...heavily drink, gamble and are fascinated by shiny objects? I just came back from a 7 day Alaskan cruise. Alaska was great! I would like to go back and see more of the wildlife and learn more about Alaskan history. There was very little Alaska on the Alaskan cruise. Mostly the cruise was the cruise company pushing alcohol, their casino and bingo, and cheap junk jewelry with HUGE price tags. The commercialism was enough to make me sick. Alaska is worth everything by itself why all the garbage sales pitches from the cruise company?
2007-08-11 16:35:17 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Cruise Travel
Yes I knew there were bars and a casino on the ship. I thought if I stayed out of those areas I would be okay. Nooooo. They constantly have people going around asking if you'd like to buy a drink. They are constantly announcing the next BINGO! BINGO! BINGO!, drawings, how much you can win at slot machines, etc. etc. You can't get away from it.
2007-08-12 13:05:01 · update #1
Yes, there are other things to do on the ship. The workout room comes with an annoying idiot who is constantly trying to get you to sign-up for spa treatments, facials, and massages. For an additional fee of course.
2007-08-12 13:07:45 · update #2
Did I expect to see dancing Eskimos? I don't know if Eskimos have dance contests like the various tribes in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas do. I did see a lot of Tlingit (sp?) totem poles and learn a little about the culture. The on-shore stuff was great. Alaska is great. I want to go back to Alaska and stay at a land-side resort.
It was the floating infomercial that sucked.
2007-08-12 13:12:13 · update #3
lizzy - Easily fascinated with shiny objects? If you're also easily parted with money, I'm sure you'll have a good time.
2007-08-15 14:55:35 · update #4
Rottenmutts - This is the first time I've ever heard anyone say that Eskimo is a derogatory term. What is it's history? Where did the word come from and what does it mean? Also, have you ever protested against Eskimo Joe's?
2007-08-15 15:02:44 · update #5
Hun next time you want to spend time in my home state, please check out the sites below. They can help you find great places to see and stay.
Id suggest two places that i've lived in for the most part of my life. First Juneau. if you were on the cruise, it's probably a place you "stopped" over at. And the second would be Seward. Seward is farther up north. but just as beautiful. From seward, you can jump on the highway and see many sights. Id suggest to go in summer. Our roads kinda suck during the winter. Fall is also a great time, and the colors of fall will just amaze you! hope this helps you plan your next trip.
2007-08-13 01:27:35 · answer #1 · answered by Green eyed Tlingit 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hey there!
I thought the same thing too about Royal Caribbean. The only reason why we went with them was because we had children with us. If you were looking to cruise again with a cruiseline that put more concentration on the destination itself, check Cruise West. That's what we did the second time we were there. There ships are smaller so that you get to see more of the Alaskan coastline. The ship itself is very intimate, with less commercialism and more of a personal coziness atmosphere. Also, Cruise West have land tours that is beyond the normal tours sold by the bigger cruiseline. I think you would love it!
Good luck!
2007-08-13 12:08:09 · answer #2 · answered by The One 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with some of the other people who answered. YES all of the cruise ship companies push alcohol, gift shops,casino ect to make more and more money from the public, BUT you can enjoy the cruise with out making that a focus. You can pay attention to nature and the wildlife you are seeing on your cruise. Not all cruise experiences are like the one you describe. Sorry you had a negative experience. I would research and try other vacations, talk to more people and try again to get the experiences you are looking for.
2007-08-13 02:24:01 · answer #3 · answered by Tivogal 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1st of all--Its INUIT not Eskimo which is as insulting as the N word. Since you wanted to learn about history you must have found out that Inuit people live a lot farther north. You are right about RCCL ships. Try another line like Princess or NCL. Half of the passengers on the Vision of the Seas out of Vancouver were drunken rednecks from Texas--totally ignorant people who spoiled the cruise. Never ever take a shore excursion from RCCL--the ones on shore are half the price and done by locals who are knowledgeable not some college co-ed from Santa Barbara.
2007-08-13 08:52:41 · answer #4 · answered by Rottenmutts 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
All the companies are the same, even the smaller ones.
I worked for the 2 big companies that run the shops onboard, the pressure for pressure was terrible and the merchandise, even worse.
You know the stuff you find on the "promo tables", promotional tables that are usually in the middle of the shops, that stuff has a 300% mark up... and 60% of the shops income comes from that crap.
How about Inch of Gold? ha, what a joke.
The same happens on all departments.
2007-08-12 12:40:04 · answer #5 · answered by ocean.denis 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All cruise ships are trying to make extra money but.....you certainly do not have to participate in any of these vice's. You are floating around in a small city on these ships and there are so many fun things you can do besides frequent the casino and go to the bars. The restaurants are fantastic, the shows are great, you can go to different classes they have, work out cabin, movie theater, pools, etc. Most of all you can sit on the deck and enjoy the scenery. The scenery is what the Alaskan cruise was about for us.
2007-08-12 02:09:21 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Plan your next vacation camping at the National Park. What did you expect Eskimos performing a live show at the Cabaret Lounge ? Life all about having fun and enjoying life, too bad you forgot to do that on a Cruise.
2007-08-12 11:15:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I understand what you mean...but the cruise line os out to make MONEY. Have you noticed how many of the questions on here about cruises are from people who want to know how old you have to be to drink on a cruise, or how to sneak their own liquor onto a cruise ship? For many people, that seems to be the main attraction.
2007-08-11 23:47:54 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have some friends that went on an Alaskan cruise in May, and they brought me back some beautiful jewelry. I am planning on going on a Royal Caribbean cruise with them next March. It will be the 1st cruise I have ever been on, so I'm hoping it will be fun!
2007-08-11 23:45:54 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Royal Carribbean is in the business to make money. Their overhead is huge
You would have enjoyed a smaller local excursion better where it IS about the view and the wild animals; not the party humans.
2007-08-11 23:43:13 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋