I have never selected a hotel based on word of mouth (I just go online and find whatever is the best combination of cheapest and amenities I require). I would never choose a cruise line without testimonials from people I trust.

When I hear someone spent a week in Europe I never ask "oh wow, what hotel did you stay at?" But that is one of the first question I would ask of someone telling me about their cruise.

iSm, you yourself provided the difference between a cruise line and a hotel as an incentive to provide stellar customer service (in post #44). Once on the boat a person can't leave. Generally, once on a boat a person can't be moved to another room or given another server, or given better entaintment offerings.

A hotel or restaurant has quite a bit of leeway in terms of the things that they can do to make an unhappy customer feel better about things. This is why if anything goes remotely wrong with a cruise that you'll find a lot of money thrown back at the cruisers to keep them happy.

If something goes wrong at a restaurant or hotel I'm only risking $50 or $200 if I want to consider giving them a second chance. If I go on a cruise I am probably risking a couple thousand dollars and am much less likely to give a second chance.

No, a cruise line probably isn't going to provide any better service than a top notch all-inclusive resort like Club Med, but then a cruise doesn't provide the same type of vacation as a trip to Club Med. A cruise provides the same type of vacation as 12-day 10-city bus tour of Europe, for example. I think of the Disney Magic as a bus tour of the Caribbean and the Magic is much nicer than any whistle-stop tour accommodations will be.

But considering that most people who go on a cruise love it (even on the less posh lines like Princess) the service can't be all that bad.

For an example of cruise service on DCL - a friend of ours who went last year asked the assistant server for a beer. They didn't serve the particular brand at the resturant, but he knew they had it at the bar at the other end of the ship. He told her he'd be back in "just a moment", and literally took off running to grab her the beer and come back. She never asked him to do that, but he wanted to go out of his way. I've yet to see that kind of service at a hotel.

Heh - I have, in Arequipa Peru - actually throughout Peru we got exceptional service. I guess the lesson here is service improves as labor approaches poverty. More third World Vacations!

Except in Japan where service at even a convenience store was excellent.

Good point. Actually, during a recent jaunt to Tijuana, we had the best service at a restaurant than we've had in a very long time. Our glasses were always filled, and the servers were super friendly. And the margaritas were half the price they are here, and actually so good, that I can never drink another margarita here again. They're smart - good service and good drinks means I'll come back and spend more money.

At dinner one night on the Wonder, Indi fell asleep and I was holding him. Our server noticed that I only had one hand and she came and cut my meat for me! Now that is service! Typical of the entire cruise, actually.