Why I'm unlikely to ever "Cruise" (At least on a large ship)

[Pushka]

Not to get into a discussion about ethics, but if people did have an ethics problem with the way staff are treated they probably shouldn't fly a number of big airlines nor transit/visit many countries.

Too true. I guess with cruises there is more contact with crew. But going out of your way to be polite and friendly helps a treat.

 

[woodyren]

Not to get into a discussion about ethics, but if people did have an ethics problem with the way staff are treated they probably shouldn't fly a number of big airlines nor transit/visit many countries.

Or buy sneakers and iPhones.

 

[drron]

Anna probably has read this site.Cruise lines often deserve their bad reputation.
Rape : Cruise Law News

 

[straitman]

Thanks Pushka for the heads up on cruising Croatia. I've never cruised before so that looks like a wonderful place to start. I'm currently planning a Oneworld 280k and am looking at a 7 -10 day cruise along the way. Can't stand crowds or queues (where I don't have the option to walk away) so the smaller vessel looks like a good choice.

I think the queue issue has been overblown. I don’t tolerate large queues very well and walk away if it’s an issue. Only occasionally is there a line up that is similar to what we all tolerate at airports. Just mentioning this to keep the discussion on track.

 

[woodyren]

Too true. I guess with cruises there is more contact with crew. But going out of your way to be polite and friendly helps a treat.

Totally agree. Go out of my way to be polite and thank anyone who works as hard at their job as almost all these crew members do in order to make my holidays as enjoyable as they have been.

 

[Pushka]

Just remember that your Fairstar cruise will count toward your status level on Princess cruises.

How could I prove? This was pre email days.

Thanks Pushka for the heads up on cruising Croatia. I've never cruised before so that looks like a wonderful place to start. I'm currently planning a Oneworld 280k and am looking at a 7 -10 day cruise along the way. Can't stand crowds or queues (where I don't have the option to walk away) so the smaller vessel looks like a good choice.

Watch out for trio report in late May and June. I don’t do queues well either but as long as everyone obeys the queue rule and the line keeps moving I’m fine.

 

[UP4014]

Ships look like they our out of a 1950's Scientific America mag. I like them.

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/

 

[UP4014]

Anna probably has read this site.Cruise lines often deserve their bad reputation.
Rape : Cruise Law News

Agree, what ever happened to the Captain being responsible. They duck and weave and rarely seen when these problems come up.

 

[straitman]

How could I prove? This was pre email days.

I'd ring Princess and ask if I was you.

It may be as simple as a stat dec.

 

[get me outta here]

I spent 5 weeks on the Achille Lauro, can I credit that anywhere?

 

[Anna]

I think the queue issue has been overblown.

Totally agree. Tender ports are always more problematic than ports where the ship can berth at the pier, not just for this reason but also because weather can more easily rule out the port being visited at all. But many cruises don't involve any tender ports, so it's not logical to totally rule out cruising because of possible queues for tenders.

I don't recall having to queue for anything on the recent AFF cruise except for about 5 minutes waiting for fresh scones one afternoon tea time. There were a zillion other food choices I could have made, so it was actually my choice to queue up. At embarkation I walked straight on to the ship with no waiting and same for disembarkation, just walked straight off when I was ready. True, I chose not to go ashore at KI on the tenders because I've been there before and it was so hot that day.

 

[Anna]

How could I prove? This was pre email days.

Surely you must have some incriminating photos hidden away that you could produce?

 

[Pushka]

Surely you must have some incriminating photos hidden away that you could produce?

I think it was most definitely film and not digital in those days. But I do have a couple of me drinking root beer on a pier in American Samoa. Thought I was very sophisticated. I did have a P&O scarf from that cruise that was made in Italy, but lost it while disembarking on QM2 in Hong Kong. Which was not a great experience. Horrible in fact.

 

[Guvner]

I think it was most definitely film and not digital in those days. But I do have a couple of me drinking root beer on a pier in American Samoa. Thought I was very sophisticated. I did have a P&O scarf from that cruise that was made in Italy, but lost it while disembarking on QM2 in Hong Kong. Which was not a great experience. Horrible in fact.

Which was the horrible part?

• The QM2
• Disembarkation
• Hong Kong
• Loss of P&O scarf

 

[Pushka]

Which was the horrible part?

• The QM2
• Disembarkation
• Hong Kong
• Loss of P&O scarf

Loved QM2.
The last 3. It was the first time at the Port and a new Port and it was rather daunting. And I did like my scarf. It fell off a hat I was holding. Thinking back I heard someone ask if someone was missing a scarf on the ship but I didn’t click.

 

[Bazzi]

P&O British version is chalk and cheese to the Aussie P&O. Feel sorry for any Brits expecting the same when down under.

Totally agree with Pushka. I sailed on the Aurora last year MEL SYD. The ship was beautiful, the crew terrific, great lounge bars (with very reasonable prices - $12 for a glass of Lanson). 80% of the passengers were doing the Southampton to Southampton journey and many that I met had done the trip more than once. Lovely Brits on board, diverse demographic, and while no formal nights when I was on board, it was so lovely to see everyone well dressed for drinks and dinner - not a thong or runner in sight!

Both the Aurora and Arcadia visited Australia last year but their customer base for RTW cruising is dwindling (time seems to be the factor) so only the Arcadia doing RTW this year. A proportion of passengers disembark in SYD (half way) which allows for a short sector to be sold although not always easy to find, not all agencies get the allocation to sell. We are sailing on the Arcadia SYD BNE at the end of the month. Tendered in SYD harbour the first night and 2 nights cruising to BNE. Arcadia is also an adults only ship.

 

[Bigtones]

Oh dear. Such a weird perception of cruises. Yes sometimes it’s crowded. Muster comes to mind. But the same applies to land trips. Try any of the Med countries in summer. People everywhere. I don’t see the difference. Gauging?? Guess what. You have to pay for alcohol on Qantas. Some cruise lines provide it. Check Viking and the like. Ok. So there was a queue for the tender. Seriously - if that’s enough to put you off cruising then do not go to Santorini and the like or China, New York Empire State or Rockefeller, St Petersburg, and so on.

Many don’t go on the organised excursions but do their own, usually with maybe 6 people and often in a luxury style limo for less than the ship charges. That’s how we usually do it.

We don’t go to the shows. After a day on excursions we simply enjoy dinner, wine, being with friends then sleep.

Cruising is what you make of it. You don’t have to do anything directed by the cruise line except embark, go to muster, then get off.

I understand people not wishing to cruise who get sea sick.

Given many here have never cruised before it’s just rather weird to have an opinion on something you’ve not personally experienced.

I totally agree, it is weird to have a opinion on something you’ve never experienced, (The Earth is flat if you sail to the horizon you’ll fall off LOL). Also you can’t compare Cruising on small boats like a Cat or dive boat to a huge cruise liner. These days ships have fantastic stabilization systems, sometimes you forget your on a ship.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Little chance!

(At least on a large ship.)

Land resorts are bad enough, but who wants to be herded into a floating hotel like cattle then herded off days later with every effort made in between to take money out of your
pocket to line someone else's while effectively being held captive?

Everyone is different, and until recently I had been considering it, but some finer details were made apparent recently and it was not a good look from my perspective.

we have felt the same for years, but there are some things where you almost have to take a cruise! We have booked an Antarctica cruise for next January and are a bit nervous (for many reasons, including sea sickness). It is a Silverseas but with 200 passengers, as the smaller ship’s dates didn’t suit. So by next year either our prejudices will be confirmed or we will be converts. Don’t see it actually - I think we will always prefer to do our own thing. With the proliferation of private tours in every locality, so easy to go to a place and get your own specialist guide, rather than being herded around.

 

[Bolthead]

I think it was most definitely film and not digital in those days. But I do have a couple of me drinking root beer on a pier in American Samoa. Thought I was very sophisticated. I did have a P&O scarf from that cruise that was made in Italy, but lost it while disembarking on QM2 in Hong Kong. Which was not a great experience. Horrible in fact.

CRUISE HISTORY
Mr. Ian Clement

11 TOTAL CRUISES SAILED | 121 TOTAL CRUISE DAYS

2018 Golden Princess Asia/Exotics Future 1 13
2017 Sun Princess South Pacific Completed 1 12
2015 Regal Princess Europe Completed 1 11
2015 Emerald Princess Europe Completed 3 21
2015 Sea Princess World Completed 1 20
2015 Diamond Princess Asia/Exotics Completed 1 19
2014 Dawn Princess South Pacific Completed 1 3
2010 Sea Princess Panama Canal Completed 1 15
2007 Tahitian Princess Tahiti Completed 1 10
1980 Fairstar (sitmar) South Pacific Completed 1 10

This is an extract from my Princess Cruise history and as you can see it includes my first cruise on the Fairstar back in 1980. The cruise back then was a 17 night cruise however the history shows only 10 days. I emailed them and below was their response.

Hello Captains Circle

I was just looking at my past cruise history and I noted that the days for my very first cruise on the Fairstar (sitmar cruises - 1980) has changed. It previously was 14 days and it has now changed to 10 days. The interesting thing is it was actually 17 days but I never complained considering the cruise was such a long time ago. Is there a reason it has changed and can it be changed back to 14 (or 17 would be better)?

Thanks and king regards

Bolthead

RESPONSE:
Department, Captains Circle (PCL) <[email protected]>
02/12/2017

to Bolthead

Good Day Mr. Bolthead

Thank you for your recent email. The voyage for the year of 1980 on Sitmar is not valed because the entry was not made legally. It was entered manually by an outside souce. We are suppose to remove it from your cruise history unless you are able to provide proof of sailing, however we will leave it as is as a courtesy to you. We will need the following information in order to add additional cruises days. Please provide proof of sailing to include date, destination, duration and ship name. Proof of sailing can be photos, documentation, credit card receipts, shipboard memorabilia, etc. Upon receipt of your information we will review and update your account accordingly.

Sincerely,
Captain’s Circle Department

Princess Cruises

1-800-PRINCESS Option 2

Not sure what they mean by illegal entry considering it was definately Princess that posted this cruise to my history....I have always booked direct with Princess until recently. (use Cruise Pilot now)

 

[Denali]

I spent 5 weeks on the Achille Lauro, can I credit that anywhere?

Thats a name I havent heard in a long time, was this before or after the hijacking?