Luxury Cruise Lines
#31
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newport Beach, CA, USA
Programs: AA Gold, Husband AA EXP (yeah!!) Hya Dia, Marriott
Posts: 1,885
Originally Posted by oldpenny16
but the average age on our Crystal Cruise was far above us. Far! I don't want to do that again. I loved the ship but the feeling of no one being about was weird. A lot of people had their meals in their rooms. That may be a function of having so many balconies. I was a since of livelyness when I'm on a cruise ship.
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: west of DFW airport
Programs: AA LT Gold 1.9 MM flying my way to LT PLAT
Posts: 11,074
Talking with cruise staff who have worked on ships
with few or no balconies and ships with many, they do report a greater number of people spending more time in the cabins with balconies. More people order room service meals, especially breakfasts and often drinks in the evening. I had a room with a balcony on the Crystal Harmony and really enjoyed it. We did leave our room for meals and activities. Balconies do change the social situation on cruise ships.
#33
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: SEA
Programs: DL DM, former NW PE
Posts: 934
The itinerary and dates have a great deal to do with the passenger mix you'll find. On Silversea last December, the cruise segment right before Christmas was lively and fun. The segment over Christmas and NewYear's Eve was filled with many folk who had nowhere else to go, and was generally dull and stuffy. Same ship, similar itinerary, but the dates were the difference.
I have also noticed a "Yellowstone Effect" in the lounges on luxury lines. If the lounge is empty, people just pass by when they look in. But if there is someone there, then other people will stay when they poke their head in. So, be the first to start the trend.
Luxury lines also tend to be more of a "cocktails before dinner" style than a "have a drink after the evening show" atmosphere. So meet fellow guests before dinner, then make arrangements to meet after the show later in the cruise.
IMO, all ships have their own personalities, even within a cruise line. The Crystal ships have different "feels", as do ships with Silversea and Radisson. But the good news is that you'll have a great time finding out which one's are best for you.
I have also noticed a "Yellowstone Effect" in the lounges on luxury lines. If the lounge is empty, people just pass by when they look in. But if there is someone there, then other people will stay when they poke their head in. So, be the first to start the trend.
Luxury lines also tend to be more of a "cocktails before dinner" style than a "have a drink after the evening show" atmosphere. So meet fellow guests before dinner, then make arrangements to meet after the show later in the cruise.
IMO, all ships have their own personalities, even within a cruise line. The Crystal ships have different "feels", as do ships with Silversea and Radisson. But the good news is that you'll have a great time finding out which one's are best for you.
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: west of DFW airport
Programs: AA LT Gold 1.9 MM flying my way to LT PLAT
Posts: 11,074
My ideal luxury cruise ship.....would be
small, with no more than 90 passengers. One nice dining room, an outside eating area for breakfast and lunch when desired, a very nice bar with live music, bathtubs in each room and balconies (I love fresh air). I want to be able to get into smaller ports and never feel in a crowd. I don't want a social director on board! Seabourne at 190 passengers is OK, but Crystal is far too large. I don't want to wait in line for anything or any one. I don't need a large room.
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,642
Originally Posted by oldpenny16
small, with no more than 90 passengers.
#38
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: UA-1K, MM, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Titanium
Posts: 4,419
A former colleague of mine works there. They use to have a department that would take reservations from non owners as if it were a regular cruise. They have since stopped that. There is a program, that is sort of like a "by invitation only" where potential buyers of the staterooms/studios/1 bedrooms, etc can come onboard for a try out, so to speak. It's my understanding they have to be referred and sort of "vetted"
Very interesting that when the ship is in dry dock the owners, who obviously cannot stay in their shipboard homes are offered things such as river cruises, tours, and hotel stays at discounted rates whilst the ship is not available to them.
Very interesting that when the ship is in dry dock the owners, who obviously cannot stay in their shipboard homes are offered things such as river cruises, tours, and hotel stays at discounted rates whilst the ship is not available to them.
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,805
A former colleague of mine works there. They use to have a department that would take reservations from non owners as if it were a regular cruise. They have since stopped that. There is a program, that is sort of like a "by invitation only" where potential buyers of the staterooms/studios/1 bedrooms, etc can come onboard for a try out, so to speak. It's my understanding they have to be referred and sort of "vetted"
Very interesting that when the ship is in dry dock the owners, who obviously cannot stay in their shipboard homes are offered things such as river cruises, tours, and hotel stays at discounted rates whilst the ship is not available to them.
Very interesting that when the ship is in dry dock the owners, who obviously cannot stay in their shipboard homes are offered things such as river cruises, tours, and hotel stays at discounted rates whilst the ship is not available to them.
#40
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Manhattan NV
Programs: Hilton LTD, Hyatt Glob, Marriott LTTE, AA LTP, Avis PC, National EE, Seabourn DE
Posts: 3,025
#41
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Palo Alto, CA, USA
Posts: 3,213
Excellent tip, hedoman, appreciate it. As it stands now, we are doing a Belmond barge cruise in Burgundy July 2015. Now looking for small luxury cruises for 2016 for Scandinavia/Norway/Fiords and, after that, Alaska. There are a couple of Sept. 2015 Alaska cruises available. Wonder what the weather is like there then, hmm.
#42
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: UA-1K, MM, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Titanium
Posts: 4,419
Excellent tip, hedoman, appreciate it. As it stands now, we are doing a Belmond barge cruise in Burgundy July 2015. Now looking for small luxury cruises for 2016 for Scandinavia/Norway/Fiords and, after that, Alaska. There are a couple of Sept. 2015 Alaska cruises available. Wonder what the weather is like there then, hmm.
#45
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,805
silver discoverer medallion 381 ft2 +27 ft2 balcony
i had forgotten hapag lloyd hanseatic is up to 474 ft2
http://www.vulkana.no/ might be 'unique' charter option for norwegian fjords
(not a charter boat, looks like less than $4K/nt to book all cabins, for 3+ nts)
i had forgotten hapag lloyd hanseatic is up to 474 ft2
http://www.vulkana.no/ might be 'unique' charter option for norwegian fjords
(not a charter boat, looks like less than $4K/nt to book all cabins, for 3+ nts)
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Sep 17, 2014 at 7:43 am