Verrry Interesting but Weird

[hermang]

We booked when the itineraries opened too. I am not sure when we are flying in yet, I have cruise air booked at what appears to be an amazing price, but will still wait and see when flights open up. Also not sure of the hotel and if we will take Celebrity's package. This will be our first TA and our first time to Europe, we are really looking forward to it.

 

There is a HUGE roll call for this cruise on the roll call board in the event you have not taken a look there is some really great company taking this TA.

 

So...I'll see you around, neighbor;)

 

Since we are traveling with friends - I don't want to ignore them with roll call folks we'll never meet again.

 

Right now there are 2-3 hotels - Empire Plaza, Ciccerone and I think Holiday Inn Crown Plaza.

 

I think we would prefer Empire Plaza.

 

We got a $975 pp air and since we are Elite - we'll pick Non Stop Delta Flight.

 

We are doing Cruise Air and the hotel package primarily to handle the transfers - may be more expensive but less hassle.

 

Probably going to do a private tour 1/2 day on Tuesday or 1/2 day tour on Wednesday and do some on our own.

 

I am putting together a document which will have all our activities tours and recommended places to go.

[Blazerboy]

Another on that Equinox TA! And recognize about a dozen other posters here from that roll call, so I think it's official...most of this group likes the sea days...:D

 

I've taken about 25 trips on liners/cruise ships, and nearly 60% have been Transatlantic crossings...next one in less than 8 weeks. Even on lines like Crystal, where the cruise contained ports on either end, it was those six or so sea days in the middle that 'made' the cruise so wonderful.

 

We did a Mediteranean Cruise last Fall, and actually found it too port intensive with seven ports in 11 days...in a few ports, we just went into town, found a good local place to eat, nosed around the open markets, and got back on the ship. May not have seen every historic monument, but by eating with the locals, and shopping in their markets, I often feel that we've seen more of their culture!

 

Andrew

[FinelyCruising]

Andrew - Agree the local food is an amazing opportunity to really enjoy the ports. There are some ports we have traveled that I want to return to just for the food!

[Blazerboy]

There are some ports we have traveled that I want to return to just for the food!

Like Istanbul!!!!!:D

[Sky Sweet]

For ships on the scale of Oasis I think the idea is to make the ship the destination. I think the business model is to have a trapped audience spending money on all things Oasis. Mega casino resorts in Vegas try to do the same thing by making their properties so attractive that their customers won't leave to spend their vacation dollars at the hotel next door. Cruise lines have the advantage of not letting the gangway touch land. That approach probably works well for a significant part of the cruise market but it isn't something that attracts the customer who is itinerary focused.

 

Hi Deep Water Mariner :)

 

While reading your post I realized something.

 

I could never understand why Celebrity eliminated the bridge program on most of its cruises when it was so popular that we often had to find an additional room for the overflo of people who wanted to play. It couldn't have been a cost issue since the bridge coordinator was only compensated with a free cruise in one of their cheapest cabins.

 

However, now that I think about it when the program was in place we went to a bridge class in the morning and spent several hours in the afternoon playing bridge. While it wasn't costing Celebrity money, it was creating a situation where passengers were enjoying themselves for hours during each sea day without spending money. Now without it, the passengers who participated in the bridge program are more likely to spend money at the casino, playing bingo, going to auctions, and imbibing a few drinks instead.

[DeepWaterMariner]

now that I think about it when the program was in place we went to a bridge class in the morning and spent several hours in the afternoon playing bridge. While it wasn't costing Celebrity money, it was creating a situation where passengers were enjoying themselves for hours during each sea day without spending money. Now without it, the passengers who participated in the bridge program are more likely to spend money at the casino, playing bingo, going to auctions, and imbibing a few drinks instead.

 

I'm not a bridge player so I'm not ready to claim a conspiracy theory in that area. Bridge lecturers use to be a standard on HAL and I'm not sure if that is still the case. It could be that bridge just isn't as popular as it once was and it isn't worth giving up even a cheap cabin for a bridge expert...or the line is so revenue driven that they want to book that cabin with a paying customer and let the passengers organize their own bridge play. In this age of maximizing on board revenue you may have a point.

[FinelyCruising]

Can comment that the Bridge Expert who I encountered on a recent flight westward did not indicate any distain over cabin accomodations.

 

Playing bridge early in the day in the small card room limiting occupancy can't mean more revenue than the more than few guests who prefer to get up and walk the upper deck, get into the Fitness Center, swim a few laps in an otherwise empty pool, eat breakfast/brunch in the dining room, read the daily in the Purser's lounge, or just plain sleep in.;)

[katpt]

I've read this thread, and perhaps I missed something, but comparing sea days to port days, for me, is no comparison. While at sea... the ship is MOVING! :D You have the opportunity to see marine animals, beautiful scenery, watch the wake, feel the wind, smell the (often) fresh air…

In port, you may have a nice view, but often are in an industrial area and get the pleasure of watching a cargo ship being unloaded (I have to confess to spending quite a bit of time at that as I’m an engineer and found it rather fascinating ;) ).

As for spending more money on sea days, being a “trapped audience”, I don’t gamble, only drink with meals, and don’t shop. I spend all my money on a cabin with a big balcony.

I’ve been in hotel rooms on beaches before. They’re nice. You can hear the waves, see the water, etc. However, they don’t compare to being on a moving vessel. You can FEEL the waves, roll with the ship (even more so after a meal with drinks), see the changes in the water, marine life, etc. Once we discovered cruising, my husband and I have not gone back to beach hotels.

I could wax on about why I love sea days, but I think you get the drift (or faster :p ).

Kathy