Travel Blog

I want everything, and I want it now! So do you, I bet. But my version and your version might not be the same.

I'll show you mine. Will you show me yours?

There would be a real promenade deck with padded teak chaises, blankets (for colder days) and wait staff who would come by to serve you drinks (yes, I'm willing to pay).

Kids would be invisible.

Eliminate big stage musical productsion and focus on small venue comics, combos, and piano bars.

Have plenty of places to look at the ocean and relax, both inside and outside.

No smoking anywhere except the aft outside decks.

Absolutely no loud speaker announcements unless it has to do with safety (the ship is sinking!) or something like changing ports of call. I don't want to hear about the next bingo game. Make folks read those daily papers instead!

Replace the current port lectures about shopping with talks about the historical and natural assets of a port.

Have lots of games that involve passengers.And I'm not talking about bingo, but trivia, board, and card games. Something more creative would be even better.

Place cabin seating areas next to the window/balcony, so you can sit and look out. The bed has a pillow top and great, fluffy pillows. There is an in-room refrigerator. You can find out about meal menus and book excursions, etc. through the TV in the room (the only reason we'd turn it on). The shower is big enough that you can pick up your soap if you drop it.

Of course, I would like all the dining to be gourmet, but let's be reasonable here. Actually, I think for the numbers served, the food on mass market cruise ships is surprisingly good. Just compare those meals to your typical high-end banquet meal. Now, factor in the complexity of multiple dishes for each course. Get the picture? So, I'll just request one dish way off the beaten path for every dinner (ostrich? elk? something even more exotic?).

Now, what do you want?