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Discuss, please.
[ 01-30-2008: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]
But there is still a strata of high-end cruising which goes above and beyond the current 'standards' of cruising, on the deluxe and luxury ships. And you also have many niche market cruises on unique, individual ships offering a great variety of differences in the cruise experience.
Rich
I would agree with the statement, but at the same time I'm constantly surprised how different people on the same cruise come away with such different opinions. I would think that these differences are deliberate, (e.g. caused by policy difference between companies) or accidental - 'what happens'. Let me explain.
As regards policy, it seems to me that things such as the difference between traditional dinner sitting and 'Freestyle' dining will result in considerable differences in the dining experience. There will continue to be differences in the experience between those lines that stick to the traditional approach and those that do Freestyle. Even though things such as the menus will be the same, the actual dining experience will be the different.
Then there's 'what happens'. Things such as the quality of your waiter, or the number of diners at each sitting, can make huge differences. I would contrast my (late September 2007) cruise on Braemar with Bart de Boer's (late August / early September 2007, and on ShipParade): he experienced long delays and poor service, and I didn't, yet I'm sure that the policies hadn't changed in the space of a few weeks. Then there can be other factors. We found both the service and the actual meals less good at dinner on Galaxy in 2007 than in 2006, despite being on the same ship and almost the same cruise. Late into the cruise we discovered the reason: in 2007 there were markedly more diners at second sitting than at first (1200 / 800), and this impacted on service - the kitchens/waiters simply had 50% more meals to produce/serve. In 2006 everything was much more equal.
However there are substantial differences out there, excluding the luxury lines and the gimmicks liek wave machines etc some lines are truely distinctive. Celebrity ships in terms of decor, service and food do stand out. NCL of course with their hull art and freestyle approach (whether one loves it or hates it) etc.
But of course one has to say that the same has been true since cruising began, whether you crossed an ocean or took a world cruise, if you compared 2 that cost the same just how much real difference was there. It is like saying American Airlines is totally different to South Africa or British. Same route, same price, same type of meal etc. But the subtle differences are there and it is the same for cruises.
Thats why I have cut back so much on cruising in the last 5 years and have ventured over to vacations like Amtrak, fly-and-drive, and camping and fishing (outdoors and nature).
Dont get me wrong, I love the sea. Spent most of my adult life on it, in it, or dreaming about the next time I would see it. But to me the overall experience had become homogenized on most of the main cruise lines and I cant afford the upscale luxury lines, or to fly across the world to try niche lines.
quote:Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:"All modern cruise ships are the same[ 01-30-2008: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]
Even in terms of interior layout most of today's cruise ships are similar but in the past, liners were also quite similar.
The standard layout of quite a few Transatlantic liners forward to aft was observation lounge/bar, followed by maybe a library and writing room. Then there would be a foyer/reception followed by a lounge and a gallery or two. A ballroom or another type of lounge/bar then another foyer. A smoking room would follow w/possibly a veranda lounge on a larger ship.
The decor would be different and the food to some extent based on the nationality of the ship.
For instance, I can pretty much instantly tell if I am onboard a Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Aida, Celebrity, Princess, Holland America, Cunard, MSC Cruises, and NCL ship. These are all major cruise lines but thankfully the ships are decorated and designed to be fairly unique to the brand. I think the designs of Royal Caribbean and Aida are truly unique and distinctive, and they stand out. Things start to blend a little between some of the Carnival owned lines, especially Costa and Carnival.
For me, what is much more difficult to differentiate is the actual onboard experience. Pretty much all the major cruise lines operate the same way, with the same crew that transfer between brands, the same style entertainment, and pretty much the same style food. There is little to differentiate the "experience" until you move up to more luxury lines.
One line where I think the experience is quite distinctive is Aida. I not sailed Aida but from everything I have read they truly offer an onboard experience unlike any other. It may not be for everyone, but at least it's different. Otherwise you can sail on Carnival and Cunard and basically get the same experience. Sure the refinements will be different as well as the passengers, but the onboard programming is generally the same.
Ernie
quote:Originally posted by DAMBROSI:Which I find more appealing, the way it was in the past with ships from the 80's which most were converted from transatlantic to cruising, you had a difference in each ship. Because of the way they were designed inside and out.
I couldn't agree more! I'm very fortunate to have sailed in literally dozens of the old ships during the '80s and early '90s, when each one was unique. The modern, homogenized ships certainly have better comforts and amenities, but I feel like I'm in a generic hotel aboard them, compared to the individual quirks and enjoyments of the old liners. And I think cruising may have been more fun, then, too.
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