Beachdude

I guess I don’t understand. Stressing over the small stuff is what the forum is all about.😳

B

7 minutes ago, navybankerteacher said:

We had a good Cunard cruise over Christmas and New Years - but remarked that they — along with every othe line we have sailed - continue to show declining food quality —— it seems to be part of business plans across the industry.

I’m speaking of the buffet, breakfast and lunch was very good. Their dinner buffet wasn’t as good, but the dining room was above average. 
 

B

1 hour ago, navybankerteacher said:

“...just about the time the food quality was getting good...”????? What lines are you talking about?

 

Princess was surprisingly good on our New Years Cruise.

B 

22 minutes ago, davekathy said:

Speaking for yourself.

I guess. We have been cruising for over 20 years and watched the trends change. We ourselves are not fans of buffets, but they have become a higher priority over dining  rooms for breakfasts and lunches. just about the time the food quality is getting good, we get  hit with Corona. 

So many theories. The American passengers are who made buffets popular on cruise ships. “It’s my vacation” and “no formal wear policy”. It’s the Americans (Canadians?) who have shift their way of thinking. It will be internet to watch. Smaller ships?

Yep, we noticed it too. Unusual for a cruise line. The price difference forced us to research booking ourselves and finding good deals. I'm sure a lot of passengers don't care, so that's good for Windstar.

I can see some security in paying extra for travelers who don't like to research airlines and hotels. 

B

On ‎2‎/‎22‎/‎2020 at 3:14 PM, SeaPink0409 said:

We have a 12 day Southern Caribbean cruise for our 15th wedding anniversary in April. Baring Jesus coming back, , the cruise line canceling or one of us having the full blown flu, we are going, and we will be living our best lives.  We have SO much to celebrate and I can’t wait!  
Not to seem ignorant to the situation, but when it’s my time, it’s my time. Nothing can stop it, so why do I need to worry? I’m not going to live in fear because someone said “the sky is falling!”

My heart truly breaks for the people & countries that are dealing with this virus right now, and for those that have lost their lives. I can’t imagine my elderly parents contracting it. They don’t travel at all and live in a very small town.. so I am more concerned with the flu for them right now. I will agree that if you watch the news constantly, it’s scary... but a lot of things are in this life.  My husband and I are healthy, have no underlying medical

issues and we will be cruising, and going about our daily lives. My husband travels for work quite a bit. He has no choice. You need to use common sense, but you can’t let fear rule the day!  

I respect your reasoning for going on the trip. I'm sure you will be fine. But, using the "Sky if falling" term is not going to make you many friends. This is a real world health issue, so maybe little respect for those who are more concerned is a sound approach.

B

I believe this will hit (hurt) the cruise industry as much as 9-11. This is a serious virus that will kill a large number of people world wide. We are talking about cruise ships that corral a large number of people close together touching and breathing next to each other. It's not the Noro, which basically makes for an unpleasant few days. The coronavirus requires serious hospitalization. Kids and elderly are especially at risk. At the very least, the policy changes for how ships deal with minimalizing the spreading of viruses will likely be a hassle. We have been on a ship with Noro and that is not a fun cruise.

We have a river cruise and Tahiti cruise planned this year and so we are watching how travelers are being screened. Luckily, our Tahiti cruise is next October, so we believe how this will be sorted out by then. But, if we feel the risk is still there, our trips are insured. 

B

16 hours ago, skynight said:

If you don't pre-book in the cruise personlizer then make certain you call the dining line or visit the Crown Grill asap on boarding day. Generally we have found that the Crown Grill is busy on 7 day cruises.

Agreed. We  made reservations to the Crown when we got on board, but the food was so good in the Dining room that we cancelled. Towards the end of the week we decided to try and make reservations to the Crown again just for something different, but never could. That was frustrating in of itself because the staff doesn't want to say "No", so they led us on that something may open up, so hang around. They just need to learn to say "No, don't call us, we'll call you." like other cruise ships do. Anyway, based on Princess past experiences, I honestly don't think the food is any better in the Crown, it's just a different experience. I did try the steak in the Dining room and it was quite good.

For those who like their steak rare, the staff seems a bit uncomfortable with it, so they tried to scare me by calling their style of rare, "Blue Rare". I didn't take the bait and ordered it as rare as they are willing to cook it. It came out just rare like you get in a high end restaurant. Nothing blue about it. So don't let them scare you.

I don't typically get lobster on cruises because I'm always disappointed, but my wife's (Swiss) lobster was excellent. I will get it next time.

I haven't read all the Sky reviews, so I don't know the negatives, but other than the anytime dining confusion, we love the Sky. If we have any negatives, it's more of the usual Princess things like the low to mediocre entertainment. To many card players and book readers in the buffet during lunch, so finding a table can be a challenge. And I miss the saunas that the other class ships have. These is a minor things of course. The ship is beautiful and enjoyable to walk around.

Swiss and I think the cruise director is so so, which matches the personality of the entertainment.  We did try the late-night naughty game show because we were curious and felt they go a little too far, but maybe that is a generation thing. The Cruise Director leads that stuff, which we feel is not appropriate for a cruise director. But as I said, maybe that is a generation thing. I'm glad to be in my generation. 

You're going to have fun, it's a good ship and crew. 

B

Food is the best we've had cruising the last few years. What we struggled with on Sky is the Anytime Dining. No matter what time we tried to get in, we had to wait about an hour. Either we don't understand their policy or we just did it wrong. But they always handed us a pager and told us 45 minutes or more. Always more. It's not like we never done anytime dinning, we have been Anytime Diners for the last 15 years on several different cruise lines and ships. Sky was just harder.

That being said, we loved Sky and look forward to cruising that ship again.

B

Thanks for any information and directions for St. John Beaches. This was one of our favorite beach days, but we haven't been back since the hurricane.

B.

23 minutes ago, beachbum53 said:

Not sure why you said "condescending tone"? If you're mistaking my blunt honesty as "condescending", so be it. No, I've never experienced norovirus, or any illness on a cruise.

Of course not. Come back to us when your opinion has any weight. Until then, your posts on the subject of the norovirus are just acts of vanity.

Burt

1 hour ago, beachbum53 said:

 

I can't help but wonder,  how can someone that is a germaphobe truly relax and enjoy their vacation while worrying about the personal hygiene practices of others? I highly doubt that anyone has ever contracted norovirus from someone that is in good health that didn't wash their hands after taking a whiz. 

I've already assumed it because your condescending tone doesn't share the seriousness of the situation, but have you experienced a cruise with norovirus?

Burt

16 hours ago, beachbum53 said:

I remember that too, and it made me wonder. Did that person stand inside the restroom for several hours at a time, taking notice of who did or did not wash their hands, and then follow each person that didn't wash their hands to see where they went after leaving the restroom? Kind of creepy. Almost perverse.

Are you a creep for asking the person next to you with a cold to cover their mouth as they sneeze or cough? How creepy is suggesting the person standing in front of you in line who shows signs of the flu to go back to their room? 

As I said, after dealing with the harsh realities of norovirus on a ship of 3000 passengers; habits for sanitation and sterility continually preached by the crew become vivid and 2nd nature.

When the chap humming to his urinal next to you turns around and walks directly to grab the door handle while still zipping up exits strait into dining room,  theater, buffet line, casino, or captains welcoming party, without making any attempt to prevent spreading the virus, he is judged no less than a criminal. 

Creepy? It's my vacation too. Is it really so much to ask anyone who enters the public restroom to wash their hands after shedding their bodily waste? 

Burt

I remember a discussion on this forum from a passenger complaining at the number of passengers who don't wash their hands after using the bathroom. I agree with that OP and I was very surprised at the number of posters who told him to mind his own business because it wasn't a big deal. Anyone who doesn't think washing hands on a cruise is a big deal hasn't experienced a ship with norovirus. Everything has to be cleaned and the staff handles all foods and drinks. That means you have to request a crew member come over to salt and pepper your fried eggs, which got cold while waiting 15 minutes in line for a cup of coffee.

Take 30 seconds and wash your hands.

Burt

43 minutes ago, misguy said:

My wife and I repeatedly ate breakfast and lunch in the buffet and found the food to range from acceptable to very good.  I will be posting pictures of the various themed buffets on my blog.

https://travelingwithachair.blogspot.com/

 

Yes, but aren't we talking about quality of taste?

Burt

13 hours ago, SRF said:

 

You get what you pay for.   If you want luxury, pick a luxury line, but realize you will pay a premium price.

I disagree, food service doesn't have to be McDonalds level quality for Walmart cruisers. We've sailed most of the difference Walmart budget lines lately, but somehow ended up with food service a step about rest on Celebrity. Now some Walmart cruisers find Celebrity out of their price range (Target?), but we have manage several good deals with the line. I admit maybe they save cost on their entertainment side, but it' all about finding balance.

Burt

2 minutes ago, SRF said:

It always amazes me that people cruise on low cost lines, then complain about the food and nickle and dimeing.

 

 

 

I believe in the notion of the "Squeaky Wheel".

Just how far will any company reduce the quality of their product if nobody expresses their opinion. The cruise lines even ask for a review after each cruise.

There is a balance between prices, profit and quality. Only the customer can set that balance.

SQUEAK AWAY!

Burt

52 minutes ago, Beachdude said:

Cruise line food taste and quality in general the last few years seems to continually go up and down. I suspect they are constantly experimenting to find the balance of lower cost without a full mutiny. Americans are fast foodies who care more about fast service than taste quality. I suspect the cruise lines haven't reached bottom yet.

 

 

40 minutes ago, Joebucks said:

The cruise food is sufficient for the price. I rarely eat at the buffet, but when I do, it's never $1 TV dinner quality. I remember on my first Carnival cruise being extremely disappointed by the burgers they had on the buffet. Ever since they retooled it with Guy's, I'm happy as can be. Sure you can nitpick, but I feel stuff like that is a step in the right direction.

We are doomed.

Burt

We found the buffet food in recent cruises on RC, Carnival and Princess not so good. However, the buffet on Celebrity a few weeks ago was surprisingly very good. Good enough we ate dinner there one night when were very tired and we have never done that before in our 20 something years of cruising. Our only loyalty to cruise lines is the best deal for the time we want to sail. But the difference in food quality might make us think twice with Celebrity.

Cruise line food taste and quality in general the last few years seems to continually go up and down. I suspect they are constantly experimenting to find the balance of lower cost without a full mutiny. Americans are fast foodies who care more about fast service than taste quality. I suspect the cruise lines haven't reached bottom yet.

Burt

3 hours ago, Schoifmom said:

Looking over those threads, it seems that she got the same answers there as she has here.  Perhaps she should have learned from the first go around ...

Most replies didn't answer question, so maybe she had to post twice to get an answer. My thanks to the two posters who actually did answer the question. I learned something from them.

Burt

2 minutes ago, smerrian said:

How can I find out which ships (Celebrity, RC) have separate saunas/steam rooms? I don't like sitting around inside in a wet bathing suit.

What’s? Every Celebrity and RC ships I have sailed have separate saunas/steam rooms. Don’t they all? 

Wet bathing suit are considered bad form. Dry bathing suits, towels or even robes are preferred. 

Burt

3 hours ago, pseudoware said:

"Where are you from and what do you do (work)?" is code for "I'm trying to size you up and judge you."

That is ridiculous. Passengers who believe that need their own table.

Burt

On ‎1‎/‎22‎/‎2019 at 8:20 PM, Ashland said:

Just one of the many reason's we prefer not to share a table...I wouldn't consider doing this (sharing a table) at home in a local restaurant...why would I want to do this on a ship. JMHO.

Must be very young as this is a strange response for a cruising forum. Not sharing a table is a relatively new option for cruisers.

Burt

Consider a relaxed train trip west. You can rent a car for part of the trip is you like.

Burt