Xina143

We will be sailing on the Explorer in January, and I'm not having much luck with information on the shows. Besides the Standard Love and Marriage, anything else? Did they have some sort of Broadway show and Ice show?

Love this review!

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In the past, when these situations have happened to us, whether on Princess, Celebrity, or Carnival we did go to the Purser's Desk and did DEMAND to speak with a supervisor. In most, if not all the cases, the staff was quite receptive and they did work out a solution.

 

What may be ludicrous is that Carnival has been downgrading their level of service and as a result they are experiencing an increase in passenger complaints. They may decide that they have to put up with this and lose passengers in an attempt to continue to be the cheapest of the major cruise lines.

 

One should always remember that you are a paying customer and demand a certain level of service for your money. One should not be ashamed to let the senior staff know if their service has become substandard.

Yes, I am a paying customer, but once on the ship, Carnival already has my money dont' they? Demanding anything, is likely to be less effective than simply talking to someone and seeing if the problem can be rectified in a way that is suitable to you, and to them.

Being a paying customer doesn't give you the right to be rude, and using the word demand sort of brings to mind someone approaching someone else with an attitude of entitlement.

The poster said they had cruised on Carnival for 20 years, NOT that they sailed on the Pride 20 years ago. They cruised on the Pride the year it launched.

That's kind of what I asked. And no, they didn't clarify any of that. No one asked for a history of the Pride, was a simple question.

Confused by this? Do you mean that I should let someone else tell me how to cook my steak? If a steak is a good quality (as they should be in the steakhouse), then it should be a good tender steak no matter how the customer wants it cooked.

 

 

 

BTW - if anyone at a restaurant tried to tell me how to have my steak cooked, then I would not be back.

Actually I think this is fairly common in upscale restaurants. Under or over cooking a steak effects flavor and since a chef wants to give you a flavorful meal, they often suggest cooking a certain cut a certain way.

English isn't the first language for many of the servers so perhaps a something was a bit lost in translation.

And no overcooking a prime cut of filet mignon will not get you a tender steak, it will get you a ruined prime piece of meat.

A

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My family and I have been cruising on Carnival for over 20 years. I remember the first time we went to the Steakhouse on the Carnival Pride. At that time, it was not a steakhouse, but rather a supper club with live entertainment. We were very much impressed with the entertainment, level of service, price, and quality of food. I do remember at that time that the chef actually brought an additional entrée to our table for everyone to try. After that we made the supper club a must whenever we cruised on Carnival. We thought it was a better value than the dinner club offered on Celebrity.

 

 

 

However, over the past few years we have noticed a decline in what Carnival has been offering. First Carnival changed it from a supper club to a steakhouse and removed the entertainment. Next they tried to limit the menu. Finally it seems that there is a decline in service.

 

 

 

I think that the staff on Carnival has begun to lose respect for their customers (cruisers), feeling that the cruisers are there for the price and in many cases do not know or care about good service.

 

 

 

If I had the situation described above I would have went to the Purser's Desk and demanded a new meal served correctly (at no charge) with an apology from the staff of the restaurant.

 

 

 

Only by making Carnival aware that as a cruiser who demand good service, and will inform them when they are substandard can Carnival learn that without good service, they will lose many of their customers.

You aren't implying you tried the Pride steakhouse over 20 years ago are ya?

H

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We had 14 on our first cruise on the Dream and ten on our second on the Conquest. Sometimes we had to wait, and usually we had two large tables side by side. It was fairly easy to talk to the kids at the other table, but we were not all at one huge table for the most part.

The only time we had a real wait, about 25 minutes, was elegant night. For the most part we only waited 5 or ten minutes. You do all need to be there, and ready to sit down, but it can be done and truth be told, it wasn't that big a deal.

Not sure what is going on with the Liberty. My husband and I tried it after enjoying the Chef Table on a previous cruise. The food was good but not Morton's quality. Enjoyed the salad in in a champagne glass. The worst was the wine steward. We are not big wine drinkers. I enjoy Ana glass of very sweet wine and my husband likes just a little less sweet. My husband asked for a recommendation and the steward suggested a tabled mixed blend. It was very pricy and my husband declined and asked for a Riesling. The steward stomped away and never returned to the table and our overall service was lousy after that. Very turned off by the experience and probably won't return to the steakhouse.

 

 

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All three of the Steak Houses we have been to have been BETTER than Morton's. We went to the Morton's in Georgetown and frankly it was a horrible experience that we paid almost $300 dollars for!

Xina143, another way of adding money to your Sea Pass, which we always do is visit the Pursers Desk on Embarkation. We leave money which we can keep our eye on, and if need be top it up. This way is so simple :D:D

I figured we could do that, although I usually attach a credit card online, but I was also asking for Christmas. Our kids LOVE cruising with us and this is going to be their Christmas gift, my inlaws have bought Cruise Cash on CArnival as gifts for our boys before, and since this is right around Christmas, I figured this would be a fun gift and then the boys can purchase little things for themselves as well.

And even us, my husband's birthday is coming up and my mother and MIL asked if he might like a credit-we don't need anything, but they always like to get us token of their love...this way, we can get something fun on board, and it will be a nice remembrance of our parents and our cruise!

As your first reply already said, you can add cash to your account. But one thing worth noting. If you purchase excursions before your sail date, you have to use credit card, you cannot use your cruise credit for that. If you wait till you board you can apply the excursion to your onboard account.

Thanks Bill! Carnival is the same way, so I figured as much. We are only on a five day going to Nassau and Cozumel, which we've been to a few times before, not even sure if we are going to do excursions through RCCL. Will probably just book on our own.

Our oldest son bought us some for our last cruise as a gift (he's so sweet!) and it was cool to get onboard and have it already on our account.

Thanks for the information and the number!

Yes and yes, we always put on cash and keep our room bill down on sea pass card on a daily basis.

I'm so sorry, if I seem dense, but yes we can preload it? I don't necessarily mean once we get on board. For instance, we sail in January, could I call now and put on say a couple hundred?

Again, sorry if I seem clueless! :o

I hope I explain this right. We have only cruised on Carnival, and as I had extra money, I would buy cruise cash (what they call it on Carnival) to add to my account. Basically, we would get onboard with that money already applied to our Sign and sail acccount.

Can I do that on Royal? Do they allow us to 'preload' it so to speak?

Yes, I am aware that I could save it, but this way it's guaranteed to be there.

Tell people want you want and bet that would give a better idea

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This is the heart of the problem with this thread right here. Absolutely NOTHING has been done to indicate that the girl is in trouble. People are jumping to conclusions left and right over assumptions that have no basis and believe themselves to be white knights of parenthood coming to her aid.

Thank you!

And before anyone says anything I have five boys-yes I am a parent

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Woah woah woah woah, now you watch yourself. This is not a thread for voices of reason and rational thinking. If you can't overreact, exxagerate, and make blanket statements about genders and ages then you don't belong here.

Where's the like button? ;)

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Please reread my post because I never stated that boys are predators. This post is about the OP's daughter and her 15 yo girl friend as well as a boy, who is 19, who is supposedly pursuing the 15 yo girl. I have 3 boys and 1 girl and know trouble exists in both sexes. I still think the OP should contact the girl's parents. Even if the girl is the instigator there could be problems ahead for these kids.

I never said that YOU said boys are predators . Please reread my post. I said that some posts here say/imply that.

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I've been following this thread and maybe I'm wrong but I don't believe I've seen anyone call the boy a "horrible human being". A 19 year old is considered a adult and he/she could get into legal trouble by "dating" a 15 yr. old. You seem to be hung up on boys being labeled but I've seen posts stating that girls are the predators. There are male/female predators out there and I think it would be wise for the OP to contact the girls parents. My feeling is "better safe than sorry".

I'm not hung up on anything. What I am is a parent and I've seen it go both ways. And since this is a he said/she said kind of thing, yeah I think the OP's post is a tad misleading. My 20 year old son can't just walk into Club O2, something more is going on. Simple as that. The OP makes it seem like a 30 year could waltz in and start partying. And yes-sarcasm again- but hopefully you get the point about a misleading subject

But my questioning stems from the idea that this girls parents need to be warned and something horrible is going in-sarcasm, in case it wasn't clear-and there have been a few posts saying boys this age can be predators, etc, etched. All kids at any age over five can be bullies/predators. My point was don't limit it to this being the boys fault.

And to be clear-just because I respond doesn't mean I'm hung up on anything. It's summer, my kids sleep in and this is a way to amuse myself- probably just like everyone else here

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This is what I do know...yes, they will let older kids (adults) in. My son was 19, a sr. in high school.

 

 

 

Do I believe the OP's daughter. Absolutely. Why? Because she showed genuine concern for her new friend's well being by alerting her mother.

 

 

 

Do 15 yr old and 20 yr olds date? Sure. should they? Heck no!

 

 

 

At those ages, they are worlds apart...or they should be. And remember this, 20 you are not a child...you are an adult! OP said almost 20, that means 19...still, one should worry about someone of that age willing to make such a long drive to meet a teen girl to "date". It's a bit unreasonable.

 

 

 

I would certainly contact the parents plain and simple.

 

 

 

This may be completely innocent, or this could be grooming.

 

 

 

My daughter was the victim of an aggravated sexual assault. I spent quite a while learning how these people work. This could be completely innocent, or not. I'm a gambler...but NEVER willing to gamble with a child's well being. Are you? I would notify the parents and if unable to do that, I'd call the police simple as that. Maybe I'm biased, or maybe I just have a little more insight and personal knowledge on it. At 15, I put the gray hairs on my mother's head. I know what a 15 yr. old can do. It scares me. OP, please follow your gut!

I understand what you are saying, being a survivor of sexual assault as I prefer to call myself ( as opposed to a victim) I learned one thing- not every predator is the same. You don't learn how they work! You pick up on the signs , but every single one is different, every single one has their own MO .

I'm not saying this girl is lying to her mother. But that doesn't mean the friend isn't lying to the girl. Older boy=status at that age .

Nor does it mean that the kids aren't just wasting some time and chatting. It also doesn't mean the parents don't already know about it and for some reason are ok with it. There are too many variables, and mom is only hearing one side from someone else that is only hearing about it from one side.

I'm not saying don't talk to the parents, BUT why are we so quick to say this boy is a horrible human being? Is go with immature and possibly stupid which is a problem all in itself.

Honestly, I'd talk to the girl myself. Get a feel for the situation that way. If she still has a bad feeling tell the young lady that if she won't tell her parents , you will and then follow through. All I'm saying is go about it without preconceived notions that one has all the answers and you know exactly what's up, because it doesn't sound as if the OP or her daughter knows the situation in it's entirety.

Hi

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Yes, I am paying essentially. But I want to pay for something that I would get something out of. I still don't think you understand my original point.

To be clear, your original point isn't that difficult to understand. You don't feel appreciated by Carnival cause they don't give you enough. You pay for cruises and you think they should appreciate you by offering better

Perks. Doesn't take a genius to figure out what you are saying.

Understand though you are getting what you pay for-a cruise. Any of these lines can restructure their loyalty programs, heck they can get rid of them all together. So if you expect cool perks eventually you will be disappointed in any line as it would be silly to assume these programs will never change.

I do agree that Carnival could do more to encourage customer loyalty, BUT I get what I want when I book with them-a fun cruise.

I get your point, I think we all do, what I don't think you are seeing is all of those perks-none are guaranteed. And any perk you get on any line ultimately you should be concerned with what you pay for-the cruise, not the drjnk coupons and little pins. Being hurt because you don't get something that a line doesn't have to provide in the first place is sorta silly.

So to reiterate-I get what you want..I just don't agree with your reasoning

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Lots to do on the ship? We got a great deal on a Family Suite in January out of PC, so we decided to try Royal. We have only done CCL up to this point, so we are excited to try Royal.

Just want to be sure my boys won't get bored on board. What did you think of the pool and food?

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Yep I'm paying to get perks. It's the point

I thought you said you weren't?

If you pay for a cruise to get the little perks they offer...

Well we do things very differently. I don't need to spend a couple if thousand to get a coupon for a free drink, or to get 25 % off a bag of laundry. I cruise because I enjoy it. iF you cruise for perks, I think you are going to be disappointed at some point with

Every line

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Just out of curiosity, are you sure he is actually going to drive out? Boys will say all kinds of things for the attention of a young girl, especially in a situation where they are competing for attention. Add to that , this sounds like someone they met on the cruise not a close friend. IF that is the case and you don't know the entire story perhaps you are jumping the gun a bit. Add to that how do we know it isn't the girl perusing him. Lord, I've seen some of these young girls with my older boys.

Situations like this always irk me. We get one side of the story and assume it's the boy that's the bad guy! Just look at some of the comments here.

Not saying he isn't pursuing her, just saying don't put it all on the boy. Kids are much more progressive than I think parents realize

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Just because you kinda contradicted yourself a bit then. If you get it, then you know you really aren't paying for perks right? you are earning them thru a service, which in this case is cruising.

IF you don't take a cruise, ie: pay for one...you can't utilize those perks, can you?

If you are platinum they don't just send you the cup, or whatever the gift is now, you have to pay for and take a cruise to get it.

IF you don't pay to reach the level that those perks pertain you, you can not utilize them.

They don't just give them out for the most part, you need to pay for and take cruises to access them. There might be some hidden ones I don't know about....

You can see them one way, and that's cool. But I don't think you earn platinum status, you buy your way to it. I don't think you earn these perks, you buy your way to them. Either way, I'm not impressed with CCL's so far, so I'll see what RCL has to offer

Depending on what it is. For instance we went on a tour in Grand Cayman with Captain Marvin's. It was a boat tour, and we were in a foreign country. By using our AMex, we were covered under their Emergency clause we have. Meaning in the case of an emergency-the boat sinks and we get hurt, AmEx, recognizes the issue and will grant us emergency credit should we need it for medical expenses. They will also then coordinate with the company for reimbursement, etc-should it be there fault.

If we go shopping-if you see a discrepency, your credit card company will mediate for you-say you buy jewelry and it breaks or is fake. After all the issues I've heard with people getting warranty service...I'll let them deal with it for me.

And credit cards are protected under law. No one is going to run around and ring up charges without your knowledge unless you just blindly pay the bill and don't check things out.

Big things, use my CC, little things cash.