Non-cruisers Explain Why It's So
John Sisker
We came across this information in the trades and thought it would be of
interest to this newsgroup as well. If this is somehow a repeat of an
earlier post, sorry we apparently missed it. This can always be ignored or
deleted. Likewise, if it is indeed a repeat of an earlier post, this may
offer a slightly different take and style of reporting from the trades on
the subject matter, and at least it has not been edited... for what it is
worth.
Happy sailing,
John Sisker
SHIP-TO-SHORE CRUISE AGENCY®
(714) 536-3850 or toll free at
(800) 724-6644 & (pagoo ID: 714.536.3850)
http://www.shiptoshorecruise.com
CLIA took an unusual step in helping agents sell cruises Sunday, by
introducing attendees at the cruise3sixty conference in Fort Lauderdale to a
panel of consumers from across the nation who have never cruised and have no
desire to do so. It helped CLIA show the challenges in the marketplace and
helped agents identify the concerns and misperceptions consumers have. When
asked to shut their eyes and then immediately open them and say what one
strong perception about cruising they had, the consumers said: Kathie Lee
Gifford; a swimming pool and beach balls; the newlywed, overfed and nearly
dead; a big crowded ship; relaxation; lots of drinking; and gambling. The
consumers who had used an agent said in most cases, their agent never
brought up the idea of a cruise. All used the Internet to research and even
book other travel. About half said they would book a cruise online
themselves, while the other half said it was too complex and they would use
a travel agent. Nearly all liked the idea that they could go on the Internet
24-7 and even at 2 a.m. and book what they wanted. What would it take to get
these consumers onboard a cruise ship? One man said he would like longer,
exotic cruises, but didn't have the time. One said her husband would have to
be convinced. Another said he would want a big ship so he did not get
seasick. Asked to list perceptions about typical cruisers, the consumers
identified: a man in a Bermuda shirt, shorts and flip flops; somebody up
north who is retired flying down for a cruise; a baby boomer looking for
fun; a cruise ship full screaming kids or a ship full of 80-year-old plus
travelers; a senior group traveling together; and a guy with tacky clothing.
Would the non-cruisers plan a cruise for a special anniversary or event? No,
said the majority; they would rather go to Rome, Paris or Lake Como, Italy.
Do the recent events of the past few weeks with cruise ships safety
incidents concern them? Most said "no."
Frank from Deeetroit
"John Sisker" <jsi...@sprynet.com> wrote in message
news:5x__f.3528$sq5...@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
Frank from Deeetroit
vacation spot I have ever been to has people this panel describes with a
negative connotation, young, old, pools, beach balls, relaxation, tacky
clothes etc. Did the panel describe their ideal vacation and what would
please them?
The panel seemed pleased with the convenience of using the internet, but if
they chose not to cruise, so be it. What conclusion is drawn? The
panelists do not like cruising but they enjoy the internet to check on their
travel plans.
The cruise industry is expanding and new bigger ships are being built to
replace older ship with less amenities. The industry does not build bigger
ships to sail with less passengers. The panelist's excuses are pretty
lame, a bigger ship, ha. The new ships are almost as big as an aircraft
carrier, how much bigger does this dumbass what? Convince her husband? She
should go by herself and have some fun (maybe she could find a date on board
and have a more fun for once in her life). The guy wants a longer exotic
cruise, find the time, and book one on a slow container ship and relax.
Let these wallflower panelists stay home or go somewhere else while the rest
of us wear tacky clothes and have some fun, seeya by the pool!
Frank
"John Sisker" <jsi...@sprynet.com> wrote in message
news:5x__f.3528$sq5...@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
John Sisker
Good point, but I think the article was meant to prove something. The idea
was apparently to gather people who did not want a cruise, to show and hear
their reactions and perceptions. Now it is up to us to turn a negative into
a positive. In other words, what can be said to convince people with this
type of mindset otherwise? The idea was to not stick the deck (no pun
intended) to begin with, but to show things as they really are.
John Sisker
SHIP-TO-SHORE CRUISE AGENCY®
(714) 536-3850 or toll free at
(800) 724-6644 & (pagoo ID: 714.536.3850)
http://www.shiptoshorecruise.com
"Frank from Deeetroit" <dadur...@voyager.net> wrote in message
news:Rb2dncROYdj...@comcast.com...
Frank from Deeetroit
My wife and I have been married for 24 years and we took our first cruise
two years ago. Our previous travels took us to Mexico, the Carribean,
various places in the US, the UK, Ireland, France, and the Netherlands.
Always ones to travel around on our own and explore the local sights, we
always felt that a cruise may find us confined to the ship and rushed
to/from the daily port stops.
We booked our first cruise (on impulse after seeing a tv ad on a winter day)
on NCL two years ago, departing out of San Juan. It took until breakfast on
the first morning for us to realise what we have deprived ourselves of for
so many years. A cruise is a combination of so many elements that when put
together make a great package. We took our children on a Texaribean cruise
a year ago, and my wife and I are book for a Carnival cruise out of San Juan
in two weeks.
Considering all costs, and a hotel stay the night before and after our next
cruise, the costs are in the $175 - $185.00 range, per person, per day. Not
too expensive for the return.
I do not recall if the group of panelists are regular travelers or not. If
they are not regular travelers, perhaps all of the convincing will fall on
deaf ears. But for regular travelers, they should at least try one. We
found the experience a good one.
The scary part is my wife found an ad for the QM2 and has made suggestions
that we look into an Atlantic crossing in 07...yikes! I believe the costs
for that cruise will far exceed the $175 - $185.00 per day cost of our
Carnival cruise.
Good day
"John Sisker" <jsi...@sprynet.com> wrote in message
news:CzN%f.4362$sq5....@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
Brian
wrote:
>To Whom It May Concern:
>
>We came across this information in the trades and thought it would be of
>interest to this newsgroup as well. If this is somehow a repeat of an
>earlier post, sorry we apparently missed it. This can always be ignored or
>deleted. Likewise, if it is indeed a repeat of an earlier post, this may
>offer a slightly different take and style of reporting from the trades on
>the subject matter, and at least it has not been edited... for what it is
>worth.
>
>Happy sailing,
>John Sisker
>SHIP-TO-SHORE CRUISE AGENCY®
>(714) 536-3850 or toll free at
>(800) 724-6644 & (pagoo ID: 714.536.3850)
>http://www.shiptoshorecruise.com
We've been on one cruise and while I wouldn't say we wouldn't go
again, we're not booking another anytime soon.
We were in a suite and so got better treatment than a lot of others
but I still found that we had trouble getting information about what
we were supposed to do, such as the procedure when we docked at ports.
When we asked questions, we were sometimes treated as if we were
stupid for not knowing the ship procedures on our first cruise. We
were supposed to be able to have an expedited procedure for excursions
but we weren't told and wound up running from one place to another up
and down stairs. I don't have the greatest knees so that wasn't
appreciated. At one point the calendar of activities and we
specifically asked for one for that day. We got back up to our room
and found we had been given one for the next day. (It was well before
midnight.) When we went back down, the man very haughtily didn't say
anything and pointed to an area where there was a display. At the back
of the display, we found what we were looking for.
There was a great deal of the cattle call atmosphere.
There's a certain amount of BS being told what to do such as
supposedly not being able to bring alcohol on board. We did but didn't
like the uncertainty and the feeling that we were doing something that
we shouldn't. Although someone said they had a problem at a hotel, we
never have.
We went with the plan for soft drinks and were ripped off. You need to
take it for the first and last day and they weren't as expensive as we
thought they would be. There was no place to find that information
ahead of time.
There's a tremendous amount of wasted time. We went to Alaska and it
would have been difficult to duplicate on our own. If we go back to
Alaska, we may try doing things on our own.
The first time we went to Hawaii, I asked our travel agent about a
cruise. She said that it would not be what we wanted. I can't imagine
only having a few hours on each island.
I prefer to make my own arrangements on trips and a cruise has to make
it easier for me rather than more difficult.
And to top it off, we spent a good deal of time filling out the
questionnaire at the end and never even got a response.
This was on a ship that was rated as the #1 ship in the world by
somebody. I can't imagine what it would be like on another ship.
We were paying about $1000/day plus excursions. The room was very nice
but we didn't feel like we got the level of service we should have
gotten. For that matter, we didn't always get the level of service
we'd expect for a mid-priced cabin. And the BS exists for everyone.
We generally like where we go on vacations and where we stay. The
cruise has a lot of great memories for us, but there were a lot of
unresolved negatives.
Different people have different priorities on how to spend money. We
like to travel and spend a fair amount on it every year.
Perhaps you could pass our concerns along.
big...@backpacker.com
1. They can change itineraries at will with no refund. That is not
acceptable. If I pay to go to Caribbean I will not accept being sent to
friggin Canada. There would be a mutiny.
2. Being stuck with a bunch of ignorant Americans doesnt sound like
fun. Smoker trash and rugrats running loose. No way.
3. Paying for beverages. What a ripoff!!!
4. Not ever really seeing destinations.
5. Being part of a herd doesent appeal to ,e
Rosalie B.
>I have no interest in cruising. Here's why:
So basically my question is - why are you posting here?
>
>1. They can change itineraries at will with no refund. That is not
>acceptable. If I pay to go to Caribbean I will not accept being sent to
>friggin Canada. There would be a mutiny.
That isn't the way it is done. Ports are changed from one location in
the body of water to another. If you are talking about Bermuda (which
I suspect you are), Bermuda is NOT the Caribbean. You would be
changed from one Atlantic Ocean port to another. There isn't a lot of
choice out in the middle of the Atlantic.
>
>2. Being stuck with a bunch of ignorant Americans doesnt sound like
>fun. Smoker trash and rugrats running loose. No way.
>
It takes one to know one.
>3. Paying for beverages. What a ripoff!!!
>
You don't have to pay for all beverages. You just have to be willing
to drink what is free. It isn't a booze cruise after all.
>4. Not ever really seeing destinations.
>
That is sometimes a problem.
>5. Being part of a herd doesent appeal to ,e
Me neither. I'd certainly rather go on my own boat, or fly and stay
at the destination for a longer time. But sometimes that's too
expensive or too stressful.
grandma Rosalie
Charles
<gmbe...@mindspring.com> wrote:
> So basically my question is - why are you posting here?
He is a troll. Not worth replying too. I have seen his posts on other
groups and he trolls there too. He just posts to bait people.
--
Charles
Kurt Ullman
>
> >3. Paying for beverages. What a ripoff!!!
> >
> You don't have to pay for all beverages. You just have to be willing
> to drink what is free. It isn't a booze cruise after all.
Especially since I don't know of many places where you can get your
booze for free. Maybe I am getting ripped off, but the drink prices
aren't that much more than my favorite dive at home.
Rosalie B.
It was sort of a rhetorical question. I was being sarcastic. I don't
know if there is an emoticon for sarcasm.
grandma Rosalie
big...@backpacker.com
the body of water to another. If you are talking about Bermuda (which
I suspect you are), Bermuda is NOT the Caribbean. You would be
changed from one Atlantic Ocean port to another. There isn't a lot of
choice out in the middle of the Atlantic. <<
Bermuda has more in common with the Caribbean than that waste of land
called Canada. It is horrible how cruisers wouls accept such a
substitution. At least the ones heading to South America had some guts
Rosalie B.
Whether Bermuda has more in common with the Caribbean or not has
nothing to do with it. When you are traveling by boat, you have to
stay in the ocean you are in.
Traveling from the east coast of the US to Bermuda probably takes
close to 2 days. From the same place to the Caribbean would take at
least 4 days to get to Puerto Rico. If the cruise is only 7 days, you
wouldn't get there before you'd have to turn around and go back.
Plus the reason that you'd have to divert would be because of weather.
In the summer the weather you are avoiding is probably coming north,
so you (or at least *I*) would not want to head south right toward it.
grandma Rosalie
Nonnymus
> I have no interest in cruising. Here's why:
Nice troll. Come here to 'Vegas. We don't have any of
those things you dislike.
>
> 1. They can change itineraries at will with no refund. That is not
> acceptable. If I pay to go to Caribbean I will not accept being sent to
> friggin Canada. There would be a mutiny.
Our casinos are bolted down and aren't even on barges like
some other cities. They tend to stay put. One tried to get
away and go to Canada, but Tobie and Barb sent it back under
an amnesty plan for runaway casinos.
>
> 2. Being stuck with a bunch of ignorant Americans doesnt sound like
> fun. Smoker trash and rugrats running loose. No way.
Here in 'Vegas, we have some ignorant Americans, but we also
have flights in from all over the world. You'll see lots of
ignorant foreigners, also, when you visit 'Vegas. Besides,
we have the best mayor of any city in the world. He has
stated to the press the he thinks that when the police catch
graffiti vandals, they should cut their thumbs off. I agree
with him. He is also the spokesman for Bombay Gin. I like
that, also.
>
> 3. Paying for beverages. What a ripoff!!!
Here in 'Vegas, you just sit at a table gambling or playing
the slots, and good looking gals in their underwear come and
bring you FREE drinks. I like that, also, but cannot afford
the gambling losses I rack up getting those free drinks. I
tried to get Mrs. Nonnymus to put on underwear and bring me
a free drink last night, but she hurt my feelings. . . and I
now have a knot on my head where she hit me with her cane.
>
> 4. Not ever really seeing destinations.
Wow, just take a cab ride from McCarran Airport. Tell the
driver, "I've never been here before. Take the fast way to
Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Tropicana or MGM Grand." The driver
will then take the tunnel under the airport, circle the city
three times and deposit you at your hotel a couple hundred
dollars away. It's called Long Hauling, and is almost an
art here among our cabbies.
>
> 5. Being part of a herd doesent appeal to ,e
,e either. I prefer to be an individual and march to the
beat of ,y own drum. This is particularly true on the
Interstate, where
I prefer driving in the ONCOMING lane so I can see the
oncoming cars a lot better.
<all in fun> Nonnymus
Dillon Pyron
If I don't think the emotion will get through, I usually use the
metatags <sarcasm></sarcasm>. In the old days it would be SET SARCASM
and SET NOSARCASM.
--
dillon
I didn't climb to the top of the
food chain to become a vegetartian.
Tobie Gerbrandt
Actually, this "waste of land" rejected the runaway casino because it
couldn't speak "Canadian eh!"
Tobie>>>>on an Island in the Pacific
"Nonnymus" <Nob...@cox.net> wrote in message
news:Icz0g.64751$bm6.5278@fed1read04...
Crabman
> If I don't think the emotion will get through, I usually use the
> metatags <sarcasm></sarcasm>. In the old days it would be SET SARCASM
> and SET NOSARCASM.
LOL, I love it.
Jean O'Boyle
"Tobie Gerbrandt" <chez...@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:4jA0g.30279$WI1.22594@pd7tw2no...
> Tom,
>
> Actually, this "waste of land" rejected the runaway casino because it
> couldn't speak "Canadian eh!"
>
> Tobie>>>>on an Island in the Pacific
Thanks for a good laugh, Nonny and Tobie!
Some people are just unhappy about being unhappy!
Sorry he said what he did about Canada..we have always thought it to be
beautiful and friendly...is there something we are missing? Tobie, I guess
he has never been to your *Island in the Pacific* either!
I'll watch out for you on the freeway next time I'm in Vegas, Nonny!!! ;-)
--Jean
Dillon Pyron
In VMS, we had SET ON condition command, such as SET ON FATAL EXIT
To counter all of the previously set conditions, we would do something
call lunching it.
SET NOON
Earl Colby Pottinger
> I have no interest in cruising. Here's why:
>
> 1. They can change itineraries at will with no refund. That is not
> acceptable. If I pay to go to Caribbean I will not accept being sent to
> friggin Canada. There would be a mutiny.
First, what is wrong with Canada? The maritime provinces are great places to
go during summer. And the prices are right too.
> 2. Being stuck with a bunch of ignorant Americans doesnt sound like
> fun. Smoker trash and rugrats running loose. No way.
You know the above statement makes you sound just as ignorant. I could be
wrong, but I now believe Americans smoke less on average than Europeans.
Personally as a Canadian who has helped a lot of lost tourists over the years
I am now finding Europeans to be far more ignorant than Americans. Americans
don't trust thier newspapers or government - they keep an semi-open mind
visiting Canada on the most part. Europeans seem to think they already know
what things are like over here and end up making big mistakes because of
that. (Example the poor daughter acting as transalator - tgether we still
had a hard time convincing her parents that Lake Ontario was not the Atlantic
Ocean just because they could not see the shore on the other side. The
Germans who thought they were half way to Montreal when they reach Oshawa
after driving 2 hours from Toronto because they used Highway 2 instead of
401. The Russians who did not realize the Provincal park that is south of my
cabin is an all day affair to canoe from my cabin to thier campsite and there
was less than a hour of sunlight left in the day. The european in one breath
who said he went to diffirent places to see diffirent cultures, and in the
next complained that New York did not have street cafes like back home. The
idiot (yes I called him that) who suggested Americans would not a gas
shortage if they biked between towns instead of driving. The Aunt living in
England who told my dad to bike over to Montreal to visit his cousin, and
this is while we lived in Toronto. I also read about one european
complaining to his host in LA that he did not get to see a police chase
and/or shoot-out like you see on TV all the time. And yes there is more).
> 3. Paying for beverages. What a ripoff!!!
Never paid for a beverage on a cruise yet. Have paid for booze, never a
beverage. And most places with free booze are not giving you the top quality
stuff either.
> 4. Not ever really seeing destinations.
True for most cruise boats, but if you are starting with the attitude you
showed in statement #2 I wonder if you really be able to see the real
(non-tourist) part of any place you have gone. It is also the reason to go
on more than one cruise. I already have plans for the places I missed the
first time I went to the Bahamas.
> 5. Being part of a herd doesent appeal to ,e
??? You are a herd in the plane, you are a herd in a hotel (even if the rooms
are separate buildings), it is what you do once you left the crowd to explore
that matters. And that is no diffirent if you are on a cruise boat or
renting a house on top of a hill.
Claiming you are not part of a herd when you spend all you time sitting in
one place does nothing for you, and if you can go off on you own you can do
that just as easy from a ship as from a rental place.
Earl Colby Pottinger
--
<Cruising, building a Catamaran, Rebuilding Cabin, New Peroxide Still Design,
Writting SF, Programming FOSS - What happened to the time?>
Earl Colby Pottinger
> 2. Being stuck with a bunch of ignorant Americans doesnt sound like
> fun. Smoker trash and rugrats running loose. No way.
Opps, I just realize I am assuming you are European because of the above
statement. But if you are American I have to ask, with that attitude how can
you even stand shopping in the local mall? You seem doomed no matter which.
patg...@yahoo.com
The best way to get skeptic on a cruise is to get them to take a short
one they can drive to---and the industry is doing a good job of making
them available.
Big F.Packer--at least you livened things up a bit....
Dick G
Philadelphia, and he posts through Verizon.
IMHO he is nothing more than a troll who writes to incite, which is why I
but him in my killfile quite some time back.
--
DG in Cherry Hill, NJ
"Earl Colby Pottinger" <earlcolby...@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:gCt1g.1729$DR6.1...@news20.bellglobal.com...
big...@backpacker.com
malls. I just will not pay to be stuck on a boat with all the 24-48
hour viruses that are running rampant through them and having to deal
with the trash who smoke and pollute my air
big...@backpacker.com
Gloria in Miami
<big...@backpacker.com> wrote in message
news:1145536980.9...@j33g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
Dillon Pyron
>big...@backpacker.com :
>
>> 2. Being stuck with a bunch of ignorant Americans doesnt sound like
>> fun. Smoker trash and rugrats running loose. No way.
>
>Opps, I just realize I am assuming you are European because of the above
>statement. But if you are American I have to ask, with that attitude how can
>you even stand shopping in the local mall? You seem doomed no matter which.
>
> Earl Colby Pottinger
Just kill file him. It makes the day oh so much more pleasant. He's
a dick, regardless of nationality.
By the way, to answer a statement you post in your first response,
remember that a European can drive across two or three countries in a
day. I can't even get out of state in a day.
Must visit Calgary & Edmonton some day. I have friends there who just
rave about the place and it has some of the best climbing in North
America.
Earl Colby Pottinger
> Just kill file him. It makes the day oh so much more pleasant. He's
> a dick, regardless of nationality.
Yes, I plan to. At first I did not realize he was a troll.
> By the way, to answer a statement you post in your first response,
> remember that a European can drive across two or three countries in a
> day. I can't even get out of state in a day.
Trust me, one of my friends and his wife when to Holland to visit her
parents. They talked about visiting five countries in only four days (rest
of the time spend at parent's home). Some (not all) Europeans think they are
well travelled because of the number of countries they have visited without
looking at how far from home they really went. In one sense they are, but
when you are never more than a day's drive or a train trip away from home
there is a diffirence in scale.
The problems occurs when such a person comes to one of the really big
countries of the world North America, Down Under, China etc. And on top of
it when in America thinks Americans are dumb about the world (maybe they are)
but forgets the size of the country that in turn Americans have to know and
explore. Then what happens is what they do know about America tends to be
less knowledgable than what Americans know about Europe.
> Must visit Calgary & Edmonton some day. I have friends there who just
> rave about the place and it has some of the best climbing in North
> America.
I am lazy, like my ex-girlfriend plans to do I may take the sight-seeing
train tour. The fall's colours are suppose to be the best in Canada against
the mountain backdrop.