gtonda

Pre covid, we were loyal Carnival customers, even through all the customer-unfriendly changes and price increases. Was starting to tire of their same old itineraries and was not a fan of the newer ship styles. Then Covid hit so we were forced to take a break. I didn't really miss it as much as I thought I would. 

The kids really want to cruise again next spring break, so I looked at options and found an 8 day on the Magic that wasn't too bad in price. Over the last couple years I've watched Carnival get rid of free room service, price gouge on water (after not allowing it to be carried on any longer), raise gratuity costs multiple times, reduce food quality, and now this villa/cabana nonsense. 

We may end up doing that cruise next spring break, and I never wanted to be that guy, but with all the cuts Carnival has done in the past few years, I think I'm gonna have to be that guy who reduces gratuity. Carnival has decided they want to offer minimal value for maximum price, and the only way for me to recoup some value is to reduce the amount of the almost $600 in tips they want me to pay for 2 adults and 2 kids. 

Im well aware that this will be an extremely unpopular take by many here. That's fine. Im at the point in life that I give zero Fs about what anyone else thinks.

Time for me to start talking with my wallet when it comes to CCL. 

Anyways, said my peace. Flame away. 😁

7 hours ago, ontheweb said:

I don't think anyone has flown recently on TWA or PAN AM. I would worry about Norwegian Airlines which was in trouble even before this.

 

Ya, except those are not quite the same scenario. The airline industry had many more options/competition then. Those bankruptcies were an effect of many poor decisions and circumstances over the course of decades. The much more recent waive of airline bankruptcies are the result of a sudden, random event (9/11), similar to this virus. And even that was mostly done to shed horrible labor contracts. At worst, they resulted in consolidation, and tickets issued under the other airline were honored no differently. This is exactly what would happen even if worst case scenario happened in the cruise world, which would be a bit of a consolidation. There's a slight chance that one of the tiny cruise companies could face this, but NCL, RCL, CCL, etc, will come out mostly business as usual. 

All of you who are so concerned with Carnival possibly declaring bankruptcy, you do realize that doesn't mean they shutter and your money just vanishes, right? Recall that every current major U.S. airline has declared bankruptcy in the past 15 years. And guess what, no one lost their ticket, and those airlines are still operating. 

45 minutes ago, Corby114 said:

The Carnival Panorama returned to Long Beach on schedule yesterday but there was concern regarding a few crew members. No one was allowed to leave the ship until the crew members were checked. Apparently late last night the tests were returned and they were negative. The ship leaves later today on an abbreviated six day sailing. Mazatlan was canceled on this six day sailing. Also, today the Regal Princess is being held off from returning to Port Everglades because there concerned about two crew members that have symptoms of the disease. Until they are tested the ship is doing circles off of the coast of South Florida. As of 12:45PM EDT those test results haven’t been returned so that next sailing will either be shortened or canceled all together.

They canceled that one early this morning. Ran into a guy in the hotel lobby who was supposed to be leaving on the Regal, today. 

If one of those tests come back positive, I wonder if they will get quarantined at sea, like the other Princess ship. 

1 minute ago, firefly333 said:

I saw a post yesterday for a $44 cruise, wish I lived in florida.

Yep, those are the times I feel like it would be nice to live there, but not sure that I could. Lol. I am not far from you. I am in Frisco. 

1 minute ago, firefly333 said:

45 a person plus taxes, is about 100, less than 125 I'd guess with taxes.

 

Maybe you are thinking per day not per cruise? Well I'm solo so taxes for one. Depends how many in cabin for taxes and port fees.

Ah, yes. I read that as $45 per day. If it's $45 total (pre taxes and fees, of course) that's a great deal! 

For every one person that's too scared to sail, there are a dozen who are willing to scoop up a great deal on a cruise. They will not have mass cancellations. 

48 minutes ago, adventuredancer said:

i just saw some cruises to the bahamas for 45$ a person. 4 days. i'm trying to convince my husband to skip work and take a quick vacay.

You can always find prices this low, throughout the year, during non-peak times. Now a 4 day for like $100 or $125 total, that would be a deal/sale. 

You may know by now, but Magic will now be in Norfolk in 2022.

I highly doubt anyone cruises for the free gifts, but that doesn't mean you can't call them out for handing out the cheapest of cheap junk. 

Any fool can see that you'll never please everyone with what they give out, but they've definitely scrapped the bottom of the barrel with this one. A lanyard is a tchotchke. It's something you give out in bulk to anyone that stops by your convention booth, much like a cheap pen or a squeeze ball. It's not something that should be part of a loyalty program and gifted to your most frequent customers. 

I'm embarrassed for them. Yes, the gifts are an added bonus, but when you stoop to this level of cheap, you mind as well skip it. 

I guess the writing has been on the wall (if this is true). Three times, in the last 2 months, he has asked on FB, if anyone has carried their key in a lanyard. Shoot, he's asked that same question 2 years ago. 

WOW! This is a new low. This thing probably costs them $0.25, at the quantity they buy. It absolutely is insulting. Most casinos give you a junk trinket like this when you sign up for their player's club. 

On 2/27/2019 at 5:35 PM, cherylandtk said:

Is there any OBC with the ESPG rate?  You might lose that, but otherwise, it seems it will work.  Note that price protection is not a true price match, just NR OBC or cabin upgrade.

This is only true if you have fully paid off the balance. If there is still an outstanding balance, it will reduce that by the price reduction amount.

2 hours ago, Shaded Lady said:

It's been a while since I actually bought soda onboard (normally do Bottomless Bubbles or carry ours on) but we're traveling with family this next cruise- if you pay the $2.95 do they give you the whole can and a glass of ice? can you request that the can not be opened? I know with BB they just fill a glass with ice and use whatever open can of that flavor of soda they have... so you're not really getting the full can. I would expect if you're paying full price, you would! Does anyone know for sure?

Yes, when you buy it by the can, they give you the entire can. Generally unopened. I say generally, because a bartender may open it to pour the first part for you thinking you're drinking it right now, so if you strictly do not want it opened, just let them know.

With the service charge, 1 can of soda is now just under $3. 

$2.95 to be exact. I usually carry on some soda, but this cruise, I didn't. Everytime I bought a $3 soda, I was kicking myself for not having brought some on. 

On 3/18/2019 at 7:28 AM, MWBearFan said:

Can't speak for the Breeze or Magic, though we are booked on the Breeze for a 2021 cruise.  But I can speak for Carnival.  Wife and I had our first cruise together (my first ever cruise) last October on the Victory.  We had friends badmouth carnival and talk about how it's just a party ship we have to watch ourselves from all the riff raff, debotchery and so on.  We experienced none of that on our cruise we had a wonderful experience start to finish.  Our only complaint is we wish we'd have booked a longer cruise.  Service was great, staff helpful and friendly, we had a great cruise director named Philipe (sp?).  Food was all good only exception is we weren't impressed with the buffet (with so many other good options this didn't bother us).  Our fellow cruisers were generally friendly as well had good conversations with about anyone we came in contact with.  For the price we felt we got our money's worth.  It didn't feel cheap or trashy like we'd been told.   Our itinerary was Nassu and Half Moon Cay.  Half Moon Cay is awesome and we will be returning on our next cruise. It is a private island so the only people on the island when your there are the people from your ship.  It is a tinder port but that's not a big hassle.  I would recommend Faster to the Fun which can be booked under your excursions.  That will give you priority tinder access along with many other benefits including things like priority boarding, your room will be ready when you board the ship, priority debarking, priority spot at the service desk, among other things.  On our cruise we got to the port, parked and they had a special entrance for priority boarding, we didn't have to wait in long lines to board. I'd say within a half hour to 45 min from arriving at the port of Miami we were on the ship.  Dropped our carryon bags, and headed to Lido for lunch at Guy's Burgers.  

Only when swiping left. 

2 minutes ago, K_e_short said:

I don't see a problem with the charging for a one year old. If people are choosing to bring their babies on a cruise then they should be allowed to charge whatever they want.

 

If you don't like the price don't sail with Carnival.

 

I'm sure there are a lot of non cruise vacations that would be cheaper.

 

If this is a question of cost I'm sure your travel agent can find a better deal.

 

 

Somebody LOVES kids. 

7 hours ago, Illbcruzn4life said:

it's odd when you price out the Horizon for 4 people in an inside cabin.

 

1st $829

2nd $829

3rd  $959

4th $639

 

I've never seen the 3rd and 4th priced differently.

I have. Several times. We always cruise with a party of 4, so I am used to seeing the varying prices for the 3rd and 4th guests. It's all about supply and demand for the occupancy of the rooms. Some rooms hold 2, some 3, some 4, some 5. So if there are fewer 3 person rooms available, the cost for that 3rd person will be more, and then to add a 4th can be less, because there are more 4 person rooms than 3, and they may not have opened the 4 person rooms to be booked by a party of 3, yet. Capacity control. Same reason that the Magic sailing that we booked for next March, for 4 passengers, has the balcony rooms selling for several hundred less than an ocean view. Less ocean view rooms compared to balcony rooms, and I assume that groups of 4 really like having the additional shower/sink, that is in the OV rooms. 

On 1/3/2019 at 11:41 AM, sanmarcosman said:

Next there'll be al a carte pricing for fun on Carnival. You get caught laughing at the comedy club and they'll ask for your sail and sign card. 

Lol. Speaking of the comedy club. I would not be surprised if that's next. I can see them getting sick of listening to complaints about people not being able to get into the shows due to overcrowding, and they'll start charging like $5 a seat. 

On 1/2/2019 at 6:32 AM, Aplmac said:

 

I'd have to be deathly ill to use Room Service, honestly.

 

I hate seeing waste and trays out in the hallways!

Sometimes it sits there for hours, looking awful.

The thing is, this cannot be directly related to having free room service. The fault lies with Carnival not picking it up. There are CONSTANTLY employees up and down the halls that could easily pick it up. If it's sitting around longer than it used to, that would be more attributed to staffing cutbacks that don't allow them enough people to make rounds and pick up trays. I do realize that they cannot have someone to pick up trays every minute of every day. With that said, if you think charging for room service is going to create an environment where you will never see a tray in the hall, that is not going to happen. And since there is no correlation between free or paid room service and the amount of time a tray sits in the hallway without being picked up, you will still see the trays that are out there, sit for hours. 

So has anyone confirmed if they are, or are not adding more staterooms? Not to bash them, but based upon their past, I don't see a way where they dump this much money into a entire ship refurbishment and not add more capacity.

Above poster is correct if you’re already past final payment. If you’re past final payment then It’s paid for, case closed. Your cruise will show “paid in full” on their records. I’ve never seen them go back into the system to see what fare code you got because of a friend or what discount was applied way back when you booked. Once you’re paid for that’s it. Now if your no show friend was Platinum or Diamond then you wouldn’t get their priority boarding or other benefits.

Can't recall off hand, but if someone in the cabin is Plat or diamond, do all the boarding passed get 'Priority" printed on them? If so, in that case you would at least get to take advantage of the priority boarding, because you are not required to board together. If it is only printed on the one boarding pass, then of course you would not get that benefit.

The loungers under the GREEN umbrellas are free. If you park under any other color umbrella they (the Locals) will charge you. It's not the color of the lounger, but the color of the umbrella you need to be aware of. All beaches are public so Margaritaville can't do anything about it. :cool:

How recent is this photo? We were there in March of 2016 and I don't fell like this many chairs were crammed into the area, nor were they that close to the water. It looks like you could barely navigate between the chairs in this pic.

There is. We went there 2 years ago. The kids loved it. Would recommend. I don't recall exactly how far it was, but did rent a car and drove up there. Stopped at a local place for some lunch on the way back. Excellent hospitality and food.

Good that you had that experience but based on other reports this could be something they are considering and doing a trial on a few ships

Yep. You would think people (on this forum at least) would realize this by now. Just because one person experienced or did not experience something, does not mean that something is true/not true. Just look at the stateroom 1x/2x a day issue. Some people were ADAMANT that it was not true because their room was serviced twice a day, while others (present company included) described their steward as basically telling them they could only choose one option, to someone even posting a pic of the card telling them to essentially "select one option".

Messages from the top will flow differently on different ships. This includes rollouts and rollbacks. The fact that Carnival has a history of being blurry, at best, with clarification on rumors, and has flat out lied on others that have become true (via public facing employees), allows for skepticism when things like this arise.

I do believe that they want/wanted to make this a FTTF benefit only, due to the reducing of steward staff over the past few years, and now being unable to keep up with the demand on at least some sailings. And that they are most likely back-peddling due to the backlash. Which if true, I will commend them for.