One cruise bashing website hasn’t had anything even remotely tantalyzing in weeks. The bottom feeders must be getting pretty hungry. (heh-heh-heh)

I can pretty much always catalogue the complainers, first time or otherwise. The real whiners are usually those who calim to have either been on their first cruise or they’ve cruised a gazillion times and this latest one is the worst.

The cruise complainer writing his rant following his initial cruise (I mean the types that hate EVERYTHING about the cruise), are often the type of whom one often says here in the South, “He fell off the turnip truck just yesterday.”

Of course with the “seasoned” complaining cruiser, he usually gives himself away by claiming that something that was actually trivial almost to the extreme ruined his trip. You mean, this guy would have us believe that NOTHING untoward ever happened on his gazillion previous cruises?

I honestly wonder if some people really are cognizant of how transparent they actually are.

I recently read a review where the fellow who wrote it stated up front that he views the glass as “half full” as opposed to “half empty.” Right there told me this review was worth reading and it was.

I only wish that more people would post reviews of their cruises. I know that when I was anticipating my first cruise, I found them not only so helpful, but interesting as well….even those that were somewhat unfavorable.

And I agree everyone should keep pounding the “Get A Cruise Trained Travel Agent!” drum because while it may become “oh hum… we KNOW that” to “old salts,” there’s a newbie that drops by every day. We should all remember that.

Oh and yeah Paul, I’d love to cruise on Silverseas. The only reason I don’t is because I don’t want to get too spoiled. Oh and by the way, I’ve got this bridge for sale that spans the East River and…..

Todd De Haven

http://www.cruisemates.com/articles/memreviews/rci/serenade23.cfm

Here is a review I just got today from a giy who spent $16,000 for an Alaska cruise on a mainstream line. 2 suites because he brought his two kids.

He spent a lot of money, but the things he complains about seem pretty trifling; the virtial golf, the breakfast buffet, etc.

If it had been me, having booked 2 suites I would have complained on board. If I had a suite I would have had room service breakfast on my balcony every morning – not go to the buffet. With thta kind of money, I would have gone to the Grill for special food every night.

I certainly would not have settled for less-than excellent room stewards.

What people like him do not see is that he spent $4000/person to go on the same ship where others were spending $700 and they were getting the same food, entertainment, golf simulator, etc.

If you want to splurge, go on an upscale cruise line.

This is one person who really should have used a travel agent, and you are COMPLETELY right about this. Most people who don’t go to travel agents is because they think the agent is out to get them, when in fact the agent gets paid by the cruise line. He probably thought he could SAVE MONEY by booking it himself, but instead he felt ripped off.

He could have booked Crystal, Regent or Silversea for that kind of money. Or a nice suite on Holland America.

You may have missed the point I was making on on my blog. I wasn’t just ranting against first time cruisers. I actually remember my first cruise very well, and I still remember the feelings. It’s what hooked me on cruising, and it was actually on an “old tug” that was on it’s last sailing, having been sold to some company to cruise in Asia.

The thing is, those first time cruisers, as well as more experienced cruisers, can find CruiseMates so easily AFTER their cruises, to give a voice to their complaints, because they make the effort to do so.

If they’d put in that effort in advance, they’d so often have saved themselves from a lot of grief.

I just don’t understand people putting so much money on the line without at least knowing a bit about it, and PARTICULARILY when the information can be found so easily, and its FREE!

I think it’s VERY important that people, first time cruisers or otherwise, post their complaints. But the complaints bear so much more weight when they are spoken reasonably from a somewhat informed point of view.

In the example you sight about ships and hurricanes, I think it’s highly unlikely that it’s only first time cruisers who were demanding compensation. “Experienced” cruisers too can want to hold someone else responsible for any type of mishaps.

I certainly don’t expect first time cruisers to know everything. After 50+ cruises I believe I still learn something new each time I cruise. That is part of what keeps me excited to go, and go again.

But people should know SOMETHING before spending their money. Personally I’d never spend $1000 and more without at least taking a peek at some details of what I’m buying. That’s what befuddles me.

TRUE story….Just today I went golfing, and a lady joined our group…. an excellent golfer by the way; she sadly put me to shame.
At the end of the game she said another playing partner with us told her I write about cruises, so she told me she was going on her third cruise in two weeks. I asked her which ship, and she said … Princess.
I told her I hoped she had a great time. I wanted to add…. and I hope there aren’t two or more Princess ships in port.

Regards,
Kuki