Geaux:

sibelius:

Out of curiosity, then...what does the higher deck do for you?

 

The way I understand it the higher up in the ship you go the more you pay and the more you sway.

 

Other than that you are just on a different floor. An inside cabin on the Riviera should be the same as an inside cabin on any other floor.

That's exactly the way I see it.  The rooms are the same.  The drunks and noisy people are all over the ship in my experience.  You're just paying more for the same room.  I purposefully book on the lower decks because of my motion sickness.  (I look for a cabin that is not particularly close to elevators or connecting cabins or cabins with pullman beds available - I figure that cuts my chances of noisy neighbors and passersby a bit.)  I just wanted to know what the attraction was for others.

Jerry:

lwolfson:

 Actually we prefer midship close to the elevator. 

Might wanna try the stairs once in a while. It IS healthy afterall. Too much chocolate melting cake will kill you dead!

 We have never been bothered by young folks or people that have had too much to drink.  Maybe we were on of them. 

Nothing wrong with young folks partying, or anyone for that matter, but when it gets to where they are in and out of cabins with doors slamming and very loud talking in the hallways at 3am, that's just unacceptable behavior and quite rude to other paying guests. If this were to occur in a hotel room, these people would be evicted. Why is it ok on a cruise ship, which IS a floating hotel for this to be acceptable?

I understand you say you have never experienced it.. good for you... a LOT of us have!

Remember the worst cabin on a cruise beats the best accomdations at home.

You are correct with your statement about opinions being like body parts.. everyone has them.. but the more famous saying about opinions and body parts and everyone having one applies very well here.... CIAO!

Ya know...not everyone can use the stairs, even if they'd REALLY like to.  I'm sure if Jerry feels like he wants or needs to use the stairs, he will.

I'm like Jerry, I've never been bothered by "young folks" partying or people with too much alcohol in the system, although I think I can safely say I've also never been one of them.  I have stayed in a land-based hotel where this was a problem but no cruises.  I can offer a suggestion as to why I think the cruise lines don't get rid of these people, though.  A) There probably aren't as many complaints about them as you might think, B) The security on ships have very little real authority, I think, (if you've ever read human interest news stories of crime at sea, you'll know what I mean) C) I'm thinking the cruise line has to pay some kind of fine to the U.S. for every passenger who embarks and doesn't return on board the same ship.  They'll come back and charge the passenger, but it's something they have to recoup after the fact.  I'm sure they're hesitant to kick people off the ship unless it's for a very serious infraction and D) In a hotel, the manager would simply ask the person to leave and the deal is done.  People pay hundreds and thousands of dollars to board the ship.  For most of these passengers, the cruise lines take customer satisfaction incredibly seriously.  They don't want to damage future customer relations or risk having to make a really expensive goodwill gesture like a free future cruise or a refund over a noise complaint.  Again, they want to reserve kicking people off the ship for very serious violations.  But even in a hotel, they don't evict people for noise complaints.  They simply move the noisemakers (or the complainers) around until everybody's happy.  The cruise lines just don't have that luxury because they don't usually have empty cabins available.

Other than the fact that the KID drunks are on the lower floors because they can't afford to be higher, you are correct.... Until YOU experience what MANY of us have, YOU will be happy there... and motion sickness can be taken care of. Personally, I LIKE a little motion. it rocks me to sleep.. I feel sorry for someone who experiences motion sickness, but then again, if someone KNOWS they get sick and doesn't take anything beforehand to prevent it, WHY would they even be on a cruise???? 

And let's not forget E) The cruise line makes most of it's money from the drinkers and the gamblers.  Not so much on say Alaska cruises, but on Caribbean cruises people go to drink, relax and have a good time and that is what the cruise line actually encourages.  If you don't want to be on a "party-boat" then sail with Disney.

Jerry:

Other than the fact that the KID drunks are on the lower floors because they can't afford to be higher, you are correct.... Until YOU experience what MANY of us have, YOU will be happy there... and motion sickness can be taken care of. Personally, I LIKE a little motion. it rocks me to sleep.. I feel sorry for someone who experiences motion sickness, but then again, if someone KNOWS they get sick and doesn't take anything beforehand to prevent it, WHY would they even be on a cruise???? 

Just like the stairs thing...don't assume.  I have the prescription patch on behind my ear the minute I hit the cruise terminal.  AND, I have ginger pills for backup.  I know I get sick, and I DO take things beforehand to prevent it.  And sometimes I still have problems with it.  Just because there are medications for motion sickness doesn't mean they always work.  That's why I stay on the lower decks and minimize the risk. Luckily, with medication, it's not so overwhelming that I can't enjoy 99% of my cruise.  I'm glad you don't have to deal with it.  I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

Please don't be offended at me because I disagree with your assessment of the lower decks.  It works for me.  It clearly doesn't work for you.  It works for lots of other folks, and not so much for plenty of others. That's why ships can price identical cabins on higher decks at higher prices.  You've had your onboard experiences and have made your decisions based on that.  I respect that even as I disagree with it.  Please respect mine as well.

mwbishop:

And let's not forget E) The cruise line makes most of it's money from the drinkers and the gamblers.  Not so much on say Alaska cruises, but on Caribbean cruises people go to drink, relax and have a good time and that is what the cruise line actually encourages.  If you don't want to be on a "party-boat" then sail with Disney.

Oooo...I DID forget E.  Good call!

Last July on the Holiday we had an Oceanview cabin on the Riviera Deck.  It was very quiet, no drunks or running kids but it was very very HOT!!!  Maintenance came and totally removed the ceiling vent cover which did help some.  We noticed that the air conditioners were all on the top of the ship.  This year when we went we paid only  $60 more per cabin to move up to the Upper deck.  It was actually  noisier there and we waited and waited for the elevators each time we needed to use them. BUT it was much much cooler being that much higher up and closer to where the cool air originates. 

my husband and I just returned from Holiday June 29-July 4 and we stayed in M11 which is one of the upper/lower cabins. We choose these cabins because of price and we spend very little time in our cabin. The bunks really are not bad at all and we just switch places every other night sleeping on the top bunk. We pick these cabins almost everytime we cruise on any ship.  Actually it adds to the vacation memories!!! The Holiday is a great LITTLE ship for the deals that you can get.