Unpopular Opinions

[gdstone04]

My unpopular opinion is that we do not like character interactions. We never get autographs and I rarely take pictures of characters and NEVER with characters. We also don't like the character "parties". We usually try to avoid them.

 

[lisamarie12]

You're allowed to have your opinion, but I do not think that's the reason for the vast majority of it. And by the way I've never purposely been to NYC and don't plan to. I was driven in and out to use JFK to get to Ireland and that's all I ever plan. Zero interest in the place.

Nassau is an island nation that is hit by storms. It's hard to keep things looking nice. Therefore, to western eyes, it looks a bit worndown, rundown. It looks old and a bit sad. If I were in an area like that in my region, I would think that it wasn't the best area to be in. That's what western eyes see. Doesn't matter what sort of people are there, it's the surroundings.

The first time we were there we tried to do the walking tour. I put on my "walking in a big city" persona, hid the map and tried to lead my hubby and son, but once the street signs AND sidewalks disappeared (and the nice lady waiting for the streetlight to go couldn't tell me what street we were on), we gave up. No street sign and no sidewalk signifies things in terms of the area you're in. DS was NOT happy with the neighborhood (we were only on Elizabeth Street the best I can figure now), DH was NOT liking the lack of sidewalks, and it just made them happier to turn towards the ship. DH has traveled tons of places since childhood, but Nassau pushed his limits. He expected a resort island to look a certain way, and even though he gives a lot of leeway to places, Nassau pushed his buttons.

The second time we were there we did the chocolate factory tour. This allowed us to have a bit of a tour. Two things changed for me. One, the governor's mansion looks like a hovel inside walls. Two, Greycliff looks awful! But one is the governor's mansion, and the other is a terrific restaurant and hotel (I believe). Our tourguide told us that Beyonce and JayZ used to go to Greycliff before Blue Ivy was born. OK, so it's a really good place, despite what it looks like. That showed me that I just needed to change my expectations for small islands that are hit with weather ALL the time, and that don't spend their money constantly painting things. Or making street signs. Or sidewalks.

Absolutely none of it had to do with whatever color the skin of the people was. So you can think what you want, but I think it's the actual *place* that gets to people, not the people in the place.



Exactly. I mean, there are likely more crimes per month in my town than there were for a year in Nassau, but I'm generally in a car in my town, or in my double-secure condo, or with friends. I'm not walking around with a camera, with vacation money, with souvenirs, etc. And frankly there are still people afraid to come to my town due to its reputation in the 80s.

But there's no State Department warning for Tacoma WA, and there is for Nassau, so...people pay attention to that.

I have been to Nassau once and was not crazy about it. We did a city tour and then went to Atlantis (just to walk around and check stuff out). It was meh. The tour guide took us around the city and showed the highlights and the low lights (the ghetto per her words, not mine). I never felt unsafe, I just was not all that impressed. Atlantis was okay, but nothing that I would have wanted to spend more than a couple hours checking out (perhaps its better if you actually do something rather than just look around). The city tour was neat, but once you have seen it, you have seen it. For me it was just that it was not really that exciting.

There are travel warnings for a lot of places. A child got shot and killed near a beach in St. Thomas a couple of years ago, people getting robbed on cruise ship excursions in another port (maybe Roatan??), constant warnings for Mexico, and then there is Jamaica. But the only place I ever really felt the slightest bit unsafe was Montego Bay. Some of that is how pushy the people are, the guys with machine guns and machettes on roofs and near the port area, and the constant drug sales or people grabbing you (your hair to braid, you arms to put on bracelets, etc). Still I think Jamaica is one of the most beautiful areas.

Also, sometimes the media blows things out of proportion. If you wanted national news a few months ago you might be afraid to go anywhere near St. Louis because of "Ferguson" and while I probably would not go hang out in the middle of a protest, its really confined to a relatively small area.

Okay, that's my 2 cents on the scary areas. Now back to the unpopular opinions... Some people say once you go balcony, you can never go back. I disagree. I like balcony rooms. This will be my 3rd balcony cruise. But so far I have done, in this order: Oceanview, Inside (with obstructed view window), Balcony, Inside, Balcony, Inside, and now balcony. So far the only room I did not like much was the inside with the obstructed view and that was because it was at the tip of the front of the ship and made me sea sick.

 

[MUN]

You're allowed to have your opinion, but I do not think that's the reason for the vast majority of it. And by the way I've never purposely been to NYC and don't plan to. I was driven in and out to use JFK to get to Ireland and that's all I ever plan. Zero interest in the place.

Nassau is an island nation that is hit by storms. It's hard to keep things looking nice. Therefore, to western eyes, it looks a bit worndown, rundown. It looks old and a bit sad. If I were in an area like that in my region, I would think that it wasn't the best area to be in. That's what western eyes see. Doesn't matter what sort of people are there, it's the surroundings.

The first time we were there we tried to do the walking tour. I put on my "walking in a big city" persona, hid the map and tried to lead my hubby and son, but once the street signs AND sidewalks disappeared (and the nice lady waiting for the streetlight to go couldn't tell me what street we were on), we gave up. No street sign and no sidewalk signifies things in terms of the area you're in. DS was NOT happy with the neighborhood (we were only on Elizabeth Street the best I can figure now), DH was NOT liking the lack of sidewalks, and it just made them happier to turn towards the ship. DH has traveled tons of places since childhood, but Nassau pushed his limits. He expected a resort island to look a certain way, and even though he gives a lot of leeway to places, Nassau pushed his buttons.

The second time we were there we did the chocolate factory tour. This allowed us to have a bit of a tour. Two things changed for me. One, the governor's mansion looks like a hovel inside walls. Two, Greycliff looks awful! But one is the governor's mansion, and the other is a terrific restaurant and hotel (I believe). Our tourguide told us that Beyonce and JayZ used to go to Greycliff before Blue Ivy was born. OK, so it's a really good place, despite what it looks like. That showed me that I just needed to change my expectations for small islands that are hit with weather ALL the time, and that don't spend their money constantly painting things. Or making street signs. Or sidewalks.

Absolutely none of it had to do with whatever color the skin of the people was. So you can think what you want, but I think it's the actual *place* that gets to people, not the people in the place.



Exactly. I mean, there are likely more crimes per month in my town than there were for a year in Nassau, but I'm generally in a car in my town, or in my double-secure condo, or with friends. I'm not walking around with a camera, with vacation money, with souvenirs, etc. And frankly there are still people afraid to come to my town due to its reputation in the 80s.

But there's no State Department warning for Tacoma WA, and there is for Nassau, so...people pay attention to that.

Perhaps someone stole the sidewalks in Nassau since I've been there. I definitely remember sidewalks in the downtown area.

 

[tinkerone]

there are warnings for a reason…….here's a reason from just this week

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Re...amas+family/10949524/story.html#__federated=1

 

[Dallas_Lady]

Sea days! I find them boring and do not really like them. A perfect cruise would be a port every day for me. I like to cruise to take me to different place and experience different things. I enjoy the ship on embarkation day and for the evenings. Diaper races and bingo are not my idea of fun. Not that I don't enjoy silly entertainment here and there but multiple days of it? No thanks.

I was coming on here to say the same thing. I was not a fan of the sea days, so much so that it's made me hesitant to book another cruise. The pool deck was a crowded, chaotic mess and most of the activities below deck seemed kind of corny. We ended up just putzing around the ship and watching movies. I like to be active on vacations and the sea day just felt like a waste to me. Disney cruises are expensive and I can lay around at home for free.

 

[MUN]

there are warnings for a reason…….here's a reason from just this week

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Re...amas+family/10949524/story.html#__federated=1

Yikes! I found this as well:
http://www.vancouversun.com/health/...+social+worker+Schoenborn/10951903/story.html
Be careful when you're in Kamloops!

 

[purfectlyweird]

there are warnings for a reason…….here's a reason from just this week

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Re...amas+family/10949524/story.html#__federated=1

A resident of the island was killed how does that compare to tourist crime? Robbery breaking & entering happens all the time everywhere....

 

[purfectlyweird]

I'm going to leave this here.....
I find it most interesting that many Americans, seem to have painted pictures in their heads about the Bahamas or other similar tropical destinations, of nothing more than pina coladas, white sandy beaches and palm trees. Many seem to forget that actual people live in these countries. People that deal with the same issues as many Americans and have societies with the same social ills as many American cities. I am sure we would all love to live in a perfect world free of criminals and their heinouscrimes, but sadly that is not the world we live in.

 

[Dug720]

I'm going to leave this here.....
I find it most interesting that many Americans, seem to have painted pictures in their heads about the Bahamas or other similar tropical destinations, of nothing more than pina coladas, white sandy beaches and palm trees. Many seem to forget that actual people live in these countries. People that deal with the same issues as many Americans and have societies with the same social ills as many American cities. I am sure we would all love to live in a perfect world free of criminals and their heinouscrimes, but sadly that is not the world we live in.

Actually I think the "forget that actual people live there" thing can be applied to any city that is a major tourist destination. I know I've had tourists ask me "Wait. So you really live here?" on the streets or in the subway in NYC. Yes, people do live and work in these places. We are not just kept in holding areas and paraded out for tourists to enjoy seeing.

 

[gourt]

We've been to Castawy Cay twice, but only eaten there once (second time ship arrived late and lunch was served onboard). We thought Cookies was awful. Truly awful. As in below fast food restaurant quality. When we had to eat on board the second time we visited there, we were thrilled.

We have never eaten at Palo or Remy. Our son was 11 on our first cruise and already very aware of what good, quality food actually was. We felt guilty going without him, so we've waited. He's 17 now, so we're getting closer!

Totally agree on Cookies - absolutely the worst food of our entire week. On the Palo/Remy front, we had the same experience with our daughter - we waited until she turned 18 to go back on a Disney cruise just so she could come to Palo and Remy with us. The wait was worth it!

 

[purfectlyweird]

Actually I think the "forget that actual people live there" thing can be applied to any city that is a major tourist destination. I know I've had tourists ask me "Wait. So you really live here?" on the streets or in the subway in NYC. Yes, people do live and work in these places. We are not just kept in holding areas and paraded out for tourists to enjoy seeing.

Where do they think the street cleaners or window washers live??? In penthouses in manhatten no they live in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Harlem etc with the rest of the working ppl

 

[Dug720]

Where do they think the street cleaners or window washers live??? In penthouses in manhatten no they live in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Harlem etc with the rest of the working ppl

No clue. But more than one has definitely looked like "Whoa...real people..." when my friends and I have been trying to get through them to go to work.

 

[JTBE]

there are warnings for a reason…….here's a reason from just this week

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Re...amas+family/10949524/story.html#__federated=1

Crime can happen anywhere whether it's in Bahamas, or in Europe or in suburbia United States. I have lived in the suburbs of both Washington DC and Baltimore. I have done home visits to some places that people would consider to be dangerous, I have been a camp counselor in SE DC as a college student to homeless kids before SE was revitalied. Where ever you go, just need to be smart and careful. Fear should not be the driver of all of your decisions in life. There's more to life than being sheltered and not seeing what the real world is about, and trying to make a difference in someone's life than being so scared that you haven't made a difference in this world.

 

[kiford]

Two, Greycliff looks awful! But one is the governor's mansion, and the other is a terrific restaurant and hotel (I believe).

We haven't stayed in Greycliff but we did do a 5-course tasting menu and wine pairing lunch there once on our cruise and I will tell you that it is fantastic. One of my courses was duck a l'orange. I love duck but I don't like duck a l'orange - or at least I thought I didn't. Apparently what I'd had previously was not done right because this was amazing. They also gave us a tour of their wine cellar which is enormous and has literally thousands of bottles.

 

[BuzzLightyearInTampa]

How many people believe having a veranda in Alaska is a "must". We didn't book one because the price difference was huge ($2k more) and I'm not sorry at all. You can see tons from everywhere on the ship. I even saw a humpback whale during Palo Brunch and porpoises and an orca from the gym while riding an exercise bike. On a cruise I mainly like to be out and about on the ship anyway, whether doing stuff or relaxing on Deck 4 or in the Cove Café, etc. and like I said, most places offer spectacular views.

And my second thing (which is not a popular opinion on this board) is I don't need to spend thousands of dollars and a week of vacation time to "try out" Carnival, NCL, RCL, etc. to know I'd rather cruise with Disney. This is a perfectly valid view and I am definitely within my rights to voice it, especially here on a DISNEY CRUISE LINE message board.

 

[BuzzLightyearInTampa]

Slight hijack, 'possible unpopular opinions about posting video of your cruise on YouTube' (this is fresh in my mind after a couple of hours of surfing last night).

--We don't know your family, so please give us SOME footage of the ship itself if you're posting for the general public.
--Stop spinning around in circles so fast when something new catches your attention
--Please stop using your selfie stick to shoot footage up your own nose (see point 1)
--We know what the ocean looks like, show us unusual details of the ship
--Please take your GoPro off 'drunk mode'. (I don't know what it is, some sort of live panoramic/fisheye view, it reminds me of when you're watching a TV show or movie from the POV of someone who is drunk or drugged, everything is warped, and it makes me motion sick as heck.)

Obviously I can't tell you how to shoot your vacation video, but you're putting it on YouTube because you want strangers to watch it, right?

Yeah, slightly off topic, but I started watching a "Disney Fantasy Cruise" video on YouTube the other day and I had to turn it off because I felt like a stalker because the entire video was basically just following around a very young girl. Very awkward and weird to sit and watch someone else's kid just catch glimpses of the ship in the background.

 

[bakerworld]

We've only cruised once. We're not planners and discovered 'winging it' on a cruise was kinda boring.

Our unpopular opinion - didn't understand the forced tipping. We're not 'dinner' people so we ate in the sports bar and tipped our servers there. It looked like the 3 envelopes were for the TS server, the dinner manager and the cabin steward. The cabin steward let the ice melt in the ice box so my husband beer bucket was luke warm. I guess we were suppose to keep running down to check it.

 

[perditax]

Yeah, slightly off topic, but I started watching a "Disney Fantasy Cruise" video on YouTube the other day and I had to turn it off because I felt like a stalker because the entire video was basically just following around a very young girl. Very awkward and weird to sit and watch someone else's kid just catch glimpses of the ship in the background.

OMG, I think I saw that same one. Did it show endless footage of her eating?

Another one SEEMED promising, a couple who shot some very nice (non-wobbly, non-fisheye) footage, but then shortly into the video it becomes apparent that these two (adults, no kids) are obsessed with the costume characters. So about half of the hour or so of footage is STRICTLY the characters, and them gushing about the characters. Even on Castaway Cay they just follow the characters around.

I almost want to start a new thread on this where we can single out some useful videos.

 

[MUN]

Yeah, slightly off topic, but I started watching a "Disney Fantasy Cruise" video on YouTube the other day and I had to turn it off because I felt like a stalker because the entire video was basically just following around a very young girl. Very awkward and weird to sit and watch someone else's kid just catch glimpses of the ship in the background.

Not off topic at all, considering I love watching stuff like this. Particularly, if I can watch other people on a crusie ship eating. See, your post does fit the category of "unpopular opinions." Would you be so kind as to post the youtube link?

MUN

 

[perditax]

Not off topic at all, considering I love watching stuff like this. Particularly, if I can watch other people on a crusie ship eating. See, your post does fit the category of "unpopular opinions." Would you be so kind as to post the youtube link?

MUN

I'll PM you a few, I suspect the thread will get derailed and/or people will get annoyed otherwise.