QuestionEverything

17 minutes ago, phoenix_dream said:

I keep thinking the vacation situation will start to lull as people start looking at their credit card debt which is the largest in history.  So far I am still waiting.  You will not find what you are looking for, at least on Celebrity.  All ships are jammed these days.  I share your frustration.  This may sound incredibly selfish and self-serving, but as a senior with who knows how many years left to be able to do this, it gets frustrating to see everywhere I vacation so crowded.  It makes my remaining vacation travels much less fun (although for the record I truly make the best of it that I can).  Judge me as you will for saying that. 

 

Anyway..........you might find a little bit fewer crowds by booking suites and hanging out in the suite areas.  The E class Retreat areas are particularly nice, although IMHO I have found the rest of the ships on that class to be even more crowded and noisy than S or M class.  I would also recommend trying to book when kids are in school.  This is not a kids versus no kids comment - what I am meaning is that when families bring kids there are more people per cabin and therefore more crowded overall.  Just a fact.  Same goes for longer cruises (although there are fewer and fewer of those, especially in the Caribbean).  They may also be fairly full but usually filled with older people who are not out and about quite as much as the younger crowd.  The only other option as I see it is luxury lines with more space per passenger ratio, but those are often considerably more expensive.

phoenix_dream - 100% agree.

For the moment the ships "report to be" full. Given the financial information I have seen lately for the USA, Canada, the level of debt of consumers is at a record. This may not last given economic history and reality.

The mass cruises are going big and "floating resort" hoping the current continues.

We have moved to premium and find the cost is the same as Celebrity Retreat but a much better experience and we enjoy going everywhere on the premium ships and meetings with all guests, not isolated.

In the end, to each their own.

I sense a big booking correction coming on the horizon, it all depends on the stock market afterall..................................

We are on the QM2 crossing to NYC end of June. We are in Britannia dining room.

We love the alternative dining in the Kings Court.

Q - where can we see the evening menus in the Britannia - so we can determine the least favorite evenings and use those dates to book in the alternative.

Does Cunard post the Britannia dining in My Cunard - I can not find it.

Thanks sooo much for your assistance!

1 hour ago, NeilWM said:

Current cruise on Sirena cancelled both Monte Carlo and Portafino, stuck with 2 days in Genoa

NeilWM, did O state any reason(s) for the cancellation of 2 key ports?

Did Iceland August 2023. We did our own travelling a week in advance of an O cruise. We saw everything in detail. If you want book now, the availability of accommodation is limited these days.

Do not waste your time on ship excursions - do it on your terms.

Most of Iceland, the best of Iceland, is not going to be provided on a 1 day or 2 day excursion. 

Depends upon your focus, but it is a once in a life time experience, so do it comprehensively.

3 minutes ago, chisoxfan said:

Thanks for the kind thoughts. Cruising has become an 'all inclusive' resort for us and maybe we are getting a bit 'lazy' in our old age but as you said it is less of a tool to really see other cultures. Cruising is 'easy' and being on the water is always a joy.  As much as we (I) complain about pricing it can be an enticing value. I don't see us travelling (as Mr. Steves espouses when he is not on his private plane) with three pairs of shorts and one khaki pant in a backpack for three weeks but hoping to compromise with some adventure and creature comforts (which most of us have become accustomed to).  That said,  despite complaining about air travel/TSA (my pet peeve), no butlers in the suites, excluded wines on packages, etc. etc. we are a blessed generation to have this unique travel opportunity and shame on us if we do not take advantage in ways that appeal to each of us.

chisoxfan, wonderfully said.

I have posted many times that anyone who can cruise, is much blessed in the history of the world and the current world. For that I am eternally thankful. 🙏

People want different things in life and at different Times in ones life. 

I have cruised since 1989 and I note the transition from ports being the priority to the "floating resort" is happening quickly. Not for me, but neither is pack packing (just loved your wording).

My TA who is a high volume premium O and above agent is now advertising land tours for the 1st time, he advised me that people want to do more land trips in order to see more places particularly because of the world situation, before more shuts down and also he said - because they are tired of cruising. Many are new clients and young folk he said, in particular. 

So the times they are a changing as always happens.

Stay well indeed.

41 minutes ago, chisoxfan said:

We are considering a land based tour(s) also just because it offers the ability to see more of a country ie. want to spend more time in UK and cruises seem to just hit the same ports.  With all the talk of tour companies just wondering if there are sources (ie. cruise critic for tour companies)  for info as I find the discussion interesting.

 

Just a comment on river cruises... had intended to do one but on researching just don't think it is for us. Ship too small (personal preference), regimented dining times, limited bars and restaurants, and my biggest fear... water levels that can massively change the intended experience.  Just reasons we have ruled it out for now.

 

The Alps is a great case in point for a land tour, such beautiful scenery, and quaint towns and inns... We had a Holy Land cruise set for last year (cancelled of course) and I had been dreading long bus rides back and forth to ship and limited days to explore this amazing area. We vowed then that when (hopefully) we finally go there it will be doing a land based tour.

 

 

Greetings chisoxfan:

I do not know of any CC equivilent for bus tours; googling came up with many sites with reviews, but the sites were affiliated with tour sales. Rick Steves is a more neutral source of reviews.

Have not done a River cruise, will do so in the future. Will sail in June when the water levels are lowering from their peak spring runoff. Will try one and see, all one can do.

One of the greatest land trips I have done was the Mighty Train, the Glacier Express, up to Zermatt to see the Matterhorn. Working on a River cruise with a land trip with the Glacier Express and then over to north Italy.

I agree with you that if you want to Really see a place, the land tours are great for that. Cruising has its place but it is a drive by - AND - with the cruising priority to shorten ports for "environmental" reasons and the seeming increase in cancelled ports - cruising is not a priority for my family or friends now. 

Hoping you wonderful travel experiences ahead.

Blessings.

19 hours ago, Gracie115 said:

 

You mention Trafalgar, who we are using for a Yellowstone and other National Parks trip later this summer.  Have you heard of "Insight,"  it is supposed to be one step up from Trafalgar and offers small group tours.  We are looking at one that covers Switzerland, Bavaria and Austria next year but don't know much about Insight at this point.  

 

We did a land tour of Peru which still stands as one of the best trips we've ever done.  Scoffing at bus tours/land tours has to be coming from those who have never done them.  JMHO

Greetings Gracie115.

I have not get used Insight tours, but looking that their offerings for next year. Your tour for Switz, Bavaria and Austria sounds Fab. Hoping they include a trip on the Mighty Train, the Glacier Express, up to Zermatt to see the Matterhorn.

The said poster who is scoffing at land tours appears to be a cheerleader, maybe paid, for Celebrity. Rather sad to have such a closed mind to river cruises, land tours; there is a big world of travel options out there - I have done most.

Safe travels and I hope the sun is out on the Matterhorn - I only got a 3/4 view!

6 minutes ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

I could see doing a river cruise, you only up pack once 😁

 

 

Ex-Airbalancer - like many posters say, try something different. Many options out there and you may be Surprised at what your experiences are. I have done cruises, Mighty Trains, Globus, customized land and driving trips, driving trips all over North America. All are Wonderful, just wonderful.

I am BLESSED to be able to do these dear trips. Totally BLESSED.

The River Cruises are the next phase of cruising. Have been pretty much everywhere in Europe on bus trips, very detailed, a gazillion photos of everywhere.

But would love to do a River Cruise, never done one. More detail but more relaxed.

I say to everyone, keep an open mind and go Explore indeed.

No one travel venue has the entire platform.

Ex-Airblancer, some thought.

1 hour ago, C4HCG said:

There is a shift with many people discovering cruising for the first time and loving it. Like us, first ever 2019, on our 7th in August and that’s with the Covid intervention. And the Edge that we got off last week was fully booked, the Beyond we are on 24th August looks to be heading that way, all good 👍 

So wonderful indeed!!! 👋 Depends on your trajectory in life it seems. I have been cruising since 1989 and seen it all. Now moving away from cruising as ports do not seem as important as they used to be. 

Enjoy all your voyages in the future and be well, happy and enjoy. 

We all have our passions indeed.

1 hour ago, PTC DAWG said:

Imagine combining that with a river cruise..talk about a snore fest. 

Different strokes for different folks.

50 minutes ago, catgirl411 said:

Totally agree…wish there was a way to know ahead of time.  Just got off Regal Princess British Isles. There were 312 Red Hat Society ladies on board…they were everywhere. Always dressed in their red hats and purple outfits.  I think the worst thing is that you feel like you are attending someone else’s party. Years ago, we had a similar experience with the Philadelphia Phillies fan club. In that case HAL closed off several venues at certain times for their exclusive use.

catgirl411 - that is Another big issue with cruising - group bookings, Oh My. I have not been subjected to that. The premium and luxury lines generally are not into that. I would be disgusted. Blessings for your patience.

roothy123 and Hlitner - thank you very much for your posts.

Your points are well taken and speak to the many posters who have expressed dismay in the port shortened time, cancelling of ports, cancelling of excursions and no available excursions many months before departure.

Oceania has made a deliberate choice to operate this way. I note the many posters who report being ignored by guest relations and excursions desk.

This is NOT customer service Oceania. Others have posted of the lack of corporate and onboard communications as well as arrogant communication.

The point of cruising is to see ports, with a few exceptions where people make the onboard experience their #1.

I have had my fill of Oceania cancelling ports, giving no or a vague explanation and now with SM, not receiving the return of my $ for a product not delivered is frankly unethical and wrong.

Thank you for your frankness and analysis. Regards, and safe travels to you both.

14 hours ago, edgee said:

We had a distasteful experience with SM. We made last port on our cruise, but our snorkelng excursion was cancelled. Did not find out til we got off of the tender at Grand Cayman. No opportunity to take another tour. Disembarkation port (Miami) was next stop.  Tour cost was paid with Simply More credit. No way to use the $98 pp so $198 of SM credit lost. Reception desk gave us the brush off. Said to talk to Destination Services. Destination said to talk to Reception Desk. Purser confirmed that the SM credit is lost in situations like ours. Could not use for any other purpose on the ship except cooking classes which could not happen since they were full. Have one more booked cruise with O and we might be done. For us Regent is a better and not that much more expensive an option.

Thank you for sharing your experience.

SM is the reason I have no Oceania voyages booked nor contemplated.

As I have posted before, the Ports Are the reason I cruise.

Without a reasonable assurance of being at every port, less "true" weather conditions, a mechanical failure or port incident, I will no longer cruise O.

Regent and NCL posters are also noting more port incidents, so I am wary of Regent - it appears to be a happening in the NCL family of lines.

So many posters here have reported having excursions cancelled, with no replacement available and you lose your own $. Not acceptable.

To each their own, but I do not spend big $ and hassle to fly to get on a ship that I am not confident will deliver the itinerary.

14 hours ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

Bus tour 🤣

that would be the last thing in the world we would go 

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Ex-Airbalancer.

To each their own. Globus and Trafalgar tour lines are booming as people wish to see detailed experiences of specific geography.

I have undertaken many Globus trips to every nook and cranny in Europe, in comfort, ease, no waiting in line, 4* hotels, local eateries, including Mighty Trains everywhere. I have seen Europe. The buses are always kept 1/2 full.

Interesting is that my TA, that specializes in Oceania, has now fully embraced Globus and Trafalgar, and for the 1st time, his advertising how includes bus trips. He told me that so many of his clients are diminishing cruises and looking for more detailed experiences so they are moving their $ to high end bus travel with customized before and after experiences. 

Ex-Airbalancer, he described me and my many rather former cruising friends perfectly. As I posted earlier, we have all moved most of our cruise $ to land trips and very high end SUV's.

I like cruising but not near as much as before given the product cheapening, and the compromise and drama around the ports is the killer for me.

What ever you choose, enjoy, but there seems to be some significant shifting in people's travel $ are spent.

8 minutes ago, phoenix_dream said:

It will be interesting.  Right now the ships are filled, but future bookings into next year?  Maybe not as much.  Credit card debt is at an all-time high.  But even more important - the delinquency rate on credit card payments is also going up considerably.  So can people keep continuing with the attitude of live now as tomorrow is not guaranteed?  That's fine if you can afford it.  Apparently many people actually can't but are spending wildly anyway.  Sorry folks, but if you're looking for that debt to be eliminated by the government I think you will have a very long wait.  It has to catch up to them sooner or later.  I'm hoping for sooner!  

phoenix_dream, excellent post and accurate assessment.

Much is negatively happening in the world. Time will tell what the fall out is, seen this situation before in the late 1980's.

My household and all our cruising friends have ceased booking cruises due to price, product reduction and port cancellation increases across the NCL cruise family. We can afford to cruise, but we all Choose not too.

Many have purchased high end SUVs and are now doing long road trips to the Rockies, Maritimes, Grand Canyon etc. I am on a Globus 21 day bus trip through all of Great Britain, with a return on the QM2 to NYC. 

That is just us, there are many other stories out there that we do not know about.

I am not convinced what we hear from and see on the cruise web sites are accurate, I have no evidence, but I know that corporations always put on a positive face to minimize reality. Reality hits when customers have to make final payment, will be interesting to see the "sales" in the future.

Time will tell indeed.

Whatever travel you undertake, be safe and happy.

Regards.

2 hours ago, stevesol6718 said:

Riviera just changed the port from Tokyo to Yokohama on next March/April cruises.  Now we are way over an hour from Tokyo and have to take a taxi or a train to Tokyo.  Saving on port fees?

SM, connect, saving port fees, reducing time in port, not able to re-book an excursion due to lack of availability, not return of forced payment of SM due to port cancellation - NOT a flattering profile of Oceania as being posted on Cunard, Celebrity sites.

8 hours ago, S1971 said:

 

Agreed, whilst there is vast amount of food around the ship, it's the small things such as this that cements the whole experience.

 

It appears Cunard like P&O are gradually removing the little touches and it's now got to the stage where people are highlighting the difference, so they need to be mindful of that, given as already highlighted some of those little touches are becoming chargeable.

S1971 - you make a very good post.

Serious cruisers keep inventory of the changes and downgrades and it does make a difference in where cruisers book.

Recently Celebrity made significant changes to their Retreat class - removing butlers etc. The pushback from cruisers was immense and Celebrity "Retreated" from most of the changes.

Celebrity lost business as people left Celebrity and went to Oceania.

2024 - When you are charging more and delivering less - I Cancel you.

On this thread, and others, I note many posters indicating the E Class will not be booked or not rebooked due to the lack of a forward view for all.

I will never book the E class because of Celebrity's decision to remove this Fundamental part of a ship, access for all.

1 minute ago, Jim_P said:

 

I fully sympathize with your social anxiety - I suffer it pretty badly too. But the QM2 had been something I'd wanted to do since I was a teenager. In 2023 I finally decided to do it and did it on my own, and I loved every minute of it. Since then I have been on again and have two more trips booked for the future. Thats the great thing about cruises - you can be as social as you want. If you want to simply do your own thing and keep to yourself its easy. Its particularly easy on ships like Cunard which arent party boats (other cruise lines have much more focus on group activities). Its easy on a ship like QM2 to just find your own space, or attend activities like talks that dont require social interaction.

I'd also recommend the Queen Mary 2 over the other ships in the line as it is a much bigger ship and a lot easier to find your own space.

 

I too am not big on dressing up, but its very easy to stick to Cunard's dress code. People thnk its a lot more than it actually is. While some people love the opportunity to fully go to town, a lot of others just keep it simple. For men, a simple suit jacket, collared shirt and nice pants and dress shoes will get you through the evenings no problem. For women pretty much any nice dress or pant suit or blouse will be fine. So long as you are not wearing jeans, sneakers and a T shirt you'll basically be fine (though they are of course fine during the day). And there's still venues of the ship at night where you can go casual if you want, like the buffet and pub. 

 

The Britannia Restaurant is the main dining room on Cunard - and its a stunning venue with great food and service. You absolutely do not need to be in a Grills suite. Also getting back to your social anxiety - the larger Britannia restaurant would be far better than in a smaller, more intimate Grills restaurant with Grills passengers, some of whom can be a little on the snobbish and judgmental side.  

 

Grills passengers have a few small areas exclusive to them, but you really wont notice them, 95% of the ship is open to everyone. All the bars, coffee shops, venues etc are open to all. 

 

 

 

Jim_P - excellent assessment.

Cunard is a favorite of ours - we will not patronize any mass cruise line that has the ship within a ship partitioned class configuration. 

It is a ship and everyone should be able to enjoy it - particularly forward views of where you are going which is something Celebrity has killed on their E class and above, they are Cancelled.

33 minutes ago, Liao said:

Hello QuestionE:  I'm not the OP but am in the same "boat" of consideration.  When you say that the alternative dining area up in Britannia is WAY better than the Grills, may you please elborate on why you feel that is?  I ask as I am nearing to book a fall 2025 TA and still trying to decide between Princess level v Queens.  TIA

Hi Liao:

The Britannia is an excellent main restaurant - typical foods.

The Alternative dining venue, each night, in the buffet area, a part of which is transformed into an alternative dining area. Each night there is a different theme and the food is more interesting, customized, favorable than the MDR. Very, very excellent service as it is a small dining venue.

I give Cunard credit - the food in this venue is better than anything I have had in the specialties' on Oceania.

Sooooo, you never know until you try.

Enjoy your crossing.

Time is precious and it is slipping away - Live Life Now.

Dear OP:

You have 0 to be anxious about doing a crossing on the QM2.

Our 4th crossing in in late June this year.

We Choose, Choose to be in the Britannia "class" as that is all we need to be happy. We can afford the Grills easy, but not interested in formality or a bigger stateroom that we will not use.

We book an "in hull" balcony - but most of our time is spent out of the stateroom around the ship. PS - a) there is an open viewing area just under the bridge which has "wings" so you can see the QM2 outside her hull - OMG, the best viewing on any passenger ship - THE BEST b) there is a window viewing area on the bridge deck, where you can watch the folks on the bridge - so great. There is a small elevator (on the left of the QM2) that takes up upwards to both decks... Please do this - Most passengers do not know about this.

OK - another - the QM2 has a kennel - with dogs, cats, rabbits and other dear critters - on 11 deck I think and near the back - THE BEST part of the QM2.

For Britannia class - 2 options:

1) Book a table for 2 OR with others in the main Britannia restaurant - the MOST stunning at sea

2) Pay $20 pp and do the alternative dining up in the Britannia - a part of the buffet area is transformed  - it is a themed evening with different ethnic creations - WAY better than the Grills and most enjoyable - again, not that well known by passengers.

__________________

The QM2 is the BEST passenger ship at sea.

We LOVE HER.

Hope my post is of assistance.

6 minutes ago, basor said:

O did lose those that booked Cruise Only but, unfortunately, there are few other options in cruising that do not include most or all (except Windstar).  Your solution is to book land tours which works for you but not everyone wants/can book those.  We find a combination of land and cruises (mostly on O) work for us.

My TA, who also books a lot of O, has said the exact opposite that O bookings have increased with the SM and the number of cruises with high waitlist seem to bear that out,

It is great that we all have choices and they do not need/have to be the same.

basor, great post. Thanks for taking the time out of your day to do so.

Goodness knows the truth these days - my TA or your TA - who knows. What I do know is that there is an incentive (image, $) for a TA and or cruise line to maintain positive karma whether that is true or not. 

I totally agree with you - there are few options that do not force you to buy everything. We do not drink alcohol and we prefer our own excursions - so I am not interested in purchasing O product or the premium or luxury lines. Cunard works for me and their ships are not too big at this point.

It is the increasing cancellation/shortening of ports that is my Biggest concern about cruising - I travel only for the ports, hence I love land tours. 

As Hiltner posted on another similar thread, O has very poor communication, frankly arrogant communication to guests based on my reads of many posts over the years. 

You are 100% correct that we are fortunate to have choices.

We are ALL on CC fortunate we have personal circumstances to be able to cruise and rant on CC - most folks do not.

Safe travels indeed.

2 hours ago, Sdancer said:

Yes! Simply More imposition is not consumer friendly. There used to be O'Life and Cruise Only options.

I always took Cruise Only option and booked my own private excursions, like you did. Simply More (SM) replaced O'Life.  Now instead of non-refundable OBC in O'Life, SM has non-refundable Shore Excursion Credit. The Cruise Only option is gone.

It is funny that Oceania claims that this Shore Excursion Credit is Free when it is actually added to a fare cost. 

 

Your reply was the only one about Simply More - others saw only my "markup" comment which is irrelevant to Simply More being unfriendly to consumers.

Also, as you mentioned about reduction of time in ports, times in our two ports were also reduced by hours after the final payment. 

Oceania used to pride itself on their "finest" cuisine at sea, longer times in ports and overnights. It was not the case on our last cruise. After 10 cruises with Oceania we will not book Oceania anymore. 

 

Thanks again about Simply More comment.

 

 

 

 

We are both one of many long time O cruisers that I personally know that no longer book O. My TA in San Diego indicates there is a significant booking reduction since Simply More (ie Simply Less) arrived.

Everyone I know books premium and luxury because of better, more detailed itineraries allowable by the smaller ships and more time.

With NCL and O increasing port cancellations as well reported on the O, NCL and Regent sites, these cruise lines are Cancelled.

O used to have a competitive advantage - customers could customize their cruise experience - now it is forced everything, rather like the luxury lines.

Sdancer - I am tired of all the cruise bull, my $ has moved to luxury land tours with private guides and fabulous driving trips in North America with my new sport vehicle (I am into car racing).

I will monitor how things go via CC, but putting $ down on a cruise is not happening until I see the consumer being put first.

11 hours ago, Sdancer said:

It was $50 for both of us for one port ($25 pp). It was posted to my cc a couple of days ago (took 3 weeks).

Oceania now has "simply more" higher fares to include an allowance for Oceania excursions. Let's say that Oceania skipped a port where you booked using an "excursion allowance" for an Oceania excursion. You get a refund but if it is not used for booking an another Oceania excursion, this refund is lost. So, Oceania does not lose any money from skipping a port and might even benefit when guests have to book any other available excursion to not lose a refund. If guests did not book an another Oceania excursion for some reason or another, Oceania keeps the money.

 

BWY, I was told that Oceania has the highest markup in the cruise industry for excursions.

When I cruised with Oceania to Alaska, Oceania had monopoly to some of  the excursions that we wanted to book. Tour operators in Alaska would not book us directly because their contract with Oceania restricted them to book only with Oceania. Oceania Alaska excursions were good but extremely expensive. If we would be able to book with the same operator, we would pay a fraction of the cost (I do not want to post the numbers, but I know them).

The Panama Canal cruise Oceania excursions did not go well.

We used our Oceania excursion allowance plus our Silver Level Club award to book Oceania excursions on our Panama Canal cruise. It was disappointing because 4 excursions were terrible, 1 fair and 1 good.

We have regretted not forgoing Oceania excursions allowance and booking our own excursions instead, like we did in Panama City.

 

 

Sdancer, thank you for taking the time to post.

Over beverages aboard O, I have been told the same thing by numerous guests.

The Simply More imposition is not consumer friendly.

I travel only for the ports of call, and usually arrange a private tour or tour with other guests - customized so I see what I want.

Because of the SM, have no further cruises booked with O as I simply do not trust them anymore. Add in O's 1hr + reduction in time in port, that is enough.

Thanks for posting this information, many guests do not realize this.

15 hours ago, pinotlover said:

I have found that the tour operators often know if a port will be missed before we passengers do. One tour operator was telling us three days in advance the ship was skipping the port while ship personnel refused to confirm it until 24 hours before scheduled arrival.

A good morning pinotlover.

Thank you for your post.

You have cruised much. Do you have thoughts on why passengers are the last to know?

This is very disturbing.