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It is easy for me to adapt to a modern boxboat. They do lack the character and history, but easy to get about, and have good facilities. However I would be very happy to re-sail SSNorway, Oceanic, Rotterdam V, Canberra etc.
Many new cruisers, or those that started after year 2000 who only know modern boaxboats would not be happy on a classic liner. Their quirks outweigh the character.
Reasons: small cabin with that tiny round window. slow elevators, quirky layout and easy to get lost. Primitive spa facilities, makeshift show lounges, no atrium.
Any more thoughts?
quote:Originally posted by desirod7:Many new cruisers, or those that started after year 2000 who only know modern boaxboats would not be happy on a classic liner. Their quirks outweigh the character.
Not only classic liners but also older cruise ships. I sailed on the Crown Odyssey now the Balmoral when she was new as well as the Flamenco ex: Spirit Of London when she was old. Both rank among my favorites because of their character. The Crown had an indoor pool which was great when I crossed the Atlantic and both ships had actual movie theatres...not videos in the show lounge.
Reed
It depends why you cruise: sometimes I choose to cruise for the itinerary other times for the ship, sometimes both.
My first cruise was on a big-modern ship (at the time). My next one was on Olsen's Black Watch. I enjoy both big/small and old/new ships for different reasons.
[ 12-02-2008: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]
quote:Originally posted by desirod7:Many new cruisers, or those that started after year 2000 who only know modern boaxboats would not be happy on a classic liner. Their quirks outweigh the character.Reasons: small cabin with that tiny round window. slow elevators, quirky layout and easy to get lost. Primitive spa facilities, makeshift show lounges, no atrium.Any more thoughts?
I disagree on that.We started to cruise in 2003. We sailed on Caronia, Oceanic (2 x), Marco Polo and Costa Marina.
All quite small ships and we liked it very much.Ships were chosen foritinerary AND ship.
Our next cruise will be on Century. Reason ? Port of departure and arrival (Amsterdam) close to home and almost no smaller ships available on the chosen itinerary (North Cape).
It is easier to get lost on a large ship than on a smaller ship. We don't care about spa facilities or entertainment. We can entertain ourselves
by reading a good book or simply sitting on deck and enjoying our day at sea.The cabin is only used to sleep in, that's why we book an inside cabin. Size does not matter.
quote:Originally posted by Willem:I disagree on that..
I disagree on that..
You have missed the entire point of the thread.
again
*People raised on classic liners can enjoy a boxboat and go back to enjoying a classic ship.
*People raised on boxboats are not likely to enjoy a classic liner.
Any more insights?
quote:Originally posted by desirod7:You have missed the entire point of the thread.again*People raised on classic liners can enjoy a boxboat and go back to enjoying a classic ship.*People raised on boxboats are not likely to enjoy a classic liner.Any more insights?
Sorry, but that is not what your original message said
Many new cruisers, or those that started after year 2000 who only know modern boaxboats would not be happy on a classic liner.
We are 'new' cruisers, started after 2000 and are very happy on classic liners.We can also be happy on some of those new ships.
Reasons are in my previous post.
Pam
And mostly... appreciating it was a ship and not a hotel.
I am in agreement, however would Mr and Mrs. Mc Alhenny [from movie Summertime] or a 30-something or younger who just started cruising get it?
quote:Originally posted by TampaMike:The fantail wings of the Oceanic.The deck sheer and expansion joints of Rotterdam V.The myriad of cabin selections of Norway.The Steward CALL buttons in the cabins.My Pajamas being laid out in evening turn down.Assigned Deck Chairs AND Deck Steward.Tableside entree service.Bon Voyage Guests & Parties.Bellman stationed at every lobby and foyer..............................................................................................Fewer meals and venues but higher caliber dining.The thrill of a Telegram being hand delivered.Writing Postcards over sending emails.2 or 3 channel in cabin music (if lucky).Quiet public spaces not stolen for revenue real estate.Passenger Lists published each voyage.And mostly... appreciating it was a ship and not a hotel.
[ 12-11-2008: Message edited by: desirod7 ]
quote:Originally posted by desirod7:Mike,I am in agreement, however would Mr and Mrs. Mc Alhenny [from movie Summertime] or a 30-something or younger who just started cruising get it? [ 12-11-2008: Message edited by: desirod7 ]
Likely the benchmark reference to cruising for people <30 is Love Boat reruns. So no, unless they had family who had sailed prior to Love Boat or know of people like ourselves who have shared these experiences of cruising prior to the explosion of shipbuilding and production cruising.
quote:Originally posted by TampaMike:And mostly... appreciating it was a ship and not a hotel.
Nice list, some of which are still around.. but you forgot to add the relative cost. Quite substantially higher than today.
quote:Originally posted by jetwet1:I would have to agree, while I was raised on the QE2 and the Cunard Countess my wife was "raised" on the Holiday then Vista class ships, she now refuses to sail on the "old" ships because of a lack of facilities and for the fact that you have to pay a small fortune to get a balcony cabin.
Mind you that Cunard Countess and also QE2 are in some aspects actually comparably modern ships.
quote:Originally posted by Ernst:Mind you that Cunard Countess and also QE2 are in some aspects actually comparably modern ships.
In what way?
PS:In Rhodes on our Galaxy cruise. The SAPPHIRE, and KRISTINA REGINA were in port. My partner who started cruising in 2006 on the QM2 looked at those and nodded no.
Our first day on the Galaxy we walked from bow to stern on deck, and when arriving at stern, he remarked, that is it?, it did not take 10 minutes.
quote:Originally posted by desirod7:In what way?[....]
[....]
The decor is VERY different - both are very modern in that respect compared to a really old ship. (there is not a lot of 'wood and brass')The layout is different - QE2 is of course not the same as Cunard Countess but also her arrangement of public rooms is hardly 'typical' for an old ship. (e.g. the restaurants aboard QE2 are in a rather high position with large windows) The slightly weired or confused layout of QE2 is of course closer to an old ship that e.g. Cunard Countess but I still miss e.g. the maze of cabin corridors found about really old ships. Beside that, Cunard Countess and QE2 are rather boxy ships and they do not have a riveted hull. At least QE2 was steam powered for some time. (of course, these details are much less relevant if not irrelevant for the onboard experience)
Back in the 1970's if you did the round the world winter cruises on a UK owned passenger ship the staff would remember you from year to year.
They would know in the bars what you drunk and the G&T or Scotch and water would be ready when you walked into the room.
With most companies now you are just a means of earning money with the minimum of service !
One exception I know of is Fred Olsen Cruises where friends on mine make about four cruises a year and still find the service is the same as in the 1970's with your favorit tipple remembered.
Most passengers cruising now have no idea of what service on a cruise ship should be like as most ships are operate more like a glorified cheap holiday camp !
[ 12-30-2008: Message edited by: Neil Whitmore ( Bob ex P&O Cruises) ]
quote:Originally posted by Neil Whitmore ( Bob ex P&O Cruises):The personal touch on most cruise ships is now missing.Back in the 1970's if you did the round the world winter cruises on a UK owned passenger ship the staff would remember you from year to year. [...]
Back in the 1970's if you did the round the world winter cruises on a UK owned passenger ship the staff would remember you from year to year. [...]
That might be true but who cares about most cruise ships? Luckily there are still many more intimate ships with personal service 'like in the good old days' around. (and Fred Olsen is fortunately not the only choice) I would even go that far to say that there are more berths on 'more intimate' ships that there were in the 70ies. Yes, they are not as cheap as the mainstream cruise lines BUT let's not forget: cruising in the 70ies on these ships was not cheap either - the 'mainstream segment' we know today just did not exist back then.
Clarksons was one of the companies offering these cruises around the Greek islands with return flights included in the cost.
An 11 day holiday which included the flights to and from the ship, an ensuite cabin and full board was £115.00p per person.
I did one of these trips and we flew into Rimini and joined the ship, which belonged to Epirotiki cruises, at Ancona.
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