Can Someone Clear Up a Cruise Critic Term For Me Please

[Dobby_The_Ship_Elf]

I have only cruised in the South Pacific/Australia seascape.

 

I have seen several comments within posts on Cruise Critic where people mention the effects/affects of 'asianisation' of ships.

 

As the China market is now more financially attractive to the cruise companies I wonder what the changes are.

 

Can someone please explain what this term means without breaching the rules of polite CC conversation.

 

I am just interested in what the actual physical differences are not what the people (human) differences are.

 

Also is there a boundary, how far does the asianisation geographic go before it is fully asian Singapore, Vietnam, Japan etc??

 

[Bodogbodog]

Sounds like not so subtle racism and a generalisation to me (not on your behalf Dobby but to those using it on other threads) - but I'm sure some will spin it as a cultural difference that is quite "normal"

 

I will add that Japan is not really Asia - mind you "Asia" isn't an accurate descriptor of a single culture - it varies quite significantly

[SinbadThePorter]

Sounds like not so subtle racism and a generalisation to me (not on your behalf Dobby but to those using it on other threads) - but I'm sure some will spin it as a cultural difference that is quite "normal"

 

I never took it to be quite that sinister. Here are some prior references to it:

 

http://www.aseancruising.com/asianisation-cruise-ship/

 

http://www.cruiseandtravelasia.com/princess-cruises-asianised-ships/

 

I always thought it just meant an emphasis on the casino, more asian food options and a relaxed attitude to smoking.

 

As to where it applies, I'd guess mainly China. Due to the economic clout of the market there and possibly because Chinese passengers like to cruise with certain familiar themes.

 

Rather like the way Australian ships are Australianised with $A, different gratuity policies, looser casual wear definitions and different menu options.

Edited January 29, 2017 by SinbadThePorter

[Kiwi Kruzer]

I never took it to be quite that sinister. Here are some prior references to it:

 

http://www.aseancruising.com/asianisation-cruise-ship/

 

http://www.cruiseandtravelasia.com/princess-cruises-asianised-ships/

 

I always thought it just meant an emphasis on the casino, more asian food options and a relaxed attitude to smoking.

 

As to where it applies, I'd guess mainly China. Due to the economic clout of the market there and possibly because Chinese passengers like to cruise with certain familiar themes.

 

Rather like the way Australian ships are Australianised with $A, different gratuity policies, looser casual wear definitions and different menu options.

 

,,,,,and Italian ships are Italianised, American, Americanised, English ships Anglicised etc etc.

[MicCanberra]

I always thought it just meant an emphasis on the casino, more asian food options and a relaxed attitude to smoking.

 

As to where it applies, I'd guess mainly China. Due to the economic clout of the market there and possibly because Chinese passengers like to cruise with certain familiar themes.

 

Rather like the way Australian ships are Australianised with $A, different gratuity policies, looser casual wear definitions and different menu options.

 

Not entirely racist although it really depends on the individual's message. I think you are on the money with your analysis, as in what you have suggested.

In my experience, the casino and buffet get more of a work out the MDR and bars not so much.

Example 1, when on the Explorer of the Seas, the bar tender was telling us that for the Asian season she was in the Casino and the Aussie season she is at the bar.

Example 2, when on the Ovation of the Seas, the Diamond lounge has cameras everywhere as it becomes the high rollers casino room for the Asian season. There is a much higher percentage of Chinese staff members in all areas of the ship.

[MicCanberra]

,,,,,and Italian ships are Italianised, American, Americanised, English ships Anglicised etc etc.

 

Agreed,

but does that make the German ships, germicidal?

[GUT2407]

I remember when at least some lines would Australianise (did I make that word up) there ships for the Aussiemarket, I guess in some ways they still do.

 

A few examples are the menu, though differences don't seem as great as they once did. I noticed on our 2015 cruise they had beetroot at the burger grill, the Yanks were astounded, the Aussies excited.

 

The beer, last cruise the F&B director told us they bring on 50-100% more beer than normal and keep it colder.

 

Made a big thing of Melbourne Cup day, (totally Buggered their attempt at a BBQ and lamingtons but made an effort)

 

So really they were little things.

[MicCanberra]

Most ships try and cater for the majority of the passengers and for the special landmark type days. :D

[Kiwi Kruzer]

I remember when at least some lines would Australianise (did I make that word up) there ships for the Aussiemarket, I guess in some ways they still do.

 

A few examples are the menu, though differences don't seem as great as they once did. I noticed on our 2015 cruise they had beetroot at the burger grill, the Yanks were astounded, the Aussies excited.

 

The beer, last cruise the F&B director told us they bring on 50-100% more beer than normal and keep it colder.

 

Made a big thing of Melbourne Cup day, (totally Buggered their attempt at a BBQ and lamingtons but made an effort)

 

So really they were little things.

 

...and in the 24 tea and coffee section they swap the green tea bags for ordinary tea bags.

When Dawn Princess was first Australianised they ran out of tea bags on her first cruise.:eek:

[MicCanberra]

...and in the 24 tea and coffee section they swap the green tea bags for ordinary tea bags.

When Dawn Princess was first Australianised they ran out of tea bags on her first cruise.:eek:

 

That is bad but the Solstice ran out of beer (all beer) after 3 days at sea out of Hawaii and had to restock in Tahiti.:eek:

[The_Big_M]

The above are some of the more PC changes. Another is substantial changes in the Buffet especially and also MDRs. For most westerners the buffet is to be avoided on Chinese cruises.

 

Culturally, the experience onboard is also ... different. Lastly, the operations are different due to the current nature of the market.

[celle]

The above are some of the more PC changes. Another is substantial changes in the Buffet especially and also MDRs. For most westerners the buffet is to be avoided on Chinese cruises.

 

Culturally, the experience onboard is also ... different. Lastly, the operations are different due to the current nature of the market.

 

I beg to differ. While there are various Asian food options in the buffet, there is still a good selection of "European" food.

 

 

I have done cruises to China, Japan, S. Korea, Viet Nam. English was still the main longuage used on board, even on the cruise where over 50% of passengers were Japanese.

 

The changes are minor and nothing to be worried about.

[shireboi]

I have only cruised in the South Pacific/Australia seascape.

 

I have seen several comments within posts on Cruise Critic where people mention the effects/affects of 'asianisation' of ships.

 

 

 

There is the obvious 'asianisation' of a ship - the Ovation being our most recent example.

 

Signs are in both English and Chinese - though, in the main they are in English for all video screens / cruise compasses, advertising.

 

(Strangely enough - the muster call on Ovation has every other language BARRING asian ones in it's presentation !!!)

 

I was chatting to one of the Snr staff in the Windjammer - and I was remarking on 'why' the back sections were created as they were (so far away from the food section) - they get to be used for more 'hot pot' styled eating options for the 'asian market', and the menu changes for that market (* though I must add that an Oct trip on Voyager from HK-Singapore - the buffet wasn't 'asian' at all - mainly Western given the large % of Aussies, UK, USA residents that were on this cruise)

[Gwendy]

You forgot the toilets on the Diamond Princess! On our last RCI cruise the buffet had an Asian section, I think it was called Jade, I ate there most lunch times, yum.

On a Celebrity cruise they had Chinese New Year in full glory for the Chinese contingent on board and then the big football match for the Americans, with hot dogs and the big screen in the theatre.

Being culturally diverse or just loving a party, I took part in both.

[The_Big_M]

I beg to differ. While there are various Asian food options in the buffet, there is still a good selection of "European" food.

 

All depends which cruise line and where based. I was referring to those based and home ported out of China.

 

It sounds like you're referring to those which visit e.g. Celebrity, which are quite different and as you say will maintain the usual assortment, with local offerings as they do in each region.

[MicCanberra]

Being culturally diverse or just loving a party, I took part in both.

 

That is the best thing to do, go with the flow and make the most of what the cruise can offer.

[windsor26]

On the Sun Princess they took away the bar and seating aarea before the photo gallery and turned it into a sushi bar They also changed the menus quite a lot changing to more chinse and japanese cuisine

 

I noted the sushi bar was rarely used - particullaly as there was a charge:)

[shireboi]

oh.. I forgot the almost 'Asianisation' on Ovation.....

 

KU FUNG PANDA noodle bar......

 

Yes... we all ignored it - it was empty - no one was in there - barring anyone wanting a seat out of the bad weather.

 

Paying for that crap...... no thanks

[GUT2407]

On the Sun Princess they took away the bar and seating aarea before the photo gallery and turned it into a sushi bar They also changed the menus quite a lot changing to more chinse and japanese cuisine

 

I noted the sushi bar was rarely used - particullaly as there was a charge:)

 

We spent 34 days on Diamond Princess, didn't see anyone in Sushi Bar ever. They could have put some Aussie food in their, even used it for the steakhouse rather than tucking that away in the back of the Horizontal Court.

[MicCanberra]

oh.. I forgot the almost 'Asianisation' on Ovation.....

 

KU FUNG PANDA noodle bar......

 

Yes... we all ignored it - it was empty - no one was in there - barring anyone wanting a seat out of the bad weather.

 

Paying for that crap...... no thanks

 

That is because the food was terrible, word spread quickly, especially as you had to pay for it.

[cheznandy]

The Sapphire Princess sails from Singapore and is chartered to China I think for half the year. I am quite sure there have not been the changes they made on the Sun and Diamond.

We sailed on Sapphire from Singapore in 2015, there was Alfredos, International Cafe, no changes I could see, perhaps a few more Asian dishes on the menu, but we love Asian food so no complaints:)

 

So they have made permanant changes on Diamond which usually spends half the year here, and Sun which spends most of the time here, but the Sapphire has been in Asia for a few years.....who knows why they do what they do.

 

The Majestic has been designed and fitted for the Asian market so I have read on the Princess board.

 

Are you thinking of an Asia cruise Dobby?

[Dobby_The_Ship_Elf]

Are you thinking of an Asia cruise Dobby?

 

oh oh ... who's stalking who now LOL

 

Me???? I would go anywhere on a cruise but you know Mrs Elf is not super keen on mega hot weather, and has her dietary issues regarding asian tucker, the question was just that we had heard 'things' about what happens on ships in that region that perhaps we would need to be prepared for if we decided to experience a cruise in that region

[Cassalou]

We were on Legend of the Seas last April which was then heading to Asia.. The main changes I saw were in the casino .. Taking out poker tables to put in baccarat tables and i believe the casino was going to allow smoking

[MrYellowDuck]

There are more security staff on itineraries that attract a good number of Australians. Passengers who don't stay up all night drinking won't see them.

 

As you move into the core Asian market the shops start selling much higher quality merchandise. On a Princess cruise we did Singapore to Japan the main shop that normally sells junk had been converted to sell mid-range designer goods from brands like Burberry; prices were very good at around 30% less than shore prices.