How much is too much?

[navybankerteacher]

I've just seen teasers about Royal Caribbean's forthcoming Quantum of the Seas. Yes, apparently there will be bumper cars. Does anyone feel that perhaps the lines are overdoing it in trying to be all things to all people?

[travlnblueberries]

I thought that was a bit much. It seems like these cruise lines are focusing more and more on kids...these are the cruises I'm staying away from!

[MackC]

I thought that was a bit much. It seems like these cruise lines are focusing more and more on kids...these are the cruises I'm staying away from!

 

Amen! I am also of the opinion that these cruises will attract hoards of children. I'm hopeful that will keep them off the ships I cruise on.

[dolittle]

The other things sound good but bumper cars seem a bit much . They are noisy and I would think they would be space inefficient .

[aohkay]

It's like any other product that has to complete with market share, whether it's cruiseships, technology, cars etc. A lot of things are oer the top these days.

 

For me personally though, Oceania is about my speed these days. :)

[swsfrail]

I've just seen teasers about Royal Caribbean's forthcoming Quantum of the Seas. Yes, apparently there will be bumper cars. Does anyone feel that perhaps the lines are overdoing it in trying to be all things to all people?

 

The other things sound good but bumper cars seem a bit much . They are noisy and I would think they would be space inefficient .

 

How about that "pod-on-a-stick" thing on the top level? Now that is over the top in more ways than one. :D They should rename this ship Coney Island of the Seas.

 

[Waterloomarc]

I don't object with all the "attractions" they're packing onto ships. It couldn't interest me less but to each their own. I do wonder though if you want all this theme park "stuff" why you don't just go on a different vacation. I don't go to Six Flags looking for a quiet place to lay in the sun.

 

But - and to me it's a big but - I'm concerned that the rest of us are going to get squeezed out. Right now it's easy enough to say if you don't like these behemoths don't sail them. Right now that's still pretty easy. But what about 10 years from now? You don't hear anybody announcing smaller ships being built. The older smaller ships we currently have the option of sailing on instead of Quantum et. al aren't going to be around forever.

 

While I'm not as young as I once was I'm still young enough to feel like the mainstream lines are steaming off into the sunset without me.

 

 

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[ger_77]

I'm glad certain cruise lines are presenting ships with activities like bumper cars, bowling alleys, flow-riders, etc., because it gives family groups things to do. We like to avoid such ships, as we prefer cruises where we can relax, reconnect, and end up coming back feeling way better than when we left.

 

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

[boogs]

But - and to me it's a big but - I'm concerned that the rest of us are going to get squeezed out. Right now it's easy enough to say if you don't like these behemoths don't sail them. Right now that's still pretty easy. But what about 10 years from now? You don't hear anybody announcing smaller ships being built. The older smaller ships we currently have the option of sailing on instead of Quantum et. al aren't going to be around forever.

 

While I'm not as young as I once was I'm still young enough to feel like the mainstream lines are steaming off into the sunset without me.

 

There are a few cruise lines that I doubt will ever succumb to the "amusement park" design mentality - Celebrity, HAL, Azamara, Cunard, Crystal, Oceania, and Regent to name a few. Azamar, for instance, has indicated they are planning on building additional ships similar to the two 700 passenger ships already in their current fleet.

[Waterloomarc]

Yes this is true. I can't see a Crystal zip line in the near future. But I was referring to mainstream lines constantly going bigger. Even HAL is going bigger with new ships. Celebrity has gone bigger with the silhouette and reflection. NCL's breakaway and getaway, although smaller than Epic, are still quite large etc.

 

Like I said I don't begrudge anyone their bumper cars at sea. I just hope there's enough traditional ships left for the rest of us.

 

 

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[navybankerteacher]

I don't object with all the "attractions" they're packing onto ships. It couldn't interest me less but to each their own. I do wonder though if you want all this theme park "stuff" why you don't just go on a different vacation. I don't go to Six Flags looking for a quiet place to lay in the sun.

 

But - and to me it's a big but - I'm concerned that the rest of us are going to get squeezed out. Right now it's easy enough to say if you don't like these behemoths don't sail them. Right now that's still pretty easy. But what about 10 years from now? You don't hear anybody announcing smaller ships being built. The older smaller ships we currently have the option of sailing on instead of Quantum et. al aren't going to be around forever.

 

While I'm not as young as I once was I'm still young enough to feel like the mainstream lines are steaming off into the sunset without me.

 

 

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This is what concerns me - as the mass market lines (which are the most affordable) continue to build bigger and bigger, they will not replace their smaller (less than 2,000 passengers) ships, which have what I go for. Sure, there will be Crystal and perhaps Azamara, but they are generally pricier: I do feel that I am being left behind -- by an industry catering to a frenetic customer base, and no longer providing the affordable basics.

[donnad1962]

I so agree, I like lounging by the pool, reading a book , relaxing with a drink. Then getting ready for dinner enjoying a bottle of wine talking. Going to a show, casino and then a night party. What is wrong with that! :cool:

[delily]

I think they're wonderful! I don't mind ships like that at all. In fact, I think they are great for attracting families that have lots of kids. Which means all the kids will be on those ships and NOT on the ships that I'll be sailing on! Hooray!

[Keith1010]

Sounds interesting.

 

Keith

[Krazy Kruizers]

I have no interest in sailing ships like that.

I realize that they are trying to attract the younger generation in hopes that they will continue to cruise knowing that we older people won't be able to cruise much longer.

But I prefer to spend my last couple of years on smaller ships without all the hoopla.

[John Bull]

Availability of the gizmos?

 

I've never cruised on a leviathan but their toys (ziplining, flowrider, rock-wall, bumper cars & such) are clearly limited to a handful of people at a time, compared to catering for the masses with movies-under-the-stars & such.

Can you just breeze along & expect them to be available? Or do you join a long line? Or put your name down for a slot? Or are a lot of folk told "sorry, it's fully-booked"? Or is priority given to cabin classes, line-jumping fees, etc?

 

JB :)

[youngestof9]

But why can't you lay on a pool deck all day and read a book on a newer, bigger ship? For me, I love to relax. But my kids love the other stuff (rock walls and waterslides). So it's best of both worlds. I believe the mainstream lines have always leaned toward making it family friendly. If you make a child a happy cruiser, you'll have a repeat cruiser in THEM. That translates to $$ for the cruiseline.

 

I think Quantum sounds cool - I like that it's from NY which is a bonus for me. I personally have no interest in bumper cars, but my kids will and I will for sure enjoy the entertainments and restaurants they're sure to announce.

 

Just like the NCL Breakaway with some different things onboard, there is enough for everyone.

 

And for those who don't like to travel with gaggles of kids, don't do typically kid-heavy sailings - spring break, president's week, summer. I am sailing Breakaway in October and while I expect to see some kids (I'm not bringing my own on this sailing), I don't expect to see a ton.

[Gunner22aa]

Maybe if I were in my 20's, hadn't spent a 40 year career of doing very exciting things in the army like real parachuting and going to some less than desirable rather unfriendly places on this planet there might be a draw to all of the new glitter and attractions they are packing into the mega ships. I've had enough excitement for two average lives and cruise to relax. Younger families looking to keep the kids entertained will probably flock to these ships and good on them. In my 50's now and I am looking for a different type of vacation than them. I like something in the size of the Princess Grand Class of ship. Plenty to do that I enjoy and as we take longer cruises to more exotic places these days the demographics of the ship seem more in line with my own. Each type of ship has it's place. I found mine and others will find theirs.

[NMLady]

I have no interest in sailing ships like that.

I realize that they are trying to attract the younger generation in hopes that they will continue to cruise knowing that we older people won't be able to cruise much longer.

But I prefer to spend my last couple of years on smaller ships without all the hoopla.

 

 

Ditto!!

[navybankerteacher]

How about that "pod-on-a-stick" thing on the top level? Now that is over the top in more ways than one. :D They should rename this ship Coney Island of the Seas.

 

 

Something else to wait in line for. I suppose it would give you wider horizon to view, but not much more. I wonder how much it's development and installation added to the cost of the ship -- and how much must be devoted to its operation and maintenance.

[Gunner22aa]

About backed up toilets. Wait till the first bunch of cruisers get stuck hanging out over the ocean in the blazing sun in this fish bowl. If I want to see farther out on the horizon I'll climb a hill in port.

[ViolaSwamp]

About backed up toilets. Wait till the first bunch of cruisers get stuck hanging out over the ocean in the blazing sun in this fish bowl. If I want to see farther out on the horizon I'll climb a hill in port.

 

 

HA good point!! :)

 

We are an active family and while we do enjoy chillaxing by the pool with a good book and a beverage, we like choices of things to DO as well. And even when our youngest is grown, I suspect and hope that DH and I will still be very active. I must say that while we didn't have a BAD cruise, we were indeed bored with the lack of options on the one HAL cruise we went on (the Maasdam) - our only entertainment option that interested us was the Piano Bar at night, where we did indeed have a blast, but we would have appreciated many more choices. Now I can't see myself doing bumper cars at sea - not really a fan of those on land - I do appreciate the innovative options that new ships are bringing to the world of cruising.

 

Our upcoming cruise is on CCL because of timing and cost, but I hope our next one after that will be on RCCL again or NCL for the first time, so we can try some of the fun stuff they have on their ships!! :cool:

[travlnblueberries]

About backed up toilets. Wait till the first bunch of cruisers get stuck hanging out over the ocean in the blazing sun in this fish bowl. If I want to see farther out on the horizon I'll climb a hill in port.

 

I looked at that picture from the last post on the previous page, and thought the same thing....It's like you read my mind...lol

[zacc]

I think they're wonderful! I don't mind ships like that at all. In fact, I think they are great for attracting families that have lots of kids. Which means all the kids will be on those ships and NOT on the ships that I'll be sailing on! Hooray!

 

Totally agree....Ihope Carnival, NCL, and RCCL built several more each!!!

[Kartgv]

I wouldn't be surprised to see that name come up in the near future. They're definitely not for us, and we also fear that the smaller ships will not be replaced by similar size and atmosphere ships. We'll probably cruise much less frequently in order to afford the smaller, pricier ships.