What would you recommend a cruise company do in the future?

[sail7seas]

Where's OP?

I'd like to hear some comments/reactions to our suggestions. :)

[5326jan]

Small coffee maker or kettle in each cabin. Both auto off after water is hot.... which is no more than 90 seconds. They are in hotels and you never hear of a hotel that catches fire because of them. My flat iron gets hotter and stays on longer than a kettle or one cup coffee maker.

[YubaSutter]

Also, make some ships 100% non-smoking

 

Carnival tried that years back and failed.

[sail7seas]

Carnival tried that years back and failed.

 

 

That needs to be put a bit in context, IMO

 

Carnival's Paradise sailed for about ten years as a totally smoke free ship. There were severe penalties for violators.

It was a very different time in society and there was far more tolerance for smokers then vs now.

 

Carnival also barely changed the itinerary on that ship.

It got older and kept doing the 'same old'.

 

Today....... a smoke free ship would be very well received by many.

 

Today, the percentage of adult smokers in U.S. is about 20%. In the time span Paradise sailed, there was a far higher percentage of adult smokers.

 

So..... Carnival's experiment with a smoke free ship DID work. It sailed for almost ten years in a very different time when people put up with being surrounded by second hand smoke far more than they will permit today.

 

[YubaSutter]

 

Today, the percentage of adult smokers in U.S. is about 20%. In the time span Paradise sailed, there was a far higher percentage of adult smokers.

 

 

 

 

Although the % of smokers has decreased, the number of smokers in the US has remained about the same due to the population increase.

[ducklite]

Although the % of smokers has decreased, the number of smokers in the US has remained about the same due to the population increase.

 

The number of smokers is irrelevant. What matter is the number of smokers who cruise. Those numbers seem to be on the decline.

 

 

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[kcwingwalker]

No, they equal higher fares, something which I can live with.

 

 

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You are correct, but when I say less profit it also means higher fares.

[Gloria Mundi]

No, they (small ships, etc.) equal higher fares, something which I can live with.

 

 

Yes, most of this comes down to money. I believe that most of the PVSA provisions apply to ships not flagged in the US. Of course, there are few US-flagged ships- they'd have to pay by US standards and the employees are subject to Worker's Comp under USL&H laws, which can be expensive. The line we take is US-flagged and very small. It's also expensive. It's worth it to us.

 

We actually enjoyed the kids on our cruise even though we're older (60 and 75). They were bright, curious, and kept up a running poker game in the lounge every night. All of them took the Polar Plunge off the ship, some multiple times It would have been a little duller without them. I think that the cruise was expensive enough that only parents whose kids would enjoy that type of trip brought them.

 

I've never been on the big ships but from what I read here my reply would be "get rid of all the rules about bringing your own alcohol on board". Yeah, I know that would raise the price, too because alcohol is a big profit center.

Edited November 23, 2013 by Gloria Mundi

[Sherlock43031]

Also, make some ships 100% non-smoking and schedule a few cruises a year as adults-only and non-smoking.

 

If older ships will still be operating, please update the decors!

 

 

have the occasional cruise for adults only.. smoking permitted anywhere except the cabins and in-door dining facilities. adult comedians, etc.. in the theater. mature movies (not porn) R's and PG-13's include a couple of over-night port calls. (med)

[Oppalopa]

Hi Everyone

 

I am visiting a major cruise company's offices in the UK soon. If you could recommend any one thing that an individual cruise company could do that would work for its customers and its shareholders what would it be?

 

How would you advise them on how to succeed? You're the experts on cruises after all.

 

All thoughts gratefully received.

 

Thanks

 

Mav

Stop charging outragious single supplements.

[ducklite]

have the occasional cruise for adults only.. smoking permitted anywhere except the cabins and in-door dining facilities. adult comedians, etc.. in the theater. mature movies (not porn) R's and PG-13's include a couple of over-night port calls. (med)

 

There are ships that already make overnight port calls, and ships with more mature entertainment.

 

As far as smoking, the stench lingers forever in fabrics and carpet and paint. The majority don't want smoking, and spend their money with the ships the have restrictive policies. The line would have to charge an extra $1000 or more per person to replace and/or clean/paint everything that the smell of smoke was clinging to. Is smoking indoors really worth that much to you?

 

 

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[ducklite]

Stop charging outragious single supplements.

 

My thought on this is that a few weeks before the sailing, ships should open bookings to singles at either no, or maybe a 10-15% single supplement. It seems that making the nut on the empty cabin would be a better option than letting it go empty.

 

 

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[Sherlock43031]

There are ships that already make overnight port calls, and ships with more mature entertainment.

 

As far as smoking, the stench lingers forever in fabrics and carpet and paint. The majority don't want smoking, and spend their money with the ships the have restrictive policies. The line would have to charge an extra $1000 or more per person to replace and/or clean/paint everything that the smell of smoke was clinging to. Is smoking indoors really worth that much to you?

 

 

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if it would keep some of the folks on here off of it.. it would be worth every penny.

 

by far the biggest waste of valuable space on the SOS was the Safari club. Very nice old school night club layout and it was empty every night. walking through another lounge to get to it probably didn't help. They could turn it into an old school vegas type night club (with smoking) with good ventilation the smoke would go no where but out. with assorted entertainment and dancing and it would be packed. there is no reason to go there unless it's your destination as it's the far back of the bus and on the way to no where. during the dinner hour let folks order from any specialty restaurant at the same premium charge and enjoy a show.

[YubaSutter]

The number of smokers is irrelevant. What matter is the number of smokers who cruise. Those numbers seem to be on the decline.

 

 

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Uh, OK. I suppose the statistic of the decline of smokers who cruise was a poll you took in your own mind?

[nascargalinfla]

Some of the European lines do this (I believe Concordia was doing one of those cruises where you could get on at a number of different ports in January 2012). Thanks to the pesky PVSA most US cruises would not qualify to do this.

 

Its not only the European lines... NCL is doing this on the Spirit next month, board in Malaga or board two days later in Barcelona, get off at the same port you board 9 days later. Big difference in pricing as well.

[05mak05]

My irritant is with Royal Caribbean's loyalty program and complimentary upgrades. The policy states one thing and yet they do another. We are Diamond Plus and have never had an upgrade although several of the ships we've cruised on were under booked. Last May, the Oasis had sufficient vacant JS's and suites to give all loyalty members an upgrade. Nope, we were passed over again (and should have been within the top 10 to be upgraded). We were in a D4 balcony and paid for 3 additional D4s as our family was sailing with us. Because we usually book multiple staterooms at our expense, booking a suite usually puts us over the budget. To add insult to injury, a first time cruiser out of Florida was able to book a D1 midship balcony cheaper than we were as our resident state is Texas and Texans didn't quality for the savings. Now that makes no sense whatsoever. So, my message to the cruise lines would be to live up to what they state in their loyalty promises rather than passing out upgrades on a helter skelter basis. Rant complete :-)