It's a small thing but unless other cruise lines rush to follow suit it will be another nail in the coffin of "falling standards".
I know it's not essential, and indeed most hotels, even 5 star don't do it, but it's one of those things that makes a cruise a special occasion, out of the ordinary of day to day life. Plus we do use our bathroom later in the say to shower before dinner, so dry towels for the morning are, if not essential, welcome. If it goes ahead across the fleet the steward really does become no more than a chambermaid and it's another reason to cut back on tips.
I will agree with you Merv, if this is true it is another thing lost on a cruise. As you say , it all goes to make a cruise that special occasion, if they keep chipping away at these little things as they have done over the years, a cruise will then be no more than a 3 or 4 star hotel at sea.
Last edited by david63 on 07 Jun 2018, 08:27, edited 1 time in total.
Reason:Missing closing quote
A cruise used to be something special, something you didn't get on a land based holiday. Bit by bit these traditions are being whittled away whilst we are paying more to receive less. I accept we have to accept progress but my understanding was that progress was meant to mean improvement.
I suspect, and I may be wrong, that some of the "downgrading" is due to trying to attract a greater market share of the general holiday market. There will be many who are used to going to land based holiday resorts where many of the "special touches" that are present on a cruise are not the norm and are perceived to be "not for them" therefore removing them makes the cruise more appealing - basically come down to the lowest common denominator.
A cruise used to be something special, something you didn't get on a land based holiday. Bit by bit these traditions are being whittled away whilst we are paying more to receive less. I accept we have to accept progress but my understanding was that progress was meant to mean improvement.
I suspect, and I may be wrong, that some of the "downgrading" is due to trying to attract a greater market share of the general holiday market. There will be many who are used to going to land based holiday resorts where many of the "special touches" that are present on a cruise are not the norm and are perceived to be "not for them" therefore removing them makes the cruise more appealing - basically come down to the lowest common denominator.
Maybe it is the archaic and classist (?) terminology of calling it an evening turn down service that might make newbies think that's all they do, rather than a full evening service which is what it really is.
To fill the giant ships of today P&O need to find more bums on seats and the latest generation are less inclined to concern themselves about the trivia that makes the traditional cruiser feel important / cossetted / special etc.
P&O wise we sailed on Arcadia in 1999-ish and experienced all the bells and whistles of that era … in 2007-ish we had a mid-ship suite on Ocean Village without any frills at all ( no turn downs in the evening on that one). We basically preferred OV but because of the itinerary rather than the so called ' special ' touches.
Our subsequent P&O cruises moved gradually towards the OV model, perchance that is their Master Plan.
That is certainly the trend. I have no interest in big party ships if that is the intention but if that is what people want there are plenty of alternatives out there, and I do have my Carnival shares to cash in so all is not doom and gloom.
There's always Saga......................
I have onc cruise on Aurora this year then two next one on Oriana around Britain and the other on my favourite ship Arcadia back to the Baltic.
After that I am seriously considering coming away from P and O after many years of cruising with them and trying Cunard are or Saga.
Price wise it will mean just once cruise per year I stead of two with the single supplement, but I would rather do one and enjoy it with all the bells and whistles then two and be disappointed.
Don't panic just yet everyone. It's Chinese whispers week.
I emailed P&O yesterday and had a phone call this afternoon from a nice lady from Mr Edgingtons office. She was just as surprised as we were about this 'trial non turn down service' and confirmed they have no intention of implementing this and that it is a complete rumour. Whether she really knew more than she was letting on who knows.
Let's hope it hasn't given them any ideas though.
Last edited by Stephen on 07 Jun 2018, 17:09, edited 1 time in total.
I'd heard they were giving away half price cruises to young people because they were hard up, the baby boomers had taken all the money and they couldn't afford their own house.
Don't panic just yet everyone. It's Chinese whispers week.
I emailed P&O yesterday and had a phone call this afternoon from a nice lady from Mr Edgingtons office. She was just as surprised as we were about this 'trial non turn down service' and confirmed they have no intention of implementing this and that it is a complete rumour. Whether she really knew more than she was letting on who knows.
I'd heard they were giving away half price cruises to young people because they were hard up, the baby boomers had taken all the money and they couldn't afford their own house.
Paid for by a supercharge on the over 60s. Oh no I forgot. They're banned.
Don't panic just yet everyone. It's Chinese whispers week.
I emailed P&O yesterday and had a phone call this afternoon from a nice lady from Mr Edgingtons office. She was just as surprised as we were about this 'trial non turn down service' and confirmed they have no intention of implementing this and that it is a complete rumour. Whether she really knew more than she was letting on who knows.
Don't panic just yet everyone. It's Chinese whispers week.
I emailed P&O yesterday and had a phone call this afternoon from a nice lady from Mr Edgingtons office. She was just as surprised as we were about this 'trial non turn down service' and confirmed they have no intention of implementing this and that it is a complete rumour. Whether she really knew more than she was letting on who knows.
Let's hope it hasn't given them any ideas though.
Wasn't there a survey done a while ago asking people if they would prefer to have their cabins serviced in the morning or evening, I'm sure I remember replying to something along these lines so I wouldn't accept what Carnival House are saying just yet
I've heard they are introducing a 'third fare' which includes:
Clean your own cabin.
Only eat in the buffet.
Pay no tips ( because no-one will be doing anything for you )
Think it might catch on with some of the 'tip dodgers'
Don't panic just yet everyone. It's Chinese whispers week.
I emailed P&O yesterday and had a phone call this afternoon from a nice lady from Mr Edgingtons office. She was just as surprised as we were about this 'trial non turn down service' and confirmed they have no intention of implementing this and that it is a complete rumour. Whether she really knew more than she was letting on who knows.
Let's hope it hasn't given them any ideas though.
So it's true then
You cynic you!
Me cynic - this all sounds very familiar - anyone remember Adoina?????
I'd heard they were giving away half price cruises to young people because they were hard up, the baby boomers had taken all the money and they couldn't afford their own house.
Unfortunately for those of working age that is to close to the truth. I am a baby of the late forties and I know how lucky I am in so many ways.
Me too daib. I also remember how hard it has been being a baby boomer, something the younger generation will never have to experience. I'm not sure where this 'lucky baby boomers' idea has come from but it was most certainly not my experience.
I'd heard they were giving away half price cruises to young people because they were hard up, the baby boomers had taken all the money and they couldn't afford their own house.
Unfortunately for those of working age that is to close to the truth. I am a baby of the late forties and I know how lucky I am in so many ways.
Dai
I am a product of the mid forties, and I definitely consider myself to be part of a golden generation. First heard the Beatles when they played the cavern club. Could afford a NEW car and buy a house by the age of 22 . Never unemployed. A defined benefits pension, paid from retiring in my mid fifties. We have been privileged to visit so many places before they were IMHO spoiled by the ravages of excessive tourism. Yes we have been lucky in so many ways
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