Oh Man, This Is Hard......

[golfadj]

We have been considering going elsewhere but pricing keeps us coming back and we are still having a grat time despite the ongoing cutbacks.

[jpurdy]

I could care less about a band on lido. I also think we should bus our own trays--feel weird every time and if there's a station nearby I'll bring my own dishes up there. Sometimes I read these and it makes me wonder, aren't our expectations a tad unrealistic? I want a clean (very clean) environment that is safe, and some activities to choose from and decent choices for food. That is IT. Oh, and a better method to deal with chair hogs would be nice too!

[CJinFLA00]

OP, branch out and try something else. There's nothing wrong with that. I have only cruised Carnival as we are still pleased with the entire experience. Come back and tell us about your new experience. I love reading comparisons since I have cruised Carnival. Enjoy your cruise (no matter which line)!

[JP4GA]

DH and I feel in love with cruising a few years ago. We have been on Carnival twice and loved both the Holiday and Elation. When we tried to book our trip for this coming April we 1st came to Carnival but were able to get a closer port through NCL that met the dates we could travel.

 

I don't see anything wrong with trying the other lines. I just want to stick to one line for the perks that returning guest get.

 

However, for our family Port location, time line and price will probably always win out over the name on the side of the ship.

[H82seaUgo]

There is power in numbers, but from all that I've read CCL does not care about the opinions of their most loyal customers and it's damn the torpedoes full speed ahead. They may be losing loyal customers, but they are still filling their ships and presumably grooming new loyal customers to take their place. As long as that process is successful they won't shed too many tears over the few that leave. Which of course leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of many. (And of course I'm not a CCL loyalist as I haven't sailed with them yet, but it is my goal to sail with all of the main stream lines at least once, sacrificing myself in the name of research:).)

 

actually, it's potentially a vicious cycle.

 

yes, they fill the ships, but at steeply discounted rates. as those reduced rates become more frequent, taking a bigger piece of the pie, more cutbacks occur.

 

when things enter the dangerous red zone, they then start swapping ships hoping that some will try something new, and even send ships to europe to try to control supply and demand.

 

and then the increased cutbacks drives a new wave of customer away.

 

in the end, for us, they have made it quite happy to pay the higher prices on other lines to get more. the same more that carnival used to include at competitive fares.

[bobandsherry]

That's what great about having options, go experience another cruise line. I think you may find that the grass is not always greener..... but then you might find you like to pay more to get features and services that are important to you. I don't get excited about not having a band on the lido deck so, dj is just fine. I'm glad I have Carnival as an option do I don't pay for services and features I don't find of value. I'm free to then spend that towards excursions that I will find of value to me.

 

Enjoy your alternatives, I'm happy with Carnival, 12 cruises and another booked for next February already.

 

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

[PAPERBKWRITER]

Dust off your wallet if you are switching cruise lines. Hard to find any deals as good as Carnival offers.

[sharecruises]

Unless I was a major shareholder or a Carnival employee I don't feel any need to be "loyal"> I just tried Royal and liked a lot of things, but still prefer some things about Carnival.

 

 

"make new friends but keep the old, one is silver the other gold"

 

I am looking forward to sailing on the Spirit in May. Alaska should be awesome and frankly Carnival often has the most bang for the buck price.

 

I miss the Punchliner Comedy Club and the Carnival nightlife when I have been on other lines. Not to mention the warm melting chocolate cake LOL

 

However, I do know what it is like to have a "bad cruise" and maybe a change is due. Enjoy

[Tapi]

People want to see the same level of entertainment, food, and service BUT without paying an extra dime.

 

I paid MORE to cruise on the Tropicale in 1994 than what I paid for my cruise on the Dream in 2011 (and I had a balcony)!

 

Instead of complaining about the cutbacks while still paying the same price, how about being grateful that you can still cruise for what it used to cost 20 years ago?

 

And if you want the same level of entertainment, food and service that you had back then, look for a cruise line that still offers it, but get ready to pay prices that reflect that...

[vols_159]

On ncl I never had one employee address me by my name, room not cleaned some days etc. found rccl more nickel and dime than others

 

I have never had this issue with NCL.. with 3 cruises my room was cleaned 2x a day at least.. Inless youleave the do not disturb sign on I am certian your room did not go DAYS without cleaning.. As far as calling you by Name.. Room stewart normally did and some wait staff in the MDR.. But its really not a big deal to me if they know my name or not

[Seago2]

That is exactly how I feel about NCL! I have watched my NCL cruises go downwards- in increments- until a good portion of the cruise consists of me laughing at the desserts and saying "OMG, you would never see this on HAL...".

 

I cruised Princess this fall and LOVED it. Two scheduled with HAL. I think you need to open the pocketbook a little wider if you want the experience that you had on Carnival even five years ago. That's just the way it is.

 

See you on X, Princess or HAL. I wouldn't bother with Royal- but that's just me. The price is insane, the ships too huge, and I just don't think it's for me (back to the price again:eek:).

 

Good luck to you!

[MsTabbyKats]

I could care less about a band on lido. I also think we should bus our own trays--feel weird every time and if there's a station nearby I'll bring my own dishes up there. Sometimes I read these and it makes me wonder, aren't our expectations a tad unrealistic? I want a clean (very clean) environment that is safe, and some activities to choose from and decent choices for food. That is IT. Oh, and a better method to deal with chair hogs would be nice too!

 

Huh...you don't want "5 star dining"....B'way caliber entertainment....or a steward who knows your name and caters to your every whim....all for under $50 a day?

 

I'm joking....

 

I'm with you....as long as there's decent food and the there are decent sanitary conditions, I'm happy.

 

If I needed "more"....I'd be willing to pay more.

 

I'd rather save the money on the "trip itself"....and buy my souvenir bauble, lose money in the casino, or go on some nice excursions.

[Frank12]

People want to see the same level of entertainment, food, and service BUT without paying an extra dime.

 

I paid MORE to cruise on the Tropicale in 1994 than what I paid for my cruise on the Dream in 2011 (and I had a balcony)!

 

Instead of complaining about the cutbacks while still paying the same price, how about being grateful that you can still cruise for what it used to cost 20 years ago?

 

And if you want the same level of entertainment, food and service that you had back then, look for a cruise line that still offers it, but get ready to pay prices that reflect that...

 

Good thought!

[Butterbean1000]

We have always wanted to try RC but the price keeps us coming back to Carnival. That doesn't hurt my feelings because we have always had a great vacation on Carnival. I hope you find what you are looking for.

 

Enjoy whatever cruise you choose to take :cool:

[Room Service!]

Whoever you decide to sail with, I hope you have a great cruise. ;)

[Vanessa L]

OK, here goes. Understand that I am a nurse, not an MBA, but here is my take on this.

 

OP, your plan is not going to work. Here's why. Each and every week Carnival is filling its ships with thousands of new cruisers. These new cruisers, for the most part (based on what I am reading on these and other boards from first time cruisers), are having an awesome time with what is offered NOW. Have you heard the saying, "You can't miss that which you don't know exists?" Well, that is 100% true with every new cruiser who sails today. New cruisers have no idea what cruising used to be like, and as such, will not bitch, whine or complain about the "changes". They have no concept that there ARE changes. As such, they will become repeat cruisers and replace every single "old timer" that Carnival (or others) loses to the "changes".

 

You certainly have the right to cruise with whatever cruiseline you feel. However, again, based on what I am reading industry wide, cutbacks are on all cruiselines, except maybe the top end, Regent, Crystal, et al. From what I have seen, unless you are retired and can cruise whenever you feel like it, you are going to find that RCI and NCL are priced higher than most similar Carnival cruises on most peak sailing dates. You might find the obscure time when RCI or NCL is lower, but for apples to apples cruises, you will find them higher. So be it. You also have the right to spend whatever you want on YOUR vacation. I would love for you to come back and report what you found along the way. Statistically speaking, it seems to me that the majority of long time cruisers are finding unsatisfactory cutbacks industry wide. I would love to know what your perspective is when you've done a few other lines.

[sparks1093]

actually, it's potentially a vicious cycle.

 

yes, they fill the ships, but at steeply discounted rates. as those reduced rates become more frequent, taking a bigger piece of the pie, more cutbacks occur.

 

when things enter the dangerous red zone, they then start swapping ships hoping that some will try something new, and even send ships to europe to try to control supply and demand.

 

and then the increased cutbacks drives a new wave of customer away.

 

in the end, for us, they have made it quite happy to pay the higher prices on other lines to get more. the same more that carnival used to include at competitive fares.

 

Yep, it can be a vicious cycle and our choice as consumers is to put up with the cuts or find an alternative that suits us. For our upcoming cruise there was a $400 difference between CCL and NCL for similar itineraries. Is NCL really worth $400 more than CCL? That remains to be seen.

[MyDogRudy]

I really liked the 2.0 changes on the Liberty (better flow on Lido Deck with alternative food spots and some of the crowd at Serenity). Like a previous poster said, I would rather save on the front end to go on some nice excursions or purchase some goodies from the ports you can't get back home. I enjoy the food, the comedy club and clean rooms with towel animals. Pretty good vacation for the price.

 

If I were on other lines right now I would be stranded on the ship since I would not be able to also spend much money in ports. Perhaps once I've been to most of the Caribbean islands that would be fine, but right now I want to also explore off the ship. Can't imagine paying double for the same 'ride' as I am certain I will not get food and service that is double as good.

 

Sent from my Motorola Electrify using Tapatalk

[chill6x6]

I see your point.. While CCL was in Mobile, that's where i cruised from. Since they have left that port, NO became my home port. Well, that opened up two other cruise lines up to me, NCL and RCCL. Well I tried the NCL Spirit out of NO in October. IMO...a WAY more personable cruise line. Basically all of the ships officers were introduced REGULARLY! I like that. Anytime Dining....I liked that TOO! And...dare I say it, a BETTER acting group of cruisers! So the NEXT cruise I booked was on the NCL Star for April 2013 and in a suite to top that!

 

I appreciate CCL for giving me the opportunity to cruise in Mobile. Were it not for that...I probably never would have. But just like I appreciate WalMart being open 24/7...I won't use them any more than I have to.

[elcuchio24]

I think it's good to 'sail around' with other cruise lines. We really enjoy CCL, but also sail NCL almost as much, and other lines occationally. Plus AI's, alot of hiking and camping, roadtrips, volunteer work. Variety is the spice my friend!:) Happy travels.

[firefly333]

 

See you on X, Princess or HAL. I wouldn't bother with Royal- but that's just me. The price is insane, the ships too huge, and I just don't think it's for me (back to the price again:eek:).

 

Putting down RCL mega ships without having tried them.. people will use anything to justify their choices me thinks. :rolleyes: Oasis was so wonderful that I had to book Allure. I did Oasis twice btw. The price is worth it. The food is better than other RCL ships a step above.

 

If you want to do other cruiselines fine, but I never can understand someone who says I would not like something else because its too expensive for me.. but others should open their wallets and try HAL and Princess and X?? Your logic is strange.

 

I have done Princess twice and have Celebrity booked. I only can cruise so much and cruising too much as it is according to my family.. or I would do a lot more lines. I was thinking NCL but the Carnival Hawaii came along. I can only do so much .. but I dont put down lines and ships I have never tried.

 

Open your own mind.

[elcuchio24]

Putting down RCL mega ships without having tried them.. people will use anything to justify their choices me thinks. :rolleyes: Oasis was so wonderful that I had to book Allure. I did Oasis twice btw. The price is worth it. The food is better than other RCL ships a step above.

 

If you want to do other cruiselines fine, but I never can understand someone who says I would not like something else because its too expensive for me.. but others should open their wallets and try HAL and Princess and X?? Your logic is strange.

 

I have done Princess twice and have Celebrity booked. I only can cruise so much and cruising too much as it is according to my family.. or I would do a lot more lines. I was thinking NCL but the Carnival Hawaii came along. I can only do so much .. but I dont put down lines and ships I have never tried.

 

Open your own mind.

 

People defend their favorite cruise lines as if they are a member of the family. Never quite understood why. Don't get it twisted--as a company, CCL does not care about you. Same for RCL, NCL. Of course they want your business, but they care for you about as much as McDonalds does after you eat a burger and leave.:)

[seguincruiser]

I only cruise once a year due to having to fly brother to MN to watch my kids. Hes wonderful to do this for us! Have never cruised anyone but Carnival but was disappointed on our last cruise with the MDR, IMO food quality has gone down. Did Nick and Nora's and it was great! I know some complain about having to pay extra but the cost is not even close to what we would have paid at a good steak house back home. The lower quality of food at MDR and buffet did not ruin our cruise but has made me open my mind to trying different lines.

[hoop4321]

we have done rccl, disney and carnival. They all have their bright spots. We are not inclined to do disney as our son is older.....not interested much in rccl as our two previous cruises were less than stellar, and i can't imagine them getting better with far more people on the ship....so we are turned off by the mega ships. For us, we love to dive. Carnival has such interesting itineraries. We are not cruising for 5 star food, but do like being able to try new things. The cabins are smallish on all lines, no getting around that. The ship is NOT our destination, but the ports are. I love unpacking once, and being whisked away to some fabulous spot to go diving. Since the changes have started taking place, we have focused on what we really want. To me the changes are subtle. I notice, but there has also been good things....like the comedy clubs. I love how they revolve the comedians. Going back on rccl, we felt we did it all before, not so with carnival.... evan taking the same ship and itinerary......we had a wonderful time.

[StingRaysfan]

One day maybe we'll try another cruise line for sure, but right now I'm very happy with Carnival. Then again I'm not really one to care about live bands.... I don't know that your plan to "stick it to them" is going to work unless a lot of people follow along...

 

On that note though I really don't think you should knock the 2.0 upgrades until you try them... which I can see from your signature you haven't. I love love loved them! The new eating venues were GREAT and I think Carnival really invested in an effort to make things better, not take away. Just my 2 cents...

 

What are you going to do without Warm Chocolate Melting deliciousness?! :)