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Topic: Cruise Questionnaires

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 04-14-2000 09:26 PM

Most lines deliver them to your cabin the day prior to disembarkation with the request that you complete and return to the Front Desk.
Do you complete and return or toss?

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

gizmo
First Class Passenger
Member # 972

posted 04-14-2000 09:44 PM

We always complete them. Hopefully it helps to idenify what is both right and wrong.

Posts: 686 | From: Kennesaw Ga. (origianlly from Philly) | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

Bobby G
First Class Passenger
Member # 49

posted 04-14-2000 10:01 PM

I always complete mine for the same reasons as Gizmo. Some lines will put them in a pot and draw for a free cruise. Have never been on the winning end of this one yet.

Posts: 36 | From: SC | Registered: Feb 99 | IP: Logged

Molly
First Class Passenger
Member # 853

posted 04-14-2000 10:20 PM

We recently completed one probably because they were put in a drawing for $100. We didn't win.

Posts: 68 | From: Norman Park, GA USA | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

MagnmPI
First Class Passenger
Member # 299

posted 04-14-2000 10:49 PM

I always fill them out and return them right away. It seems as though I never have enough room in the comments area either.

Posts: 545 | From: San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

LizKiddo
First Class Passenger
Member # 1167

posted 04-15-2000 04:31 AM

I know that in my own job, part of my bonus and a lot of my salary increases are based on the "Customer Satisfaction" surveys that the company sends to my "customers."

For that very reason, I filled out the comment sheets, making sure to point out special people who made our trip wonderful...

I know first hand how one bad incident in a field of good, if focused on without mentioning the field of good, can ruin a raise or a bonus or a career...

Posts: 33 | From: Pasadena, CA, USA | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

starfish
First Class Passenger
Member # 986

posted 04-15-2000 07:44 AM

Yes, We always do. I think it gives the cruise line an opinion on how their product
performed, what areas need some attention and others that are fine.Look what RCI did with the extra charges on the Voyager.
I don't remember if RCI offered a free cruise drawing this year on the VOTS.

Posts: 225 | From: Dallas,PA | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

KruzinKat
First Class Passenger
Member # 260

posted 04-15-2000 08:34 AM

There's usually SOMETHING (or someONE) we want to comment on - whether it be positive or negative. And we also usually have suggestions for what would have made our cruise experience even better. We figure our best chance of being heard is via those comment cards. So, yes, we complete them. And, based on changes that are being made on cruise lines to meet the "all inclusive" desires of many, I'd say they listen. (Just wish there were more ballroom dancers cruising - then we'd get those larger dance floors!!)

KruzinKat

Posts: 101 | From: Kingston, MA USA | Registered: Jun 99 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 04-16-2000 05:44 PM

My question was prompted by something I read to the effect that that only about 65% of people complete those questionnaires - those who enjoyed the cruise wanted to tell about it; many of those less satisfied probably decided against travelling with the Line again and therefore tossed the forms.

I believe there's something to be learned here
- if you are dissatisfied - spell it out - in detail.
Don't withhold praise where it is due but list the negatives first.

The squeeky wheel invariably gets the oil!

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Ascendancy
First Class Passenger
Member # 840

posted 04-17-2000 02:07 PM

I love to fill out questionaires!
I need to give praise where praise is due.
Of course. Then I need to straighten out my favorite cruise line on a few issues. This is the ship's report card. They compete against the other ships of the same company.

If the cruise line didn't care, they wouldn't send out the comment cards. If I absolutely hated the cruise and the cruise line, I pitch the card. It's not worth my effort.

Posts: 354 | From: Aurora, CO | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

CeJay
Just Boarded
Member # 1244

posted 04-18-2000 11:19 AM

Being avid "cruisers" we always fill out questionnaires as we live in hope that cruise line owners will take note of our kudos and gripes. More particularly, dump the foul-mouthed comedians and substitute good clean comedy or other worthwhile entertainment. On the European cruises enforce the no smoking rule in those parts of the ship so designated. The Emerald we sailed on in the Mediterranea was shear hell.

Posts: 2 | From: Napanee, ON Canada | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

Ascendancy
First Class Passenger
Member # 840

posted 04-19-2000 09:04 AM

Cejay I'm with you on the tasteless comedy.
I have mentioned that on my comment card and I have also mentioned on the Carnival cruise I went on that I didn't appreciate the dancers, male and female, wearing you know, the dental floss up their behind. Entertain me, but let's not try and gross each other out!

Posts: 354 | From: Aurora, CO | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

K&K
First Class Passenger
Member # 1040

posted 04-19-2000 10:17 AM

we too, always fill them out. It has been our experience that the cards filled out and left on the ship stay on the ship. Crew members have told us that good comments about maybe a paticular person or event is one way they earn extra hours off.
It has been our practice that we mail it from home to the cruise lines costomer service. Since we have done this we have gotten a response from the line. We at least no then that our comments did not fall on deaf ears. Also nowhere should we be self patrolled. Just our feelings on the subject.

Posts: 446 | From: Sandpoint,Idaho,USA | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 04-19-2000 12:20 PM

On HAL, those comment sheets are all read by the Hotel Manager. He then outlines different comments for particular departments, in different coloured highlighters. He then holds a staff meeting and goes over every one of them. When I was on the Veendam last month, I walked into the HM's office and he was going over the stack of comments from the previous week's cruise. They do read them and appreciate it when passengers leave them on the ship. HAL has a draw for a very nice, expandable, nylon carry on bag. I have even used this bag as part of my check-in luggage, it holds so much.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

cruznut6
First Class Passenger
Member # 543

posted 04-21-2000 01:41 PM

I think the only way for the cruise lines to
get an accurate picture of how well the public enjoys or dislikes their products is
thru direct feed-back. They can only improve
things when the passengers give them their
opinions, both good and bad. One example is
many ships no longer go to Ocho Rios because
passengers complained about safety and being
harassed. We can affect our cruise experience by supplying the info.

Posts: 161 | From: Mount Laurel, NJ, USA | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 04-21-2000 03:09 PM

Right on folks!
A tossed questionnaire is like saying everything was just fine.

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

denisej
First Class Passenger
Member # 1251

posted 04-27-2000 11:31 AM

We fill them out. I wouldn't suggest tossing them even if everything is just fine. As LizKiddo stated, many of the Asst. Waiters and other can be promoted if their names are mentioned as being "outstanding" or however you want to phrase it. I certainly would want the same if I were in their shoes. Everyone needs to be told they are doing well. There's not enough recognition as all of who work inside and outside the home know. And having said that I just want to say what a wonderful site this Travelpage is. It's won derful to be able to ask a question and get so many informative answers from the seasoned cruisers. There are a lot of sites to click on that just have one opinion, the creator of the site's opinion.

Posts: 32 | From: Rockford, MI USA | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

CB
First Class Passenger
Member # 58

posted 04-27-2000 01:18 PM

We always fill them out because we do not believe there is such a thing as a PERFECT cruise. We always make suggestions on how the line can improve on what went wrong.

We always recognized any staff by NAME so that the individual(s) can be rewarded for good service.

Posts: 109 | From: Arlington, TX, USA | Registered: Mar 99 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 04-27-2000 05:40 PM

There's no such thing as a perfect cruise,there is always something wrong and you've paid for it to be right! I always use my comment card to tell them both positive and negative aspects. But here it is from the horses mouth:

"Royal Caribbean has been analyzing passenger comment cards for nearly 30 years... All of Royal Caribbean's expensive research can be boiled down to a single word -- options. Americans want a vacation that gives them latitude: They want beaches and museums; they want gourmet cuisine on Sunday and pizza on Monday; and they want to hike in the afternoon and to gamble in the evening".

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 04-27-2000 09:28 PM

It's an old saying but I believe it's true -
"You can please some of the people all of the time
"You can please all of the people some of the time
"You can never please all of the people all of the time."

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

denisej
First Class Passenger
Member # 1251

posted 04-28-2000 12:28 PM

I agree with you GREENE. We took our first cruise in Jan to the Southern Caribbean and it was incredible. I'm trying to think hard about anything that I didn't like and I can't think of a thing. Probably because it was our first cruise. Maybe when you cruise more often, you become more critical of each cruise, I hope I don't. With 2500 poeple on board a ship you're bound to find something you don't like (even though I didn't; oh, except that our last day which was our only day at sea it drizzled all afternoon, which of course isn't the cruise lines fault). That's probably the only way we would have gone and packed.

Anyway, don't sweat the small stuff. It's not worth it. Life's too short.

Posts: 32 | From: Rockford, MI USA | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

Gary T
First Class Passenger
Member # 1053

posted 04-28-2000 01:27 PM

We fill out the card and then I e-mailed the line to let them know how wonderful it was. As for the perfect cruise, we had it last week on the Grandeur, for us it was perfect, we could not have asked for more, there we not any improvements that we would have wanted. Just lucky I guess.

Posts: 12 | From: Beverly, MA | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

denisej
First Class Passenger
Member # 1251

posted 05-02-2000 11:02 AM

Gary T - I am so glad that someone else had the perfect cruise with no complaints. We did too, but I was afraid to write that, thinking someone would critisize it with their reply. It's a vacation we'll never forget, and as I read somewhere else, with 2500 people, things aren't going to be perfect all the time, but ours was outstanding. I supposed if I tried real real hard I could find something not to my liking, but things aren't going to taylored around me and I'm very flexible and open-minded when things don't work out.

Posts: 32 | From: Rockford, MI USA | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

mitch
First Class Passenger
Member # 708

posted 05-02-2000 09:39 PM

Yes we always fill out the forms.

Speaking to a crew member on our last cruise they told us that there were many complaints about the entertainment so they changed format and even auditioned staff who now have a permanent show once a week.

It is very popular and was probably the highlight of the week of all the shows.

They do listen and it can make a difference.

Posts: 87 | From: australia | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

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