First time on a Cruise - have lots of questions
in [Cruise Ship]
|
From: John Sisker on 5 Jun 2010 23:45 "Tom K" <tkanitra(a)optonline.net> wrote in message news:4c0b0fa5$0$5002$607ed4bc(a)cv.net... > On 6/5/10 9:36 PM, John Sisker wrote: > >> Whatever you decide, remember... there is no wrong cruise. > > That's terrible advice. There ARE ABSOLUTELY wrong cruises. If you pick > something that is totally a wrong fit, it could be a horrible experience. > For me Carnival is the wrong cruise. > > I think a travel agent has the professional responsibility to learn enough > about the client, and then recommend the right cruise, not to simply say > there is no wrong cruise. > > --Tom Okay Tom, maybe a poor choice of words. And our own agency slogan is... the "Right Cruise at the Right Price." What I was trying to capitalize is that no matter what destination the OP chooses, it may be right for him at that particular. Naturally, there are many factors to consider, besides destination, there is the cruise line and the ship itself. In addition, I don't agree with your assessment of Carnival Cruise Lines at all. Actually, our very first cruise was on the Azure Seas from Western Cruise Line. Carnival would have been an improvement, even back then. Yet, that didn't discouraged us. We not only cruise ever since, but went on to open our own cruise travel agency. Likewise, it was not all that long ago that many on this newsgroup were bashing Norwegian Cruise Line big time. I hope that simply hasn't switched over to Carnival instead. Carnival is the most popular cruise line not without reason. John Sisker - SHIP-TO-SHORE CRUISE AGENCY� (714) 536-3850 or toll-free at (800) 724-6644 & (Agency ID: 714.536.3850) www.shiptoshorecruise.com / www.tinplatedesign.com > Facebook/Twitter/Blog/Flickr/MyPage
From: Tom K on 6 Jun 2010 00:02 On 6/5/10 11:45 PM, John Sisker wrote: > "Tom K" <tkanitra(a)optonline.net> wrote in message > news:4c0b0fa5$0$5002$607ed4bc(a)cv.net... >> On 6/5/10 9:36 PM, John Sisker wrote: >> >>> Whatever you decide, remember... there is no wrong cruise. >> >> That's terrible advice. There ARE ABSOLUTELY wrong cruises. If you >> pick something that is totally a wrong fit, it could be a horrible >> experience. For me Carnival is the wrong cruise. >> >> I think a travel agent has the professional responsibility to learn >> enough about the client, and then recommend the right cruise, not to >> simply say there is no wrong cruise. >> >> --Tom > > > > Okay Tom, maybe a poor choice of words. And our own agency slogan is... > the "Right Cruise at the Right Price." What I was trying to capitalize > is that no matter what destination the OP chooses, it may be right for > him at that particular. Naturally, there are many factors to consider, > besides destination, there is the cruise line and the ship itself. In > addition, I don't agree with your assessment of Carnival Cruise Lines at > all. Actually, our very first cruise was on the Azure Seas from Western > Cruise Line. Carnival would have been an improvement, even back then. > Yet, that didn't discouraged us. We not only cruise ever since, but went > on to open our own cruise travel agency. Likewise, it was not all that > long ago that many on this newsgroup were bashing Norwegian Cruise Line > big time. I hope that simply hasn't switched over to Carnival instead. > Carnival is the most popular cruise line not without reason. That's simply their term... "most popular". Do they sell the most? Yes. But Walmart sells more than Nordstrom... however I find going into a Nordstrom store a more pleasant experience than going into an unkempt Walmart store (at least the ones out her in NJ are like that). If you like Carnival fine. If you like recommending it to your clients... that's your decision. But my experience on Carnival was below my minimal acceptable level. Carnival is not something that I can honestly recommend. Not with so many better alternatives, many of which they own. --Tom
From: Jack Hamilton on 6 Jun 2010 01:31 On Sat, 05 Jun 2010 22:13:09 -0400, Ohioguy <none(a)none.net> wrote: >> more alternative itinerary - Alaska - if you can cruise a month or two >> earlier. > > I looked at Alaska and Hawaii. Gave up on Hawaii immediately due to >the airfare cost. Prices to Hawaii vary a lot. This site seems to have a west coast emphasis, but sometimes shows east coast specials. The problem, of course, is finding a special at the time you want to go.
From: Island Grampa on 6 Jun 2010 02:09 "Tom K" <tkanitra(a)optonline.net> wrote in message news:4c0b10db$0$4998$607ed4bc(a)cv.net... > Just do me one favor... pick something better than Carnival. Don't risk > making your first experience on a cruise something you might hate. Had > Carnival been our first cruise, we probably would never have done another. > Luckily it wasn't... and I've now got over 40 cruises under my belt. > > --Tom <--- heading up to Alaska in a few weeks... > Hi Ohioguy Please do ME a favor and take what Tom K says about Carnival with an open mind. I understand that the only trip he took on Carnival was a 3 or 4 day cruise on one of their older ships, some time ago. My wife Barb and I did Carnival Tropicale on our first cruise in 1984 and LOVED it! Many of our cruising friends find Carnival to have very good food, service, entertainment, etc. especially the "Spirit Class" ships. We have been on 3 of those (Spirit 3 times, Miracle, and Pride), also Sensation and Conquest, and found them to be great value for the price, however, we would never take a cruise of less than 7 days on any cruise line (these tend to be the "Booze Cruises" that so many College kids and young adults take to go wild on. We have been on over 80 cruises to date, on all the mainline cruise companies (Carnival, NCL, Princess, RCI, Celebrity, Holland America, Oceania, MSC) and some lesser known lines. Our favorite overall is the Oceania line and particularly the Oceania Regatta ( 4 Trans-Atlantics). I hope you will get "Hooked" on cruising like we did. I have about 30 odd cruise albums on Webshots, if you'd like to see them, let me know and I'll send you a link. Most of the information that Diana Ball gave you is spot on to my way of thinking and, if you keep an open mind, you'll enjoy whatever cruise you choose. Keep your eyes open for information here, and also check out Cruise Critic for reviews of different cruises, then book with an experienced Cruise Travel Agent, for the BEST experience. We have used three of the agents that post here regularly (George Leppla, Cal Ford and Suzette Whitfield), and have found them all to be efficient and well informed TAs. Email me for contact information if you like. Tobie>>>>on an Island in the Pacific
From: Charles on 6 Jun 2010 07:04
In article <4c0b10db$0$4998$607ed4bc(a)cv.net>, Tom K <tkanitra(a)optonline.net> wrote: > Just do me one favor... pick something better than Carnival. Don't risk > making your first experience on a cruise something you might hate. Had > Carnival been our first cruise, we probably would never have done > another. Luckily it wasn't... and I've now got over 40 cruises under my > belt. It is not likely that he will hate Carnival. More likely he will like it just fine. -- Charles |