Time for a change?

[Dolebludger]

Well, to be fair, RSSC does include all tips, gives each guest a liter of selected liquor in the suite, Stocks a mini fridge with mixers , soft drinks, and bottled water, and includes all drinks (except the super premium stuff) at dinner. Problem is the traditional "cocktail hour" before dinner, when one has to sign for drinks. While I could go to a bar or lounge and do so, I would find myself alone --- as all fellow guests are either having cocktails in their suites or else are waiting for dinner when they are included. The social dynamic here just isn't right for a lux cruise. I personally told Mark Conroy that. Backed up by hundreds of posts on this board. It did little good. I shan't do it again. I would cruise Radisson again IF they showed a price advantage to make up for this flaw (as they used to do), and IF they had an itinerary I wanted.

 

Thanks,

Richard

[Dolebludger]

Sorry to post after myself, but his board (for some reason) won't let me edit. With Radisson's new higher prices, I can see little reason for taking them over Silversea, Seabourn, or Sea Dream UNLESS Radisson is offering that "must have" itinerary for you. An example would be the Paul Gauguin, which offers a "one of a kind" itenerary which I would recommend to everyone. Two years ago, many of the Radisson cruises we took were only 1/3 full. I recommended to Mark Conroy the addition of all inclusive for a $10 pp per day increase in fare (which at that time was much lower than the other lux lines) to solve this problem. Apparently, the problem has solved itself (for the time being) as I now understand that Radisson is sailing full, even without all inclusive and with much higher fares. So long as Radisson is able to get away with this (and I think based upon past reputation), they will continue as is. When "past reputation" wears off --- then we'll see.

 

You will note that Crystal is NOT on my list above, as they are IMO nothing more than another "nickel and dime" and "two dinner seating" line with better food, entertainment, and lectures --- which are not worth the high fare to us. Thus, in the future, we will be looking at Silversea, Seabourn, and Sea Dream.

 

Radisson is like an "old friend" to us, and we truely hope they come to their senses before they lose all of their former repeat customer base.

 

Once upon a time, Radisson cruises were such a god deal --- and I posted that they were --- that I was accused of being one of their employees on this board! That never was true, of course, as I was merely a satisfied customer. We booked a ridiculous number of their curises, suspecting that "this just can't last." Well, it didn't. Radisson must realize that folks don't get to the point in their lives where they take "lux cruises" without having a keen sense of value for the price. And they are no longer offering it. I couldn't email their CEO Mark Conroy about this, even if I wanted to do so. His email is no longer operative. That should tell us something.

 

Thanks,

Richard

[minxtabb]

Sea Dream do not now include caviar on request included in the price.

[Dolebludger]

As to caviar, I sort of understand this. A little over a year ago, wholesale prices skyrocketed. Before that, Radisson would include caviar in room service at no extra charge. After the cost increase, they offered it via room service at no charge only on days when it was served in the dining room. Otherwise, $25 an ounce. So it doesn't surprise me that other lux lines also limited the formerly "free" caviar.

 

Thanks,

Richard

[neviboy]

Richard , I agree with everything that you have stated. Our first Silversea was last April. I booked it because there were several ports that we had not visited, especially the Cinque Terres. We are certainly not fuss pots, and easily satisfied, and I was determined not to start making comparisons with RSSC.

From our point of view, we found that the main difference was in the socialising, entirely due to the cocktail hour . After the first day we met a great couple, and after the third day about twelve of us were continual companions, and split up into threesomes for dinner. We have booked a Greek Islands cruise on Wind with the first couple that we met. Brits with which we have much in common.

Everything else pertaining to the two lines was equal, from OUR point of view, except the above.

I did hear the argument from a couple of passengers that "Hey, we are spending thousands on the cruise what's another hundred or so ?" I do not buy that argument and neither do the majority.

We have a few days at sea and enjoy lunch at the Terrace restaurant. We will take our glasses of our own Chardonnay to the table !! Carnival charges $7 a glass. and make you walk the plank if you bring your own !!

I hope that this thread doesn't repeat what has been discussed forever over the years.

I hope that the bartenders stand completely idle from 5 p.m. until midnight at all of the bars .

[neviboy]

I neglected to mention that we are leaving on Voyager on the 17th. for ten days from FLL back to FLL

[Dolebludger]

Hi, Nevil!

 

No, I for one will not participate in a repeat of endless requests for Radisson to "go open bar". The reason I did so once in the past was because many Radisson cruises were then sailing far from full, other posters were expressing concern about Radisson's future, and the "open bar" thing seemed like a simple suggestion then to get more paying guests onboard. In contrast, Radisson is sailing pretty full these days and doesn't need any changes to fill its ships.

 

All we can and should do now is to recognize that Radisson does not include this socialization opportunity, and make our booking decisions with this in mind.

 

Thanks,

Richard

[blackbird71]

Richard,,

 

Some nights at dinner, like the nights with the Opera Lady from Hell, I would need to pop out to the lounge right off the restaurant for a cig. :rolleyes: And I never saw that bar with more than two people in it.

 

I am now traveling by myself, and am not looking to socialize with people on a cruise. So it is me and my balcony after dinner. :) But I could see including drinks would add to the quality of the Radisson product.

[vaitape]

Returned home on Saturday night from the PG.We rarely went to any of the venues.....went to our room to have our afternoon libation and lingered over dinner to top up with port, dessert wine, or whatever suited us on our 2 week cruise. Would endorse and recommend an all-inclusive program. We expect to pay extra for excursions of course but the alcohol/bar signing thingo is rather silly, and a petty nusiance. For $10 more per day per pax, Rad might just make an elective surcharge for those of us who would prefer to imbibe ad libe..guess that would make us show our key card just like the mega liners make one show soda cards!

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Vaitape, are you going to post a review of your cruise somewhere?

 

Your idea of an elective surcharge is not a bad one, although it smacks of "soda pop cards" on other cruiselines. Not sure how they would keep track, if we didn't carry cards around...

[vaitape]

yeah, it would be difficult to keep track......Haven't had the time to write a reprot as yet.....hopefully that's what the weekend is for although this time of year is crazy!!! Don't think I'll sail again during this time of year unless I put pedal to medal to complete all Christmas prep in advance. Live and learn, eh?

[nrgbunny]

I recently returned from 21 days on the Voyager. During that "voyage" we were asked to meet with a RSSC representative to provide feedback (as a past passenger). The ship actually had several representatives aboard one of the 7-day segments looking at marketing, improvements, etc. One of the suggestions I did make was all inclusive drinks - especially for this line. I noted that in general the passengers are not heavy drinking partying people - and that the cost for RSSC to make drinks all inclusive would be minimal. There are already free-pour drinks during welcome receptions, past-passenger receptions, good-bye receptions, and, of course, the standard two-hour dining hours (or longer if you're with a large group). I hope they do consider it - it is quite a pain signing each night for a night-cap!