We have good friends that we would like to get to cruise with us on RSSC or any other small luxury lines, but they don't think they would fit in. They really like RCCL and think that Silversea and RSSC are too much money.

He jokingly calls them Grey Poupon cruises and says he is only a Frenchs kind of guy.

I know if we could convince them to go with us just once that they would love it.

Any ideas?

I say just have them read the board & show them some of the great 2 for 1 specials & emphasis everything that is included & they will weaken. They sure don't realize what they are missing.

I am a newbie to cruising but I work at a church that has very very very wealthy congregation and they have traveled all over the world - as soon as you say Radisson, Seabourn, etc they tell you too much $$$$ without knowing all the details - my suggestion is to introduce them to the board and let them listen to people and comments -that is the reason I selected radisson last year - good luck - old habits die hard - joanna

I've had the same conversation with my parents... they love to cruise, but they aren't getting the math. They spend a fortune on cokes, cappucinos, premium restaurant fees, wine, tips, etc, so I KNOW they are spending about the same amount by the time all is said and done.

I guess that they'll have to listen to me go on and on about a few more Radisson cruises before they give Celebrity the heave ho...

Dear Cruisin,

Have them read my review and journal once I'm done! If that won't do it, then maybe it is a lost cause...by the way I what I write is from the heart and completely unbiased.

Good luck

Besides, aren't French's and Grey Poupon both Kraft/Nabisco products anyway? :D ;)

Gordon and Rebecca, I know what you mean. We have figured out that it actually costs less to go an one of the smaller luxury cruises when you consider all that is included in the fare.

Lawrence, that is a good one!!! I think I will point that out!!!

Jan and I have a group of people that did the Paul Gauguin in 2003. We made a pact that we were going to do something again in 2005. well just to do a fact finding mission Jan and I went on the Norwegian Dream this past February. 50,000 tons and 1,880 people on board.
Well it was ok but it nickel and dimed us so much that we said NEVER AGAIN would we put up with that.
You won't believe how professional the staff is on RSSC compared to others, plus a ship like the Mariner is approx 50,000 tons and only has 700 passengers, and the crew is half the size.
NO WAITING AND NO LINES. To us that was worth sticking with RSSC.

02/2005 Some where in Caribbean.
11/12/04 Mariner "MINT" Cruise
02/22/04 Norwegian Dream
02/15/03 Paul Gauguin
03/22/80 MS Caribe

To convince your friends to give RSSC a try, you might try talking to them about booking one of the more casual cruises (Tahiti, Alaska) where there are NO formal nights. How much more "Frenches mustard" can you get? Even the cruises with formal nights are pretty casual all other times. You might also tell them about the spacious suites (even at base level) and the lack of crowds and lines in common areas.

Hope this helps,
Richard :) :) :)

They would have to have a lot caviar to go with the Poupon before I'd go.

Don,

You have booked two future cruises with your friends on the mega ships they like and enjoy despite the fact that you really don't want to go on those ships. I think you are a really good friend to do that. As we all know, friendships thrive on compromise. Perhaps now it is time to ask the same of them - to compromise and try Radisson, your cruise of choice, just this one time.

They are clearly under the impression that only the very wealthy can afford to sail on Radisson. I am being totally honest when I say, my husband and I are very middle class, everyday working people. When Radisson runs their specials, and 2-for-1 cruise deals, we are able to afford a truly upscale cruise on our limited budget. You can quote me on that, if it helps plead your case!

I agree with Richard's suggestion about taking a more casual cruise. Our first cruise with Radisson was on the Navigator to Alaska and it was amazing.

How can they know what Radisson is all about if they won't try it at least once? I do hope they reconsider. They really don't know what their missing.

Don - you have a hard job ahead of you. I have to admit, when I first started researching cruise ships 2-3 years ago, I didn't even look at RSSC/Silverseas/Seabourn because I felt that they were out of my price range. It's also recently that I've discovered that with the right specials that the price differential is minimal if not non-existent and that the class of service might be a level above what we've experienced so far.

If this board is any indication of the typical RSSC cruiser, I really don't think that they need to worry about being snobbed on board. Certainly, if I had gotten that impression, I would have stayed on the mega-ships.

Maybe you can just have them check this board and see what it's like for themselves before they actually set foot on a RSSC ship?

Masaki

Don:

Masaki makes a good point - do you think they will come here for a visit? I'm sure if they read some of our posts they'd be sure to see we're just plain folks!

We toss the snobs out right away! <img border="0" alt="[Hammer]" title="" src="graemlins/hammer.gif" />

Don, Everyone on board is so laid back. In any case, they'd be traveling with you so that's an added social "safety net"...so I'm not understanding their arguments. ;)

Denise, thanks. That sounds like good advice.

As for your comment "How can they know what Radisson is all about if they won't try it at least once? I do hope they reconsider. They really don't know what their missing." I figured that I wouldn't be able to get them on Silversea, so I just gave up. However, both us and their travel agent recommended RSSC, but they still have this preconceived idea about them. They are on the CC boards all the time and also occasionally peek in on the RSSC, Silversea, and Seabourn boards and think that they are too snooty. You know, sometimes they are right, but I find that the same thing on the RCCL, Princess, and Celebrity boards as well.

Well, we have the next three booked. When RSSC comes out with their 2005 schedules, we will book and ask them to join us.

Masaki, Margo, and Lawrence, I agree that this board is completely different than the other board. Also, that if they got to read your posts they would see that you guys are just a fun bunch to be around. Diana and I hope that one day we are able to meet up with y'all!!!

I hope that I have not said anything that would offend them in any way. They are really dear friends that we enjoy alot. I am just afraid that our cruising interests are just too different.

Don - hopefully John will see your plea and make some "modifications" to this thread. :)

Masaki

Don:

You can modify any of your past posts at any time...and I'd be happy to edit mine, if there is not other way to make this thread "readable".