Darren, I have only positive cruise comments. Imagine unpacking once, sleeping in the same bed every night for your whole trip and yet being in a different city -sometimes a different country – every day. The key is to choose the right ship in the first place and there is enough “opinion” out there to make sure there are no excuses

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We booked on a cruise to and from New York on the Cunard Queen Mary 2 on the strength that there was a strict no-smoking policy on board ie smoking restricted to rear outside decks. Whilst we were on board, the captain made announcements to this end.
However, outside each lift, there was a large post with a sand-filled ashtray on each, and a sign saying ‘no smoking in lifts’ This seemed to give the go-ahead for passengers to smoke in these public areas, and many did.

When we complained to the purser’s desk, nothing was done.

We wrote to Cunard to complain, but got the most ridiculous reply denying the receptacles were ash trays, despite our photos showing dog ends stubbed out in them. They told us the sand was for ballast! Well any fool knows that you put ballast on the BOTTOM of something! We were never offered an apology or any refund for the inconvenience of having to suffer cigarette smoke during the crossings.

Apart from this gripe, we can’t complain about anything else on board. The staff are amazing – work really hard and the cabins are kept immaculately clean. Wonderful food and a free and easy atmosphere. I could go on with praise but won’t here. Just a shame Cunard didn’t enforce their so-called non-smoking policy.

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Well Darren, I would be surprised if you didn’t. On a cruise we took a couple of years ago (on a fine, “ultra-luxe” ship) during a segment of the RTW voyage, a couple stated , “This is our fourteenth RTW cruise and it is easily the worst!”
Funny old world, isn’t it?!

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It’s been about three years since our last of three Carnival cruises. I have no other cruise line to compare to. However I can say that although they were all very enjoyable, I got the impression that the fare was not enough for the company and everything going on was designed to extract extra expenditures, photography, gambling, trips, drinking, art auctions bingo etc. It became very mercenary. Also as is the case with all the lines, the tipping procedure and justification for same was absurd. The cabin boys need it, the waiters probably the same, and the other misc. employees are badly underpaid. I would much rather have the freedom to compensate the ones that realy help make the cruise.

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I agree with Paul about the money they keep trying to get from you once on board.

Photos prices were exorbitant (and they annoyingly KEEP taking them) The ‘art auctions’ were absolute rubbish. Someone ‘won’ a painting, but the cost of sending it back home was so high, they just handed it back! The tipping was included in the price and charged by the day, which was probably just a way for the company not to pay living wages to the staff. Mind you, I wouldn’t know how much to tip anyway! We left a little extra because we felt the room stewards were so hard-working.

Another thing I’ve just remembered…in the cabin on your arrival, there is a half-bottle of sparkling wine – unfortunately Cunard leave a card saying “This CHAMPAGNE is with the Captain’s compliments”. Obviously Cunard do not know the difference between Champagne an sparking wine! But as i said before, I absolutely loved life on board. So much to do and if you don’t want to do anything, that’s fine.
Eating is an experience too! You don’t need to eat in the ‘posh’ dining room if you prefer not to. Plenty of other more casual places to eat, and the cakes in the afternoon were yummy!

Ice cream on tap too! Spoilt for choice…

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Darren

Number 1 complaint about cruise’s is tipping. There is about 5 people that you should tip on board. (As opposed to the 20 on the cruise lines list). But normally there are less complaints about cruising than any other type of holiday.

As this is become so important more and more Cruise lines are placing tips up front (anything between £100 a week to £30 a day) which you pay with your cruise cost in the UK. Some lines have got rid of tips all togeather.

There is way a friendly agent could get you on an agents discount (not free) trip if your really intrested. (All above board as well)

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The biggest rant I have is that over the years, some mass market cruise lines have downsized on the amount of complementary amenities available for guests. Since most cruisers are looking for the best price, some cruise lines are charging extra for items like premium coffee, and upgraded dining experiences in specialty restaurants. Also, don’t get me started on consumers having to print their own baggage tags.

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I have to agree about the “extra” fees. On our last cruise I did a rough estimate of the ship’s profit of the casino “contests” and the bingo games and it was huge. e.g. 200 people paid $20.00 each for a slot machine contest and the cash prizes added up to only $1,800.00 This doesn’t even address the markup on drinks.

I cannot believe that people do not complain about the special events space. I have been on more than a few cruises and it really annoys me that you have to go to a location of a special event WELL in advance of the published time in order, to get in to or be in a position, to see that event.

Not to mention standing in long lines to depart and board at each location. And (although this is not the cruise line) PEOPLE, .. correct manners dictates that you allow those ON the elevator to exit before you shove in like pigs at a trough.

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It’s interesting that you haven’t received many complaints about cruises Darren and even the comments here are about the peripheries and one poster said ‘But as i said before, I absolutely loved life on board.’ I have just booked a cruise just for the chance to visit lots of places on the same holiday – I am sure there are lots of things offered on the cruise that won’t be for me but I’ll avoid them.

Single supplements are levied on many many holidays and are a persistent problem for the single traveller so don’t see why cruises should be singled out. Seems like you are hoping to whip up a rat here Darren.

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So why are you targetting cruise holidays? Seems to me you ate trying to make something out of very little.

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Hi Darren
Norwegian Epic has the perfect answer for Single travellers. Studio’s are 100 sq ft with Private key access to the Studios complex and the studio lounge. Single occupency perfect for solo travellers. full size bed, contemporary design, mood lighting and unique window to the Corridor. This is a great Idea as unless you know someone is a single traveller, it can be hard to meet somebody else on a cruise Ship, having a Studio lounge for just those travelling alone is a gret idea to meet other solo travellers

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Well no-one else seems to have had problems with the cruise-line’s smoking policy!

I really want to go on another cruise, but my OH is reluctant to spend a couple of weeks passive smoking! I feel Cunard were not honest and did not make any attempt to up hold their so-called non-smoking policy.

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allie

I would think Cunard have listened to you and others as since the 22 April this year they change the policy and now restrict smoking to a few points around the ship.

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@Nick
Ah, but have they really?
We were assured before we booked that this policy was in operation, but no-one in charge on board bothered to enforce it.
A few No Smoking signs would not go amiss, but then it would sully their Art-Deco interiors!
As I said before, the Captain made announcements but when people see ash trays outside lifts they feel safe in assuming it’s ok to smoke!
One cabin deck absolutely reeked of cigarette smoke, but luckily it wasn’t the level we were on.

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“Oh dear, haven’t you realised by now that I write about the negative side of travel?” Yes of course but looks like this time there isn’t that much of a negative side so that made me wonder why you even asked the question.

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No real complaints from me. I’ve only been on 2 cruises, but compared to the issues I often run into on my normal beach vacation cruises are great. The things people are objecting to are fairly minor in my opinion, but to each his own. As for me I am looking right now for a great deal on a cruise for Feb 2011. I am really looking forward to it.

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