(Carnival) Debarkation morning... Need I say more?

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

I smell a comparison between the cruise lines.....

 

LOL - I can't imagine why you might think that! ;)

 

In reality, my only real goal here is to help raise awareness so that others of us out here might put this question to Carnival and prompt them to modify their procedure. I realize that many here see no problem with the current system, and that is totally a personal call.

 

Will Carnival ever "come around"? We all know that the wheels can turn very slowly in government or any large corporation. So... WHO KNOWS!

 

 

Tom

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Tom,

 

I think I read in one of your recent posts that you are going to be in the same cabin we just had on Dream. (You're going to love it). The morning we got off it was the assistant CD making the announcements because Butch was getting off that morning to start his vacation. You'll be happy to know the announcements are harder to hear in that room because of that little foyer area outside the door. As a matter of fact, we'd have to open the door to even begin to hear most announcements during the week. With that said, I can't remember if the debarkation announcements were inside the cabin as well. We could certainly hear them out on the balcony as we waited for zone 16 to be called.

 

Thanks! Though that was most likely an old thread. We have cruised the Dream 3 times - the last one being over Thanksgiving in 6492. I do like those aft corner cabins if, for no other reason, the added buffer from hallway noise that the second door permits! It's the same on deck 6 corners of Conquest class ships -- obviously it's easier to copy parts of old plans, than to come up with new ideas. I can't figure out why they designed it - and some other ships - to where they have those slightly raised areas down some of the hallways. If you are not paying attention, those will GET your attention :eek: (going aft on deck 6)!

 

Tom

[EMc&DrS]

Thanks! Though that was most likely an old thread. We have cruised the Dream 3 times - the last one being over Thanksgiving in 6492. I do like those aft corner cabins if, for no other reason, the added buffer from hallway noise that the second door permits! It's the same on deck 6 corners of Conquest class ships -- obviously it's easier to copy parts of old plans, than to come up with new ideas. I can't figure out why they designed it - and some other ships - to where they have those slightly raised areas down some of the hallways. If you are not paying attention, those will GET your attention :eek: (going aft on deck 6)!

 

Tom

 

Sorry--I missed the fact that was an old thread! You're not kidding about the hallway on deck 6. You need to be sober to make it down the hall!

[okwriter]

I know this thread is about debarkation messages, but I am sooooo the "odd person out" when it comes to messages in the room. I wish there was a way to turn them ON in the room...all of them! When I sailed with DH on the Legend in December, we had very rough weather the first two days. DH was kinda sick, and I kept having to run to the door and step into the hallway to hear what was being said. I didn't know we were skipping Grand Cayman until I went to breakfast and a fellow passenger asked if I'd seen it when we sailed right on by. *sigh*

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

I know this thread is about debarkation messages, but I am sooooo the "odd person out" when it comes to messages in the room. I wish there was a way to turn them ON in the room...all of them! When I sailed with DH on the Legend in December, we had very rough weather the first two days. DH was kinda sick, and I kept having to run to the door and step into the hallway to hear what was being said. I didn't know we were skipping Grand Cayman until I went to breakfast and a fellow passenger asked if I'd seen it when we sailed right on by. *sigh*

 

I have to admit, often the messages we WANT to hear: announcements by the captain giving weather/sea conditions and location -- or changes of itinerary also find us by the door!!

 

Tom

[discjoker]

I have to admit, often the messages we WANT to hear: announcements by the captain giving weather/sea conditions and location -- or changes of itinerary also find us by the door!!

 

Tom

 

Is there not a channel on the television that carries the announcements?

[simkoreb]

We did the silent debarkation on Princess, and it was GREAT!!! NO Chaos/crazy announcements and we just went to a room, waited our turn, and a staff member escorted us off. It was the best!

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Is there not a channel on the television that carries the announcements?

 

There are typically a couple of information channels - but we don't keep that running in the background (like we used to years ago with CNN or The Weather Channel.. :D). So, if I hear a hallway announcement in the middle of the day which is not about BINGO or some "super great" sale, I try to take note.

 

Tom

[ccletzgo]

That morning is tough enough. I dont appreciate feeling like I am at summer camp with the wake up announcements on carnival. Just one of the reasons the Carnival line is at the bottom of my list when choosing a cruise. Treat me like an adult please. I can wake my way, thank you very much..:mad:

[repogirl49]

Happened to me for the first time 2/2011 on the Triumph- late night before, then at 6:45 the first announcement, my alarm was set for 7:30, with room service coming at 7:45. needless to say I got up refused the room service and was off the ship before 8:00 AM. March and April cruises I went to bed earlier. I don't care that they make the annoucements but I think they should post it in the Funtimes. Julie G.

[LRene]

We've done a silent debarkation on HAL and it was wonderful. The night before we received a notice to get off between 8:30 and 8:45. They staggered those notices and it was the most organized and peaceful way to get off the ship. There wasn't a line anywhere and no waiting in public areas. We simply walked right off the ship. They knew exactly which parts of each deck should be empty at a specific time. If there were stragglers, I'm sure the cabin stewards knew right away. And no one waited longer to board.

 

I see no reason we have to be treated like children and think there's a lot of room for improvement. We wrote off Platinum debarkation about 12 cruises ago. It was worthless.

[Socref124]

On the Dream a couple of weeks ago, and no "in-cabin" announcement - only in the hallways.

I remember remarking to DH - open the door, in case they are announcing something we need to know.

 

That's what I was thinking, but I wasn't sure. Maybe that is why I don't hear them.

[sempronialou]

My first, and only other cruise, was in June on the Golden Princess. The night before disembarkment we found information in our mailslot telling us which lounge to meet in and at what time. Their silent disembarkment appeared well orchestrated and there was a steady flow off the ship. To me it seemed to go very well, but then again I have nothing to compare it to. :rolleyes:

 

We did 2 Princess cruises for our first cruises. I thought silent disembarkation was the norm until we recently sailed Carnival. I thought it worked well. We knew where we had to be the night before. We had vacate the cabin by a certain time. It was early is all I remember. Then you went to your respective lounge at the appointed time. Then an employee of the ship would lead the group off when it was time to disembark. It was well done, organized, and very smooth. I didn't like the constant announcements on Carnival.

[DGP1111]

After a couple of (let's say 7:15 AM) Platinum meeting plans turned into an hour+ wait (delays do occur) or we were overlooked/forgotten by the staff :eek: (that happened more than once) . . .

 

OK that happened to you too? It happened to us twice on the Paradise . . .

 

Multiple times here as well. Letter advises to meet in a special location above the debarkation deck to wait for Platinum assistance, but it never arrives. You eventually hear the first three numbers announced, and you have to work your way downstairs to get in the already-existing lines.

.

.

[golfadj]

After a couple of (let's say 7:15 AM) Platinum meeting plans turned into an hour+ wait (delays do occur) or we were overlooked/forgotten by the staff :eek: (that happened more than once), we decided to take a more leisurely approach.

 

You have been forgotten too huh. This has happened to us more than once.

 

They give you a room a nice continental breakfast and forget to come and get you.

[iluvdoxies]

I have made this point in a couple other threads - and have commented on Carnival's procedure in a few of my reviews:

 

Carnival has a tendency, witnessed on most of our ~50 sailings with them, to add insult to injury (so to speak) on debarkation morning when the CD - or similar - comes booming into your cabin via the PA system. The intent being to basically prod everyone to WAKE UP. It is disguised as a dual (HAPPY:rolleyes:) "We hope you had a wonderful time..." and informational (luggage tags, deck/zone # etc...) message.

 

Most often that message seems to start around, or shortly after, 7AM. I read one recent review (Miracle in NYC) where it began at 6:30! Now, I think we'll all agree that the mood on that last morning is not the same as the prior cruise mornings. Vacation is, after all, OVER and it's time to start getting back to reality. My preference would have that be a somewhat more gentle transition.

 

I understand that the Fantasy, when she debarks in Charleston, now has what is called a "Silent Debarkation". That is a morning with no announcements - and it appears to work smoothly. Now you might think that Carnival is to thank for this, but it's my understanding that it's due to people living near the port not wanting to hear the blaring announcements from the ship in the morning. Hey, if they don't want to hear it - do you think that people who paid for their vacation, that are still onboard, want to hear it? ! Does Carnival not have the faith in their guests to wake up as responsible adults?

 

On our 2 NCL and 6 Celebrity sailings, I was pleased to see that they don't have that "in your face intentional wake up call" that so irritates me on Carnival. Those lines have it down well, and I don't see that they have any problems with it - people on the next sailing are able to get to their cabins about the same time as on Carnival. I suppose, if you are up already (early flight or early riser to begin with), then it's not a biggie. But some people tend to stay up a bit late on that last night, and look at this as tantamount to torture! (OK - I might be exaggerating just a tad here... :o)

 

So - it can be done (other lines, and at least 1 Carnival ship)... so why are we still subjected to that "honey, you're going to be late for school" wake up? I won't even get into the annoying "inch of gold", "BINGO", et al announcements (those don't wake me up)!!

 

Have any of you experienced something like the "silent" debarkation on other Carnival ships (or on the Fantasy itself) and have an opinion of it?

 

I would love to see Carnival make the switch to this method - if only to lessen the bite of reality! ;) :)

 

Tom

 

No have never had a "silent" debarkation - we are usually up early cause there seems to be a lot of noise in the hallways etc., so I can kind of tune those dreaded announcements off. Only one time, coming back in to Port Canaveral, I think it was on the Fantasy then....we had been in the paino bar till it closed and then hit the casino and got to bed bout 4am - woke up with a start when we heard "everybody leave already" or words to that effect.

 

At least we were all packed, so just jumped out of bed got ready and left - no time for showers, cofffee.....that was a BAD morning lol.

 

Another time, we were traveling with a friend, he had his own cabin on a dif deck - we had all been up late the last night- told him we will meet you for coffee and breakfast on the Lido at 0730 - 0800 came and went, no friend -so I called his cabin - no answer - 0900 called cabin again no answer. Finally went to his cabin, banged on the door - no answer---finally saw his room steward and he had to unlock the door - we were the LAST off the ship.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

No have never had a "silent" debarkation - we are usually up early cause there seems to be a lot of noise in the hallways etc., so I can kind of tune those dreaded announcements off. Only one time, coming back in to Port Canaveral, I think it was on the Fantasy then....we had been in the paino bar till it closed and then hit the casino and got to bed bout 4am - woke up with a start when we heard "everybody leave already" or words to that effect.

 

At least we were all packed, so just jumped out of bed got ready and left - no time for showers, cofffee.....that was a BAD morning lol.

 

Another time, we were traveling with a friend, he had his own cabin on a dif deck - we had all been up late the last night- told him we will meet you for coffee and breakfast on the Lido at 0730 - 0800 came and went, no friend -so I called his cabin - no answer - 0900 called cabin again no answer. Finally went to his cabin, banged on the door - no answer---finally saw his room steward and he had to unlock the door - we were the LAST off the ship.

 

I find that the sleep I get that last night is of poor quality (thus quantity as well). I tend to sleep lighter, knowing that "this is it". Add in the sounds of docking, the lack of ship movement, and then the hallway noise you mentioned ... !!! Every hour is precious - so much so that I can recall one cruise where the time changed the last night (daylight saving time ended). Just knowing that we had that extra hour of sleep Saturday night was reassuring. Of course that was factored in to our nightly plans - so in reality it was not used for sleep! :eek: On the other hand, I recall another sailing in the spring when we lost an hour on the last night... that was much less pleasant! ;)

 

Tom

[iluvdoxies]

I find that the sleep I get that last night is of poor quality (thus quantity as well). I tend to sleep lighter, knowing that "this is it". Add in the sounds of docking, the lack of ship movement, and then the hallway noise you mentioned ... !!! Every hour is precious - so much so that I can recall one cruise where the time changed the last night (daylight saving time ended). Just knowing that we had that extra hour of sleep Saturday night was reassuring. Of course that was factored in to our nightly plans - so in reality it was not used for sleep! :eek: On the other hand, I recall another sailing in the spring when we lost an hour on the last night... that was much less pleasant! ;)

 

Tom

 

I tend to sleep lighter as well - always hear the docking sounds etc --now John just keeps snoring away lol.

[celticd1]

I agree with the OP. That last morning onboard is hard enough to stomach without the PA blaring into the cabin to wake us all up. Once we were even treated to repeated wake up calls from the phone! :mad:

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

I agree with the OP. That last morning onboard is hard enough to stomach without the PA blaring into the cabin to wake us all up. Once we were even treated to repeated wake up calls from the phone! :mad:

 

I see you are on the Miracle sailing next January which we took this year. Aruba and Curacao (in particular) are nice to have as new stops. Has anyone on your roll call brought up the idea of dinner on the beach in Aruba (Passions on the Beach - LINK)? After reading some reviews (LINK) on Trip Advisor and CC, we decided to give it a try. We REALLY enjoyed the evening there. It seems that some of the sailings, for whatever reason, have a late stay in Curacao - and others in Aruba, but never both.

 

 

 

 

 

They also have a Feta cheese/watermelon salad you should try (and share)!! :D

 

 

Tom