What is old

[chengkp75]

I love old ships, and in the 90's and early 2000s I had the chance to go on a number of them; SS Independence, SS Norway, and the SS Rembrandt.

 

That last one had been the SS Rotterdam with HAL, but had been sold to Premier cruise lines and renamed. It was the best example of how ships used to look on the inside; especially the distinction between 1st and 2nd class. While the Rembrandt was single class, you could still see how the 2 classes had been separated. It also showed how ships decour evolved; most of the public spaces were traditionally styled, but one of the lounges felt like you were walking into the middle of a mid century nuclear reactor!

 

Dores any one know if the MV Azores is still sailing? She was built in 1948 as the Stockholm (yes - the one that collided with the Andria Doria)?

 

Aloha,

 

John

 

I believe she will shortly re-enter service in April, after a refit and a charter, under Portuscale Cruises.

[BruceMuzz]

I suspect your years of service have left you affected by the vocal minority of complainers, and not the silent majority of folks who like to sail the older, smaller ships. These ships would not continue to exist if there wasn't such a group of people willing (and eager) to sail on them. A Princess staffer told me years ago that it's the larger, newer ships subsidizing the older and smaller ones of the fleet, despite the usually higher fare to sail on them. I'm sure Princess management would rather get ride of them. But a certain group like them and choose to sail on them.

 

I can assure you I love the smaller ships. And neither you nor anyone else heard me scream when my cabin on an old (1973) small ship was flooded last year on my return from dinner. Why did I not get upset? Because the situation was dealt with so well. There was no hesitation -- the hotel manager was waiting for me, he immediately told me I was being moved to a different cabin, and with the assistance of several staff I was completely transferred within a half hour.

 

This never seems to happen anymore on "newer, bigger" ships. There is no ability to make a decision/take action without consulting 8 levels of management and the home office first.

 

So....not only was there no screaming, but I have booked two more cruises (in addition to four already completed) on this little, old ship with no casino, no production shows, no specialty dining, and one small pool. Long may she cruise the seas.

 

Actually, I am on a smaller, older ship this week.

I love them as well.

 

From the previous voyage, we received over 1,000 written complaints about vibration, rusty tap water, flooded cabins, no hot water, poor A/C, dated decor, worn carpets and furnishings, renovation going on during the cruise, paint smells, sewage smells, toilets not flushing, telephones not working, slow internet, no internet, galley noise, waiting too long to go ashore and return. The list goes on and on.

 

Over 1,000 written complaints is nearly one per passenger. That is not a "vocal minority".

The "vocal minority" was the 50 + passengers in my office screaming about these problems. They claimed that they loved small ships too. Maybe they just like to scream a lot.

 

As for responding to those complaints, there is no ability to make a decision/take action on this small ship either - without consulting 8 levels of management and the home office first.

Edited April 10, 2014 by BruceMuzz

[cruisemom42]

 

From the previous voyage, we received over 1,000 written complaints about vibration, rusty tap water, flooded cabins, no hot water, poor A/C, dated decor, worn carpets and furnishings, renovation going on during the cruise, paint smells, sewage smells, toilets not flushing, telephones not working, slow internet, no internet, galley noise, waiting too long to go ashore and return. The list goes on and on.

 

I'm curious whether by "complaint" you mean they were simply making you aware of a problem? If I experience a problem, I would certainly make someone aware of it. I wouldn't consider that a "complaint."

 

 

Over 1,000 written complaints is nearly one per passenger. That is not a "vocal minority".

The "vocal minority" was the 50 + passengers in my office screaming about these problems. They claimed that they loved small ships too. Maybe they just like to scream a lot.

 

If there were more than 1,000 passengers on your ship, I wouldn't actually consider it small. It's certainly not the same size I'm talking about.

 

As for responding to those complaints, there is no ability to make a decision/take action on this small ship either - without consulting 8 levels of management and the home office first.

 

When a smaller ship is part of a mass-market line, I guess that is true. Shame, really.

 

I'm curious how you account for the high return passenger rate on smaller ships, if you think people complain so much about being on them?