I was packing up my cruise related souvenirs today, and I realized one thing. Cruising is not as glamorous as it used to be. Now, I’m going back 25 years or so. We would save for an entire year so we could enjoy “the best week of our lives”. We were amazed by the food. Awed by the service. Took tours of the different islands. Our reminders consisted of enameled pins, t shirts, photos, the usual stuff. We would be rewarded for returning to the same line with a pin, a bag, something. To this date, my favorite souvenir is a custom bobble head of me and my wife on a see-saw we ordered on an NCL voyage. We’ve redone our vows, sat for a private photo session, and had dinner with the Captain.
These days ( CoVid not withstanding ), cruise ships are crowded. Serve pedestrian food, rewards seem to have hone the way of the midnight or chocolate buffet. Incentives to book with one line are practically non existent. I can pay to get on a cruise ship by simply pulling out my credit card, knowing I can pay it off by the next bill.
They have made cruising very affordable, and though I’ve met some very nice people, I have also come across many people who are rude, abusive to the staff, and have an exaggerated sense of entitlement.
Chogs still exist.
I guess the luster has worn off, or maybe I’m jaded, but I miss the smaller ships. These mega ships, meh. I’m not impressed.
just my mind wandering I guess
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No longer the glamorous vacation
98 Answers
You are so right nothing stays the same cruiseing was way better years ago know it is all about the money
i get it the ships are bigger. with alot more to do on them. but there are lines with smaller ships in the fleet if thats your thing. every thing fades just like airlines have
We dont look on a cruise as a vacation(we are weird I guess). We look at a cruise as a ride on a ship and just eat and drink while riding. We go on a Galveston ferry(we call it a free cruise), see a cruise ship leaving out of Galveston and think, lets ride it, go home, book a cruise. Our "vacations" were traveling all across the U S riding the biggest baddest rollercoasters ever built, spending a week at each amusement park.(rode 140 different rollercoasters so far)As we gotten older, the coasters are more intense for our old bodies, so we chose to ride cruise ships. By the way the Bolt is not a rollercoaster per se, it is an electric gear driven ride, no lift station or coasting freely at all.
Agree completely! I remember when dinner in the main dinning room was an event. Fantastic food, well presented with great service. Remember desert carts, and prepared at the table dishes. No more now it's get 'em in get 'em out. With regards to souvenirs one of my favs is a hat from the Celebrity Century. The ship was great but is no more. Back in the day mementos like hats shirts etc. had the name of the specific ship not just a generic brand name.
Gee, thanks guys. It sounded to me a bit like babbling when I proof read it before posting.
Another thing. I'm now letting the edit clock run out before I log off. I usually go back and edit a post at least once, and I was thinking that maybe that has something to do with them dropping off.
Don't know for sure, and never did...but considering which of mine disappear occassionally, I'm in good company...refusing to dumb down is basically how I made enough dough to cruise.
Gee, thanks guys. It sounded to me a bit like babbling when I proof read it before posting.
Another thing. I'm now letting the edit clock run out before I log off. I usually go back and edit a post at least once, and I was thinking that maybe that has something to do with them dropping off.
Hey AB?? a whole loong (and well said) post, and it appeared!!!! and seems to stay.
Another thing to consider is that as we "re-experience" things like a yearly cruise a lot of the "glamour" wears off over time. Part of the perception of glamour is the newness of it all. Obviously that is unsustainable. If one sails on the same ship, or even adheres to sailing on one cruise line, then the feel or vibe soon becomes familiar, or in other words ordinary and expected. For example: the excitement, anticipation and energy surrounding the embarkation process is after multiple cruises replaced with apathy and perhaps even annoyance with having to stand in what we now perceive as a slow moving line "just to get on the damn ship". That annoyance has replaced the awe that one may have felt watching the fast & efficient processing of passengers on their first couple of cruises.
If the ship is one we've been on before, then we've instinctively learned it's "rhythm", and our subconscious pushes it into the background. We've already seen the décor, know the quality of service, food and drink, and perhaps even some of the staff. Aside from a new stage act, port of call, or shore excursion, what's different between this cruise and the one from the previous year?
Now I know that every experience is different in it's own right. New people are met and perhaps friendships are forged. New experiences are enjoyed and treasured. But the overall experience becomes smaller because we've seen & done it all before. I was in sales for over 40 years and part of our job was to entertain customers with dining out or sporting events. I once invited a customer to a major league baseball game in our city. The customer was from a small town and he had never been to a major league stadium. I'll never forget the wonder and excitement I had seen in that grown mans eyes that day as he experienced something "magical". To me, it was just another ball game.
There's more I could say, but I'm going to stop now. I hope this makes sense, and I apologize if I didn't hit the mark on this. For some reason the words aren't flowing and syncing up with the point I'm trying to convey.
Absolutely perfect insights!
Another thing to consider is that as we "re-experience" things like a yearly cruise a lot of the "glamour" wears off over time. Part of the perception of glamour is the newness of it all. Obviously that is unsustainable. If one sails on the same ship, or even adheres to sailing on one cruise line, then the feel or vibe soon becomes familiar, or in other words ordinary and expected. For example: the excitement, anticipation and energy surrounding the embarkation process is after multiple cruises replaced with apathy and perhaps even annoyance with having to stand in what we now perceive as a slow moving line "just to get on the damn ship". That annoyance has replaced the awe that one may have felt watching the fast & efficient processing of passengers on their first couple of cruises.
If the ship is one we've been on before, then we've instinctively learned it's "rhythm", and our subconscious pushes it into the background. We've already seen the décor, know the quality of service, food and drink, and perhaps even some of the staff. Aside from a new stage act, port of call, or shore excursion, what's different between this cruise and the one from the previous year?
Now I know that every experience is different in it's own right. New people are met and perhaps friendships are forged. New experiences are enjoyed and treasured. But the overall experience becomes smaller because we've seen & done it all before. I was in sales for over 40 years and part of our job was to entertain customers with dining out or sporting events. I once invited a customer to a major league baseball game in our city. The customer was from a small town and he had never been to a major league stadium. I'll never forget the wonder and excitement I had seen in that grown mans eyes that day as he experienced something "magical". To me, it was just another ball game.
There's more I could say, but I'm going to stop now. I hope this makes sense, and I apologize if I didn't hit the mark on this. For some reason the words aren't flowing and syncing up with the point I'm trying to convey.
Despite the cut backs, if you want an economical vacation that includes hotel room, meals, entertainment and visit to different port experiences, you can still find a cruise out there for less than $100/day per person (if you don't care about room location). Its pretty hard to find other vacation experiences that are as affordable.