Honey I shrunk the room :) LOS review 09/24 Med cruise. Long with some pics

[peteukmcr]

But your own nationality and behavior characteristic of that nationality doesn't seem to bother you.

 

For example, on any Voyager or Freedom class ship out of Barcelona, the Irish/British pub found on the royal promenade of these ships many times is overcrowded by Brits sitting there all night, getting drunk, getting very loud and behaving badly.

 

I take that as a sweeping generalisation of my fellow Brits, of which I do neither condone nor do I partake. I will beg to differ on the nationalities sitting at the pub being loud and getting drunk having been on 7 Voyager/Freedom class sailings.

[Bakincakes]

Hm, google vertaler of heb jer ergens Europese conncecties? :D

 

Whow guys :D, as I said, “among them that we saw real hillbilly’s”, that does not read as “all Americans on the ship where hillbilly’s” :P, please don’t be offended :).

I myself, as you clearly see in the pictures, don’t bring a tux, just one plain suite...the other couple in the picture with us and the captain where also from the US, he to just had a suite on...Which I find to be more than decent for formal attire, I will probably never bring or hire a tux.

For me personally, when you cruise, you know there are formal nights (mandate or not), so you where something formal and go with the flow..A pink Lacoste polo with the collar turned up in the neck, grey slacks with white Nike sport shoes are not fitting in my opinion...And there were plenty similar examples amongst all nationalities.

 

 

Americans have a reputation for being "slobs"..and I gather some of them didn't disappoint in that area.;) If it is any consolation we've seen our share of them on all of our RCI cruises. They do get around.

 

Although food is subjective we agree that the offerings on RCI have gone downhill. the specialties are lifesavers and most meals we have had in them have been excellent. Many pax are starting to complain that they shouldn't have to pay more for good meals and should get those kinds of meals in the MDR. We have been saying that for years and have been flamed for suggesting that MDR fare has been dumbed down.:rolleyes:

 

Supposedly room attendants have many more cabins to take care of and some pax think that service is now lacking. We've never hestiated to point out "issues" in our cabins and they have been taken care of in a short time. I find it disappointing that pax have to point out issues with basic cabin maintenance but I guess that is a sign of the times.

 

We agree about the WJ which is why we have taken to eating as many meals ashore as we can, when it port. We get great food and we experience different cultures. At least that is what we tell ourselves when we try to justify having to pay extra, yet again, to get some decent food.:p

[Verfai]

Ow dear, next to the loads of false and wrongful information on these boards...Being called a racist is a new one and am not going to remark on idiots calling me a racist...You all just want to read what you want to see.

 

As being racist, it is the belief that different traits in Human racial groups justify discrimination, which I do NOT read in my text.

It also implies that I would harm particular groups of people by their ethnic origin, I only stated “bad dress code” ,“no manners” and “mingling was a problem for some (including language skills)”...Where do I harm, discriminate or threaten them, except for stating the obvious, as this was what I saw on the ship!?

 

The use of the word hillbillies in by my knowledge not word that specifies a racial group.

 

Racial stereotyping which might be applicable here...Definitely not the same as begin a racist, I do not see the harm in what I wrote. No I do not see this as rudeness...Stupid example as we are being that right now: pulled up to the knees white sport socks for Americans and black socks just over ankle for Europeans is what I see as an example of a cultural difference! Same apparently is applicable on numerous subjects...

[Verfai]

Americans have a reputation for being "slobs"..and I gather some of them didn't disappoint in that area.;) If it is any consolation we've seen our share of them on all of our RCI cruises. They do get around.

 

Although food is subjective we agree that the offerings on RCI have gone downhill. the specialties are lifesavers and most meals we have had in them have been excellent. Many pax are starting to complain that they shouldn't have to pay more for good meals and should get those kinds of meals in the MDR. We have been saying that for years and have been flamed for suggesting that MDR fare has been dumbed down.:rolleyes:

 

Supposedly room attendants have many more cabins to take care of and some pax think that service is now lacking. We've never hestiated to point out "issues" in our cabins and they have been taken care of in a short time. I find it disappointing that pax have to point out issues with basic cabin maintenance but I guess that is a sign of the times.

 

We agree about the WJ which is why we have taken to eating as many meals ashore as we can, when it port. We get great food and we experience different cultures. At least that is what we tell ourselves when we try to justify having to pay extra, yet again, to get some decent food.:p

 

Thanks for brining the thread back on track :D

[queenofhearts]

Verfai -

 

LOL, Bing vertaler is mijn vriend! Ik ontwerp en coördineren van bruiloften - ik onlangs gewerkt met Amerikaanse echtpaar dat in Antwerpen en een paar waar haar vader (Nederlands) is een importeur tulip.

 

[EV2008]

And then there is the American way of cooking meat, we really couldn’t get a good steak, as we in Europe like it to be a bit bloody inside…this was apparently impossible due to hygienic reasons, very strange explanation that I got for this from the maitre in Portofino

 

Portofino, was still excellent stuff, really great food. It is for us so funny when we order our steak to me medium rare, they look at us like we want meat that still has a heartbeat…Trust me, you will get the same look over here when you order a well done shoe sole.

 

 

Have you ever had a Steak in the US, they fix them rare or med rare, not well done, I don't know where you got your information but that is not true. I think the ship cooks it that way because it is easy that way to cook well done, since it would take effort to check on a steak not to overcook it.

[RareBird]

Without digressing too much from this thread, what is it you believe we Europeans do not understand about the American work ethic? BTW I have worked closely with Americans over the past 11 years as our UK company had an office in NJ.

 

hmm... let's see. Americans work more hours and have less vacation, how that's for starters. A summer off? on what planet? ... oh wait, Europeans enjoy this little perk.

 

I think you forget most US workers get max 10 days off and we use that time to relax, not to play dress up on a ship so you can feel better about your cruise experience.

[peteukmcr]

hmm... let's see. Americans work more hours and have less vacation, how that's for starters. A summer off? on what planet? ... oh wait, Europeans enjoy this little perk.

 

I think you forget most US workers get max 10 days off and we use that time to relax, not to play dress up on a ship so you can feel better about your cruise experience.

Wow, I do not wish to get into an argument here as you obviously dislike Europeans to the extent your facts are incorrect and misleading to others on CC. To be honest, your intonation is very insulting and rude. We in the UK do not have the 'summer off' so please check your facts first.

[north29]

I may not agree with everything you posted, but still a good review. Sometimes, many people on this board do not want to hear the truth or open opinion of what another person thinks. You did cover a lot of not politically correct issues and sensitive things already discussed before.

[RareBird]

Wow, I do not wish to get into an argument here as you obviously dislike Europeans to the extent your facts are incorrect and misleading to others on CC. To be honest, your intonation is very insulting and rude. We in the UK do not have the 'summer off' so please check your facts first.

 

I was born in Europe and lived half my life there, so I consider myself pretty knowledgeable. In any case, it's a fun cruise site and this talk doesn't belong here.

 

Happy cruising! :)

[Pushka]

So being neither European nor American I can't be accused of being biassed in my response here. So, here goes.

 

I did have a discomfort level in reading parts of this thread. When negative comments are attributed to a group of people based on their origins, then yes, to me that is racist.

 

The idea of "queues" and how they operate in different cultures is something that we all experience when travelling. If you wait in an orderly fashion in Asian countries, then quite simply, you will miss the boat. And if you expect others to wait in an orderly fashion in Asia, then you will be very disappointed.

 

Socialisation. Now, my partner and I run a business which is based on A LOT of social interaction. The LAST thing we want to do on holiday, is to socialise. Instead, we simply enjoy quality time together experiencing different sites. If we perchance to make friends, then we will but that isn't in our big picture. But obviously some will perceive us as anti-social. Their problem, not ours.

 

Dressing Up. Again, we dress up every day in suits. Again, we will dress nicely for dinner but dressing up in a suit and tie is not on our Agenda. And while some say this is what cruising is supposed to be, well, not in my rule book. And a Polo shirt and pants is perfectly suitable. Does that make us Aussie Hillbillys? We dont have Hillbilly's in Australia.

 

Work ethic. Hmm. Aussies work around a 38 hour week, have 10 Public Holidays a year and 4 weeks annual leave. Our wages are thoroughly structured and no-one is allowed to be reliant on tips to earn a minimum wage. We tip ONLY when we receive excellent service. But this makes our food expensive on the face. If you factor in a 15% tip on USA meals, then the prices are about the same as here in Australia.

 

Tipping. For Aussies travelling in Europe, and especially on cruise ships out of Australia, it is difficult to grasp that we also need to tip. But it seems that because the ships are USA owned, then tips are needed to pay some of the crew a living.

 

I don't think anyone gets a summer off anywhere?

[pspercy]

As usual some people are entirely too sensitive, Verfai said nothing wrong at all.

[Pushka]

As usual some people are entirely too sensitive, Verfai said nothing wrong at all.

And each of us is entitled to their own opinion.:)

[Verfai]

As usual some people are entirely too sensitive, Verfai said nothing wrong at all.

 

Thanks , I am really ignoring those posts at this time, most here don’t know my background and I love to keep it that way...They can use the thread as a discussion ground for my part.

I only agree on stereotyping, some people need to open a dictionary or a history book and look up racist.

 

Anyhow, on the meat subject, like I wrote, “a strange explanation” :D. yes I have been to the US (Florida-Orlando and Miami), yes the meat was cooked as we ordered, but we did get strange looks asking rare...Maybe a wrong steak house :).

On the boat the explanation was the bacterial growth is exponentially greater then rare meat than in well done...Agreed, but still if they keep the meat well cooled and or frozen, lay it on a hot and clean pan this shouldn’t be a problem.

[Oville]

May I recommend removing all mention of fellow passengers when you submit your review. It probably isn't racist but it sure is offensive and full of sterotypes.

 

The rest of your review was great.

[LarryL]

Verfai, Thanks for the candid review of your Liberty cruise. I was looking forward to reading your comments and I wasn't disappointed. We are sailing on the upcoming Transatlantic.

 

I do have to agree with Oville on the specific references to nationalities, although you did explain your comments on the Spaniards. While this will be my first experience in Europe I am looking forward to interacting with many people from all over. I do understand I will meet some who are complete a$$es but most will be what I come to expect out of people. Interesting, entertaining, and worth getting to know. If given a chance, those hillbillies can actually be fun to be around even though they have a different world view.

 

I am sorry parts of this deteriorated to challenges of work ethic. Who knows where that came from. Thin skin?

 

I really hope you can see more of the States than Orlando and Miami. Those places are hardly representative of our country.

 

At any rate, thanks for your views and photos. :)

 

Larry

[lilant]

Thanks , I am really ignoring those posts at this time, most here don’t know my background and I love to keep it that way...They can use the thread as a discussion ground for my part.

I only agree on stereotyping, some people need to open a dictionary or a history book and look up racist.

 

Anyhow, on the meat subject, like I wrote, “a strange explanation” :D. yes I have been to the US (Florida-Orlando and Miami), yes the meat was cooked as we ordered, but we did get strange looks asking rare...Maybe a wrong steak house :).

On the boat the explanation was the bacterial growth is exponentially greater then rare meat than in well done...Agreed, but still if they keep the meat well cooled and or frozen, lay it on a hot and clean pan this shouldn’t be a problem.

 

http://www.wisegeek.com/why-is-rare-meat-considered-dangerous.htm

 

i order meat rare or med rare all the time and no one looks at me funny. live in US all my life, one of the "hillbillies"( i can spell it). "strange looks"? maybe i get "strange looks" for the "wrong shoes", but not for my steak order.

..and guess what, as long as my "hillbilly" money is green RCCL will sell me a cruise, even with the "wrong shoes".

[Verfai]

Verfai, Thanks for the candid review of your Liberty cruise. I was looking forward to reading your comments and I wasn't disappointed. We are sailing on the upcoming Transatlantic.

 

I do have to agree with Oville on the specific references to nationalities, although you did explain your comments on the Spaniards. While this will be my first experience in Europe I am looking forward to interacting with many people from all over. I do understand I will meet some who are complete a$$es but most will be what I come to expect out of people. Interesting, entertaining, and worth getting to know. If given a chance, those hillbillies can actually be fun to be around even though they have a different world view.

 

I am sorry parts of this deteriorated to challenges of work ethic. Who knows where that came from. Thin skin?

 

I really hope you can see more of the States than Orlando and Miami. Those places are hardly representative of our country.

 

At any rate, thanks for your views and photos. :)

 

Larry

 

Sure I want to see more of the US, New York might be a destination for June next year, for a few days before a cruise departing from Cape Liberty ;) (Vegas and San Francisco are also on the list).

 

I see you have a American Veteran pin on your signature, then you should definitely decide to visits Belgium some day. We still sound the last post at one of the world’s most famous W.W. memorials every single day of the year since 1928, tonight will be the 28625 time they will sound it in honor of all fallen allied soldiers...Grand fathers here where work refusers and survived to tell about it.

 

Have fun on your TA

[Verfai]

http://www.wisegeek.com/why-is-rare-meat-considered-dangerous.htm

 

i order meat rare or med rare all the time and no one looks at me funny. live in US all my life, one of the "hillbillies"( i can spell it). "strange looks"? maybe i get "strange looks" for the "wrong shoes", but not for my steak order.

..and guess what, as long as my "hillbilly" money is green RCCL will sell me a cruise, even with the "wrong shoes".

 

When meat is treated as it should be from the slaughter till it gets on your plate, there shouldn’t be a problem...Even rare as in steak tartare.

 

And again, you only read what you want to read (incl spelling mistakes, good for you...surprise, English is far from my native language), I clearly said that maybe we were in a wrong steak house...I never generalized anything, not in that post nor in the original review...Most here made their own generalization, how “amongst them” can translate into an entire country....But anyhow, I was ignoring the subject :D

[LarryL]

Sure I want to see more of the US, New York might be a destination for June next year, for a few days before a cruise departing from Cape Liberty ;) (Vegas and San Francisco are also on the list).

 

I see you have a American Veteran pin on your signature, then you should definitely decide to visits Belgium some day. We still sound the last post at one of the world’s most famous W.W. memorials every single day of the year since 1928, tonight will be the 28625 time they will sound it in honor of all fallen allied soldiers...Grand fathers here where work refusers and survived to tell about it.

 

Have fun on your TA

 

As a WWII buff Belgium is a must country to visit. I don't think enough credit was given for the heroic efforts the resistance Belgium and France provided in that war effort. My mother's first husband was killed shortly after D Day, in France, and my father fought in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy with the US 5th Army. I believe my DW's father was stationed in Belgium for a time before becoming part of the occupation forces in post war Germany.

 

Of course, Europe is so historic besides the wars. I wish I would have had the resources earlier in life to visit.

 

I do have to add, Spain was not the first country I thought I'd visit but this cruise presented the opportunity for a first European visit. I can't wait to see Spain at least a little through this sailing.

 

Larry

[olibubble]

I was born in Europe and lived half my life there, so I consider myself pretty knowledgeable. In any case, it's a fun cruise site and this talk doesn't belong here.

 

Happy cruising! :)

 

 

i was born in europe and lived ALL my life here, and I'm telling you we dont get "summer off"!

[Paulxyz2004]

i was born in europe and lived ALL my life here, and I'm telling you we dont get "summer off"!

 

 

Ahh come on. Really? I frequently got the whole week of summer we had off;):D:p

 

Let´s get real, how many vacation days one get has nothing to do with work ethics. There´s nothing ethical or unethical about it.

[BecciBoo]

Have you ever had a Steak in the US, they fix them rare or med rare, not well done, I don't know where you got your information but that is not true. I think the ship cooks it that way because it is easy that way to cook well done, since it would take effort to check on a steak not to overcook it.

 

Ditto. We never eat beef here in Texas that doesn't moo!:p;) But by the same token, my MIL and SIL both prefer hockey pucks to juicy hamburgers!:( All Americans.

The only time I have ever been insulted cruising, was by a spanish speaking female on the elevators, and yes, this is considered rude by American standards, also cutting in line, a pet peeve of mine also. I stood there and took my time waiting, why shouldn't they? This has happened several times with spanish speaking persons, apparently in their culture there is no cueing. But that doesn't make it acceptable behavior, in any company!:mad: And I didn't mention any nationalities:cool: Or making any judgements, just stating what occurred in my experience of 13 cruises. That being said, we have never cruised anywhere but the Carib and have seen just as much rudeness with fellow Americans in some instances, so, it concludes that rudeness is no respector of nationalities or creeds. We all have middle fingers.....:rolleyes:

[Pushka]

I think queuing is very cultural and situational dependent because many cultures simply do not do it. If you expectother cultures to behave as your culture does when travelling internationally then you will end up being constantly offended especially if you are travelling in their country. Queuing in Asia, simply does not work as there are too many people and not enough space to form a line.

 

We are visiting Villers Bretonneux before we arrive in Barcelona as my Grandfather served there in WWI and died.

[pspercy]

most famous W.W. memorials every single day of the year since 1928,

 

Menin Gate ?