thing as room service. There were no buffets like windjammer and the like open 20 hours a day. It was just early or late dining. The food was appalling. The soup was like maggie stock cubes or bonox.

 

So for me, the food, choice and quality has improved enormously. It is interesting how a different time perspective totally changes opinions on whether something has improved, or degraded.

[Aussieflyer]

It is interesting how a different time perspective totally changes opinions on whether something has improved, or degraded.

 

Things change - DH went by ship to England in the mid 1960s - even no bathroom for their cabin then - down the passage for ablutions and worse :p But he was young and had a great time.

Those who are making food comparisons are using a much more recent time frame, only 5 - 10 years and in some cases even shorter to see the difference.

[ceejay3377]

Things change - DH went by ship to England in the mid 1960s - even no bathroom for their cabin then - down the passage for ablutions and worse :p But he was young and had a great time.

Those who are making food comparisons are using a much more recent time frame, only 5 - 10 years and in some cases even shorter to see the difference.

 

Aussieflyer and Pushka, I can certainly see your point of view, but today cruise lines are marketing their ships as the holiday destination as much as the itinerary. I am surmising the examples you provide are likely from the times when the focus on the ship was as the transport, rather than the holiday destination. My first cruise was the Pacific Sky. She was a fun and functional ship, but I doubt many would be happy sailing on her now. My comment was regarding the deterioration of food and service on P&O from then to now (as well as a similar trend on HAL from 2009-2012). My experience was the food and service overall was much better back then on the Sky, than the food and service I experienced on the Pac Dawn last year.

 

If cruiselines are intent on marketing their ships as the destination, they need to compete with other holiday destinations.

 

(And this following information is important to somewhat explain my point of view ... I love good, fresh, tasty food. It is an important frame of reference for me, and one of the key things I remember about any holiday. I might not remember the name of the temple we visited on Koh Samui, but the taste of the sticky rice confections I bought at the market are as vivid today as they were the day I tried them. I sometimes choose holiday destinations that are exotic, just for the food. I have just spent a week in to Bali - yum yum - and have chosen an Aqua class cabin on Solstice, just so I can eat in Blu every night :). If I am stuck on a ship for two or three sea days with bad food and appalling service, it is almost enough to ruin my holiday. Almost ;)).

 

Cheers,

[Aussieflyer]

ceejay, I am agreeing with you - maybe my post wasn't very clear though. It was a bit of a throwaway line.

 

Like you good food is important to me and we do often make a point of eating in a good quality restaurant in many ports though usually for lunch. Like you these are things we remember - for example we still talk about the mussels we had in Portofino, the restaurant in Sete and the asado in Montevideo.

I know that mass market kitchens cannot compete but we are after good quality and well cooked dishes and the view is this is not happening to the same extent any more. There have been some highlights. QM2 took on fresh fish in Melbourne in March - it was simply prepared but very fresh and was fantastic. Silversea Prince Albert bought fish from the market in Iceland, again fantastic. I know it is not always possible to take on fresh food but good quality is the thing and you are right because of the cost squeeze ships are looking to reduce their expenditure in the food line. It shows regardless of what one poster asserts.

[ceejay3377]

ceejay, I am agreeing with you - maybe my post wasn't very clear though. It was a bit of a throwaway line.

 

Like you good food is important to me and we do often make a point of eating in a good quality restaurant in many ports though usually for lunch. Like you these are things we remember - for example we still talk about the mussels we had in Portofino, the restaurant in Sete and the asado in Montevideo.

I know that mass market kitchens cannot compete but we are after good quality and well cooked dishes and the view is this is not happening to the same extent any more. There have been some highlights. QM2 took on fresh fish in Melbourne in March - it was simply prepared but very fresh and was fantastic. Silversea Prince Albert bought fish from the market in Iceland, again fantastic. I know it is not always possible to take on fresh food but good quality is the thing and you are right because of the cost squeeze ships are looking to reduce their expenditure in the food line. It shows regardless of what one poster asserts.

 

Aussieflyer, if we ever have the good fortune to cruise together, we must do lunch :)

[Aussieflyer]

Aussieflyer, if we ever have the good fortune to cruise together, we must do lunch :)

 

Count me in :)

[joejoe 59]

Hi i have really enjoyed reading through all your posts. Food quality has definitely deteriorated over the last couple of years. Thats what i would like improved :)