101(or less)things about our cruise or things you want to know but are afraid to ask!

[catmand]

.................................but first "Booga-booga"...............punch line from an old joke.

Since our first cruise in September of 2003 we have sailed once more with Princess, twice with Celebrity and once on a short 2-day with NCL. We have never compared one with another, never had "expectations" and have taken the good with the excellent as well as the "not so hot." Each ship is different, each line is different, heck, each day is different. I think it was George Burns who said "It is a good day, I woke up."

Folks, please! Do not fixate on negative posts and begin to worry that your cruise will stink. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but honestly, do you really think each and every meal on that cruise "stunk" that the ship was full of rude and surly employees. That every square foot of surface was "dirty" and all the elevators were broken?

Sorry but I need to mention this, there is a thread complaining of the design of the ship and the difficulty in navigating it............................and then the ship is compared to "those better ones we always sailed." How difficult can it be to get around on a ship, there are two sides and front and a back, maps all over the place, heck even the runners on port and starboard carpets are color coded. Just because someone may be directionally challenged does that mean there is something WRONG with the ship?

Has everything been perfect on our cruises? not by a long shot. One evening after a huge dinner we walked into our cabin and there were three trays of food sitting in there, all anniversary gifts that were supposed to be delivered WHEN WE REQUESTED THEM, we were supposed to just get the card. My first call to room service got me a "SO sorry sir but we can not take food back and hold it for you." It took about three phone calls, two trips to the desk and around 30 minutes to get this squared away. It should have been resolved with the first call. I wrote about this when I posted a review and someone responded they were glad I didn't let that ruin our cruise. They meant well I know but jeez it was no big deal.

What do we get on a cruise vacation? A pretty darn nice cabin with an attendant who keeps it neat and clean. We have the option of different foods 24 hours a day. We have all sorts of activities to enjoy, games to play, books to read and music to listen to. We can see production shows, and movies, we can laugh at comedians and win or lose money in a casino. We can do nothing but spend time with our partners (or not) and sit and watch part of the world go by.

You can learn how to fold napkins, play Bingo, go to Church Service or learn how to Tango. You can get wine tasting lessons and go to an art auction. Buy a watch or have a shirt or a suit made to order.

You can go to sleep surrounded by an ocean and wake up docked in a city.

So please, keep an open mind and a smile on your face. If you think you have a problem, talk to someone and resolve it, don't sit and stew. Remember the staff, you are but one, they are dealing with a few thousand. And get ready for what just may be the best vacation, ever.

Anyone have anything to add?

[spongerob]

I like the complainers. I can always look at them and be thankful that no matter what has happened, I'm not so badly off as that.

[rxmurphy]

Anyone have anything to add?

Only that everything you have said I can relate to life in general. When someone's expectations of anything or anyone are unrealistic or out of whack with common sense, they will inevitably be disappointed. Well said Catmand.

[cathi]

Catmand, we have been on 15 cruises so far. Some have been only a couple of days but some have been 2 weeks. Any day spent on cruise ship is better than any day spent on land!!!! As long as some one makes my bed, gives me a chocolate on the pillow every night, and basically caters to my every whim what could possibly be better than that. Yes, we have run into crews that were a little surly and crews that were a bit too attentive but it could never spoil my cruise. I've read many reviews that say the food was terrible on this ship or that ship and we have had a few meals that were not the best or up to "standards" but I can honestly say that we have never had an entire cruise with unedible food. And that did happen at an all-inclusive resort in Cuba!!!!

Just a comment - we did 2 14 day cruises 6 weeks apart on the same ship a few years ago (and no it wasn't one Princess). We had the same cabin and the same crew who we got to know quite well. The first cruise was amazing! so we were really looking forward to the second one. WRONG!! crew that we gladly tipped on our first cruise we wouldn't even think of tipping on the second one. The only thing that had changed was the captain!! The captain of a ship truly puts his stamp on that ship. If the captain is a hands on guy, you can bet your going to have a terrific cruise. If he's not, watch out!! On our first cruise the captain was everywhere on the ship. On the second cruise we never saw the captain and the crew knew it!!!!

Still any day cruising is better than any day at home!!

[Dreamer333]

So please, keep an open mind and a smile on your face.

 

I agree whole-heartedly!!!

[stardelight]

Catmand you tell it like it is.You nailed it right on.

[catmand]

Thanks for the comments so far, yes spongerob, I have felt the same. Wanda and I were sitting near the front desk while on Mercury and a guy was yelling at the asst purser because his wife was stung by a bee while ashore and the clinic was not open, you had to page the nurse/doc. She was not allergic, she was not in any difficulty, she "itched" and he wanted something for it, why was he arguing? He was yelling "WELL WHAT IF" she was allergic.....................oh please.

I truly believe lots of these folks are related to my ex-wife, she used to complain about one of our neighbors, "there MUST be something wrong with her because she is TOO NICE."

cathi, that is very interesting, if you happen to stop back, you had the same cabin and attendant?

The only poor cruise we have been on was that NCL 2-dayer but we got pretty much what we expected.

[coiran]

Hey - 17 Princess cruises and never any really big complaints - They have all been great cruises!!

I like to read the "complainers" stories - they are very amusing - some people are """born to cruise and some are born to complain"!

Ron

[spongerob]

Thanks for the comments so far, yes spongerob, I have felt the same. Wanda and I were sitting near the front desk while on Mercury and a guy was yelling at the asst purser because his wife was stung by a bee while ashore and the clinic was not open, you had to page the nurse/doc. She was not allergic, she was not in any difficulty, she "itched" and he wanted something for it, why was he arguing? He was yelling "WELL WHAT IF" she was allergic.....................oh please.

 

I think the problem is not so much that people have complaints, because we all do from time to time, but in how we allow those complaints to rule our subsequent behavior. For whatever reason, be it on these boards or on a ship, there is a desire to go to the extreme end of the scale. That goes for people who do nothing but blow sunshine, and those who peer into every nook and cranny trying to find fault. When someone does drop the ball, we don't see it as a mistake, it's gross incompetence that goes all the way to the top of the corporate heirarchy. It's so much over-reaction. Just like your example.

[mii]

I have another one to add. Some of the best people that I have met have come from our roll call boards. As a matter of fact that is how my DH and I met Catmand(Chuck) and his wife Wanda on ourSapphire cruise last year. After the cruise there were five of the original roll call group that have continued on chit-chatting away and we have become very very good friends. We have done things together outside of cruising and have already planned a reunion cruise in 2007. Since that Sapphire cruise in 04, Catmand, Wanda my DH and I have gone on a Celebrity cruise together this past June to Alaska. What a great and fun time we had.

 

So meeting people on board can be a "good thing" as Martha Stewart would say.

 

Marilyn

[SC Minnie]

I can't understand how someone can come back from a cruise and say all the food was horrible.

 

In our world, if it is edible and we didn't have to prepare it then it is pretty darn good. On the cruise if you don't like the taste of something they will bring you something else. THere are so many options.

[jennew]

no such thing as a "bad cruise"...that's my motto.

 

People who complain are also the ones standing in the return line on 12/26 each year. Life is too short to be so darn nit-picky.

[catmand]

Marilyn, thanks for the kind remarks, and if I may..................while we were on Infinity how did you enjoy the fellow who said to you "now that you have cruised Celebrity you will never go back to Princess" I guess you fooled them with the two future cruises you and Pat have booked on Princess as well as the next one on Celebrity!

SC Minnie...................EXACTLY. You see this is a problem where these totally negative reviews pop up on the boards, and the posters are challenged, you would think there has to be some balance.

[jennew]

I remember meeting our neighbors out on the balcony during the last day of our cruise on the Grand. DH and I were basking in the glow of "first cruise" euphoria. We had hoped it would be a good experience and instead found it to be magical.

 

Our neighbors were on their second cruise. Their first was on RCCL. The hudband expressed his disappointment and said the RCCL was "more relaxing". He kept tsk tsking and shaking his head and how much better the other cruise was. We certainly did not get it since we LOVED the cruise.

 

Our next cruise was on a NCL ship. We did not think it compared to the Princess cruise in many ways....but we barely mentioned it to each other. We just focused on enjoying the ocean, the new food to try, the ports and fun with our kids. Why focus on the negatives when there is so many great things going on?

 

Hey- even if it rains...it's CARRIBEAN rain!!!

[traci28]

I wish everyone were as positive as those IN THIS POST ~! We need more of that in the world.

 

In love and light...

[catmand]

jennew.................I really, really can't stand those "moaners" which is sort of what I was getting at with the remark about the guy telling Marilyn about "never going back". Honestly, Celebrity does many things differently, that is why it is oh so nice to have CHOICES. While Wanda and I were on the NCL cruise we had an inside and the beds were NOT together, for two nights we didn't want to bother anyone. When I tell you those beds were so narrow we both fell out of them, I speak the truth. Did we complain about how small the beds were (we ain't that big) NO, what we did was get a great laugh out of the situation. I rolled over and FELL while she did a sort of slide while pulling all the linens off with her! And while we probably won't sail NCL again I sure would recommend Spirit to a young family.

traci28...................I was going to ask for "positive comments only" but figured the thread would go that way without my proding.................isn't it grand?

[sunflower1972]

Catmand-----first let me say this a moment of 'firsts' for me:) My first post on this board....why you may ask......well we just booked our first cruise on the Sun Princess for feb 6th:) I just want to thank you for the positive post you had. It was amuzing to read and a great display of positive human spirit:) My hubbie and I are die hard all inclusive vacationers.....our promise to each other is not compare the cruise AT ALL to the 13 or so resorts we have been lucky enough to enjoy....BUT to go enjoy the crusie, the food, the ports, and EACH OTHER.

Thanks for the interesting read:)

[funforsun]

........or out of whack with common sense, they will inevitably be disappointed.....

 

I always remember what my father taught me......common sense is...not all that common.

[SuzyQT9]

You can depend on the crew to get you safely where you are going, the staff to serve you, entertain you, educate you. But in the end, any cruise is what you make of it. I remember on one cruise to Alaska, we had just the worst weather for a rafting trip excursion. Rain, wind, just plain ugly. We had one of the best times because all of the participants DECIDED to have a good time! Lots of laughing at the weather, our "rowing", ourselves. At the end, the crew told us that that day was the worst weather - and the best group - they had had all year.

 

So make the best of it. Bad stuff can happen but shake it off and concentrate on the good.

 

Suzy

[pieeyedpilot]

If they don't run out of Booze and food it's a great cruise. Don ºoº

[catmand]

sunflower............so glad to welcome you, may this be the first of many, be sure to check out the roll call board for your cruise, always nice folks there. You are soon going to join the "cruise crazy's" and leave the land of the "all inclusives."

pieeyedpiolot.....................really you are scaring me.........I get the impression of a tipsy airplane pilot and you also live in PITTSBURG.......CAIFORNIA, with me?

[pieeyedpilot]

Not to worry the name goes way back to college where I was the only one with a car... Don ºoº

[pieeyedpilot]

Not to worry the name goes way back to college where I was the only one with a car... Don ºoº

[Ethel5]

As long as I don't have to go to work, cook, clean or do manual labor and the hardest decision I have to make is what to have for dinner-then I'm happy.

[Linda the Book Lover]

Catmand - thank you so very much for this great thread. Indeed, I am thankful for any morning I wake up and I can actually get out of bed:) But most of all I am thankful when my eyes pop open and I am on a cruise with my DH!:D