Unusual/unpopular opinions

[Drew B 58]

What are some opinions you hold when it comes to cruising that you think may be pretty far outside the mainstream?

 

I’ll start.  Cabin location matters way more to me than cabin type.  I’d definitely choose an interior cabin in the location/deck that I prefer over a balcony cabin elsewhere, even if the price was the same!

[vicky3vicky]

I LOVE the Lido marketplace lunch buffet. I think 3 or 4 entree options are more than enough. The salad bar is fresh and varied, and I love having the soft ice cream, not the gelato on the plate with my cake.

 

I also think the food, both included and extra, are incredible for what we pay for these cruises. 

 

I also think that 3 or 4 videos of "drunksgone wild' is not a huge ammount for a cruise that offers the"Cheers" program. Also, when I watched these videos, it seems to me that pretty much everyone who was involved in them did so by choice. I saw no old people relaxing on the lido deck being pulled into any of the craziness or any mothers with small children being forced into them. 

 

Here's the biggie. I love the bigger ships but wish they had just a little Joe Farcus in their decor.

[Ashland]

We don't care to share a dining table other than when we cruise with family.

 

Cabin category is of utmost importance to us and unfortunately on some class of RCI ships the suites are under public areas. Oh well...we sail for the itinerary not the ship.

[Drew B 58]

3 minutes ago, vicky3vicky said:

Love it (about the Farcus decor).

Edited October 20, 2022 by Drew B 58

[Mum2Mercury]

Unpopular opinions?  

 

- I'm perfectly happy with an inside cabin.  

- I don't care if the cabin's in a "loud location".  I can always sleep.

- I'm perfectly happy with the no-extra-fee foods.  

- I don't drink a lot on a cruise.  

- I spend more time in the gym than the casino or the bars. 

 

Edited October 20, 2022 by Mum2Mercury

[vicky3vicky]

13 minutes ago, Ashland said:

We don't care to share a dining table other than when we cruise with family.

 About 15 cruises ago, my Autistic son had a seizure at dinner the first night. We never saw our table mates again and, though I never mentioned it, we have never been seated with anyone but our family again. And slightly off the subject, but if someone seated at a large table gets there at the earliest possible time do they have to wait for people in their table to all arrive before ordering and getting their food?

[vicky3vicky]

I worked for years in "fine" restaurants. Most of them, unless something had spilled through the cloth, we did NOT put down a fresh tablecloth for every seating. We'd flip them over and use them twice. 

 

Members in our party often have suppressed immune systems, and it's much less awkward not having a tablecloth, than asking the staff to pull it off to keep the germ count down.

 

Also, going without a waxy chocolate on my pillow and a small basket of randon, cheap toiletries is no big deal to me.

 

My husband misses the topless deck, mostly because he was  hoping that was the first step towards a clothing optional deck. I guess I agree because for many people like me, CLOTHES HURT.

 

 

[Guest BasicSailor]

4 minutes ago, vicky3vicky said:

My husband misses the topless deck,

😮

Edited October 20, 2022 by BasicSailor

[ldubs]

I don't care about the ship.  It is only transportation for hard to reach places like Italy, Spain, etc.    

[mom says]

 

1 hour ago, ldubs said:

I don't care about the ship.  It is only transportation for hard to reach places like Italy, Spain, etc.    

Hahahahahahahaha.  You  crack me up. 🤣

Edited October 20, 2022 by mom says

[wowzz]

4 hours ago, ldubs said:

I don't care about the ship.  It is only transportation for hard to reach places like Italy, Spain, etc.    

Yup, Barcelona is totally cut off from the rest of the world.  Thank goodness we have cruise ships to get us there. 

[Honolulu Blue]

9 hours ago, Drew B 58 said:

What are some opinions you hold when it comes to cruising that you think may be pretty far outside the mainstream?

Thanks for the topic.  It's been very interesting so far.  And thanks, also, for the previous responders who have kept things relatively calm.

 

Let's see if I can keep things going.  Keep in mind that they only represent MY views of things, and are worth about what you paid for them:

 

• A balcony has little added value for me
• The mainstream lines are more alike than different in handling the basics
• I like dinner buffets
• People on B2Bs and longer cruises a long way from home are asking for trouble #covidstillexists
• I pack relatively light, even for relatively long cruises (over 7 days)
• Having scintillating conversations with my fellow passengers or crew on my cruise is a relatively low priority
• Ditto making friends on a cruise
• Your favorite publicly held cruise line is not going to go bankrupt in the next year

 

That's enough for now.

[MBP&O2/O]

For me ... not bothered for

Hosted tables

Shared tables ...

Fixed time dining ...

Theatre productions ...

Pretentious menu's  ..

Pretentious passengers with over inflated ego's. 😁

 

 

[wowzz]

20 minutes ago, Honolulu Blue said:

I pack relatively light, even for relatively long cruises (over 7 days)

Interesting definition of long ?

Surely anything under fourteen days is a short cruise, and anything over thirty days or so is long.

[momofmeg]

9 hours ago, vicky3vicky said:

 About 15 cruises ago, my Autistic son had a seizure at dinner the first night. We never saw our table mates again and, though I never mentioned it, we have never been seated with anyone but our family again. And slightly off the subject, but if someone seated at a large table gets there at the earliest possible time do they have to wait for people in their table to all arrive before ordering and getting their food?

We had a very bad experience with anytime dining seated with a group of one person eating very slowly which made us have to wat a long time for each course of food. Our diner took over 3 hours. His wife apologized and said he had new dentures. I would not have minded so much but we missed the show when we should have had ample time to get there.  ever since, we always request to be seated with our family or traveling companions only. Even when we have assigned dinner times, we request a small table for only us. 

 

Anyway, I think I could have dealt with your son fine. I have Aspergers myself, so I have empathy. I am guessing his seizures is another medical condition as that is not necessary someone with autism to have. I get why your tablemates though may have been afraid. We have a fiend with epilepsy, and it is very scary to witness a seizure. So anyway, I would have been okay with your son.

[DirtyDawg]

Mrs. Dawg and I do not wear matching outfits on a cruise. I assume this is unpopular from the amount of couples who we've seen do this on cruises. 

 

I also HATE most Cruise entertainment. For me, most of it is on par with your local amateur theatre. 

 

I actually don't mind sharing a table with strangers but only at breakfast in the MDR, not at dinner. Perhaps this is because the booze intake during the day turns some folks into ignorant blowhards by dinner time. 

 

This last opinion is not outside the mainstream out in the real world, but it might me here on CC in a few of the boards that I visit most often (not this one). There are other types of vacations out there and cruising is not the be all and end all of travel options. Sorry, if my opinion bursts anybody's bubble. 

 

Edited October 20, 2022 by DirtyDawg

[sparks1093]

Hmmm, I tend not to pay attention to what others think about what I do/prefer/buy/enjoy/etc., so I can't make any judgment on whether or not any of that is popular or not.

[shipgeeks]

I think my cabin preferences fit the "unpopular/unusual" category.

I do not want a balcony.  I want an oceanview cabin in which I can sit right at the window (frequently on the bed) and look down at the sea, and out at the sky and the weather, without a bunch of metal blocking that view.  Being out on a balcony has never been especially rewarding.

I do not want "things" in the cabin.  We have things at home.  I don't want the cabin cluttered with ice bucket, towel animals, plates of fruit, wine bottles, gift hats and totes, chocolates, flowers, et al.  My loyalty gifts can stay in the storeroom.

I'm looking forward to our lovely OV cabin just two weeks from now!

[momofmeg]

9 hours ago, ldubs said:

I don't care about the ship.  It is only transportation for hard-to-reach places like Italy, Spain, etc.    

  I agree if it is an itinerary I want to do, that is more important than the ship. I know we did the British Isles this past summer and we picked Carnival Pride because it was nearly a $1000 a person less than Princess or NCL in an inside, and we got a balcony. I was fine with the ship.

 

Lol, but there was one thing that turned out to be a downside. The cruise was port intensive, not enough sea days and I am older now and found out I need them to rest up.  I used to be the opposite and not want many sea days because I got bored. Now I found out I need them.

 

So maybe that 12-day Princess or NCL would have been better for me than the 9-day Carnival. Live and learn, I guess.

1 hour ago, wowzz said:

Interesting definition of long ?

Surely anything under fourteen days is a short cruise, and anything over thirty days or so is long.

 Matter of prospective, I guess. We have never taken anything longer than 14 days, but my husband is yet to retire so we do not have the time since we also want to do other vacations besides cruising.

To be honest, as much as I enjoy cruises, I do not think I would want to do anything longer. That said, 5 days is as short that I am willing to take for a cruise.  I do not like all the trouble it is to get on and then have to get off again in such a short time.

[dolittle]

Great topic , have no interest in the Captain or meeting others in uniform .

[lynncarol]

I have never bought anything in the shops onboard despite cruising for many years. 

[slidergirl]

i've been dinged many times on CC for having these:

 

No desire to share a table with strangers - prefer a single.

No desire to "mingle" - i want to be by self to relax and refresh myself.

No desire to eat in the MDR - I prefer to do vegetarian and the menu is worefully lacking in that department - how many times can you eat pasta?  And a requested 'vegetarian' dinner is usually pretty boring,  MUCH rather eat in the buffet where i can custom make a nice entree-size salad and different prepared vegetables.

No desire to eat with the Captain - I have no need brag about that to others.  

No desire for towel animals or constant refreshing the cabin when I leave - not done at home or hotels so i  don't need it here.  Plus i'm a big believer in reusing my towels.  

 

And, yet, I enjoy a cruise now and again. just give me a cabin, in relaxing place inside and a relaxing place outdoors where I can read, listen to my tunes, and "veg out'.  i also love my land trips.  

[Top_of_the_Cube]

When packing for a cruise, my philosophy is "more is better."

[Mary229]

I agree with the OP,  cabin position is more important to me.  Itinerary and ship size are the only criteria I care about - as long as the food is healthful and fresh I am ok, I don’t care if they have entertainment, it is nice but not important.  I hate dance company shows, absolutely can’t stand them.  I don’t drink so that is a real unpopular opinion😉. 
 

I want to get where I am supposed to go, safely and on time in a healthful clean environment.  The rest is fluff and to be sure nice but I can be happy enough.

 

An unpopular one is ship shore excursions.  I am lazy and I am happy clicking a few buttons at home and going with the ship. Usually I either go with the ship or just walk or bike around.  If I want a more in-depth experience I will go back as a land traveler and stay a while

 

.  I have never been on a private excursion that was that great.  And I rarely eat in port, I am just not a foodie and am content to wait to get back to the ship

Edited October 20, 2022 by Mary229

[pris993]

19 hours ago, Drew B 58 said:

What are some opinions you hold when it comes to cruising that you think may be pretty far outside the mainstream?

 

I’ll start.  Cabin location matters way more to me than cabin type.  I’d definitely choose an interior cabin in the location/deck that I prefer over a balcony cabin elsewhere, even if the price was the same!

One constant for us is a balcony if a mini suite not available mid ship. We always pay for the cabin we want and do not want any upgrade.    In the past 10+ years, we no longer prefer the MDR, buffet or Crown Grill works for us.  Rather pay extra fees in Crown Grill then tip extra in MDR to get food we like by ordering off menu.  Usually, can find something appealing in the buffet if we don't go to Crown Grill.   Have found the buffet is more pleasant, when it first opens, then noisy MDR, plus we can enjoy a view and sunset in the buffet.  We also prefer our own company and don't want to share our table, at any meal with folks other than our traveling companions.