ray98

I have asked before about the muster drills as they were completely different from one ship to the next one. That made it feel like a routine some outdated law demanded but didn't serve an actual purpose. There must be a large percentage among the "cattle" who feel they're wasting their time.

 

It would be nice if the 20 minute presentation would include 30 seconds to explain why there's a muster drill at all. "The next 20 minutes we'll explain a lot about the lifevests, the lifeboats, and that your kids will be taken care of. But remember, you are here because we need you to be here in case things go wrong. When the alarm sounds, we want you to be here."

 

That was certainly not the main message I got from 3 muster drills.

The largest amount of time is spent waiting on passengers to reach the location. It is just a fact when assembling thousands of people.

Every drill I have been to did exactly the things you mention above.

• This is the exact location you will respond to in the event of an emergency
  
• We will annonce when there is an emergency and you will hear this horn from the ship
  
• We ask you to remain quiet and listen for instructions from staff
  
• Bring your life jacket and this is how you properly put it on
  
• Your kids have their location on their arm band, if unattended they will be escorted to their station. Meet them there.
  

There is no need for any explanation for anyone with common sense.

That's the problem: how is standing out on a deck for 30 minutes or more, staring at lifeboats, going to "save a life?" We're not being taught how to use these boats or anything else that might prove useful.

 

NCL at least had us meet in our specified muster areas (with plentiful seating), with the personnel saying "Meet us here in case of emergency." Their way is better, IMHO.

They are teaching you how to get to your life boat, how to assemble for loading and how to properly wear your life jacket. There is no teaching you 'how to use' the lifeboats, the only step left is for you to enter it.

Face it...you are part of the problem because you are too ignorant to understand the drill.

It is luck of the draw. Seems like a few times a month a cruise will bottom out in price because of slow sales even when other weeks are stable. I usually seek those cruises out when we are booking. If you happen to be previously booked on one of those sailings you can get some deep discounts.

It depends...no concrete choice.

Everyone is trying to figure this out based on 15 alcoholic drinks. Cheers offers a lot more than just those 15 drinks that needs to be taking into consideration.

True. It isn't as simple as people make it.

All you need to do is make a trip to Costco and you will realize that even if someone drinks all 15 drinks every day Carnival will still profit quite well. Take a look at the price of the 1.75 liter bottles of the most common favorites. Most all are 30 dollars or under for the popular brands. Each of those 1.75 liter bottles has 39 shots in it. You will not be getting close to 39 shots worth of alcohol in a day. Now figure that if an everyday Joe like myself can secure a 1.75 liter bottle for $30 or less in most cases, imagine what kind of price Carnival can command with their huge buying power. They will not lose money or even be close to breaking even on 15 drinks a day. The people who drink less are just even more profit gravy. There is a cost for the mixers, but that is relatively dirt cheap for soda, juice etc.

Not really. The cost of the product is only one portion in the overall cost to serve that product. Business overhead can cost the customer significantly more than the actual product many times. I have seen bars financially struggle selling $4 beers which have a true cost of $0.75ea. The costs of rent, labor, utilities, insurance, supplies and the product itself quickly eat any profit up.

Bottom line....It costs money to serve a product, especially on a cruise ship.

If that were the case then RCCL and NCL should have the "party boat" reputation since neither of those lines have a drink limit.

Both normally come with a higher priced fare which creates a different passenger profile. A by-product of the financial burden minimizing the college age crowd is more control.

Give the average 50 year old and the average 21 year old the same drink package and the majority of the problems will consistently fall on the younger age range.

I get the whole thing on making money and there are rules and such but the thing I don't understand is why it matters to them. Even if you share you're drinks they are making the same amount. They have that 15 limit so you aren't getting more than 15 drinks out of that package no matter what. If someone doesn't drink in the cabin and is above 21 then what should it matter to Carnival. Even if they DO drink and you decide to share with them they are getting the same money for those 15 drinks. Any outside of that (before you hit their silly no more than 15 wall) you are still paying for.

 

I love Carnival but some things they do seem silly to me.

The model probably wouldn't be even be profitable if everyone maxed out. You build a program like that on averages. Some will be low, some high and the majority will fall somewhere in the middle. The overall average is how you determine profitability.

If everyone maxed out the price goes up, no other way to counter it.

And here I thought the drink limit was not just about money, but also about trying to keep people from getting plastered. Especially since Carnival has a lingering "party boat" reputation.

Rules can certainly have a dual role. When someone approaches 15 alcoholic drinks someone needs to ask the question is it safe to keep serving. Bartenders have a duty not to over serve even on the high seas. Carnival gave them a hard line cut off to eliminate the variables. 98% of Cheers drinkers will never be affected.

LOL...it is pretty easy to see who has experience in business or marketing and who doesn't. None of this is a mystery or a shot in the dark.

Carnival knows exactly what the drink per customer average is on Cheers guests down to a decimal. They can probably tell you a Cheers guest drinks on average 6.8 drinks per day. They will also break down what is consumed so they know their product cost. This stuff is known down to the cent, that is how you determine if you will make a profit, especially at that scale.

The 'everyone in the cabin must buy' and '15 drink limit' policies are to keep costs in check. They probably have a determined roughly what percentage of their guests who would share one package if possible. For each of those you lose the profit potential of two customers when judged by the average consumption. Instead of making profit each would not directly deduct from it. The 15 limit is probably near the break even point and eliminates those who are at the extreme end of the scale.

I bet they are trying to keep costs in check to keep the price point competitive. If you can't control costs you have to raise prices which brings a who different affordability formula in play.

As above....unlimited. The alcohol is the only thing limited.

Just go enjoy the cruise.

Ours are County issued.

...but certified by the state and will have an official state stamp.

No....they are nothing more than travel agents who work for the company. Their job is to sell you what makes their employer profit.

As above....state issued BC's are fine.

There was no sense in putting out info when it is still a fluid situation. It will only increase panic and anxiety. Nothing they said would change anything.

No....nothing wrong with the quality.

Add me to the list of not understanding. Just cancel the cruise, get the refund of what should only be a deposit and then book whatever you want. No need in working out any transfer since there is no financial advantage.

If you didn't use the balcony much then by all means go with the OV. You can utilize that money elsewhere. I feel the same way an only book a balcony if the price is super competitive.

Overall late Jan - Feb cruises are holding their value or increasing. I have been watching to see if one would bottom out so we could plan a last minute trip.

Things must be selling good, I am usually able to find one this time of year that goes rock bottom.

LOL....I have very few of these 'problems' I read above. I am always able to fing great food on the menu.

Forget the plane, he shouldn't have had his carry permit pulled the minute he was Baker Acted by the FBI and been required to legally dispose of his weapon at that time.

 

 

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You do realize the Baker Act is strictly a FL thing and not all states have similar measures? The criteria of the Baker Act would not apply to the FBI operating in Alaska.

Yes.....over ice.

Good luck. Most spots that have the free wifi limit it to customers meaning you get the password from a server or someone during purchase.

I just don't see them doing that. Brand identity still has a place even if they are all owned by the same corporation.