We Cruisers Need to be Realists........

[sail7seas]

I know not everyone is going to agree but that's okay.

 

We all know the state of the econony, we all have friends/relative/acquaintances out of work, afraid of losing their job or earning less than they did a year or two ago.

 

We all know there are lots of ships with lots of cabins and there is competition from land resorts for vacation dollars.

 

I think the other thing we all need to know is something has to give.

In order for our favorite (and even less than favorite :) ) cruiselines to stay in business and continue sailing and providing all the jobs they account for, they are going to have some reduced prices on some sailings. How many of those sailings, who knows nor who knows how many ships for how long.

 

If they have to lower prices to fill cabins which they have to do to keep ships sailing, WE, who choose to continue sailing, are going to have to adjust our thinking.

 

If we are paying less, we have to be given less. If we cannot adjust to that thinking, IMO we are going to come back from cruises complaining.

 

IF we choose to continue sailing and hopefully most of us will, we still will be so fortunate to have the biggest things that mean the most to many of us that makes us love the ships. But, dinner menu may not be as extravagant as in the past. Crew numbers may be shrunk and service may lag a tiny notch. There probably will be fewer prizes etc at games

 

BUT we'll be on the beautiful ships, with the awesome crews we know work so hard to give us the best experience possible, we'll go to fascinating ports and meet interesting people, we'll feel the deck beneath our feet and the motion of the ocean and we'll have someone else cooking our meals and making our beds.

 

Sure doesn't sound all bad to me!!! :D

 

Let's try and be a bit realistic.

I imagine many have seen lots of store and restaurant closings, businesses folding in their communities....... don't blame the cruise lines when they have to do what they have to do in order to continue sailing. These are not times for extravagance and excess. These are not times when plates should be piled high in Lido when one knows they cannot possibly eat all that food. Take what you want but eat what you take (unless, of course, there is something about it that displeases you.) We can always go back for more. Assuming you are able, what's the big deal to go get your own coffee refill at breakfast in Lido rather than complain a steward with his cart didn't come around. Leave him to help those who need the assistance. Things like that can keep you from sitting there getting annoyed or angry. Easier and quicker to just go get a refill for yourself IMO

 

In the end, we would be the biggest losers if they no longer exist because we wouldn't give a tiny bit in our expectation.

 

JMHO........

[TLA]

I agree.

 

I am just looking forward to sitting on my balcony, being WARM, swimming in the ocean and if someone serves me dinner, all the better!

[cruz chic]

I agree with you Sail. My issues with HAL lean to issues that have nothing to do with cost cutting. The reason I feel I need to take a break is the fact that they are so disorganized and they seem to make a lot of errors with every booking of mine. I'm a super organized person and this drives me nuts. Others that are not organized may not have any issues with that. Every cruise line has to make cuts to survive. All of us have to decide what we can live with and what we can't.

[Rebecca33]

I aree with you 100%. We are sailing again in March and I will just be glad to be out of the cold. Even though we did not receive a discount on our trip, I understand that things are tight and if that means a littler slower service or helping myself...no problem. As long as I can sit on the balcony and watch the world go by I will be as happy as a clam...

 

Wendy:)

[Gator83]

Best post I've seen in a long time. I agree totally.

[norcal2]

Many times the complaints seem more shocking than the issue being complained about. I tend to toss out any complaint that is just nit-picky or; serious but more a case of personal preference. Some cruisers know what they are missing so the complaints have a validity to the person complaining - it just reads like a petulant child at times. I suspect elevated expectations are a real problem for all lines particularly if something small seems to ruin a wonderful cruise in the retelling.

[babyher]

Sail, You said it beautifully.

 

I couldn't agree more.

 

Right now anyone who is in the position to still be able to cruise or take any type of vacation is way ahead of the game compared to so many who have really been devastated by this economy.

[m steve]

Rather than saying you can't bring liquor on board for in cabin consumption, why not charge a corkage like they do for wine. I would gladly declare what I bring on board for my use and pay $10-15 for the privilege. I hate paying $70+ for a bottle from room service. The port rules would remain for them to hold it unless you decided to take it to your cabin and then be charged corkage. If someone gets a free ride drinking several bottles of wine (any price from $5 to $100 a bottle) in their cabin why is liquor treated differently? If there is an underage passenger then they couldn't do it.

[pipedreams62]

For the wonderful post, it reeked of "Common Sense"

 

unfortunately "Common Sense,Isn't So Common Anymore"

 

[localady]

Sails-

I promise you that we are doing as much as possible to keep our favorite cruiseline in business. ;) :D We too are adjusting our expectations, taking lessor cabins in order to keep cruising, but continuing our support of the industry with our reduced income.

November totally exceeded our expectations, and I am expecting an equally good time in a couple weeks! HAL is a class act and even in these difficult times, they generally pull it off with finesse! :D

 

A possible HAL ad campaign: Take a cruise, do your part to boost the economy !

[chloes nana]

 

IF we choose to continue sailing and hopefully most of us will, we still will be so fortunate to have the biggest things that mean the most to many of us that makes us love the ships.

BUT we'll be on the beautiful ships, with the awesome crews we know work so hard to give us the best experience possible, we'll go to fascinating ports and meet interesting people, we'll feel the deck beneath our feet and the motion of the ocean and we'll have someone else cooking our meals and making our beds.

 

Sure doesn't sound all bad to me!!! :D

 

Let's try and be a bit realistic.

In the end, we would be the biggest losers if they no longer exist because we wouldn't give a tiny bit in our expectation.

 

JMHO........

how about let's just be thankful we have the ability to pay the prices for these trips, no matter what they are, when there are a larger number of people out there who don't even know where their next meal is coming from and would probably give their right arm for the cost of any one of ours fares to sail, to just cover their mortgage for another month or buy food for their families. I am new to these boards and have never sailed out in a ship yet, but am very thankful that I have the means, health and ability to take a dream cruise to the Mediterranean for 20 days to see things that were only a dream at one point in my life. Seems to me alot of folks need to be more appreciative for what they do have and stop whining about all the little stuff, JMHO....;)

[wander]

LOVE the post sail7seas!

 

I just came on-line to write something similar, but not a clear and simple as you did.

 

My thoughts evolved from a HAL flyer we received yesterday "Vacation Stimulus Plan". Must have a HAL Mariner ID number. WOW, what prices!!!!!

 

March 2009, ms Volendam 63 days, Sydney to Vancouver, inside from $4,699.

($75 per day)

 

April 2009, ms Amsterdam, 18 days, Valparaiso to San Diego, Inside from $999, outside from $1,099 ($55 and $62 per day respectively)

 

7, 10 day sailings of Ryndam, Mexican Riviera & Sea of Cortez, Feb - April 2009, inside cabins from $599 for each of these sailings ($60 per day)

 

There are others, but not quite so good.

 

No wonder HAL (and others) are cutting back on expenses. They have to to survive.

 

Posters may say - I am never going to sail on (you name the line) again because they are cutting back so much, BUT obviously many folks are not sailing for other reasons (probably economic). Until business returns I suggest we need to adjust to changes on board, like them or not.

 

When cruise lines are cutting prices so much, they are NOT trying to be nice, they are hurting!

[BalconyBumz]

Very well said. ;)

[serendipity1499]

TOUCHÉ :):):):):)

What a beautiful post! You hit the nail on the head!

 

Thank you!

Betty

[WillK]

I agree wholeheartedly! Everyone businessperson I speak with, regardless of the industry, is struggling to maintain service levels while remaining financially viable. Staffing levels everywhere (ships included) are being reduced and nerves are frayed. The only healthy response that I can choose is to exhibit a higher level of understanding and patience in my dealings with others. I'm happy to expect a little less given the current economic climate. I really love the British sentiment of "stiff upper lip" and making the best of things even if they aren't ideal. Thank you Sail for a wonderful post.

[jimgev]

We are facing difficult times and it is likely that things will get worse before they begina long, slow road toward improvement. All of us will need to make adjustments in many areas of our lives.

[mamaofami]

An excellent post. We live in a wealthy suburban area of New York City, and all around I see signs of stores going out of business. Things will get worse for a while, I agree. Eventually they will improve, but those of us lucky enough to have the discretionary income to travel have to understand that HAL is a business, and as such, has to make the necessary cuts to (pardon the pun) stay a float.

[buffpuff2]

Sail, you are exactly the kind of person I want on my next cruise.

[May4]

Here's to the people who look on the bright side for they shall have more fun than the grouches and grumps.

 

Besides, I really do think the crew does an outstanding job for me and mine every single time. I don't need the world's most expensive ingredients at dinner as long as the food is delicious. I've not gone hungry on board so far:p

["Wandering Wino's&quo]

I know not everyone is going to agree but that's okay.

 

We all know the state of the econony, we all have friends/relative/acquaintances out of work, afraid of losing their job or earning less than they did a year or two ago.

 

We all know there are lots of ships with lots of cabins and there is competition from land resorts for vacation dollars.

 

I think the other thing we all need to know is something has to give.

In order for our favorite (and even less than favorite :) ) cruiselines to stay in business and continue sailing and providing all the jobs they account for, they are going to have some reduced prices on some sailings. How many of those sailings, who knows nor who knows how many ships for how long.

 

If they have to lower prices to fill cabins which they have to do to keep ships sailing, WE, who choose to continue sailing, are going to have to adjust our thinking.

 

If we are paying less, we have to be given less. If we cannot adjust to that thinking, IMO we are going to come back from cruises complaining.

 

IF we choose to continue sailing and hopefully most of us will, we still will be so fortunate to have the biggest things that mean the most to many of us that makes us love the ships. But, dinner menu may not be as extravagant as in the past. Crew numbers may be shrunk and service may lag a tiny notch. There probably will be fewer prizes etc at games

 

BUT we'll be on the beautiful ships, with the awesome crews we know work so hard to give us the best experience possible, we'll go to fascinating ports and meet interesting people, we'll feel the deck beneath our feet and the motion of the ocean and we'll have someone else cooking our meals and making our beds.

 

Sure doesn't sound all bad to me!!! :D

 

Let's try and be a bit realistic.

I imagine many have seen lots of store and restaurant closings, businesses folding in their communities....... don't blame the cruise lines when they have to do what they have to do in order to continue sailing. These are not times for extravagance and excess. These are not times when plates should be piled high in Lido when one knows they cannot possibly eat all that food. Take what you want but eat what you take (unless, of course, there is something about it that displeases you.) We can always go back for more. Assuming you are able, what's the big deal to go get your own coffee refill at breakfast in Lido rather than complain a steward with his cart didn't come around. Leave him to help those who need the assistance. Things like that can keep you from sitting there getting annoyed or angry. Easier and quicker to just go get a refill for yourself IMO

 

In the end, we would be the biggest losers if they no longer exist because we wouldn't give a tiny bit in our expectation.

 

JMHO........

 

I'll drink to that!

[Mtierney]

I agree completely about not wasting food. I have seen people take 3 or 4 desserts and only pick at them. Also those piled high dinner plates!:eek:

 

However, if I am going to get less service and try to be considerate, I expect to see price breaks. Been looking at a summer cruise to the Baltics on the Eurodam for 14 nights. The prices differ depending on who you are speaking with.

 

How bad is an inside cabin? What is the point of picking an obstructed outside cabin - doesn't that defeat the purpose? Although we have cruised quite a few times, settling on a price is always confusing. Seems each cabin goes for a different rate.

[topcop]

I agree.

 

I am just looking forward to sitting on my balcony, being WARM, swimming in the ocean and if someone serves me dinner, all the better!

 

Boy do I agree with that. But have to add booze. I don't drink excessively but it is nice to have some drinks while relaxing. That is where the cruise line makes its money from me.

 

I image the casino's and shore excursions are a big part of their income equation too. So if they can fill a ship with reduced cabin rates, they can expect to earn money in other ways.

[jhannah]

I agree with the OP ... to a point. I understand the logic, but there is a certain point when the cruise experience isn't appealing to me. Small things often add up to a major differential in what's offered in the overall market. They make the experience a cut above. Remove enough of those elements, and I'll enjoy other types of vacations.

 

I'm not a complainer. Far from it. But if any company lets me down, I'm outie. JMO

[Pokeynose]

Sail, I agree with you 100%. We booked our second cruise last July before the economy got so bad and we lost a lot of our savings in the market but we will still go on this cruise and if I have to make my own bed, why not, I've done it for over 70 yrs.:D Getting our own coffee, water, etc. is certainly not a problem, good exercise to walk back to the drink station. Too many people live in a dream world thinking everything should be given to them or done for them, those days are over. I'm so looking forward to our cruise next Sept. to Alaska and also seeing my g-daughers who live in the Seattle area. I hope to see some of you on that cruise but by the looks of the available cabins on our cruise it just might be lonely.

[Roz]

I just got a raise at work, right before I left for a 5-day Carnival cruise to tide me over until my next HAL cruise later this year. I truly appreciate how fortunate I am. When I hear complaints about the cabin steward not getting to someone's stateroom until noon or how instead of 2 lobster tails there's 1 tail and 3 tiger shrimp, I don't know whether to scream :eek: or laugh :D .

 

Yes, I do see the cutbacks, but the glass is still over half full for me. Thanks for starting this thread, Sail.

 

Roz