Has the quality of cruiselines declined ?

David,

It's a matter of personal taste in evaluating the cruise experience, then
versus now, more than quality or value. Cruising in the 80's and early 90's
was a different experience, of that there can be little debate. Type of
service, pricing, and so forth has evolved making the cruise product much
different. Yet cruising for the most part still provides a great value for
your money. How much of a value depends on the time of year, even the week
you choose. Like hotels, weekly rates for same accommodations can vary quite
substantially, and is generally based simply on supply and demand. A cabin
cat for a week on a ship may costs $2100 pp in July and be sold at $1100 pp
in or less in October for a NY sailing. The reason is simply that the height
of family sailings, kids out of school, and vacation from work and so forth
limit availability thus bring a premium rate in July. In October kids are in
school, people back to work, holiday gift giving bills looming in future,
less people traveling. The ability to sell space is harder. For Florida
sailings the market is changed by ships leaving Florida for NY market,
Alaska market, Med market and so forth so vacation time couples with less
ships available for Caribbean sailings from Florida.

As far as quality of cruising, the proliferation of cruising and the number
of new ships that have been brought forth through recent years has impacted
greatly on staff training. In example, on our first cruise in 1984 our
waiter who forever lives in our memory's, William, was trained in European
class hotel dining. He was a career waiter from an early age and his
professional ability was evident. Through the years waiters have become on
the job trainees and their penchant for service has seriously diminished.
Add the need for lower prices based on competition in the industry resulting
in smaller staffs to handle increased passenger load. Again in 1984 our
table was serviced daily by our waiter, assistant waiter, bar waiter, and
wine steward. Obviously this allowed our waiter to provide very attentive
service. Now it is more prevalent that your waiter and assistant will also
provide bar and wine service. They also more than likely have more tables to
service. The level of service is clearly less attentive but not necessarily
poor quality, but definitely differs from one era to this. The same can be
said for cabin stewards, who once spent a far greater amount of time
servicing each guest's needs.

Size of ships, numbers of passengers, like in any business, makes it harder
to offer a personalized service. In 1984 bartenders used to amuse us by
making paper roses for the lady between drinks. Asking for a dollar bill and
then making it into a ring for the gentlemen. Now they have little time for
such niceties as bar size and customer ration has grown. Also when ships
were smaller bar waiters and servers often serviced an exclusive area and
had a shot at learning the preferences of passengers that frequently their
areas. I can recall traveling with two other couples who would agree to meet
up in casino each night. The bar service fellow quickly figured that out and
would great each couple as they entered each evening greeting us by name "
good evening Mr. George and Mrs Linda, Mr. Tom has arrived and is at
blackjack table. Mr. Tom sent you drinks thank you. " Now due to need to
shift staff during need many bar servers rotate continually. Of course with
3000 passengers instead of 500 it is not likely that they are going to be
able to learn your pattern or remember who you are or even if they have
served you before. Service is still good for most part but it was a real
treat that made you feel real good when the staff can treat you so
personally. It is those differences that long time cruisers lament now.

Previously most, never really all, services and items were included in the
base pricing. Forced to compete via base prices has made onboard revenue a
priority. In 1984 alcohol and soda were additional cost although soda was
often provided at dinner at no charge. There was no signing for additional
cost ice cream or pay by the cup java bars. Espresso and Cappuccino were
available at end of dinner at no charge. As cost concerns prevail every year
brings more added costs while onboard. Take on recent cruise you could BUY a
computer printed newspaper sheet. Traditionally ships offered the Times Fax
free for picking up near pursers desk. It is little things that are missed.
Now have pay for view TV in cabin and so forth. On a recent cruise there was
a basket of snacks in the cabin on arrival. Thoughtful but far from
complimentary, in fact well overpriced. Where once where ordering room
service you could ask and receive something that varied from the in cabin
menu, now you are just as likely to be limited to the exact items. In
example, say no 1/2 grapefruit, just sections, you could ask for half and
you would get a smile and what you wanted. In fact would probably receive it
even unasked for during the rest of the cruise by a server anxious to
please. Much of that is gone by the wayside simply do to the large passenger
and reduced staff problem.

Things such as those I describe cause long time cruisers to often decry
where cruising has gone and I admit I am one of those. Yet cruising to date
still offers a good value in many areas and I certainly continue to cruise
although longing for days past. The problem will be, in my humble opinion,
when cruising reaches the point level of being no better value or service
level than a land based junket. Then one must ask ones self why should you
be on a ship that might rock and roll when it is virtually the same as being
in a resort that does not? We get closer to that every year. Another factor
is that as cruising has continued being Americanized the differences in the
cruise vacation continues to be less pronounced. I like my travel to be
different than what I am doing at home. I like my meals to be a new
experience, I can eat at a fast food place in my jeans everyday at home do I
wish to do it while vacationing and paying for the experience?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder they say. Cruising is still looking
good but not as pretty as she was when she was younger.

George in NY



"David A. Shinberg" wrote in message
...
My mother in law's travel agent is claiming that cruising is not what it
used to be. That I can believe especially with the changes some lines
have made.

However, the travel agent went on to say that the cost of a summer
cruise is no longer worth it. I was considering an Eastern Caribbean
cruise on Celebrity or Princess for my wife and two daughters (6 & 10).
I compared the cost of a cruise to a week in Disney World including
meals and the costs are comparable.

My question is has the quality of Princess and Celebrity decreased in
the past 4 years? From reading this group the answer is not apparent.

Thanks,
David.