How do I complain effectively?

[custompcsys]

Personally, I would have tipped the guy $20 – fossil fuels – and whatever else is contributing to global warming - and Hummers that are run with no thought to fuel economy aren’t doing a thing to help the environment and we as a people should be conscious of that fact rather than blindly going along hoping that the inevitable – the depletion of oil reserves – doesn’t happen.

 

How much fossil fuel did the ships burn for the 18 cruises in your signature? Tour buses, and cruise boards, IMHO, are not the place for this type of commentary.

[Coral]

Why would this driver think that everyone on the bus was from the US?

 

Everyone on our bus was "flying to a US city". Part of how they organize the buses from the pier to the airport.

[jff50]

It all boils down to MONEY. Some like us some don't no big thing. People in other countrys think we all have to much money and they want some of it. I feel it is best to treat every one the way they treat me. So if the driver talks nice I tip nice if not sorry no tip. He will learn Money talks and Bull Shi Walks.

 

Yeah, America is held in such high esteem right now because they're all jealous of us.

[jff50]

How much fossil fuel did the ships burn for the 18 cruises in your signature? Tour buses, and cruise boards, IMHO, are not the place for this type of commentary.

 

My guess is that one passengers share of the energy usage on a cruise ship for a 7 (or 10 or 14) day cruise is far less than the waste produced by driving a Hummer everyday. If cruise board is no place for politically oriented comment, maybe you should also take the original poster to task.

[Poodlesnoot]

Jeez, it doesn't take much to get people going does it?

 

For the record, I don't have a Hummer, but I do own a pair of brand new SUV's which are also a target of environmentalists or self rightous people who don't have a clue - for a tidbit of fact, a new SUV priduces less pollution than a 3 year old Honda by a factor of at least 7 times...and yes, a cruise ship or airplane flight uses enormous amounts of fuels - but that wasn't the point.

 

We were a captive audience to someones' political rant that indirectly insulted the larger share of the riders of the bus. I couldn't get up and move, but if he didn't like it, he should. I don't care what the subject is - I don't want to hear someone whine like a spoiled kid.

 

The OP was "How do I complain effectively?" ...not do you or don't you agree about what he said...typical bulletin board hijacks.

[bdjam]

How much fossil fuel did the ships burn for the 18 cruises in your signature? Tour buses, and cruise boards, IMHO, are not the place for this type of commentary.

My guess is that one passengers share of the energy usage on a cruise ship for a 7 (or 10 or 14) day cruise is far less than the waste produced by driving a Hummer everyday. If cruise board is no place for politically oriented comment, maybe you should also take the original poster to task.

Thanks for the support, and I agree with you - the cruise ships that I’ve sailed on probably used a good deal of fuel and still – as you indicate – probably come in much less than daily Hummer usage. Especially as the ships have become more fuel efficient. While I do enjoy a cruise vacation now and again, I don’t waste energy by driving vehicles that are entirely too big, I conserve and recycle as much as possible, and I think the 39 miles per gallon of gasoline that my car gets in the city helps to mitigate some of the negative effects of disregard for oil usage. I also live in California which highly regulates exhaust emissions. While I may use a few gallons of bunker fuel while I'm on a cruise ship, I also do my part when I'm at home to respect the environment.

 

I agree with the first quote – and I think I said so – that a tour bus might not have been the best place to deliver the message – but that doesn’t mean I don’t respect or understand the message and frankly feel it unfortunate that so many of us are cavalier about it. As I posted, appropriate or not, it's started some dialog right here on good old Cruise Critic...that's a good thing.

The OP was "How do I complain effectively?" ...not do you or don't you agree about what he said...typical bulletin board hijacks

And part of my post in response suggested a way to do that. I think the lack of respect of the bus driver’s opinion in the first post might have contributed to the “hijacking” of this thread.

[Poodlesnoot]

That's the whole point....I wasn't buying his opinion. I was paying for a bus trip to the airport, and possibly enhanced by a factual commentary about Vancouver.

 

I could care less about his opinion as I am sure he could about mine...I wasn't spouting mine at a captive crowd.

 

No matter what we do, we as humans are consummers....and I am tired of people trying to make me feel guilty for it and like it is a competetion by some to be greener than others...it ain't fair sometimes, but that's just the way it is.

[bdjam]

That's the whole point....I wasn't buying his opinion. I was paying for a bus trip to the airport, and possibly enhanced by a factual commentary about Vancouver.

 

I could care less about his opinion as I am sure he could about mine...I wasn't spouting mine at a captive crowd.

 

No matter what we do, we as humans are consummers....and I am tired of people trying to make me feel guilty for it and like it is a competetion by some to be greener than others...it ain't fair sometimes, but that's just the way it is.

Again, if you feel you want to submit an effective formal complaint, write a letter to Passenger Relations.

 

You are correct, we’re all consumers, but being “green” about consumption isn’t a competition – it’s something that will become vital to survival on this planet, and it's unfortunate that some close their eyes to this fact. I hope to be around for another 50 years, but if we don’t take heed of what we’re doing to the environment, one way or another we’re all going to perish.

[Cruisin' Chick]

"and maybe he thought you guys had the same feelings ...."

 

Maybe he has been hearing several complaints about the commercialization of his area.

 

Hubby and me both drive Saturn sedans and wouldn't mind more done about global warning.

[custompcsys]

Some of you may find this interesting. Seems significantly worse than driving a Hummer to me.

 

http://europe.oceana.org/english/news/cruiseships.htm

[Dave Hansen]

I just got off a 5 south Cruise Tour and 7 day Whittier to Alaska cruise...it was fantastic until we had the transfer from the peir to the Airport in Vancouver and had to listen to the idiot bus drivers' rant about global warming, Hummers vs economy cars, high gas prices, and real estate in Vancouver costing more than a bus driver can afford (mind you he was pointing out really nice residential within biking distance of downtown), and how Starbucks were ruining his city...it was a typical Canadian Socialist Rant when his passengers all probably have worked hard and understand more about making a living and how economics work than the idiot driver. It was just a rotten ending to a good trip.

You enjoyed your cruise and

just ignore the resty. At least he was sober, I hope

Dave Hansen

[jff50]

The OP was "How do I complain effectively?" .

 

As I stated earlier, the tone of your original posting was an example of how not to complain effectively. If you sent a letter with that tone to Princess, I doubt you would get much credibility.

 

For the record, I don't have a Hummer, but I do own a pair of brand new SUV's which are also a target of environmentalists or self rightous people who don't have a clue - for a tidbit of fact, a new SUV priduces less pollution than a 3 year old Honda by a factor of at least 7 times....

 

Who's being self-righteous (and clueless) here. There are no laws against you're having 2 SUVs, but the fact is that they do use more fuel and are less environmentally unfriendly. I don't know where you get your "facts" from, but claiming that your 2 SUVs pollute less than 1/7 of a 3 year old Honda is certainly bogus. If we (Americans) want to claim that we are so great, we should lead by example. Using 25% of the world's energy usage, when we represent a much lower percent of the world's population does not lead by example. Global warming is a fact, and some of us care about the world we leave to our kids.

 

and yes, a cruise ship or airplane flight uses enormous amounts of fuels - but that wasn't the point.

 

A cruise ship or airplane does use a lot of fuel, but does so efficiently. They transport several hundred of several thousand people. What is the average passenger load in your SUV.

 

 

...not do you or don't you agree about what he said...typical bulletin board hijacks.

 

If you wanted to limit your question to "how do you complain effectively about someone who is on a soapbox while transporting you to the airport" you could have done that. However, the tone of your original post went beyond the question you were posting and was a rant of its own.

[bdjam]

Some of you may find this interesting. Seems significantly worse than driving a Hummer to me.

Interesting, yes. But one fact that’s left out is that those who are on cruise ships creating the waste would be doing so where ever they were. So it’s an issue of waste, not where it is created. Cruise ships are coming up against more and more stringent environmental standards limiting the dumping of waste and requiring the treating of waste on board. But whether I’m on a cruise ship or at home, I take a shower and go to the bathroom. What I don’t do when I’m at home is drive a fuel inefficient vehicle, contribute to the desecration of forests, waste water or contribute to air pollution. I think overall, cruise ships are fairly efficient and are getting more and more so - think about the introduction of gas turbines. Nevertheless, the point is that all industries and all governments need to take note and make efforts to protect the planet. Otherwise the subject of a bus driver’s dissertation between cruise ship and airport will certainly be moot.

[custompcsys]

Nevertheless, the point is that all industries and all governments need to take note and make efforts to protect the planet.

 

While I may not agree with all you said previously, THAT I can agree with! :D

[senior lady]

Hey Poodlesnoot,

 

I'm a proud Canadian, and don't like being refered to " A Typical Canadian Socalist Rant""

 

Vancouver is a beautiful city, and i'm sure that the Driver was just chatting away.

 

Have heard lots of crazy stuff when i've been on bus tours all over the world:eek:

[MGilly]

When we concluded a cruise and were in Vancouver, we had an upsetting experience at the airport. I was taken to a small room and told to drop my pants for the security agents so that they could see that I was not carrying any weapons or contraband. Later on, DH and I were selected for another security check and had to watch as the agent searched through our carry-on bags and sneakers. Did it affect our view of all Canadians? No. It provided us with a great story to tell once we returned home. Our take on things is this: when things do not go well (in fact they go really badly), rather than dwell on how horrible it is, we choose to laugh and savor the rediculousness of the situation. I mean really - there is no one on the planet who looks less like a terrorist than I do! But twice I was searched! How silly is that?!?

[relevart]

Don't sweat the small stuff. Don't worry about it, just think of it a part of the local color. I don't think it is worth complaining about. You could have asked the bus driver to just tell you about Vancouver.

[mr green]

Hey Poodlesnoot,

 

I'm a proud Canadian, and don't like being refered to " A Typical Canadian Socalist Rant""

 

Vancouver is a beautiful city, and i'm sure that the Driver was just chatting away.

 

Have heard lots of crazy stuff when i've been on bus tours all over the world:eek:

 

As a Canadian I agree with this posting, and I would suggest to Poodlesnoot that he should not criticize a Canadian, or anyone else from any other country, until persons in the U.S.A. are deemed perfect. I like the vast majority of the Americans that I have met, but it is my opinion that his 'holier than thou' attitude, tends to make others resentful of those from the U.S.A. john

[NorcalGuy]

We had the same experience in St. Thomas on a snorkelling excursion. The person in charge of the excursion spent much of time ranting about politics, and complaining that they really don't make much money from the cruiselines. We were irritated and did not tip, but we didn't let it ruin or vacation.

That IS an effective way to complain and I have done it a few times. I don't want to hear about other peoples political views on vacation, especially from an employee of something I am paying for! They should really be smarter than that. It's amazing how people screw themselves and don't have a clue they are doing it. Maybe that bus driver missed out on a few tips huh?

[Grumm]

To complain EFFECTIVELY, do so OBJECTIVELY, but most important of all,:cool: HAVE SOMETHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT!!

[spongerob]

What I've never understood is why any of this is "political". It's the name-calling and false labeling that prevents a solution. Politicizing any issue makes it impossible to consider all points of view.

 

Contrary to what is being taught as "fact" today, global warming has been going on for the last 10,000 years or so. It was just that recently that a good chunk of the northern hemisphere was covered in ice. If you read the story in the rocks, you also know that the world has at times been much warmer than it is today - long before humans had a hand in anything.

 

Anyway, we won't be fighting wars over oil in the future. Water is going to be the stuff worth fighting for.

[Fantazy]

To complain EFFECTIVELY, do so OBJECTIVELY, but most important of all,:cool: HAVE SOMETHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT!!

 

Exactly

[Northender]

Maybe we can end this by somehow letting the driver know that he should be happy to have Starbucks all around and he did not have to drink Princess Coffee for a week or 10days :D

 

 

"As a Canadian I agree with this posting, and I would suggest to Poodlesnoot that he should not criticize a Canadian, or anyone else from any other country, until persons in the U.S.A. are deemed perfect. I like the vast majority of the Americans that I have met, but it is my opinion that his 'holier than thou' attitude, tends to make others resentful of those from the U.S.A. john"

 

John, I am sorry that you are meeting American's with the holier than thou attitude but we get to live with them all the time. :(

[land lover]

Northender...... love both your comments......and you're from MA and I from CA surprising UH?:)

[mr green]

Maybe we can end this by somehow letting the driver know that he should be happy to have Starbucks all around and he did not have to drink Princess Coffee for a week or 10days :D

 

 

"As a Canadian I agree with this posting, and I would suggest to Poodlesnoot that he should not criticize a Canadian, or anyone else from any other country, until persons in the U.S.A. are deemed perfect. I like the vast majority of the Americans that I have met, but it is my opinion that his 'holier than thou' attitude, tends to make others resentful of those from the U.S.A. john"

 

John, I am sorry that you are meeting American's with the holier than thou attitude but we get to live with them all the time. :(

 

Point taken, we all have our problems. :) john