2007: Highlights and Lowlights in Cruising

[home depot man]

Cruising is not an adventure in the sense you are referring to. It is meant to be a relaxing fun filled vacation. Of course it's for the "faint of heart". If you think otherwise you've had far too many problems.

 

Nothing these days goes smooth - flying is one of the worst parts of travelling. People are not complaining about cruising. They are giving opinions on things that happen. You are making a mountain out of a molehill.

I agree that it should be relaxing.And for us it is.But as I read a lot of these theads there are a lot of people complaing about all the problems they have while cruising.And to me they should not be cruising.I tell everyone who wants to cruise that problems will arise so they will be ready for them and not become discouarge when something goes wrong.I have had many people go cruises because of the stoyies I come back with when we cruise.But I do not sugar coat any problems.We are taking a family cruise next year with about 50 people and most have not been on a cruise.So when they go they will know there is a possiblty they will be problems.

As far as a mountain out of a mole hill,I tell the truth and if it is a molehill so be it.But lose your luggage or miss a port of call get caught in a hurricane ect. that molehill becomes a mountain very quickly.

[Grandpaul]

Does the Home Depot part of your name mean ypuwork there or spend all your free time there? I ask because after I retired I worked there for 5 years. Enjoyed it a lot.

[dthompsond1]

I know this is a touchy subject with a lot of people, but one of the downsides to cruising these days is more and more cruise lines treating smokers as social outcasts. I dont smoke but my partner does and will not sail on ships that restrict smokers to one bar. We have just cancelled our sailing on the Queen Victoria for next year after finding out from those on its maiden voyage that smoking is restricted to the cigar bar and casino. With modern construction and ventilation it cannot be beyond the wit of ship designers to incorperate more smoking bars with improved ventilation. Also if

cruise lines are going to restrict smokers please let us know before we book. dont hide it in the very small print. Other than that we enjoyed 3 very different ships this year Star Princess, Fred Olsen's Breamar and Navigator of the Seas. Loved them all, however I am with those who prefer the smaller more traditional ships. Dennis

[standby 06.30]

Highs, another good year for European Cruiser in the Carrib who can visit the fantastic island of Cuba, the best island in the carrib without a propellor, Kalo Taxidi

[Lynnees]

I feel the fact they are restricting smoking to be a plus. I am a 25 year smoker who finally quit so I do feel I can pass an opinion on this subject.

[standby 06.30]

I feel the fact they are restricting smoking to be a plus. I am a 25 year smoker who finally quit so I do feel I can pass an opinion on this subject.

Well done, I am trying. regards

[home depot man]

Does the Home Depot part of your name mean ypuwork there or spend all your free time there? I ask because after I retired I worked there for 5 years. Enjoyed it a lot.

Yes and Yes!LOL

I use to work for Home Depot Install Services.And yes I do spend my free time their to.LOL

[home depot man]

Does the Home Depot part of your name mean ypuwork there or spend all your free time there? I ask because after I retired I worked there for 5 years. Enjoyed it a lot.

Yes and Yes!LOL

I use to work for Home Depot Install Services.And yes I do spend my free time their to.LOL

[home depot man]

Does the Home Depot part of your name mean ypuwork there or spend all your free time there? I ask because after I retired I worked there for 5 years. Enjoyed it a lot.

Yes and Yes!LOL

I use to work for Home Depot Install Services.And yes I do spend my free time their to.LOL

[Lynnees]

I agree that it should be relaxing.And for us it is.But as I read a lot of these theads there are a lot of people complaing about all the problems they have while cruising.And to me they should not be cruising.I tell everyone who wants to cruise that problems will arise so they will be ready for them and not become discouarge when something goes wrong.I have had many people go cruises because of the stoyies I come back with when we cruise.But I do not sugar coat any problems.We are taking a family cruise next year with about 50 people and most have not been on a cruise.So when they go they will know there is a possiblty they will be problems.

As far as a mountain out of a mole hill,I tell the truth and if it is a molehill so be it.But lose your luggage or miss a port of call get caught in a hurricane ect. that molehill becomes a mountain very quickly.

 

 

We've lost baggage many times, missed ports because of storms and do not get wound up. For those that do, they are making a mountain out of a molehill. However I believe some of those have ulterior motives when they do that - they are quite frequently looking for freebees.

[hammybee]

I know this is a touchy subject with a lot of people, but one of the downsides to cruising these days is more and more cruise lines treating smokers as social outcasts. I dont smoke but my partner does and will not sail on ships that restrict smokers to one bar. Dennis

 

Cruising is a reflection of what the general public wants. I think the ratio non-smokers to smokers is approaching 80/20 percent of the U.S. population and therefore it does not make a lot of sense to allocate more than a minimum amount of space to smokers.

 

If the dynamics were reversed, as they are on some European and Asian cruise lines, you can bet that there is going to be more places for smokers to smoke.

 

My intent is not to start another pro/con smoking gun, here. Please, let's not go there.

[Gold Coast Cruisers]

The highlight for us this year was cruising on Celebrity Mercury on it's first downunder journey from Ensenada to Sydney. She will cruise here until March, back and forth from Australia to New Zealand.

 

This part of the world has such a lot to offer, there are hundreds of untouched Pacific Islands, such as New Caledonia, Isle of Pines, Vila, Wala, Luganville, Mystery Island, Fiji, Society islands to name a few. Not cities just little ports of call with clear blue unpolluted waters great for snorkling, diving and swimming with great weather at this time of year which is our Summer.

 

It would be nice to see more ships come down to these waters. There are only 3 ships cruising these waters right now.

 

I agree with others comments, don't ever take away the tradition of dress codes onboard ships. If you take that away you've taken away a tradition that has been a part of life on board a ship since the first 'liner' sailed into the sunset.

 

Jillybean:)

[dennbr9]

this reply is for gordonchick-----i agree with you 100% what you said about the dress code. those that do not want to follow it eat in windjammer or in your cabin withyour jeans on :eek: :eek: :eek:

 

Ditto from me too!

 

On NCL Spirit last week, there was a "gentleman" in the Garden Dining room who had on light blue gym shorts, a t-shirt and flip-flops. The more they lower the dress codes, the more some will abuse it.

 

Even in the Specialty Restaurant Le Bistro, what was billed as a Classic French Dining Experience, the guy at the next table had on jeans, a t-shirt with a fish logo on the back; at least he wore tennis shoes and not cheap sandles.

 

I think they should at least have one dining room where they enforce at least a business casual dress for those who eat there.

 

Dennis

[dennbr9]

The modernization and updating of the dress code,among other things,to reflect the present and future of cruising.It does not degrade the experience unless you want to live 50 years in the past.Time for those old,outdated stuffy "traditions" to be replaced :)

 

To each their own, all I ask is that there are dining areas for those who enjoy what you call stuffy traditions to enjoy themselve without someone in an old t-shirt and flip flops sitting next to them.

 

Most of the lines such as Carnival and NCL that have these loose dress codes also have more than one dining room, why not designate one of them to be "dressy' one or two nights and enforce that code for that room on those days.

 

I love shorts and a t-shirt, or jeans and tennis shoes, but also like a nice night out once in awhile.

[cruiserbryce]

we had a great time on ships in 2007...loved going on Liberty of the Seas' maiden voyage...hopefully we will have just as good of trips in 2008

[Cuizer2]

Ditto from me too!

 

On NCL Spirit last week, there was a "gentleman" in the Garden Dining room who had on light blue gym shorts, a t-shirt and flip-flops. The more they lower the dress codes, the more some will abuse it.

 

Even in the Specialty Restaurant Le Bistro, what was billed as a Classic French Dining Experience, the guy at the next table had on jeans, a t-shirt with a fish logo on the back; at least he wore tennis shoes and not cheap sandles.

 

I think they should at least have one dining room where they enforce at least a business casual dress for those who eat there.

 

Dennis

 

To each their own, all I ask is that there are dining areas for those who enjoy what you call stuffy traditions to enjoy themselve without someone in an old t-shirt and flip flops sitting next to them.

 

Most of the lines such as Carnival and NCL that have these loose dress codes also have more than one dining room, why not designate one of them to be "dressy' one or two nights and enforce that code for that room on those days.

 

I love shorts and a t-shirt, or jeans and tennis shoes, but also like a nice night out once in awhile.

You can have all you are asking for and more. Give Crystal a try. Crystal has a very strict dress code that I believe those who are cruising traditionalist will enjoy.

[somoremoney]

I feel the fact they are restricting smoking to be a plus. I am a 25 year smoker who finally quit so I do feel I can pass an opinion on this subject.

 

Same here (20+ years smoker, smoke free for 7 years), second hand smoke is almost just as bad for you as smoking itself.

 

Hopefully the rest of the cruise industry realizes that in the USA only 22% (27% for the UK) of the adult population smokes and will follow suite.