Most controversial cruise opinion??

[graphicguy]

This is getting absolutely silly.  

 

Cruise ship.  2,000-3,000-4,000 people or more that are complete strangers for the most part meeting each other for the very first time.  You’re going to meet all kinds.  I don’t care if you’re in an inside cabin or the largest Haven Suite.  You’re going to run into someone, somewhere you don’t care for, and more likely, those that don’t care for you.  Call them snooty, overbearing, narcissistic, inconsiderate, pretentious, obnoxious…..every behavior imaginable.  You’ll find all on a cruise ship.

 

You dine with them.  You drink with them.  You watch shows together.  You swim with them.  You work out with them.  You gamble with them.  You see them just about every day.  You either befriend them, or you ignore them.

 

I like staying in the Haven.  Has nothing to do with my alleged “status” or my financial means.  I can afford to do it and don’t consider it a frivolity.  I like having everything taken care of for me….reservations, laundry, scheduling, billing issues, serving me my food and drinks whenever I want and wherever I am, reserving the best seat at the shows, stand at the front of the line to get on and off the ship, etc.  If I were married, I’d book the cheapest cabin and have my wife do all of that for me (that’s a joke, people…don’t get up in arms).

 

Truth of the matter is, I’ve met “jerks” everywhere on ships.  But, I’ve met many, many, many more great people who I’ve become cruising friends with.

 

BTW….I don’t gamble for free cruises. I gamble to win.  Plain and simple.

 

Trying to pull this back on topic, “controversial cruising”, this happened over a year ago when cruising first started up back up.  I hadn’t sailed Celebrity in over a decade.  But they, along with NCL, had found protocols for safe sailing that they use for the most part, today.  As such, I felt safe sailing with them (and NCL).  Found a crazy good deal in the Retreat’s Sky Suites on the Edge, at the time, one of Celebrity’s newest ships.  Moreover, they were only sailing at about 40% capacity.  What’s not to like?

 

Upon getting to my cabin, the first thing I did was grab lunch at their Retreat restaurant, Luminae.  The 2nd thing most of us do is to head to the bar.  In this case, the shows on board weren’t scheduled for later.  But, found one at the bar for SAILAWAY.  Two alleged porn stars were putting on quite the tequila fueled show.  Would run into them throughout the cruise doing the same thing.   They were Retreat guests.  Classy!

 

On my last Royal Cruise on Ovation early this year, I was sailing in a regular balcony cabin,  but for the first time, had access to the “Diamond Lounge”.  I like doing live cruise reports.  So, I’d spend mornings getting coffee there and posting to CC while having a bagel in the lounge.

 

I met some nice people in the Diamond Lounge, but one person, who saw me there every a.m., sat near my seat.  He was wearing a “Dogs Love Trucks” t-shirt.  Those of you old enough to remember, that was a marketing slogan NIssan used to sell their trucks (which are now extinct).  Casual conversation led us to talk about our mutual interest in vintage vehicles.  I have a vintage Mustang Cobra Convertible which I’ve totally refurbished.  Shared pics with him of that.

 

He had just finished refurbishing a Ford F-100 Pickup, which he wanted to show me pictures of from his iPhone. After about the 4th picture he showed me, the next one was a nude picture of a lady.  In fact, it was a nude picture of his wife, who was chatting with someone else two chairs over.  He apologized and said he should delete it.  I was a little embarrassed.  But, I’m not a prude, and dismissed it…told him not to worry about it.  Until, 4-5 truck pics later, another nude of his wife was on his phone.  OK, coincidence, but no harm, no foul.   Happened again and again and again.  Clearly, it wasn’t a mistake or a coincidence.  It was purposeful.

 

Needless to say, what started out as a mutual interest in vintage vehicles was meant to be something else.  Not sure if his wife knew of this, but given she was posing in all the pictures, she had to know he took them.  

 

Red faced, I made up an excuse to leave and avoided them at all costs the rest of the cruise.  I’d see them and would turn and go the other way.  If I spied them in the Diamond Lounge from the glass, I would not enter.

 

Again, point being, you meet all kinds, staying in all sorts of areas on ships.  Snooty?  Kinky?  Drunks?  Porn Stars?  Yep…..all kinds!  And, it’s not confined to the Haven.

[pcakes122]

7 hours ago, tetleytea said:

Earlier I was told you play just for comps.  Now I'm told you play for the entertainment and you turn down the comps.  

When did I ever say I play just for comps?  You must be confusing me for someone else.

 

NCL doesn't have a casino offer website (you have to call to book), but here's an example of my current offers with Royal Caribbean.  I have no intention of redeeming any of them.

 

So yes,  I turn a lot of them down.

[graphicguy]

Oh yeah…..my very first cruise back in the ‘80s on the SS Norway, I met World Champion boxer Wilfred Benitez who was staying in an insider cabin next to me and my (then) wife.

 

AGain, all kinds!

[midgetcoach]

10 hours ago, pcakes122 said:

I don't think you really understand how it works if you think you need to pay yourself for the time you spent playing on your vacation LOL.  People who gamble on vacation do it because it's entertainment for them.  Some people like watching shows, some people like scuba diving,  some people like gambling. It's fun for us, and we would do it whether we were getting comps or not

This is what I have been trying to say. My wife a I play because we enjoy it. Along the way we have found a way to use it to our advantage. We still do other  activities aboard and excursions.

 

10 hours ago, pcakes122 said:

As far as how to be assured that you don't lose more than your comps worth? Just don't. (And if you can't stop yourself, that's a whole other problem and you probably shouldn't be gambling at all.)

This  is a part of good money management.

 

10 hours ago, pcakes122 said:

People who don't gamble always want to to generalize and say that gamblers always lose (overall.) What we're trying to tell you -- FROM EXPERIENCE --  is that it's not always the case. 

We began cruising in 2018.  I never played or was in a casino before then. I saw the potential and decided to learn how to play. Started with $500. Put it in an envelope, wrote the amount and date.  As of today we keep it in a safety  box and could purchase a new car (not a cheap one) with it. It still grows....

 

10 hours ago, pcakes122 said:

Personally, I don't gamble at all on land (I don't even buy lottery tickets.)  My entire gambling budget for the year is dedicated to cruising.  I know exactly how much $$$ I'm willing to risk and I know exactly the value of my comps (including cruise fares, OBC and other onboard perks.)

We also play land based casinos. Travel, resorts, entertainment come from that.

 

10 hours ago, pcakes122 said:

I'm ahead. 👍🏻 And I turn down tons of free cruise offers (from more lines than just NCL) to stay that way!  (If I went on every free cruise I was offered, I would probably be in a deep hole lol That said, I do see alot of people get pulled in that way.)

We get multiple offers from all the major cruise lines and casinos daily.  This year alone we have taken 7 cruises with two more booked. The Caribbean, Bermuda, and Alaska were a few. Also resorts. 

All added expenses including travel (air), all food, entertainment (excursions), anything involved in the cruise or retort stay are calculated in.

Bottom line...We are enjoying ourselves in retirement without using and draining any of our home accounts. 

 

[leithbones]

27 minutes ago, CaptainBazz said:

So many people like these wings...but you don't...so you are right??...🤔🤔

"Right/Wrong" is applicable to facts.

As written in the post, it's "My Opinion" --> not implied or stated as an objective fact.

As far as what 'I Like/Dislike' which is the essence of my post, then absolutely yes, I am RIGHT about what I DISLIKE.

I understand many disagree with my opinion = exactly my point>> that's why this is controversial >> which revisits the original poster's query.

[The Shrike]

38 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

This is getting absolutely silly.  

 

Cruise ship.  2,000-3,000-4,000 people or more that are complete strangers for the most part meeting each other for the very first time.  You’re going to meet all kinds.  I don’t care if you’re in an inside cabin or the largest Haven Suite.  You’re going to run into someone, somewhere you don’t care for, and more likely, those that don’t care for you.  Call them snooty, overbearing, narcissistic, inconsiderate, pretentious, obnoxious…..every behavior imaginable.  You’ll find all on a cruise ship.

 

You dine with them.  You drink with them.  You watch shows together.  You swim with them.  You work out with them.  You gamble with them.  You see them just about every day.  You either befriend them, or you ignore them.

 

I like staying in the Haven.  Has nothing to do with my alleged “status” or my financial means.  I can afford to do it and don’t consider it a frivolity.  I like having everything taken care of for me….reservations, laundry, scheduling, billing issues, serving me my food and drinks whenever I want and wherever I am, reserving the best seat at the shows, stand at the front of the line to get on and off the ship, etc.  If I were married, I’d book the cheapest cabin and have my wife do all of that for me (that’s a joke, people…don’t get up in arms).

 

Truth of the matter is, I’ve met “jerks” everywhere on ships.  But, I’ve met many, many, many more great people who I’ve become cruising friends with.

 

BTW….I don’t gamble for free cruises. I gamble to win.  Plain and simple.

 

Trying to pull this back on topic, “controversial cruising”, this happened over a year ago when cruising first started up back up.  I hadn’t sailed Celebrity in over a decade.  But they, along with NCL, had found protocols for safe sailing that they use for the most part, today.  As such, I felt safe sailing with them (and NCL).  Found a crazy good deal in the Retreat’s Sky Suites on the Edge, at the time, one of Celebrity’s newest ships.  Moreover, they were only sailing at about 40% capacity.  What’s not to like?

 

Upon getting to my cabin, the first thing I did was grab lunch at their Retreat restaurant, Luminae.  The 2nd thing most of us do is to head to the bar.  In this case, the shows on board weren’t scheduled for later.  But, found one at the bar for SAILAWAY.  Two alleged porn stars were putting on quite the tequila fueled show.  Would run into them throughout the cruise doing the same thing.   They were Retreat guests.  Classy!

 

On my last Royal Cruise on Ovation early this year, I was sailing in a regular balcony cabin,  but for the first time, had access to the “Diamond Lounge”.  I like doing live cruise reports.  So, I’d spend mornings getting coffee there and posting to CC while having a bagel in the lounge.

 

I met some nice people in the Diamond Lounge, but one person, who saw me there every a.m., sat near my seat.  He was wearing a “Dogs Love Trucks” t-shirt.  Those of you old enough to remember, that was a marketing slogan NIssan used to sell their trucks (which are now extinct).  Casual conversation led us to talk about our mutual interest in vintage vehicles.  I have a vintage Mustang Cobra Convertible which I’ve totally refurbished.  Shared pics with him of that.

 

He had just finished refurbishing a Ford F-100 Pickup, which he wanted to show me pictures of from his iPhone. After about the 4th picture he showed me, the next one was a nude picture of a lady.  In fact, it was a nude picture of his wife, who was chatting with someone else two chairs over.  He apologized and said he should delete it.  I was a little embarrassed.  But, I’m not a prude, and dismissed it…told him not to worry about it.  Until, 4-5 truck pics later, another nude of his wife was on his phone.  OK, coincidence, but no harm, no foul.   Happened again and again and again.  Clearly, it wasn’t a mistake or a coincidence.  It was purposeful.

 

Needless to say, what started out as a mutual interest in vintage vehicles was meant to be something else.  Not sure if his wife knew of this, but given she was posing in all the pictures, she had to know he took them.  

 

Red faced, I made up an excuse to leave and avoided them at all costs the rest of the cruise.  I’d see them and would turn and go the other way.  If I spied them in the Diamond Lounge from the glass, I would not enter.

 

Again, point being, you meet all kinds, staying in all sorts of areas on ships.  Snooty?  Kinky?  Drunks?  Porn Stars?  Yep…..all kinds!  And, it’s not confined to the Haven.

I don't know if it's a coincidence or not, but the very few times I've encountered any snootiness from Haven guests they had one thing in common:  they were from NYC.

[CaptainBazz]

5 minutes ago, leithbones said:

"Right/Wrong" is applicable to facts.

As written in the post, it's "My Opinion" --> not implied or stated as an objective fact.

As far as what 'I Like/Dislike' which is the essence of my post, then absolutely yes, I am RIGHT about what I DISLIKE.

I understand many disagree with my opinion = exactly my point>> that's why this is controversial >> which revisits the original poster's query.

Except you went beyond an opinion and stated "if you're posting positive reviews of O'Sheehan wings (and there are many of you), you've never eaten wings prepared properly"

 

How do you know if I or any of the others have never eaten wings prepared properly? You are making a statement based on facts you don't have.

[leithbones]

9 minutes ago, CaptainBazz said:

Except you went beyond an opinion and stated "if you're posting positive reviews of O'Sheehan wings (and there are many of you), you've never eaten wings prepared properly"

Nope, sorry, reread==  quoted sentence fragment (above) leaves out my first three words.

Thanks for the interaction.

Done.

 

 

[MrsTocko]

Art Gallery on a ship…I don’t understand the concept behind thinking that a cruise ship is the place to put an art gallery.  I can look at pretty painting and think that it is pretty.  I don’t have an artist’s eye, nor a lover of statues and paintings.  I can look at it and appreciate and respect the work and talent that went into creating it.  However, I also know that it has no place in my home, or life past the 5 min I spend looking at it.  To me it is like having the spa guy at the fair. Why do we need this on a ship? Or at the fair?

Edited August 7, 2022 by MrsTocko

[The Shrike]

19 minutes ago, MrsTocko said:

Art Gallery on a ship…I don’t understand the concept behind thinking that a cruise ship is the place to put an art gallery.  I can look at pretty painting and think that it is pretty.  I don’t have an artist’s eye, nor a lover of statues and paintings.  I can look at it and appreciate and respect the work and talent that went into creating it.  However, I also know that it has no place in my home, or life past the 5 min I spend looking at it.  To me it is like having the spa guy at the fair. Why do we need this on a ship? Or at the fair?

And at every Latitudes level you get a free "artwork" for attending an art auction.  Sometimes free champagne, too.  I've never taken them up on this and unless I become incredibly bored on the ship (which has never happened) I never will.

[mearsfansinboise]

2 hours ago, 2 Fun Guys said:

But it works both ways - why should a Haven guest poop on my parade?

 

We aren't typical Haven cruisers in that we've done it once, and we're doing it again, but it will not be an on-going thing unless we win the lottery .... our cruising experience has been and will likely always be mostly non-Haven.  So, knowing what it's like on both sides of that keycard glass door I don't look down on anyone or believe the people on one side or the other of it are any better or less than another.

[mearsfansinboise]

2 hours ago, KeithJenner said:

I have no negativity towards the Haven at all. It obviously works well for many people who see it as value for money. That's great.

 

I also haven't experienced things like the "steerage" comments.

 

The slight annoyance that I have about the Haven, which is quite prevalent on these forums is the attitude that suggests that it is obviously the best way to travel. The "if you try it then you will never want to go bank" attitude. That may be how it worked for that person, but that doesn't mean that a stranger on the internet will feel the same. One thing that this thread is shows is that there are plenty of us that are quite happy with the standard cruise experience, and I find that the suggestion that this is only because we just haven't yet had the privilege of seeing the clearly superior alternative is borderline insulting.

 

I have tried it, and going back was very easy, and for me, preferable.

 

The only tried it and never want to go back for us is a balcony.  Once we had one of those going to Hawaii, it was hard to go back to not having one.  So, that's a dealmaker for us - got to have the balcony.

[wolft927]

I have won my last 2 haven bids, but have no issue with simply having a balcony. But I will say all the perks you receive from haven my wife and I love it!!!!!! If we can get one at a heavy discount we would travel every time 

[KeithJenner]

3 minutes ago, mearsfansinboise said:

 

The only tried it and never want to go back for us is a balcony.  Once we had one of those going to Hawaii, it was hard to go back to not having one.  So, that's a dealmaker for us - got to have the balcony.

For us it is a window. I have sailed in an Oceanview a few times, and enjoy it. We will always consider one when in colder places, but I like to be able to look out at the sea, so would be reluctant to go for an inside.

 

On our upcoming cruise, round the British Isles we were planning on an Oceanview, but credit from a cancelled cruise brought the prices down so far that we booked a balcony. Further reductions mean that we are now in an aft-suite for just £200 more (and about £500 more than the Oceanview would originally have cost), so price is clearly also a factor.

[mearsfansinboise]

10 minutes ago, The Shrike said:

And at every Latitudes level you get a free "artwork" for attending an art auction.  Sometimes free champagne, too.  I've never taken them up on this and unless I become incredibly bored on the ship (which has never happened) I never will.

 

The literal only reason we went to an art auction once was because we had an open window of time ... and got free champagne ... and a free piece of art --- which was a Disney photo on cardstock so we framed it and re-gifted it. 

[The Shrike]

12 minutes ago, mearsfansinboise said:

 

The only tried it and never want to go back for us is a balcony.  Once we had one of those going to Hawaii, it was hard to go back to not having one.  So, that's a dealmaker for us - got to have the balcony.

Same here, but mainly because DW is claustrophobic.  We've only ever gone in balcony or above.  

I could do inside no problem, but she'd probably run screaming from the room after about 45 seconds inside it.

Edited August 7, 2022 by The Shrike

[graphicguy]

Never could quite understand the “art gallery” on a ship, either.  

 

Must be quite profitable given the amount of space the art takes up on a ship.  Plus, they’re paying the sales/auctioneers.  Plus, the time it takes to set up an auction.  Yeah…..really profitable.

 

The company that runs these auctions, Park West, has a pretty dicey reputation, also.

 

They could tell me they were selling Rembrandts, and I wouldn’t know the difference.

 

Like most, if I’m bored (not likely), I’ve stopped by an auction for a free glass of champagne.  Pretty entertaining how some bidders act like they are “in the know” about the art.  

 

Funny to watch the auctioneers act like the bidding is going to be a frenzy!  

 

My interest is peaked for 15, maybe 20 minutes.  Then, I figure something…anything on board has to be more entertaining.  That’s when I head back to the Haven to hang out with my snooty friends.

Edited August 7, 2022 by graphicguy

[ChiefMateJRK]

34 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

I’ve stopped by an auction for a free glass of champagne.

That ended for me with the advent of universal beverage packages.

[Shidah]

Adding my name to the degenerate gamblers club who doesn’t pay full price for the Haven.  I’ve never been comped a Haven room, but am comped everything from ocean view to club balcony and then pay to upgrade.  Our next cruise cost us less than the price of an ocean view for an H6 (2 bedroom family) all in.  Usually start with a land based comp, I let them know what I want to upgrade to, then they look up my play on the ship, and I’ve never been disappointed with the price.  Although it is a goal to be comped the Haven outright!  

[ChiefMateJRK]

1 hour ago, Shidah said:

Although it is a goal to be comped the Haven outright!

Easy.  Just lose more!!!

[pcakes122]

46 minutes ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

Easy.  Just lose more!!!

That's not how it works. I know you're trying to be funny, but you are spreading misinformation and there may be people here who really want to learn about casino comps from people who actually know how it works (I previously worked in the gaming industry.) Casino comps are NOT driven by losses AT ALL.  It has been shared here and on other threads that comps are driven by your "theo" (THEORETICAL loss -  NOT actual loss.)  There are a couple of factors in the calculation of your theo, but a key factor is your average bet -  which equates to your risk.  Your actual wins or losses do not factor into your theo AT ALL.

 

No one should actually play "for comps", but higher bets lead to greater comps. (Not an occasional high bet here and there when you are "up", but average high wagers for a sustained period of time.)  From an odds perspective, the more $$$  you risk the more the casino can potentially gain (the odds are in their favor) so the greater offers they will make in order to get those high bettors back.

 

That's how it actually works.

[ChiefMateJRK]

5 minutes ago, pcakes122 said:

That's not how it works. I know you're trying to be funny, but you are spreading misinformation and there may be people here who really want to learn about casino comps from people who actually know how it works (I previously worked in the gaming industry.) Casino comps are NOT driven by losses AT ALL.  It has been shared here and on other threads that comps are driven by your "theo" (THEORETICAL loss -  NOT actual loss.)  There are a couple of factors in the calculation of your theo, but a key factor is your average bet -  which equates to your risk.  Your actual wins or losses do not factor into your theo AT ALL.

 

No one should actually play "for comps", but higher bets lead to greater comps. (Not an occasional high bet here and there when you are "up", but average high wagers for a sustained period of time.)  From an odds perspective, the more $$$  you risk the more the casino can potentially gain (the odds are in their favor) so the greater offers they will make in order to get those high bettors back.

 

That's how it actually works.

Thanks for the lesson, but I meant exactly what I said.  Lose more is exactly the same as gamble more.  Math always wins.  I am 100% certain that I have far more math education than you do, and math is an amazing thing.  It knows no cultural boundaries.  It knows no language boundaries.  It is universal and exactly the same at all times and in all places.  It certainly has no respect for "ooh, look, a winning trend/streak!!"  🤣

[pcakes122]

3 minutes ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

Thanks for the lesson, but I meant exactly what I said.  Lose more is exactly the same as gamble more.  Math always wins.  I am 100% certain that I have far more math education than you do, and math is an amazing thing.  It knows no cultural boundaries.  It knows no language boundaries.  It is universal and exactly the same at all times and in all places.  It certainly has no respect for "ooh, look, a winning trend/streak!!"  🤣

I know it's hard to wrap your head around, but you are completely wrong about comps.

 

A casino looks COMPLETELY differently at a player who loses $2,000 by betting $1 a spin on slot machines over 5 days vs. player who loses $2,000 in one hour betting $50 a pull.

 

The loss is EXACTLY the same.  The comp offer would be COMPLETELY different.

 

I don't think free cruises are in your future anyway, so believe what you want. I just responded to clarify your misinformation for others.

[midgetcoach]

1 hour ago, pcakes122 said:

I don't think free cruises are in your future anyway, so believe what you want. I just responded to clarify your misinformation for others.

Well said pcakes

[DrSea]

14 hours ago, MrsTocko said:

Art Gallery on a ship…I don’t understand the concept behind thinking that a cruise ship is the place to put an art gallery.  I can look at pretty painting and think that it is pretty.  I don’t have an artist’s eye, nor a lover of statues and paintings.  I can look at it and appreciate and respect the work and talent that went into creating it.  However, I also know that it has no place in my home, or life past the 5 min I spend looking at it.  To me it is like having the spa guy at the fair. Why do we need this on a ship? Or at the fair?

The art gallery is there for those who want free all you can drink cheap Champaign but didn't buy the drinks package.