Another Survey! Things you would eliminate from mass market cruising

[Howard Garland]

As most of you know, I am hooked on mass market cruising. I love the
newer big ships, with their soaring atria, fully equipped gyms, rock
climbing walls, laser displays in showrooms, etc. Nevertheless, there
are a large number of things that I would eliminate from the current
cruise experience if I were "king for a day". Here are a few that come
to mind, in no particular order:

Ice and fruit carving demonstrations, exhibitions, and parades.
Those poor excuse for "baked" alaska parades.
Constant advertising, whether on my stateroom loudspeaker or on (under)
my stateroom door.
Cruise directors with loud, shrill voices.
Cruise social staff who waste so much of my precious deck party time
trying to teach me how to have fun.
Passenger talent shows.
Hairy chest, sexy leg, knobby knee, and all other passenger contests.
Fashion shows by the pool.
Waiters singing O Solo Mio, God Bless America, etc.

I am interested to know what some of you would eliminate from current
cruise line protocol, if you could.

[johnny]

all these newsgroup surveys
"Howard Garland" > wrote in message
...
> As most of you know, I am hooked on mass market cruising. I love the
> newer big ships, with their soaring atria, fully equipped gyms, rock
> climbing walls, laser displays in showrooms, etc. Nevertheless, there
> are a large number of things that I would eliminate from the current
> cruise experience if I were "king for a day". Here are a few that come
> to mind, in no particular order:
>
> Ice and fruit carving demonstrations, exhibitions, and parades.
> Those poor excuse for "baked" alaska parades.
> Constant advertising, whether on my stateroom loudspeaker or on (under)
> my stateroom door.
> Cruise directors with loud, shrill voices.
> Cruise social staff who waste so much of my precious deck party time
> trying to teach me how to have fun.
> Passenger talent shows.
> Hairy chest, sexy leg, knobby knee, and all other passenger contests.
> Fashion shows by the pool.
> Waiters singing O Solo Mio, God Bless America, etc.
>
> I am interested to know what some of you would eliminate from current
> cruise line protocol, if you could.
>
>

[Benjamin Smith]

Howard Garland wrote:
> As most of you know, I am hooked on mass market cruising. I love the
> newer big ships, with their soaring atria, fully equipped gyms, rock
> climbing walls, laser displays in showrooms, etc. Nevertheless, there
> are a large number of things that I would eliminate from the current
> cruise experience if I were "king for a day". Here are a few that come
> to mind, in no particular order:
>
> Ice and fruit carving demonstrations, exhibitions, and parades.
> Those poor excuse for "baked" alaska parades.
> Constant advertising, whether on my stateroom loudspeaker or on (under)
> my stateroom door.
> Cruise directors with loud, shrill voices.
> Cruise social staff who waste so much of my precious deck party time
> trying to teach me how to have fun.
> Passenger talent shows.
> Hairy chest, sexy leg, knobby knee, and all other passenger contests.
> Fashion shows by the pool.
> Waiters singing O Solo Mio, God Bless America, etc.
>


I agree with these except I like the fashion shows.

I'd eliminate embarkation photos and also photos with pirates, showgirls
and the ladle person.
Raggae bands on itineraries other than Caribbean itineraries.
Souvenier glasses.
Promotion of packages.
The typical revue showroom shows
A halt to the building of new ships.

When new ships are neded I'd like to see a return to new ships made for
the mass market that are 45,000 to 70,000 tons.


Ben S.


> I am interested to know what some of you would eliminate from current
> cruise line protocol, if you could.
>
>

[fradybunch]

Dining I have to pay for, although I don't EVER expect this to happen.

I would also do away with soft drinks that I have to pay for.

Any announcements over the loudspeaker that I can hear in my room.

Sandi

[Howard Garland]

I'm with you on all of these, save for the reggae bands (although I
admit that there presence in the North Atlantic can be surrealistic) and
revue shows (but only when they provide either good dancing, good
singing, wonderful music, artistic sets, or spellbinding lighting).

Howard

Benjamin Smith wrote:

>

> I'd eliminate embarkation photos and also photos with pirates, showgirls
> and the ladle person.
> Raggae bands on itineraries other than Caribbean itineraries.
> Souvenier glasses.
> Promotion of packages.
> The typical revue showroom shows
> A halt to the building of new ships.
>
> When new ships are neded I'd like to see a return to new ships made for
> the mass market that are 45,000 to 70,000 tons.
>
>
> Ben S.

[villa deauville]

No need to eliminate anything. What one may dislike the other enjoys.
Just ignore those annoyances you may encounter.

SUNNY<..........learned a long, long time ago ya cant please everyone.

S'nd I

[MMB]

Unrequested ship photographers popping up at every port and DINNER.....



"Howard Garland" > wrote in message
...
> As most of you know, I am hooked on mass market cruising. I love the
> newer big ships, with their soaring atria, fully equipped gyms, rock
> climbing walls, laser displays in showrooms, etc. Nevertheless, there
> are a large number of things that I would eliminate from the current
> cruise experience if I were "king for a day". Here are a few that come
> to mind, in no particular order:
>
> Ice and fruit carving demonstrations, exhibitions, and parades.
> Those poor excuse for "baked" alaska parades.
> Constant advertising, whether on my stateroom loudspeaker or on (under)
> my stateroom door.
> Cruise directors with loud, shrill voices.
> Cruise social staff who waste so much of my precious deck party time
> trying to teach me how to have fun.
> Passenger talent shows.
> Hairy chest, sexy leg, knobby knee, and all other passenger contests.
> Fashion shows by the pool.
> Waiters singing O Solo Mio, God Bless America, etc.
>
> I am interested to know what some of you would eliminate from current
> cruise line protocol, if you could.
>
>

[Rich Cacace]

I've got to agree with that one - It does get annoying. Just when the main
course is set down here comes the photographer, although on the last few
cruises I've been successful in waving then off. The only photo I give in
for is the whole table shot just in case someone on the group has just got
to have it.
"MMB" > wrote in message
...
> Unrequested ship photographers popping up at every port and DINNER.....
>
>

[B D]

Yes Sunny -- they can not please eVeryone .Many of he tours are good but
I would like ADDED to cruise more information on touring on our own.

[SNUMBER6]

>From: "Rich Cacace" richcacace-REMOVETO

>I've got to agree with that one - It does get annoying. Just when the main
>course is set down here comes the photographer, although on the last few
>cruises I've been successful in waving then off.

Ever get the desire to flip them the bird just as he's snapping the picture ...
???


Be seeing you
In the Village
Number 6

[JDB]

Why not send this kind of customer interest to the cruise lines instead of
listing on this newsgroup ?

You would be startled to know how uniformed are the execs of the cruise
companies. As you can tell from experience, much of the event planning is
based on 30-year concepts from the hospitality industry - or self-fulfilling
"marketing" ideas that the execs use and "prove" by studying their numbers
and seeing that business is almost always good or improving.

The mass market lines are following the same track that retailers and auto
makers have followed which start with a premise that low price and junky
product will bring everyone to the party. It works to a degree - then K-Mart
and others find they are over-extended with too much to use and not enough
clients.

Even the airlines followed this approach - drop prices. Drop service. Folks
will line up.

Well, lots of folks can offer low cost flights or low cost cruises but
ultimately the profit margin per passenger has to increase - by including
some higher paying passengers (business traveller - veranda cruisers, etc.)

The mass market cruise line ultimately won't get the veranda cruisers at top
price because the ships are run like nursery schools and the
service/food/environment is worse than a tractor pull.

For the Carnival Crporation, the mass market lines (Carnival to start) will
turn very low margin per pax. The higher end lines (Cunard, Seabourn) will
yield better margin dollars per pax. In the long run, the mass markets will
be "loss leaders."

It's one thing to buy a loss leader toilet seat or jumper cable at KMart.
It's another thing to ride on a loss leader cruise ship.

When you hear from ship staff on the next to last day that the pax surveys
"must" be completed with "9 or 10" on the ratings, you know you're traveling
with a company who doesn't give a twit about your information, allows the
staff to pander for sympathy (and tips), and thinks you - the client - are a
stupid stiff.

Maybe you are.

If not, why not send Bob Dickinson a letter ?

Former TA in MN

[Ray Goldenberg]

On Fri, 12 Sep 2003 15:46:33 GMT, "JDB" > wrote:

>For the Carnival Crporation, the mass market lines (Carnival to start) will
>turn very low margin per pax. The higher end lines (Cunard, Seabourn) will
>yield better margin dollars per pax. In the long run, the mass markets will
>be "loss leaders."

Hi my old friend,

In the case of cruise lines, the low costs (wages, etc) work against
your theory as compared to the high cost airlines. Carnival Cruise
Lines makes money while their high end brands (Seabourn & Cunard)
struggle to eke out a profit. It is kind of like the large high cost
trunk airlines vs the low cost rivals. The low cost brands are making
money while the high cost full service brands are struggling to
survive. One big difference is that the cruise lines do not have to
depend on the fare as airlines do. The cruise lines have got all of
those onboard revenue streams.

Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com

[DaFlaBear]

SMOKING!

[Gayle A Kortright]

I'm with you! No matter where I go on board ship - someone's smoke is
blowing in my face!

On Fri, 12 Sep 2003, DaFlaBear wrote:

> SMOKING!

[Doris Gregory]

I would still rather pay a bit more and have the corps pay the help a
decent salary and forget tpping.We don't tip any of the officers and tey
still manage to do a proffesional job.

~~DORIS~~ 2 more days

Grand Princess___9/14/03
Horizon___12/8/03
_______________________
***********************************************OUR JOURNEY TO SOUTHEAST
ASIA ON A 4 MASTED SCHOONER
<a href=http://community-2.webtv.net/happypupsmom>OURJOURNEYTO/a>
*********************************************** PASSAGE TO PARADISE----
TAHITI
<a href=http://community-2.webtv.net/happypupsdad/PASSAGETOPARADISE/
***********************************

[Becca]

The new cruisers seem to enjoy it when the waiters sing and dance. It
would be nice if they only did this once during a 7-day cruise.

One formal night is enough for me, but I believe the other passengers
enjoy it. The photographers are annoying, but as long as people keep
buying the photos, the cruise lines will keep taking the pictures.

Becca <-----dislikes packing on the last day of the cruise... :(

Norwegian Dawn http://www.cruisemaster.com/dawn.htm
Sleazy3 http://www.cruisemaster.com/sleazy3.htm

[Mason Barge]

On Fri, 12 Sep 2003 04:53:58 -0400, Howard Garland
> wrote:

[snip]
>
>Ice and fruit carving demonstrations, exhibitions, and parades.
These are pretty innocuous. In fact, I am barely aware that they take
place.

>Those poor excuse for "baked" alaska parades.
Hmm, these don't bother me THAT much.

>Constant advertising, whether on my stateroom loudspeaker or on (under)
>my stateroom door.

Celebrity doesn't have them, and HAL eliminated them about two years
ago.

>Cruise directors with loud, shrill voices.
OMG I agree 100%. The funny ones are pretty good, but the ones who
try to be funny and aren't are really truly irritating.

>Cruise social staff who waste so much of my precious deck party time
>trying to teach me how to have fun.
Again, like announcements, this is something that is different on
different lines.

>Passenger talent shows.
This one, what the heck, you don't have to go. I assume these are in
the theater.

>Hairy chest, sexy leg, knobby knee, and all other passenger contests.
I haven't seen one of these since (sorry) the last time I sailed on
Carnival, which was a LONG time ago.

>Fashion shows by the pool.
I kind of like these actually

>Waiters singing O Solo Mio, God Bless America, etc.
I kind of like this if they are any good, although, again, I rarely
see it on the lines I cruise.

>I am interested to know what some of you would eliminate from current
>cruise line protocol, if you could.

There's nothing I really want to eliminate, except maybe irritating
cruise directors. Possibly sales pitches from the Seidel people, but
they stop if you ask them nicely.

There are a lot of things I would add, though.

1) I wish every damn cruise line on the planet would add $20 per day
to their food budget.

2) I wish they'd give real prizes for contests, like trivia, name
that tune, etc. I really enjoy the blackjack tournaments because, if
you win, you get like $500.

3) I wish they'd keep the library open all day, at least until 6 pm
and preferably until 10 or so.

4) I wish they'd have better separation between smoking and
nonsmoking areas in the casino, and enforce it.

5) I wish they'd have more dance lessons.

6) I wish they'd slap some manners into the personnel at the front
desk. These are the only personnel on cruises I have found to be
frequently unknowledgeable, curt, unhelpful, or even downright rude.




Mason Barge

"If this is coffee, please bring me some tea. If this is tea, please bring me some coffee."
-- Abraham Lincoln

[Sue and Kevin Mullen]

Becca wrote:
> The new cruisers seem to enjoy it when the waiters sing and dance. It
> would be nice if they only did this once during a 7-day cruise.

I agree, the first time it is fun, then it becomes boring.

> Becca <-----dislikes packing on the last day of the cruise... :(

I hate having to pack on the last day. It takes time away from doing
nice things and it means that the cruise is almost over.

sue

[Charles]

In article >, Benjamin Smith
> wrote:

> I agree with these except I like the fashion shows.

The only fashion show I have seen on Galaxy. It was items from the
ships shops. Another revenue enhancer and a waste except that some of
the crew was nice to look at.

What I would like to see eliminated are art auctions where they display
auction items all over the atruim.

--
Charles

[Tom & Linda]

Howard Garland wrote:
>
>
> I am interested to know what some of you would eliminate from current
> cruise line protocol, if you could.

Two things.

Mickey Arison
Joe Farcus

--Tom

[Jeff Coudriet]

Let's see.....

Howard Garland wrote:
> Nevertheless, there
> are a large number of things that I would eliminate from the current
> cruise experience if I were "king for a day". Here are a few that come
> to mind, in no particular order:
>
> Ice and fruit carving demonstrations, exhibitions, and parades.

Yes, although I would like cooking classes....something a bit more
"hands on".

> Those poor excuse for "baked" alaska parades.

Yes!

> Constant advertising, whether on my stateroom loudspeaker or on (under)
> my stateroom door.

Absolutely, can't stand advertising.

> Cruise directors with loud, shrill voices.

Yes, wish we had little buttons we could push to send an electro-shock
to these people! :)

> Cruise social staff who waste so much of my precious deck party time
> trying to teach me how to have fun.

Yep, don't need classes on that!

> Passenger talent shows.
> Hairy chest, sexy leg, knobby knee, and all other passenger contests.

Yes!

> Fashion shows by the pool.

Never saw, yet.

> Waiters singing O Solo Mio, God Bless America, etc.

Yes, sign me up! I'm sure the waiters would love to not do it too!

[Jeff Coudriet]

I've done that....and worse! Actually, it's made for some darn good
pictures some of which I actually bought...the first pictures I've ever
bought on a ship!

Jeff



SNUMBER6 wrote:
>
> Ever get the desire to flip them the bird just as he's snapping the picture ...
> ???
>

[Charles]

In article >, Jeff Coudriet
> wrote:

> Never saw, yet.

That is part of the Celebrity rebranding. They did it by the pool on
Galaxy in April. The fashions are items sold at the Celebrity on board
shops and formal wear from the rental shop.

--
Charles

[[email protected]]

It's hard to ignore those announcements you can hear in your
room --- that would be my number one beef. On my last cruise,
the announcer spoke so quickly and breathlessly (oh my, he was
excited about everything!) that we couldn't understand a single word!

On Fri, 12 Sep 2003, villa deauville wrote:

> No need to eliminate anything. What one may dislike the other enjoys.
> Just ignore those annoyances you may encounter.
>
> SUNNY<..........learned a long, long time ago ya cant please everyone.
>
> S'nd I
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Katherine Becker "As god is my witness
I thought turkeys could fly"
NEVER SEND A FERRET TO DO A WEASEL's JOB --WKRP

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[StephenM]

> 1) I wish every damn cruise line on the planet would add $20 per day
> to their food budget.

Adding $20 per day to the food budget of a ship with 2000 passengers
wouldn't make much difference (what do you want them to do - add a big bowl
of pretzels to the Buffet each day)

Sorry - couldn't help myself, I know you mean $20/day/passenger but the
above was the first thought that came to mind - won't do it again :>)

Stephen

[Odysseus]

I would eliminate:

Art auctions
Atriums that look like flea markets
Passenger [lack of] talent shows
Deceptive spa promotions (goop to dissolve cellulite)
Race horse auctions

[Schaller MACAW]

Prepaid tips, Paying for food, Paying for ice cream , $3 bottle of
water, Paying $10 cork pulling fee, Beer belly contest, Waiting for that
group that always hogs the hot tubs to give some one else a turn, Towels
on every lounge ,even though there are only three people in the pool!
BILL

[Howard Garland]

I agree Sunny. And actually, except for the pax talent shows which I
always manage to avoid and, thus should not have listed, the other
annoyances are more difficult for me ignore. For example, I love dancing
out on deck at a late night deck party. Often, just as I really get
into moving to the beat of a good reggae band, I am interrupted by
"fruit on parade" or some guy who wants to teach me the electric slide.

Howard

villa deauville wrote:

> No need to eliminate anything. What one may dislike the other enjoys.
> Just ignore those annoyances you may encounter.
>
> SUNNY<..........learned a long, long time ago ya cant please everyone.
>
> S'nd I
>
>
>
>
>
>

[Howard Garland]

JDB wrote:

> Why not send this kind of customer interest to the cruise lines instead of
> listing on this newsgroup.

A good way to get this information from experienced cruisers is on this
kind of newsgroup. And, when there are some very common ideas expressed
in a thread like this, it should be of great interest to a cruise line.

> You would be startled to know how uniformed are the execs of the cruise
> companies. As you can tell from experience, much of the event planning is
> based on 30-year concepts from the hospitality industry - or self-fulfilling
> "marketing" ideas that the execs use and "prove" by studying their numbers
> and seeing that business is almost always good or improving.

How right you are. I could not agree more. I think I may have stated
on an earlier thread that certain cruiselines (HAL for example) have
based their model of the likes and dislikes of a 50 year old cruiser on
what pax of this age were like (on average because we are all
individuals) in 1980. In fact, 50 year olds in 2003 are baby boomers
not bobby soxers. Our musical tastes, etc. are different from those of
folks who reached adulthood in the 1940's and 50's. We are an enormous
part of the actual and potential customer market for these cruise lines;
and it would be very prudent for them to carefully re-consider what they
provide us with.

Howard

[Howard Garland]

> In the case of cruise lines, the low costs (wages, etc) work against
> your theory as compared to the high cost airlines. Carnival Cruise
> Lines makes money while their high end brands (Seabourn & Cunard)
> struggle to eke out a profit.

You are exactly right Ray. However, I do believe, that the lines would
all do better if there were more careful market segmentation both
between and within brands.

Howard

[Howard Garland]

> What I would like to see eliminated are art auctions where they display
> auction items all over the atruim.

I, also, really don't like thos "art" auctions, Charles. I left them
out of my list because they are something that I manage to avoid.
However, it is annoying when the auctions are held in a ships atrium.

Howard

[Howard Garland]

Yes. And the one's who refuse to take a full table shot because "we do
that on Thursday night".

MMB wrote:

> Unrequested ship photographers popping up at every port and DINNER.....
>
>
>

[Howard Garland]

> Noisy announcements can't be avoided, but ice carving can.

Unfortunately, many cruise ships choose to do the ice carving thing
right out by the main pool during the day. If it's a beautiful, sunny
day, that's exactly where I want to be; so it's hard for me to avoid
this event. On one of my recent cruises, the ice carving setup was
about 8 inches from my lounge chair. It was a very hot day, so I
decided that I may as well get something out of the event. I began to
pick up the fallen ice chips and let them melt all over my very warm
body. It felt great to me but I'm sure that some of my fellow pax were
quite grossed out by my behavior.

> That said, I can chime in on what I think is one of the most
> over-rated events on a cruise (not that I would eliminate it): the
> grand buffet.

Except for one incredibly wonderful buffet on the Celebrity Century in
1996 (in that ship's magnificent dining room), I don't find anything
grand about these "grand" buffets. I never go to them any more.

Howard

[Howard Garland]

DaFlaBear wrote:

> SMOKING!

I agree; and I am an incurable smoker. As a smoker, I thing that all of
the cruise lines ought to develop more smoke-free ships like the
Paradise, so that those of you who detest smoke (for any reason) have
more choices. It would also be pleasant for those of us who smoke to be
able to enjoy our addiction on non-smoke-free cruise ships, without
receiving dirty looks and snide remarks.

Howard

[Howard Garland]

> Becca <-----dislikes packing on the last day of the cruise... :(

Wouldn't it be cool, Becca, if the cruise lines would do the last day
packing for us. Now that would be worth paying for in Celebrity's
concierge class.

Howard

[Howard Garland]

>>Constant advertising, whether on my stateroom loudspeaker or on (under)
>>my stateroom door.

> Celebrity doesn't have them, and HAL eliminated them about two years
> ago.

I know, that's one of the things I really enjoy about Celebrity. As for
HAL, you are right about no loudspeaker advertising; however, I was
really grossed out while sitting at the bar in the beautiful crow's nest
on the Zuiderdam last January. There was the large, flat screen TV on
the wall right near me that provide a neverending display of ship's
advertising.

>>Cruise directors with loud, shrill voices.
>
> OMG I agree 100%. The funny ones are pretty good, but the ones who
> try to be funny and aren't are really truly irritating.

I long for the days when cruise directors were charming and poised.
These days, most of the ships use them as salesmen.

Howard

[Howard Garland]

Tom & Linda wrote:
> Two things.
>
> Mickey Arison
> Joe Farcus

I've not encounterd either of these guys on any of my cruises Tom. Have
you? :)

[Howard Garland]

Jeff Coudriet wrote:


>>Cruise directors with loud, shrill voices.

> Yes, wish we had little buttons we could push to send an electro-shock
> to these people! :)

I'm with you about the little buttons, Jeff.

iters singing O Solo Mio, God Bless America, etc.
>
> Yes, sign me up! I'm sure the waiters would love to not do it too!

You bet. I've met a few who actually doing this but most of them would
much prefer finishing their dining room duties and going to bed.

[Howard Garland]

Jeff Coudriet wrote:

> I've done that....and worse! Actually, it's made for some darn good
> pictures some of which I actually bought...the first pictures I've ever
> bought on a ship!
>
> Jeff

Tell me about "worse" Jeff.

[Howard Garland]

wrote:

> It's hard to ignore those announcements you can hear in your
> room --- that would be my number one beef. On my last cruise,
> the announcer spoke so quickly and breathlessly (oh my, he was
> excited about everything!) that we couldn't understand a single word!

I was on the Crown Jewel in the early 90's, when Cunard first built the
ship. Every morning at 9:00 AM, the cruise director would get on the PA
and whinnie like a horse on steroids to announce the daily horse racing
out by the pool. You really haven't lived until you've been awoken from
a sound sleep by some cruise director imitating a horse on your
stateroom loudpeaker. Eileen and I were seriously considering murdering
this woman.

Howard

[Howard Garland]

Odysseus wrote:

> Deceptive spa promotions (goop to dissolve cellulite)

Yeah! In fact, as far as I'm concerned, some real competition for the
Steiner spa monopoly on ships is long overdo. Isn't it incredible how
these folks are able to ignore absolutely all truth in advertising laws.
It must be one of the benefits of sailing in international waters.

At home, Eileen and I have a masseuse that comes to the house for at
least three hours every Wednesday (thank you Ermalee). We both really
enjoy a good massage and used to treat ourselves to one or more on every
cruise we took. At most land-based hotels and resorts, the going rate
for a 50-60 massage is about $50. Even at rather upscale resort spa's
(e.g., Marriott's Harbour Beach in FLL) you pay about $85 for this
experience. The lowest price I've seen on cruise ships during the past
2-years for a 50 minute treatment is $115 and all of the ships seem to
have eliminated their half price port/day specials.

Howard

[Howard Garland]

Schaller MACAW wrote:

> Towels, on every lounge ,even though there are only three people in the pool!
> BILL

This is a major pet peeve for me Bill. I think the primary culprit here
comes from a practice first introduced by the Princess line many years
ago. They issue pool towels in your stateroom and provide no fresh
towels by the pool, thus making pax responsible for carrying around
their own towel. I complained like hell on my first Princess cruise and
on my comment card to no avail. Many years later, Carnival introduced
the same practice, which has continued despite my complaints to them. I
feel so strongly about this (because it does result in lots of empty but
reserved deck chairs) that I encourage all of you who are bothered by
this to write to the cruise lines about the practice and include
complaints on your comment cards. RCCL, Celebrity, and HAL have not yet
followed suit but I really think they unless they hear from repeat pax.
Although these lines still provide fresh towels and pull towels from
empty chairs, I have noticed on my last few cruises, that there are more
and more empty towel bins out on deck these days.

Howard

[Eileen Garland]

And how about those sales pitches before, during, and after one of those
Steiner massages? I'm always floored by the ultimate irony of someone
trying to sell me something while they're doing something that's
supposed to relax me (for which I've already paid dearly).

Eileen

Howard Garland wrote:
> Odysseus wrote:
>
>> Deceptive spa promotions (goop to dissolve cellulite)
>
>
> Yeah! In fact, as far as I'm concerned, some real competition for the
> Steiner spa monopoly on ships is long overdo. Isn't it incredible how
> these folks are able to ignore absolutely all truth in advertising laws.
> It must be one of the benefits of sailing in international waters.
>
> At home, Eileen and I have a masseuse that comes to the house for at
> least three hours every Wednesday (thank you Ermalee). We both really
> enjoy a good massage and used to treat ourselves to one or more on every
> cruise we took. At most land-based hotels and resorts, the going rate
> for a 50-60 massage is about $50. Even at rather upscale resort spa's
> (e.g., Marriott's Harbour Beach in FLL) you pay about $85 for this
> experience. The lowest price I've seen on cruise ships during the past
> 2-years for a 50 minute treatment is $115 and all of the ships seem to
> have eliminated their half price port/day specials.
>
> Howard
>

[Lunyma]

>RCCL, Celebrity, and HAL have not yet
>followed suit but I really think they unless they hear from repeat pax.

On my RCCL cruise, last week on the Enchantment... Towels were issued in the
stateroom. Same on Explorer, in March...


Pam :)
http://www.cruisesinc.com/plome
866-LV2CRUZ (582-2789)

[Rich Cacace]

It doesn't warrant the effort to attend these "grand" buffets - standing in
line for a hour just to see other people taking pictures of food. On the
last few cruises I've just waited until the last 15 min before getting a
snack.

"Howard Garland" > wrote in message
...
> Except for one incredibly wonderful buffet on the Celebrity Century in
> 1996 (in that ship's magnificent dining room), I don't find anything
> grand about these "grand" buffets. I never go to them any more.
>
> Howard
>

[Rich Cacace]

With most people being non smokers these days, you would actually think most
of the ships would be like the Paradise - It's probably going to take a lot
more complaining from us non smokers to get some action.

"DaFlaBear" > wrote in message
...
> SMOKING!
>

[Rich Cacace]

How about not eliminating the Happy Birthday/Anniversary celebrations but
limiting them to one big night to cover them all.

"Howard Garland" > wrote in message
...
> As most of you know, I am hooked on mass market cruising. I love the
> newer big ships, with their soaring atria, fully equipped gyms, rock
> climbing walls, laser displays in showrooms, etc. Nevertheless, there
> are a large number of things that I would eliminate from the current
> cruise experience if I were "king for a day". Here are a few that come
> to mind, in no particular order:
>
> Ice and fruit carving demonstrations, exhibitions, and parades.
> Those poor excuse for "baked" alaska parades.
> Constant advertising, whether on my stateroom loudspeaker or on (under)
> my stateroom door.
> Cruise directors with loud, shrill voices.
> Cruise social staff who waste so much of my precious deck party time
> trying to teach me how to have fun.
> Passenger talent shows.
> Hairy chest, sexy leg, knobby knee, and all other passenger contests.
> Fashion shows by the pool.
> Waiters singing O Solo Mio, God Bless America, etc.
>
> I am interested to know what some of you would eliminate from current
> cruise line protocol, if you could.
>
>

[Tom & Linda]

Actually the fact that cruise lines like Premier, Regal, Commodore, and
Ren have been put out of business by the big boys like Carnival Corp,
RCL Corp and Star Corp means that you've felt the impact of these type
of guys. You may not have encountered them, but if you were a fan of
ships like the old Rembrandt, or a product like Ren., you've felt the
impact of them.

--Tom

Howard Garland wrote:
>
> Tom & Linda wrote:
> > Two things.
> >
> > Mickey Arison
> > Joe Farcus
>
> I've not encounterd either of these guys on any of my cruises Tom. Have
> you? :)

[Howard Garland]

Oh No! I really think this is a very serious problem, Pam. So much so,
that I'm going to post a new thread about it.

Howard

Lunyma wrote:

>>RCCL, Celebrity, and HAL have not yet
>>followed suit but I really think they unless they hear from repeat pax.
>
>
> On my RCCL cruise, last week on the Enchantment... Towels were issued in the
> stateroom. Same on Explorer, in March...
>
>
> Pam :)
> http://www.cruisesinc.com/plome
> 866-LV2CRUZ (582-2789)

[DaFlaBear]

Howard,
I would settle for just ONE smoke free bar on a ship.
We do RCI and enjoy their "Champaign Bars". But how can you taste a fine
wine or Champaign with someone blowing smoke at you.
To me, the "Martini Bar" is where smokers should be able to smoke, the
"Champaign Bar" should be smoke free.

[Howard Garland]

I understand what you're saying Tom.

Howard

Tom & Linda wrote:

> Actually the fact that cruise lines like Premier, Regal, Commodore, and
> Ren have been put out of business by the big boys like Carnival Corp,
> RCL Corp and Star Corp means that you've felt the impact of these type
> of guys. You may not have encountered them, but if you were a fan of
> ships like the old Rembrandt, or a product like Ren., you've felt the
> impact of them.
>
> --Tom
>
> Howard Garland wrote:
>
>>Tom & Linda wrote:
>> > Two things.
>>
>>>Mickey Arison
>>>Joe Farcus
>>
>>I've not encounterd either of these guys on any of my cruises Tom. Have
>>you? :)

[Jomamaok13]

waiter shows more than once a week
announcements in cabins/in restaurants
intrusive photographers
kickback hunting aka shopping talks
hard sell in the spas

[JDB]

I have not seen the detail from holding companies to support your point that
high end lines are suffering. In fact, I note that
base average per pax on high end lines are 2-4X average what the "bulk"
carriers get.

I also note that high end lines have staff costs and ratio per pax unchanged
while the mass mkt lines are reducing service and professional count per
ship dramatically. Further, the hustle to add on-board revenue items on mass
markets suggests that they must get pax on board to cover fixed and capital
costs (including the over build of new ships) and then they scramble further
for the profits.

The true high end lines (Crystal, etc.) have not reported struggles. Cunard
is not a player, in spite of its past history. And Seabourn, to my
knowledge, as a Carnival business unit, is providing a comfortable ROI for
Carnival and has not been struggling in profits except for reduced load
factors which knocked all the lines in the last 18 months. If Seabourn ran
at loads similar to the last 5-year pattern, they would be a high unit
profit carrier.

Your comparison of mass market lines to mass market airlines works except
that the low cost airlines are very careful to keep their fixed costs
(including capital employed) to a very low number. It means they can live
thru peaks and valleys of load
levels. The mass market cruise lines are reverse - their fixed capital costs
kill them when loads are down and in the long run, the pax will suffer with
lower staff count, reduced food expenditures, etc.

My main point was that in a market where customers seem to be lined up
around the block and increasing every year, even when economy or world
situation is perilous, the mass market guys merely think that getting the
bodies on board is the issue. This means
starting prices are pegged to be artificially low and customers should
expect a major decline in the travel experience.

Over time, Carnival holding company and the other conglomerates will find
that they want to increase the base price but they'll need to offer
something in exchange and they'll need to compete between ships/service for
the higher price. When that happens - as it did with K-Mart, Walmart,
Target, Sears, etc- the marketing guys will want to focus on the cruise
experience, not the lack of experience.

Could Dickinson react ? I don't know. Recently, Carnival line has added
Freddie the Dork to their ships. The puppet man with twin smokestacks
walking around giving the pax "fun,fun,fun". I think it would take a hell of
a lot of soul-searching for Dickinson and his
mental midgets to reverse course and actually think about what grown ups
like.

For many years, CLIA and its members have used a comparison between daily
costs for cruising experiences compared to "land" vacations. That is
somewhat shaky even in these times of low cruise ticket prices due to actual
total spending average that pax
add up. Moreover, the land packages are becoming ubiquitous, consistent in
service levels, predictable in levels of quality, and
all-inclusive (which used to be a big advantage that cruising offered.) If I
ran the store I would challenge the cruise marketing people to be very
careful not to torpedo their historical image and advantages merely on price
points. Particularly when the field is not so crowded - there really are
only three or so main players for the U.S. cruising market.

Otherwise, it will be like American vs. United vs. Delta. (Have you checked
their P/L data lately?)

Regardless of who truly knows the future, the passengers should VOTE with
their check books and with their letters. And travel agents, if they
continue to play a role that truly serves the client instead of the carrier,
should be forthright to explain what's involved or not involved in
"low-cost" mass market cruises compared to the "real" cruise lines that
provide service instead of carriage.

I always wondered why CLIA never had a permanent client group as an advisory
unit. Not a bunch of free-loading agents sucking up shrimp and free booze on
FAM trips. A collection of experienced articulate clients who put sincere
and documented perceptions of travelers in front of the line owners.

Probably because they don't need the information - their wonderful passenger
survey forms from each trip tell them what they need to know.

Right.


Former TA in MN







"Ray Goldenberg" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 12 Sep 2003 15:46:33 GMT, "JDB" > wrote:
>
> >For the Carnival Crporation, the mass market lines (Carnival to start)
will
> >turn very low margin per pax. The higher end lines (Cunard, Seabourn)
will
> >yield better margin dollars per pax. In the long run, the mass markets
will
> >be "loss leaders."
>
> Hi my old friend,
>
> In the case of cruise lines, the low costs (wages, etc) work against
> your theory as compared to the high cost airlines. Carnival Cruise
> Lines makes money while their high end brands (Seabourn & Cunard)
> struggle to eke out a profit. It is kind of like the large high cost
> trunk airlines vs the low cost rivals. The low cost brands are making
> money while the high cost full service brands are struggling to
> survive. One big difference is that the cruise lines do not have to
> depend on the fare as airlines do. The cruise lines have got all of
> those onboard revenue streams.
>
> Best regards,
> Ray
> LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
> 800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
> http://www.lighthousetravel.com

[Mason Barge]

On Sat, 13 Sep 2003 03:39:39 GMT, "StephenM"
> wrote:

>
>> 1) I wish every damn cruise line on the planet would add $20 per day
>> to their food budget.
>
>Adding $20 per day to the food budget of a ship with 2000 passengers
>wouldn't make much difference (what do you want them to do - add a big bowl
>of pretzels to the Buffet each day)

Hey, I like pretzels!

Actually, I bet HAL's free popcorn for the movie doesn't cost them
much more than $20 per day, and it's something people appreciate. It
just goes to show what a little effort can do.

Mason Barge

"If this is coffee, please bring me some tea. If this is tea, please bring me some coffee."
-- Abraham Lincoln

[Jeff Coudriet]

I hate that practice too.....don't want to lug around a towel all the
time!

Jeff


Howard Garland wrote:
>
> Schaller MACAW wrote:
>
> > Towels, on every lounge ,even though there are only three people in the pool!
> > BILL
>
> This is a major pet peeve for me Bill. I think the primary culprit here
> comes from a practice first introduced by the Princess line many years
> ago. They issue pool towels in your stateroom and provide no fresh
> towels by the pool, thus making pax responsible for carrying around
> their own towel. I complained like hell on my first Princess cruise and
> on my comment card to no avail. Many years later, Carnival introduced
> the same practice, which has continued despite my complaints to them. I
> feel so strongly about this (because it does result in lots of empty but
> reserved deck chairs) that I encourage all of you who are bothered by
> this to write to the cruise lines about the practice and include
> complaints on your comment cards. RCCL, Celebrity, and HAL have not yet
> followed suit but I really think they unless they hear from repeat pax.
> Although these lines still provide fresh towels and pull towels from
> empty chairs, I have noticed on my last few cruises, that there are more
> and more empty towel bins out on deck these days.
>
> Howard

[Mason Barge]

On Sat, 13 Sep 2003 05:56:58 -0400, Howard Garland
> wrote:

>>>Constant advertising, whether on my stateroom loudspeaker or on (under)
>>>my stateroom door.
>
>> Celebrity doesn't have them, and HAL eliminated them about two years
>> ago.
>
>I know, that's one of the things I really enjoy about Celebrity. As for
>HAL, you are right about no loudspeaker advertising; however, I was
>really grossed out while sitting at the bar in the beautiful crow's nest
>on the Zuiderdam last January. There was the large, flat screen TV on
>the wall right near me that provide a neverending display of ship's
>advertising.

That is just plain gross. I am worried that HAL has taken a step
backward with the Vista class, but I haven't sailed one so I don't
know.

Celebrity does have its own irritating feature in this regard, which
is the onboard "port specialist" who is always an irritating (and
highly visible) shill for onshore shopping partners. All the mass
market lines have this -- I don't know if it just sticks out on
Celebrity because of the generally less obnoxious selling, or whether
it really is a low point.

Okay, add yet another $3 per day (to the food budget $20) for real
port lectures with no commercial tie-ins, like you get on Marco Polo.

Mason Barge

"If this is coffee, please bring me some tea. If this is tea, please bring me some coffee."
-- Abraham Lincoln

[Howard Garland]

I understand completely. Actually, I would be happy to have only one
smoking restaurant on a ship (or part of a restaurant), where I could
enjoy a leisurely after dinner cigarette with my coffee.

Howard

DaFlaBear wrote:

> Howard,
> I would settle for just ONE smoke free bar on a ship.
> We do RCI and enjoy their "Champaign Bars". But how can you taste a fine
> wine or Champaign with someone blowing smoke at you.
> To me, the "Martini Bar" is where smokers should be able to smoke, the
> "Champaign Bar" should be smoke free.
>

[Mason Barge]

On Sat, 13 Sep 2003 13:44:44 GMT, "Rich Cacace" <richcacace-REMOVE TO
> wrote:

>How about not eliminating the Happy Birthday/Anniversary celebrations but
>limiting them to one big night to cover them all.

I have to say that HAL's birthday celebrations are actually charming
IMO.

Mason Barge

"If this is coffee, please bring me some tea. If this is tea, please bring me some coffee."
-- Abraham Lincoln

[Howard Garland]

See Pam's (Lunyma) response, Jeff. Looks like RCCL has already started
the practice.

Jeff Coudriet wrote:
> I hate that practice too.....don't want to lug around a towel all the
> time!
>
> Jeff
>

[Charles]

In article >, Howard Garland
> wrote:

> See Pam's (Lunyma) response, Jeff. Looks like RCCL has already started
> the practice.

I wonder if they are following Celebrity's current practice of a beach
towel in the room and pool towels still issued on the deck, or the
Princess and Carnival practice of only towels being issued in the room?

--
Charles

[Sue and Kevin Mullen]

Rich Cacace wrote:
> How about not eliminating the Happy Birthday/Anniversary celebrations but
> limiting them to one big night to cover them all.

I think people would prefer to celebrate their birthday/anniversary on
their birthday/anniversary, not on another day.

sue

[SNUMBER6]

>From: Howard Garland

>> What I would like to see eliminated are art auctions where they display
>> auction items all over the atruim.
>
>I, also, really don't like thos "art" auctions, Charles. I left them
>out of my list because they are something that I manage to avoid.

The art auctions bother me not ... I ignore them ... but looking at the art
hung up around the ship gives a nice touch and is the saving grace ,,,

Be seeing you
In the Village
Number 6

[Sue and Kevin Mullen]

Jeff Coudriet wrote:

> I hate that practice too.....don't want to lug around a towel all the
> time!

I also don't like having to carry my towel with me and their are times I
would like to have a second towel available.

On the Zenith they had towels by the pool and the whirlpools. The only
problem with that, is there were a couple of time where there were no
towels at all by the whirlpools. I learnt to get my towel on the pool
deck, before going up to the whirlpools.

sue

[SNUMBER6]

>From: "Rich Cacace" richcacace-REMOVETO

>It doesn't warrant the effort to attend these "grand" buffets - standing in
>line for a hour just to see other people taking pictures of food. On the
>last few cruises I've just waited until the last 15 min before getting a
>snack.

The old Pac Princess Grand Buffet is an exception ... the head chef and
Maitre'd were cooking for the people ... right on deck... in a very festive
manner .. a nice touch ...

Be seeing you
In the Village
Number 6

[Howard Garland]

> Celebrity does have its own irritating feature in this regard, which
> is the onboard "port specialist" who is always an irritating (and
> highly visible) shill for onshore shopping partners. All the mass
> market lines have this -- I don't know if it just sticks out on
> Celebrity because of the generally less obnoxious selling, or whether
> it really is a low point.

The whole "recommended shopping" fiasco really turns my stomach, Mason.
Whenever I get shopping questions on any ship from inexperienced
cruisers, I always tell to shop anywhere BUT the cruise ship recommended
stores.

Howard

[Charles]

In article >, SNUMBER6
> wrote:

> The art auctions bother me not ... I ignore them ... but looking at the art
> hung up around the ship gives a nice touch and is the saving grace ,,,

The art auction does not bother me when they keep the auction and
auction items inside a lounge or other seperate area. On some ships,
particularily Princess, they have started placing art auction items in
your face, all over the public areas.

--
Charles

[Howard Garland]

Once met a couple on some ship that had spent about $15,000 at the "art"
auctions. They boasted that the "art" auctioneer had agreed to ship
their haul of booty free of charge. I bet he did.

Charles wrote:

> In article >, SNUMBER6
> > wrote:
>
>
>>The art auctions bother me not ... I ignore them ... but looking at the art
>>hung up around the ship gives a nice touch and is the saving grace ,,,
>
>
> The art auction does not bother me when they keep the auction and
> auction items inside a lounge or other seperate area. On some ships,
> particularily Princess, they have started placing art auction items in
> your face, all over the public areas.
>

[Tom & Linda]

Part of a restaurant for smoking doesn't work... unless it's completely
walled off. If it's not walled off, then there are always adjacent
tables, one for smoking... the other for non smoking, and unless you
figure out how to prevent smoke from drifing... it simply doesn't work.

Besides... look at the bright side. By preventing you that "one" ciggy,
they just added 8-10 minutes to your overall life.

--Tom

Howard Garland wrote:
>
> I understand completely. Actually, I would be happy to have only one
> smoking restaurant on a ship (or part of a restaurant), where I could
> enjoy a leisurely after dinner cigarette with my coffee.
>
> Howard
>
> DaFlaBear wrote:
>
> > Howard,
> > I would settle for just ONE smoke free bar on a ship.
> > We do RCI and enjoy their "Champaign Bars". But how can you taste a fine
> > wine or Champaign with someone blowing smoke at you.
> > To me, the "Martini Bar" is where smokers should be able to smoke, the
> > "Champaign Bar" should be smoke free.
> >

[Howard Garland]

Tom & Linda wrote:

> Part of a restaurant for smoking doesn't work... unless it's completely
> walled off. If it's not walled off, then there are always adjacent
> tables, one for smoking... the other for non smoking, and unless you
> figure out how to prevent smoke from drifing... it simply doesn't work.

I know it doesn't work Tom. I was just stating my preference.
>
> Besides... look at the bright side. By preventing you that "one" ciggy,
> they just added 8-10 minutes to your overall life.

And keeping you from getting those 8-10 minutes of my social security
payments that I will never collect. :)

Howard

[Sue and Kevin Mullen]

Howard Garland wrote:
> Once met a couple on some ship that had spent about $15,000 at the "art"
> auctions. They boasted that the "art" auctioneer had agreed to ship
> their haul of booty free of charge. I bet he did.

The charge for shipping art home, is $35 for up to 5 pieces, not a big
deal. You can also get free shipping as an option, if you apply for a
Park West credit card.

I have also seen people spend much more then $15,000 at an art auction.
They sell some original art, which sells for at least three times that
and then their are some Gallery owners who will buy every pc by a
particular artist.

sue

[Tom & Linda]

The option of a coffee bar, like Celebrity's Cova Cafe, where they do
allow smoking, would let you do both. You would just have to have your
coffee in a place other than the dining room.

--Tom

Howard Garland wrote:
>
> Tom & Linda wrote:
>
> > Part of a restaurant for smoking doesn't work... unless it's completely
> > walled off. If it's not walled off, then there are always adjacent
> > tables, one for smoking... the other for non smoking, and unless you
> > figure out how to prevent smoke from drifing... it simply doesn't work.
>
> I know it doesn't work Tom. I was just stating my preference.
> >
> > Besides... look at the bright side. By preventing you that "one" ciggy,
> > they just added 8-10 minutes to your overall life.
>
> And keeping you from getting those 8-10 minutes of my social security
> payments that I will never collect. :)
>
> Howard

[Howard Garland]

Thanks for the tip Tom. I'll have to check this out on my next Celeb
cruise.

Tom & Linda wrote:

> The option of a coffee bar, like Celebrity's Cova Cafe, where they do
> allow smoking, would let you do both. You would just have to have your
> coffee in a place other than the dining room.
>
> --Tom
>
> Howard Garland wrote:
>
>>Tom & Linda wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Part of a restaurant for smoking doesn't work... unless it's completely
>>>walled off. If it's not walled off, then there are always adjacent
>>>tables, one for smoking... the other for non smoking, and unless you
>>>figure out how to prevent smoke from drifing... it simply doesn't work.
>>
>>I know it doesn't work Tom. I was just stating my preference.
>>
>>>Besides... look at the bright side. By preventing you that "one" ciggy,
>>>they just added 8-10 minutes to your overall life.
>>
>>And keeping you from getting those 8-10 minutes of my social security
>>payments that I will never collect. :)
>>
>>Howard

[Tom & Linda]

You may find though... that simple coffee may not "quench your thirst"
if you go to one of the Cova Cafes.. On Zenith, a lot of the SGC gang
were getting ice coffee with a big scoop of ice cream in the coffee.
Me? I went for the Cappuccino.

--Tom

Howard Garland wrote:
>
> Thanks for the tip Tom. I'll have to check this out on my next Celeb
> cruise.
>
> Tom & Linda wrote:
>
> > The option of a coffee bar, like Celebrity's Cova Cafe, where they do
> > allow smoking, would let you do both. You would just have to have your
> > coffee in a place other than the dining room.
> >
> > --Tom
> >
> > Howard Garland wrote:
> >
> >>Tom & Linda wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>Part of a restaurant for smoking doesn't work... unless it's completely
> >>>walled off. If it's not walled off, then there are always adjacent
> >>>tables, one for smoking... the other for non smoking, and unless you
> >>>figure out how to prevent smoke from drifing... it simply doesn't work.
> >>
> >>I know it doesn't work Tom. I was just stating my preference.
> >>
> >>>Besides... look at the bright side. By preventing you that "one" ciggy,
> >>>they just added 8-10 minutes to your overall life.
> >>
> >>And keeping you from getting those 8-10 minutes of my social security
> >>payments that I will never collect. :)
> >>
> >>Howard

[Lunyma]

>I wonder if they are following Celebrity's current practice of a beach
>towel in the room and pool towels still issued on the deck, or the
>Princess and Carnival practice of only towels being issued in the room?

You were issued a towel in the room (on the enchantment). There were signs on
the Lido deck saying you could *exchange* those towels with a pool attendant,
but it wouldn't be easy, as they were hard to find. No towels available on
deck

On Carnival's Spirit class ships, you were also issued one towel pp in your
stateroom, but there was a spot on the pool deck where you could *sign out* a
towel. If you didn't return it, you would be charged $22


Pam :)
http://www.cruisesinc.com/plome
866-LV2CRUZ (582-2789)

[Bob Gow]

>> Cruise directors with loud, shrill voices.
>
>Yes, wish we had little buttons we could push to send an electro-shock
>to these people! :)

Here's a thought. Wire up the cruise director, prot lecturers, the
comics (art auctioneers?) with battery-powered radio-controlled shock
devices. Passengers viewing the show can swipe their on-board account
or credit cards through card readers placed around the showroom to buy
shock to be applied to the entertainer. Shocks can be bought in, say,
$5, $10 or $20 levels; the card readers would debit the account and
radio the shock device to do its thing. Nothing harmful, just enough
to be noticable to the audience.

The cruise line will get extra revenue from the shock devices, the
passengers can salvage some entertainment from an otherwise poor
performance and the entertainer gets both immediate feedback and an
incentive to imporove their audience rapport. This can be extended to
passenger talent shows, Karoke bars and the like. The passengers
getting the most shocks win proze money. With tally boards showing
who is "ahead", the casino can take in bets on who will "win" first
prize (2 weeks in north Philadelphia?).

This could be a win-win. Ah, but where to put the electrodes . . .
Bob Gow
"Experience is what you get when
you expected something else."

[Howard and Eileen Garland]

LOL! Unlike the soda cards and internet access packages, I would
definitely be willing to purchase my shocks in bulk for a discount.

Howard

Bob Gow wrote:
>>>Cruise directors with loud, shrill voices.
>>
>>Yes, wish we had little buttons we could push to send an electro-shock
>>to these people! :)
>
>
> Here's a thought. Wire up the cruise director, prot lecturers, the
> comics (art auctioneers?) with battery-powered radio-controlled shock
> devices. Passengers viewing the show can swipe their on-board account
> or credit cards through card readers placed around the showroom to buy
> shock to be applied to the entertainer. Shocks can be bought in, say,
> $5, $10 or $20 levels; the card readers would debit the account and
> radio the shock device to do its thing. Nothing harmful, just enough
> to be noticable to the audience.
>
> The cruise line will get extra revenue from the shock devices, the
> passengers can salvage some entertainment from an otherwise poor
> performance and the entertainer gets both immediate feedback and an
> incentive to imporove their audience rapport. This can be extended to
> passenger talent shows, Karoke bars and the like. The passengers
> getting the most shocks win proze money. With tally boards showing
> who is "ahead", the casino can take in bets on who will "win" first
> prize (2 weeks in north Philadelphia?).
>
> This could be a win-win. Ah, but where to put the electrodes . . .
> Bob Gow
> "Experience is what you get when
> you expected something else."

[Charles]

In article >, Lunyma
> wrote:

> You were issued a towel in the room (on the enchantment). There were signs on
> the Lido deck saying you could *exchange* those towels with a pool attendant,
> but it wouldn't be easy, as they were hard to find. No towels available on
> deck

Ick. That is a really poor cutback. On the RCL ships I enjoy using the
hot tubs in the adult only solarium areas. One towel just does not cut
it for me.

--
Charles

[Rich Cacace]

And we all have to sit there & listen to your Birthday song like you were 10
years old.

"Sue and Kevin Mullen" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> Rich Cacace wrote:
> > How about not eliminating the Happy Birthday/Anniversary celebrations
but
> > limiting them to one big night to cover them all.
>
> I think people would prefer to celebrate their birthday/anniversary on
> their birthday/anniversary, not on another day.
>
> sue
>

[villa deauville]

Pam
Did the Captain on the EOS come over the PA at 110.00 am chit chatting
and at times singing?
How did you like the EOS?

SUNNY<.........celebrated her 50th on this ship.Loved everything about
her, auctions and all.

S'nd I

[Sue and Kevin Mullen]

Tom & Linda wrote:

> You may find though... that simple coffee may not "quench your thirst"
> if you go to one of the Cova Cafes.. On Zenith, a lot of the SGC gang
> were getting ice coffee with a big scoop of ice cream in the coffee.
> Me? I went for the Cappuccino.

How could we resist, it was so good!!

sue

[Sue and Kevin Mullen]

You would never have to do that, there is no chance at all that I would
allow them to sing to me!!

sue

Rich Cacace wrote:

> And we all have to sit there & listen to your Birthday song like you were 10
> years old.
>
> "Sue and Kevin Mullen" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>
>>Rich Cacace wrote:
>>
>>>How about not eliminating the Happy Birthday/Anniversary celebrations
>
> but
>
>>>limiting them to one big night to cover them all.
>>
>>I think people would prefer to celebrate their birthday/anniversary on
>>their birthday/anniversary, not on another day.
>>
>>sue
>>
>
>
>

[Rich Cacace]

Me neither...EXCEPT on my 62nd + birthday when I start collecting my social
security check.

"Sue and Kevin Mullen" > wrote in message
...
> You would never have to do that, there is no chance at all that I would
> allow them to sing to me!!
>
> sue
>
> Rich Cacace wrote:
>
> > And we all have to sit there & listen to your Birthday song like you
were 10
> > years old.
> >
> > "Sue and Kevin Mullen" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >
> >>
> >>Rich Cacace wrote:
> >>
> >>>How about not eliminating the Happy Birthday/Anniversary celebrations
> >
> > but
> >
> >>>limiting them to one big night to cover them all.
> >>
> >>I think people would prefer to celebrate their birthday/anniversary on
> >>their birthday/anniversary, not on another day.
> >>
> >>sue
> >>
> >
> >
> >
>

[Becca]

> Same on Explorer, in March...

Pam, Royal Caribbean also did this on the Voyager. It does prevent
one person from grabbing 6 towels and saving 6 chairs for their
friends who never show up. At least they only had one towel.

Now that I think about it, we did not have problems finding chairs in
the solarium area on the Voyager.

Becca <----rarely sits near the pool where it is usually too loud...

Norwegian Dawn http://www.cruisemaster.com/dawn.htm
Sleazy3 http://www.cruisemaster.com/sleazy3.htm

[Tom & Linda]

Sue and Kevin Mullen wrote:
>
> Tom & Linda wrote:
>
> > You may find though... that simple coffee may not "quench your thirst"
> > if you go to one of the Cova Cafes.. On Zenith, a lot of the SGC gang
> > were getting ice coffee with a big scoop of ice cream in the coffee.
> > Me? I went for the Cappuccino.
>
> How could we resist, it was so good!!
>
> sue

So was the cappuccino. REALLY strong... like they make it in Italy.

--Tom

[Lunyma]

>Pam
>Did the Captain on the EOS come over the PA at 110.00 am chit chatting
>and at times singing?
>How did you like the EOS?

The ship was nice and the service was great... No singing by the captain
though. Just an occassional update...


Pam :)
http://www.cruisesinc.com/plome
866-LV2CRUZ (582-2789)

[Peter Berlin]

To run in parallel with this survey:
What are things that are *not done* that you would
do if you were in a position to make them happen?

Howard Garland wrote:
> As most of you know, I am hooked on mass market cruising. I love the
> newer big ships, with their soaring atria, fully equipped gyms, rock
> climbing walls, laser displays in showrooms, etc. Nevertheless, there
> are a large number of things that I would eliminate from the current
> cruise experience if I were "king for a day". Here are a few that come
> to mind, in no particular order:
>
> Ice and fruit carving demonstrations, exhibitions, and parades.
> Those poor excuse for "baked" alaska parades.
> Constant advertising, whether on my stateroom loudspeaker or on (under)
> my stateroom door.
> Cruise directors with loud, shrill voices.
> Cruise social staff who waste so much of my precious deck party time
> trying to teach me how to have fun.
> Passenger talent shows.
> Hairy chest, sexy leg, knobby knee, and all other passenger contests.
> Fashion shows by the pool.
> Waiters singing O Solo Mio, God Bless America, etc.
>
> I am interested to know what some of you would eliminate from current
> cruise line protocol, if you could.
>
>

--
Peter Berlin
Peter Berlin's Travel Center http://peterberlin.com
Host Agency: GGC2004 & MGC2003
http://ggc2004.com - http://mgc2003

[Rich Cacace]

When we were on the Voyager last year there were no problems getting chairs
in the Solarium except on one day - but even then it was not impossible. It
seems most people want to be by the main pool to be by all the action.

"Becca" > wrote in message
...
> > Same on Explorer, in March...
>
> Pam, Royal Caribbean also did this on the Voyager. It does prevent
> one person from grabbing 6 towels and saving 6 chairs for their
> friends who never show up. At least they only had one towel.
>
> Now that I think about it, we did not have problems finding chairs in
> the solarium area on the Voyager.
>
> Becca <----rarely sits near the pool where it is usually too loud...
>
> Norwegian Dawn http://www.cruisemaster.com/dawn.htm
> Sleazy3 http://www.cruisemaster.com/sleazy3.htm

[Jim]

From: (Howard=A0Garland)
As most of you know, I am hooked on mass market cruising. I love the
newer big ships, with their soaring atria, fully equipped gyms, rock
climbing walls, laser displays in showrooms, etc. Nevertheless, there
are a large number of things that I would eliminate from the current
cruise experience if I were "king for a day". Here are a few that come
to mind, in no particular order:
Ice and fruit carving demonstrations, exhibitions, and parades. Those
poor excuse for "baked" alaska parades. Constant advertising, whether on
my stateroom loudspeaker or on (under) my stateroom door.
Cruise directors with loud, shrill voices. Cruise social staff who waste
so much of my precious deck party time trying to teach me how to have
fun.
Passenger talent shows.
Hairy chest, sexy leg, knobby knee, and all other passenger contests.
Fashion shows by the pool.
Waiters singing O Solo Mio, God Bless America, etc.
I am interested to know what some of you would eliminate from current
cruise line protocol, if you could.
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
Don't know about the other lines and ships but I would like to see the
cruise director from "recommending" places to shop, what to buy (because
you will receive a 50% discount if you mention my name at SCAM Jewelers.
I would also like to see better food being served at the pool area
grills or "restaurants".
Another thing that bugs me is that they tie up all the deck chairs at
nigt. It would be nice to get a deck chair to just lounge ad watch the
moon in te middle of the night. JDR

[Jim]

From: (DaFlaBear)

Howard,
I would settle for just ONE smoke free bar on a ship. We do RCI and
enjoy their "Champaign Bars". But how can you taste a fine wine or
Champaign with someone blowing smoke at you. To me, the "Martini Bar" is
where smokers should be able to smoke, the "Champaign Bar" should be
smoke free.
============

IMO, each cruiseline should have at least 1or 2 ships which are
non-smoking, and for the smokers 1 or 2 JUST for smokers (smokers can
smoke anywhere). JDR

[Howard and Eileen Garland]

Peter Berlin wrote:
> To run in parallel with this survey:
> What are things that are *not done* that you would do if you were in a
> position to make them happen?>


Funny Peter, there are not many things I would add to a cruise
experience but here are a few:

1. Have the captain announce the occurrence of significant celestial
events (e.g., meteor showers)and provide some outside deck space with no
lights for pax viewing of these events.

2. Seven day caribbean cruises, with no more than 2 port days, both of
these being at private island beaches.

3. A large number of talented musical entertainers on every ship (e.g.,
rock musicuans, jazz groups, etc).

4. Real espresso and cafe au lait on the room service menu (at least
during breakfast hours) at no charge.

5. More late night deck parties.

6. Something different to replace those tired, old 50's-60's and
country-western night parties.

7. Fireworks and/or laser light shows with music out on deck (comme
Juilet-quatorze en Paris).

Howard

[Sue and Kevin Mullen]

Tom & Linda wrote:

>
> Sue and Kevin Mullen wrote:
>
>>Tom & Linda wrote:
>>
>>
>>>You may find though... that simple coffee may not "quench your thirst"
>>>if you go to one of the Cova Cafes.. On Zenith, a lot of the SGC gang
>>>were getting ice coffee with a big scoop of ice cream in the coffee.
>>>Me? I went for the Cappuccino.
>>
>>How could we resist, it was so good!!
>>
>>sue
>
>
> So was the cappuccino. REALLY strong... like they make it in Italy.

I think you would like the coffee that Kevin and I make at home, really
strong and with freshly ground beans. Next time on the Zenith to
Bermuda, I will have to try their coffee and cappuccine!!

sue

[Sue and Kevin Mullen]

Howard and Eileen Garland wrote:

>
>
> Peter Berlin wrote:
>
>> To run in parallel with this survey:
>> What are things that are *not done* that you would do if you were in a
>> position to make them happen?>
>
>
>
> Funny Peter, there are not many things I would add to a cruise
> experience but here are a few:
>
> 1. Have the captain announce the occurrence of significant celestial
> events (e.g., meteor showers)and provide some outside deck space with no
> lights for pax viewing of these events.

And provide telescopes!

> 2. Seven day caribbean cruises, with no more than 2 port days, both of
> these being at private island beaches.

Sounds like heaven to me.

> 4. Real espresso and cafe au lait on the room service menu (at least
> during breakfast hours) at no charge.

That would be great instead of the dirty dishwater most ships serve in
place of coffee. To be honest the room service coffee on the Zenith was
not to bad.

sue

[bs]

Ice Rink - Unless they play some hockey...
"Howard Garland" > wrote in message
...
> As most of you know, I am hooked on mass market cruising. I love the
> newer big ships, with their soaring atria, fully equipped gyms, rock
> climbing walls, laser displays in showrooms, etc. Nevertheless, there
> are a large number of things that I would eliminate from the current
> cruise experience if I were "king for a day". Here are a few that come
> to mind, in no particular order:
>
> Ice and fruit carving demonstrations, exhibitions, and parades.
> Those poor excuse for "baked" alaska parades.
> Constant advertising, whether on my stateroom loudspeaker or on (under)
> my stateroom door.
> Cruise directors with loud, shrill voices.
> Cruise social staff who waste so much of my precious deck party time
> trying to teach me how to have fun.
> Passenger talent shows.
> Hairy chest, sexy leg, knobby knee, and all other passenger contests.
> Fashion shows by the pool.
> Waiters singing O Solo Mio, God Bless America, etc.
>
> I am interested to know what some of you would eliminate from current
> cruise line protocol, if you could.
>
>

[Sue and Kevin Mullen]

Major wrote:
> Sue and Kevin Mullen > wrote:
>
>
>>And provide telescopes!
>
>
> Not much use when the ship is rocking even slightly, I'm afraid.

One ship we were on, don't remember which one, had a telescope! It
worked fine the night we used it.

sue

[Celtic Lady]

The one thing I would love to eliminate (well 2, actually) is people on the
cruise crabbing about everything that isn't up to their standard. Once you
are on the ship try to enjoy it! (Unless the fault is egregious, then
complain to the purser, or whomever) and 2, the people one upping each other
about how the other 43 cruises they have been on were just so delightful
compared to this one, which just "really proves" how cruising is going
downhill.

I have been on 9 cruises and enjoyed every last one, except for that
annoying part where they dump your bags off and force you to leave...

Shauna

[Tom & Linda]

Sue and Kevin Mullen wrote:
>
> Major wrote:
> > Sue and Kevin Mullen > wrote:
> >
> >
> >>And provide telescopes!
> >
> >
> > Not much use when the ship is rocking even slightly, I'm afraid.
>
> One ship we were on, don't remember which one, had a telescope! It
> worked fine the night we used it.
>
> sue

Century has telescopes in the Hemisphere lounge.

--Tom

[Sue and Kevin Mullen]

Tom & Linda wrote:

>
> Sue and Kevin Mullen wrote:
>
>>Major wrote:
>>
>>>Sue and Kevin Mullen > wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>And provide telescopes!
>>>
>>>
>>>Not much use when the ship is rocking even slightly, I'm afraid.
>>
>>One ship we were on, don't remember which one, had a telescope! It
>>worked fine the night we used it.
>>
>>sue
>
>
> Century has telescopes in the Hemisphere lounge.

That sounds cool, I will have to remember this. I think the ship we were
on, was a RCCL ship.

sue

[Odysseus]

Princess and HAL spend millions on their own art collections. I think their
value is cheapened when there is a pieces of shopping mall gallery art are
hanging next to them.

>The art auction does not bother me when they keep the auction and
>auction items inside a lounge or other seperate area. On some ships,
>particularily Princess, they have started placing art auction items in
>your face, all over the public areas.
>
>--
>Charles

[Howard Garland]

You bet, Shauna! I'm with you.

Celtic Lady wrote:

> The one thing I would love to eliminate (well 2, actually) is people on the
> cruise crabbing about everything that isn't up to their standard. Once you
> are on the ship try to enjoy it! (Unless the fault is egregious, then
> complain to the purser, or whomever) and 2, the people one upping each other
> about how the other 43 cruises they have been on were just so delightful
> compared to this one, which just "really proves" how cruising is going
> downhill.
>
> I have been on 9 cruises and enjoyed every last one, except for that
> annoying part where they dump your bags off and force you to leave...
>
> Shauna
>
>

[Howard Garland]

The artwork on ships, and I don't mean the "pitchers" in those auctions,
is really awesome. When we're cruising, it's usually Eileen who directs
my attention to the more unusual pieces.

Odysseus wrote:

> Princess and HAL spend millions on their own art collections. I think their
> value is cheapened when there is a pieces of shopping mall gallery art are
> hanging next to them.
>
>
>>The art auction does not bother me when they keep the auction and
>>auction items inside a lounge or other seperate area. On some ships,
>>particularily Princess, they have started placing art auction items in
>>your face, all over the public areas.
>>
>>--
>>Charles
>
>

[Howard Garland]

Great idea Jim!

Jim wrote:

> From: (DaFlaBear)
>
> Howard,
> I would settle for just ONE smoke free bar on a ship. We do RCI and
> enjoy their "Champaign Bars". But how can you taste a fine wine or
> Champaign with someone blowing smoke at you. To me, the "Martini Bar" is
> where smokers should be able to smoke, the "Champaign Bar" should be
> smoke free.
> ============
>
> IMO, each cruiseline should have at least 1or 2 ships which are
> non-smoking, and for the smokers 1 or 2 JUST for smokers (smokers can
> smoke anywhere). JDR
>

[Howard Garland]

Sue and Kevin Mullen wrote:

> Howard and Eileen Garland wrote:

>> 2. Seven day caribbean cruises, with no more than 2 port days, both of
>> these being at private island beaches.
>
> Sounds like heaven to me.

Hey Sue,

That's one of the reasons why those, Southern Atlantic, long
re-positioning cruises from Fl. to Europe are so appealing to me. You
usually get a couple of stops in the Caribbean, in April, when it is
near perfect, followed by lots of magnificent sea days; and all of this
comes for a ridiculously low price. The worst part of being back at work
is that it's going to be some time before I can do one of these
itineraries again.

Howard - who is very happy to be back in the classroom but sad that he
is not cruising.

[Howard Garland]

Major:

We were on a ship last December, I think it was the Carnival Legend,
where one of the pax told me that we were going to have a significant
meteor shower, beginning at 2:30 AM. Eileen and I went out on the back
deck, where I untied a couple of lounge chairs, and for the next 2
hours, we were treated the most spectacular celestial light show that I
had ever seen. We returned to our cabin and continued to enjoy the show
out on our balcony until sunrise.

There were two things we kept discussing during and after this
experience. First, why weren't all the guests informed about the meteor
shower? After all, it wouldn't exactly cut into potential revenues,
given the hours involved. Second, why can't they turn off some of those
damn lights?

[Howard Garland]

Jim wrote:

> I would like to see the cruise director from "recommending" places to shop, what to buy (because
> you will receive a 50% discount if you mention my name at SCAM Jewelers.

I think the above is almost criminal.

> I would also like to see better food being served at the pool area
> grills or "restaurants".

It would be nice if RCCL would provide anything to eat by the pool.

> Another thing that bugs me is that they tie up all the deck chairs at
> nigt.

I'm with you on this, as well. Usually, I just untie a stack myself but
it sort of makes me feel like a criminal.

Howard

[Tom & Linda]

You assume that someone one the crew even knew about the meteor
shower... which would be necessary for them to make the announcement.

Spending a lot of time at sea, I'm not sure that they're aware of unique
things like that, something one might find reading the newspaper. Plus,
that is almost the kind of thing that someone would need to have an
interest in. A meteor shower is not like an every day event for the
crew. Their days revolve around the typical cruise or ship related
activities geared toward their functions on board. Some officers would
be up to date on weather and ocean conditions. Others on entertainment.

It would almost seem like a meteor shower would fall below the radar
screen in terms of awareness, unless you had a guest astronomer on
board. Or unless a crew member happened to have an interest in
astronomy.

--Tom

Howard Garland wrote:
>
> Major:
>
> We were on a ship last December, I think it was the Carnival Legend,
> where one of the pax told me that we were going to have a significant
> meteor shower, beginning at 2:30 AM. Eileen and I went out on the back
> deck, where I untied a couple of lounge chairs, and for the next 2
> hours, we were treated the most spectacular celestial light show that I
> had ever seen. We returned to our cabin and continued to enjoy the show
> out on our balcony until sunrise.
>
> There were two things we kept discussing during and after this
> experience. First, why weren't all the guests informed about the meteor
> shower? After all, it wouldn't exactly cut into potential revenues,
> given the hours involved. Second, why can't they turn off some of those
> damn lights?

[Sue and Kevin Mullen]

Howard Garland wrote:

> Sue and Kevin Mullen wrote:
>
>> Howard and Eileen Garland wrote:
>
>
>>> 2. Seven day caribbean cruises, with no more than 2 port days, both
>>> of these being at private island beaches.
>>
>>
>> Sounds like heaven to me.
>
>
> Hey Sue,
>
> That's one of the reasons why those, Southern Atlantic, long
> re-positioning cruises from Fl. to Europe are so appealing to me. You
> usually get a couple of stops in the Caribbean, in April, when it is
> near perfect, followed by lots of magnificent sea days; and all of this
> comes for a ridiculously low price. The worst part of being back at work
> is that it's going to be some time before I can do one of these
> itineraries again.

I would love to do one of those, but am waiting for hubby to have more
vacation time, so we can also spend some time in Europe while we are there.

sue

[Sue and Kevin Mullen]

Howard Garland wrote:

> Major:
>
> We were on a ship last December, I think it was the Carnival Legend,
> where one of the pax told me that we were going to have a significant
> meteor shower, beginning at 2:30 AM. Eileen and I went out on the back
> deck, where I untied a couple of lounge chairs, and for the next 2
> hours, we were treated the most spectacular celestial light show that I
> had ever seen. We returned to our cabin and continued to enjoy the show
> out on our balcony until sunrise.
>
> There were two things we kept discussing during and after this
> experience. First, why weren't all the guests informed about the meteor
> shower?

On one of our cruises there was a solar eclipse. We were on a shore
excursion with passengers from another cruise ship, different cruise
line. We had been given special glasses to view the eclipse, they had
not. We of course shared our special glasses with them.

sue

[Mason Barge]

On Sat, 13 Sep 2003 05:42:10 -0400, Howard Garland
> wrote:

>DaFlaBear wrote:
>
>> SMOKING!
>
>I agree; and I am an incurable smoker. As a smoker, I thing that all of
>the cruise lines ought to develop more smoke-free ships like the
>Paradise, so that those of you who detest smoke (for any reason) have
>more choices. It would also be pleasant for those of us who smoke to be
>able to enjoy our addiction on non-smoke-free cruise ships, without
>receiving dirty looks and snide remarks.

Haha, I am the exact opposite. I don't smoke but I think that people
who do need to be accommodated. I guess we are looking out for each
other :)

It would be nice, though, to have a smoke-free lounge on every ship
for the people who really hate it. Also, they really need to do a
better job in the casinos of keeping specific tables smoke free -- I
can take a little smoke, but really, at a table you can get a stream
of cigarette smoke right in your face.


Mason Barge

"If this is coffee, please bring me some tea. If this is tea, please bring me some coffee."
-- Abraham Lincoln

[Mason Barge]

On Fri, 12 Sep 2003 17:42:22 -0400, Charles
> wrote:

>In article >, Benjamin Smith
> wrote:
>
>> I agree with these except I like the fashion shows.
>
>The only fashion show I have seen on Galaxy. It was items from the
>ships shops. Another revenue enhancer and a waste except that some of
>the crew was nice to look at.
>
>What I would like to see eliminated are art auctions where they display
>auction items all over the atruim.

Well, it IS really tacky. Also the tables of gold jewelry set out in
the hallway -- it looks like a New York sidewalk.

The fashion shows are something I really like -- I mean, the women
like to look at the clothes, and I suspect a lot of men (like me)
don't mind seeing some cute babe strut around.

Anyway, look on the bright side. The people that buy all that stuff,
and spend a lot of money on Seidel, and buy cruise excursions at every
port, are lowering the price of your cruise :)

I don't drink much at all and I hardly ever buy things in the shops.
But with HAL cruises as low as $100-150 per day -- not even the cost
of a comparable hotel room -- I have to thank the people who do, for
subsidizing my vacation.

Although I will play bingo if someone in my party wants to go --
well, I need to contribute my share of wasted money, I guess.


Mason Barge

"If this is coffee, please bring me some tea. If this is tea, please bring me some coffee."
-- Abraham Lincoln

[ArleneL]

>
>
> It would be nice, though, to have a smoke-free lounge on every ship
> for the people who really hate it. Also, they really need to do a
> better job in the casinos of keeping specific tables smoke free -- I
> can take a little smoke, but really, at a table you can get a stream
> of cigarette smoke right in your face.
>
> Mason Barge
>
> Oh Mason, how you would enjoy the casino on the Paradise. For one whole week (Xmas 2002) I
> could breathe while gambling. OTOH, it made me spend too much time in there <grin>.

Arlene <---on the Paradise again 9/21 (for 2 weeks)

[Peter Berlin]

I need to reply to myself on this one...I would
like more transatlantic crossings....not in 6 or 8
days, but in 12 or 14 day varieties. Love those
sea days!

Peter

Peter Berlin wrote:

> To run in parallel with this survey:
> What are things that are *not done* that you would do if you were in a
> position to make them happen?
>
> Howard Garland wrote:
>
>> As most of you know, I am hooked on mass market cruising. I love the
>> newer big ships, with their soaring atria, fully equipped gyms, rock
>> climbing walls, laser displays in showrooms, etc. Nevertheless, there
>> are a large number of things that I would eliminate from the current
>> cruise experience if I were "king for a day". Here are a few that
>> come to mind, in no particular order:
>>
>> Ice and fruit carving demonstrations, exhibitions, and parades.
>> Those poor excuse for "baked" alaska parades.
>> Constant advertising, whether on my stateroom loudspeaker or on
>> (under) my stateroom door.
>> Cruise directors with loud, shrill voices.
>> Cruise social staff who waste so much of my precious deck party time
>> trying to teach me how to have fun.
>> Passenger talent shows.
>> Hairy chest, sexy leg, knobby knee, and all other passenger contests.
>> Fashion shows by the pool.
>> Waiters singing O Solo Mio, God Bless America, etc.
>>
>> I am interested to know what some of you would eliminate from current
>> cruise line protocol, if you could.
>>
>>
>

--
Peter Berlin
Peter Berlin's Travel Center http://peterberlin.com
Host Agency: GGC2004 & MGC2003
http://ggc2004.com - http://mgc2003

[Richard Whitlock]

Hi:

Mercury had one in the observation lounge.

Tucker in Texas

Tom & Linda wrote:

> Sue and Kevin Mullen wrote:
> >
> > Major wrote:
> > > Sue and Kevin Mullen > wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >>And provide telescopes!
> > >
> > >
> > > Not much use when the ship is rocking even slightly, I'm afraid.
> >
> > One ship we were on, don't remember which one, had a telescope! It
> > worked fine the night we used it.
> >
> > sue
>
> Century has telescopes in the Hemisphere lounge.
>
> --Tom

[shoreguy]

I have one question for all those that would like to see the removal of all
the marketing onboard. How much would you pay. I for one have no problem
letting others buy art or inches of gold so I can enjoy the current pricing.

As for announcements in the cabin that was not a problem on the Dawn. As a
matter of fact if I wanted to here the captain we had to open our door or
turn on the ships info station on the TV.




"Howard Garland" > wrote in message
...
> As most of you know, I am hooked on mass market cruising. I love the
> newer big ships, with their soaring atria, fully equipped gyms, rock
> climbing walls, laser displays in showrooms, etc. Nevertheless, there
> are a large number of things that I would eliminate from the current
> cruise experience if I were "king for a day". Here are a few that come
> to mind, in no particular order:
>
> Ice and fruit carving demonstrations, exhibitions, and parades.
> Those poor excuse for "baked" alaska parades.
> Constant advertising, whether on my stateroom loudspeaker or on (under)
> my stateroom door.
> Cruise directors with loud, shrill voices.
> Cruise social staff who waste so much of my precious deck party time
> trying to teach me how to have fun.
> Passenger talent shows.
> Hairy chest, sexy leg, knobby knee, and all other passenger contests.
> Fashion shows by the pool.
> Waiters singing O Solo Mio, God Bless America, etc.
>
> I am interested to know what some of you would eliminate from current
> cruise line protocol, if you could.
>
>

[Gregory C. Read]

The problem is there are very few non-smokers who stay home if smoking is
allowed on the ship. But there are many, many smokers who would not go on a
cruise is smoking is not allowed. So unless the non-smokers stop
cruising......etc.

--
Greg

(Remove the '.invalid' twice to send Email)


"Rich Cacace" <richcacace-REMOVE TO > wrote in message
.net...
> With most people being non smokers these days, you would actually think
most
> of the ships would be like the Paradise - It's probably going to take a
lot
> more complaining from us non smokers to get some action.
>
> "DaFlaBear" > wrote in message
> ...
> > SMOKING!
> >
>
>

[Howard Garland]

You're exactly right. That's why we need both kinds of ships.

Howard - whom you'll never see on the Carnival Paradise.

Gregory C. Read wrote:

> The problem is there are very few non-smokers who stay home if smoking is
> allowed on the ship. But there are many, many smokers who would not go on a
> cruise is smoking is not allowed. So unless the non-smokers stop
> cruising......etc.
>

[Howard Garland]

shoreguy wrote:

> I have one question for all those that would like to see the removal of all
> the marketing onboard. How much would you pay. I for one have no problem
> letting others buy art or inches of gold so I can enjoy the current pricing.

I'd certainly pay another $30/day to have a mass-market cruise
experience, minus all the revenue generating/cost cutting annoyances
that I/and others have listed in the thread.

Howard

[Jean O'Boyle]

"Tom & Linda" > wrote in message
...
> Part of a restaurant for smoking doesn't work... unless it's completely
> walled off. If it's not walled off, then there are always adjacent
> tables, one for smoking... the other for non smoking, and unless you
> figure out how to prevent smoke from drifing... it simply doesn't work.

Even walled off areas do not do the job if a door is left open. I noticed
on the Zenith, the library smelled strongly of smoke because the cigar bar
next door kept its door open.

--Jean

[Mason Barge]

On Fri, 12 Sep 2003 09:09:15 -0700, Ray Goldenberg
> wrote:

>On Fri, 12 Sep 2003 15:46:33 GMT, "JDB" > wrote:
>
>>For the Carnival Crporation, the mass market lines (Carnival to start) will
>>turn very low margin per pax. The higher end lines (Cunard, Seabourn) will
>>yield better margin dollars per pax. In the long run, the mass markets will
>>be "loss leaders."
>
>Hi my old friend,
>
>In the case of cruise lines, the low costs (wages, etc) work against
>your theory as compared to the high cost airlines. Carnival Cruise
>Lines makes money while their high end brands (Seabourn & Cunard)
>struggle to eke out a profit. It is kind of like the large high cost
>trunk airlines vs the low cost rivals. The low cost brands are making
>money while the high cost full service brands are struggling to
>survive. One big difference is that the cruise lines do not have to
>depend on the fare as airlines do. The cruise lines have got all of
>those onboard revenue streams.

I think Cunard is making lots of money, Ray. CCL is doubling the
tonnage, one smaller premium ship (a la Caronia) primarily to
penetrate the UK market and, of course, Queen Mary.

Seabourn I don't know about. The line is shrinking and seems to be
floundering.


Mason Barge

"If this is coffee, please bring me some tea. If this is tea, please bring me some coffee."
-- Abraham Lincoln

[Mason Barge]

On Sun, 14 Sep 2003 19:09:30 GMT, "shoreguy"
> wrote:

>I have one question for all those that would like to see the removal of all
>the marketing onboard. How much would you pay. I for one have no problem
>letting others buy art or inches of gold so I can enjoy the current pricing.

I'm with you. Thanks for subsidizing my cruise!

Mason Barge

"If this is coffee, please bring me some tea. If this is tea, please bring me some coffee."
-- Abraham Lincoln

[Jean O'Boyle]

"Sue and Kevin Mullen" > wrote in message
...
> You would never have to do that, there is no chance at all that I would
> allow them to sing to me!!

NOW you know what I felt like Sue! If it wasn't for a cute little birdie, no
one would have known. No wonder that little birdie sat with her back to me
pretending she was soooooo innocent! I love her anyway! ;-)

--Jean

[Jean O'Boyle]

"Howard Garland" > wrote in message
...
.. Nevertheless, there
> are a large number of things that I would eliminate from the current
> cruise experience if I were "king for a day". Here are a few that come
> to mind, in no particular order:
>
> Ice and fruit carving demonstrations, exhibitions, and parades.

Agreed~except the newbie cruiser would miss out on that experience.
It's like the circus, or amusement park~~once you have done it, you are not
ready to do it again soon or at all!.

> Those poor excuse for "baked" alaska parades.

Amen! I don't like baked Alaska, period.

> Constant advertising, whether on my stateroom loudspeaker or on (under)
> my stateroom door.

Agreed, wish you could *tune in* on your cabin speaker only when you wished
to or if there was an emergency.
I do however, miss the dinner chimes as I don't like going down to a *herd*
in the hallway.

> Cruise directors with loud, shrill voices.
Agreed

> Cruise social staff who waste so much of my precious deck party time
> trying to teach me how to have fun.

Agreed. In fact on our Zenith cruise, they were unhappy because the SGC
group knew how to make their own fun!

> Passenger talent shows.

Could take it or leave it.

> Hairy chest, sexy leg, knobby knee, and all other passenger contests.

Hairy chest and knobby knee, funny the first time but found other things to
do on the following cruises. Never seen sexy leg contest. Other passenger
contests okay~ depending on what they are about.

> Fashion shows by the pool.

It's like advertising what is in the shipboard shop.

> Waiters singing O Solo Mio, God Bless America, etc.

Agreed. Singing one night is enough.
Also~
I don't like to keep two items always necessary on me ~door key and sail and
sign card. Sail and sign card should work for both.

If there are birthdays and anniversaries, they should be celebrated in
dining room, IF the dates occur while on board to prevent the enormous
amount of singing in the dining room.

One formal night is enough. Especially if there are past cruisers' parties
to attend.

Crew handling food at buffets should always wear gloves.

On all ships, the option for viewing your statement on TV instead of going
to pursers' desk for printouts. We always reconcile our statement the night
before last against the receipts and if there are any adjustments to make,
they can be done without waiting in a long line. Although, we have never had
any problems in that area.

--Jean

[Sue and Kevin Mullen]

Jean O'Boyle wrote:
> "Sue and Kevin Mullen" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>You would never have to do that, there is no chance at all that I would
>>allow them to sing to me!!
>
>
> NOW you know what I felt like Sue! If it wasn't for a cute little birdie, no
> one would have known. No wonder that little birdie sat with her back to me
> pretending she was soooooo innocent! I love her anyway! ;-)

LOL...I fully understood how you felt, that is why I didn't order the cake.

sue

[Elliott Shapiro]

You are already paying $10 per day because the cruise lines don't pay
their help. (tips)

On Sun, 14 Sep 2003 17:22:08 -0400, Howard Garland
> wrote:

>shoreguy wrote:
>
>> I have one question for all those that would like to see the removal of all
>> the marketing onboard. How much would you pay. I for one have no problem
>> letting others buy art or inches of gold so I can enjoy the current pricing.
>
>I'd certainly pay another $30/day to have a mass-market cruise
>experience, minus all the revenue generating/cost cutting annoyances
>that I/and others have listed in the thread.
>
>Howard

[Jim]

From: (Howard=A0Garland)
Jim wrote:
I would like to see the cruise director from "recommending" places to
shop, what to buy (because you will receive a 50% discount if you
mention my name at SCAM Jewelers.
I think the above is almost criminal.
I would also like to see better food being served at the pool area
grills or "restaurants".
It would be nice if RCCL would provide anything to eat by the pool.
Another thing that bugs me is that they tie up all the deck chairs at
nigt.
I'm with you on this, as well. Usually, I just untie a stack myself but
it sort of makes me feel like a criminal.
Howard
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
I can understand why they do it, but at least make it easy to get one
when you want one. When I untied acouple for us at midnight I was
looking around for someone to almost put me in "cuffs". JDR

[Jim]

From: (Tom=A0&=A0Linda)
You assume that someone one the crew even knew about the meteor
shower... which would be necessary for them to make the announcement.
Spending a lot of time at sea, I'm not sure that they're aware of unique
things like that, something one might find reading the newspaper. Plus,
that is almost the kind of thing that someone would need to have an
interest in. A meteor shower is not like an every day event for the
crew. Their days revolve around the typical cruise or ship related
activities geared toward their functions on board. Some officers would
be up to date on weather and ocean conditions. Others on entertainment.
It would almost seem like a meteor shower would fall below the radar
screen in terms of awareness, unless you had a guest astronomer on
board. Or unless a crew member happened to have an interest in
astronomy.
--Tom
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
IMO, if an officer is up to date on weather he should know about meteor
showers. JDR

[Jim]

From: (Howard=A0and=A0Eileen=A0Garland)
Peter Berlin wrote:
To run in parallel with this survey:
What are things that are *not done* that you would do if you were in a
position to make them happen?>
Funny Peter, there are not many things I would add to a cruise
experience but here are a few:
>snip<
2. Seven day caribbean cruises, with no more than 2 port days, both of
these being at private island beaches.
>snip<
Howard
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
How about the 7 day trans-Atlantic Princess cruise from England to New
York? NO ports of call. JDR

[Tom & Linda]

Jim wrote:
>
> From: (Tom & Linda)
> You assume that someone one the crew even knew about the meteor
> shower... which would be necessary for them to make the announcement.
> Spending a lot of time at sea, I'm not sure that they're aware of unique
> things like that, something one might find reading the newspaper. Plus,
> that is almost the kind of thing that someone would need to have an
> interest in. A meteor shower is not like an every day event for the
> crew. Their days revolve around the typical cruise or ship related
> activities geared toward their functions on board. Some officers would
> be up to date on weather and ocean conditions. Others on entertainment.
> It would almost seem like a meteor shower would fall below the radar
> screen in terms of awareness, unless you had a guest astronomer on
> board. Or unless a crew member happened to have an interest in
> astronomy.
> --Tom
> =======
> IMO, if an officer is up to date on weather he should know about meteor
> showers. JDR

One is weather. The other is astronomy.

I'm not sure I understand the connection.

Moon and tides... Yes. Weather and meteor shower? I don't see it.

--Tom

[Jim]

Re: Another Survey! Things you would eliminate from mass marketcru...

Group: rec.travel.cruises Date: Mon, Sep 15, 2003, 12:57am (EDT+4) From:
(Tom=A0&=A0Linda)
Jim wrote:
From: (Tom & Linda)
You assume that someone one the crew even knew about the meteor
shower... which would be necessary for them to make the announcement.
Spending a lot of time at sea, I'm not sure that they're aware of unique
things like that, something one might find reading the newspaper. Plus,
that is almost the kind of thing that someone would need to have an
interest in. A meteor shower is not like an every day event for the
crew. Their days revolve around the typical cruise or ship related
activities geared toward their functions on board. Some officers would
be up to date on weather and ocean conditions. Others on entertainment.
It would almost seem like a meteor shower would fall below the radar
screen in terms of awareness, unless you had a guest astronomer on
board. Or unless a crew member happened to have an interest in
astronomy.
--Tom
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
IMO, if an officer is up to date on weather he should know about meteor
showers. =A0 JDR
One is weather. The other is astronomy.
I'm not sure I understand the connection.
Moon and tides... Yes. Weather and meteor shower? I don't see it.
--Tom

You brought it up. Tides do have to do with weather,they effect the
weather. JDR

[Howard Garland]

And the best part, Jim, is that they are giving it away ($449 for a
balcony on VTG). Unfortunately, I can't take this one; but last month I
did do the Serenade inaugural (7 day whitewater from Amsterdam to Boston).

Howard

Jim wrote:

> From: (Howard and Eileen Garland)
> Peter Berlin wrote:
> To run in parallel with this survey:
> What are things that are *not done* that you would do if you were in a
> position to make them happen?>
> Funny Peter, there are not many things I would add to a cruise
> experience but here are a few:
> >snip<
> 2. Seven day caribbean cruises, with no more than 2 port days, both of
> these being at private island beaches.
> >snip<
> Howard
> ========
> How about the 7 day trans-Atlantic Princess cruise from England to New
> York? NO ports of call. JDR
>

[Benjamin Smith]

Richard Whitlock wrote:
> Hi:
>
> Mercury had one in the observation lounge.


This is another class answer. The Century class ships (Century, Galaxy,
Mercury) have telescopes in their observation lounges.

Ben S.

>
> Tucker in Texas
>
> Tom & Linda wrote:
>
>
>>Sue and Kevin Mullen wrote:
>>
>>>Major wrote:
>>>
>>>>Sue and Kevin Mullen > wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>And provide telescopes!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Not much use when the ship is rocking even slightly, I'm afraid.
>>>
>>>One ship we were on, don't remember which one, had a telescope! It
>>>worked fine the night we used it.
>>>
>>>sue
>>
>>Century has telescopes in the Hemisphere lounge.
>>
>>--Tom
>
>

[CupCaked]

(Major) wrote:

>"Jean O'Boyle" > wrote:
>
>>One formal night is enough. Especially if there are past cruisers' parties
>>to attend.
>
>Formality in life has essentially been destroyed. Please leave us
>this last vestige of propriety and manners!

Here, here!

Karen



__ /7__/7__/7__
\::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.cupcaked.com/reviews
(...and leave off the "potatoes" to e-mail)

[Rich Cacace]

I don't really see what's causing the problem with all of the extras cruise
line makes money on. If you don't use the services or make the purchases it
doesn't affect you at all except maybe listening to a few the announcements
and that's a small price to pay in order to keep the cruise prices down. I
could even envision a free cruise for all the people willing to gamble a
certain dollar amount similar to the Las Vegas deals.

"Mason Barge" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 14 Sep 2003 19:09:30 GMT, "shoreguy"
> > wrote:
>
> >I have one question for all those that would like to see the removal of
all
> >the marketing onboard. How much would you pay. I for one have no problem
> >letting others buy art or inches of gold so I can enjoy the current
pricing.
>
> I'm with you. Thanks for subsidizing my cruise!
>
> Mason Barge
>
> "If this is coffee, please bring me some tea. If this is tea, please
bring me some coffee."
> -- Abraham Lincoln

[leek]

In article >,
"Jean O'Boyle" > wrote:

> Crew handling food at buffets should always wear gloves.

I don't know about on cruises, but in Illinois (maybe just Chicago or
Cook County...) this is not required as long as the server's hands are
clean - ie washed with soap frequently.

Food service managers say seeing gloves gives us as patrons a false
sense of security. The server could just as easily wipe his/her
nose/eyes with a gloved hand, pick something dirty up, touch something
nasty around the kitchen, whatever, and put that hand back onto the food.

[Jean O'Boyle]

"leek" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> "Jean O'Boyle" > wrote:
>
> > Crew handling food at buffets should always wear gloves.
>
> I don't know about on cruises, but in Illinois (maybe just Chicago or
> Cook County...) this is not required as long as the server's hands are
> clean - ie washed with soap frequently.

And who enforces that they do this~especially when they go to the restroom?
I have reported restrooms that are out of soap to the employees several
times in my lifetime which is not so short! ;-).

> Food service managers say seeing gloves gives us as patrons a false
> sense of security. The server could just as easily wipe his/her
> nose/eyes with a gloved hand, pick something dirty up, touch something
> nasty around the kitchen, whatever, and put that hand back onto the food.

If they were told to put their gloves on upon entering the buffet area, I
doubt that they would wipe their nose,
& eyes in plain view! Hand surface picks up more bacteria then plastic glove
surface does. Warm moist hands are bacteria's playground. I appreciated the
young man who made my hot pastami on rye sandwiches in the deli on Carnival
Pride wearing clear plastic gloves.

--Jean

[Jean O'Boyle]

> (Major) wrote:
..
> >
> >Formality in life has essentially been destroyed. Please leave us
> >this last vestige of propriety and manners!

I myself, enjoy the formal nights, but I think more and more, unfortunately,
life is becoming more casual and today's dress everywhere reflects that. If
the dress codes are not enforced on formal night, which they are not, more
and more, it takes away from the whole elegant formal affair destroying the
the entire effect of grandeur. Perhaps if one night were formal night, there
would not be so many protests from those who complain about formal nights
and they would not mind eating in an alternative restaurant just one time if
they did not wish to participate. .Cruises anymore, are not cruise liner
experiences, but vacations that people want to spend as casually as on land,
which again unfortunately, is far too casual in many instances and not in
good taste.
JMHO,

--Jean

[Rich Cacace]

I'm one that does not like to dress on the formal nights & although I do
wear my jacket & tie I usually remove them during the meal. I'm not posting
this in order to start any wars among the dressers but if the cruise lines
offered the exact meals in an alternate dining room without the additional
charge I would be more that happy to skip the formal party in the main
dining room. Most of the times the meals I've seen in the buffet area have
not been up to par with the main dining room food.

"Jean O'Boyle" > wrote in message
y.com...
>
> > (Major) wrote:
> .
> > >
> > >Formality in life has essentially been destroyed. Please leave us
> > >this last vestige of propriety and manners!
>
> I myself, enjoy the formal nights, but I think more and more,
unfortunately,
> life is becoming more casual and today's dress everywhere reflects that.
If
> the dress codes are not enforced on formal night, which they are not, more
> and more, it takes away from the whole elegant formal affair destroying
the
> the entire effect of grandeur. Perhaps if one night were formal night,
there
> would not be so many protests from those who complain about formal nights
> and they would not mind eating in an alternative restaurant just one time
if
> they did not wish to participate. .Cruises anymore, are not cruise liner
> experiences, but vacations that people want to spend as casually as on
land,
> which again unfortunately, is far too casual in many instances and not in
> good taste.
> JMHO,
>
> --Jean
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

[Jean O'Boyle]

"Rich Cacace" <richcacace-REMOVE TO > wrote in message
.net...
> I'm one that does not like to dress on the formal nights & although I do
> wear my jacket & tie I usually remove them during the meal. I'm not
posting
> this in order to start any wars among the dressers but if the cruise lines
> offered the exact meals in an alternate dining room without the additional
> charge I would be more that happy to skip the formal party in the main
> dining room. Most of the times the meals I've seen in the buffet area
have
> not been up to par with the main dining room food.

That might be the solution, Rich, if enough people who do not like formal
night, request that the same menu be offered in the buffet area. It would
make those who do and those who don't both happy

--Jean

[Howard Garland]

Rich Cacace wrote:

> I'm one that does not like to dress on the formal nights & although I do
> wear my jacket & tie I usually remove them during the meal. I'm not posting
> this in order to start any wars among the dressers but if the cruise lines
> offered the exact meals in an alternate dining room without the additional
> charge I would be more that happy to skip the formal party in the main
> dining room. Most of the times the meals I've seen in the buffet area have
> not been up to par with the main dining room food.

I like to wear a Tux on formal night but I don't, at all, care what my
fellow pax wear. Furthermore, if it's too warm for me in a ships dining
room, I think nothing of removing my jacket while I eat. As far as I'm
concerned, Rich, wear what makes you feel comfortable.

Howard

[Rich Cacace]

Of course I can do without the baggy jeans, sneakers & baseball hats!

"Howard Garland" > wrote in message
...
> Rich Cacace wrote:
>
> > I'm one that does not like to dress on the formal nights & although I do
> > wear my jacket & tie I usually remove them during the meal. I'm not
posting
> > this in order to start any wars among the dressers but if the cruise
lines
> > offered the exact meals in an alternate dining room without the
additional
> > charge I would be more that happy to skip the formal party in the main
> > dining room. Most of the times the meals I've seen in the buffet area
have
> > not been up to par with the main dining room food.
>
> I like to wear a Tux on formal night but I don't, at all, care what my
> fellow pax wear. Furthermore, if it's too warm for me in a ships dining
> room, I think nothing of removing my jacket while I eat. As far as I'm
> concerned, Rich, wear what makes you feel comfortable.
>
> Howard
>

[Howard Garland]

Rich Cacace wrote:

> Of course I can do without the baggy jeans, sneakers & baseball hats!

Hey Rich, that's nor fair. I give you freedom of choice and you dis my
preferred manner of dress on all but formal nights. :)

[Steve Hayes]

Howard,
I would eliminate the following:
The PHOTOGRAPHERS.
All forms of blatant advertising.
Canned music.
Plastic plates and plastic glassware.
Poor sightlines in showrooms.

BTW, I am on the Coral Princess as we speak and have all of the above.
The ship still has MANY positives which I love and will go into detail
later.
Steve Hayes

Howard Garland > wrote in message >...
> As most of you know, I am hooked on mass market cruising. I love the
> newer big ships, with their soaring atria, fully equipped gyms, rock
> climbing walls, laser displays in showrooms, etc. Nevertheless, there
> are a large number of things that I would eliminate from the current
> cruise experience if I were "king for a day". Here are a few that come
> to mind, in no particular order:
>
> Ice and fruit carving demonstrations, exhibitions, and parades.
> Those poor excuse for "baked" alaska parades.
> Constant advertising, whether on my stateroom loudspeaker or on (under)
> my stateroom door.
> Cruise directors with loud, shrill voices.
> Cruise social staff who waste so much of my precious deck party time
> trying to teach me how to have fun.
> Passenger talent shows.
> Hairy chest, sexy leg, knobby knee, and all other passenger contests.
> Fashion shows by the pool.
> Waiters singing O Solo Mio, God Bless America, etc.
>
> I am interested to know what some of you would eliminate from current
> cruise line protocol, if you could.

[Ermalee]

Howard Garland wrote:
>
> Rich Cacace wrote:
>
> > Of course I can do without the baggy jeans, sneakers & baseball hats!
>
> Hey Rich, that's nor fair. I give you freedom of choice and you dis my
> preferred manner of dress on all but formal nights. :)

Howard, I personally prefer your manner of dress around the pool.

Ermalee

[Rich Cacace]

Oh it's fine with me if you like that sort of thing but it's just a little
to much dress down for my taste.
"Howard Garland" > wrote in message
...
> Rich Cacace wrote:
>
> > Of course I can do without the baggy jeans, sneakers & baseball hats!
>
> Hey Rich, that's nor fair. I give you freedom of choice and you dis my
> preferred manner of dress on all but formal nights. :)
>

[[email protected]]

Smoking, why do my lungs and throat have to suffer. I like the Paradise
but wish to enjoy other ships without having to gasp for air.

[Becca]

> We returned to our cabin and continued to enjoy the show
> out on our balcony until sunrise.

Howard, I also watched the meteor shower from the balcony. Sammy did
not join me, he slept through it.

Becca <-----had a wonderful time on the Legend...

Norwegian Dawn http://www.cruisemaster.com/dawn.htm
Sleazy3 http://www.cruisemaster.com/sleazy3.htm

[FeAudrey]

In article >,
says...
>
>
>I would settle for just ONE smoke free bar on a ship.


How about a music-free bar?

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