What are things you like about cruising now, in contrast to the old days of cruising?

[Smokeyham]

There are a number of threads on CruiseCritic about things which people miss from the "old days" of cruising, but I wonder if there are some things which have changed, which you do not miss, or which you prefer now.

 

One thing I don't miss is having to get dressed up every night for dinner. We were on board the Rotterdam V in 1993, and I was wearing at least a jacket and tie to dinner each evening.

 

One thing I prefer now is the flexibility of Anytime Dining, so that we can eat when, and with whom, we want.

 

How about you?

[Scrapnana]

I do not miss how small cabins used to be (my mother and I did a TA in a cabin that was no more than 72 sq.ft. but it did have two portholes - that opened!).

 

I do not miss having to go down the hall to use the facilities.

[Smokeyham]

I do not miss how small cabins used to be (my mother and I did a TA in a cabin that was no more than 72 sq.ft. but it did have two portholes - that opened!).

 

I do not miss having to go down the hall to use the facilities.

 

My mother has a story about how the staff member would fill the bath for you, and then call you when it was your turn to go down to use the bath. After you were finished they emptied the bath, cleaned it, and prepared it for the next guest.

[Guest maddycat]

I like the less formal atmosphere and dress of present day cruises. I also like having different dining options. At one time you could only eat dinner in the MDR. Now you can choose to have dinner in a specialty restaurant or the buffet.

[capncarp]

That old, annoying custom of "women and children first" during a shipboard crisis/abandon ship situation has been replaced by the more egalitarian "sauve qui peut" (that's French for "Devil take the hindmost") policy demonstrated today;) And I'm so glad that many of the ships' upper-echelon officers have proven themselves by example by being brave enough to be first off the ship in actual crises!

Edited September 22, 2013 by capncarp

[LandlockedCruiser01]

I like the relaxed, party-like atmosphere. I'm not sure how wild things got on cruises in the days of yore, but if the stereotypes will have you believe nothing else, it used to be pretty stuffy. Today, it's more like "what happens on a cruise stays on a cruise", if you know what I mean. Kind of like age regression to college spring break. And I like that.

 

Well, maybe that's only true for mass market lines. But it's still not a bad thing.

Edited October 28, 2013 by LandlockedCruiser01

[Smokeyham]

I like the relaxed, party-like atmosphere. I'm not sure how wild things got on cruises in the days of yore, but if the stereotypes will have you believe nothing else, it used to be pretty stuffy. Today, it's more like "what happens on a cruise stays on a cruise", if you know what I mean. Kind of like age regression to college spring break. And I like that.

 

Well, maybe that's only true for mass market lines. But it's still not a bad thing.

 

Our Holland America Alaska cruise in 1993 was pretty sedate. It was jacket and tie each evening, with limited entertainment options. There was a disco where a group of us would get together to dance in the evenings, but it was a pretty quiet ship after 10:00 PM otherwise.

 

On our recent Alaska cruise on Princess there was a lot more going on later in the evening, with many more choices for entertainment. It wasn't a party till you drop environment (which was fine with us), but it was nice having the sense of life about the ship.

[Gunner22aa]

If you look at the ships of yesteryear balconies were not a big thing. Today the ships boast 75% or more balcony cabins. I can't cruise without one.

[mr green]

Balconies aside, I would like to go back to cruising in the '90's.

 

john

[Pack My Bags]

It's nice that you don't get have to get dressed to the nines every night for dinner. You are after all, on vacation. Plus who wants to lug all that extra clothing around?

 

As for nightlife on board, while I don't partake in all the clubbing & crazy partying, I DO prefer that ships have choices & lots of evening activity such as late night adult comedy, casino events, battle of the sexes, etc. There are some lines that are pretty much a graveyard after the evening show.

 

What I do miss, but not sure exactly how much of it existed back in the day..... is the etiquette or manners of people on board. Was there ever a time where people actually waited their turn for the elevators, or possibly wait till you got your roll before reaching over your shoulder to grab theirs with their hands?

 

Hmm. I wonder if pool lounger hogs had a "system" back then..

[mr green]

It's nice that you don't get have to get dressed to the nines every night for dinner. You are after all, on vacation. Plus who wants to lug all that extra clothing around?

 

What I do miss, but not sure exactly how much of it existed back in the day..... is the etiquette or manners of people on board. Was there ever a time where people actually waited their turn for the elevators, or possibly wait till you got your roll before reaching over your shoulder to grab theirs with their hands?

 

Yes, cruisers did have better manners in the old days, in part I believe because they were better dressed, and acted accordingly.

 

john

[jean s]

I do prefer the number of choices for meals on today's ships. It's nice to be able to eat somewhere other than the dining room. I also like the fact that we don't have to get as dressed up for dinner as in the past.

[OCruisers]

We like having a safe in our cabin rather than having to go to the Purser's Desk every time we needed to use our safety deposit box. :)

 

LuLu

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[Smokeyham]

I also like that the pools are larger, and that there are more hot tubs.

[Pack My Bags]

I like that cruising is still the most affordable way to travel.

[libraryld]

I love the Anytime Dining. I hate having to rush to the dining room at a particular time. And we always ask to eat with others. You meet new people every night!

[Pack My Bags]

I like that more attention is given to linens & bedding & dining than in the past!