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[commodoredave]

What about cruise lines like Cunard that offer a premium experience in the Grills, but do not have an exclusive area of the ship like The Haven or Yacht Club that is separate. I’ve done the former but not the latter. Is there a significant difference?

[Sthrngary]

5 hours ago, commodoredave said:

What about cruise lines like Cunard that offer a premium experience in the Grills, but do not have an exclusive area of the ship like The Haven or Yacht Club that is separate. I’ve done the former but not the latter. Is there a significant difference?

@commodoredave Allow me to do a different take on this.  Initially, Cruises have created a class system.  Whether a special dinning room or a walled off area, decks for those that could afford it.  Then most of that was transitioned out. This brought first the notion everyone was treated the same when they left their state rooms.  

 

Ships got bigger which is an understatement and with that comes very strict policy and procedures that did not lead to any personalized service.  More like a cookie cutter approach.  The cruise line was looking for a way to increase profit and in doing so attract a different demographic that has more spendable funds.  The Notion of a Ship-within-a-Ship was created.  If my source, a retired captain of NCL is correct, it was originally created by NCL in the form of the Haven. This VIP section with butlers, private upscale dinning, sundecks, pools and hot tubs was created. It cost upwards of 3X the normal fare. It provided all the amenities the huge ship had plus a much more luxurious private area.

 

Other brands came on board. WHY, Profits were huge for this area so why not.  This area was the first to sell out indicating it was a wise business decision.  Reality, we went back to the old days. 

 

Now many brands do some or all of the strategy.  You named one in Cunard. Any time you have something that is something that you pay extra for like all your dining on a cruise, this concept has a part of. Some other lines now offer early boarding for a price.  Early exit for a price.  Specialty Restaurants for a price. Thermal Spas for a price.  The list goes on.  All say, you can have this stuff if you have the cash.  Cash and budget equals class in the context of this description. 

 

When you see someone move past you and get on the ship early, only for an example, it creates a resentment. Add all the other items where someone paid more, and got more to this list. Now, I don't feel this way, but many do. 

 

When you consider some brands, once you leave your stateroom, everyone is treated the same. So drink packages, internet packages, specialty restaurants included, thermal spa included and the list goes on.  Now brands like Oceana are hybrids.  Want the thermal spa, you have to be in the Concierge category or higher or it cost you.  If you are in one of the three upper end suites, you can get 8 guaranteed specialty restaurant reservations instead of 4 (just an example). So, the more you pay, the more you get.  

 

However, the percentage of amenities are far less then on the Mainstream Cruise brand.  The entire ship is like a Haven On Steroid when you get to this point.  Don't worry, it is not free, there is a premium.  Especially for Luxury and Ultra-Luxury.  The difference is it is closer to everyone being treated the same.  Key word closer. That is the point, always there but closer to everyone in the same so called class. The motivation in all cases for the cruise brand, Increased Profits. 

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

[commodoredave]

38 minutes ago, Sthrngary said:

@commodoredave Allow me to do a different take on this.  Initially, Cruises have created a class system.  Whether a special dinning room or a walled off area, decks for those that could afford it.  Then most of that was transitioned out. This brought first the notion everyone was treated the same when they left their state rooms.  

 

Ships got bigger which is an understatement and with that comes very strict policy and procedures that did not lead to any personalized service.  More like a cookie cutter approach.  The cruise line was looking for a way to increase profit and in doing so attract a different demographic that has more spendable funds.  The Notion of a Ship-within-a-Ship was created.  If my source, a retired captain of NCL is correct, it was originally created by NCL in the form of the Haven. This VIP section with butlers, private upscale dinning, sundecks, pools and hot tubs was created. It cost upwards of 3X the normal fare. It provided all the amenities the huge ship had plus a much more luxurious private area.

 

Other brands came on board. WHY, Profits were huge for this area so why not.  This area was the first to sell out indicating it was a wise business decision.  Reality, we went back to the old days. 

 

Now many brands do some or all of the strategy.  You named one in Cunard. Any time you have something that is something that you pay extra for like all your dining on a cruise, this concept has a part of. Some other lines now offer early boarding for a price.  Early exit for a price.  Specialty Restaurants for a price. Thermal Spas for a price.  The list goes on.  All say, you can have this stuff if you have the cash.  Cash and budget equals class in the context of this description. 

 

When you see someone move past you and get on the ship early, only for an example, it creates a resentment. Add all the other items where someone paid more, and got more to this list. Now, I don't feel this way, but many do. 

 

When you consider some brands, once you leave your stateroom, everyone is treated the same. So drink packages, internet packages, specialty restaurants included, thermal spa included and the list goes on.  Now brands like Oceana are hybrids.  Want the thermal spa, you have to be in the Concierge category or higher or it cost you.  If you are in one of the three upper end suites, you can get 8 guaranteed specialty restaurant reservations instead of 4 (just an example). So, the more you pay, the more you get.  

 

However, the percentage of amenities are far less then on the Mainstream Cruise brand.  The entire ship is like a Haven On Steroid when you get to this point.  Don't worry, it is not free, there is a premium.  Especially for Luxury and Ultra-Luxury.  The difference is it is closer to everyone being treated the same.  Key word closer. That is the point, always there but closer to everyone in the same so called class. The motivation in all cases for the cruise brand, Increased Profits. 

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Thank you for this great description and analysis. Like you, it doesn’t bother me that some have more or less on the ship, anymore than it does on an airplane. One funny story about resentment: when we boarded our Silversea cruise in Manhattan in June, we were whisked to our ship while the people in the line next to us waiting to board Carnival were in a line that stretched to NJ. We got very resentful looks from them!