General Immersion Thread (merged)

[SF]

SF

 

What is the Problem with paying in Euros ?

Us Brits will be paying in Euros instead of American Dollars, most credit cards dont charge an exchange rate.

We have to convert from Pounds to your dollar when we cruise out of the States.

 

I have paid my tours on the Indy this June in Dollars and this is converted at the exchange rate into pounds.

If a drink on the ship is $6 at the mo they will convert this to the Euro rate which at the moment is 3.50 Euro you will still be paying $6. (this drink will not be charged at 6 Euro)

 

Unless you were planning on spending thousands of Dollars the difference of dollar to Euros might cost you $20 to $30 :eek: if you transfer to Princess the price of a few cocktails against your free ones in the RCI Concierge lounge will soon eat into you exchange difference.

 

 

Our bill probably will be several thousand for all of us by the time we finish with tours, gratuities, ship expenses (drinks..photos...), casino, etc..... there are four of us. If it was only a $20-$30 dollar difference then we wouldn't be having this discussion. It's probably more like $400-$500 at todays rate and you can bet next year it will be even more to convert US dollars to Euros. Personally, I don't think RCCL is going to take into account when pricing tours, drinks, etc... what for example a regular drink for $4 in US should be in Euros. They are just going to change over and charge what they want in Euros. Sure we can have a drink in the evening "free" in the Diamond Concierge Lounge but what about the rest of the day, sodas, specialty restaurants, pictures, casino, etc...... Talking to our TA today and I'll post once he tells me what he heard from RCCL. Until all the details are made clear with these "immersion" cruises and all these questions are answered by fellow passengers who have sailed on such an itinerary I think we're going to back out. There are many other cruise lines and we are on the same level on most of them so even though "perks" from each line very it's not like we'd be starting out with no extras.

 

 

Foody:

 

I'm going to contact my TA this morning in regards to the Euros on board. I'll post what he heard from RCCL also. I'd still be a little leary until fellow passengers have returned from one. I seriously doubt they'd keep the currency US if everything else is geared to that "immersion cruise". So many times in the past for other questions I've been given assurances to find out it isn't so.

[nikkicattrell]

 

imagine taking a cruise out of america and having them say we were eating all american food for two weeks? pizza? hot dogs? hamburgers? french fries? mashed potatoes? yuck, yuck, and more yuck. to me the joy of cruising is being able to experience different types of food.

 

Sorry I thought that what we did when we are on an American Immersion cruise.. :confused:

[AnotherCruisingKid]

SF

 

What is the Problem with paying in Euros ?

Us Brits will be paying in Euros instead of American Dollars, most credit cards dont charge an exchange rate.

We have to convert from Pounds to your dollar when we cruise out of the States.

 

I have paid my tours on the Indy this June in Dollars and this is converted at the exchange rate into pounds.

If a drink on the ship is $6 at the mo they will convert this to the Euro rate which at the moment is 3.50 Euro you will still be paying $6. (this drink will not be charged at 6 Euro)

 

Unless you were planning on spending thousands of Dollars the difference of dollar to Euros might cost you $20 to $30 :eek: if you transfer to Princess the price of a few cocktails against your free ones in the RCI Concierge lounge will soon eat into you exchange difference.

 

The problem is that currently the rates at $1.57 USD to 1 Euro.

 

Do you really think that RCI is going to lower the price to make up for that? NO. They're going to change it from dollars to Euros just like a lot of the airlines do to you. So something that was $6 USD will now be 6 or if we're lucky 5 euros. Thats at a minimum more than $7.50 USD and then the exchange and foreign charge fees from the US credit card companies.

 

So the percentage is going to be near 50% greater. And that is not "might cost you $20 to $30"

[AnotherCruisingKid]

I bought them months ago when the dollar rate was at a record high. You pay upfront and then the dollars are sent to you at the time of your holiday, you get such a good rate as you are paying in advance.

Basically they must be making there money from having my money sat in the bank for all these months.

I have used tham several times before and they are very reliable.

The company is called crown currency exchange, google it and they will come up.

If you have holidays booked in advance this is a great way of getting the best rates..

 

Sounds excellent. Will look into this.

 

I was on the other side of this debate in 2000 when living in Germany getting paid in USD. So i know both sides.

 

My big problem with the whole debate here is changing things that were already booked instead of saying on future ones we release this is how it is.

[lb0103]

We are booked on the Legend in Oct 08, I have read pages and pages of stuff and I have a call in to my TA.

 

Has anyone recently returned from one of these immersions or when do they plan to start?

 

I don't want to get bent out of shape before I need to. Personaly the only concerns I have at THIS point are what currency will be used onboard and will the shore excursions be in English.

[EmJakeBubbie]

Spoke w/my travel agent, as well, RCI last night. Got same story from both - neither know about any menu changes, but both told me: "..yes, immersion cruising is when the cruise destination influences the staff nationality, and overall personality of a particular sailing". In response to my inquiry about WHICH culture our Venice to Lisbon holiday will be influenced by, nobody could tell me. I think this "idea" is as doomed to fail, as was the Bar at the Edge of the Earth on X. I also was told that our 11/22 is not immersion, for which I am hopeful it isn't. Too many of us are thinking this is not what we cruisers desire. I hope RCI is paying attention.:rolleyes:

[nikkicattrell]

. I think this "idea" is as doomed to fail' date=' as was the Bar at the Edge of the Earth on X. I also was told that our 11/22 is not immersion, for which I am hopeful it isn't. Too many of us are thinking this is not what we cruisers desire. I hope RCI is paying attention.[/quote']

 

Ah this is the rub - cruising has been a bit of secret and the rest of the world has started to wake up to cruising as a good idea, its only taken off in the UK in the past few years when people started to realise that you don't have to be 70 any more, and wow isn't it convenient to get to all of these places without having to unpack! The fact that you can get whole cruises around the Med, with all the perks etc included, for the same price as a few nights hotel in Europe is a big selling point. Therefore by aiming the cruises at those most local to the ports they are aiming at a MASSIVE new market - e.g. whole new countries rather than just relying on American's who want to travel without leaving America behind. As we've seen some American's who will happily travel anyway, and if they don't - well they've got the citizen's of whole countries to replace you.

[CruzinCruzan]

Well then shame on me then for thinking people would realize that leaving from China, Europe, S. America or SE Asia, most pax would not be Americans, without having to be told.

 

 

We have been on cruises from Japan to China on Radisson, now Regent, and the entertainment was in English, the food was continental, the announcements and publications were in English, the excursions were in English with local guides, the activities were in English...trivia, Bingo, etc....We don't care if they are British, Australians, or Americans as we speak English and basically understand each other...Even French, Spanish or Italian would not be too much of an issue...same alphabet and we are fluent in Spanish and have a working knowledge of French...so we could get by, but...

 

Now RCI will make all of these Chinese/Mandarin or whatever Asian language, as well as catering to the specific culture with the activities...it may be fun for some people and it probably is, but we were NOT informed at booking time nor is it on the RCI website that these cruises are "immersion" cruises...as far as I know...I was on the new website yesterday.

 

Most of us were informed yesterday by several ways, some in emails, some by a phone call and some by their TAs...

 

Now yes, of course we expect to deal with the culture and language once we are off the ship, that is the point of traveling; but not on the ship...

 

It follows that if we wanted total immersion in the Asian culture, we would have done a land tour...which we hate due to the packing and unpacking and hotel changes, or booked on an Asian run or inspired cruise line.

 

The fact of the matter is that some, if not most of us, feel protected, and more comfortable on an American (for lack of a better word) ship...this was our choice which now has been taken away from us on RCI..Holland America, Crystal and Regent still run English speaking ships in these parts of the world...it remains to be seen if their marketing will pick up RCI's castoff passengers or if they also will follow suite due to our globally changing economy. As Americans our global buying power is down and will continue to go down, something we need to get used to

 

BTW, just to clear up things, though RCI is registered in another country, their corporate offices are 3 blocks from my home and their corporate officers, though not all American, are Westerners, as in Europeans and Americans...a lot are Scandinavians.

 

So my issue still is two fold...the customer needs to know what he is getting into at the time of booking...there was no way to know this was a total immersion cruise and we booked almost a year ago! Second my main concerns with an immersion cruise are the excursions, as they will not guarantee English speaking guides...we do not like to book independent tours not sanctioned by the cruise line because there can be issues such as, you can be swindled or even miss your ship...

 

Enough said....let's wait and see what happens...

 

We still have not canceled as we have some time, but are seriuosly considering Holland America...

[EmJakeBubbie]

RCI has a product we Americans have come to appreciate and that's why we stayed loyal. Following that trusted product around the world is chance to go someplace other than Mexico, Alaska, Caribbean, etc. A little flavor of any destination is appreciated. It's this "immersion" word that has frosted my cookies.

Again, I say: "what I want is to be immersed into comfort":D Now THAT would be an advertising campaingn I'd enjoy!

[MichCook]

Just thought of another one, I will never forget the look on my 12 year old daughters face one day in Epcot when she heard a woman ask her husband, a grown man in his middle years if he ''wanted to go potty'' we heard it all the time afterwards but it was a bit of a shock at first LOL :D

 

I've enjoyed all the translations given for the various foods and cultural differences with the meanings of various words. Some of these are quite humorous and are apt to make you giggle. I find it refreshing. But, I have to say that I've NEVER asked my DH if he "wanted to go potty" :eek: He would have been mortified! :o :D

[Ms Understood]

Ok being called a xenophobe because I dont relish the idea of cruising in Chinese. Wow. Nice. Like Cruzin' above I have travelled all over the world and I continue to do so because I enjoy it. Sometimes I go by land and sometimes I go by sea. And that is because they are (were) different experiences.

[CruzinCruzan]

Didn't relish being called a xenophobe either,MS...I guess pack up your Rosetta Stone in Mandarin for our cruise..DH loves it for his Spanish lessons!

[CruzinCruzan]

Didn't relish being called a xenophobe either, MS...I guess pack up your Rosetta Stone CDs in Mandarin for our cruise..DH loves it for his Spanish lessons!

 

Kareoke in Mandarin could be a whole new experience!

[CruzinCruzan]

Didn't relish being called a xenophobe either, MS :eek: ...I guess pack up your Rosetta Stone CDs in Mandarin for our cruise..DH loves it for his Spanish lessons!

 

Kareoke in Mandarin could be a whole new experience!:D

[cruisePRN]

I don't care to be immersed without my consent and that's what's happened to many people. I'm booked on an Asian cruise next January and if it becomes an immersion cruise I'll be camcelling and looking at princess cruises. If they announce it's an immersion cruise after fina payment I'll have to go rather then loose all that money i paid for the cruise. I don't plan to convert my money to any asian currancy and if tipping is in any currancy other then US dollars I won't be tipping. How long would the crew stick around if they don't get tipped because of the conversion issue?

[CruzinCruzan]

Yikes! Why did my message post 3 times??? Must be a glitch...Sorry!!!

[CruzinCruzan]

I don't care to be immersed without my consent and that's what's happened to many people. I'm booked on an Asian cruise next January and if it becomes an immersion cruise I'll be camcelling and looking at princess cruises. If they announce it's an immersion cruise after fina payment I'll have to go rather then loose all that money i paid for the cruise. I don't plan to convert my money to any asian currancy and if tipping is in any currancy other then US dollars I won't be tipping. How long would the crew stick around if they don't get tipped because of the conversion issue?

 

I guess you booked the cruise just before ours...if you are on the Legend you are on an Asian immersion cruise...:(

 

But what you say is quite interesting!

 

How good can the service be if our needs and requests cannot be understood or met due to language differences..

[Yvie]

I recently found out that our upcoming cruise is an immersion cruise. Since we embark in Southampton, english will still be the primary language used onboard, so it won't be a problem for us. The issue is, if the cruises are going to be immersion cruises, then they should be sold as such when bookings open. Then people can choose whether or not that is the vacation experience they would like to have. We were notified after our final payment was made, and in my opinion that is not right.

[madforcruising]

American ships? I assume you are talking about NCL America because all the major cruise lines are not flying American flags instead they usually fly the flags of Bahamas, Bermuda, Panama, Liberia or Britain. The corporations may have head offices in the US, but they are generally incorporated for tax purposes in Panama.

 

Not exactly from the top 3 only one is incorporated in Panama and that´s Carnival.

RCCL is incorporated in Liberia and Star Cruises is incorporated in Bermuda.

[cruisePRN]

Great point!:D Unlike myself and my partner, many Americans don't like to enjoy other cultures. When we travel, we love to go into the non-tourist areas of the countries to acutallly see and interact with the locals. That is pure enjoyment to us, and sense we are Americans, we don't particularly want to be around Americans when we travel to other countries, otherwise we would just stay in the US. We have been to many areas where english was a problem in communication, but we survived.:rolleyes:

you've totally missed the point. People purchsed a vacation and the vacation has changed through no fault of their own. I cruise to different countries because on board i know English will be the primary language. When i go ashore i enjoy the new cultures and muddle terribly with the language, which is why i use the ships excusions mostly. I don't plan to covert my money into Euros and pay a transaction fee and take a beating on the exchange rate either.

[Jeka]

Yes, coxswains post was ironical, but misses the point. When he sailed out of a U.S. port or a foreign port, he knew what he was getting before he booked. Now some of us have discovered that cruises we've booked have become immersion cruises which is a complete turn around from what we expected.

 

We have sailed from many ports in many countries and always know what type of food we would be getting. At the moment we have concerns about dietary problems. Would cancel, but airfare is involved.

 

Mocorobabe

 

Which immersion cruise are you taking that dietary concerns arise?

[jbond]

Well then shame on me then for thinking people would realize that leaving from China, Europe, S. America or SE Asia, most pax would not be Americans, without having to be told.

We just sailed from Valparaiso, Chile to Santos, Brazil. The vast majority of people on that sailing were American, never met anyone from Chile. Not sure that your sarcasm holds a lot of credance. When we sailed Jewel in 2006 out of Harwich, there were quite a number of Brits onboard, but again the overwhelming majority were American. I would expect that there would be significant numbers of American passengers on most cruises, unless I was informed by RCI that they were catering to a specific market. If RCI is serious about immersion cruises, I think that it is a good thing that they are upfront about it. Unfortunately they appear to have introduced it without any prior warning at booking time.

The cruise after Valparaiso-Santos was Santos to Lisbon and English speaking passengers, that included anyone that wasn't Brazilian or Portuguese, numbered just over 300. Needless to say many things were catered to that majority, including the shows. Portuguese language comedians just don't seem to be as funny, to me, as English speaking ones. The Brazilian Elvis impersonator was funny, not good, but entertaining.

The cruise was certainly not an experience I would like to repeat.

[Jeka]

you've totally missed the point. People purchsed a vacation and the vacation has changed through no fault of their own. I cruise to different countries because on board i know English will be the primary language. When i go ashore i enjoy the new cultures and muddle terribly with the language, which is why i use the ships excusions mostly. I don't plan to covert my money into Euros and pay a transaction fee and take a beating on the exchange rate either.

 

What cruise are you on that Euros instead of US$s are being used. That would be a total rip off and I'm shocked RCI would no anything this sleazy. Shame on them!!!!!!

[Oville]

I recently found out that our upcoming cruise is an immersion cruise. Since we embark in Southampton, english will still be the primary language used onboard, so it won't be a problem for us. The issue is, if the cruises are going to be immersion cruises, then they should be sold as such when bookings open. Then people can choose whether or not that is the vacation experience they would like to have. We were notified after our final payment was made, and in my opinion that is not right.

 

Are you sailing on the Brilliance or the Independence? If so, they are ships operated by RCCL/UK not RCCL/USA. Also, they probably had that status when you booked.

[golfer1966]

Fried Cheddar - who on earth thought of that one! Yuk! :eek:

 

Now if they had a good Holland's pie... ;)

 

Whereabouts in Manchester are you?

 

 

I work with a guy who lived in UK for most of his life and he tells us all about the food. Toad in the Hole is Yorkshire Pudding with Sausage in it. He recently mentioned ( and showed me a pix ) of baked bean sandwhich topped off with a fried egg. This actually sounds pretty good. :p