Couple Booted From Cruise

The Lakeland Ledger ^ | 3/29/06 | AMY L. EDWARDS

[painter]

It's a civilized life, eh.

It sure is!:)

It's kind of hard to describe to someone thats never been there what it's like to be on a small boat sailing on Crystal clear water among small sugar white sandy beach islands.

[painter]

Microsoft has a screen background with a little white sandy beach island with three palm trees and a "cat" sailboat in the background. That picture was probably taken in the Caribbean and thats what I'm talking about. I've been to places like that on boats like that.:)

[Calvin Locke]

People have told me that they struck another vessel, probably planned (to get in the way), by citizens of some third
world country, and another couple said the ship had inoperative stabilzers so they were sick/queazy a lot of the time.

I heard Michael Savage a few years back say he had the "owner's cabin" on a compted trip, and the jogging track
adjoined it. So the early bird joggers --thump thump thump --- would wake him at 5AM or such.

[Irish Eyes]

Thanks Dasaji, Have never cruised abord the Carnival ships. I am glad that you had such a good experience. Looking forward to our cruise in May, we have never been to the Western Carribean.

[LoveToCruise]

I have cruised over a dozen times and have never once had a bad experience. Here's the plain and simple fact...People will gripe about anything. Carnival actually has a Vacation Guarantee program where if a passenger does not like the cruise, they can get off at the 1st port of call with a full refund...maybe people should actually read the information the cruise lines send them, before they take their cruise.

In regards to where Carnival stacks up to others...let's just say that no one is undegoing a murder investigation with Carnival, like Royal Caribbean is going through...

People who complain about Carnival, Royal Caribbean, & Norwegian being "cheap," were probably the same ones who spent months trying to find a "cheaper" price for their cruise. Americans in general are middle-class and these 3 cruise lines provide all of us middle-class citizens with the opportunity to enjoy an amazing vacation where we do not have to lift a finger, make a bed, clean a dish etc etc. In my opinion...if you are complaining about a cruise then you should have sat you sorry butt at home eating potato chips on your couch like the sorry sap you probably are.

There are issues involved with every aspect of life and some people are predisposed to gripe about anything because if they don't, then they would not know what to do with themselves.

And to the Travel agent who does not sell Carnival...you must not make any money because last time I checked, more people cruise them than any other line...when you figure in all the other lines they OWN (Princess, Holland America, Costa, Cunard) What is you do sell?

[pageonetoo]

I just returned from the CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) convention in Ft. Lauderdale. While there, I had the opportunity to go on board four ships in port for inspections. Three were fabulous ships (Sea Princess by Princess, Sovereign of the Seas by Royal Caribbean, and the Noordam from Holland America. The fourth was a Carnival ship, the Sensation.

It is an older ship, and was dirty, when I walked onto her. My first look at any ship is just a first impression, but it did not get much better. I was not happy with the experience, but those going on board looked eager, and I am sure they will have a grand time. Carnival, RCCL, and NCL are not cheap. They are booking people themselves, who are less than familiar with the marketplace. People who drive Fords like Fords. They wouldn't consider looking at an Audi, or Benz. when it comes time to trade, they go back to the Ford dealership. Carnival is the owner of the other lines you noted. They are good lines, and Carnival does have some good ships and crews. I just would not recommend them to my clients when I can book them on a superior product for similar money. If they go with my recommendation, they seldom go back to anything less! I don't look to book the highest priced ships, but I do try to lead people to test their premium competition (Celebrity is my favorite).

Carnival advertises on TV and tells you to call them or go to their site. They do most of their own bookings, by far. If a client asks for a particular company, I will give them what they ask for, but if they ask them who I recommend, I would not put them very high on the list!

The Noordam was gorgeous. They are similarly priced, the food was great, and the staff smartly attentive. the Sovereign is a comparably priced product, with superior appointments. As for the other "Princess" Companies, they only carry the owners name, not reputation.

Cunard doesn't sell cruises, they sell "voyages". Costa sells their Italian heritage, and European "feel".

Saturday night, they had a Hall-of-fame dinner honoring people in the trade. the highlight was Gavin McLoud, aka Captain Steubing of "The Love Boat". They have a lock on many people's hearts and minds.

As for guarantees, every Cruise Line has one. In addition, for a few dollars more, you can buy insurance which covers cancellations for ANY reason...

What do I sell? I sell dreams, and memories!

Celebrity's Century (shown below) is going into drydock in Italy next month. They are adding 100+ feet, and rebuilding the outside to provide more balcony cabins. The entire ship is being refurbished with flatscreen tv's, pillowtop beds, and more spaciousness, and outside space. It will completed in a month, and she will be back on line in June!!!

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

Isn't Carnival considered to be the K-mart of the cruise lines? Frequented by young 20-somethings just looking to booze and slut it up in a tropical place for a week at the lowest cost possible - if I were looking for a Caribbean cruise to take, I think I would most certainly avoid them, $800 for a cruise sounds awfully cheap and you get what you pay for.

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

You are absolutely correct. In this case, an ounce of prevention is probably best. These cruises usually involve Mexico and Royal Caribbean is another oft-mentioned cruise line involved. Best just to avoid these bad-luck lines and destinations altogether, or at least do your homework ahead of time.

[ARA]

Carnival Corp or just the Carnival Brand

[CWOJackson]

Having experience with inspecting cruise ships, I have to rate Holland-America at the top. There are two lines, which I will not name, that share the bottom of my list.

What a lot of people don't realize is that a cruise ship has two sides; the levels that they see and those that they don't. The spaces that the passengers "see" are almost universally clean in appearance, however, the spaces they will never see, including where their meals are prepared, can be VERY different.

[Pharmboy]

I took a Royal Caribbean cruise with the family in the late '90s. I highly recommend it. It was on this ship, The Sovereign of the Seas:

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

I'm curious of your opinion of Regent Seven Seas. I'm looking to book a Tahiti cruise and there aren't that many options but these folks seem to stand out, and fit in with what I want in a Tahitian cruise.

[mainepatsfan]

My folks have been on that same ship and they also loved it.

[pageonetoo]

Carnival branded, but not all of their ships, or the sister lines. I'd rather place my trust in others, but that is just my opinion. Thye must be dong most of their own bookings, because few travel agents said nice things about them, at the convention last week.

Holland America does have fine ships, crews, and reputation. Life is too short to try and save a couple hundred dollars, when you expect the memories to last forever! It costs a lot to sail with anyone, so a few bucks for a veranda, or even a suite can make the voyage grand, indeed.

I visited the Noordam in florida last week, and have booked a cruise later this year on the Westerdaam. They offer a fine product, and an enjoyable escape.

I'll be sailing next saturday on the MSC Lirica, for 11 days of Italian-styled pampering. I am booking some groups on there next fall and winter, so wanted to be sure of the experience! Life is tough!

[CWOJackson]

I don't think you will be disappointed.

I'm not sure if you're aware of it or not but 9/11 had a major impact on the cruise industry. Because of uncertainties, a lot of people canceled their cruise plans. The lines were forced to cut their rates heavily to attract customers and they ended up getting a while new demographic of passenger - bargain hunters.

What many people don't know is the lines make a lot of their money off "the extras"; photographs, sightseeing in port, etc. The bargain hunters weren't buying.

One of the lines even went to extraordinary steps with the photos they snapped at dinner. They would slide them under the passengers door and tell them that if they didn't want them (for an additional $$$) they had to personally return them to the Purser at such-in-such inconvenient time. Come such-and-such time, there are long lines outside the Pursers office.

Some of the smaller lines ended up going under (a shame in some cases) and the rest had to rethink how they did business.

[pageonetoo]

I'm curious of your opinion of Regent Seven Seas.

They offer a top-of-the-line experience. If you are looking for a luxury cruise, they are one of the best. It's a shame you waited, since they are offering a 45% discount on tomorrow's 28 day sailing r/t Los angeles to Hawaii, and the South Seas. You can still get on in San Francisco by Tuesday. Book it with a travel agent. It costs you no more. The Paul Gauguin will be doing weeklong sailings all summer, and some 10/11 day sailings. They offer non-stop air specials from NYC, but I am not sure about Kansas. It depends on where you are, it may be cheaper to fly to NY. You will enjoy luxury in a new way on the Gauguin. I have had friends sail on it. For a larger ship, Princess has sailings down there.

Paul Gauguin

Most of the warm water cruises are booking for next fall and winter. They go back to the Med for the summer season, where they command higher rates.

Maybe you can get some friends to join you, and get a group rate, or special amenities.

[IDontLikeToPayTaxes]

About time loud rude tourists were slapped down.

Being in customer service for the past 8 years (and dealing with the most unbelievable a$sholes you can imagine), I love to see some of these rude jerk customers getting their just desserts.

Some people/customers are just downright abusive to people in the service industry.