Is cruising losing its sparkle?

[NutsAboutGolf]

7 minutes ago, calicakes said:

Is Shaq's that good?  We're getting one in Santa Clarita shortly.  

 

I haven't had it at sea yet (will this Dec), have been to the Vegas location which opened in 2018 and thought it was great but that Popeyes was better.  Many of the top Vloggers say it's the best chicken at sea and that's not surprising.

[weregoingcruising]

18 hours ago, broker1217 said:

Perhaps you are missing the point. If some choose to eat bologna--awesome. But give the rest of us an edible alternative. By the way--this was a trans-pacific cruise with perhaps 10 children out of 2700+ pax.

And the bologna turned browner each day until it was presented in pre-made sandwiches. If you feel that is 'luxury' then that is your opinion. In my opinion--it is not.

I don't care what cruise line I am on---expecting an edible protein at lunch is not unreasonable.

You are free to eat bologna or whatever it is that is in your diet plan. I expect some reasonably healthy choices at all venues.

And yes--for those who have spent lots of $$ with Celebrity and achieved status--I think it is sad that they are dealing with a reduction in food quality along with staff shortages. Hopefully it will all sort it self out soon.

This might sound like a bunch of Balogna.

[weregoingcruising]

The only sparkle I'm concerned with is the one in my wife's eye's when I say were going on a cruise.

[ambrtonj]

In some aspects the sparkle for a cruise diminished back in 2018. I felt as though I wanted something different and I tried other options. Fast forward to today and I'm excited to be cruising in November.

 

I do not cruise for the food. In fact I eat because I'm hungry, bored, happy, sad, etc... but I eat so fast that the taste eludes me. My wife on the other hand savors every bite, or at least that is the way it appears to me, and I spend most of my time patiently awaiting her to finish so I can continue my day. Of course this happens on the sea and shore so food really doesn't hold my attention too much.

 

I totally enjoy vacations on land, but I have an aversion to drinking and driving and I do enjoy a few "adult beverages" in the evening. So I either forgo drinking or I pay for transportation, which by the way seems to cost a lot more now that it did 40 years ago. 

 

My better half loves to sunbathe and can spend all day reading while lounging in the sun. I enjoy spending time with my spouse, but I can only take brief periods of this activity.

 

So I guess that I am really looking forward to cruising again. I can spend time doing what she loves, and wander off and be happy myself. Only time will tell whether the sparkle will remain, but for this moment in time I believe that cruising still does have the same sparkle that it once did.

[Denny01]

26 minutes ago, weregoingcruising said:

This might sound like a bunch of Balogna.

That’s why I used the word ‘Baloney’….hehe. 

 

Den 

[SusieAV8R]

2 hours ago, weregoingcruising said:

The only sparkle I'm concerned with is the one in my wife's eye's when I say were going on a cruise.

 

2 hours ago, Denny01 said:

That’s why I used the word ‘Baloney’….hehe. 

 

Den 

Wonderful to know romantics are alive and well!!

[Bellaggio Cruisers]

Cruising is absolutely NOT losing its spark…it’s all in the eyes of the beholder 

Edited October 10, 2022 by Bellaggio Cruisers

[grandgeezer]

2 hours ago, Bellaggio Cruisers said:

Cruising is absolutely NOT losing its spark…it’s all in the eyes of the beholder 

In the eyes of this beholder, cruising lost it’s sparkle long before covid. This beholder’s opinion is based on 47 cruises with almost 500 days at sea, with about 240 on Celebrity and 65 on RCL., none after October 2019.

[amoscotti]

Sparkle lost before boarding , booked on the Millennium sailing from San Juan in December 2022 .

Booked a Tuscan Grill offer on the 1 st night of the cruise at 2000 hrs months ago at the initial special price , then found the sail away is at 2030 hrs leaving San Juan e mailed Captains Club asking to get the booking earlier , got a phone call yesterday informing me that they could move it to an earlier time but it would cost more as that offer has now changed to a higher price ,  takes the shine off the company was only looking for a change of time for the booking very stingy if Celebrity have sailed with them on previous occasions so will miss the sail away 

[Nic6318]

25 minutes ago, amoscotti said:

Celebrity have sailed with them on previous occasions so will miss the sail away 

 

Hi 

 

I understand that what is important is different for each of us, so, just trying to understand, what is it that you feel you will miss out on? You will still get the meal you paid for. Nobody is forcing you to eat at that venue at that time.

[wrk2cruise]

2 hours ago, amoscotti said:

Sparkle lost before boarding , booked on the Millennium sailing from San Juan in December 2022 .

Booked a Tuscan Grill offer on the 1 st night of the cruise at 2000 hrs months ago at the initial special price , then found the sail away is at 2030 hrs leaving San Juan e mailed Captains Club asking to get the booking earlier , got a phone call yesterday informing me that they could move it to an earlier time but it would cost more as that offer has now changed to a higher price ,  takes the shine off the company was only looking for a change of time for the booking very stingy if Celebrity have sailed with them on previous occasions so will miss the sail away 

 

Maybe keep the original reservation and go straight to Tuscan after boarding and try to change to the desired time.   I guess the only way shoreside has to change time is to cancel/rebook causing the price adjustment.

[amoscotti]

2 hours ago, Nic6318 said:

 

Hi 

 

I understand that what is important is different for each of us, so, just trying to understand, what is it that you feel you will miss out on? You will still get the meal you paid for. Nobody is forcing you to eat at that venue at that time.

Hi

The point is Celebrity  wanting to charge you more , takes that sparkle off it , you save up you look forward to the cruise and they don't try to assist you with a change of time on the booking , As suggested will try and change the time on boarding , it would have bee nice to change it pre cruise and then you have the boarding day planned with a sparkle at the end 

2 hours ago, Nic6318 said:

 

Hi 

 

I understand that what is important is different for each of us, so, just trying to understand, what is it that you feel you will miss out on? You will still get the meal you paid for. Nobody is forcing you to eat at that venue at that time.

 

[Team Stag]

15 hours ago, gordylad said:

Being the original poster its been fascinating reading the comments. A real mix of peoples personal opinions. I thank you for this.

 

From our side we will cruise next year again and I cant wait but my wife is a kind of take it or leave it. She always says "are you not fed up with the same old same old". I know what she means with the daily routines and evenings of meal, casino, show, casino.....but waking up on a different port is something special. Personally moving forward I am trying to select cruises in places which is new to us e.g. next year we will be on the Rome to Dubai cruise as we have not yet been to places like Jordan or Dubai.

This is exactly how we are in my household as well.  I enjoy cruising and find it a great way to have a relaxing vacation.  My wife constantly wants something new & different for vacations. 

[Warmer Climes]

We pay good money to have a good time on cruises and therefore we have a good time. I have read reviews of cruises we have been on and can’t believe the criticism of the food, the service and the entire experience. One review of a pre-pandemic cruise that we were on went on at length about how the buffet didn’t offer her grandchildren’s favorite cereal. I’ve been on cruises that I’ve enjoyed more than others but, again, I’m never going to waste money on a vacation by having a negative attitude. 

[Orator]

I've been cruising exclusively with Celebrity for more than 15 years. I've been trying other lines and the sparkle has returned!

[jmdlv1]

Cruising has gained sparkle over the last couple years for me.

Have traveled to Las Vegas from the east coast 4 times a year for many years.

Yes.....I gamble a lot!!

Get "free" rooms but they can be very expensive.

Vegas has lost it's sparkle for numerous reasons .

The cost of flights is crazy. The gourmet restaurants are priced way to high. Service is not good.

 

I have 3 cruises booked in the next 12 months and am very excited.

Despite the negative comments , I love cruising and make the most of my time on a ship.

 

[davekathy]

This thread is a great example of why we don't let others positive or negative opinions or experiences influence us when choosing a cruise line, ship or itinerary. 

[cgolf1]

Having only read the ops post, I can say definitely not. That said we were on the Connie in Feb. which felt like our own private yacht there were so few people on it and the price of food etc really hadn't jumped yet. Not sure how are Edge partial PC cruise will feel next year, I am expecting it to be a full ship. After missing a year of cruising we are very happy to be back sailing once or twice a year again.

[calicakes]

1 hour ago, Orator said:

I've been cruising exclusively with Celebrity for more than 15 years. I've been trying other lines and the sparkle has returned!

Have you tried oceania?

[Orator]

4 minutes ago, calicakes said:

Have you tried oceania?

Not yet. I would only consider Oceania for a port intensive cruise. 

[chemmo]

17 hours ago, gordylad said:

Being the original poster its been fascinating reading the comments. A real mix of peoples personal opinions. I thank you for this.

 

From our side we will cruise next year again and I cant wait but my wife is a kind of take it or leave it. She always says "are you not fed up with the same old same old". I know what she means with the daily routines and evenings of meal, casino, show, casino.....but waking up on a different port is something special. Personally moving forward I am trying to select cruises in places which is new to us e.g. next year we will be on the Rome to Dubai cruise as we have not yet been to places like Jordan or Dubai.

Thanks again for starting what has been such an original thread.

 

I think one of the reasons the ‘sparkle’ of cruising has never worn off for us is that it is never our only holiday style…We have a touring caravan and love parking it in fields with beautiful sea or mountain views…We have hired villas in the Balearic Islands, far from the holiday crowds. We have also enjoyed some fabulous AI options like the Maldives….No news, no shoes holidays have much to recommend. Much as we love cruising we also enjoy it more as just part of a bigger life adventure.

 

It is also rare our holiday is ‘just a cruise’. Either before cruising or after we will spend time in the departure port  or the cruise will be the relaxing end to maybe a driving holiday….

 

There is nothing wrong with enjoying aspects of a cruise that do ‘float your boat’…There are some aspects of cruising where familiarity does result in total contentment. You have found a holiday experience that fits like a very comfortable and much loved shoe! I do think you are right to look at ports new to you also. Some of our most memorable cruises were in the Far East.

 

I also think your wife is right want to look at other options too….Time is precious, waiting until next year to try new things can end up in a continuing postponement of dreams…

 

Once again, thanks for a great thread, I have thoroughly enjoyed following.

 

PS. Always remember that phrase ‘Happy wife, happy life…’.

[Orator]

30 minutes ago, chemmo said:

 

 

PS. Always remember that phrase ‘Happy wife, happy life…’.

I prefer saying: "Happy spouse, happy house".

[chisoxfan]

1 hour ago, jmdlv1 said:

Cruising has gained sparkle over the last couple years for me.

Have traveled to Las Vegas from the east coast 4 times a year for many years.

Yes.....I gamble a lot!!

Get "free" rooms but they can be very expensive.

Vegas has lost it's sparkle for numerous reasons .

The cost of flights is crazy. The gourmet restaurants are priced way to high. Service is not good.

 

I have 3 cruises booked in the next 12 months and am very excited.

Despite the negative comments , I love cruising and make the most of my time on a ship.

 

We agree. Our 'pattern' of vacations (outside of a European trip) was a cruise to Carib in Feb and one or two Las Vegas trips during the year (staying at Cosmo, Delano typically). We used to feel we were getting a great travel value for both but LV shows and dining started to become more expensive and less interesting. So understand your post- we like Vegas and enjoy cruising, but feel the value prop for both has declined.  It's as if the pleasure factor for both has gone down and the price has gone up. Currently All Inclusive's offer more bang for the buck for us. We are getting older (retiring this month) and after decades of travel want to minimize hassles of travel. JMHO

[grandgeezer]

1 hour ago, jmdlv1 said:

Cruising has gained sparkle over the last couple years for me.

Have traveled to Las Vegas from the east coast 4 times a year for many years.

Yes.....I gamble a lot!!

Get "free" rooms but they can be very expensive.

Vegas has lost it's sparkle for numerous reasons .

The cost of flights is crazy. The gourmet restaurants are priced way to high. Service is not good.

 

I have 3 cruises booked in the next 12 months and am very excited.

Despite the negative comments , I love cruising and make the most of my time on a ship.

 

We were hooked on Las Vegas too. We lived in Wisconsin and from 1994 through 2000, we went 17 times. Funjet (I don’t know if they still exist) had a deal, $300 p.p. for round trip from Milwaukee and four nights in a lower end hotel. For $25 - $35 more p.p. you could upgrade to such places such as Luxor, MGM Grand, Treasure Island, etc, which we did. As mentioned, the food, drinks were dirt cheap, and some of the shows were reasonable.

Fast forward to 2001…. I retired and we moved to the Phoenix area. Now we live about 4 1/2 hours by car from Las Vegas. For the same reasons listed in the above post, in 21 years we have been there three times, and none in the last 15 years or so. 
We make our travel plans, not strictly by price, we do it by our perceived value. Cruising is our new “Las Vegas”.

[dlh015]

12 minutes ago, grandgeezer said:

We were hooked on Las Vegas too. We lived in Wisconsin and from 1994 through 2000, we went 17 times. Funjet (I don’t know if they still exist) had a deal, $300 p.p. for round trip from Milwaukee and four nights in a lower end hotel. For $25 - $35 more p.p. you could upgrade to such places such as Luxor, MGM Grand, Treasure Island, etc, which we did. As mentioned, the food, drinks were dirt cheap, and some of the shows were reasonable.

Fast forward to 2001…. I retired and we moved to the Phoenix area. Now we live about 4 1/2 hours by car from Las Vegas. For the same reasons listed in the above post, in 21 years we have been there three times, and none in the last 15 years or so. 
We make our travel plans, not strictly by price, we do it by our perceived value. Cruising is our new “Las Vegas”.

That, without a doubt, is the most positive post from you that I've ever seen...😐