What can cruise lines do better in 2013?

[editor@cruisecritic]

We're wondering: What do you think cruise lines can improve on in 2013? We've got a few ideas, but as always would love to know what's on your mind, so please vote. And if you want to elaborate, tell us more below!

Thanks.

Carolyn

PS You can vote for more than one option....

Carolyn Spencer Brown
Editor in Chief
Cruise Critic

[KirkNC]

Ramp up service!

[editor@cruisecritic]

Deleted

[traveloscopy]

Come on cruise lines, stop treating us like idiots. If you tack on a mandatory gratuity, it ceases to be a gratuity and becomes a service charge. We like to tip, but not with a (metaphorical) gun to our head.

[beachbum53]

For those of us that aren't fortunate enough to live in or near a port city and have to fly, I wish that the cruise lines could develop some sort of partnership with the airlines. After booking a cruise, it would be great if you could use your booking number as a means of getting a discount on airfare, even if it's only 10%.

[wowzo]

Have better systems in place for entering & exiting the ship in ports.

Have a better system for tender & tour tickets without all the chaos.

MaryA

[browneyedgirlnb]

my "other" request would be that smoking rules be revised. On my previous cruises, smoking was permitted in certain areas, but it wasn't enforced and there were men smoking cigars out by the pool in a smoke free designated area. While I have no problem with people lighting up, I choose to go where smoking isn't an issue. For instance, I know it's allowed in the casinos, so I purposely avoid the casino... but I shouldn't have to avoid areas designated as smokefree. Then there's the issue of smoking on balconies... I think the problem would be solved by making one entire side of the ship smoking and the opposite side non-smoking. I don't care which side is which, just pick one and I'll book the non-smoking side, so that when I go outside on the balcony of my stateroom, I can enjoy the sun and the view or even just have my slider open to the fresh air, without having to smell smoke (both cigar and cigarette) wafting up from a lower balcony or a next door neighbor. I had one cruise where we couldn't open our door all week, not even for a minute, due to a couple of chain smokers in the adjacent room... they were out there every waking minute. I couldn't even leave the door open at night to hear the ocean, because one of the occupants would get up in the middle of the night to have a cig every night. That's their rite, I understand that. They paid for that room. All I'm saying is that the cruiselines should have a way to keep all of their customers satisfied by keeping rooms separate. I'm more than happy to stay wherever I need to stay to avoid inhaling 2nd hand smoke. These ships are so huge, it shouldn't be that difficult.

[luddite]

Make internet and cel-phone use more expensive.
Improve ( which won't be hard to do) the beer selection.

[bigbass]

Cruiselines need to do a better job of enforcing the rules about childern in adult only areas of the ships.
Then there needs to be a betterway of eliminating the chair hogs.

[CruiseUtopia]

Make the loyalty programs actually mean something. I know, you don't want to give away anything of actual value, but in the long run you will come out ahead.

[cruisefan0110]

IMO the cruise lines need to stop the never ending new for-fee options. For-fee options for cabanas on the pool decks now! We are moving back to the class systems of the ocean liner days.

[mtwingcpa]

I "second" the request for smoke-free balconies on lines that don't already have them.

[editor@cruisecritic]

Beachbum, great suggestion! We'll pass that on.

Carolyn

Originally Posted by beachbum53

For those of us that aren't fortunate enough to live in or near a port city and have to fly, I wish that the cruise lines could develop some sort of partnership with the airlines. After booking a cruise, it would be great if you could use your booking number as a means of getting a discount on airfare, even if it's only 10%.

[Warmer Climes]

Add some different ports in the Caribbean...

[editor@cruisecritic]

Laughing, Luddite. If Internet were more expensive I wouldn't be able to travel at all!

Carolyn

Originally Posted by luddite

Make internet and cel-phone use more expensive.
Improve ( which won't be hard to do) the beer selection.

[Robb]

I wish RCCL (and other cruise lines) to add new ports. The destination is of prime importance to us. Hate going to the same ports over and over.

[NoobCruise]

This poll is probably subjective depending on which cruise line you cruise with, unless you frequently cruise many lines.

We thought the evening entertainment was seriously dated, especially music. We would have enjoyed hearing a more current selection.

[paul929207]

I would love for tips to either be included in the fare or mandatory

[cruiseco]

Originally Posted by Robb

I wish RCCL (and other cruise lines) to add new ports. The destination is of prime importance to us. Hate going to the same ports over and over.

Every time they increase the size of their ships the number of available ports shrinks. More port options? Use cruise lines with ships in the under-1000 passenger size range.

[cruiseco]

Originally Posted by beachbum53

For those of us that aren't fortunate enough to live in or near a port city and have to fly, I wish that the cruise lines could develop some sort of partnership with the airlines. After booking a cruise, it would be great if you could use your booking number as a means of getting a discount on airfare, even if it's only 10%.

Industry-wide, over the last three years or so the airlines have seen profit margins of around 2.5% to as low as 1% depending on a number of factors, the most variable of which is fuel costs. There's no blood to be squeezed out of that turnip. Especially "only 10%".