No longer the glamorous vacation

Mm... I've cruised on 'Celebrity Reflection' before and will on 'Discovery Princess' in a month. Those ships have pretty chic interiors and the food and service was very good on 'Reflection' and looks to be on 'Discovery', from what I gather from various videos. I didn't pay a fortune to go on either of those voyages. It also doesn't have to cost a lot to dress yourself decently, especially in this era of fast fashion. (Which also doesn't have to be fast; I've got an H&M suit I've owned for years.) You _can_ go budget and still get glamour.

I went on the SS 'Norway' with my parents in 1990. I can still remember the atmosphere in Club International during the welcome-aboard cocktail party, on the second night of the cruise. Most men (including my father) actually wore tuxedos then; a dark business suit, at least. Women wore gowns and cocktail dresses. I wore my school's full uniform, with crested navy blazer, dark trousers, and necktie. The soft jazz in the background, the low light, and the high ceiling; it's a moment I won't forget. Same with descending into the Windward Dining Room.

Everything was an event in which passengers were both observers and--and I think this is the key part--perfomers. I was taught that we don't dress up mainly for ourselves; we each do it to contribute to the environment everyone else will experience. I think only Cunard--maybe Holland America, too?--tries to push its passengers to adhere to dress codes now. Unfortunately others don't and I end up seeing things like a grown man wearing a baseball hat at his table in the main dining room on formal night. That was on 'Celebrity Reflection', which has quite elegant interiors, as well as excellent food and service; the kind of things I think one should dress to match.

I've also vowed never to sail with Norwegian again, after what that corporation did with the 'Norway'. The line has gone in a totally different direction--more toward Carnival--and it's not for me.

I and many others share that view. If you want the glam, you have to go to a high end line and pay the extra $$. Mainstream, mass market lines are going to squeeze everyone to make back the bottom line.

These are tough economic times around the world food and fuel costs going up faster than they can recoup. If the world economic situation cannot find some stabilization, I fear the large mass marketed lines may not survive the long term without a new business model.

Well, I remember the midnight buffet, the chocolate buffet on NCL, the Baked Alaska dance, the chilled fruit soups ( double portions), the tux rental, candy shoppe on Carnival, towel animals, chocolate mints on my pillow, 2 room stewards, waiter & asst waiter, even skeet shooting off the aft deck ( $5 per shot was a bit pricey for me back then ). Formal nights and cigar lounges.
Now it’s 3000 + passengers and one deck pool. Private islands with only 200 lounges and less umbrellas leading to the early morning rush to the isle. Destination islands that look trampled on because 4 ships dock at the same time. I remember being told to buy Tanzanite “ right now “ because supplies were short . My Bernard Passman gallery carved black coral had a lifetime trade up guarantee ( too bad the stores are out of business ). I miss the enameled ship pins in the gift shops. I couldn’t even get a free deck of cards on my last cruise.
I wax poetic in my lamentations.

You're not wrong. Cruising used to be exclusive, now it's affordable to the masses. When something gets mass appeal obviously it changes.

Your tux comment reminds me of my first cruise nearly 30 years ago when my husband had to give Carnival his tux size and our excitement when we saw it hanging in the closet in our cabin.

My, times have changed.

Your post reminded me of the first time I stepped onto a Princess Cruise ship back in 1977. I was not a passenger; I was invited to board along with several other friends of the lucky passengers to partake in the Bon voyage party. There was a buzz of excitement throughout the ship as we ate canapes and toasted each other with champagne in their cabin. I wanted so much to stay on board but soon was ushered off the ship with the other invited guests to watch from the dock as colored paper streamers flew off the balconies and promenade deck as the ship's horn announced its departure from San Diego harbor. Years later I took my first Princess cruise on the beautiful teak trimmed Sea Princess on an Alaska cruise. On formal night everyone came to MDR dressed appropriately, I was excited to wear my rented tux and I still recall the feeling that this was something special. Forty-five years and eighteen Princess cruises later I still enjoy each Princess Cruise trip, and I am grateful to have experienced those vacations when cruising was so much more.

@yankee. Just want to clarify I work hard and save up to Cruise. Nothing has been handed to me and I am not entitled to anything. I understand what you're saying, but in all of my short time cruising, I have never encountered such people on NCL.

Wow! I wish I had a chance to cruise earlier. My first cruise was on the Epic in 2013 and I loved it! I'm officially hooked. I'm very happy with the great service, the staff who get to know you by name on the first day, the chance to meet folks from all different walks of life. There was a fight on the Carnival I sailed on, hence why I'll never sail Carnival again. But aside from that, even though it's super expensive, it's the best week (or two hopefully) I spend each year! Yes, it's going to cost me around 3k for one person for the week (incl flights, transportation and pre cruise hotel) , but there is no way a week at an all inclusive could compare. (I spent a week at an all inclusive in Negril in August and was not impressed). I don't have a lot to compare, but as a recent cruiser, I'm exceptionally excited to spent time on a ship again!

It would have been a disaster of Titanic proportions