What are the major changes from 1993 to 2006?
My guess would be that it was more formal back in 1993 and maybe the quality of food was better?

Welcome aboard Lynn and Jon! You are correct about meeting fun loving folks on cruises. We've met many and some have become close friends over the years.

 

>> What are the major changes from 1993 to 2006? <<
Our first only goes back as far as 1997. The biggest changes we've seen is service. It was much better before all the mega ships and auto tipping. The food maybe not as good since the paid restaurants have been added. Regardless, we still would take a cruise over about any other vacation. One change for the positive is less smoking indoors.

Your guesses are absolutely correct. We discovered in 1993 aboard the MS Vista Fjord the formalities of what I am guessing as old school type cruising. We were escorted by a staff member to our state room where there was a complementary bottle of iced champagne and canapés. Gifts consisting of Cunard ball caps, quality cotton satchels and ceramic trays with the itinerary baked onto them are of few of the amenities or extras that came nightly.  As I recall there were five formal nights, out of fourteen. One hundred percent of the passengers came to the dining room dressed to the nines. Tuxedos and gowns were the norm.  The food aboard the Visa Fjord was fantastic.

 

 

The juxtaposition of a Cunard ship in 1993 to a Carnival ship in 2006 was…well…I’ll just say an eye opener. I believe in our minds we were comparing French champagne to a can of bad beer. Another difference was staff to guest ratio. I think in 1993 on the Vista Fjord it was 1.8 compared to today’s mega ships of 0.31 (Carnival Conquest).

 

 

What we learned between the times and cruise lines is your cruise is pretty much what you make it. I’m guessing one should choose lines that appeal to the particular mood and or atmosphere that is desired. We are really looking forward to these experiences.