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Wouldn't a land vacation suit the purpose?Or is it the 'mystique' of saying one has been on a cruise?
quote:Originally posted by M.S.Grumple:I...I'm curious as to why many people bother with cruising if their main interests are shopping malls, coffee shops, internet cafes etc.
I don’t think too many of us here primarily want to cruise on floating shopping malls, well certainly not all the time, hence all of the posts about classic ships. Likewise the general cruising public certainly does not cruise to pay homage to maritime history.
As the Internet and Shopping Malls are part of people’s lives today, and dare I say pleasures, they would certainly expect a floating resort to also have such facilities.
The great thing about cruising is that there is still a variety of ships and experiences on offer, to choose from.
Where's the logic in thinking that folks who like malls, shops, and cafes, wouldn't enjoy the cruise experience? Afterall, a cruise offers something for almost everyone. And just because someone may not enjoy a cruise for the same reasons you do doesn't mean you should question their decision to take a cruise.
By the way, cafes, malls, etc. are nothing new aboard passenger ships,....
As far as purpose is concerned, there's no difference between Lusitania's writing room and the internet cafe on a modern day cruise ship. These days, very few folks sit down and write a letter,...they send emails instead. Other than getting a picture postcard of the ship in the mail, the basic idea is to just say "Having a blast, wish you we're here". The message is the same; it's the way of delivering it that has changed.
And, for the most part, passengers have always been able to shop on passenger ships. Even some of the great pre-WW2 liners such as Normandie, L'Atlantique, Empress of Britain, Bremen, Queen Mary, etc., offered passengers a shopping experience.
You can bet that, if Normandie had places like internet cafes, her passengers would have taken full advantage of them.
Russ
[ 12-10-2003: Message edited by: linerguy ]
Cafes may not be new but malls as they are today certainly are.
As far as purpose is concerned, there's no difference between Lusitania's writing room and the internet cafe on a modern day cruise ship. That may well be true but I doubt that people conducted business from the writing room. At sea, you were out of touch with business and work affairs unless they were of earth shattering proportions - you were on holiday!
And, for the most part, passengers have always been able to shop on passenger ships. True, but shops on board then carried well made, useful articles as well as junky stuff. Try buying a tube of mascara or board these days (almost a basic for many gals on dress up nights) - it's not carried! The Line wants to flog it's overpriced Spa/Beauty Salon services. Most cruise ship stores these days are stocked with overpriced, glitzy stuff. Duty Free prices - that's a joke! Airports carry the same junk!
To each his own - I'll leave the ship Malls to the 'Shop Till you Drop' folks........on a ship, I'm on holiday!......except perhaps for a little bauble as a memento!
Seasons Greetings to All.
And although we don't sail a cruise ship, being on a ship, sitting out on our veranda, and enjoying all the above without the responsibility of the actual mechanics of sailing is pure relaxation for us.
We also enjoy the grandeur of elegant, old-world style sailing that we find on HAL ships. Even with modern ammenities, you can still feel and receive the ambiance of an earlier day when you are treated to HAL service and luxury.
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