We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
Yes, there is a new normal for travel today. Not all changes are good!
The CDC is so worried about the spread of germs aboard cruise ships but not hotels. Hmmm… go figure.
So this blog post is about the tale of 2 different types of travel. Hotel vs. Cruise Ship if you will. What I have found I think will surprise you.
In October we traveled to Phoenix, Arizona for my granddaughter’s soccer tournament. We stayed at a 3-star Hilton property which we always love.
Beautiful property, on a golf course, has free breakfast, nice outdoor pool, and they will come take your drink orders and food orders and get the food and drinks from the bar and bring it to you at the pool. They otherwise don’t have room service.
My only complaint is that they don’t clean your rooms, even when you are there for 4 nights. I asked on day 3 if they could bring me clean towels and empty the trash? They weren’t sure they could fit me in. I explained no one would be in the room, and it only takes 3 minutes to drop off towels and empty trashes and take away the dirty towels. I was told I could just put the trash out in the hall. They reluctantly added me to the list. If you wanted your room cleaned you had to add it to the list the night before and they would see if they could get to it. Now when I returned I did have clean towels, and the trash and dirty towels had been removed.
Newsflash! Keeping things clean is another step in preventing germs. The rest of the hotel was clean with exception of at the elevators there were times sacks of trash had not been picked up by housekeeping.
Now, let’s talk about the Cruise Ship experience. A whole different experience. We were aboard the Celebrity Apex for 7 nights. Our cabin steward’s name was Arvin and he was very attentive to our every need. He offered to make reservations at the restaurants on board the ship for us, recommended different excursions at each port, he was very friendly and very helpful.
Our cabin was cleaned twice a day! Fresh towels as often as we needed them, they were provided there for us. We didn’t have to ask. On the first day in port, he provided beach towels for us without us asking. Each night our bed was turned down with a chocolate left on our pillow.
All of your food is included with the exception of the specialty restaurants, entertainment, room service, games, actiivities, snacks with the exception of specialty coffees. You want ice cream? Just go get it.
I am so happy cruising is back! The Celebrity Apex is a beautiful ship and it was kept totally spotless! I have never felt so safe and well taken care of.
Now I ask you, which travel experience would you prefer?
Great post. Sounds like the cruise ship experience was so much better. I haven’t been on a cruise ship vacation so this was an eye-opener!
Very interesting! I have always been curious but hesitant of cruise travel.
It sounds like you had a good experience on the Celebrity Apex. Several US hotels I’ve stayed at in the last year do not offer housekeeping services anymore. I wish more hotels would bring housekeeping services back.
We loved the Celebrity Apex.
I have stayed at other hotels that did provide housekeeping. It was in New York City. They were wonderful, but that was the Frederick hotel, not a Hilton.