On Tue, 30 Sep 2014 17:04:23 -0500, George Leppla
> wrote:

>On 9/30/2014 4:46 PM, Jeßus wrote:
>>> >We recently had lunch at a Johnny Rockets (on a cruise ship) and I had a
>>> >burger with fried onions and mushroom with Swiss cheese and a little
>>> >mayo. They call it a Route 66. It was excellent and something I had
>>> >never tried.
>
>> Is that like a chain store or franchise... on a cruise ship??
>>
>
>Yes it is. Royal Caribbean entered into a licensing agreement with
>Johnny Rockets about 10 years ago. Many of their ships have Johnny
>Rockets restaurants. The price is a $5.95 pp service charge... no
>additional fee for whatever food you order so you can try everything if
>you wish. The menu is pretty similar to what you would find at a Johnny
>Rockets on land... but the staff and management onboard are all cruise
>line employees.
>
>It is becoming a common thing. Carnival had hamburger joints licensed
>by Guy Fieri.
>http://www.carnival.com/cruise-food/guys-burger-joint No cost for the
>food there and it is pretty good. Other ships have Seattle's Best,
>Starbucks.
>
>Years ago I wrote a satirical piece about how someday there would be
>food courts on cruise ships with McDonald's, Pizza Hut, etc. While it
>hasn't gone that far yet, most ships now have some sort of burger
>counter and a pizzeria.

Sounds like it's not far away now George!

Personally, If I was on a cruise ship, the last thing I would want to
have on there is franchise food that I can get any time I'm in my
local area.

On 10/1/2014 5:56 PM, Jeßus wrote:
>> Years ago I wrote a satirical piece about how someday there would be
>> >food courts on cruise ships with McDonald's, Pizza Hut, etc. While it
>> >hasn't gone that far yet, most ships now have some sort of burger
>> >counter and a pizzeria.
> Sounds like it's not far away now George!
>
> Personally, If I was on a cruise ship, the last thing I would want to
> have on there is franchise food that I can get any time I'm in my
> local area.


I agree... but people are comfortable with what they are familiar with.
Years ago I noticed people getting off the ship in St Thomas and
walking up the street to the McDonalds. I asked someone about it and
they said they wanted a break from sit-down dinners and just wanted a
burger and fries.

The cruise lines aren't stupid... they give the people what they want.
Very few ships don't have pizza counters and some even have pizza on the
room service menu. On Princess ships, at one end of the pool deck is a
pizza counter on one side and a hamburger/hot dog grill on the other
(they also serve other sausages, grilled chicken breast, fries, etc)
Some ships have a pizzeria where they will make you a pizza to order.

OTOH... on a recent cruise we ate in an Italian specialty restaurant and
it was one of the best meals I have ever had... definitely in the top
10. Also had excellent Sushi on the same ship. You never saw this kind
of thing "back in the day".

The cruise business has changed dramatically in the 25+ years I've been
involved. Ships used to be built for transportation (ocean liners)...
now they are designed for recreation. The good news is that with the
glut of ships, cruising is affordable for more people. My first cruise
in 1989 cost $1114 pp for a tiny, inside cabin. Now it is not unusual
to see inside cabins selling for less than $500 pp on a modern ship with
all the bells and whistles. (7 night cruises)

Our next cruise is in 24 days.

George L

On Thu, 02 Oct 2014 07:31:13 -0500, George Leppla
> wrote:

>On 10/1/2014 5:56 PM, Jeßus wrote:
>>> Years ago I wrote a satirical piece about how someday there would be
>>> >food courts on cruise ships with McDonald's, Pizza Hut, etc. While it
>>> >hasn't gone that far yet, most ships now have some sort of burger
>>> >counter and a pizzeria.
>> Sounds like it's not far away now George!
>>
>> Personally, If I was on a cruise ship, the last thing I would want to
>> have on there is franchise food that I can get any time I'm in my
>> local area.
>
>
>I agree... but people are comfortable with what they are familiar with.

True. Most people, anyway.

> Years ago I noticed people getting off the ship in St Thomas and
>walking up the street to the McDonalds. I asked someone about it and
>they said they wanted a break from sit-down dinners and just wanted a
>burger and fries.
>
>The cruise lines aren't stupid... they give the people what they want.
>Very few ships don't have pizza counters and some even have pizza on the
>room service menu.

I wouldn't mind pizza - as long as it was a decent one. It's one thing
that can be made using quality ingredients at least.

>On Princess ships, at one end of the pool deck is a
>pizza counter on one side and a hamburger/hot dog grill on the other
>(they also serve other sausages, grilled chicken breast, fries, etc)
>Some ships have a pizzeria where they will make you a pizza to order.
>
>OTOH... on a recent cruise we ate in an Italian specialty restaurant and
>it was one of the best meals I have ever had... definitely in the top
>10. Also had excellent Sushi on the same ship. You never saw this kind
>of thing "back in the day".

Sounds great.

>The cruise business has changed dramatically in the 25+ years I've been
>involved. Ships used to be built for transportation (ocean liners)...
>now they are designed for recreation. The good news is that with the
>glut of ships, cruising is affordable for more people. My first cruise
>in 1989 cost $1114 pp for a tiny, inside cabin. Now it is not unusual
>to see inside cabins selling for less than $500 pp on a modern ship with
>all the bells and whistles. (7 night cruises)

I've always wondered how I would fare on a cruise ship. I suspect I'd
get 'cabin fever' after a few days and want off the ship

>Our next cruise is in 24 days.

Enjoy, and sorry for the late reply.

On 10/5/2014 5:36 PM, Jeßus wrote:

> I've always wondered how I would fare on a cruise ship. I suspect I'd
> get 'cabin fever' after a few days and want off the ship
>

I could probably handle a weekend, but not a long cruise. I want local
food, not ship fare that is not bad, but not exciting from accounts I've
heard. Many of the ports of call you are dumped in a tourist area and
never see real life. Interacting with a local at the port is not the
same a stopping at the village grocery store or gas station. Some ships
have stores for shopping but I can go to a mall any time I want.

Evidently a lot of people love them or they'd not be building bigger and
bigger ships. I have a couple of relatives that go every year or two.

On Sun, 05 Oct 2014 19:42:48 -0400, Ed Pawlowski > wrote:

> On 10/5/2014 5:36 PM, Jeßus wrote:
>
> > I've always wondered how I would fare on a cruise ship. I suspect I'd
> > get 'cabin fever' after a few days and want off the ship
> >
>
> I could probably handle a weekend, but not a long cruise. I want local
> food, not ship fare that is not bad, but not exciting from accounts I've
> heard. Many of the ports of call you are dumped in a tourist area and
> never see real life. Interacting with a local at the port is not the
> same a stopping at the village grocery store or gas station. Some ships
> have stores for shopping but I can go to a mall any time I want.
>
> Evidently a lot of people love them or they'd not be building bigger and
> bigger ships. I have a couple of relatives that go every year or two.

I love cruising and don't care that I'm put in the middle of a tourist
area for a tour because I'd be going there anyway if I was on my own.
For instance, we stayed on the Ile Saint Louis both times we were in
Paris, the Pest part of Budapest, just a couple of bridges away from
old town Prague and within easy walking distance to Buckingham Palace
when in London. <shrug> Cruising is my way of sampling locals to
know if I want to return. I love being in a new place every day and
never needing to pack or unpack my bags to get there. If you don't
want a guided tour, then you're free to do whatever you want to do.
Hire a car/private guide and go somewhere else. Lots of people do it,
but they are usually the people who have already been on that cruise
or have visited that area previously and are familiar with the place
the stock tour goes. They are responsible for all aspects of their
tour and they are responsible for returning on time because the ship
will sail without them. If they want to continue with the cruise,
they will need to pay for overnight lodging and transportation to the
next port of call.


--
Avoid cutting yourself when slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold them.

On Sun, 05 Oct 2014 19:42:48 -0400, Ed Pawlowski > wrote:

>On 10/5/2014 5:36 PM, Jeßus wrote:
>
>> I've always wondered how I would fare on a cruise ship. I suspect I'd
>> get 'cabin fever' after a few days and want off the ship
>>
>
>I could probably handle a weekend, but not a long cruise.

Agreed, I'm sure I could handle a weekend myself.

>I want local
>food, not ship fare that is not bad, but not exciting from accounts I've
>heard. Many of the ports of call you are dumped in a tourist area and
>never see real life.

That is a key point there. The very LAST thing I want to see is the
tourist areas. Don't see the point and might as well just stay home
IMO.

>Interacting with a local at the port is not the
>same a stopping at the village grocery store or gas station. Some ships
>have stores for shopping but I can go to a mall any time I want.

Yep

>Evidently a lot of people love them or they'd not be building bigger and
>bigger ships. I have a couple of relatives that go every year or two.

Indeed.

On 10/5/2014 6:42 PM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> On 10/5/2014 5:36 PM, Jeßus wrote:
>
>> I've always wondered how I would fare on a cruise ship. I suspect I'd
>> get 'cabin fever' after a few days and want off the ship
>>
>
> I could probably handle a weekend, but not a long cruise. I want local
> food, not ship fare that is not bad, but not exciting from accounts I've
> heard. Many of the ports of call you are dumped in a tourist area and
> never see real life. Interacting with a local at the port is not the
> same a stopping at the village grocery store or gas station. Some ships
> have stores for shopping but I can go to a mall any time I want.
>
> Evidently a lot of people love them or they'd not be building bigger and
> bigger ships. I have a couple of relatives that go every year or two.

A good rule to remember: the longer the cruise, the older the passenger.


Never go on a short cruise, the ship will be filled with 20-somethings
who like to drink and party hard, these young people can not afford a
longer cruise.

Becca