SIMON CALDER: 95% of ALL Cruise Ships Should be SCRAPPED!

[@sailawaymag]

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[@cynthiastuart6447]

As an American who has lived all her life with our tipping culture, I can tell you it's outrageous. We are now even asked to tip on payment terminals at self-service checkout lines, even when doing our own bagging. We are also being asked to tip when making a trip to a restaurant for take out. On the other hand, I completely feel for the overworked and underpaid staff on cruise ships and land based service industries and am happy to tip them for even the most basic of service levels. The ultimate answer, in my opinion, is for government mandates to pay a fair minimum wage, but that's unlikely for the forseeable future.

[@blackvulcan100]

As an English man I refuse to tip unless I want to. Over here now many restaurants now add "service charge " to the bill, I have never ever paid that, I politely say please remove the charge and it is removed. Only once in a posh place was I referred to the manager who explained it was normal to pay this charge, oh no it is not I said and I have no intention of paying it please call the police if it is actually a legal charge LOL. At my age of 77 I want very much to visit the USA in 2025 so how am I ever going to do that without causing problems.

[@jsmith1071]

It was so good to hear Simon talk about removing gratuities. If more people did it the cruise lines would be forced to change their model and include them in the fare, like Virgin Voyages. It has got very out of hand on the American cruise lines such that it puts me off sailing with them. In the UK we now have a minimum wage that has risen so much there is no need to then automatically add gratuities, it’s insane.

[@carolr9301]

It’s great to hear Simon. It’s so interesting to hear his stories and knowledge. It would be great to see the cruise lines take their gratuities off like P & O have. It’s a pity nobody can do anything to help the stalemate between P & O and Maleth and the passengers stuck in between them.

[@gavinnaylor1428]

Simon Calder is the ultimate in travel knowledge hope some of the you tube cruise experts listen to his expert advise very informative

[@TomandDomTravel]

Another great watch. Very interesting to hear Simon’s thoughts

[@0tispunkm3y3r]

LNG isn't the magic wand it seems... There is a thing called "methane slip" which is methane escaping the combustion process and going straight outside. Methane is some like 30x more powerful than CO2 in greenhouse effect. It's especially a problem on diesel engines converted to run LNG (as it has high knock resistance). Also depending on how it is combusted (spark or compression) it can be less thermally efficient (meaning more fuel to travel the same distance). But it doesn't leave that acrid smell, that acidic looking cloud hanging round the ships in port and doesn't leave "black snow" raining down on the back of the ship. It is essentially zero particulates.

[@smvsspould]

Yep, it's definitely not a silver bullet, I wonder what the slip is like on modern ships like the excellence class (AIDA Nova, Iona, Arvia etc). The annoying thing with methane as you say is the 30x greater warming potential, albeit it doesn't hang around for more than a couple of decades but it's the next couple of decades that are crucial in environmental terms. I personally think that Lithium ferrous and sodium ion batteries could serve a dual purpose of energy storage and ballast given their weight and energy density for shorter trips. I can forsee ships that use batteries for smaller trips going between Mediterranean ports close to each other than then switch to LNG as they deplete.

[@jonascreed7825]

Tui relocation cruise in 2021 from the Med to the Caribbean, the cruise industry was just starting again and we had the best time, all the passengers were so grateful to be cruising again, even though masks were mandatory onboard, and ashore.

[@sailawaymag]

That was a lovely period to go cruising. We cruised on Marella Explorer in September 2021, when it was sailing at 30% occupancy. One of our all-time favourite cruises we have done :)

[@loftlegacy]

We sailed Royal Caribbean pre and post pandemic and staff still go that extra mile. The company did try and drop the main dining room a few years ago for the Quantum Class ships and replace with “dynamic dining”. It was disaster and dropped like a stone. We still enjoy the main dining room, still “loyal to Royal” and sail with only them every year. It’s expensive but we know what we are getting. One thing about what they have changed is are the 3 or 4 day “ultimate weekend” cruises from the US on a rather expensive Oasis Class ship, Utopia of the Seas. These are very much to sweat assets such as the ship and their resort CoCo Cay which has some crazy up-charges. It’s also supposed to breed bad behaviour in some new cruisers with reports of fights and parts of the ship smells of pot. Note you don’t get this on European cruises where people are better behaved, not pointing the finger at our American cousins.

[@leeandjancruise]

Regarding extra charges while on board, we have cruised with Marella twice, their itinerary is possibly the best offered and they are all inclusive but we don't drink alcohol or sugar filled mocktails so feel we are paying for something we don't use, same goes for the gym. Marella are not cheap so would it not be fair to lower the cruise price for those who don't participate in drinking alcohol and using the gym, this could easily be done by using the stateroom charge cards.

[@kaliinferno7005]

So for me I enjoy the smaller ship as well. Cunard Queen Victoria is quite optimal and I look forward to traveling on QM2. Reducing services I feel is sad, that golden age quality is being pulled from P&O and others. If room servicing and more are going to be reduced and costings are reduced it could be tempting, however I would not want the experience to be reduced. I like no fly cruising, transatlantic is lovely with some peaceful sea days and a book.

[@sailawaymag]

Thanks for watching. Totally agree with you, and Queen Victoria is one of our all-time favourites. We've sailed on her 5 times, more than any other ship :)

[@davidjames-maddaford4531]

What an interesting cast this week! Apart from the Queen Anne talk (which for me is just NO - Remove her or create a reef out of her and NEVER AGAIN) I very much as Australian abhor tipping rudimentarily. Do an extra, make me feel appreciated and/or special, and watch me through money at them... TELL me to pay and I just say no! I am very fortunate to be able to afford these opinions. To the Two Sirs; Thank You for another insightful discussion. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@sailawaymag]

Thanks for watching as always, David. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year :)

[@davidjames-maddaford4531]

@@sailawaymag And right back at the Two of you, to you and yours. May we all be granted good fortunes for this new year. Cannot wait to see what I get to write into you about next. As my people say (in english) "To Life!"

[@davidmarsden305]

Enjoyable chat, Simon has great knowledge, didn't agree with everything he had to say, however a great guest, well done for getting him on your channel 👍

[@PaulBray-g3f]

Fantastic video guys Simon is so fair with his answers so interesting to listen to your podcast are one of the best always looking forward to the next one. Just received our first copy of your magazine and a big thank you for your Christmas card. Keep up all the good work, We are Sailing on p and o Avis in January 2 weeks in the Caribbean, this will be our third time on her I think we are the lucky ones as we’ve always enjoyed it. Wishing you a fabulous Christmas and a happy New Year Paul and Paul

[@sailawaymag]

Thanks for watching guys, receiving a comment like this inspires us to do more. We weren't a fan of P&O Arvia (as you probably know) but we love seeing that others have had a more positive experience. You can't go wrong with the Caribbean though - hope you have an amazing time, and thanks for subscribing :) Dan & Jay

[@christineworne6106]

You pay in your fare!

[@sailawaymag]

Totally agree with you!

[@barryfrance609]

Suggest you go with P&O and pay for your drinks. Not to change marella who have a reasonable pricing structure

[@Zippy-ey9xu]

Wonder if Simon has the same opinion about air travel and the number of planes travelling around the world, as he does with cutting cruise ships down by 90/95%?

[@sailawaymag]

This is a very good point. We wish we'd asked him!

[@tom4626]

My opinion is if you want some of the old services (and why wouldn’t you it was a lovely thing) you have to recognise that you’ll need to pay more and move up the cruise provider ladder I.e. Explorer, Silverseas, Intercontinental

[@Travel_Day_Dreams]

Enjoyed a thought provoking discussion but I disagree with the point that service charges are in any way stealthy. It's quite clearly explained that there will be a daily charge for many lines, in these cases this is best factored in to your decision whether that cruise offers good value or not. Where daily gratuities/service charge applies we will not generally add to that, but it's less clear what to do for the best when sailing P&O or MSC where pricing is already exceptionally competitive and one can only infer that staff wages are perhaps at min wage or slightly above but definitely not much more, and that many passengers have no intention of additionally rewarding staff service as they consider that to be included already.

[@Travellifewithlucy]

A great watch! I love the idea of the EasyCruise. A really cheap cruise getting to visit ports for a long period of time, and you just pay for any add ons you want! Count me in! 😅

[@CGunterPortfolio]

I was on Carnival this past Aug the main dining room had an up charge for steak and lamb chops!! I was shocked! Everything else was free as all ways. I don't know things had changed. Not a good feeling just tell your customers in advance. Great show.

[@tonylarussa4046]

Absolutely not!! They already paid for it when they booked and paid for the cruise!! They are already being nickel and dimed as it is!!!

[@scorg]

Been an interesting watch and first time watcher! Also amused so much that Merella came up so early in the podcast, I just came off Explorer on Friday! Now on the topic of tipping and that automatic service charge, Being Cunard is a Carnival UK company that surprised me, Considering P&O, Marella and MSC (for UK and Europe anyway) all state tips are included in the price and my Marella cruise card states "Remember, all tips are included." If for instance these three can do it, then why acnt the others. NCL annoyed me with it popping up at the end of a booking saying "you can prepay your gratuaties" yeah thanks for the warning, that was the first time it was mentioned too. Just include it in the fare price like the formentioned ones do.

[@cruisingwiththe4bs]

Always enjoy listening to Simon always got a view. 💯 agree on tipping it’s crazy, just topping up wages the cruise companies don’t want to pay. Agree also on a gap in the market for build your own cruise would definitely be up for that, as long as the base price reflected it. Easycruise was great idea I think will return in some form.

[@dennisabbott9692]

Can I point out that it wasn’t easyJet that revolutionised air travel. It was Sir Freddie Laker and his Skytrain service

[@Homesweethome-n9n]

How idiotic saying scrap good ships to build cleaner ships 🤦 you know building a cruise ship uses absolutely mountains of co2? More co2 and other greenhouse gases building a cruise ship than running it for 10 years.

[@smvsspould]

I'd like to see the stats on that.

[@154300]

Im going Princess in January and all gratuities are included. The premium package also has many extras.

[@kathybaird3812]

Marella no longer go from the uk so no use if you don’t fly,they also only do all inclusive if you don’t drink not the best idea

[@stuartivins7846]

Bring back "Ocean Village" ... buffet dining and a younger focus... Way ahead of it's rime.

[@Thebusridesme]

Why can’t you up load?

[@sailawaymag]

@@Thebusridesme what do you mean?

[@akajasonbourne]

@Thebusridesme maybe as it premiers in 20 mins as to why its not playing

[@chuckoneill2023]

He thinks all those operators were revolutionizing the industry. Like easy jet. Except, they've all gone bankrupt? I really think he doesn't get it.

[@GordonFoley-xl8ih]

Cheap for its own sake is not good! Take a ferry instead.

[@sailawaymag]

Thanks for watching!

[@StrykerMaguire205]

He obviously doesn't want to alienate himself from work with any travel company's so he politely sits on the fence he needs to grow a pair !

[@TheSeppentoni]

these audio AI transcriptions are killing me

[@sailawaymag]

We’ll be sure to sit down with a glass of wine and have a look

[@TheSeppentoni]

@@sailawaymag I think it's a default on KZbin's end that I as a German speaker receive automatic translations, although I'm perfectly fine hearing native English. It's not just your channel.

[@mysticlady04]

Why is intro so long

[@senorpasso8670]

I like Simon, but his habit of almost groaning prior to answering a question is plain annoying & makes the interview less enjoyable than I was hoping for.

[@peterlee6745]

That's YYY We Go TUI