Asia Cruises - what is the nationality of passengers

[ldubs]

We were on Princess Diamond (Beijing to Singapore) a couple of years ago. Passengers were predominately English speaking. We did not notice any change to ship's policy because of the location. There may have been more Asian inspired foods -- can't really recall for certain. You will not have to worry about making any cultural-style adjustments. Just like any cruise full of diverse passengers/crew, follow the golden rule and you will have a great time.

[BonnieJB]

I would hope that the cruise line would offer a selection of foods more in line with what is popular with the people from that region. When we have cruised on Princess, and they seem to do a good job of that, but Royal Caribbean sticks with a more limited but consistent menu. I think this approach would be comforting to those who want the same foods regardless of where they are cruising, but disappointing to those who are looking for a more culturally relevant experience.

[swsfrail]

I would hope that the cruise line would offer a selection of foods more in line with what is popular with the people from that region. When we have cruised on Princess, and they seem to do a good job of that, but Royal Caribbean sticks with a more limited but consistent menu. I think this approach would be comforting to those who want the same foods regardless of where they are cruising, but disappointing to those who are looking for a more culturally relevant experience.

 

I consider the ship as transportation, not as a culturally relevant experience. I go ashore to experience the local culture, because these are the actual places that are much more capable of showing me the wonders of their cultural heritage and diversity.

Edited February 3, 2014 by swsfrail

[8pawz]

A couple of months ago I read in a Princess magazine that the company was permanently stationing one or maybe two ships in Asia. The article stated that the ships would cater to the Asian market but I don't remember specifically what changes would be made. Clearly though Princess would have done some market research to determine what would attract the passengers it was seeking. Would think that language, food and even entertainment would be considered. Because of this I felt more comfortable booking a Holland cruise as I was assured that English for example would be the primary language. Good question OP.

[greatam]

However, when I'm on a cruise ship that is an American owned company, I expect the rules and policies they have put into place - and that are advertised as selling points - to stay in place no matter who is on board or where the ship is located. It is a matter of consistency, stability, and respect for passengers who book in part for the familiarity of the policies and features that company provides. When I am on the ship, I am not in a foreign country, but in a self contained world that should continue to be familiar, regardless of where it is docked.

 

You must have missed the fine print. RCCL announced almost two years ago they were going to produce a bunch of 5-7 day very short cruises SPECIFICALLY aimed at the Asian market primarily just from Singapore to Hong Kong. They were billed as "immersion" cruises. Those cruises were barely marketed in the USA. They also completely avoided discussing the smoking restrictions which are attached to cruises marketed primarily to Americans. If they would have, they would have turned off their designated customers in a hot second. And most Americans aren't going to fly all the way to Singapore or Hong Kong for a 5 day cruise with only about 1 port. They would stick to the Celebrity, Azamara, Holland and Princess 2 week cruises from Beijing to Singapore. So if you booked one of the Asian cruises DESIGNED for ASIANS and didn't read the fine print, that would be your fault if it was a smoke filled atmosphere.

 

They were designed almost like Star cruises but with more ambiance and entertainment instead of the main focus being gambling like Star cruises. Or take a Yantgze cruise on something other than Victoria (American owned) or a charter tour sponsored by OAT, National Geographic, A & K or a company that focuses on Americans and possibly Europeans.

 

As one who has spent considerable time working in China, SE Asia and particularly the Middle East for the last 8 years, between hookah cafes on every corner in most of the Middle East, a large majority of Middle Eastern and Chinese men who smoke any place and every place (business meetings look like 1950's pictures of smoky back room bootleg card games) and Pakistan/Malaysia and parts of Indonesia apparently never having heard that smoking may be bad for you, if you want to attract that demographic to your attraction, be it a cruise, a restaurant, a hookah cafe or something else, you can't very well ban smoking because no one will participate or spend their money. I will never forget the first time I landed at the Kuwait airport. It was totally smoke filled and the majority of men were smoking DIRECTLY under the NO SMOKING area signs. No one said a word. Thinking back on that first experience, I will just bet those No Smoking signs were put up to appease the large contingent (15-20,000 Americans-both military, DOD civilians and contractor) that work in Kuwait because the rules certainly aren't enforced by the Kuwaitis.

Edited February 3, 2014 by greatam

[greatam]

We haven't been "top dog on the block" for quite some time. We're 24th in education, 46 in quality of health care, 49th in life expectancy, 13th in quality of life, 13th in arts funding, 22nd in science scores, 24th in literacy, 27th in math, 178th in infant mortality, 4th in exports, 17th in happiness, 16th in workforce compensation, to name a few we should be excelling in.

 

Where we are "top dog" is in highest gun related deaths, highest cost of health care, most money spent on military, highest number of super rich, highest number of people in jail or prisons, highest obesity rate, highest in breast augmentation rates, most deaths by violence.

 

Yeah, we sure are the "TOP DOG". Unfortunately, in all the wrong areas.

 

You know exactly what I meant. It wasn't meant as a political discussion. The USA is still the #1 Superpower in the world and we very often try to impose our will/mores/culture (including NO SMOKING) on countries or groups who have no interest.

[greatam]

A couple of months ago I read in a Princess magazine that the company was permanently stationing one or maybe two ships in Asia. The article stated that the ships would cater to the Asian market but I don't remember specifically what changes would be made. Clearly though Princess would have done some market research to determine what would attract the passengers it was seeking. Would think that language, food and even entertainment would be considered. Because of this I felt more comfortable booking a Holland cruise as I was assured that English for example would be the primary language. Good question OP.

 

I hadn't read that about Princess. That is interesting. It only makes sense. Too many ships to continue depending on American and Europeans to fill them on a consistent basis. And with the billowing middle class in a lot of SE Asia who have money to spend and gambling a REAL biggie in the area (Steve Wynn makes more money in Macau than all his Vegas and other properties combined and is moving his world head quarters to Macau), Asia is truly an untapped market for short, more upscale cruises than Star cruises which have been around for quite a few years. Asians are NOT particularly interested in going to Saigon, Da Nang, Cambodia or ports the two week cruises aimed at the American/European markets go to. It hasn't been that many years when there was heavy fighting between the Chinese, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. And those bad feelings and hatred certain extend from the Vietnamese/Cambodian people towards the Chinese to this day.

 

Asians get dressed up in their finest (particularly the ladies), enjoy a show and spend a LOT of money in shipboard casinos. This is EXACTLY the profit center cruise lines can reap without a lot of expense.

 

So they have to use the ozone machines to clean the ship of smoke smell every trip?? That is how it was handled for years on all cruise ships.

[Sherlock43031]

if your cruise has a majority of Asians on board.. let us know how that no smoking policy worked out.