As I stood watching my children playing on a make-shift sledge on enforced time off from school due to the big freeze, I mused whether snowzones could be the next attraction to appear on cruise ships.

After all, we already have ice rinks, bungee trampolines, mini golf courses, water parks, rock climbing, bowling alleys, racing car simulators and surf machines, so why not indoor ski slopes?

That may seem a tad far-fetched, but as cruise ships get bigger and the need to come up with new on board facilities to help attract passengers appears to intensify, it got me wondering just what else could be provided – go karting, big wheels, fairground rides, cycling circuits?

Zip-wiring will definitely be the next high energy attraction at sea with the launch in December of Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas – the world’s biggest cruise ship.

But are such facilities merely gimmicks dreamt up to attract positive headlines, at the expense of traditional high levels of customer service?

While there are cruise ships catering for all tastes – from the luxurious and sedate to the fun-packed and lively and all in between – is there a demand for a return to a high quality-good value cruise experience?

I’m not suggesting removing the so-called ‘Wow’ factor from cruising, far from it, but I believe there’s a strong argument in favour of getting the basics right first and building from there.

It’s all very well having all the whizz-bang activities available but what’s the point when you have to battle for a sun lounger or face interminable queues to be served in the over-stretched buffet?

Similarly, it’s no use having 14 restaurants if they are all just very mediocre as then even a $20 cover charge becomes unacceptable and an excuse to make money under the seemingly “all inclusive” umbrella.

A running theme on internet message boards focused on cruising is a perceived decline in service standards.

Whether this is real or imaginary, providing an authentic cruise experience is what a lot of passengers are looking for.

My children, for example, were delighted spending their time splashing in one of the many swimming pools on our last cruise and really were not interested in any of the other activities available other than those laid on by the kids’ clubs.

Provided they had plenty of tasty food, a handy supply of ice cream and cold drinks, they were more than happy keeping themselves amused and making new friends around the pool.

Simple pleasures of this nature are often what holidays are all about – think of the perfect beach break – and cruise lines are more than capable of supplying that type of experience and more.

This could explain why P&O Cruises is, as I have mentioned in a previous blog, going back to the future with its new ship Azura next year. Here the emphasis will be on the pillars of quality and service and attention to detail – elements some would say have got lost in the rush to install the latest gizmos and gadgets.

Luckily, cruising provides a huge variety of on board experiences and it is easy with a bit of research to discover the style and type of ship that best suits your needs – with or without the bells and whistles attached.

Phil Davies

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