1st time cruiser- shocked at constant sales pressure on ship

Curious about what you are referring to. I have never felt pressured into buying things.

I do not go to the spa though and I hear there is pressure to buy there but I also hear if you tell them "no upsell" they will stop.

Yes the cd advertises their sales on the PA system.

But no I have not felt pressure to buy. Maybe because I just go about my own business and if I am not interested leave.

I think the point OP is trying to make is that the CONSTANT "no thank you's" becomes extremely annoying. It's when they're in your face trying to sell you something. Not the paper ads in the room, not the announcements. It's when they approach you in person and make you feel uncomfortable.

Some people handle it better than others. And some people get downright annoyed to the point of nothing wanting to deal with it ever again.

I think the point OP is trying to make is that the CONSTANT "no thank you's" becomes extremely annoying. It's when they're in your face trying to sell you something. Not the paper ads in the room, not the announcements. It's when they approach you in person and make you feel uncomfortable.

Some people handle it better than others. And some people get downright annoyed to the point of nothing wanting to deal with it ever again.

It would be nice if the OP participated in his own thread! :rolleyes:

I get the feeling that we are only discussing this among ourselves. It appears the OP had no intention of sticking around to read what we had to say, but only came here to complain. :(

I avoid spa purchases because they are very expensive and all I have tried included very hard sells for products.

Wine tastings often include reminders that these wines are parts of packages.

Alaskan cruises seem to be heavy on promoting jewelry/t-shirt stores that may be owned by cruise line partnerships.

Art auctions are an embarrassment to the cruise industry in my mind, but there are people who faithfully attend.

I was pleasantly surprised that HAL Zuiderdam shore programs were actually presentations, not sales oriented. I'd say the shore program on Venice was indispensable for those who've never been to Venice before.

I have no problem walking out if a "program" becomes an offensive sales pitch.

Your cruise is what you of it. I wish you had given the cruise line that you used, because I would avoid it.

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I think the point OP is trying to make is that the CONSTANT "no thank you's" becomes extremely annoying. It's when they're in your face trying to sell you something. Not the paper ads in the room, not the announcements. It's when they approach you in person and make you feel uncomfortable.

Some people handle it better than others. And some people get downright annoyed to the point of nothing wanting to deal with it ever again.

Maybe if the OP returns and posts the name of the cruise line, many can reassure him that he was on a cruise line known for what he was complaining about, and could suggest possible cruise lines he can try for a different experience.

I'm 65, a recent retiree, and have just taken the first of what I expected would be many cruises. However, if my recent experience is typical of cruising, then it was my last cruise. I have always heard that a cruise offered lots of entertainment venues aboard ship. I found however, that almost every "entertainment" activity offered was actually just a thinly disguised sales pitch. At every activity we attended we were pressured to buy one thing or another. Are all cruise lines like this? (I will with hold the name of our cruise line, but it was one of the major ones.) Someone please tell me that all cruise lines do not constantly hound you to buy things.

I'll try to remember to come back and post more after my next cruise, as my first one was I suspect a bit off the ordinary for the cruise line. So far, my experience is the level of sales pitch varies depending on the activity. There wasn't much if any sales pitch at the active stuff like rock climbing, iFly, rip cord, etc. Stuff like the casino, art, and photos which really are only there for the $$ we did get hassled a little more. Did not mind as much at the art due to the free alcohol, but it was clear it was only designed to loosen purse strings. Much of the daily cruise activity brochure and everything from the cruise line on the TV was buy it, try it, oh come on you know you want to. No one seemed the least bothered when met with a no, however, and moved on quickly to others with looser purse strings.

 

But it seemed our table stewards were on some sort of incentive programme to sell drinks with breakfast, lunch and dinner and special coffees afterwards. Because we had traditional seating we came to respect and like our stewards and hated to forever decline. We'd stupidly buy wine once in awhile and so give the poor guy hope of future sales. For our upcoming Princess (booked before this negative experience) we're considering simply saying we must abstain for health reasons and perhaps avoid some of the pressure.

 

We prefer the dining room so couldn't avoid this at all THREE meals.

 

 

 

For the record, we've never brought with us the allowed bottles of wine.

 

Ruth

I'm quoting myself, but have found it interesting that this aspect of sales' pitches bothered no one. Perhaps I'm too sensitive to wanting to please someone who is serving us.

Interestingly, when I wrote up a quick review of the cruise, several others agreed.

All other sales' pitches can either be avoided or simply declined with a polite no thanks, our poor stewards accepted a no thanks but lived in eternal hope three times each dinner. And they were definitely Princess employees.

Ruth

I'm quoting myself, but have found it interesting that this aspect of sales' pitches bothered no one. Perhaps I'm too sensitive to wanting to please someone who is serving us.

 

Interestingly, when I wrote up a quick review of the cruise, several others agreed.

 

All other sales' pitches can either be avoided or simply declined with a polite no thanks, our poor stewards accepted a no thanks but lived in eternal hope three times each dinner. And they were definitely Princess employees.

 

Ruth

But you have the people who find that "attentive" and complain that no one offered them drinks...

Another welcome to Cruise Critic.

I remember my first cruise way back in 2005. We attended every show and every presentation. Yes at the presentations we were ask to buy, buy, buy. The first show was the Shoppers/Island Show where we were told we just had to have the book that gave us countless coupons at most of the shops on each island. Big mistake on our part but we did learn.

And of course there were tables set up for Spa Services, jewelry by the inch, watches on sale and $10 purses and hats. Every where we looked someone was selling something.

Then there were the photographers constantly trying to take our pictures both on and off the ship. And when the photographers weren't after us the bar servers were with their colorful drinks in every shape of glass you can think of, including coconuts. Thank goodness we are not drinkers because I would have hate to see what our bar bill would have been .

But in-between all this we saw wonderful shows put on by the ship's singers and dancers along with the guest entertainers. We were spoiled every night by having our meals served to us and not having to wash dishes every night like at home.

In the morning we would get up early to go for breakfast and then find a seat somewhere in the shade by the pool to listen to the music (we are not sun worshippers). When we would go back to our cabin later in the morning we would find our cabin was cleaned; beds made, carpet vacuumed and fresh towels in our bathroom.

And we went to islands I never imagined I would go to since I don't fly. I saw sites and tastes new and exciting things all thanks to that first cruise ship that brought me to these islands. I just took cruise #16 this past March. All because I learn to over look those pesky sales pitches and say no.

So don't give up on cruising. Just learn to say "no thank you" and keep walking past those photographers, spa ladies, bar servers, etc. if you don't want any of their services or wares. All the ones we told a polite no to were nice about it and just smile and told us to enjoy our cruise.

I heard all the chatter prior to my 1st cruise (w/NCL) and avoided what might be pure sales pitches. As I came into my vacation expecting to have a lot of soliciting...I was surprised that it was not really as bad as expected and a lot more "soft" selling without pressure at multiple corners. Sort of what you might find at any popular tourist location on a land vacation! Just smile and move on!

Diane [emoji2]

I heard all the chatter prior to my 1st cruise (w/NCL) and avoided what might be pure sales pitches. As I came into my vacation expecting to have a lot of soliciting...I was surprised that it was not really as bad as expected and a lot more "soft" selling without pressure at multiple corners. Sort of what you might find at any popular tourist location on a land vacation! Just smile and move on!

 

 

Diane [emoji2]

Diane, I agree. My one and only NCL cruise reminded me very much of the experience I had at a popular tourist location on a land - the dreaded walk between casinos in Las Vegas. All those hawkers shoving in our faces their advertisement flyers, casino discount cards, directions to girlie joints, and offers for tours. Not much different than on NCL (minus the girlie joints).

I don't have a good opinion of Las Vegas, and I also don't have a good opinion of NCL. But, some people love them. Go figure!

The mass market lines are always pushing you to buy something.. You are right most activities contain a sales pitch, usually for BINGO, or the Art Auction, or something else just as foolish. No on forces you to buy any of that stuff. Just consider it like the ads on TV, ignore it and go have fun. It's not worth worrying about, unless of course you fall for the sales pitch.

Love your term, "mass market". If you want inexpensive cruise fares that's going to be the trade off. The daily costs of running a cruise ship are huge. If your fare doesn't make a ship as profitable as the lines stock holders want it to be the extra money needs to be made up elsewhere which translates into profit generating sale offerings. Don't let all the 'offers' dissuade you from trying a few other cruises. Next time try a ship that isn't as 'mass market' and enjoy your retirement. Keep in mind that if you don't travel first class - your kids will ;).

Love your term, "mass market". If you want inexpensive cruise fares that's going to be the trade off. The daily costs of running a cruise ship are huge. If your fare doesn't make a ship as profitable as the lines stock holders want it to be the extra money needs to be made up elsewhere which translates into profit generating sale offerings. Don't let all the 'offers' dissuade you from trying a few other cruises. Next time try a ship that isn't as 'mass market' and enjoy your retirement. Keep in mind that if you don't travel first class - your kids will ;).

And be prepared for the "sticker shock" when you see the price!!!

As for lumping all cruise lines into the pushy sales "mass market" barrel, some of these lines are much more restrained than others when it comes to pushy sales techniques. My wife and I favor Celebrity. We have never felt pushed to purchase anything on any of their ships - ever. Yes, there are tables set up occasionally. But the guests must make the effort to stop and ask about the items for sale. We were never "pushed" to stop.

I suggest that the OP - if he is even bothering to read these comments - try the premium mass market lines to see if they offer a more acceptable environment.

OP came back once the next morning to look and has been gone since.

OP came back once the next morning to look and has been gone since.

Maybe they just wanted to read all of our experiences and advice and had nothing else to add.

I just say no. Lol.

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OP came back once the next morning to look and has been gone since.

He's afraid someone may try to sell him something in this thread.