Thing Cruises Should Drop

[maxciocc]

Get rid of the photography during dinner. It is an intrusion, and a waste of money on the cruise ship's part. I can understand the portraits, and the grab shots at the port-of-call, but the dinner pictures seem to be a waste of time and materials.

[bangzoom6877]

Keep the photographers from blocking the gangways when getting off in a port. I don't want my picture taken with every pirate or gorilla and I don't want to stand there waiting to get off as others get their picture taken.

 

Maybe they should have a set space to the side of the gangway, so people who want their photo taken still have the choice, and people who don't can just get off the ship and do whatever they want in port. But...I'm sure they have this right there on the gangway because there are probably plenty of people who end up buying those photos, who would not have opted to stop and have their picture taken. I don't mind the photos on the gangway, but I wouldn't mind if they were off to the side either...I would probably opt to take the picture, mainly for my little boys.

 

Get rid of the photography during dinner. It is an intrusion, and a waste of money on the cruise ship's part. I can understand the portraits, and the grab shots at the port-of-call, but the dinner pictures seem to be a waste of time and materials.

 

I don't have a problem with the photography during dinner, but I certainly wouldn't miss it if they stopped either. I still LOVE the portraits though, to take before dinner, before my kids get messy! :)

[che5904]

Maybe they should have a set space to the side of the gangway, so people who want their photo taken still have the choice, and people who don't can just get off the ship and do whatever they want in port. But...I'm sure they have this right there on the gangway because there are probably plenty of people who end up buying those photos, who would not have opted to stop and have their picture taken. I don't mind the photos on the gangway, but I wouldn't mind if they were off to the side either...I would probably opt to take the picture, mainly for my little boys.

 

I don't have a problem with the photography during dinner, but I certainly wouldn't miss it if they stopped either. I still LOVE the portraits though, to take before dinner, before my kids get messy! :)

 

I personally like the photo ops, and I have seen people just wave and walk past saying no thankyou. It's probably the only time I actually get a photo of myself on a cruise since I am the picture taker in my family. If I don't like a particular photo, I don't purchase it.

 

With employee cutbacks, the cabin attendants have more rooms to care for, so I think they should stop making the towel animals, or maybe do one a week, especially if children are in the cabin. This is time consuming. I also think it is an environmental issue because it is a waste of towels and then they need to be laundered.

Stefani

 

I love my towel animals and at least it doesn't cost extra money for NCL. They got rid of champagne on embarkation, chocolate on pillows OK save every little spot you can. But it's not like they are purchasing the towel animals. Our stewards did a great job on our room so I guess they did have time to make them as well. It's not really an environmental issue since they use the towels that were designated for your room anyway. So if that concerns you, take it apart and use that towel first since I'm assuming you intend to use at least one towel from your room.

[srlafleur]

how long were the lines to use the computers to see the pictures?

 

To be honest, I have no idea. None that I noticed, but then, it was kind of off by itself, not in a hallway where everyone is trying to pass through after dinner. I don't even remember looking at the photos. (which could be one reason they print them - impulse buys.)

[che5904]

To be honest, I have no idea. None that I noticed, but then, it was kind of off by itself, not in a hallway where everyone is trying to pass through after dinner. I don't even remember looking at the photos. (which could be one reason they print them - impulse buys.)

 

I think you've just hit the reason for all those who question why NCL prints the photos out on all the rest of the fleet. The Epic is probably a test ship (like it is for most new things for them) at whether they sell well without printing. Another poster wrote that they purchased one.

 

It is usually placed in a busy corridor so you have to walk by and people get curious to see if they can find their photo.

 

When we have went to look at photos (printed out), there were very few people just walking away with one in their hand.

[retiredonthesea]

NO SALES talk during my hot stone massage or my facial!!!!!:mad: If I want something I'll let YOU know!!

[che5904]

NO SALES talk during my hot stone massage or my facial!!!!!:mad: If I want something I'll let YOU know!!

 

I agree that is something that should be addressed. Thats just wrong when you pay for a "relaxing" treatment you should not be bombarded by the wonders of products.

[jaja]

Definitely agree. On my last trip on the Dawn you could barely get through the Atuim with all the tables of junk. I found it very tacky given the beautiful setting of the Artium.

 

YES...YES ...YES....!!!! On every cruise...this flea market atmosphere gets worse..and DOES block passageways...for all PAX....too me not only inconvenient but also a hazzard!

[klingoncruiser]

I would recommend they look at all the ports and if there are some that seem like everyone hates, get rid of it. (ie... it would not surprise me that places like Jamaica would be gone.) It would have to be overwhelming dislike though.

[Senoj84]

Another vote for Art auctions and some of the repetitive announcements.

[geegee1]

I do think that the announcements are helpful. But should probably be just done like 10 minutes before the event is happening, not all the time.

 

Agree that the pictures at the end of the plank with the "pirates" and other characters need to go.

[InTheCruisingYearsOfLife]

Another vote for Art auctions ....

 

I don't care much about Art Hawktions so long as they are implemented in a fashion where they are easily ignored. But on my most recent cruise, on the Pearl, I witlessly took advantage of the Sushi restaurant's oh-such-a-deal lunch price on the last full sea day, and unfortunately it was directly up the open atrium from the lobby area, that had been converted to this wretched garage sale.

 

Even that isn't such a big deal, and if the hawktioneer had operated the gavel in the normative fashion of all other hawktioneers the world around, it would have been well enough. But nooooooo, no such luck. This particular auction school flunkee thought that each and every bid, and each and every excited utterance from his terminally babbling lips should be punctuated with another sharp gavelwhack.

 

(As an extra bonus, those gavelwhacks were largely echoed by the spoonwhack of this just totally adorable eighteen month old at the next table over, who just adorably spread his partially-chewed sushi all over his adoring mum, and a radius of two-point-five tables distant.)

 

Half-price sushi was ne'er such a rip-off, and no art auction was e'er as vile.

 

InThe

[OceanDreams]

first thing they should drop is the anchor when we get into port, next drop the price of booze. smiles

 

serously, I never go near the Art Actions, but they don't bother me either. My understanding, they are a huge money maker for the cruise lines, so I am not sure they need to be discontinued.

 

I really can't think of anything that should be dropped, I wish they would add back things like the horse races and decent shore excursion talks. Oh, yes, drop the channels pushing everything from cruises, to excursions to where to shop.

 

Nita

 

Totally agree with you Nita on the Horse Racing....LOVED it. Decorating the horses....team playing....It was great, Alot of fun.

 

Get rid of the photography during dinner. It is an intrusion, and a waste of money on the cruise ship's part. I can understand the portraits, and the grab shots at the port-of-call, but the dinner pictures seem to be a waste of time and materials.

 

I HATE having my picture taken at dinner time....always worried if I have a piece of food stuck in my teeth. People having to get up from their seats to be arranged for the photo....someone not smiling, so the photo has to be taken over and over .... not to mention bothering the tables around you.

 

NO SALES talk during my hot stone massage or my facial!!!!!:mad: If I want something I'll let YOU know!!

 

Again, agree so much with this statement. I just had the most wonderful massage and now I get the sad looking young girl making me feel guilty if I don't purchase something else from them.

Telling the bar waiter twice that I want the "drink of the day" but that I don't want the drink holder.....but they bring it anyway hoping that I'll take it and pay the extra charge.

OceanDreams

[Bars7816]

"The first thing they should do is attach Spongebob to the anchor."

 

And I thought I was the only one! :D

[FuninWB]

Definitely in agreement with using the beautiful Atriums to sell products most cruisers wouldn't even look at on land.

[InTheCruisingYearsOfLife]

I HATE having my picture taken at dinner time....always worried if I have a piece of food stuck in my teeth.

 

But that's WHY they take your picture! So you'll KNOW if you have a piece of food stuck in your teeth. You just go to the photo shop and look, and you will then KNOW! So will 2000 of your closest friends, the other cruisers! What could be better than that?

[OceanDreams]

But that's WHY they take your picture! So you'll KNOW if you have a piece of food stuck in your teeth. You just go to the photo shop and look, and you will then KNOW! So will 2000 of your closest friends, the other cruisers! What could be better than that?

 

ROFL ..... Your so right.

 

OceanDreams

[ripjerry95]

obnoxious children and their equally obnoxious parents who think everything they do is cute..LOL! Only kidding..I agree with other posters about the last minute sales on the t-shirts etc..that everyone crowds to get..

[jame_g]

Cruise directors, announcements from the cruise directors, assistants to cruise directors.

 

I don't care if they have art auctions, I don't have to go. Just don't have cruise directors announce them. Put them in the dailies and on the TV channel.

 

I don't care if they take pictures. Just stop blocking gangways, passageways, atrium thoroughfares, both atrium stairways. And leave people alone once they say "NO".

 

I don't care if they sell stuff. Just don't block passageways and clog up the atrium.

 

I don't care if they sell stuff on TV. I don't have to watch it.

 

If they want to sell products in the spa, fine, but keep it low key. Some people actually like to buy it. Advertise it on the TV and in the dailies. Ask if I want to know about the product, then leave me alone as soon as I say "NO". And definitely don't try to pawn it during a treatment and destroy the relaxing atmosphere.

[gagal10]

NO SALES talk during my hot stone massage or my facial!!!!!:mad: If I want something I'll let YOU know!!

 

Yes, Yes, Yes.. I have almost quit going to the Spa onboard because they are always trying to upsell me something. I want what I scheduled and am paying your overinflated prices for, NOTHING ELSE, leave me alone..

 

The thing I'd most like them to get rid of is kids serving themselves at the buffet..

[Ask4Jay]

Oh yes, I am with @jame_g's list, especially the first paragraph: get rid of the designated salesperson on each ship, the C.D.

 

And kill the Muzak throughout the ship, or at least cut down on the volume. Only quiet spots on the ship seem to be our cabin - and balcony.

 

Most of the other annoyances I can ignore. I realize NCL has to sell as much as they can while they have us, a captive audience, on board. If it helps to keep the basic cabin price down, DW and I will bear up under it. It's FreeStyle after all, we don't *have to* do anything. :)

[Maryutah]

*I wish they would stop being exclusive to one soda line and have all sodas so coke and pepsi people can all be happy!

 

I love the idea of the kiosk for pictures on computer, much easier to deal with - and cost effective i'd think. DisneyWorld/Land has the photopass thing down pat - something along those lines would be sweet!!

[sjbdtz]

We also have no problem with the ship making efforts to promote goods / services.

 

However, I really don't need the Freestyle Daily read to me morning & afternoon.

 

 

Just cut out those two announcements, and I'd be a lot happier (oh...and turn down the volume on the Casino tournaments)

 

 

Stephen

 

 

 

.

[che5904]

(oh...and turn down the volume on the Casino tournaments)

 

Stephen

 

.

 

LOL I guess I never noticed since I avoid the casino at busy times like a tournament, unless I'm in one therefore not noticing the volume.

[DMH15]

I just ignore the things that don't interest me or bother me. They might appeal to others. So who am I to say something should be dropped. You might want to drop something I like.

 

Goes to the old adage " you can't please all of the people all of the time ".

 

NCL suits me just fine.