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Our warm regards,Tom & Mary
Other Paul
[This message has been edited by JulPau9 (edited 04-18-2001).]
It's unfortunate that you did not check her review on this forum 'Cruise Reviews by Cruise Line' - the disappointments you experienced are all mentioned.
There was a great deal of hoop-la about the Zaandam being geared (at least in it's inaugural season) to the 'younger generation' - a good reason for 'mature' travellers to sit back, watch and wait. Sometimes that 'great deal' is not so great.
HAL is our favourite Line but we haven't sailed the Zaandam yet - one day.
Happy cruisin'
I found the report verbose with a lot of peripheral information that was of no interest. For this reason it lost my attention very quickly.
I would suggest that things like age and past job history and the like are unfortunately of no interest to the person reading a cruise review.
Also, precision and brevity in the wording helps. This is my opinion. Others will probably disagee and care to comment.
[This message has been edited by topgun (edited 04-22-2001).]
Callmelateforanythingbutnotforacruise.
Peter
I find that I too have a problem with being "wordy" and excessive in detail. However, (most of you should understand this).... I also get very excited when "reviewing" or telling about my cruises, and wish to include every detail that made it memorable for me. Is it really necessary to be so critical of Tom and Mary when they are doing a service to others who may have an interest in the smallest of details? One of the wonders of the Internet, is we can all publish our thoughts, fascinations, and let downs for others to take with a grain of salt. I must say, I am quite shocked at the tone taken at them. This is great for people who have never taken a cruise to read, it is also informative for those of us who are fortunate to step foot on-board any ship. As some may have pointed out that the review is "not their taste", that is a valid point, but why criticize Tom and Mary publicly... just don't read the review..One last point. I find it very tasteless to use this forum, or any forum, to publicly correct someone’s grammar or spelling. That is just irrelevant.
Please, allow Tom and Mary to continue to enlighten those who wish to share in their excitement on the seas.
Abiggerpictureisbetter.
I came to the same conclusions as earlier noted.
Concerning the last posting on this thread,I do agree that the internet and this forum does allow for almost total freedom of speech.
It also allows us to criticize if we see fit. We do not force anybody to read our observations.
Putting all else aside, I am really irked by the recommended practice of handing out folded $2.00 bills to service staff at the beginning of a cruise. We had table companions who did this a few years ago.
Service personnel are sometimes made to grovel and act like trained seals, lets try and treat them as human beings and not denigrate them by using Pavlovian practices.
But speaking of free speech and opinion.. This tiping thing. I do have a problem with tipping.. It has become common place in America to tip for just about all services, regardless of quality. This is really sad. I find it horrible the way service personel in this country "expect" a tip. I am so thrilled with tipping while in most European countries. I found it refreshing to be somewhere the bartenders or waiters didn't expect a tip. They found it truly as a reward for good service when an individual gave them a tip, saying "it is not necessary". I find that tipping prior only lesses the possibility that others will receive good service. Isn't this the fear of most Americans when the cruise line automatically includes the tips (NCL) on the cabin bill upon sailing. Would everyone on a ship receive exceptional services if everyone was giving out $2 bills? Probably not. I think there is a certain level of service expected on different cruise lines. When an individual doesn't meet those standards, speaking those in charge usually improves service. I have used tips for those who really go beyond the call of duty on a sigular occasion before a cruise was over, but would not make it a habit to tip everyone "a down payment" in advance for my expectation of what their job is. There I go again, lengthy explaination.... LOL. Anyway, I hope that some have enjoyed reading Tom and Mary's review. I found it to be very informative on how some really make the most of their cruise experience in their own way. And I didn't even make mention of any grammar or spelling corrections. (I'm sure mine could use some editing, as these are just my thoughts typed, not a Nobel Prize winner) (that whole spelling thing really rubbed me wrong, totally uncalled for).
A few years ago, I visited London with a Canadian business associate.
Most off all, he wanted to visit a pub and have a serving of shepherds pie.
In this pub, off Picadilly it came to our turn at the buffet to be served. My colleague was served a portion that was not to his liking and ordered the server to replace it with another. The young lady refused.
The owner was called, and in addition to hearing the complaint, also spoke with the waitress for her views.
In essence, the owners decision was that he did'nt care if we came from Timbuctoo. My associate had spoken rudely to his staff and we were to leave the establishment immediately. Nothing would be served to us.
One up for the Brits. Two dollar bills would not work here. Howdat!!!!!
By the way, I did nuffing wrong but was thrown out of the pub anyway.
[ 06-13-2001: Message edited by: topgun ]
Interesting too is the fact that they do not appear to reply to any questions asked on this forum - at least I've never noticed any.
To cover the base, I sent an Email to them today alerting them to the wide range of reactions that have been posted.
Maybe we'll get a dialog.
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