New carnival policy - 1a cabins now charged @ 200%

[maryann2]

Actually I did realize the other day that despite sending off a letter and cc link to customer service no response received.

 

Anyone have cahill's email address? I think I would like to resend my 'opinion'! :D:D

 

Hi Froufie,

 

They have to realise that we are going elsewhere.

 

I wrote to Gerry Cahill on June 10th and got a reply from Vicky Rey VP Guest Services the next day, not from Gerry himself! Blah blah policies as with other cruise lines etc.

gcahill@carnival.com

[jjb415]

Have never been on Carnival but was looking at some last minute rates. However, the 200% for solo has put me off. Rather sale on NCL, which does charge 200% but is better when it comes to freestyle. Yesterday, I did manage to find a cruise on the NCL Sky at 150% which is a deal. Hopefully, Carnival will go back to 150% for 1A.

 

Which Norwegian Sky sailing was that? Just curious and would like to keep my eye out for more less than %100 extra on NCL. Thanks in advance if you are still around. :)

[Froufie]

Hi Froufie,

 

They have to realise that we are going elsewhere.

 

I wrote to Gerry Cahill on June 10th and got a reply from Vicky Rey VP Guest Services the next day, not from Gerry himself! Blah blah policies as with other cruise lines etc.

gcahill@carnival.com

 

 

Thanks - I will be resending my comments to Mr. Cahill - just to let him know how I (we?) feel....not a good change of policy in my opinion!:mad:

[407dm]

Here is the note that I got back,

 

to me it seems that they really don't give a hoot about the solo cruiser.

 

so I will look at other options.

 

 

 

 

Hello

 

Thank you for contacting Carnival Cruise Lines. We appreciate the opportunity to be of assistance.

We do see that you have been with us several times and we do value your patronage. While we understand your position, pricing is based on double occupancy. The only option to reduce your price would be to travel with some else in your stateroom.If there is anything else we can do for you please don't hesitate to ask.

 

Cordially,

Gerard Gauchier, Jr.

Reservation Specialist

[maryann2]

Here is the note that I got back,

 

to me it seems that they really don't give a hoot about the solo cruiser.

 

so I will look at other options.

 

 

 

 

Hello

 

Thank you for contacting Carnival Cruise Lines. We appreciate the opportunity to be of assistance.

We do see that you have been with us several times and we do value your patronage. While we understand your position, pricing is based on double occupancy. The only option to reduce your price would be to travel with some else in your stateroom.If there is anything else we can do for you please don't hesitate to ask.

 

Cordially,

Gerard Gauchier, Jr.

Reservation Specialist

 

You are right. Time to change your avatar.

[407dm]

You are right!! the new one is from jan 2010 at Nachi Cocum in cozumel

 

nice beach

[thescot123]

Which Norwegian Sky sailing was that? Just curious and would like to keep my eye out for more less than %100 extra on NCL. Thanks in advance if you are still around. :)

 

It was on the July 12th sailing from Miami to Bahamas. It was a 4-day cruise and was booked last minute within 4 days of the cruise. Decided to book the cruise thru NCL's website. For me, I was looking for a place to go for a last minute vacation. Initially it appeared that cruising during the summer time would be too expensive. Anyhow, I kept checking the rates and noticed one day that I could get this cruise for under $500 which sound reasonable. I did meet another person on the boat and they sad they pad about $700 for a single rate on Deck 4. I was glad that I found this rate since this 4 day cruise is what I needed to recharge my batteries.

[Froufie]

Here is the note that I got back,

 

to me it seems that they really don't give a hoot about the solo cruiser.

 

so I will look at other options.

 

 

 

 

Hello

 

Thank you for contacting Carnival Cruise Lines. We appreciate the opportunity to be of assistance.

We do see that you have been with us several times and we do value your patronage. While we understand your position, pricing is based on double occupancy. The only option to reduce your price would be to travel with some else in your stateroom.If there is anything else we can do for you please don't hesitate to ask.

 

Cordially,

Gerard Gauchier, Jr.

Reservation Specialist

 

That is such a 'lame' response - I am not impressed!:mad:

[GeriatricNurse]

I am glad that you posted this here. I was going to do it also. After my next 2 cruises that I already have booked with Carnival I am looking else where to spend my cruising dollars.

Hey, come on over to HAL! MUCH lower single supplement!:)

[GeriatricNurse]

Sad to say folks but I spoke with my pvp today and he did confirm that Carnival's new policy is to charge 200 % for singles even in a 1a cabin.

Very sad but they seem to feel that having a full ship is more important that having a single cruiser on board.

What to do?????

Bryan

 

 

Come on over to HAL! MUCH lower single supplement!:)

[jjb415]

It was on the July 12th sailing from Miami to Bahamas. It was a 4-day cruise and was booked last minute within 4 days of the cruise. Decided to book the cruise thru NCL's website. For me, I was looking for a place to go for a last minute vacation. Initially it appeared that cruising during the summer time would be too expensive. Anyhow, I kept checking the rates and noticed one day that I could get this cruise for under $500 which sound reasonable. I did meet another person on the boat and they sad they pad about $700 for a single rate on Deck 4. I was glad that I found this rate since this 4 day cruise is what I needed to recharge my batteries.

 

Cool, thanks for the reply and congratulations on the great find. I hope that more low supplements like the one that you found show up more in the future. :)

[407dm]

Does HAL sail from NO, Galveston, or Mobile??

[Roz]

HAL does not sail from those parts.

 

Roz

[407dm]

froufie, did you ever get a reply

[Froufie]

Nope - unlike some others who wrote in and got a response - none for me - should I be taking this personally??? :)

[ladysail2]

Nope - unlike some others who wrote in and got a response - none for me - should I be taking this personally??? :)

 

Nah...just keep resending it until they respond!!!! :D

 

Joyce

[maryann2]

Like on John's blog, resend and put please reply!

[cruiser1465]

I am a solo cruiser who, until recently, was a faithful diehard Carnival fan. It is funny how things work out. I took a cruise last October (2009) out of Long Beach, CA and had a miserable time. I realized at that point that, after 18+ cruises, I was growing tired of cruzing. This year, rather than my usual May cruise, I booked a 9 day vacation to Barbados. I HAD THE TIME OF MY LIFE. I had so much fun, that I went back for 10 days in July. I have another trip to Barbados scheduled for the Thanksgiving (Nov) holiday weekend (5 days).

 

Against my better judgment, prior to my Barbados vacations, I had booked an Early Saver cruise on Carnival for this October. I had also purchase one of those $100 certificates believing at the time that I would get $100 OBC. I have since realized that as a solo, I only get $50 OBC.:mad: Also, since Carnival has raised the price of the Cat. 1As, there is no way for me to realize any price adjustment for my Early Saver reservation.

 

After my two trips to Barbados, I so wanted to cancel the cruise. However, I had so much $$ already committed, including airfare from NYC to Miami, that I went ahead with the cruise.

 

After seeing Carnival take such an arrogant, confidence stance against some of its most faithful customers (the solo cruiser), I can now state with finality that this October cruise will probably be my last for a long long time.

 

My 10 days in Barbados cost: $100 per night for a really nice hotel, $400 airfare and approx. $75 per day for food and entertainment. This comes to approximately $2,100 for a 10 day vacation in paradise.

 

In turn, my 7 day October cruise will now cost me: $1,240 for the cruise, $300 for the airfare to the port and approx $100 per day (bare min.) for drinks, excursion, casino and entertainment for a total of $2,240.

 

Hence, my 10 days in Barbados (or like location) is cheaper than 7 days on a rolling, rocking boat.

 

Congratulations Carnival. You have just priced yourselves out of the running for my vacation dollars.:o:rolleyes:

[yellowbird23]

Hence, my 10 days in Barbados (or like location) is cheaper than 7 days on a rolling, rocking boat.

I am happy you found an alternative to cruising, but I don't think it warrants this type of comment. Seems that it was good enough for you on many, many other occasions, but now that you are begrudged by the supplement, it would seem that your comment is too harsh. I am going on my first Carnival cruise in October, but definitely not my first cruise solo, and depending on whether I like what they have to offer for my dollars, will tell me whether or not I would want to use them again. I did get an early saver for it and glad I did. Otherwise, I would not be taking this cruise. For the money they now charge, I would definitely look around at the options as well, but not because of a rocking or rolling ship. That is part of the seagoing experience.

Have a good vacation in Barbados or elsewhere.

[cruiser1465]

I am happy you found an alternative to cruising, but I don't think it warrants this type of comment. Seems that it was good enough for you on many, many other occasions, but now that you are begrudged by the supplement, it would seem that your comment is too harsh. I am going on my first Carnival cruise in October, but definitely not my first cruise solo, and depending on whether I like what they have to offer for my dollars, will tell me whether or not I would want to use them again. I did get an early saver for it and glad I did. Otherwise, I would not be taking this cruise. For the money they now charge, I would definitely look around at the options as well, but not because of a rocking or rolling ship. That is part of the seagoing experience.

 

Have a good vacation in Barbados or elsewhere.

 

What is your problem with my comment? As my post stated, I discovered Barbardos and reasonable land vacations BEFORE Carnival enacted the new rate. I really hated my last cruise and that was in October, 2009. I realized that after so many cruises, the cruise experience for me had just started to get a bit stale. Long before this 200% issue came along.

 

In fact, one of my first lines was "Funny how things work out." Things just came together so that I don't feel like I am missing anything by giving cruzing a break.

 

One of the big differences between cruising and land vacations is that you have more control over your daily activities on a land vacation. It was nice to be on vacation and not have to keep looking at my watch or jump up out of bed at the crack of dawn so that I would have time to enjoy the island before I have to get back on the ship.

 

If Carnival is no longer a reasonably economical vacation for solo travellers, that is Carnival's fault. Don't blame the messenger;), just heed the message.

 

Finally, will I take another cruise? Probably. Is cruising now my first choice for my vacation time and $$? Absolutely not. Why? Many reasons.

 

What is the problem with that?

[yellowbird23]

What is your problem with my comment? As my post stated, I discovered Barbardos and reasonable land vacations BEFORE Carnival enacted the new rate. I really hated my last cruise and that was in October, 2009. I realized that after so many cruises, the cruise experience for me had just started to get a bit stale. Long before this 200% issue came along.

 

In fact, one of my first lines was "Funny how things work out." Things just came together so that I don't feel like I am missing anything by giving cruzing a break.

 

One of the big differences between cruising and land vacations is that you have more control over your daily activities on a land vacation. It was nice to be on vacation and not have to keep looking at my watch or jump up out of bed at the crack of dawn so that I would have time to enjoy the island before I have to get back on the ship.

 

If Carnival is no longer a reasonably economical vacation for solo travellers, that is Carnival's fault. Don't blame the messenger;), just heed the message.

 

Finally, will I take another cruise? Probably. Is cruising now my first choice for my vacation time and $$? Absolutely not. Why? Many reasons.

 

What is the problem with that?

OMG! Stick to your land vacations! Just don't come in here and get all out of joint. You have your opinion of cruising now. So does everyone.

[cruiser1465]

OMG! Stick to your land vacations! Just don't come in here and get all out of joint. You have your opinion of cruising now. So does everyone.

 

 

What do you mean? No one is out of joint. This board exists for opinions. We can disagree but not be disagreeable.

 

It is just that now with the added cost to cruising, no one type of vacation is any cheaper (probably never was) than the others. Because the initial upfront cost of cruising was so significantly less than land, tour, etc. there was the preception (to me at least) that cruising was cheaper. Now that the initial output of $$ is a good bit higher, that preception no longer exists.

 

To be honest, on a 7 day Carnival, I would usually run up a ship tab of approximately $1,000. At each port, I would spend around $50, give or take - not including alcohol and jewelry. I now realize that cruzing was never a better bargain. It is just that the $$ output was done at different times and was more spread out on a cruise.

 

This point, is not my opinion. It is a fact.

 

Many successful companies have made bad left turns by make significant changes that go against their patron's grain. Time will only tell how this will affect the 2011 vacation season and whether someone will pay to stay in a Cat 1A for just about the same price as a Cat. 4A. I don't see where the incentive will be to book those odd shaped rooms. If I were going to cruise at 200% of the cost, I would look at nothing lower than a Cat 4-something.

 

I must be missing something. Please enlighten me.

[yellowbird23]

What do you mean? No one is out of joint. This board exists for opinions. We can disagree but not be disagreeable.

 

It is just that now with the added cost to cruising, no one type of vacation is any cheaper (probably never was) than the others. Because the initial upfront cost of cruising was so significantly less than land, tour, etc. there was the preception (to me at least) that cruising was cheaper. Now that the initial output of $$ is a good bit higher, that preception no longer exists.

 

To be honest, on a 7 day Carnival, I would usually run up a ship tab of approximately $1,000. At each port, I would spend around $50, give or take - not including alcohol and jewelry. I now realize that cruzing was never a better bargain. It is just that the $$ output was done at different times and was more spread out on a cruise.

 

This point, is not my opinion. It is a fact.

 

Many successful companies have made bad left turns by make significant changes that go against their patron's grain. Time will only tell how this will affect the 2011 vacation season and whether someone will pay to stay in a Cat 1A for just about the same price as a Cat. 4A. I don't see where the incentive will be to book those odd shaped rooms. If I were going to cruise at 200% of the cost, I would look at nothing lower than a Cat 4-something.

 

I must be missing something. Please enlighten me.

You're original statement said that you had already been "growing tired of cruising". I simply replied to your comment of "7 days on a rolling and rocking boat". I also said have a good time on your land vacation to Barbados, which I meant. How did this transpire into what you believe it did? If you had tabs of $1000 on each cruise, then it probably is a better bargain on land. Some of us don't need to spend that kind of money, or any money for that fact, to enjoy the cruising experience. I wish you well. The end.

[yellowbird23]

cruiser1465>>> I will quote someone else you were arguing with on another thread. "Be grateful for what you have and not complain about what you think you deserve." You are now on my ignore list as this seems to be your pattern.

[Love2Cruise4Less]

Hey solos - here a link to my thread on the Carnival board:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=24702654#post24702654

 

 

I just muddled through 36 pages of replies at that thread ... and I'm still confused! Someone, please give me a simple answer!

 

With the disappearance of Carnival's good solo deals and the apperant recovery of the cruise economy, are we solo cruisers screwed?