On the Good Ship Swanky

Alex · 04-06-2006, 01:42 PM

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.

04-06-2006, 01:42 PM	#33
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	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.
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