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[ 06-27-2003: Message edited by: sympatico ]
quote: remember when Joe and Malcom were the experts?
Now its Cruiseny
I think there are cruises out there for everyone, like a person going on a Fred Olsen ships would never go on a Carnival ship....
quote:Originally posted by Ðraikar:remember when Joe and Malcom were the experts? ....
Remember it's quality, not quantity
We're still around, we just have a hard time getting a word in edge-wise sometimes...
Joe at TravelPage.com
Most of the members of this board actually CARE and have a PASSION for ships. It's why we belong to this and other message boards. We are NOT the one or two time cruisers that don't even know the name of the ship we are sailing on. If you want that, then there are plenty of other lists that deal with the basics of cruising.
Many of us have been taking cruises for years, and we have watched the cruise industry transform itself from a sleepy industry to a major player in the vacation market. Some of the changes have been great, others have been less than acceptable.
It's not all complaints either, most of us are quick to point out the good aspects of ships as well. In the end, we love them and enjoy talking about them immensely. Give us a little slack and you might even learn a thing or two!
Ernie
quote:Originally posted by eroller:There is a good reason people bitch about ships on this board. It's simply because they care! Most of the members of this board actually CARE and have a PASSION for ships. It's why we belong to this and other message boards. We are NOT the one or two time cruisers that don't even know the name of the ship we are sailing on. If you want that, then there are plenty of other lists that deal with the basics of cruising. Many of us have been taking cruises for years, and we have watched the cruise industry transform itself from a sleepy industry to a major player in the vacation market. Some of the changes have been great, others have been less than acceptable.It's not all complaints either, most of us are quick to point out the good aspects of ships as well. In the end, we love them and enjoy talking about them immensely. Give us a little slack and you might even learn a thing or two! Ernie
Yea but Ernie, i can identify a ship by looking at it. I would know what ship im on and i've only been on one cruise. I know a lot about ships, i wouldn't say im a Doug, but i know quite a bit. And we are saying that it's a little rediculous that people complain about that stuff. Ships are your vacation. Not to complain about because they are ugly lol.
quote:Originally posted by BermudaBoy: Ships are your vacation. Not to complain about because they are ugly lol.
Ships are your vacation. Not to complain about because they are ugly lol.
Understood, but on this board ships mean more to most then just a vacation. It's basically a hobby. Some people are really into cars, others airplanes, maybe trains, and so on. In each case there are message boards just like this one where people passionately discuss and dissect each aspect of the hobby they are speaking of.
You may think it's ridiculous, but to many like myself ships are a hobby I enjoy discussing. It's not so much about the vacation aspect, it's about the ships themselves, the history, the evolution, and the mechanics. The vacation aspect is only a small part of it.
Of course most of us ship lovers also enjoy taking cruises as well!
quote:Originally posted by eroller:Understood, but on this board ships mean more to most then just a vacation.(snip)You may think it's ridiculous, but to many like myself ships are a hobby I enjoy discussing. It's not so much about the vacation aspect, it's about the ships themselves, the history, the evolution, and the mechanics. The vacation aspect is only a small part of it.
Exactly!
Certainly ships are a nice way to vacation, but there are people who like to cruise and then there are people who are nuts about ships. The people who like to cruise will be concerned only with having a nice time; the ship nuts like to dissect everything and could (and do ) have endless discussions about seemingly ridiculous topics, which may look like bitching and moaning to those who really aren't interested. If you aren't interested, that's OK, just ignore it !
quote:Originally posted by Jamaica Jeff:Do people enjoy cruising any more? It seems this board is nothing but complaining and wining lately.
Interesting point!
I think many of us her are Ocean Liner fans and not just cruise fans. Many of us are interested in maritime history and not just modern vacations on floating resort. The reason that we moan, is that we care! It can be argued that the once luxury experience of ocean travel is being ‘dumbed down’.
On the other hand, you are right, times have changed. This is truly a new golden age of cruising. More ships, and bigger ships, are being built, than in any other time in history.
The facilities onboard ships are better and broader than ever and the fares are more competitive than ever. There is a choice of experiences on offer to suit everyone.
Yes there is some moaning, but it would not be much of a forum if everyone said that every ship and every cruise was perfect.
quote:Originally posted by Jamaica Jeff:And remember when Joe and Malcom were the experts?
I was NEVER an expert! I am a regular that never went away and normally has something to say.
In the early days, Cruisetalk used to be like a private club with just two members, Joe and myself! It's nice to see more opinions bounced around, these days.
It's just a pity that so many of you are wrong, so much of the time!
[ 06-28-2003: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]
quote:Originally posted by Jamaica Jeff:What really got me started on this topic was a statement by cruiseny on another topic. He stated that Grand Class ships have spelled the end of Princess.
I don't think I said that. Princess is here to stay.
Now, they may have spelled the end of Princess as a premium-market company, but that's a whole different thing.
I'd be glad to respond to anything, if you can find an actual quote first !
quote:Originally posted by Jamaica Jeff:Look at your post under Ultimate Princess on the cruiseship section.
What I meant was, for those that say that Princess is being "ruined", the GRAND PRINCESS was the final nail in the coffin.
And honestly I DO think they've been ruined though they're entirely to blame. GRAND PRINCESS might have initally been impressive by virtue of her size but these ships are the dullest, least interesting, least inspired, least original ships out there, overall (IMO) the epitome of what people don't like about the cruise industry nowadays (though others would point the finger at Carnival or the VOYAGER-class).
quote:P.S. Not much on TV this time of night is there?
No, I suppose not.
....peter
To think that these vessels originate from the likes of Pacific Princess and her stablemates.
This is probably a generation thing. I would not board one of the new ships even if it were free.
The Grand looks like an overgrown toy with a handle at the stern for some giant to bend down and pick up. An abomination.
quote:Originally posted by topgun:This is probably a generation thing. I would not board one of the new ships even if it were free.
Well if it's "a generation thing"... What generation actually LIKES them?
On the other hand, one of your despised ones, the Coral Princess, is a pleasure to be on board with absolutely no problems at all - including the gangway which is a ramp.
...peter
While I liked the older ships as ships, I wasn't thrilled with the food; on both ships it was very bland. Golden Princess was the first time I really enjoyed Princess food (it wasn't bad on the Crown Princess, but that's a ship that I really did dislike).
quote:Originally posted by Jamaica Jeff:I agree JP, it is OK to like older ships and also like newer ones.
New ships I like:P&O's ORIANA and AURORAStar's SUPERSTAR LEO and VIRGOCelebrity's CENTURY-classRCI's RADIANCE-classCosta's ALLEGRA, CLASSICA, ROMANTICASEVEN SEAS VOYAGER
See - I actually DO like some new ships!
As for the hypothetical free cruise business - I wouldn't turn down a free cruise on anything! OK, I'd turn down a free cruise in a canoe, or the MAYFLOWER, or something like that... But there is NO mainstream passenger ship in the world today on which I'd ACTUALLY turn down a free cruise. Sure, I'd be more excited about a free cruise in the top suite on the QE2 than in the bilge of GRAND PRINCESS, but turn it down? NEVER .
[ 07-01-2003: Message edited by: cruiseny ]
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