Cruise Reviews

  We are a family that loves to cruise. To date, we have completed eleven with one more booked and ready for the new year. Needless to say, we are excited to hear about new ships being added to cruise lines and the adventures we can look forward to. I've been following the reviews and comments on these new ships and their services and I must say I'm disappointed. Not in the ships themselves but in the way they are being showcased. Let me explain.

  I've read many posts on Captain's Suites, 2 bedroom suites, exclusive access to pools, restaurants, dinners with the Captain and freebies. Concierge service, private butlers and preferred seatings and reservations have all been explained and promoted. Everything looks marvelous and luxurious. A true example of decadence on the high seas. 

  But here's the thing, one such new vessel has 80 of these luxury suites and 284 mini-suites. Compare that to 1112 balcony rooms and 567 ocean view and inside cabins. Why are all the reviews about 18% of the rooms? The ones the average customer will not be booking? Does that make sense?

  Let's look at a family of 4, seven day Caribbean cruise with a balcony cabin on this newest ship. With all the "freebies" it comes to almost 7K Canadian. One of the 2 bedroom villas slides in at a whopping $23,700....three times the amount! My family could do the same cruise three times in a balcony cabin for the price of one luxurious suite. Is it just me or does that make sense to everyone?

  So why am I not hearing anything about the places the average traveler will be booking? Are we not as important? Do these travel bloggers and agents believe their glowing reviews will miraculously increase our vacation budgets because they tell us about our kids having their own room? Do they honestly think we don't want that already? Cause we do. We really do.

  Look I know these companies want their premium rooms filled....in my example above it's $12 million in "regular" cabins as compared to $4 million in the suites. That's a huge incentive to fill those pricier rooms. But travel agents probably book a lot more of the cheaper rooms than the expensive ones so perhaps they should focus a little bit on those. 

  Travel bloggers need to be a bit more realistic too. If they weren't being comped the suites how many would actually be traveling that way? My guess is not very many. Even someone I know who won the lottery didn't get the Captain's suite. We can all dream but when it comes to vacations we need a healthy dose of reality too.

  But hey Royal Carribean if you want to upgrade me and my family on our spring getaway I'll talk about whatever you want! Did I mention we would really like our kids to have their own room?

  Ang