Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

A question for the "old school" cruisers

CruisingNole

By CruisingNole,
in Royal Caribbean International

 Share

Recommended Posts

Sorcerer Tim

Sorcerer Tim

Posted
Posted

We went on the Norway in 1985 or so and I hated it so much I did not go on a cruise for the next 18 years. It felt small, there was very little to do, the food was good, but all together for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I was in my mid-teens then and remembered how boring it was at night and how cramped things seemed. The big deal was an indoor pool, which was pretty neat, but it was seawater and rather chilly. The good news is my parents took all of us since we were unemployed (see age above) and my guess is they spent thousands of dollars for the two ocean view cabins they had for us all. We had midnight buffets, formal dress and such, but I was a little young to appreciate it and what they have on Oasis class ships for kids that age is far, far better than what they had back then. I do not think I would ever have gone again had my father-in-law not treated us to a 3 (maybe 4) night cruise on the Sovereign many years later. It was a lot of fun in our tiny ocean view cabin and it revived my interest. Subsequent cruises have only heightened my enjoyment of them. It is odd sailing with 6,000 other people on the Oasis class ships we almost exclusively go on now, but nothing beats pulling up to the pier and catching that first glimpse! I am glad cruising has evolved and given us so many neat things to do at sea and stayed as affordable or as expensive as one chooses. Sail on!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
topnole

topnole

Posted
Posted
We went on the Norway in 1985 or so and I hated it so much I did not go on a cruise for the next 18 years. It felt small, there was very little to do, the food was good, but all together for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I was in my mid-teens then and remembered how boring it was at night and how cramped things seemed. The big deal was an indoor pool, which was pretty neat, but it was seawater and rather chilly. The good news is my parents took all of us since we were unemployed (see age above) and my guess is they spent thousands of dollars for the two ocean view cabins they had for us all. We had midnight buffets, formal dress and such, but I was a little young to appreciate it and what they have on Oasis class ships for kids that age is far, far better than what they had back then. I do not think I would ever have gone again had my father-in-law not treated us to a 3 (maybe 4) night cruise on the Sovereign many years later. It was a lot of fun in our tiny ocean view cabin and it revived my interest. Subsequent cruises have only heightened my enjoyment of them. It is odd sailing with 6,000 other people on the Oasis class ships we almost exclusively go on now, but nothing beats pulling up to the pier and catching that first glimpse! I am glad cruising has evolved and given us so many neat things to do at sea and stayed as affordable or as expensive as one chooses. Sail on!

 

I did Norway with my folks in about 1985 as well as a young teenager. We loved it though and thought the ship was massive. It was probably pretty boring stuff compared to today but it was cool just being on a ship for us. I seem to recall saying it was about $2000 for four of us in an ocean view cabin (tiny porthole). The room was huge. My folks usually crammed us in with them because the third and fourth were often really cheap back then.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
jamesr3939

jamesr3939

Posted
Posted
The year before we sailed on the Grand ole Lady The SS Norway ( again no balcony at that time) ..

 

That was the first ship we took our kids on. I loved that ship, so much history. I was still getting lost on the last day from all the dead end stairways and hallways.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
George C

George C

Posted
Posted

Norway was one of the great ships in the 80’s was the largest ship, until sovereign came out then it added a deck so it was a little larger, sailed her 7 times including honeymoon in 1991 we were in one of the new junior suites which was added, it had a cool disco which overlooked bottom of the pool and you could see people swimming via port holes.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
topnole

topnole

Posted
Posted
Norway was one of the great ships in the 80’s was the largest ship, until sovereign came out then it added a deck so it was a little larger, sailed her 7 times including honeymoon in 1991 we were in one of the new junior suites which was added, it had a cool disco which overlooked bottom of the pool and you could see people swimming via port holes.

 

Yeah the disco was right below the aft pool. Breakfast buffet on the aft pool deck as I recall. No other cruise ship was near her size and many were literally half her length or less. You could really get lost on that ship. Norway was a beauty. Wish she was still around. I would pay a good bit to sail her again.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Got Out There

Got Out There

Posted
Posted

I have a completely different view on cruising in the good old days.... we were young (first cruise in early 80’s) and to be honest our life style was pretty simple. In fact a big night out was to a restaurant like a TGIFs (Friday’s). Also we seldom dressed up outside of work when we went out.

 

So we are young and go on our first cruise back then and we were blown away by the experience. Each night we dressed up or you were turned away at the dinning room. The food was great but to be honest it is probably similar to what you get now. It just seemed grander because we were so young.

 

In fact I think most people would be disappointed if they cruised on one of the 80s era ships today, even if somehow it was new today.

 

For breakfast and dinner you only had one option; the dining room. Lunch there was a grill type restaurant up on deck or you ate in the dinning room.

 

The shows were quite simple....if they offered like that type of entertainment today people would be screaming their dissatisfaction.

 

Accommodations were simple at best, even the suites. Same with the decor throughout the ship.. basic and simple.

 

The price was more then without adjusting for today’s pricing.

 

I have great memories of cruising in the good old days but would not trade today’s experience and value for going back in time and that experience.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
uncleboo

uncleboo

Posted
Posted

hi I have been cruising for over 26 years. The prices have not went up that much but the level of service and other included amenities are no longer thereIt is more nickel and dining people

No more Midnight buffets

In the old days the price of drinks were reasonable we didn’t have these drink packages that overly priced nor speciality restaurants a coffee bar

The level of activities also dropped there used to be more employees on the ship to do daily trivia is dancing and other free fun activities to do now everything is about making the buck

It is still a good value for your money you get three meals a day entertainment, but nothing like before before we had ordered some for you like someone else mentioned used to make nice things it was fun. Now all they want our people to go to the spa Casino, gift shop, specialty restaurants, excursions, and of course all the bars they have . They have new activities now that they called an activity which is

Just a way to make money

Bingo art auction etc

I gave heard and seen folks get off the ship with very huge bills

 

 

It happens easily they get the keycard and charge charge charge

 

 

I would prefer to pay a bit more and have all included

 

 

Johnny rockets used to be free

Then they charged $3.95 then the charge went to $6.95 now$9.95

 

 

That’s alit for a burger fries

When you can go to the grill and get a burger

 

 

 

 

Some folks or pay any price for anything and that’s on them but most people feel they paid for the trip and they don’t want to pay a whole bunch of extra prices even then it’s vacation so the cruise lines will take advantage of the customers as long as they can but people are willing to pay it will keep doing it if people start boycotting places then they’ll see they need to change the policy. They just try to get away with as much as they can which is totally wrong but that’s how they stay in business no one ever said they were ethical of their business practices

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Big_G

Big_G

Posted
Posted
I think NCL is trying to find a balance of both with the Haven. If you want a cheap cruise, you can have it. If you want a fancy cruise, you can have that, too -for a price. :)

 

I just priced out a couple of NCL cruises in the Haven and they're pretty much on par with Royal's Sky Class. I'm not sure I want to experiment at those prices.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
rusty nut

rusty nut

Posted
Posted

In Oct, 2005 DW and I went on a 7 day Caribbean cruise on the Navigator of the Seas. We paid $2,049 for the both of us, out the door. This was a balcony. In Oct, 2014 we booked a balcony on the Oasis of the Seas and guess what we paid? $2,049, out the door!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
John&LaLa "Live from...." Rare

John&LaLa

Posted
Posted
In Oct, 2005 DW and I went on a 7 day Caribbean cruise on the Navigator of the Seas. We paid $2,049 for the both of us, out the door. This was a balcony. In Oct, 2014 we booked a balcony on the Oasis of the Seas and guess what we paid? $2,049, out the door!!

Just sailed Oasis last month in an OV balcony. $1,380 for both of us, out the door.

 

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Forums mobile app

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Iowa_Vike

Iowa_Vike

Posted
Posted

Great question. I never really thought about it much. Our first cruise was 25 years ago, I don't really remember the cost (I've drank since then) but I believe it was around $8 or 900 per person for an inside cabin. Now I can get suites for $900/person.

The food to me seams about the same then as now and people in the MDR pretty much followed the rules and dressed nice for each evening as well as the formal night. Not all but most followed the rules.

I think now that there are a lot more choices of cruise ships which draws down the cost. Multiple bigger ships as well as the smaller ships that can get people hooked for a great price.

Love reading about the history of cruises and pricing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
CruisingNole

CruisingNole

Posted
  • Author
Posted
When you sail makes a big difference. Comparing Jan and Feb to June or July is not apples to apples. It can be 50 to 100% more based on timing.

 

Very true. The past few years I've been sticking with Nov-Jan, and shooting for the weeks leading up to, and following the holiday weeks. Kids go back to school, demand goes down. No hurricanes, little to no rain, and weather is as cool as it's going to get in the Caribbean.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
poncho1973

poncho1973

Posted
Posted

I've been cruising for 11 years, my wife about 20, and I know our first cruise together was in 2007 for a 7-night inside room on Mariner.

 

We paid more for that cruise than we did for a 7-night OV balcony on Harmony doing the same route just two months ago and WAY more than we paid for our NCL Getaway cruise last week which was also an inside room.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Ocean Boy

Ocean Boy

Posted
Posted
Basically people want a budget price for a luxury cruise.

And the cruise lines would like to offer as little as possible for as much as they can get for it. Isn't it the two parties having different interests that keeps the system in check?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
ONECRUISER

ONECRUISER

Posted
Posted (edited)
Heck, as an officer with flight pay, I was at about $1000 a month in 1980. :D

Yeah the start of Reagan yrs we got big raises. 11.7% in 1981, 14.7% in 1982. Pay I was quoting I was E-5 at time... My first month pay as E-1 was $392 bring home.

When I joined military pay was so low had friends with families that were on Food Stamps. Now you can actually survive and be considered Middle Class while serving...

Edited by ONECRUISER
Link to comment
Share on other sites
topnole

topnole

Posted
Posted
And the cruise lines would like to offer as little as possible for as much as they can get for it. Isn't it the two parties having different interests that keeps the system in check?

 

Insert sarcasm font here. Yeah that is why they keep adding more and more free features like mini golf, rock climbing, flowrider (very expensive to operate), zip line, aqua theater, bumper cars, sky dive simulator, carousel, etc etc.

 

All examples of a company clearly cutting costs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...