Cruising is brilliant and should never be questioned

DavidBgood · #1 (**permalink**) May 18th, 2007, 03:42 PM

Cruising is brilliant and should never be questioned, actually is that how it appears today.

IS there a place for Griping in today’s cruise market? A position… not seen for at least 5 years, and are there are still problems?

From your cabin facilities, to dining, to other passengers, to the price of the experienced excursions and what you get for YOUR MONEY.

No one complains anymore

Personally, I'm beginning to think that from the cheapest bucket line cruise to the most expensive "specialist" cruise that the lines now have it all under control and perfect.

And that must mean, that it was just a problem back then, that no longer exists. As people are just happy with what they get for their money and just happy to be on a ship.

So the lines win and those that knew different have since died or gone away. And the new market, or new people, are just so happy with what is being offered today, that it fits all the slots for "your money" spent.

I cannot believe that ......all boxes are ticked for all…and on all lines.

So no need for Gripes as a board, but just a thought here. If gripes did exist and on CM was important. Would you not expect to see posts or thoughts from the crew? That Chit Chat or review, when was the last time?

Just another reason as to why it should maybe no longer exist

nlb1050 · #2 (**permalink**) May 18th, 2007, 05:28 PM

David,

I've only been on 4 cruises so far and have to say that while not everyting was perfect I truly have not had anything to really gripe about.

The last cruise had the most things that were not perfect but still. I guess I could gripe that on the last cruise you could not use the pool or hot tubs after 5pm. That would have to be my worst complaint. And that if you wanted to sit anywhere on he pool deck if was impossible to find any chairs that were not completely tied down.

I do look at the Gripes board every time I'm on Cruisemates and have to say that some gripes are just too funny for me to beleive. Others are definitely justifable. I don't think I have ever replied to any post on Gripes till now, but felt I should.

I usely read any post you make and must say you never really let me down with whatever you have said. Sure I don't always agree but you make valid points. But not this time. There is room for the Gripes board. It allows someone to make their gripe without it being on the line board and getting more flames than are necessary.

I have learned a lot from a lot of the posts in the Gripe Board and hope to keep doing so.

mehawk · #3 (**permalink**) May 18th, 2007, 06:22 PM

Cruising is the most efficient was to spend your vacation dollars.

colorcrazie · #4 (**permalink**) May 19th, 2007, 01:53 PM

I love my hubby, too, but trust me....that does not mean that I don't have any gripes about him!
I do still here complaints on cruises, more so than here on CM. It's just that the things people gripe about are different. And I do think that the cruise lines have improved some of the things that used to be a problem. Other things have gone downhill, in my opinion, but overall, any cruise is better than no cruise.

Marty

DavidBgood · #5 (**permalink**) May 20th, 2007, 03:10 PM

nlb1050, thanks for taking the time to give your view and in some ways it summed it all up. People may feel they have nothing "that important" to Gripe about today regarding their cruise.

As people and passengers we now appear to just accept, well that’s how it is now....and we live with it.

And we as people rebalance expectations of the others around us and their behaviour, then what you are seeing is just acceptance of people v people and the more so the lines regarding that persons cruise expectation against actual product delivered: Do all the boxes always get ticked now when someone spemds all that money to cruise?

In my opinion, that is what has happened, people are now so much more accepting of the environment “presented�? or of other people than they used to be when on ship.

But what really worries me is . …. How many of them walk away from that line, ship or cruise saying "never again"? and having spent a right few bucks to get it wrong.

And how many of them have come here and "told the story" later to give fellow cruisers an incite into what pee'd them off and why that line or ship may not suit all demographics?

But do me a favour and come here and tell us why “this line or ship�? did not work for you, and why it may not have not been “all you expected�? for your money.

For me that’s a GRIPE for that person and a chance to vent, but at the same time it’s advice to others of a similar age and thought process, that are maybe ready to spend money on said ship or line.

nlb1050 · #6 (**permalink**) May 20th, 2007, 04:21 PM

David your statements are so true.

re my statement: The last cruise had the most things that were not perfect but still. I guess I could gripe that on the last cruise you could not use the pool or hot tubs after 5pm. That would have to be my worst complaint. And that if you wanted to sit anywhere on he pool deck if was impossible to find any chairs that were not completely tied down.

I did not find it that important to include in my review (which is on CM - under MSC Lirica) but myself and another lady did talk with one of the officers one eveing and that was part of our conversation. And I did put that on my comment card at the end of the cruise.

But I didn't feel that it was important enough to make a gripe on here about it.

If I saw someone ask a question that my statement would apply to I would reply.

I feel that the Gripe board is really for REAL Gripes. And so many use it for many small things.

I may not post much to any threads but do when I feel that I truly have something to contribute.

Inis46 · #7 (**permalink**) May 20th, 2007, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidBgood

Cruising is brilliant and should never be questioned, actually is that how it appears today.

IS there a place for Griping in today’s cruise market? A position… not seen for at least 5 years, and are there are still problems?

From your cabin facilities, to dining, to other passengers, to the price of the experienced excursions and what you get for YOUR MONEY.

No one complains anymore

Personally, I'm beginning to think that from the cheapest bucket line cruise to the most expensive "specialist" cruise that the lines now have it all under control and perfect.

And that must mean, that it was just a problem back then, that no longer exists. As people are just happy with what they get for their money and just happy to be on a ship.

So the lines win and those that knew different have since died or gone away. And the new market, or new people, are just so happy with what is being offered today, that it fits all the slots for "your money" spent.

I cannot believe that ......all boxes are ticked for all…and on all lines.

So no need for Gripes as a board, but just a thought here. If gripes did exist and on CM was important. Would you not expect to see posts or thoughts from the crew? That Chit Chat or review, when was the last time?

Just another reason as to why it should maybe no longer exist

Exactly! Whether it is about how much we have to pay for gas....cost of stamps.....government policies......lack of government policies......whatever. Oh sure, we all complain but ultimately we just suck it up and continue on with living.

kryos · #8 (**permalink**) May 30th, 2007, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidBgood

No one complains anymore

Personally, I'm beginning to think that from the cheapest bucket line cruise to the most expensive "specialist" cruise that the lines now have it all under control and perfect.

You'd better believe people gripe ... and gripe more than ever. That's why cruise lines make changes ... like HAL did with limiting smoking in a lot of areas on their ships where it was permitted before.

From what I understand, the best place to complain is on your comment card. Those cards are actually read by several people. Onboard staff can be promoted, commended, fired, etc. ... strictly on the basis of those comment cards. They are a very, very powerful tool in the hands of passengers ... and what's more, passengers have learned this and are using it to their advantage.

It's nice to have a gripe board here, though I wonder how much good it does other than allowing us a place to vent. But take the time to fill out that comment card ... and you can rest assured that at least your complaint will be read by people in a position to do something about it ... and, if your complaint is one of many about the same problem, you're almost guaranteed to see some changes by the time your next cruise rolls around.

Blue skies ...

--rita