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Jerzy
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Queen MAry 2

This is the BEST cruise/ocean trip ever.
If you have been on others PLEASE see this one before you voice your opinion

With Regards

Jerzy W> Kwiatkowski


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Old Post 03-27-2005 12:40 PM
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shady
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Re: Queen MAry 2

What makes it so good?




"Jerzy" <jerzy.kwiatkowski@rogers.com> wrote in message
news:k5-dnenqxeTuiNvfRVn-gw@rogers.com...
This is the BEST cruise/ocean trip ever.
If you have been on others PLEASE see this one before you voice your opinion

With Regards

Jerzy W> Kwiatkowski


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Old Post 03-27-2005 12:40 PM
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Jerzy
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Re: Queen MAry 2

Dear Shady;



It depends what you like on the cruise.

We Liked



- Size

- Departing from New York

Seeing the Manhattan

- Food

-

- - Extra Restaurant

- Seeing Hollywood Stars

- Being on the board with "Classy people"

- 10 DIFFERENT RESTAURANTS"

- 14 BARS

-interior decoration

-jewelry auction

- Art auction

- carpets (colours)

- No activities

- No announcement on radios as (ON YOUR LAST CRUISE)



AND MANY MORE

as (ON YOUR LAST CRUISE)

AND MANY MORE

Jerzy..
> What makes it so good?
>
>
>
>
> "Jerzy" <jerzy.kwiatkowski@rogers.com> wrote in message
> news:k5-dnenqxeTuiNvfRVn-gw@rogers.com...
> This is the BEST cruise/ocean trip ever.
> If you have been on others PLEASE see this one before you voice your
> opinion
>
> With Regards
>
> Jerzy W> Kwiatkowski
>
>



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Old Post 03-27-2005 12:40 PM
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shady
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Re: Queen MAry 2

Thanks Jerzy,
Just wanted a little more detail. I will check and see if this would work
for me.


"Jerzy" <jerzy.kwiatkowski@rogers.com> wrote in message
news:sI6dnXmZLM_ghdvfRVn-ug@rogers.com...
Dear Shady;



It depends what you like on the cruise.

We Liked



- Size

- Departing from New York

Seeing the Manhattan

- Food

-

- - Extra Restaurant

- Seeing Hollywood Stars

- Being on the board with "Classy people"

- 10 DIFFERENT RESTAURANTS"

- 14 BARS

-interior decoration

-jewelry auction

- Art auction

- carpets (colours)

- No activities

- No announcement on radios as (ON YOUR LAST CRUISE)



AND MANY MORE

as (ON YOUR LAST CRUISE)

AND MANY MORE

Jerzy..
> What makes it so good?
>
>
>
>
> "Jerzy" <jerzy.kwiatkowski@rogers.com> wrote in message
> news:k5-dnenqxeTuiNvfRVn-gw@rogers.com...
> This is the BEST cruise/ocean trip ever.
> If you have been on others PLEASE see this one before you voice your
> opinion
>
> With Regards
>
> Jerzy W> Kwiatkowski
>
>




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Old Post 03-27-2005 12:42 PM
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Benjamin Smith
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Re: Queen MAry 2

Karen Segboer wrote:

> "Jerzy" <jerzy.kwiatkowski@rogers.com> wrote:
>
>
>>This is the BEST cruise/ocean trip ever.
>>If you have been on others PLEASE see this one before you voice your opinion

>
>
> Sorry, Jerzy, but I've been on more cruises than I can count, was on
> two other ships besides the QM2 last year, and I prefer the QM2 the
> *least* of the ships I sailed in 2004. I wanted to like it. I
> expected to like it. The truth is, it was one of the most mediocre
> cruises I've been on, and I generally love crossings.
>
> For us, the fun luxury cruise last year was the Radisson Navigator,
> and the surprise sleeper ship was the Voyager of the Seas. The QM2 is
> a yawn.


The only thing I'd be careful of, Karen, is Voyager was your first RCI
experience. I remember how excited one of the Viking Group's members was
about his cruise on the Voyager. On the Explorer he had that look of
"this seems very familiar", and he said it was exactly the same schtick
and format as the Voyager. We wasn't sure he wanted to sail on a Voyager
ship again. Your next cruise on RCI likely won't match the experience of
the first, and you may get to see some of RCI's warts as well. On my
Celebrity Galaxy cruise, first with Celebrity, no major warts. More
surfaced on the Century, though cruise was still excellent, didn't reach
the level of Galaxy.


>
> I'm wondering if you've ever been on any other Cunard ships to compare
> and contrast good Cunard service from bad?
>


He may have experienced a different QM2 than you did. Your point above,
though, is a key one.

Ben S.

> Karen
>
>
>
> __ /7__/7__/7__
> \::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::...
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> http://www.cupcaked.com/reviews ®
> (...and leave off the "potatoes" to e-mail)

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Old Post 03-27-2005 04:15 PM
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Jerzy
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Re: Queen MAry 2

Karen

Two days after the cruise and "cooling off period" I do agree with your
opinion.
However, it was the "one thing in life" we had to do it.
In particular the "price was right"
I would not pay the regular rate to go on this ship again, but if there will
be another opportunity we would go again.
It is hard to mach leaving New York on the largest ship in the world,
go to the Island and come back, relaxed and tanned, after meeting other
great people
and sometimes the "good comes with the not so good"


With regards;

Jerzy W. Kwiatkowski


"Karen Segboer" <karens@.spuds.cupcaked.com> wrote in message
news:424bf5e8.12086369@News.Individual.NET...
> "Jerzy" <jerzy.kwiatkowski@rogers.com> wrote:
>
>>This is the BEST cruise/ocean trip ever.
>>If you have been on others PLEASE see this one before you voice your
>>opinion

>
> Sorry, Jerzy, but I've been on more cruises than I can count, was on
> two other ships besides the QM2 last year, and I prefer the QM2 the
> *least* of the ships I sailed in 2004. I wanted to like it. I
> expected to like it. The truth is, it was one of the most mediocre
> cruises I've been on, and I generally love crossings.
>
> For us, the fun luxury cruise last year was the Radisson Navigator,
> and the surprise sleeper ship was the Voyager of the Seas. The QM2 is
> a yawn.
>
> I'm wondering if you've ever been on any other Cunard ships to compare
> and contrast good Cunard service from bad?
>
> Karen
>
>
>
> __ /7__/7__/7__
> \::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::...
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> http://www.cupcaked.com/reviews ®
> (...and leave off the "potatoes" to e-mail)



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Old Post 03-27-2005 04:16 PM
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Benjamin Smith
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Re: Queen MAry 2

Karen Segboer wrote:


>
> The QM2 being the largest ship in the world doesn't really faze me one
> way or the other .


I wish most people felt this way and it was a non-issue for ship appeal.

It won't be for long so Cunard will have to focus on something else.

Ben S.

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Old Post 03-27-2005 06:14 PM
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Sharon Walker
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Re: Queen MAry 2

Hi Jerzy,

> We just came back from QM2.
>We Liked
>- Size
>- Departing from New York


We are off to New York next week and are coming home on the Queen Mary 2 -we
live in the UK.
Where are you from? I only ask as Cunard Brouchure has the 10th April down
as the first West to East Transatlantic crossing. What dates did you sail?
We would have liked to have gone earlier but as I said, they booked us on
the first date that they were starting the crossings for this year on.

> After 12 cruises it was the BEST.
> For an average person, going on QM2 first time would be overwhelmed.

We have never been on a cruise before and are really excited about it.
We have nothing to compare the ship too so I guess we will find everything
overwhelming!

> The food, service and restaurants choice is the best of all the cruises we
> been on.
>We have eaten in the "free dining room" called Britannia"
>The food and the service was wonderful,

Glad to hear it. Though as we have paid for the food in the price of the
ticket we aim to eat most of our meals in the "Britannia"

>We were on deck 5 in the middle and everything was close.
>We will definitely go on this ship again

We are going to be on deck 4 and I hope to say when we return that we'll
definitely go on the ship again.

- Seeing Hollywood Stars
Who did you see?

>-jewelry auction
>- Art auction

any more information of these Jerzy? where? what did they sell? what sort of
prices did they start from?

> - No activities

I presume that was from your choice?
Did you go the Illuminations? What were the shops like?
Did you try out any of the "Ranch Spa" treatments?
Did you visit their library?

>It is hard to match leaving New York on the largest ship in the world,
>go to the Island and come back, relaxed and tanned, after meeting other
>great people

We ar spending 6 day in NewYork prior to sailing home, and this was one of
reasons we chose to sail home, the pleasure of coming back relaxed.
But TANNED? crossing the Atlantic in March??

Looking forward to hearing back from you
Sharon.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Jerzy" <jerzy.kwiatkowski@rogers.com>
Newsgroups: rec.travel.cruises
Sent: Sunday, March 27, 2005 12:39 AM
Subject: Qeen Mary 2


> We just came back from QM2.
> After 12 cruises it was the BEST.
> I have read some reviews and I honor your opinion, however, most of the
> were incorrect.
> For an average person, going on QM2 first time would be overwhelmed.
> The food, service and restaurants choice is the best of all the cruises we
> been on.
> Tood English ($20.00 Lunch and $ 30.00 Dinner) is worth every penny.
> If you ever thought to see the "highlife" go there.
> It never bother us the separate dining rooms for the "upper class"
> I would like that too if I have to pay 40-50 grand per cabin per week.
> Most rewarding
> - food in Todd English
> - Jewelry Auction
> - Overall decoration
>
> Disappointing:
> - Entertainment in the main theater
>
> With Regards
>
> Jerzy W. Kwiatkowski
>



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Old Post 03-27-2005 07:19 PM
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Benjamin Smith
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Re: Queen MAry 2

Karen Segboer wrote:
> Benjamin Smith <benjs@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>
>
>>Karen Segboer wrote:

>
>
>>>The QM2 being the largest ship in the world doesn't really faze me one
>>>way or the other .

>
>
>>I wish most people felt this way and it was a non-issue for ship appeal.

>
>
> For the life of me, I can't fathom this need to build bigger and
> longer, with more tonnage.


You do, Karen. American folks have a thing for big things. Our cars,
homes, land we own, tend to be bigger and much larger than we need them
to be. At the marina, many pay attention to the largest yacht, not the
sleekest or highest quality ones. We seek prestige and variety with size.


It does nothing at all for the passenger,
> but only brings in revenue for the company. It's easy to see that
> we're all to be housed in sardine-like accomodations at sea soon so
> the cruise lines can continue to make big bucks.
>


I think the newer/bigger ships do better in terms of actual space for
passengers. The space ratios are higher but they are inflated by atria
and loads of cabins. Cabins have the all-so-precious balconies.

> I wish there were more mass market but smaller ships.
>


People keep making excuses for companies. I ask for this and I get a
barrage of comments about how cruises are businesses and companies have
to make money, yada, yada, yada. I also, though not lately, get folks
giving me sermons on how marketing should decide everything and
marketing says smaller ships aren't desirable so the hell with them.

There is a difference in the mindsets of some people in business. Some
businesses provide a service and charge for it, others are in it to make
money in a chosen industry. Big public companies have pressure from
stockholders for growth. Private companies have other pressures
sometimes, but not always for growth. But, people need to know that not
all businesses the main point is to provide money. Some folks actually
want to provide a service and the business comes out of their passion to
bring a product to the public. Some cruise lines came form this passion,
unfortunately, some of them were purchased by the big boys.

I wish for smaller mass market ships too. And I think it is important to
say this, so at least a voice is heard that some of us are sick of
gigantic ships (for me 85,000 tons is very large). At this point,
smaller means the 85,000 ton ships, the mid sized are 110,000 and up and
mega means around Voyager size and above. It's crazy and way oversized
and the cruise public are buying into what I feel is this oversized ship
insanity.

Ben (thinks QM2 should have been 90,000 to 100,000 tons or so)

> Karen
>
>
>
>
>
> __ /7__/7__/7__
> \::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::...
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> http://www.cupcaked.com/reviews ®
> (...and leave off the "potatoes" to e-mail)

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Old Post 03-27-2005 09:23 PM
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Chrissy Cruiser
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Re: Queen MAry 2

On Sun, 27 Mar 2005 23:47:54 GMT, Benjamin Smith wrote:

>> I wish there were more mass market but smaller ships.
>>

>
> People keep making excuses for companies. I ask for this and I get a
> barrage of comments about how cruises are businesses and companies have
> to make money, yada, yada, yada. I also, though not lately, get folks
> giving me sermons on how marketing should decide everything and
> marketing says smaller ships aren't desirable so the hell with them.
>
> There is a difference in the mindsets of some people in business. Some
> businesses provide a service and charge for it, others are in it to make
> money in a chosen industry. Big public companies have pressure from
> stockholders for growth. Private companies have other pressures
> sometimes, but not always for growth. But, people need to know that not
> all businesses the main point is to provide money. Some folks actually
> want to provide a service and the business comes out of their passion to
> bring a product to the public. Some cruise lines came form this passion,


Well, Ben, if there is a cruise opportunity for the ship sizes you say,
incorporating many of your design elements, chances are decent to good that
it will be done.

MSC is approaching this in many ways.

However, those ships that do offer smaller size are often out of the reach
of the typical cruisers budget (RSSC, Crystal etc) or offer an experience
that one is not willing to pay for. Or they are super-secret, no-can-tell,
SilverSeas cruises that only elite RTCers are allowed on. I hear they have
military-grade, encrypted by Blowfish brochures and decoder rings and a
biometric Sail Card that matches your DNA to the MI6 online database of the
Royal Family.

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Old Post 03-27-2005 09:28 PM
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Benjamin Smith
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Re: Queen MAry 2

Chrissy Cruiser wrote:

> On Sun, 27 Mar 2005 23:47:54 GMT, Benjamin Smith wrote:
>
>
>>>I wish there were more mass market but smaller ships.
>>>

>>
>>People keep making excuses for companies. I ask for this and I get a
>>barrage of comments about how cruises are businesses and companies have
>>to make money, yada, yada, yada. I also, though not lately, get folks
>>giving me sermons on how marketing should decide everything and
>>marketing says smaller ships aren't desirable so the hell with them.
>>
>>There is a difference in the mindsets of some people in business. Some
>>businesses provide a service and charge for it, others are in it to make
>>money in a chosen industry. Big public companies have pressure from
>>stockholders for growth. Private companies have other pressures
>>sometimes, but not always for growth. But, people need to know that not
>>all businesses the main point is to provide money. Some folks actually
>>want to provide a service and the business comes out of their passion to
>>bring a product to the public. Some cruise lines came form this passion,

>
>
> Well, Ben, if there is a cruise opportunity for the ship sizes you say,
> incorporating many of your design elements, chances are decent to good that
> it will be done.
>
> MSC is approaching this in many ways.
>


Showing it can be done. But, their next ships for the Caribbean are
around 90,000 tons.

Now, what has changed so much from 1992 to 1998 when HAL somehow could
afford to make 55,000 to 63,000 ton ships?

Ben S.

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Old Post 03-27-2005 10:09 PM
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Tom K
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Re: Queen MAry 2


"Benjamin Smith" <benjs@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:KCH1e.10294$S46.4102@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> Karen Segboer wrote:
>> Benjamin Smith <benjs@ix.netcom.com> wrote:


>> For the life of me, I can't fathom this need to build bigger and
>> longer, with more tonnage.

>
> You do, Karen. American folks have a thing for big things. Our cars,
> homes, land we own, tend to be bigger and much larger than we need them to
> be. At the marina, many pay attention to the largest yacht, not the
> sleekest or highest quality ones. We seek prestige and variety with size.
>


Don't just blame the Americans for that.

In the passenger ship business, it's been going on for over a hundred years.
With European lines and names right up there. Cunard. White Star.
Titanic. Gigantic. French Line. Normandie. QM QE.

How about buildings like the Patronis Towers?

Want yachts? How about Onassis?

--Tom


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Old Post 03-28-2005 12:43 AM
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Tom K
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Re: Queen MAry 2


"Benjamin Smith" <benjs@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:kcI1e.7023$z.5960@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
>
>
> Showing it can be done. But, their next ships for the Caribbean are around
> 90,000 tons.
>
> Now, what has changed so much from 1992 to 1998 when HAL somehow could
> afford to make 55,000 to 63,000 ton ships?


Simple. MickyBucks.

--Tom


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Old Post 03-28-2005 12:46 AM
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Benjamin Smith
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Re: Queen MAry 2

Tom K wrote:

> "Benjamin Smith" <benjs@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
> news:KCH1e.10294$S46.4102@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net...
>
>>Karen Segboer wrote:
>>
>>>Benjamin Smith <benjs@ix.netcom.com> wrote:

>
>
>>>For the life of me, I can't fathom this need to build bigger and
>>>longer, with more tonnage.

>>
>>You do, Karen. American folks have a thing for big things. Our cars,
>>homes, land we own, tend to be bigger and much larger than we need them to
>>be. At the marina, many pay attention to the largest yacht, not the
>>sleekest or highest quality ones. We seek prestige and variety with size.
>>

>
>
> Don't just blame the Americans for that.
>
> In the passenger ship business, it's been going on for over a hundred years.
> With European lines and names right up there. Cunard. White Star.
> Titanic. Gigantic. French Line. Normandie. QM QE.
>


There was a definite more toward larger and faster ships in the age of
the oceanliner. I think, now, Europeans aren't into size as much as
Americans, though they are building that gigantic Airbus airplane.

Today's European cruise ships are smaller than American ships on average.

> How about buildings like the Patronis Towers?
>
> Want yachts? How about Onassis?
>


Yep, not Americans.

Ben


> --Tom
>
>

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Old Post 03-28-2005 12:59 AM
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Tom K
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Re: Queen MAry 2


"Benjamin Smith" <benjs@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:cJK1e.10411$S46.9089@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> Tom K wrote:
>
>> "Benjamin Smith" <benjs@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
>> news:KCH1e.10294$S46.4102@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net...
>>
>>>Karen Segboer wrote:
>>>
>>>>Benjamin Smith <benjs@ix.netcom.com> wrote:

>>
>>
>>>>For the life of me, I can't fathom this need to build bigger and
>>>>longer, with more tonnage.
>>>
>>>You do, Karen. American folks have a thing for big things. Our cars,
>>>homes, land we own, tend to be bigger and much larger than we need them
>>>to be. At the marina, many pay attention to the largest yacht, not the
>>>sleekest or highest quality ones. We seek prestige and variety with size.
>>>

>>
>>
>> Don't just blame the Americans for that.
>>
>> In the passenger ship business, it's been going on for over a hundred
>> years. With European lines and names right up there. Cunard. White
>> Star. Titanic. Gigantic. French Line. Normandie. QM QE.
>>

>
> There was a definite more toward larger and faster ships in the age of the
> oceanliner. I think, now, Europeans aren't into size as much as Americans,
> though they are building that gigantic Airbus airplane.
>
> Today's European cruise ships are smaller than American ships on average.



Isn't Royal Caribbean mostly a European Company? Mostly Norwegian IIRC.

And until they sold out to Carnival, Princess definitely was European.

--Tom


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Old Post 03-28-2005 02:25 AM
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How B
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Re: Queen MAry 2

Karen Segboer wrote:
> I wish there were more mass market but smaller ships.


Hi Karen,

For me, Crystal fits that description. At about 900-1000 pax and
48,000-68,000 tons, their ships seem to have most of the amenities of
larger ships, with small ship food and service. It's been 4 years since
my last cruise on Crystal. My family and I seem to have been stuck in a
Princess/HAL rut for too long, so we've booked a 7 day Mexican Riviera
cruise this fallon the Harmony. On our last Crystal cruise, the service
and food were exceptional, and the ambiance was not stuffy at all.

The prices are much lower than people think, especially on their "Value
Collection." Some of these fares are discounted as much as 50%. A good
TA can do even better than the published value fares. I'll usually
treat my sis & mom to a cruise once a year, with them in a mini suite
and me in a balcony single. Thanks to Crystal's generous single fares
(125% fare for in/out, 135% balcony) we'll have three A category single
balconies for several hundred $ LESS than I paid on the Diamond Princess
last year!

It's a steal. Besides awesome service, there are freebies like
complimantary soft drinks, bottled water, and espresso drinks. Free
self service launderettes--no charge for machines, soap, etc. It's nice
not to get nickle-and-dimed for these things. DVD players in all
staterooms with a huge library of titles to choose from, and a "real"
movie theater as on HAL. The Frette linens and other stateroom
amenities are great. Specialty restaurants are wonderful, one can also
order room service from the dining room menu. The lecture and
enrichment programs are great as well, there was a terrific astronomer
lecturing on our last cruise. They also have the most generous repeat
cruiser program I've ever seen.

Do consider putting Crystal on your "gotta do someday" list, and check
out their Value Collection.

Regards,
Howard

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Old Post 03-28-2005 04:35 AM
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Jean O'Boyle
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Re: Queen MAry 2


"Benjamin Smith" <benjs@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:MWC1e.10010$S46.236@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> Karen Segboer wrote:
>
>> "Jerzy" <jerzy.kwiatkowski@rogers.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>This is the BEST cruise/ocean trip ever.
>>>If you have been on others PLEASE see this one before you voice your
>>>opinion

>>
>>
>> Sorry, Jerzy, but I've been on more cruises than I can count, was on
>> two other ships besides the QM2 last year, and I prefer the QM2 the
>> *least* of the ships I sailed in 2004. I wanted to like it. I
>> expected to like it. The truth is, it was one of the most mediocre
>> cruises I've been on, and I generally love crossings.
>>
>> For us, the fun luxury cruise last year was the Radisson Navigator,
>> and the surprise sleeper ship was the Voyager of the Seas. The QM2 is
>> a yawn.




Jerzy,
Since Ben included her post in his, I guess Karen can't count past 15, as
according to her site below, that is how many cruises she has taken. Check
for yourself by clicking her link below.

If you enjoyed your QM2 cruise, that is what is important ..your opinion
should not be unimportant or insignificant...You were enthusiastic about it
being the "Best cruise/ocean trip ever"...You stated that you had taken this
ship after 12 cruises...I think that you can be considered a seasoned
cruiser..As you cautioned others in another thread, one should not be swayed
by one person's experience...The best way is to try it yourself...No one
here is an expert on any one ship..People's tastes vary..
Sometimes, you can have several people on the very same sailing who give
entirely different reviews when returning from that cruise.

I'm glad that you enjoyed your cruise that much.

--Jean


>> http://www.cupcaked.com/reviews ®
>> (...and leave off the "potatoes" to e-mail)



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Old Post 03-28-2005 06:12 AM
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Benjamin Smith
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Re: Queen MAry 2

How B wrote:

> Karen Segboer wrote:
>
>> I wish there were more mass market but smaller ships.

>
>
> Hi Karen,
>
> For me, Crystal fits that description. At about 900-1000 pax and
> 48,000-68,000 tons, their ships seem to have most of the amenities of
> larger ships, with small ship food and service.
>
> The prices are much lower than people think, especially on their "Value
> Collection." Some of these fares are discounted as much as 50%.


Howard,

Thanks. Karen has sailed Crystal. I don't think of Crystal as mass
market. Only 3 ships and though they at times have specials on fares,
their per diems on average are noticeably higher than those on the lines
we discuss here most. Maybe Crystal isn't as much luxury as Silversea
but it is still above a HAL or Celebrity in price and have their own market.

For the most part, we think of mass market lines Carnival, NCL,
Princess, HAL, Celebrity, Disney, Costa. European mass market lines are
P&O and MSC. There are a few others, perhaps.

Ben


> Regards,
> Howard
>

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Old Post 03-28-2005 11:24 AM
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Chrissy Cruiser
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Re: Queen MAry 2

On Mon, 28 Mar 2005 01:27:40 GMT, Karen Segboer wrote:

>>Well, Ben, if there is a cruise opportunity for the ship sizes you say,
>>incorporating many of your design elements, chances are decent to good that
>>it will be done.
>>
>>MSC is approaching this in many ways.

>
> I wonder how many TAs would know much about these ships if you just
> walked into a storefront agency to book a cruise?


Most don't even have brochures. With that said, MSC did a pretty good job
via email and other marketing of these ships to TAs and they hit a time
when experienced pax were looking for alternatives. Look at Roller as an
example.

I'll bet few were few first time cruisers. TAs didn't have a lot of
experience and unless they ran out of the regular alternatives, MSC was way
down their list especially for families.

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Old Post 03-28-2005 01:13 PM
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How B
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Re: Queen MAry 2


Benjamin Smith wrote:

> How B wrote:
>
>> Karen Segboer wrote:
>>
>>> I wish there were more mass market but smaller ships.


>> For me, Crystal fits that description.

>
> Howard,
>
> Thanks. Karen has sailed Crystal. I don't think of Crystal as mass
> market. Only 3 ships and though they at times have specials on fares,
> their per diems on average are noticeably higher than those on the lines
> we discuss here most. Maybe Crystal isn't as much luxury as Silversea
> but it is still above a HAL or Celebrity in price and have their own
> market.
> For the most part, we think of mass market lines Carnival, NCL,
> Princess, HAL, Celebrity, Disney, Costa. European mass market lines are
> P&O and MSC. There are a few others, perhaps.


Oops, my error. I took Karen's original post to mean she was looking
for something *in between* mass market and luxe. (As you said in
another post, the "Premium" category really doesn't exist anymore.)

I, too, do not consider Crystal to be luxe class--too many passengers,
lower crew/pax ratios, and 2 dining seatings vs. open seating on luxe ships.

I'll stand by my comments on the reasonable per diems on Crystal. Mass
market lines do indeed have low fares for
inside/outside/low-category-balcony staterooms, but once you get into
good balcony/minisuite/suite territory, Crystal is the better
value--especially for single occupancy!

Regards,
Howard

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Old Post 03-28-2005 06:29 PM
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Chrissy Cruiser
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Re: Queen MAry 2

On Mon, 28 Mar 2005 15:52:28 GMT, Karen Segboer wrote:

> Queen of Bermuda (one of the old Moore-Mac ships) to Bermuda,
> September,1988


My gosh, we were children then.

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Old Post 03-28-2005 06:29 PM
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Chrissy Cruiser
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Re: Queen MAry 2

On Mon, 28 Mar 2005 14:24:51 GMT, Karen Segboer wrote:

>>Jerzy,
>>Since Ben included her post in his, I guess Karen can't count past 15, as
>>according to her site below, that is how many cruises she has taken. Check
>>for yourself by clicking her link below.


>>--Jean


> LOL! Nice to see you went to my web site, Jean, especially since you
> claim at every opportunity that you have me killfiled. And I guess
> you blindly assume that every cruise I ever took is there. Not true,
> since I've been cruising for many years before I ever owned a
> computer.
>
> Funny how Jean goes 'way out of her way to try to make someone look
> bad. There was no issue here, but Jean jumped in, just to be nasty.
>
> I'll say it again, she's a great example of a bad catholic.
>


>
> Karens


Ole Jeannie is struggling, no doubt about it. She drydocked, ran away to
Yahoo, found that it was Yahoo and not a replacement for Usenet, came back
to an RTC that has moved on both intellectually and culturally. She starts
a thread and it dies robustly.

Less people are interested in Doc Dances and endless threads about boas and
a more interested in the evolving cruise product. Look at the number of new
faces in just the last year. Look at the number of old faces that have
faded away.

Let her do her thing. As we always said, Jeannie will, ultimately, do her
own self in. That proof is in the present RTC pudding.

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Old Post 03-30-2005 09:55 AM
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