Could we start a list of perks that were discontinued?

[mems]

Fond Memories,

 

1984 - RCCL's, Sun Viking (a beautiful ship) Costume party. If you didn't bring your own costume the ship's staff would help you. One darling, tiny elderly lady was a Q-tip. They wrapped her in a sheet and pilled cotton on her head. Of course she won a prize. Another man brought his own costume, he was dress as a golden Viking. He also won a prize. On this cruise you were given a little booklet with the names and hometowns of all the cruisers at the end of the cruise.

 

1994- Sun Cruise Lines, Stella Solaris. The ships staff included 2 elderly gentleman whose job was to dance with the unescorted elderly ladies. Very innocent, very sweet.

 

More courses at dinner.

[Alleycat1027]

My husband and I are fairly "new" to cruising, having taken our first cruise in 2002, and just completing our 5th a week ago, all on Royal Caribbean...so we can't compare OLD style cruising or another Cruise Line. RCCL does have ONE Midnight Buffet on its cruises...on the larger ships/longer cruises (9 days), it's usually the second Formal Night and is quite beautiful!! The "drill" is to "view" it first (oppty. to take pics), then it is open to eat about an hour later. We usually make it to view, but not to eat, or perhaps eat one or two things, as we are still "stuffed" from dinner!!

 

We have been "Satisfied" with RCCL...I'd rate it A-/B+, I don't expect a lot more at this point. Overall, I think they care well for their ships, Staff is friendly and helpful, activities on board are fun, varied and plentiful...food is good...no major complaints.

 

My chief COMPLAINT is that it's TRUE: Courtesy has gone out of style sometime in the last decade or so. (Maybe longer).

 

Kids are out of control w/very little parental supervision (I noted someone say they are glad sodas aren't free due to "soda fights"; I've always noted kids WASTE the free ice cream and think it's funny, not to mention plain out wasteful and MESSY for others). They also do NOT look where they are going...do not "LOOK BEFORE THEY LEAP"...half the time either do the parents. People FLY out of their staterooms and cut your off, amost run into you, or DO run into you!!

 

Also, if people would just "stay to the right" when moving about the Ship, passage from place to place would be easier. Groups think nothing of taking up the entire stairway (across it) when moving about. I honestly think Cruise Lines should hand out Rules of Decorum that include some of these things...kind of sad people don't "know", but they don't.

 

A bit more PLAIN, OLD FASHIONED COURTESY would make my cruising experience more enjoyable!!

 

RCCL does give small gifts to travelers in their "Crown and Anchor" society and have a few events just for them...fairly nominal.

 

Also, as posted in another thread, I think the "Fuel Surcharge" should be adjusted DOWN when fuel prices are down (like now).

 

I do think a Cruise is a nice family vacation, overall, especially for the money...

[mr green]

Free wine! Home Lines 1955.

 

On some lines. No free juices, lunch and dinner.

No free fancy coffee.

Lobster night, cut to 'Surf and Turf' [HAL]

No 'Daily Paper' I forget which line.

No crab served Celebrity, on my only cruise on that line.

No free sea sick pills, NCL and may be other lines.

 

Most other things have been covered I think.

 

john

[HARP]

The Crown and Anchor Savings Certificates at the RCL website.

They been missing for over a week now.

[Semi Retired]

The Crown and Anchor Savings Certificates at the RCL website.

They been missing for over a week now.

 

I had this problem a couple months ago and called them. They said it was an error, did something on their end, then told me to try again....it worked.

O thers on this site have mentioned problems also, so your not the first...just call RC

[Semi Retired]

hi all,

i would love it if they gave us a deck of cards from the cruiselines.

:rolleyes:

Since casino only uses a deck once, just ask a dealer just before closing.

[Semi Retired]

I realize my relative age puts me at an disadvantage here, but I have sailed on some real classics, so I'll add a few to the list. I miss the European crew (no, I mean in the dining rooms and stateroom quarters too), the real parade of Baked Alaska, an authentic afternoon tea, and the high level of service you got. Clearly, we have other valuable amenities now, but some of us liked it the other way too. Thanks for sharing all...

 

We had the Real Parade on Volendam Alaska Cruise in 06. I think HA is the only one that does this for their Alaska trips.

[scamper]

My chief COMPLAINT is that it's TRUE: Courtesy has gone out of style sometime in the last decade or so. (Maybe longer).

 

Kids are out of control They also do NOT look where they are going...do not "LOOK BEFORE THEY LEAP"

 

 

I've noticed this on land as well. They walk across in front of you and you bump into them and they look at you like it's your fault! I am not a big fan of children, being one of those people who believe there is something to be said for animals that eat their young.

[fishouttawater]

I'll chime in since I don't think either of these things has been mentioned (I tried to skim the tread to make sure!!) :)

 

1) The talent shows for the ship (not just the crew)! In 1997 my sister and I signed up for the talent show and we sang 'Sisters' from White Christmas...there were piano players, comedians, you name it. We sang and danced and had a great time

 

2) Ballroom dancing - I remember on that same cruise my sister and I both were swept around the dance floor with the captain. We were by far the youngest people on the ship so we got a lot of attention, but there was an entire evening of ballroom dancing.

 

That was my first cruise so I am really enjoying reading about the cruises from the 50s on up! Thanks!

 

but as an aside, I'm a little creeped out by the ship's passenger list...

[Solara]

Princess doesn't have pool towels either.

 

What lines still have pool towels?

Princess gives you 2 pool towels in your cabin & there is a large container of plenty of extra pool towels out by the pools.

[Bonnie J.]

NCL & Carnival give you two in your cabin and there are more out by the pool. On Carnival you have to sign them out and pay for them if you don't return them.

[cruisefrost]

I am fed up with the 25.00 charge to get a good meal.After 23 cruises ( 18 with RCL, 2 NCL,2 Carnavial, 1 HAL) I am concidering never taking another cruise again. Every cruise we have gone on it seems a service has either been done away with or they now charge for it. Soon the meals will not be included with the cruise if this keeps up. Also because of the tip being added on to eash bill the bar the staff puts out poor service. When I hear other shipmates say the the speciality Dinning food is 5 times better than the dinning room burns me up. Just got off the Navigator of the Seas and the last day at breakfast in the Windjamer we could get fresh OJ for 3.95 Come on give me a break.

[BroncosFan2010]

We are Diamond Plus members with Royal Caribbean, and are always given a choice between a bridge tour or a kitchen tour as one of the perks.

I refuse to set foot in a kitchen on our vacation (only kidding, as I have seen several ship's kitchens), so we usually choose the bridge tour. We have seen just about every bridge in the Royal Caribbean fleet.

The captain on the Voyager class ships use a scooter to get around, as the bridge is so large.

Captain Johnny let me sit in his chair to have my photograph taken. It's very interesting.

Ginnie

 

My DH and I have our picture taken in the captains chair on Adventure of the Seas! The bridge tour was awesome!

[BroncosFan2010]

I've noticed this on land as well. They walk across in front of you and you bump into them and they look at you like it's your fault! I am not a big fan of children, being one of those people who believe there is something to be said for animals that eat their young.

 

 

I am laughing so hard my pets thing I am nuts! Notice I said pets,....not children!

My personal opinion is that there is a special cruise line out there for people who are crazy enough to take their kids on a vacation... It is called DISNEY!! I don't want anyones children to ruin my vacation.... I try not to let them... But it just is not the same when you are laying in the Solarium trying to enjoy peace and quiet and children come running through with their Ice cream running down their arms and all over my towels.... Grrrrr

 

Flame away....

[slotl]

Does anyone remember when HAL offered the tailors on board and you could order custom men's and women's suits, jackets, coats, pants, etc.? I also think HAL ran an experiment wher you could have the wall street journal delivered on board. And i think we were on the MAAsdam in 1995 when the lido coffee was starbucks!!--very rich, dark and frothy for free!. Guess the captain had a starbucks habit too!

We just got off the Amsterdam Grand Asia Australia cruise Nov 23rd. I am happy to say that "Hong Kong" tailors were aboard for custom orders. Unfortunately for the on-board tailors, the ship itinerary went overnight to both Shanghai and Hong Kong where you could get them cheaper off the ship. At a fee you can have the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, (and some other newspapers) delivered to your room. The ship always had a free copy in the library.

 

A Java Coffee bar was available at a fee for speciality brewed coffee.

 

What I missed was the "desert display tray" which the waiter would show you before you ordered desert. I also miss the "free cruise" bingo. HAL usually had a cover-all bingo with a prize of a 7 day Caribbean cruise.

[marco]

What do I miss most???? The "Bon Voyage" parties. Anyone could go onto the ship to see friends off. Usually there were more then twice as many "bon voyagers" as passengers. On cruise and transAtlantic sailings out of NY, they would pass h'ors douvres, the bands would be playing, people would be dancing, then the "all ashore who's going ashore" and everyone would line the rails, they would disribute streamers and confetti, the bands would be on deck playing, the horn would blare, the tug boats would toot, bon voyagers on the pier would throw streamers, the ship would pull out and the voyage would begin.

[Host Walt]

What do I miss most???? The "Bon Voyage" parties. Anyone could go onto the ship to see friends off. Usually there were more then twice as many "bon voyagers" as passengers. On cruise and transAtlantic sailings out of NY, they would pass h'ors douvres, the bands would be playing, people would be dancing, then the "all ashore who's going ashore" and everyone would line the rails, they would disribute streamers and confetti, the bands would be on deck playing, the horn would blare, the tug boats would toot, bon voyagers on the pier would throw streamers, the ship would pull out and the voyage would begin.

Marco, I forgot all about them, but those parties really helped to make the cruise start off wonderfully.

 

Unfortunately one party that has remained in my memory was when we were seeing off an Australian couple on the Queen Elizabeth 35+/- years ago from NYC to Southampton. I remember the "do" and how great it was to be on board, my first time aboard any ocean liner, but the blokes were serving martinis in pitchers to the guests and I guess they looked too much like water to me. I need not expand on the matter other than to say that I remember feeling rather poorly, to say the least, on the commuter train that took me back home that night.

 

On reflection, andf understanding completely why they are no longer feasible, it's a real shame we can't have them any more. And they would have been great promotional opportunities as well for the cruise lines.

 

(I will say, however, that I have attended two miniature versions of such parties for friends who were embarking on transcontinental train trips on Amtrak. The parties are short and small, but the concept is the same.)

[mstrc1]

What do I miss most???? The "Bon Voyage" parties. Anyone could go onto the ship to see friends off. Usually there were more then twice as many "bon voyagers" as passengers. On cruise and transAtlantic sailings out of NY, they would pass h'ors douvres, the bands would be playing, people would be dancing, then the "all ashore who's going ashore" and everyone would line the rails, they would disribute streamers and confetti, the bands would be on deck playing, the horn would blare, the tug boats would toot, bon voyagers on the pier would throw streamers, the ship would pull out and the voyage would begin.

 

A time past:(

[Gathina]

Part of the problem, I think, is that travel is no longer an "event" the way it used to be. I can remember as a child, how special it was just to go to the airport and we had to dress up, etc. Travel was only for a certain few, and you ponied up the money and received the posh service.

 

Anymore, to me it seems that crusiing is starting to equate with taking the city bus, except it floats.

[slotl]

Anymore, to me it seems that crusiing is starting to equate with taking the city bus, except it floats.

 

I would agree with your comments when I travel on "commodity" cruises. I consider a "commodity" cruise, a cruise which goes to the same locations week after week. Examples, Alaska, Caribbean, Mexican Riveria, now even some European cruises on the Med. Some cruise lines charge for ice cream, pizza, hot dogs and hamburgers on deck.

 

I suggest going on the more "exotic" cruises whose cruise ships travel "around the world" or a cruise line's "Grand Cruises". You will find the food and service to be first rate (especially on cruise lines such as Holland America, Princess, Oceania, Celebrity, Azamara, and of course, the more exclusive cruise lines such as Seabourn and Crystal).

 

As the cruise lines "cut costs", we notice "little" things which are now "missing". Coffee syrup rather than fresh brewed coffee (you can now go to the Java Bar and PURCHASE brewed coffee). Finger food at cocktail parties, french dining room service (no pre-prepared plates, the waiters wore white gloves and served you meat from the meat choices, vegetables from the vegetable choices, etc). I remember petti fores (sp) on formal nights served at the dinner table.

 

I also remember the postage stamp size cabins and bathrooms where you sat on the toilet and used the shower hose while sitting on the throne. Many years ago, we were on a cruise on the Canberra where the bathrooms (toilet and showers) were down the hall. Our cabin had a sink.....that's all.

 

There have been major changes by the cruise lines, but I still find cruising as the #1 way to travel.:)

 

If you haven't tried an "exotic" cruise, I highly recommend you try one.

[Host Walt]

I would agree with your comments when I travel on "commodity" cruises. I consider a "commodity" cruise, a cruise which goes to the same locations week after week...

 

...I also remember the postage stamp size cabins and bathrooms where you sat on the toilet and used the shower hose while sitting on the throne. Many years ago, we were on a cruise on the Canberra where the bathrooms (toilet and showers) were down the hall. Our cabin had a sink.....that's all.

 

There have been major changes by the cruise lines, but I still find cruising as the #1 way to travel.:)

 

If you haven't tried an "exotic" cruise, I highly recommend you try one.

 

Two comments.

 

1. I really like your term "commodity cruises." That's exactly what they are. I remember a routine 7 day Caribbean cruise one spring on Princess and commenting that it seemed a lot like a trip we made on teh Viking Line from Stockholm to Helsinki about 6 months earlier, and on a BC Ferries trip from Port Hardy, BC (north tip of Vancouver Island) to Prince Rupert. Both were overnight trips, both had entertainment and food service, and both were rather regimented.

 

2. Regarding the cabins on older ships, you left out the paper-thin walls between cabins so that you were an audience to whatever activities may be occurring next door. I remember those newlyweds next door to us aboard the Sitmar Fairwind....well maybe we don't need to get into details.

[KC_fn]

 

Anymore, to me it seems that crusiing is starting to equate with taking the city bus, except it floats.

 

How often do you take the city bus? Because there's nothing about ours that reminds me of cruising.

[dmrrn73]

RCCL has soft ice cream/yogurt,but only until 9p

 

I miss real flaming baked alaska and cherries jubilee

 

I remember the cool cloth on Celebrity to Bermuda cruises

 

the male lingerie contest on Carnival was a sight to see... (can't say I have missed that one... Do they still do it?)

 

RCCL Explorer had the promenade cafe open 24 hrs and they had pizza and cookies, deserts, ice water, hot tea, coffee and Hot chocolate. We only went there late at night/early morning so I don't know what they had the other times of the day...

 

Our cruise on Princess in 2003 we had a fruit basket that they replenished as we ate it or it looked bruised.

[catball]

I don't know about this but I just heard from someone on a RCCL ship (not sure which one) where the chocolate is not on the pillows any more. We just got off the Voyager and we did have chocolate, guess I will see when we go back on the Voyager the 1st of Feb. :confused:

[sleepysnr]

i have noticed that when they do have the midnight buffets on the ships, there isnt much food offered. (if there is any left when u get up there) when i cruise i am always hungry so a midnight buffet is ideal because it is a few hours after dinner. i also only saw 24/7 self serve ice cream on my first cruise back in '03.