The "SEA PLAN" Cruise

[Ron n Jon]

We would like to see comments pertaining to, what we believe is inevitable, the “Sea Plan” cruise.

Today, in addition to our cruise fare, we purchase separately; spa activity, land tours, photographs, cocktails, wines, transportation, souvenirs, etc, all charged to our personal accounts.

The “Sea Plan” is one where we purchase a cruise for a set amount that includes only your cabin. All public areas of relaxation, including the pools will, of course, be inclusive. However, the dinning facilities now comprised of many and varied restaurants will be open for business for your dinning pleasure at your own expense. One may choose the Buffet served above for a set charge of X number of dollars, or dine a la carte in one of the main dinning rooms. You can order and pay for whatever tickles your fancy at a price shown on the menu including cocktails and wine as currently charged to your account. One would imagine that such restaurants would also feature a Table D’ote menu.

This tailored cruise should, if nothing else, enable us to eat more responsibly. Further when we chose to dine ashore, we are not being charged for ship’s food not eaten, as is also the case when one is indisposed. In essence, the ship becomes a hotel, which of course it is, and although one resides there, one dines if, when and where one pleases and at their own account. How say you?

[DarkJedi]

Is this a planned theme someone is trying? I suppose in that case it would depend entirely on price of the cruise and what the other prices were. At that point though it becomes a direct comparison to a hotel and I would expect to pay per room and not per person.

[Ron n Jon]

This is by no means a proposal but a look at what we believe will be the cruise of the future. Our intent was to see how passengers would take to it the idea.

 

But one must remember that although a ship is in fact a floating hotel, it does provide transportation to your desired destination and for that one must expect to pay for your stateroom on a per passenger basis.

[DarkJedi]

Personally, I doubt we would cruise with this idea. Regardless of it moving they would have to make the rooms comparable as well as everything else. Except for going between islands I would rate it as the cruise vs. cost of hotel and car rental + gas, which is on a per rental and not per person basis. Even if you are going to compare the moving aspect, it becomes a comparison of cruise with travel vs travel to a hotel + hotel. Then you suddenly have a totally different expectation for service and quality. While I find the food on a cruise acceptable, I don't find it to be as good as many people seem to. I prefer to go to a steakhouse for steaks, and a seafood restaurant for seafood, few places can do variety and make it that great. Additionally while a cruise does provide some activities, they don't provide anywhere near the activities you can get in the area of a decent resort.

 

This isn't meant to knock cruising, as it stands it is a great vacation, but if it went a la carte I don't think it would do nearly as well.

[LambKnuckles]

My initial thought:

 

Eeewwww, I wouldn't like this.

 

I like the inclusive fare. I'll do what I want while I'm on the cruise, but the basics should be included. Having the Supper Club, the spa, the bars, the casino, and other extras you can choose, is great. But the room, dining, and entertainment should be included. Even tho' I can't use it anymore, I like the Camp fee included, too.

[JLC@SD]

We would like to see comments pertaining to, what we believe is inevitable, the “Sea Plan” cruise.

 

Today, in addition to our cruise fare, we purchase separately; spa activity, land tours, photographs, cocktails, wines, transportation, souvenirs, etc, all charged to our personal accounts.

 

The “Sea Plan” is one where we purchase a cruise for a set amount that includes only your cabin. All public areas of relaxation, including the pools will, of course, be inclusive. However, the dinning facilities now comprised of many and varied restaurants will be open for business for your dinning pleasure at your own expense. One may choose the Buffet served above for a set charge of X number of dollars, or dine a la carte in one of the main dinning rooms. You can order and pay for whatever tickles your fancy at a price shown on the menu including cocktails and wine as currently charged to your account. One would imagine that such restaurants would also feature a Table D’ote menu.

 

This tailored cruise should, if nothing else, enable us to eat more responsibly. Further when we chose to dine ashore, we are not being charged for ship’s food not eaten, as is also the case when one is indisposed. In essence, the ship becomes a hotel, which of course it is, and although one resides there, one dines if, when and where one pleases and at their own account. How say you?

 

.......the only problem with this..........everyone will now smuggle their food on board.....:D

[DarkJedi]

.......the only problem with this..........everyone will now smuggle their food on board.....:D

 

Good point, if everything is additional charges I would definately want to be able to bring food and drinks. After all, I can do that at a hotel.

[kryos]

This is by no means a proposal but a look at what we believe will be the cruise of the future. Our intent was to see how passengers would take to it the idea.

But such a cruise plan already exists. It's called EasyCruise, and your fare only pays for your entry onto the boat. You don't even get daily cabin service unless you pay for it. All meals are separate charges, etc. From what I understand, EasyCruise doesn't offer much in the way of ammenities on the boat. It's not designed to be a cruise experience, per se, but rather as transportion from point A to point B. It stays in port usually until very late at night, and then transports passengers to the next port in the dead of night.

 

The people who travel on EasyCruise are folks who want to see the ports. EasyCruise sails in Europe and in the Caribbean, from what I understand ... and passengers only use the boat for transportation. They look to the ports for entertainment ... meals, experiences, etc.

 

I do agree with you, though, that main stream cruise lines are heading somewhat in this direction ... but I don't think you'll ever see a barebones cruise experience like EasyCruise being the norm. That's a niche line for a certain subset of the population. It won't go over universally.

 

I think what you will see on mainstream cruise lines is your cruise fare paying for "standard" dining as it does now. Standard dining will be defined as no assigned tables. You walk in and are seated. Sometimes you will be lucky and be able to get a table for just your party. Other times you will have to join up with another table already in the process of eating. This will be similar to dining for lunch or breakfast in the main dining room on cruise ships today. You will also have the option of eating in the buffet for your standard cruise fare as well.

 

Your standard cruise fare will also buy you cabin service twice a day, and access to the public areas of the ship, including the pools and the show lounge where you will be entertained nightly.

 

What will be different on tomorrow's larger ships, though, as I see it ... will be more specialty (extra charge) restaurants for a more "intimate" or a higher caliber of dining experience. I also see special entertainers being brought onboard who will put on shows in a smaller venue, for which you will have to pay a fee to gain entrance. These entertainers will be more in the realm of "headliners" whereas the general shows will be more like what you would see at your local community or college theater.

 

I also see more "theme" type cruises put together by the cruise lines. Some of the luxury lines call these "Circles of Interest" cruises. The cruise line will designate certain "interest circles" for certain cruises ... perhaps scrapbooking or beading or photography or antiques, or whatever. A complete series of classes and workshops will be built around the theme ... small classes, lots of hands on experiences. There will be a charge for the program. In some cases there will be a lot of shore experiences as well related to the program, and again an additional charge. I also see cruises built around sports, such as golf, SCUBA, snorkeling, etc. These would involve classes while on the ship, and lots of port excursions. Again, all these programs would carry an extra charge for participation.

 

So, yes, I see cruising changing a lot in the coming years. The base cost has come way down for the cruiser who books bare bones accommodations on the ship ... an inside or outside cabin. It is actually often cheaper to cruise today than it was in years past. Obviously, the cruise lines are not making the profits they once did because of that. So, they have to get creative and figure out ways to improve the bottom line, without taking the bare bones things away. I think these new offerings will be a step in that direction. You don't have to partake, but if you want to, and are willing to pay the extra freight, I think the cruise lines will offer you a stellar experience for your money. Same goes with the specialty shows and restaurants. You don't have to partake, but it's there if you want to. It's actually a win-win situation if you think about it.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[Ron n Jon]

Thank you Rita for placing the subject in better context making the point of paying for that and only that which you so desire. Agreed it has it's pro's and con's

 

Within the last four cruises we have yet to see an after dinner show for reasons of timing or deja vu. Not wanting to put down the calliper of entertainment currently offered but wouldn't it be nice to purchase tickets for something outstanding in the seats of your choice that could not be held by and for other passengers...

 

As to the question of passengers bringing food aboard, we've seen it done by passengers although given the variety and abundance of food aboard just why we're not too sure. It has been noted, however, customary for crewmembers to do so.

[kryos]

Thank you Rita for placing the subject in better context making the point of paying for that and only that which you so desire. Agreed it has it's pro's and con's

I read something a while back that really hit home with me. I can't remember where it was ... on a message board or a printed article ... but the forecast for cruising, according to that article, was to make it a much more personal experience. Sure, you are on a boat with thousands of other people ... and as new builds get bigger and bigger, eventually we will be cruising with thousands of others ... but the experience you have will be totally different from what the people staying in the cabin next to you have. Options is the name of the game, and there will be loads of "add on" options that cruisers can select to personalize their cruise experience.

 

I honestly don't think that's a bad thing. In fact, I think it is a great thing. As long as the cruise lines don't take anything away that we get now, I don't see any problem with the folks in the cabin nextdoor to me dining in intimate restaurants every night, while I eat with the herd in the buffet or the general dining room. Maybe they are much more into food than I am. But perhaps I am doing a really interesting series of photography classes onboard ... or a writer's retreat ... things that I am interested in. I paid for those things, while the people in the cabin nextdoor did not see a need to. We each come away from the week having a great cruise, but we each had a very different cruise. And there's nothing wrong with that. :)

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[Ron n Jon]

Ah, it begins....

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/

[Ron n Jon]

Ah, it begins...

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/

[cb at sea]

I foresee the day when this will happen, but the only dining option for those who don't choose to pay more will be the buffet! I sure hope this never happens, but I'd put money on it!