Expectations for Solstice

[The_Big_M]

Most cruise lines have been allocated a star rating by the cruise industry, this has been in place for quite a while.

 

No, not true at all. There is no 'industry-standard' cruise rating.

 

I have no problem with some ships being rated as 6 star or 5 star or even 3 star, as it gives you a comparison for pricing and ship board experience.

 

Only if there's a common standard - which there isn't.

 

Hence why you find the same ship with different ratings from different suppliers... and most people wouldn't know the difference.

[MicCanberra]

No, not true at all. There is no 'industry-standard' cruise rating.

 

 

 

Only if there's a common standard - which there isn't.

 

Hence why you find the same ship with different ratings from different suppliers... and most people wouldn't know the difference.

 

I didn't say there was a industry standard, I said that the cruise industry has allocated a star rating to cruise ships and lines, for example http://www.galaxsea.com/ratings.html. This has ratings from several sources.

I also think most people know the difference between something being 3 star or 5 star. Apart from looking at the prices, most people would expect a better ship and better cruise experience on the 5 star compared to the 3.:D

Edited November 10, 2013 by MicCanberra

[NSWP]

I thought the Berlitz ratings were the benchmark for cruise ship stardom?

Edited November 10, 2013 by NSWP

[sfpen66]

When doing research on a ship, I look at the Berlitz ratings and so far they are right on the money. A great resource before booking your cruise.

[NSWP]

When doing research on a ship, I look at the Berlitz ratings and so far they are right on the money. A great resource before booking your cruise.

Indeed, our library has the latest copy, I borrowed it twice. A great resource and unbiased.

[KarateMan]

I thought the Berlitz ratings were the benchmark for cruise ship stardom?

 

Have you ever read his books? You are talking about Douglas Ward the so called self appointed "world foremost authority on cruise ships"

 

One thing you can always guarantee with his books is Europa from Hapag Lloyd will always be the worlds top rated ship.

 

He comes across as a snob and will trash talk every lower demographic and mass market cruise ship in the world.

 

He hates Carnival passengers and their dress codes, he thinks people who "sport tattoos" should not be allowed to go on cruise ships. He describes the crew as better dressed than all the passengers on mass market lines.

 

He hates 3am phone calls from cruise directors informing him of the latest bingo jackpot.

 

One of his books was enough for me. The second was free of charge for something else I purchased. I simply do not pay attention to any of his writings now and the books remain as comedy/satirical material for boards such as theses.

[sfpen66]

NSWP,

My DH gets me the new one every year at Xmas. Just one of our cruise traditions for the holidays!

[MicCanberra]

Berlitz ratings, from a cruise specialist.

The Berlitz Cruise Guide expose the best and worst scoring cruise ships using an internationally accepted rating system devised by Douglas Ward, who is the most respected (and feared) critic in the business. The only source of independent star-ratings for virtually all ocean-going cruise ships worldwide, the guide takes into account a remarkable 400 separate items based on personal cruises, visits and revisits to ships, as well as observations and comments from Douglas’s team.

As mentioned, no matter who provides the ratings, it gives you a comparison for ship board experience and also the pricing.:D

[The_Big_M]

I didn't say there was a industry standard, I said that the cruise industry has allocated a star rating to cruise ships and lines, for example http://www.galaxsea.com/ratings.html. This has ratings from several sources.

 

You just said "the cruise industry has allocated a star rating" above!

 

However, as said, it's not an industry standard. Even the website you linked to says the same, straight off: "Ratings are very subjective by nature and using one number for a ship can be misleading"

and then

"Our ratings are summarized below under the column "GalaxSea" based on our personal experience and feedback from our clients."

And then they give 3 other ratings. Which is the point, that there are differing viewpoints - it's not an industry standard, or rating.

 

You can see that even for the Solstice group of ships, the ratings they have shown vary between 4 and 5.

 

I also think most people know the difference between something being 3 star or 5 star. Apart from looking at the prices, most people would expect a better ship and better cruise experience on the 5 star compared to the 3.:D

 

Yet as shown above, people are not getting that expectation. A rating needs to be definable, not just a subjective review. That becomes an opinion or review then, rather than you knowing what to expect.

Edited November 10, 2013 by The_Big_M

[The_Big_M]

As mentioned, no matter who provides the ratings, it gives you a comparison for ship board experience and also the pricing.:D

 

And if you want to follow him, he gives 4 stars to the Solstice group of ships, so that doesn't match the 5 star claim I referred to earlier.

 

Again, how can it be a standard when not everyone agrees.

 

He has his own rating system, but the ship is not "allocated a star rating by the cruise industry" as you previously said.

[ausguy73]

Have cruises the Solistice. Beautiful ship. I found the food excellent. Maay don't realise that RC and Celebrity are the same company. They buy everything in bulk from the same suppliers. Its the same food on all the RC and Celebrity ships just prepped differently by the chefs on board. This is how they can make profits and offer competitive pricing.

[KarateMan]

Have cruises the Solistice. Beautiful ship. I found the food excellent. Maay don't realise that RC and Celebrity are the same company. They buy everything in bulk from the same suppliers. Its the same food on all the RC and Celebrity ships just prepped differently by the chefs on board. This is how they can make profits and offer competitive pricing.

 

Just continuing on from your comment about sourcing products. All the lines have their favoured suppliers and they store all stock in warehouses in the country in which they primarily operate from. Only fresh vegetables and perishables like milk are bought from local suppliers. All food coming to Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, P&O is all send here from the US or UK via freight.

[MicCanberra]

And if you want to follow him, he gives 4 stars to the Solstice group of ships, so that doesn't match the 5 star claim I referred to earlier.

 

Again, how can it be a standard when not everyone agrees.

 

He has his own rating system, but the ship is not "allocated a star rating by the cruise industry" as you previously said.

Again I never mentioned a standard being used, just that ratings are given by the cruise industry (players). I pointed out a link which showed several differing ratings but the one thig they all do is show a comparison to each other.:D

[MicCanberra]

And if you want to follow him, he gives 4 stars to the Solstice group of ships, so that doesn't match the 5 star claim I referred to earlier.

 

Again, how can it be a standard when not everyone agrees.

 

He has his own rating system, but the ship is not "allocated a star rating by the cruise industry" as you previously said.

I think most people are using the ratings for comparison to each other and not as gospel.:D

[The_Big_M]

Again I never mentioned a standard being used, just that ratings are given by the cruise industry (players).

 

If ratings are given that are not a standard, then that will obviously serve to confuse people and give wrong expectations, which proves my point. :D

[The_Big_M]

I think most people are using the ratings for comparison to each other and not as gospel.:D

 

When a ship is given a rating in isolation, and as you agreed earlier that there is no standard, so the ratings vary, then it means that people aren't able to compare. :D

[MicCanberra]

When a ship is given a rating in isolation, and as you agreed earlier that there is no standard, so the ratings vary, then it means that people aren't able to compare. :D

Of course they can compare. A 5 star rating is better than 4 star ratin, which is better than 3 star rating, the next lot of ratings may have the same ships rated as 6,5,and 4 respectively, and as such it doesn't matter who does the ratings, people can still know which is rated higher.:D

Edited November 10, 2013 by MicCanberra

[The_Big_M]

Of course they can compare. A 5 star rating is better than 4 star ratin, which is better than 3 star rating, the next lot of ratings may have the same ships rated as 6,5,and 4 respectively, and as such it doesn't matter who does the ratings, people can still know which is rated higher.:D

 

Not when it's advertised in isolation. Ads just say 5 star liner. Without comparison or explaining what that means - since there's no standard.

 

And then people have their own expectation of what that means, but come back disappointed that it's actually similar what they saw with another 4 star liner... or in some cases think a 3 star liner is better. :D

[MicCanberra]

Not when it's advertised in isolation. Ads just say 5 star liner. Without comparison or explaining what that means - since there's no standard.

 

And then people have their own expectation of what that means, but come back disappointed that it's actually similar what they saw with another 4 star liner... or in some cases think a 3 star liner is better. :D

but who gave them those ratings?:confused:

[Gerko]

Blame cruise lines who throw words like 5 star and luxury randomly around and give people higher expectations that they should have. If a 3 star motel in Wagga called itself a luxury 5 star resort it would get in trouble but I've seen cruise ships that have just scraped into 3 star referring to themselves that way. Advertising I receive from HAL regularly refers to their ships as 5 star, which they are not. When I pointed out to them once that Berlitz gives them 4 stars they said that whilst the cabins, food, entertainment, etc might all be 4 star individually, they believeed their overall experience was 5 star! What a crock. If everything is individually 4 star then put together its still 4 star. I've only sailed on Solstice once, with another coming up in Jan, but I thought it was definitely classier than RCI, Princess, HAL and P & O and I'm pretty confident the other 53 people coming with me in Jan will agree.

[MicCanberra]

Blame cruise lines who throw words like 5 star and luxury randomly around and give people higher expectations that they should have. If a 3 star motel in Wagga called itself a luxury 5 star resort it would get in trouble but I've seen cruise ships that have just scraped into 3 star referring to themselves that way. Advertising I receive from HAL regularly refers to their ships as 5 star, which they are not. When I pointed out to them once that Berlitz gives them 4 stars they said that whilst the cabins, food, entertainment, etc might all be 4 star individually, they believeed their overall experience was 5 star! What a crock. If everything is individually 4 star then put together its still 4 star. I've only sailed on Solstice once, with another coming up in Jan, but I thought it was definitely classier than RCI, Princess, HAL and P & O and I'm pretty confident the other 53 people coming with me in Jan will agree.

I certainly do.:D

Edited November 11, 2013 by MicCanberra

[The_Big_M]

but who gave them those ratings?:confused:

 

That's the point. Anyone and everyone who feels like it does, each with their own rating values - which may well just be a single personal 'gut feel.'

[MicCanberra]

That's the point. Anyone and everyone who feels like it does, each with their own rating values - which may well just be a single personal 'gut feel.'

 

Can't trust any of those pesky travel agents, cruiselines, travel writers or cruise specialists to get a decent rating for use as a comparison.:rolleyes:

Edited November 11, 2013 by MicCanberra

[The_Big_M]

Can't expect passengers to research the bona fides and credentials of their ratings providers to understand the details of what has gone into a rating.

 

Is it any wonder people get the 'wrong expectation.' :rolleyes:

[KarateMan]

I don't think anyone should listen to anyone else's review. I do not write reviews of ships and think others should not review them either.

 

I don't go much on Berlitz and Douglas Ward. I have no respect or regard for what he says about cruise lines and ships given his condescending disrespect for mass market lines. He is heavily biased towards luxury lines, lives in the past, is against modern safety measures (YES I have seen him criticise fire compartments and muster stations describing them as disjointed and lacking connection - fire/flood barricade) and constantly makes mistakes about ships specific details.

 

I don't agree with what this person has said about Celebrity as it was not my experience of Celebrity at all. I was on the same cruise as another member who has posted a similar negative review. Unfortunately no two people can like the same things. Obviously the person who I was on the same cruise as did not like it and it did not meet his expectations. It did meet mine and I was happy with Celebrity and would go again.

 

Star rating I could not care less about. I have stayed at several land based 5 star hotels and no cruise ship in the world could match the land based hotel standard I am used to. The standard inside/outside cabins on your average P&O/Princess/Carnival/Royal Caribbean ship would easily match the rooms of a 3 star hotel like a Formule 1 or Ibis brand.

 

The best people can do with cruising is go with an open mind and do and enjoy the things you like best. I have been on cruise ships I have not been impressed with and still had a good time.

 

If cruise lines want a real star rating they should submit to the same standards as land based hotels. Until such time people should ignore any review about the ships they see.