Did You Say Cruise? Oh I Thought You Said Booze

It was only a matter of time before this happened, but NCL have become another cruise line to jump on the ‘All Inclusive Drinks’ wagon.

I’ve blogged about this in the past to express my disagreement with the cruise lines using alcohol as a selling tool.

Don’t get me wrong I love a drink on holiday, a bit too much sometimes, but it doesn’t dictate whether I book that holiday or not.

I’m 29 and have done my fair share of drinking abroad, I went to Magaluf, Faliraki, and Ibiza twice when I was younger, which is where you are supposed to go for booze fueled holidays where anything goes, and yes I had a great time. The booze was there, sometimes in an All Inclusive hotels, sometimes laid on as part of the entertainment or deal in that place at the time. This is where drinking incentives belong. Not on cruises.

What the cruise lines are doing slowly but surely is turning their ships into floating pickle jars, and I’m dead against it.

A cruise should be something that a person aspires to go on, working hard to pay for an enriching experience, that delivers culture and diversity better than any other holiday, all wrapped up in a nice warm luxury blanket.

It shouldn’t be some booze fueled free for all where the main aim is to ‘get your monies worth’

This drinking culture seems to be consuming the mass cruise market, with huge players like Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and now NCL too. It just doesn’t sit right with the way I view cruising at all.

Drinking has sadly become heavily associated with cruising in holiday terms, and it’s tarnishing the image.

At my age I probably shouldn’t have these strong views, but I’ve worked in the industry for over 10 years, and how it’s changed.

I was 19 when I first sat down for dinner in the main restaurant of Freedom of the Seas – then, the most incredible creation in the maritime world.

And I remember sitting down being advised which wine would go best with my meal by the sommelier. It was this ‘wine complimenting your food’ attitude that inspired me to become a bit of a red wine geek throughout my 20’s.

Now though it seems people on these ships are less interested and just want to get smashed every night.

Or do they?

I’m not sure if the cruise lines have got their marketing right here at all.

I have spoken to many clients of late with the emergence of these offers, who are quick to ask the question,

‘Will the ship just be full of drunkards?’

My answer is always the same, I cannot tell them honestly because I do not know.

Ultimately we are reliant upon people knowing their limits and behaving in a decent manner. Drinking for relaxation and enjoyment, rather than just to get hammered and spend most of their holiday hungover.

I would imagine their is an even split in opinions with this topic so I’d love to get your thoughts?

Thanks for reading and as ever, until next time…………..