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Don't set sail on a cruise without doing some research first
To Whom It May Concern:
We came across this information in the trades and thought it would be of interest to this newsgroup as well. If this is somehow a repeat of an earlier post, sorry we missed it. This can always be ignored or deleted. Happy sailing, John Sisker SHIP-TO-SHORE CRUISE AGENCY® (714) 536-3850 or toll free at (800) 724-6644 & (pagoo ID: 714.536.3850) http://www.shiptoshorecruise.com Looking back on it now, when we decided to get married and honeymoon on a cruise ship with nearly 40 of our family and friends, there are some things we wish we had known first. Foremost was this: You cannot honeymoon in any real sense of the word on a cruise ship with nearly 40 of your family and friends. The Norwegian Cruise Lines' Norwegian Dream is a 784-foot ship the size of a small building; you might never see someone for days. It's a floating box with no way off, and someone you know is always in the restaurant - or the pool, or the lounge, or the aft bathroom on C Deck. But following our return home from "The Waltons & Friends go to Mexico" we realized there were some things we'd taken for granted from past cruising experiences and wished we asked our travel agent before booking our cruise. The first would be "How much do you know about cruises?" With the increasing number of options available in cruise travel these days, it's exceptionally helpful to have someone who knows the cruise industry backwards and forwards - someone like Roger Robertson of All Ways Traveling in Lincoln City, Ore. He said many cruise quandaries can be avoided by booking through a travel agent. "If you go to the Internet, nobody's going to respond to you," he said. "You need to talk to someone." As a travel agent, Robertson is admittedly biased toward personal interaction. And the Internet can indeed save you money, which, when money's tight, can be a big factor. But on the matter of cruises, we would suggest he's right, because if we'd had Robertson on our speed dial, we'd have asked questions like this: 'Where am I sailing from, and does it matter?' This might seem one of those "Duh" questions; any itinerary clearly shows where the ship leaves from. Cruise passengers, however, often reflect their ship's point of origin. More people from Southern California cruise the Mexican Riviera, more people from the Pacific Northwest head for Alaska and more people head to the Bahamas from Florida. Leaving from Houston, our ship was loaded with Texans. Right up front we should tell you we do not automatically dislike Texans or anyone else from the South. One of us even descends from Texan stock. However, given they were easily the largest population on our ship, there were a lot of behaviors that began to repeat themselves, most notably a propensity for loud, drunken behavior and a whole lot of smoking. Indeed, by the third day of the cruise, we were told by more experienced passengers that our sailing was known as the "Redneck Cruise" because this kind of thing happened every time. Not a problem for a college spring break excursion, perhaps, but not the best environment for a honeymoon. Robertson cautions it's not always possible to predict a cruise population's behavior based solely on its port of debarkation. He does note, however: "The cheaper a cruise is, the more localized it's going to be. The shorter a cruise is, the more localized is." What is the demographic of the people I'm cruising with? Our on-ship experience was not necessarily typical of each sailing that ship makes. (We offered to prove that by cruising each week for a year, but our employers found that to be a bit above and beyond our calls of duty.) Having said that, however, there are some generalizations you can make about a ship's population, Robertson said, merely by the cruise line that operates the ship: -- Carnival: "Fun ships," they emphasize partying and onboard entertainment. -- NCL: A family cruise line for people interested in keeping things cheap. -- Princess: Upscale with an eye towards entertainment. -- Holland America Lines: Upscale, family cruising. -- Royal Caribbean: Upscale couples. -- Celebrity: Upscale couples. This reputation, along with the port of debarkation, should be considered when trying to determine exactly what kind of people you'll be cruising with. "A Celebrity cruise out of the same harbor will have a more upscale audience than NCL," Robertson said. Timing, he said, is also important. "If you are looking for a cruise out of whatever destination, if it's on spring break in Texas, you know it's loaded with Texans." 'Who will help you in the case of an emergency?' When we took our cruise in January, the biggest hazards we'd heard about with cruising were ports being wiped out by hurricanes - as happened to us - rogue waves and the occasional missing person. Now, the cruise lines can't do much about weather phenomena, and crime is, well, crime. And aside from banning smoking altogether, fires such as the one that burned part of a Princess cruise ship recently, are one reason to pay attention during that emergency drill. But the Chilean bus accident that killed 10 seniors from the Celebrity ship Millennium and our own onshore incident have shown that you do need to think about emergencies ahead of time. The bus tour the crash victims were on was not affiliated with the cruise ship. This is not to say you should take only official tours, but it can make things more complicated if something goes wrong. The ship typically will not wait for delayed passengers on unofficial excursions. Some things to remember: -- Assume you will be on your own. Flight nurses exist to help you get home, but they need time to book flights, so contact them as soon as you know you need help. Flying Nurses International (1-808-521-1333, www.flyingnurse.com) bent over backwards to help us. -- Buy trip insurance. Many people think is just flushing money down the toilet. But the onboard medical expenses and costs related to getting an injured friend home have easily exceeded $3,000, and she got off cheap. All of this will be covered by a policy that cost about $75. 'What is the smoking policy on the ship?' Whether you agree with it or not, Oregon and most places out West have basically become areas where unless smoking is allowed, most people don't. This did not apply to our ship. People smoked in the hallways, people smoked by the pool, people smoked in the bathrooms. We cannot begin to tell you how many times we'd be enjoying our spot in the sun when someone would sit down next to us, light up, and we'd have to move. Asthma is a real pain. Robertson said each cruise line has different policies, so if smoking is an issue, be sure to be clear about what you want when booking your cruise. "You can request cabins and decks that are nonsmoking," he said. "You wouldn't book a hotel room in Portland and not ask for a nonsmoking room." 'How old is the ship?' Of all the things we knew about before our cruise and didn't fully understand, this would have to be the biggest one. Our ship was built in 1992 and had a major retrofit in 1998. In the scheme of things, eight years just didn't seem like that long of a time. We've put off sorting our sock drawer for longer periods than that. But in the cruise industry it's huge, said Robertson. "The newer the ship, the more dining options it has, the larger the showrooms, the larger casino they will have." Also, newer ships have far more rooms with unobstructed windows and balconies. Our initial "premium ocean view room" had a rather obstructed view for us and a rather unobstructed view for the people on the observation deck who could walk right up to the window of our cabin and take in some people watching. And if the ship is full, you're stuck with that room. Another big problem with an older ship is sea sickness. Ours lacked stabilization technology. On perfectly flat days this wasn't a problem. But on days when the seas were choppy - and in January there were plenty even in the Caribbean - the ship rocked and rolled from one side to the other. "Most all of the newer ships have got some kind of stabilization," Robertson said. "The new builds have stabilizer bars that are the width of the ship that eliminate that pitch and roll." 'What's near your room?' It's important to see what is above, below, next to and outside your room. If you don't want to feel the bass from the lounge speakers through your ceiling or watch people run by all day on the jogging track from your window, for example, you might not want to leave your room assignment to chance. "Some people, when I book a cruise, we will specifically select the cabin then and there, because you know where you're going to be," Robertson said. He cautions, however, if you select an individual room, the cruise line will consider you ineligible for any possible upgrades. 'Is there assigned or open seating for meals?' The traditional model on cruise lines has been for two or three dinner seatings, where everyone on the ship has an assigned time and table for their dinner. These arrangements do not change; the time, location and dining companions are the same each night. In recent years, however, some cruise lines have begun open seating. Each night guests can choose where and when they want to eat. Although this can involve waiting in line sometimes, it usually isn't too bad, at least in our experience. Having said that, we would have preferred the traditional model. From past cruises, we know that assigned seating allowed us the opportunity to get to know our wait staff and other people on the ship. It was more formal and classy, we think, and we missed it. This was not a universal feeling. Other people liked the open arrangements because they weren't tied into a certain schedule and could pretty much do as they pleased. Although NCL has taken the lead in open seating with its "Freestyle Cruising" program, other cruise lines offer it in varying degrees. "They are all getting to some type of almost want-to-be freestyle cruising," said Robertson. "Princess, for instance, calls it 'Dining Your Way.'" Most, he said, still offer some form of formal seating for those who want it, however. NCL is the only line that does not. Having now sailed on three of the major cruise lines, we know better what to watch out for and what not to take for granted. Sadly, our honeymoon was more stressful than we'd hoped for, but we enjoyed ourselves and our traveling companions nonetheless. But we're taking a second honeymoon without 40 family and friends, and sincerely hope we won't run into anyone we know in the bathroom. We're not even telling anyone where we're going. Safe to say, however, it will not be Texas. |
#2
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Don't set sail on a cruise without doing some research first
[ Snipped Roger Robertson's views on why you need a travel agent.]
While I personally think you should book the boat cruise thru TA myself, I also agree then you can find far better travel deals to and from the port by yourself over the internet. But this so-called report by Roger Robertson seems to be written by someone who has not used the internet for more than ten hours per year. Example "If you go to the Internet, nobody's going to respond to you," a statement that has lots of irony when I am reading it in R.T.C. where sometimes the problem is the large number of and range of responses. He seems to not know about the large number of websites not belonging to the cruise lines where you will find reviews of just about every ship out there. Nor about the forums on many of these sites too. Many/Most/Maybe all problems the honeymooners had also occur when you book a resort, a hotel, or out-of-country honeymoon without doing the research first. I remember in the carribean resort usenet group that some honeymoon couple booked a resort that turned out to be a sex-partying place with unknown couples mating on thier balcony (yuch!). Basicly, the article seemed to try and make it look like there are special problems with cruises but all I see is a lack preparation like all too many couples caught up in the thrill of thier up coming marriage. Earl Colby Pottinger -- Cruising, building a Catamaran, Rebuilding Cabin, New Peroxide Still Design, Writting SF, Programming FOSS - What happened to the time? |
#3
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Don't set sail on a cruise without doing some research first
Another big problem with an older ship is sea
sickness. Ours lacked stabilization technology.snip "The new builds have stabilizer bars that are the width of the ship that eliminate that pitch and roll." It was upon reading the above that I closed the post and decided there was nothing worth reading in it. Stabilizer BARS? Warren |
#4
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Don't set sail on a cruise without doing some research first
Stabilizer BARS?
These are generally on the Promenade Deck level. They allow you your choice of Stabilizers.....I personally prefer either Jack Daniels or Johnny Walker. |
#5
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Don't set sail on a cruise without doing some research first
Yes Warren ...... Stabilizer Bars .......
It is the latest technology, after you have a few Martinis you stay upright and the ship starts to move around you. Cal In article .com, Warren says... Another big problem with an older ship is sea sickness. Ours lacked stabilization technology.snip "The new builds have stabilizer bars that are the width of the ship that eliminate that pitch and roll." It was upon reading the above that I closed the post and decided there was nothing worth reading in it. Stabilizer BARS? Warren -- NewsGuy.Com 30Gb $9.95 Carry Forward and On Demand Bandwidth |
#6
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Don't set sail on a cruise without doing some research first
The comments from some of you are pretty funny and are actually quite
creative. It's good to see that at least a few of you have a sense of humor and have the ability to not always take something at total face value, even if in the trade. As for the person who said there was nothing here worth reading, well that's what makes horse racing, and also why the statement "this can always be ignored or deleted." Happy sailing, John Sisker SHIP-TO-SHORE CRUISE AGENCY® (714) 536-3850 or toll free at (800) 724-6644 & (pagoo ID: 714.536.3850) http://www.shiptoshorecruise.com |
#7
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Don't set sail on a cruise without doing some research first
Thus spake "John Sisker" :
To Whom It May Concern: Looking back on it now, when we decided to get married and honeymoon on a cruise ship with nearly 40 of our family and friends, there are some things we wish we had known first. I wouldn't take 40 family and friends on ANY honeymoon, regardless of where we're going. That was just a plain and simple stupid move. -- dillon I didn't climb to the top of the food chain to become a vegetartian. |
#8
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Don't set sail on a cruise without doing some research first
Thus spake "John Sisker" :
snip Leaving from Houston, our ship was loaded with Texans. Right up front we should tell you we do not automatically dislike Texans or anyone else from the South. One of us even descends from Texan stock. However, given they were easily the largest population on our ship, there were a lot of behaviors that began to repeat themselves, most notably a propensity for loud, drunken behavior and a whole lot of smoking. Indeed, by the third day of the cruise, we were told by more experienced passengers that our sailing was known as the "Redneck Cruise" because this kind of thing happened every time. What a crock of biased ****. Not a problem for a college spring break excursion, perhaps, but not the best environment for a honeymoon. Robertson cautions it's not always possible to predict a cruise population's behavior based solely on its port of debarkation. Good point, which the author choose to ignore. He does note, however: "The cheaper a cruise is, the more localized it's going to be. The shorter a cruise is, the more localized is." What is the demographic of the people I'm cruising with? Our on-ship experience was not necessarily typical of each sailing that ship makes. (We offered to prove that by cruising each week for a year, but our employers found that to be a bit above and beyond our calls of duty.) Having said that, however, there are some generalizations you can make about a ship's population, Robertson said, merely by the cruise line that operates the ship: -- Carnival: "Fun ships," they emphasize partying and onboard entertainment. -- NCL: A family cruise line for people interested in keeping things cheap. -- Princess: Upscale with an eye towards entertainment. -- Holland America Lines: Upscale, family cruising. -- Royal Caribbean: Upscale couples. -- Celebrity: Upscale couples. This reputation, along with the port of debarkation, should be considered when trying to determine exactly what kind of people you'll be cruising with. "A Celebrity cruise out of the same harbor will have a more upscale audience than NCL," Robertson said. Timing, he said, is also important. "If you are looking for a cruise out of whatever destination, if it's on spring break in Texas, you know it's loaded with Texans." ' snip Oregon and most places out West have basically become areas where unless smoking is allowed, most people don't. This did not apply to our ship. People smoked in the hallways, people smoked by the pool, people smoked in the bathrooms. We cannot begin to tell you how many times we'd be enjoying our spot in the sun when someone would sit down next to us, light up, and we'd have to move. Most ships have a non smoking side of the pool. A little checking and a little assertivness would have helped that problem. Asthma is a real pain. Robertson said each cruise line has different policies, so if smoking is an issue, be sure to be clear about what you want when booking your cruise. "You can request cabins and decks that are nonsmoking," he said. "You wouldn't book a hotel room in Portland and not ask for a nonsmoking room." 'How old is the ship?' Of all the things we knew about before our cruise and didn't fully understand, this would have to be the biggest one. Our ship was built in 1992 and had a major retrofit in 1998. In the scheme of things, eight years just didn't seem like that long of a time. We've put off sorting our sock drawer for longer periods than that. But in the cruise industry it's huge, said Robertson. "The newer the ship, the more dining options it has, the larger the showrooms, the larger casino they will have." Also, newer ships have far more rooms with unobstructed windows and balconies. Our initial "premium ocean view room" had a rather obstructed view for us and a rather unobstructed view for the people on the observation deck who could walk right up to the window of our cabin and take in some people watching. And if the ship is full, you're stuck with that room. Another big problem with an older ship is sea sickness. Ours lacked stabilization technology. On perfectly flat days this wasn't a problem. But on days when the seas were choppy - and in January there were plenty even in the Caribbean - the ship rocked and rolled from one side to the other. "Most all of the newer ships have got some kind of stabilization," Robertson said. "The new builds have stabilizer bars that are the width of the ship that eliminate that pitch and roll." 'What's near your room?' It's important to see what is above, below, next to and outside your room. If you don't want to feel the bass from the lounge speakers through your ceiling or watch people run by all day on the jogging track from your window, for example, you might not want to leave your room assignment to chance. "Some people, when I book a cruise, we will specifically select the cabin then and there, because you know where you're going to be," Robertson said. He cautions, however, if you select an individual room, the cruise line will consider you ineligible for any possible upgrades. 'Is there assigned or open seating for meals?' The traditional model on cruise lines has been for two or three dinner seatings, where everyone on the ship has an assigned time and table for their dinner. These arrangements do not change; the time, location and dining companions are the same each night. In recent years, however, some cruise lines have begun open seating. Each night guests can choose where and when they want to eat. Although this can involve waiting in line sometimes, it usually isn't too bad, at least in our experience. Having said that, we would have preferred the traditional model. From past cruises, we know that assigned seating allowed us the opportunity to get to know our wait staff and other people on the ship. It was more formal and classy, we think, and we missed it. This was not a universal feeling. Other people liked the open arrangements because they weren't tied into a certain schedule and could pretty much do as they pleased. Although NCL has taken the lead in open seating with its "Freestyle Cruising" program, other cruise lines offer it in varying degrees. "They are all getting to some type of almost want-to-be freestyle cruising," said Robertson. "Princess, for instance, calls it 'Dining Your Way.'" Most, he said, still offer some form of formal seating for those who want it, however. NCL is the only line that does not. Having now sailed on three of the major cruise lines, we know better what to watch out for and what not to take for granted. Sadly, our honeymoon was more stressful than we'd hoped for, but we enjoyed ourselves and our traveling companions nonetheless. But we're taking a second honeymoon without 40 family and friends, and sincerely hope we won't run into anyone we know in the bathroom. We're not even telling anyone where we're going. Safe to say, however, it will not be Texas. Again, a biased and baseless claim. Just what I'd expect from a tree hugging Oregonian. -- dillon I didn't climb to the top of the food chain to become a vegetartian. |
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Don't set sail on a cruise without doing some research first
Agree or disagree, at least accredit me with the right information. I
certainly am not afraid the speak out when I feel it necessary, but the following was not even my original comments at all. Likewise, you'll probably get better results with fact and figures as a backup to your claims, than with insults and innuendos. John Sisker SHIP-TO-SHORE CRUISE AGENCY® (714) 536-3850 or toll free at (800) 724-6644 & (pagoo ID: 714.536.3850) http://www.shiptoshorecruise.com "Dillon Pyron" wrote in message ... Thus spake "John Sisker" : snip Leaving from Houston, our ship was loaded with Texans. Right up front we should tell you we do not automatically dislike Texans or anyone else from the South. One of us even descends from Texan stock. However, given they were easily the largest population on our ship, there were a lot of behaviors that began to repeat themselves, most notably a propensity for loud, drunken behavior and a whole lot of smoking. Indeed, by the third day of the cruise, we were told by more experienced passengers that our sailing was known as the "Redneck Cruise" because this kind of thing happened every time. What a crock of biased ****. Not a problem for a college spring break excursion, perhaps, but not the best environment for a honeymoon. Robertson cautions it's not always possible to predict a cruise population's behavior based solely on its port of debarkation. Good point, which the author choose to ignore. He does note, however: "The cheaper a cruise is, the more localized it's going to be. The shorter a cruise is, the more localized is." What is the demographic of the people I'm cruising with? Our on-ship experience was not necessarily typical of each sailing that ship makes. (We offered to prove that by cruising each week for a year, but our employers found that to be a bit above and beyond our calls of duty.) Having said that, however, there are some generalizations you can make about a ship's population, Robertson said, merely by the cruise line that operates the ship: -- Carnival: "Fun ships," they emphasize partying and onboard entertainment. -- NCL: A family cruise line for people interested in keeping things cheap. -- Princess: Upscale with an eye towards entertainment. -- Holland America Lines: Upscale, family cruising. -- Royal Caribbean: Upscale couples. -- Celebrity: Upscale couples. This reputation, along with the port of debarkation, should be considered when trying to determine exactly what kind of people you'll be cruising with. "A Celebrity cruise out of the same harbor will have a more upscale audience than NCL," Robertson said. Timing, he said, is also important. "If you are looking for a cruise out of whatever destination, if it's on spring break in Texas, you know it's loaded with Texans." ' snip Oregon and most places out West have basically become areas where unless smoking is allowed, most people don't. This did not apply to our ship. People smoked in the hallways, people smoked by the pool, people smoked in the bathrooms. We cannot begin to tell you how many times we'd be enjoying our spot in the sun when someone would sit down next to us, light up, and we'd have to move. Most ships have a non smoking side of the pool. A little checking and a little assertivness would have helped that problem. Asthma is a real pain. Robertson said each cruise line has different policies, so if smoking is an issue, be sure to be clear about what you want when booking your cruise. "You can request cabins and decks that are nonsmoking," he said. "You wouldn't book a hotel room in Portland and not ask for a nonsmoking room." 'How old is the ship?' Of all the things we knew about before our cruise and didn't fully understand, this would have to be the biggest one. Our ship was built in 1992 and had a major retrofit in 1998. In the scheme of things, eight years just didn't seem like that long of a time. We've put off sorting our sock drawer for longer periods than that. But in the cruise industry it's huge, said Robertson. "The newer the ship, the more dining options it has, the larger the showrooms, the larger casino they will have." Also, newer ships have far more rooms with unobstructed windows and balconies. Our initial "premium ocean view room" had a rather obstructed view for us and a rather unobstructed view for the people on the observation deck who could walk right up to the window of our cabin and take in some people watching. And if the ship is full, you're stuck with that room. Another big problem with an older ship is sea sickness. Ours lacked stabilization technology. On perfectly flat days this wasn't a problem. But on days when the seas were choppy - and in January there were plenty even in the Caribbean - the ship rocked and rolled from one side to the other. "Most all of the newer ships have got some kind of stabilization," Robertson said. "The new builds have stabilizer bars that are the width of the ship that eliminate that pitch and roll." 'What's near your room?' It's important to see what is above, below, next to and outside your room. If you don't want to feel the bass from the lounge speakers through your ceiling or watch people run by all day on the jogging track from your window, for example, you might not want to leave your room assignment to chance. "Some people, when I book a cruise, we will specifically select the cabin then and there, because you know where you're going to be," Robertson said. He cautions, however, if you select an individual room, the cruise line will consider you ineligible for any possible upgrades. 'Is there assigned or open seating for meals?' The traditional model on cruise lines has been for two or three dinner seatings, where everyone on the ship has an assigned time and table for their dinner. These arrangements do not change; the time, location and dining companions are the same each night. In recent years, however, some cruise lines have begun open seating. Each night guests can choose where and when they want to eat. Although this can involve waiting in line sometimes, it usually isn't too bad, at least in our experience. Having said that, we would have preferred the traditional model. From past cruises, we know that assigned seating allowed us the opportunity to get to know our wait staff and other people on the ship. It was more formal and classy, we think, and we missed it. This was not a universal feeling. Other people liked the open arrangements because they weren't tied into a certain schedule and could pretty much do as they pleased. Although NCL has taken the lead in open seating with its "Freestyle Cruising" program, other cruise lines offer it in varying degrees. "They are all getting to some type of almost want-to-be freestyle cruising," said Robertson. "Princess, for instance, calls it 'Dining Your Way.'" Most, he said, still offer some form of formal seating for those who want it, however. NCL is the only line that does not. Having now sailed on three of the major cruise lines, we know better what to watch out for and what not to take for granted. Sadly, our honeymoon was more stressful than we'd hoped for, but we enjoyed ourselves and our traveling companions nonetheless. But we're taking a second honeymoon without 40 family and friends, and sincerely hope we won't run into anyone we know in the bathroom. We're not even telling anyone where we're going. Safe to say, however, it will not be Texas. Again, a biased and baseless claim. Just what I'd expect from a tree hugging Oregonian. -- dillon I didn't climb to the top of the food chain to become a vegetartian. |
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Don't set sail on a cruise without doing some research first
Thus spake "John Sisker" :
Agree or disagree, at least accredit me with the right information. I certainly am not afraid the speak out when I feel it necessary, but the following was not even my original comments at all. Likewise, you'll probably get better results with fact and figures as a backup to your claims, than with insults and innuendos. A) where did I claim that you posted the information as your own? You, in fact, chose to quote the story. Which was probably copyright material. B) where do I make a claim that requires documentation? All I do is point out the fallicies and bias in the article. "Dillon Pyron" wrote in message .. . Thus spake "John Sisker" : snip Leaving from Houston, our ship was loaded with Texans. Right up front we should tell you we do not automatically dislike Texans or anyone else from the South. One of us even descends from Texan stock. However, given they were easily the largest population on our ship, there were a lot of behaviors that began to repeat themselves, most notably a propensity for loud, drunken behavior and a whole lot of smoking. Indeed, by the third day of the cruise, we were told by more experienced passengers that our sailing was known as the "Redneck Cruise" because this kind of thing happened every time. What a crock of biased ****. Not a problem for a college spring break excursion, perhaps, but not the best environment for a honeymoon. Robertson cautions it's not always possible to predict a cruise population's behavior based solely on its port of debarkation. Good point, which the author choose to ignore. He does note, however: "The cheaper a cruise is, the more localized it's going to be. The shorter a cruise is, the more localized is." What is the demographic of the people I'm cruising with? Our on-ship experience was not necessarily typical of each sailing that ship makes. (We offered to prove that by cruising each week for a year, but our employers found that to be a bit above and beyond our calls of duty.) Having said that, however, there are some generalizations you can make about a ship's population, Robertson said, merely by the cruise line that operates the ship: -- Carnival: "Fun ships," they emphasize partying and onboard entertainment. -- NCL: A family cruise line for people interested in keeping things cheap. -- Princess: Upscale with an eye towards entertainment. -- Holland America Lines: Upscale, family cruising. -- Royal Caribbean: Upscale couples. -- Celebrity: Upscale couples. This reputation, along with the port of debarkation, should be considered when trying to determine exactly what kind of people you'll be cruising with. "A Celebrity cruise out of the same harbor will have a more upscale audience than NCL," Robertson said. Timing, he said, is also important. "If you are looking for a cruise out of whatever destination, if it's on spring break in Texas, you know it's loaded with Texans." ' snip Oregon and most places out West have basically become areas where unless smoking is allowed, most people don't. This did not apply to our ship. People smoked in the hallways, people smoked by the pool, people smoked in the bathrooms. We cannot begin to tell you how many times we'd be enjoying our spot in the sun when someone would sit down next to us, light up, and we'd have to move. Most ships have a non smoking side of the pool. A little checking and a little assertivness would have helped that problem. Asthma is a real pain. Robertson said each cruise line has different policies, so if smoking is an issue, be sure to be clear about what you want when booking your cruise. "You can request cabins and decks that are nonsmoking," he said. "You wouldn't book a hotel room in Portland and not ask for a nonsmoking room." 'How old is the ship?' Of all the things we knew about before our cruise and didn't fully understand, this would have to be the biggest one. Our ship was built in 1992 and had a major retrofit in 1998. In the scheme of things, eight years just didn't seem like that long of a time. We've put off sorting our sock drawer for longer periods than that. But in the cruise industry it's huge, said Robertson. "The newer the ship, the more dining options it has, the larger the showrooms, the larger casino they will have." Also, newer ships have far more rooms with unobstructed windows and balconies. Our initial "premium ocean view room" had a rather obstructed view for us and a rather unobstructed view for the people on the observation deck who could walk right up to the window of our cabin and take in some people watching. And if the ship is full, you're stuck with that room. Another big problem with an older ship is sea sickness. Ours lacked stabilization technology. On perfectly flat days this wasn't a problem. But on days when the seas were choppy - and in January there were plenty even in the Caribbean - the ship rocked and rolled from one side to the other. "Most all of the newer ships have got some kind of stabilization," Robertson said. "The new builds have stabilizer bars that are the width of the ship that eliminate that pitch and roll." 'What's near your room?' It's important to see what is above, below, next to and outside your room. If you don't want to feel the bass from the lounge speakers through your ceiling or watch people run by all day on the jogging track from your window, for example, you might not want to leave your room assignment to chance. "Some people, when I book a cruise, we will specifically select the cabin then and there, because you know where you're going to be," Robertson said. He cautions, however, if you select an individual room, the cruise line will consider you ineligible for any possible upgrades. 'Is there assigned or open seating for meals?' The traditional model on cruise lines has been for two or three dinner seatings, where everyone on the ship has an assigned time and table for their dinner. These arrangements do not change; the time, location and dining companions are the same each night. In recent years, however, some cruise lines have begun open seating. Each night guests can choose where and when they want to eat. Although this can involve waiting in line sometimes, it usually isn't too bad, at least in our experience. Having said that, we would have preferred the traditional model. From past cruises, we know that assigned seating allowed us the opportunity to get to know our wait staff and other people on the ship. It was more formal and classy, we think, and we missed it. This was not a universal feeling. Other people liked the open arrangements because they weren't tied into a certain schedule and could pretty much do as they pleased. Although NCL has taken the lead in open seating with its "Freestyle Cruising" program, other cruise lines offer it in varying degrees. "They are all getting to some type of almost want-to-be freestyle cruising," said Robertson. "Princess, for instance, calls it 'Dining Your Way.'" Most, he said, still offer some form of formal seating for those who want it, however. NCL is the only line that does not. Having now sailed on three of the major cruise lines, we know better what to watch out for and what not to take for granted. Sadly, our honeymoon was more stressful than we'd hoped for, but we enjoyed ourselves and our traveling companions nonetheless. But we're taking a second honeymoon without 40 family and friends, and sincerely hope we won't run into anyone we know in the bathroom. We're not even telling anyone where we're going. Safe to say, however, it will not be Texas. Again, a biased and baseless claim. Just what I'd expect from a tree hugging Oregonian. -- dillon I didn't climb to the top of the food chain to become a vegetartian. -- dillon I didn't climb to the top of the food chain to become a vegetartian. |
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