All inclusive on Balmoral

[Hawks11]

I have just read a review of the 32 day trip on the Balmoral where the writer appears horrified at the way the All Inclusive package was abused on the ship.

 

"The usual range of middle-aged men prop up the bar from coffee time to dinner on sea days. They sit there getting louder and louder (and uncouth) Spoiling other people's relaxation in the Morning Light pub, and the musicians when they are playing. In the lounges in the evening others are at massive consumption in a small time, so performers are drowned out by raucous talking/ laughter. which again spoils the majority enjoyment."

 

I confess I took advantage of the package and found it to be good value but at no time was I aware of that sort of behaviour either in the restaurant or during the shows that I went to. The men at the bar were there because they found it a good way to socialise and during the times I spent in that bar or when passing through I was never aware of any bad or offensive behaviour.

 

There were very few middle aged men on the trip either but I suppose most of us would be happy to be described as such.

[bobstheboy]

I have just read a review of the 32 day trip on the Balmoral where the writer appears horrified at the way the All Inclusive package was abused on the ship.

 

"The usual range of middle-aged men prop up the bar from coffee time to dinner on sea days. They sit there getting louder and louder (and uncouth) Spoiling other people's relaxation in the Morning Light pub, and the musicians when they are playing. In the lounges in the evening others are at massive consumption in a small time, so performers are drowned out by raucous talking/ laughter. which again spoils the majority enjoyment."

 

I confess I took advantage of the package and found it to be good value but at no time was I aware of that sort of behaviour either in the restaurant or during the shows that I went to. The men at the bar were there because they found it a good way to socialise and during the times I spent in that bar or when passing through I was never aware of any bad or offensive behaviour.

 

There were very few middle aged men on the trip either but I suppose most of us would be happy to be described as such.

 

If the passengers on that cruise were anything like the crowd on my Balmoral cruise they would moan if you whispered walking through the shopping area !!

[Mark_T]

Time and a place for everything, and the 'pub' area in the run up to dinner seems like the perfect time and place for that sort of activity.

 

There are always quiet spots available elsewhere if peaceful relaxation is the aim, but why would you try to do that in the pub area?

[1160451]

I once got shushed from the Boudica Library and I was in the shop outside. I think it was the Boudica may be wrong.

Sometimes Fred Olsen is similar to Holland America where many guests look to the library and flower arranging for their excitement. Not ridiculing them but they are often pretty staid in their ways.

I have never ever heard load bad mannered behaviour in the lounges that person talks about. AI or not.

We were flying back from a Panama cruise with Fred and the person sat next to my wife said " oh you were sitting on the large noisy table in the dining room". They did then say "you always looked and sounded to be enjoying yourselves."

Like I have said before on these boards it takes all sorts and we should all try to fit in.

[LondonTowner]

We were on the Balmoral in September and didn't notice any raucous people and who cares if they were noisy in the bar, that's what it is there for. I think there are too many killjoys around.

 

We were very lucky that we had 4 other fun loving people at our dinner table and had loads of laughs.

[dancourt]

We were recently on the Braemar for 22 nights AI and I never saw or heard any loud drunks and there were plenty of people with AI package.

 

I have to admit that we were sometimes quite vocal when in the MDR but we had such a fun loving bunch of dining companions we thoroughly enjoyed our evening meals.

 

I don't think I have ever been on a FO cruise and come across any drunks.

 

Happy cruising for 2014

 

Susan