Why can't North Americans live without 'iced water' at mealtimes?

[cruisingcanadian]

I am an American. Well 17 years in US.

 

I can live without free water, but why should I ? :)

 

I am accustomed to getting it in our local restaurants, so why not have it on the ships? Especially because all major American lines are providing it. Including MSC in Caribbeans. Yes, we had it on Poesia this year.

 

Besides honestly I do not believe bottled water is any better. Just sold for $ or Eu.

 

And what is a problem with providing it on the ship? It is a tap water which is available on the ship anyway. Just add ice and it is ready to be served.

 

By the way Americans are accustomed to paying tips and kids fares. Something that stirs many debates among non-Americans. So it is not like Americans are cheap. ;)

 

Well said,Tatka!;)

[All aboard??]

In summary then:

 

1) Johannesburg has the best tap drinking water in the world - go Mzansi!

2) People don't drink bottled water because of the environment - a bit of a hypocritical stand in that I am sure you drive in a car, fly to a destination and cruise the open seas <cough>

3)English and Australians don't tip - well having lived in Australia for over a year now; why should they tip someone who is already earning $20.00 an hour - $30.00 on Saturday evenings and $40.00 on Sundays.

4)I am accustomed to getting it locally.....errrrr do we see the problem here :confused:

5)All major American Lines do it......errrr kindly refer to item 4 above ;)

6) Kettles are dangerous - are you taking this in Timothy.

7) Squash is Cordial aka mix and drink and not a vegetable....butternut is.

8) Aritifiial ice exists

9) A wash cloth is a face cloth - I can't say I understand why people need to take one with you when you travel to Europe, the hotels I stay at (MSC Cruises included) always have them :confused:

 

Did I miss anything?

[sthelder]

That said I've been in countries where toilet paper was rationed a few squares at time. I just found it amusing if somewhat strange. It's these differences that make travelling interesting.

 

In China, you are expected to bring your own... :o

[sthelder]

And if you buy water, but do not finish it (which is not unusual if there are just two of you,) you need to take your bottle with you. To me, there is something strange about dozens of people carrying around bottles of water, especially on formal night.

 

Nice observation! That's why we have our DD3 carrying the water bottles :D

[Tatka]

In summary then:

 

1) Johannesburg has the best tap drinking water in the world - go Mzansi!

2) People don't drink bottled water because of the environment - a bit of a hypocritical stand in that I am sure you drive in a car, fly to a destination and cruise the open seas

3)English and Australians don't tip - well having lived in Australia for over a year now; why should they tip someone who is already earning $20.00 an hour - $30.00 on Saturday evenings and $40.00 on Sundays.

4)I am accustomed to getting it locally.....errrrr do we see the problem here :confused:

5)All major American Lines do it......errrr kindly refer to item 4 above ;)

6) Kettles are dangerous - are you taking this in Timothy.

7) Squash is Cordial aka mix and drink and not a vegetable....butternut is.

8) Aritifiial ice exists

9) A wash cloth is a face cloth - I can't say I understand why people need to take one with you when you travel to Europe, the hotels I stay at (MSC Cruises included) always have them :confused:

 

Did I miss anything?

 

No, you did not miss anything, but who said I am planning to use MSC in Europe? ;) I loved our cruise in Caribbeans, but see other problems with using this line in Europe, especially in Med, and it is not water.

 

By the way Celebrity, RCI, Holland, NCL, Carnival, Princess provide free iced water in all regions. so it is not like there is no choice.

 

On the other hand MSC is doing the same in Caribbeans to accomodate American and Canadian pax. By the way people of all other nationalities - Swiss, Germans, Italians, Norwegians, British, French gladly were drinking the same iced water during our cruise on Poesia, as well as on Princess (mostly UK pax) and RCI in Europe. So it is not like they are opposed to the idea.

 

Hmmm. How does tipping customs in Australia and UK applies to the ship? Are the employees on the ships being paid 20-30-40 doll per hour? I guess I can use your logic with "errr... do I see a problem here"? :) By the way, when we started cruising, tips were paid in cash, and service was even better. With internationalization of cruises tips became daily service charge.

 

I travel a lot so I am aware of differences. What I don't understand is why suddenly American love for iced water is getting so much attention? Many American TA provide weekly supply of bottled water for their customers when they sail Italian lines.

[All aboard??]

Hmmm. How does tipping customs in Australia and UK applies to the ship? Are the employees on the ships being paid 20-30-40 doll per hour? I guess I can use your logic with "errr... do I see a problem here"? :) By the way, when we started cruising, tips were paid in cash, and service was even better. With internationalization of cruises tips became daily service charge.

 

You got lost there a bit - Boytjie mentioned the no tipping when Aussies and Brits travel to America and not specifically when they on a cruise.

 

I personally prefer the service charge approach, it is a little socialist but it is fair in that you won't hand an envelope to the guy (or girl) treating the sewage?

 

That being said I do leave additional "gifts" for exceptional service - Donny my last butler got 300 EUR and Vasant whom I only had for three days got 50 EUR.

 

I travel a lot so I am aware of differences. What I don't understand is why suddenly American love for iced water is getting so much attention? Many American TA provide weekly supply of bottled water for their customers when they sail Italian lines.

 

I believe this post was started a bit tongue in cheek, so we all really just going with the flow.

[Keel Haul]

In summary then:

 

1) Johannesburg has the best tap drinking water in the world - go Mzansi!

2) People don't drink bottled water because of the environment - a bit of a hypocritical stand in that I am sure you drive in a car, fly to a destination and cruise the open seas <cough>

3)English and Australians don't tip - well having lived in Australia for over a year now; why should they tip someone who is already earning $20.00 an hour - $30.00 on Saturday evenings and $40.00 on Sundays.

4)I am accustomed to getting it locally.....errrrr do we see the problem here :confused:

5)All major American Lines do it......errrr kindly refer to item 4 above ;)

6) Kettles are dangerous - are you taking this in Timothy.

7) Squash is Cordial aka mix and drink and not a vegetable....butternut is.

8) Aritifiial ice exists

9) A wash cloth is a face cloth - I can't say I understand why people need to take one with you when you travel to Europe, the hotels I stay at (MSC Cruises included) always have them :confused:

 

Did I miss anything?

yes Shag is an American dance not a sea bird or rough cut pipe tobacco beloved by sailors and Queen Victoria, I know she loved it because in John Brown diary it says and I quote "she would sneek down to my potting shed and I would give her a good..........I'll get my coat

[AmoMondo]

Partially Tongue in cheek Tatka (that weird Britishe sense of humour) but also because so many Americans seem to blow it out of all proportion over here in Europe, which we find hard to understand.

 

It's not served automatically in the UK but you do get it in restaurants if you ask for it. When we travel to some other European countries, the "norm" is to serve bottled water. Most of us just go with the flow. Even those who might not like it tend not to let it ruin there holiday or make a big deal out of it when writing reviews on cruise or travel forums.

[Keel Haul]

Partially Tongue in cheek Tatka (that weird Britishe sense of humour)

its all the fault of you buggers north of Hadrian's for corrupting us with the Krankie's, who by the way gave Silvio Brylcreemo the idea for Bunga Bunga.For those who don't know Bunga Bunga is a n Italian dance not unlike the Shag.

[All aboard??]

Even those who might not like it tend not to let it ruin there holiday or make a big deal out of it when writing reviews on cruise or travel forums.

 

I can't think of anything else I would spend EUR2.00 on........

[Skipper Tim]

Well this thread has been an education but I am none the wiser.

 

Scotch on the rocks with not artificial ice but rather real rocks. If there were a natural substitute for water then this global problem would be solved. How about making ice cubes from Ian McKellan scotch? This would remove the surprisingly widespread fear of having one's drink diluted by melting ice. There must be a name for our condition.

 

I knew loo paper could be rationed but never used as a contraceptive. I am glad I travel with my face cloth. It is still a mystery to me why the neighbours used to take a stick with them to the outside loo.

 

Plastic bottles are Carmen Miranda.

 

Some people believe kettles are more dangerous than cars - obvious nonsense. Having cycled into several stationary cars I can testify how dangerous they are. To date, I have never cycled into a kettle. I know I am small sample - well actually not that small - but I am the most significant sample to me. Avoid cars before kettles.

 

Then there is the shag and squash confusion. This could lead to appalling unintended consequences.

 

I thought 'shag competition' was a crude but accurate description of the discos I once felt obliged to attend in my youth. Yes dancing was involved but I didn't know the dance was named after its intended purpose. As for squash, I drink it. Does that make me a bad person?

 

Now if anyone moans about the lack of free water again, there will be such a deluge they won't know what has hit them.

[sidari]

"Many American TA provide weekly supply of bottled water for their customers when they sail Italian lines."

 

Why ? it is clear from the posts here that many people do not like the taste!let alone the arguement regarding plastic bottles.

 

"Most of us just go with the flow"

 

Amo ... More than you know .... :D

[perbinder]

its all the fault of you buggers north of Hadrian's for corrupting us with the Krankie's, who by the way gave Silvio Brylcreemo the idea for Bunga Bunga.For those who don't know Bunga Bunga is a n Italian dance not unlike the Shag.

 

Now if there bunga bunga parties on the msc..........,,,

 

 

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[tomsafrica]

I think this thread says a lot about people who sail on MSC....if they're all this mad then we should fit right in! :p

[Tatka]

"Many American TA provide weekly supply of bottled water for their customers when they sail Italian lines."

 

Why ? it is clear from the posts here that many people do not like the taste!let alone the arguement regarding plastic bottles.

 

If there is no water provided they will have to by it anyway.

[Skipper Tim]

I think this thread says a lot about people who sail on MSC....if they're all this mad then we should fit right in! :p

 

Sorry, but I don't know what you mean.

[Boytjie]

1) Johannesburg has the best tap drinking water in the world - go Mzansi!

 

No, New York City has the best water.

I have had both. :D

[Skipper Tim]

No, New York City has the best water.

I have had both. :D

 

No, you are both wrong. It is Huddersfield. And we have the best sheep too - but that is a different thread on a different forum.

[Carolin]

Detroit has the best tap water in the US. Seriously, no joke. I've traveled all over the us and you will not find better tap water anywhere. :p

 

OK.. yesterday I went to dinner with friends. I had to stop myself from busting out in a huge laugh when the server deposited huge glasses of ice water before we even ordered. Only two people drank them. I, of course, had wine. Like any civilzed person. *grin*

 

My british friend and I had a very long debat on the subject of jello and jelly.... aka what Americans think it is and what my british friends think it is. Carry on.

[Dr. Cocktail]

No, you are both wrong. It is Huddersfield. And we have the best sheep too - but that is a different thread on a different forum.

 

Oh, Sweet Petunias!

 

Are we now going to complain about how Brits expect a sheep on their cruise?

Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

 

Count me out.

[Boytjie]

No, you are both wrong. It is Huddersfield. And we have the best sheep too - but that is a different thread on a different forum.

 

Never heard of it. Doubt I will even go there. :p

[Boytjie]

Oh, Sweet Petunias!

 

Are we now going to complain about how Brits expect a sheep on their cruise?

Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

 

Count me out.

 

And then the Kiwis will join in... Best is from the Karoo in SA though. :D

[Boytjie]

My british friend and I had a very long debat on the subject of jello and jelly.... aka what Americans think it is and what my british friends think it is. Carry on.

 

Another topic for you: biscuits. Discuss...

[perbinder]

Another topic for you: biscuits. Discuss...

 

Hobnobs with English breakfast tea or pg tips. (Hobnobs can be deleted for custard creams)

 

 

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[All aboard??]

It's jam not jelly :rolleyes: