Gratuitous suggestions re new builds and dry docks

[wishIweretravelling]

I am currently on Splendor, on a grand voyage. It is a lovely ship, and is great for a lengthy cruise. But one thing I keep hearing (and saying, or at least thinking, myself): “don’t they know their demographic?”

Fact is, a lot of Regent’s clientele are in the 60+ age group, particularly on a longer voyage. Yet a good bit of the design ignores the needs of an age group more likely to have joint issues or growing physical limitations.

 

The suggestion is to involve an occupational therapy expert with knowledge of older people’s needs in the design details process. They can help address, for instance, how to structure hand rails for the pools and hot tubs so that they actually serve the people who need them. Or make sure that seats are not too low (a widespread problem on Splendor). 

 

 

[Scout16]

I can understand your point, but most of these problems exist throughout the industry both on ships and on land.  I would list the following; the need to step up into the bathroom (I guess this is due to the need for space for the pipes, but it is easy to miss the step in the middle of the night), the seating is too low except for the dining areas (I find it difficult to get u from a seat where my knees at an angle greater that ninety degrees).  

[Dwtlion]

FYI Oceania's seating, other than dining, is also very low. Great for midgets, but not so for many adults.

[Mjflowers]

4 hours ago, Scout16 said:

I can understand your point, but most of these problems exist throughout the industry both on ships and on land.  I would list the following; the need to step up into the bathroom (I guess this is due to the need for space for the pipes, but it is easy to miss the step in the middle of the night), the seating is too low except for the dining areas (I find it difficult to get u from a seat where my knees at an angle greater that ninety degrees).  

Just got of Mariner on our b/b Oct 3/ Oct 25. Myself, 6’4. Suite couch’s we very difficult for getting up from. Some of the lounges even worse. Better suited for shorter people, though I was in a minority. You’re generous with the age group. More like 75+ in my opinion. Believe it will be sometime until new refit of furniture.

 

[irishwitchy]

I’m 63 and thought everything was just fine.  I have no idea if the seats were low, handles in the incorrect place, etc.  The ship isn’t a nursing home and younger folks don’t want it look that way, either.   My husband is 72, he never complained about anything either.   Mind you when I’m 80, I may feel different, but I still keep hoping the music starts to get younger and more current.  Everything isn’t just about us boomers! 

[asnaleah]

10 hours ago, irishwitchy said:

Everything isn’t just about us boomers! 

Wait, what?! 🤣

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Thanks to the OP for bringing this up.  We started out cruising 22 years ago, and now we could use all those accommodations for age-related limitations.  Any such changes will be too late for us, but time marches on!

[mj_holiday]

Several accommodations won't make the ship look like a nursing home.  We avoid the chairs in the lounges that are both low and heavy, so we sit at the bar.  But a heavy comfortably padded chair closer to dining room chair height would easily get more use.  An interesting experiment would be to put 5 or 6 of these  near the perimeter of the observation lounge, and see how they are used compared to the low, slanted armless chairs.

These are ships that move and a couple grab bars to help you get in an out of the shower would benefit anyone trying to shower when the boat is moving.

There were grab bar like railings in the Navigator veranda suites that were removed with the dry dock several years ago.  This bar also helped during rough seas.

We will ask for an additional straight back chair in our suite since the couch is difficult to get up from and difficult to sit on when you dine in.

[cwn]

We always ask for a dinning room chair for our suite (sofa too low) and to have the coffee table removed so there is more room in the standard suites.. I have walked with the aid of canes since my early 60’s. Agree some higher chairs in the lounges and grab bars in the bath would go along way for comfort for those with mobility problems. Many are still able to go and do and enjoy cruising. Even 40 years ago when we did our first cruise, grabs in the bath were helpful especially in rough seas. 

There will always be older people cruising especially the WC’s, grand voyages and cruises of 3-4 weeks, BtoBs.. They are  the people mostly likely to have the time. Regent would do well to consider their comfort and safety in their plans also.

[Techno123]

15 hours ago, irishwitchy said:   Mind you when I’m 80, I may feel different, but I still keep hoping the music starts to get younger and more current.  Everything isn’t just about us boomers! 

I agree re the music irishwitchy. I took early retirement last year but was getting bored so at the beginning of this year I took on a 3 month contract, part of which was trying to get older people to start to socialise safely and take part in local activities - so far so good. It was a bit scary that they were counting older people as 'over 50' but I set up a fun choir and my young line manager got some books for us to use - you know - the war songs 😜. Well on the first day they looked at me in total disgust, told me they weren't singing old people's songs and did I have any Rolling Stones and Tom Jones (our Elvis equivalent) 😂. I think we forget that the 18 year olds in the 60s were actually born in the 40s and are likely to be approaching or in their 80s so grew up with the Beatles and Rock n Roll not Vera Lynn so the music we 'think' older people enjoy really does need to move on. Now if Regent have any Green Day for my husband you might even see him 'bopping along'. 

[wishIweretravelling]

16 hours ago, irishwitchy said:

I’m 63 and thought everything was just fine.  I have no idea if the seats were low, handles in the incorrect place, etc.  The ship isn’t a nursing home and younger folks don’t want it look that way, either.   My husband is 72, he never complained about anything either.   Mind you when I’m 80, I may feel different, but I still keep hoping the music starts to get younger and more current.  Everything isn’t just about us boomers! 

There is a massive space between making some accommodations and “looking like a nursing home.” Comfortable furniture can be attractive, and handrails placed so that they can actually be used do not detract from aesthetics.

 

As for music, it likely will always be behind the times. I remember when everything was big band, and no rock. Now it’s mostly rock (and show tunes), and no Beyoncé et al.  They are playing to audience taste. And, royalty fees to play older music are lower than fees for current hits.

[cwn]

Amen! Many 50+ year olds don’t care for Beyoncé et Al. Just play a variety of old and new in different lounges something for all taste.

[Techno123]

18 minutes ago, cwn said:

Amen! Many 50+ year olds don’t care for Beyoncé et Al. Just play a variety of old and new in different lounges something for all taste.

Late 70s and the 80s for me - definitely not Beyoncé et al 😁 but I also love classical and jazz and show tunes so I agree with wishIweretravelling a variety of genres and decades in different venues (and some punk rock for himself 😜)

[Catlover54]

On 10/25/2022 at 10:34 AM, Dwtlion said:

FYI Oceania's seating, other than dining, is also very low. Great for midgets, but not so for many adults.

 

 

Oceania's furniture is nice and soft and cushioned (not hard in so many places, as is so popular,  like on Seabourn) , as are the beds.  Nothing poked into my back or worsed sore muscles on the older Oceania ships. 

I loved it, and thought their furniture  was the best part of the cruise line.  I liked it so much I am keen to retry Oceania despite the other problems I perceived. 

And I am definitely not a midget! 🙂 

 

Of course if proximal muscles, e.g., thighs,  are weak, or there are major balance problems, there is a cane to negotiate, or there is large body mass to maneuver, a chair that is too low is hard to get out of.  I know that the day is sadly approaching when I will not be able to get up and out of DH's sports cars, but cruise couches and lounge chairs are still ok.

 

As for grab bars: they should be in every shower and bath on cruise ships, to limit injuries.  Their position should also make sense (putting them in a stupid spot, e.g., away from the area where people can grab them, does no good -- those locations are likely selected by 25-year-old health fiends on no meds other than birth control who run 10 miles a day and have never had an injury).

A rubber bath mat also helps with traction and prevents falls (especially if there is no ribbing on the shower pan) , but is usually ugly, hard to keep clean and easily disintegrates. 

Edited October 27, 2022 by Catlover54
Typo

[PhD-iva]

7 hours ago, wishIweretravelling said:

 And, royalty fees to play older music are lower than fees for current hits.

Ah! I think you hit the nail on the head!