Large ships vs small "luxury" ships

[Heidi13]

5 hours ago, ducklite said:

I believe the Ritz Carlton ship is running many months behind at the shipyard.

Affirmative, the lead ship is delayed by shipyard & sub-contractor delays. Latest reports are delayed from Feb to July 2020.

[zqvol]

On 11/14/2019 at 6:42 PM, Eli_6 said:

We are used to cruising larger ships with lots to do.  We like to stay in one of the "ships within a ship" but I have been looking to do a Fjords or Iceland cruise next August so have been looking at some of the smaller so-called luxury cruise lines like Viking, Oceania, Windstar, etc.  My concern is this: Will I get bored not having everything that is available on the big cruise ships? Also, will the voyage be rougher in a smaller ship? I really would like to try the MSC Yacht Club but would prefer to sail from the UK so I can get a direct flight.

 

My very first cruise was on Sea Dream with less than 100 passengers. It is an amazing experience. Since then we have been on SD over 10 times, plus Regent and Silver Sea. Most of the small ships spend a lot of time in port, it is not typical to have a lot of sea days. Whether you get bored or not depends on you. If the big shows are a must, then you aren't going to like the small ships. If you need a huge casino, then the small ships are not for you. If you want to linger over delicious food, dine al fresco, then the small ships are great. If you want to eat a 5:30 and finish in an hour, then don't picka small ship some of them don't begin dinner service until after 7.

 

As far as being rougher, I find that the motion is different, you might feel the motion in the ocean, but the small ships tend to ride better and it is not unpleasant.

[Joebucks]

I've always found it ironic that the luxury ships are the ones that lack the most luxuries.

[FlyerTalker]

56 minutes ago, Joebucks said:

I've always found it ironic that the luxury ships are the ones that lack the most luxuries.

 

I've never considered climbing walls, skating rinks, water slides, ice bars and the like to be luxuries.

 

Perhaps what you meant was "attractions" rather than "luxuries".

 

And luxury often includes the intangibles of service, professionalism, and the extra touches that distinguish from the ordinary.

 

 

[pacruise804]

27 minutes ago, FlyerTalker said:

 

I've never considered climbing walls, skating rinks, water slides, ice bars and the like to be luxuries.

 

Perhaps what you meant was "attractions" rather than "luxuries".

 

And luxury often includes the intangibles of service, professionalism, and the extra touches that distinguish from the ordinary.

 

 

 

When I think of "luxury" I envision quality, often with a degree of elegance and exclusiveness.  

[navybankerteacher]

1 hour ago, Joebucks said:

I've always found it ironic that the luxury ships are the ones that lack the most luxuries.

Do you mean like skating rinks, go karts, rock climbing walls, bowling alleys, and robot bar tenders —- or more along the lines of activities like wet tee shirt and hairy chest contests?  Either way, I suppose, vessels which are called “luxury ships” seem to lack the above.

[calliopecruiser]

4 hours ago, Joebucks said:

I've always found it ironic that the luxury ships are the ones that lack the most luxuries.

Please elaborate!?  What luxuries are they missing that others have?

 

[clo]

4 hours ago, FlyerTalker said:

 

I've never considered climbing walls, skating rinks, water slides, ice bars and the like to be luxuries.

T

Perhaps what you meant was "attractions" rather than "luxuries".

 

And luxury often includes the intangibles of service, professionalism, and the extra touches that distinguish from the ordinary.

 

 

Thanks. When I read that I mentally said "huh?" Yes. Attractions vs. intangibles.  I'll take the latter, please.

[SteveH2508]

4 hours ago, pacruise804 said:

 

When I think of "luxury" I envision quality, often with a degree of elegance and exclusiveness.  

Quality service as in: second night in the cigar bar after a (very good) dinner, the waiter remembers all 6 of our post-prandial preferences and they arrive without asking (a seriously good pour of cognac was mine) - (Silversea cruiseline BTW).

[clo]

8 minutes ago, SteveH2508 said:

post-prandial

I thought I was the only one who used that word in casual convo 🙂

[Joebucks]

Luxury is in the eye of the beholder. I was more referring to the choices. Like huge suites, private areas, vast dining options, even shows, etc. Luxury on a mega ship and a small ship are two different things that serve different needs. Not everyone is enamored by the same things.

[clo]

9 minutes ago, Joebucks said:

Like huge suites, private areas, vast dining options, even shows, etc.

So then you're talking probably smaller ships. I just got offered (not free!) an upgrade to a 1500 sq. ft. suite on a 1200 pax ship. Seems like they have about ten dining venues with only one having a surcharge.

[calliopecruiser]

40 minutes ago, Joebucks said:

 

 

41 minutes ago, Joebucks said:

I was more referring to the choices. Like huge suites, private areas, vast dining options, even shows, etc.

All those things are available on luxury lines, so I'm not sure what you're not seeing on luxury lines that you think are luxuries offered on "mega ships".   You can have a huge suite (larger than many apartments) with about 7 or 8 dining options and multiple evening entertainment options on a ship with about 800-1000 people. 

What am I missing.......is it that you prefer the exclusivity of being in a separate "ship within a ship" special area?

[ldubs]

1 hour ago, Joebucks said:

Luxury is in the eye of the beholder. I was more referring to the choices. Like huge suites, private areas, vast dining options, even shows, etc. Luxury on a mega ship and a small ship are two different things that serve different needs. Not everyone is enamored by the same things.

 

If luxury is comfort, extravagance, exclusivity, cost and stuff like that, then it certainly can mean different things to different people.  I think the common context here is all inclusive (hence more expensive), better food claims, fewer "fun features", small numbers, and more personalized service.       

[clo]

16 minutes ago, ldubs said:

 

If luxury is comfort, extravagance, exclusivity, cost and stuff like that, then it certainly can mean different things to different people.  I think the common context here is all inclusive (hence more expensive), better food claims, fewer "fun features", small numbers, and more personalized service.       

Hopefully @Joebucks will return and elaborate.

[Hlitner]

11 hours ago, Joebucks said:

I've always found it ironic that the luxury ships are the ones that lack the most luxuries.

Not sure we understand your point.  We have been on more then our share of both so-called luxury lines (i.e. Seabourn, Crystal, etc) and many mass market and a few budget cruise lines.     In the cruise world one can certainly look to factors like passenger-staff ratios, tons per passenger, and the quality of food prep.   But the thing about luxury and "class" is that most folks know it when they see it!  Personally we enjoy both the more luxurious lines and the more common mass market lines.  Both have their place in our heart.  

 

Hank

[MamaFej]

4 hours ago, clo said:

So then you're talking probably smaller ships. I just got offered (not free!) an upgrade to a 1500 sq. ft. suite on a 1200 pax ship. Seems like they have about ten dining venues with only one having a surcharge.

That's considerably larger than the house we raised three kids in! The kids' bedrooms are just 9x9 (81 square feet).

 

Then again, choosing to live small for the last thirty years is why, even on a single public servant's income, we will be traveling big for the next 30 years.

 

Enjoy your cruise, no matter which accommodations you choose. 

[clo]

18 minutes ago, MamaFej said:

Enjoy your cruise, no matter which accommodations you choose. 

Oh, rest assured,  I never replied to their 'offer.' I also grew up in a two bedroom, one bath house. And Bob and I have always lived below our means.  And will continue to.  That "upgrade offer" would have been SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS more.  I can do a bunch of traveling for $6k. Congratulations for how you have and continue to live.

[ldubs]

3 hours ago, clo said:

Hopefully @Joebucks will return and elaborate.

 

I think he already did that in his last post.  At least I understood what he was saying.    Anyway, I guess if everyone preferred the same things life might be a lot simpler and pretty drab.       

[clo]

3 minutes ago, ldubs said:

 

I think he already did that in his last post.  At least I understood what he was saying.    Anyway, I guess if everyone preferred the same things life might be a lot simpler and pretty drab.       

As in #36? I guess I was looking for some differentiation.

[ldubs]

5 minutes ago, clo said:

As in #36? I guess I was looking for some differentiation.

 

 

More hot tubs!  😀

[cruisemom42]

17 hours ago, Joebucks said:

Luxury is in the eye of the beholder. I was more referring to the choices. Like huge suites, private areas, vast dining options, even shows, etc. Luxury on a mega ship and a small ship are two different things that serve different needs. Not everyone is enamored by the same things.

 

Luxury may be in the eye of the beholder to you, but the cruise industry has defined it pretty well. It is based on things such as a higher spend per day per passenger on food, ensuring better quality (not necessarily greater quantity).  Also a higher proportion of staff/passenger -- your waiter won't have five tables at dinner to wait on and will be more attentive to you. Better furnishings around the ship, better linens and other finishings in cabins, etc. More things included in your fare and less importuning you to purchase those extras day and night once you are onboard.

 

Luxury is not "bread and circuses".  That's what keeps the masses happy. 

 

 

[clo]

11 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

Luxury is not "bread and circuses".

I wasn't familiar with that expression. Spot on.

Bread and circuses - Wikipedia

 

https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Bread_and_circuses

"Bread and circuses" (or bread and games; from Latin: panem et circenses) is a metonymic phrase critiquing superficial appeasement. It is attributed to Juvenal, a Roman poet active in the late first and early second century AD — and is used commonly in cultural, particularly political, contexts.

[pacruise804]

18 hours ago, SteveH2508 said:

Quality service as in: second night in the cigar bar after a (very good) dinner, the waiter remembers all 6 of our post-prandial preferences and they arrive without asking (a seriously good pour of cognac was mine) - (Silversea cruiseline BTW).

 

18 hours ago, clo said:

I thought I was the only one who used that word in casual convo 🙂

 

I had to look it up (although I did know "post" meant after) 😳I guess it's true that we learn something new every day 🙂  

 

17 hours ago, Joebucks said:

Luxury is in the eye of the beholder. I was more referring to the choices. Like huge suites, private areas, vast dining options, even shows, etc. Luxury on a mega ship and a small ship are two different things that serve different needs. Not everyone is enamored by the same things.

Luxury ships (I figure) already have huge suites or a suite like experience, are generally smaller so don't need private areas, and the food quality is enough across the board to not need specialty restaurants.  Our Viking cruise (ultra premium, not luxury) still has several dining options.

 

I feel the ship-within-a ship concept (huge suites, private areas) is trying to recreate the luxury ship experience on a large ship, without sacrificing mass market entertainment options.  My understanding is entertainment is more sedate (perhaps intellectual versus "fun"), but the smaller ships don't need to offer the extra choices because they are already offering the best quality rather than several levels at different price points.

 

I do agree that not everyone is attracted to the same type of cruise.  I'm glad there are so many different options.

[ldubs]

So, just a distraction for the not so well heeled.   Or, the walmart crowd, as is frequently said here on CC.  Do you guys really want or need to make this distinction -- getting to sound kind of condescending.