Truths about cruise lines.

[BurnItDwn]

Why anyone would ever go on a cruise, unless they are old and enfeebled, is beyond me.

KT

Because they are awesome!

Great food, decent entertainment on board, and most important, you're on a boat in the ocean! The ports where the ship stops are cool as well...

It's a great escape from all the stress and chaos of the world.

I've been on the "old people line" (Holland America), with my grandparents ... and yea, not really a very exciting atmosphere, but I wouldn't trade those treasured memories with my grandparents for anything in the world.

I've also been on the more "party" or "kid friendly" lines Royal Carribean and Carnival.
Essentially, it's a rather inexpensive resort vacation that takes you to cool places...


I spent about $300 round trip for gas for my car to get from Chicago area to New Orleans area ..
I spent about $500 for a 5 night cruise for both the GF and me.
I spent like $80 to park in a secured lot.
We did spend about $250 on drinks, tips, and random crap at the gift shop as well

Also ... since we wanted to visit New Orleans again, we spent quite a few bucks on hotel, more parking, food, drinks, etc ...


Airfare alone to any resort in Mexico would have cost more than my my cruise.
A nice hotel or resort would cost more than the cruise.

Essentially, if you cruise during the off season, it can be a VERY cost effective vacation.

 

[ultimatebob]

Soo... they buy beef in bulk, eh? Maybe they can hook us up with a supplier. I'm pretty hungry... I could totally eat something alternator sized right now!

 

[Red Squirrel]

My parents have gone on several cruises and they always love it.

I've never been on one but I'd go for it if given the chance. Only thing I'm not too crazy of is having to constantly have to dress up preppy. It's a vacation, I just want to wear shorts and tshirt, or even just shorts, considering it's so hot. Maybe a resort is more for me.

 

[Codewiz]

Nope, and never will. Of the myriad friends and family who have been on them, only those in the +50 crowd are the ones who have gone back and done it again and nothing they describe sounds even remotely fun and/or interesting for people under 60.

KT

Yep, the rombello cruise(rombello.com) was full of old people. Oh wait it wasn't. And I honestly only had about 6 hours of sleep a night because we were always on the move. It certainly wasn't for older people in general.

And I am going on a cruise next month. 8 Days. I guess my wife(32) and me(33) just don't know how to have fun.

Oh wait, we have been to Italy, Austria, Germany, France, Canada(skiing), Hopetown Bahamas(if you really want to see the Bahamas go there). Then you have all the cruises we have gone on.

It is funny that people act like cruises are supposed to be some cultural thing. Cruises are simple easy fun where you can relax. Nothing more, nothing less.

One of our cruises last year we had a stop in Mexico. We booked an excursion outside of the cruise company and got a tour of Mayan Ruins. We had 7 people on the tour. It was awesome.

 

[Codewiz]

My parents have gone on several cruises and they always love it.

I've never been on one but I'd go for it if given the chance. Only thing I'm not too crazy of is having to constantly have to dress up preppy. It's a vacation, I just want to wear shorts and tshirt, or even just shorts, considering it's so hot. Maybe a resort is more for me.

Shorts are fine Carnival except for formal night. I hardly get out of my shorts and sandals when I go on a cruise.

 

[ultimatebob]

Wait...this means something.

My parents have gone on several cruises and they always love it.

I've never been on one but I'd go for it if given the chance. Only thing I'm not too crazy of is having to constantly have to dress up preppy. It's a vacation, I just want to wear shorts and tshirt, or even just shorts, considering it's so hot. Maybe a resort is more for me.

Yeah... what cruise line still requires you to do that? Norwegian (the one I went on) only required a button down shirt and dress pants in their upscale restaurants on the boat.

 

[Arik5405]

Our last cruise was on Carnival, I wore shorts, sandals, t-shirt, etc... the entire time except for the 2 formal nights they had. If you don't want to do the formal dinner the buffet and other restaurants are still open.

 

[911paramedic]

I have seen first hand as both a passenger and as a island resident the lack of care put forth by the cruise line industry. They plan routes that chris-cross their own paths wasting thousands of gallons of diesel fuel simply because they have an agreement with OPEC?? They make fast stops at ports that have businesses that give percentages back to the cruise lines. This many times means many boats in one port of call at one time flooding the small towns and bays with thousands of people at one time. This serves NO-ONE but the cruise line. It creates a scene reminiscent of Miami. Packed crowded beaches, increased opportunity for crime, and a huge environmental impact on those beaches and islands. Cruises are full of hidden costs especially for the off boat excursions. By the second or third stop passengers are feeling squeezed by all the added costs from the over-priced drinks to the mandatory gratuities. Very few actually contribute significantly to the economies of the people in those port of calls. The countries make their money on the taxes charged to the cruise lines but how much of that actually makes it to natives is questionable. Most of the reefs around these high traffic ports have suffered dramatically. Cruise lines fail in the opportunity to educate their passengers. They don't teach or even tell people about the places they will be visiting. Never even giving them a heads up about the hazards that may exist. They purchase the absolute lowest grade foods available from bulk suppliers to cut their costs and just last week alone three different boats returned to Florida with cases of Norovirus. The cruise lines are actually very hard to even reach or contact directly. I ask why do these ships not work together to plan their routes so that the ports of call are more evenly distributed? Some see no boats for a week and then 5 in one day. Why don't they stay at these port of calls for multiple days actually giving their customers a chance to see and experience these places and stop the burning of literally thousands of gallons of fuel a day? Why do they not offer some basic safety classes in relation to the destination? Why do they continue to destroy the very oceans and reefs that they rely on for their own industry? You cannot even purchase reef safe sunscreen on board these boats. What will it take for the industry to take on some responsibility and start serving their customers and associates rather than just itself? The industry has now made a habit of hiring third world help simply because they will work for cheap and are easily repressed. Many never even being allowed out of the bowels of the boat. Is this industry of lies something we as a race should support?

 

[rh71]

big paragraph + low post count = didn't read

 

[SparkyJJO]

I agree. He seriously stepped in it if he thinks this forum will offer any level of understanding or pity.

Yeah of all forums to choose, he chose ATOT? Obviously not very bright :|

 

[OutHouse]

Yeah... what cruise line still requires you to do that? Norwegian (the one I went on) only required a button down shirt and dress pants in their upscale restaurants on the boat.

This one!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsM7SSR23_M&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_wFEB4Oxlo&feature=related

 

[chusteczka]

That was a nice rant on an original subject. I give it an 8/10 mainly for originality.

There were a few times when I was in the navy that a cruise ship was moored to a nearby pier at some random Caribbean port. The Carnival cruise ships were always the crappiest looking ships. I even considered applying for a job and talked with others about the possibility until I learned how the engineroom operators are treated and the underprivileged nations they come from.

 

[gothamhunter]

I feel like buying an iPod all of a sudden...

 

[amdhunter]

I have seen first hand as both a passenger and as a island resident the lack of care put forth by the cruise line industry. They plan routes that chris-cross their own paths wasting thousands of gallons of diesel fuel simply because they have an agreement with OPEC?? They make fast stops at ports that have businesses that give percentages back to the cruise lines. This many times means many boats in one port of call at one time flooding the small towns and bays with thousands of people at one time. This serves NO-ONE but the cruise line. It creates a scene reminiscent of Miami. Packed crowded beaches, increased opportunity for crime, and a huge environmental impact on those beaches and islands. Cruises are full of hidden costs especially for the off boat excursions. By the second or third stop passengers are feeling squeezed by all the added costs from the over-priced drinks to the mandatory gratuities. Very few actually contribute significantly to the economies of the people in those port of calls. The countries make their money on the taxes charged to the cruise lines but how much of that actually makes it to natives is questionable. Most of the reefs around these high traffic ports have suffered dramatically. Cruise lines fail in the opportunity to educate their passengers. They don't teach or even tell people about the places they will be visiting. Never even giving them a heads up about the hazards that may exist. They purchase the absolute lowest grade foods available from bulk suppliers to cut their costs and just last week alone three different boats returned to Florida with cases of Norovirus. The cruise lines are actually very hard to even reach or contact directly. I ask why do these ships not work together to plan their routes so that the ports of call are more evenly distributed? Some see no boats for a week and then 5 in one day. Why don't they stay at these port of calls for multiple days actually giving their customers a chance to see and experience these places and stop the burning of literally thousands of gallons of fuel a day? Why do they not offer some basic safety classes in relation to the destination? Why do they continue to destroy the very oceans and reefs that they rely on for their own industry? You cannot even purchase reef safe sunscreen on board these boats. What will it take for the industry to take on some responsibility and start serving their customers and associates rather than just itself? The industry has now made a habit of hiring third world help simply because they will work for cheap and are easily repressed. Many never even being allowed out of the bowels of the boat. Is this industry of lies something we as a race should support? have seen first hand as both a passenger and as a island resident the lack of care put forth by the cruise line industry. They plan routes that chris-cross their own paths wasting thousands of gallons of diesel fuel simply because they have an agreement with OPEC?? They make fast stops at ports that have businesses that give percentages back to the cruise lines. This many times means many boats in one port of call at one time flooding the small towns and bays with thousands of people at one time. This serves NO-ONE but the cruise line. It creates a scene reminiscent of Miami. Packed crowded beaches, increased opportunity for crime, and a huge environmental impact on those beaches and islands. Cruises are full of hidden costs especially for the off boat excursions. By the second or third stop passengers are feeling squeezed by all the added costs from the over-priced drinks to the mandatory gratuities. Very few actually contribute significantly to the economies of the people in those port of calls. The countries make their money on the taxes charged to the cruise lines but how much of that actually makes it to natives is questionable. Most of the reefs around these high traffic ports have suffered dramatically. Cruise lines fail in the opportunity to educate their passengers. They don't teach or even tell people about the places they will be visiting. Never even giving them a heads up about the hazards that may exist. They purchase the absolute lowest grade foods available from bulk suppliers to cut their costs and just last week alone three different boats returned to Florida with cases of Norovirus. The cruise lines are actually very hard to even reach or contact directly. I ask why do these ships not work together to plan their routes so that the ports of call are more evenly distributed? Some see no boats for a week and then 5 in one day. Why don't they stay at these port of calls for multiple days actually giving their customers a chance to see and experience these places and stop the burning of literally thousands of gallons of fuel a day? Why do they not offer some basic safety classes in relation to the destination? Why do they continue to destroy the very oceans and reefs that they rely on for their own industry? You cannot even purchase reef safe sunscreen on board these boats. What will it take for the industry to take on some responsibility and start serving their customers and associates rather than just itself? The industry has now made a habit of hiring third world help simply because they will work for cheap and are easily repressed. Many never even being allowed out of the bowels of the boat. Is this industry of lies something we as a race should support? have seen first hand as both a passenger and as a island resident the lack of care put forth by the cruise line industry. They plan routes that chris-cross their own paths wasting thousands of gallons of diesel fuel simply because they have an agreement with OPEC?? They make fast stops at ports that have businesses that give percentages back to the cruise lines. This many times means many boats in one port of call at one time flooding the small towns and bays with thousands of people at one time. This serves NO-ONE but the cruise line. It creates a scene reminiscent of Miami. Packed crowded beaches, increased opportunity for crime, and a huge environmental impact on those beaches and islands. Cruises are full of hidden costs especially for the off boat excursions. By the second or third stop passengers are feeling squeezed by all the added costs from the over-priced drinks to the mandatory gratuities. Very few actually contribute significantly to the economies of the people in those port of calls. The countries make their money on the taxes charged to the cruise lines but how much of that actually makes it to natives is questionable. Most of the reefs around these high traffic ports have suffered dramatically. Cruise lines fail in the opportunity to educate their passengers. They don't teach or even tell people about the places they will be visiting. Never even giving them a heads up about the hazards that may exist. They purchase the absolute lowest grade foods available from bulk suppliers to cut their costs and just last week alone three different boats returned to Florida with cases of Norovirus. The cruise lines are actually very hard to even reach or contact directly. I ask why do these ships not work together to plan their routes so that the ports of call are more evenly distributed? Some see no boats for a week and then 5 in one day. Why don't they stay at these port of calls for multiple days actually giving their customers a chance to see and experience these places and stop the burning of literally thousands of gallons of fuel a day? Why do they not offer some basic safety classes in relation to the destination? Why do they continue to destroy the very oceans and reefs that they rely on for their own industry? You cannot even purchase reef safe sunscreen on board these boats. What will it take for the industry to take on some responsibility and start serving their customers and associates rather than just itself? The industry has now made a habit of hiring third world help simply because they will work for cheap and are easily repressed. Many never even being allowed out of the bowels of the boat. Is this industry of lies something we as a race should support?