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Topic: Worst part of a cruise

Paddy
First Class Passenger
Member # 357

posted 12-02-2000 08:27 PM

We all get that "sinking" feeling on a cruise. Any personal experiences? Arriving at your destination airport and being cavity searched? Arriving at the harbour to see a beautiful clean cruise ship with hundreds of happy people looking over the rails, only to drive past it to see a rusty barge - at which the coach stops and the driver shouts "nckfuNkt" which you guess is "get off evil fiends"? Maybe its arriving at you cabin, after walking past a thousand 80 year olds, or worse, 8 year olds, only to find you have selceted the part of the ship that was added in 1924 and was previously the broom closet? After a fabulous cruise, staying up late on the last night only, knowing you don't have to be out of our cabin until 11am next day, only to find you are required to be in the XYZ lounge in 3 hours time to clear immigration because you are a bad bad person (i.e. a non-US citizen)? For me, it was going through security at Larnaca airport in Cyprus where the big bad man shouted at me for tripping over something on the floor. Sniff sniff.
How misfortunate I am...

Paddy.

Posts: 763 | From: Belfast, Ireland | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

Steve Read (sread)
First Class Passenger
Member # 788

posted 12-02-2000 10:16 PM

Paddy -- This hasn't happened to me yet (I've been lucky so far) but I imagine it must be terrible after dinner on the first night to realise there is NOBODY at the table that you're going to get along with ... but you're stuck with them (and they with you) for the rest of the trip.
I'm on the Sunbird Dec 11-18, I'll let you know how it goes!

I've been to the USA many times but never to join a cruise. How does it go at the airport -- do you get the usual unfriendly grilling by the immigration people, or do they wave you through with a smile because you'll be joining a ship?

Posts: 926 | From: Locksbottom, Kent, England | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

claudio
First Class Passenger
Member # 1214

posted 12-03-2000 07:42 AM

THE WORST PART IS THE CREW ON THE LAST MORNING AT BREAKFAST. ON THE LAST NIGHT AT DINNER WHEN YOU GIVE THEM THEIR TIP THEY WILL HUG YOU , CLAIM THAT YOU ARE A FRIEND FOR LIFE, TELL YOU WHAT A FANTASTIC KIND GENOROUS CARING HUMAN YOU ARE ETC ETC. THE REALITY THE NEXT MORNING AT BREAKFAST THEY WILL LOOK AT YOU AS IF YOU DONT EXIST, YOU HAVE A CONTAGIOUS DISEASE AND ARE TO BE AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS AND WORST STILL WILL BE OPENLY RUDE TRYING TO HURRY YOU UP SO THEY CAN GET OFF THE SHIP FOR A SPOT OF SHOPPING .PERHAPS I EXXAGERATED IT A LITTLE BIT BUT IA SURE YOU HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCES

Posts: 468 | From: melbourne australia | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

K&K
First Class Passenger
Member # 1040

posted 12-03-2000 08:24 AM

I think the worst part of a cruise is when they call out for the color of tag you are holding for disembarkation.

It is not just foriegn people who are treated rudly they treat american passenger just as bad or worst at times. Kevin

Posts: 446 | From: Sandpoint,Idaho,USA | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

topgun
First Class Passenger
Member # 928

posted 12-03-2000 09:02 AM

Waking up at 4am on the first day in the Constellation Hotel in Toronto.
The flight is at 7.30 am. I have lain awake all night just in case the alarm doesn't go off.
My partner idles around the room until I am sure that we shall miss the last shuttle bus to the airport.
We do get to the airport where everybody else is disgustingly wide awake.
In the lineup for check in I do a continuous check of myself.
Got the tickets
Got the passport
Got the American Dollars.
I finally look about and see large groups of families. All have kids varying from babes in arms bawling away , to 7-8 year olds running aound, screaming their heads off. Older teenagers are leaning against anything that there is to lean against.The teenagers have big baggy pants with crotches at knee level.
Each family has duffle bags instead of suitcases. All have dirty old running shoes and baseball caps worn in the reverse position.
I think I should stop here or cancel the booking.

Posts: 759 | From: Burlington ont,canada Cruise center of North America | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

K&K
First Class Passenger
Member # 1040

posted 12-03-2000 10:05 AM

Topgun; Hopefully they were just on your flight and not on your cruise!

I do hate those baggy pants but, encourge you to look past the clothing.
Kevin

Posts: 446 | From: Sandpoint,Idaho,USA | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

Chalk Dust
First Class Passenger
Member # 1272

posted 12-03-2000 10:21 AM

I only have one cruise to base this on, but the worst part for me was the day of packing. When I saw what looked to me like two rooms full of absolutely necessary items that had to be put into that luggage I became horrible, grumpy, impossible to live with. My patient wife guided me calmly through this and the cruise was great. I am hoping I will not have a relapse on my next cruise. So is she!

Posts: 47 | From: Flower Mound, Texas, U.S.A. | Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 12-03-2000 11:16 AM

quote:
Originally posted by claudio:
..ON THE LAST NIGHT AT DINNER WHEN YOU GIVE THEM THEIR TIP THEY WILL HUG YOU , CLAIM THAT YOU ARE A FRIEND FOR LIFE...THE NEXT MORNING AT BREAKFAST THEY WILL LOOK AT YOU AS IF YOU DONT EXIST..

Claudio, you are not exagerating at all! This happened to me excatly word for word, me on the Mercury. It really tarnished my cruise

However, on my recent Cruise on Fred. Olsen's 'Black Watch' the staff were as charming on the last morning as they had been all along. They were true professionals!

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 12-03-2000 11:18 AM

quote:
Originally posted by sread:
How does it go at the airport -- do you get the usual unfriendly grilling by the immigration people, or do they wave you through with a smile because you'll be joining a ship?

It's exactly the same experience, Cruise or not!

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

topgun
First Class Passenger
Member # 928

posted 12-03-2000 12:07 PM

K&K--Those people are on my cruise. First its a charter flight for the ship only. Second they have those brightly colored tags on their duffle bags. They also show that they are all packed into an inside cabin immediately across from mine.
As to looking beyond their clothing, no problem, I am only very slightly bigoted!

Posts: 759 | From: Burlington ont,canada Cruise center of North America | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

Steve Read (sread)
First Class Passenger
Member # 788

posted 12-03-2000 12:29 PM

Malcolm: Thanks ... I think!

Posts: 926 | From: Locksbottom, Kent, England | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

bubbles
First Class Passenger
Member # 1415

posted 12-03-2000 12:29 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Malcolm:
[B] Claudio, you are not exagerating at all! This happened to me excatly word for word, me on the Mercury. It really tarnished my cruise

Claudio and Malcolm: Totally agree with both, I would not have believed it was so blatant if it had not just happened to me on Regal Princess this summer. The cabin steward behaved like our long lost friend all week, in fact it was sometimes difficult to get away from her after receiving tip she actually blanked us. I only expected a civil response! We were not due to disembark until around 9.00 am, when we went to buffet the preparations were well underway for next passengers and nothing was available for breakfast after a few grumbles we were able to have some cereal. As this seemed to be their usual practice I was surprised we were not advised of an end of serving time for breakfast on departure day.

Posts: 133 | From: England | Registered: Jul 2000 | IP: Logged

Winner
First Class Passenger
Member # 1188

posted 12-03-2000 05:38 PM

The worst part for me is disembarking, realizing that my next cruise is not until next year!

Posts: 113 | From: Santa Rosa CA USA | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

Barryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 33

posted 12-03-2000 11:13 PM

I have a possible explaination of this characteristic that has been commonly observed on departure day after the tips have been handed out. The crew live onboard day-in and day-out, week after week after week. Before long it becomes so much of a routine that some crew are not mature enough to deal with it. To them it's a job to please the passengers and smile and make friendly conversation, and after a while it almost becomes almost fake. It's also a coping mechanism for some of the crew to not get too attached to passengers, knowing that another group is boarding soon for another full week. After a while all passengers look the same, and they are labeled as "passengers". I've caught myself doing it. Being nice to the passengers all week and then on debarkation, you want to get them all off the ship as soon as possible, because you have a life too, but the reality is that you can only get in touch with the real world "your own life" when you are in port for only a few short hours, if you are lucky to have a bit of shore leave that day. Being always up and friendly can really be tiring at times. I found myself walking through the mall in Miami, nodding my head, smiling, and saying "how are you today" to total (non-cruise passenger) strangers. Life on a cruise ship is a very strange lifestyle for those who work there for months and months and even years. You get so use to passengers just being passengers, it's hard to kick yourself sometimes and really show authentic interest in passengers as people and friends. I think I was really able to bond with a lot of passengers, some of whom I am still in touch with today. Life on a cruise ship can be very lonely, and I can imaging that many of these crew members, Waiters, may indeed like you and sincerely want to bond with you, but on disembarkation day, some crew, I'm sure just don't know how to cope with with other than to seem cold and uncaring. I would say, give them some slack. Continue to be nice to them, and I think in the long run you'll find that deep down inside they do care.

Posts: 1851 | From: Bloomington, Minnesota (Home to the Mall of America) | Registered: Mar 99 | IP: Logged

luvtocruise
First Class Passenger
Member # 680

posted 12-03-2000 11:30 PM

The last day is horrible. First you have to find a place to sit (all of the lounges are full or if they aren't they only seating left is in the smoking section), then you have to wait to have your luggage color called. Then, oh yuck, trying to find your luggage. Wait that's mine, opps, sorry, my mistake that's yours not mine. Up and down the aisles -- someone must have taken my luggage, I know it. Finally, there it is, in the last row and the last piece. I love cruising, but absolutely hate the last day!!!
Only 2 months to my next cruise -- YEAH!!

Posts: 20 | Registered: Feb 99 | IP: Logged

M.S.Grumple
First Class Passenger
Member # 1340

posted 12-04-2000 11:39 AM

The part I always resent is the early morning summons to American immigration.

All week we have been treated as privileged and welcome passengers - what an insult to be greeted as "aliens" with not even a smile.

I enjoy our excursions into the States, most people we meet are friendly and welcoming.

At this point I just want to go HOME, to the place I CHOOSE to live. Not every one thinks of the States as the ultimate place to live.

After all we all know Canada is!

Posts: 280 | From: Burlington, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jun 2000 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 12-04-2000 02:36 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Barryboat:
Life on a cruise ship is a very strange lifestyle for those who work there for months and months and even years...

Thanks for the insight Barry, I do appreciate the points you made.

However, I was recently on a Cruise ship where the staff were still 'nice' to the passengers even on the departure day - so it can be done! There is no excuse for rudeness!

I'm not convinced that the staff behaviour is purely determined by 'immaturity' or the hard life at sea. I think that it is all down to "MONEY" - why bother to smile if you are no longer getting tipped for it?

I could easily solve the problem. If the tips 'envelopes' were presented in the departure hall, to representatives, as you left the ship, I'm convinced that the staff would be friendly right until you stepped onto the gang plank! OK my idea may not be practical, but it would be an interesting experiment!

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Ascendancy
First Class Passenger
Member # 840

posted 12-04-2000 02:56 PM

The worst part is getting there and then wondering if your luggage will make it as well.
It's not the going home part. After any vacation I am excited about going home.
I don't care what happens on the return trip. It's the pressure of getting there, onboard with everything in tact. If I get home and my bag hasn't arrived, so what. I'm home. And it doesn't matter when I get home. So if I miss a flight, ahhhh. Chances are I'll get a voucher or something and I'll live happily ever after.

Posts: 354 | From: Aurora, CO | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 12-04-2000 03:40 PM

quote:
Originally posted by M.S.Grumple:
...what an insult to be greeted as "aliens" with not even a smile.

In Britain over the last decade we have become very 'PC' (Politically Correct). For example we no longer say 'Foreigners' (we never said 'Aliens' - but would have stopped if we had). We would say 'Citizens' and 'Non-UK Citizens'.

I must admit it has all gone a bit over the top. We don't have Dwarfs anymore, we have 'People of Restricted Height'. Good news, you are never bald in Britain, you are 'Folliclly Challenged'!

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

jean elmore
First Class Passenger
Member # 1192

posted 12-04-2000 09:15 PM

topgun, I can`t stop laughing at your posts, you hit it right on the head, especially about the teenagers leaning on something (can they ever stand up?) and my luck is like yours, they will probably be across the corridor from me, with their door open all day and their music blasting!! Ugh!
jean.

Posts: 68 | From: obetz oh. usa | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

MMastell
Just Boarded
Member # 1700

posted 12-04-2000 10:30 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Malcolm:
Claudio, you are not exagerating at all! This happened to me excatly word for word, me on the Mercury. It really tarnished my cruise
However, on my recent Cruise on Fred. Olsen's 'Black Watch' the staff were as charming on the last morning as they had been all along. They were true professionals!

Just the opposite happened to my wife on I on Mercury in February. Our waiter, Alberto and asst. waiter, Andre were both on duty for breakfast on disembarkation day. They still treated us like we were old friends. Andre even served my wife's omelette with a rose on the side. Nice way to end a cruise.

Posts: 1 | From: Maple Plain,Minnesota,USA | Registered: Dec 2000 | IP: Logged

MagnmPI
First Class Passenger
Member # 299

posted 12-05-2000 04:49 AM

Hey Ascendancy, I'm with you. I hate those dreadful first hours as my six bags trickle in one by one hour by hour. You can always tell whose luggage didn't make it to the ship...they are the ones wearing beach wear on formal night.

Posts: 545 | From: San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

lambcom
First Class Passenger
Member # 656

posted 12-05-2000 09:59 AM

AMEN, M.S. Grumble to your comment about everyone other than Americans being treated like second-class citizens by U.S. Customs and Immigration prior to debarking. Surely the cruise lines and US government could come up with a better solution than herding "the aliens" into the theatre where you wait for an hour or more on an empty stomach for a cursory chat with the inspector, while your American fellow travelers scarf back their breakfasts and have a last leisurely stroll around the ship.

Posts: 179 | From: Montreal, canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

jmfleser
First Class Passenger
Member # 1141

posted 12-05-2000 10:11 AM

The worst part of a cruise for us is the 24 hours preceeding leaving our house. It's within that time period that my normally rational, calm, sweet husband becomes a raving lunatic. I'm seriously thinking of getting him some valium before our cruise in April or at least getting it for me so that when he starts losing it I won't care. He just has this fear of missing the train/plane/ship (choose appropriate mode of transportation). Once we get to our final destination with or without luggage he calms right down and proceeds to have a wonderful time. I on the other hand need at least a day to decompress because of his Jeckel/Hyde transformations.

Normally if we cruise in the winter we'll leave a day or so early so we don't have to deal with that syndrome, at least in regards to the ship, although we still have the plane thing to deal with. For some reason I didn't do that for our April trip. We'll be flying from NY to FL and I guess I was figuring since we'll leaving in the middle of April and the chances of snow storms were fairly slim and it's only a 2 1/2 hour flight that I didn't need to. I just hope I'm right. Regardless though, the first thing I'm doing when I get on that ship is to head up to the spa a book a couple of messages. That should take care of any stress.

Posts: 183 | From: Esperance, NY USA | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

cruisernh
Just Boarded
Member # 1702

posted 12-05-2000 10:45 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Malcolm:
Claudio, you are not exagerating at all! This happened to me excatly word for word, me on the Mercury. It really tarnished my cruise
However, on my recent Cruise on Fred. Olsen's 'Black Watch' the staff were as charming on the last morning as they had been all along. They were true professionals!

Yep! On my last cruise we had a late flight so decided to have breakfast in the dining roo,\m. I saw our waiter mouth OH F***. real nice huh?

Posts: 5 | From: Tilton NH 03276 | Registered: Dec 2000 | IP: Logged

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