The Carnival is over.....

[jwjax]

Has anybody reading this thread been cruising long enough to remember when cruising meant NO TV, NO cellphones, NO in-cabin telephone, and NO Internet? If you needed to communicate with the outside world, you had to go to the Radio Room to make a call or send a message. The Daily news were printed and distributed on a piece of paper that you could pick up at Guest Relations. Going on a cruise meant TRULY getting away from everything.

 

This whole "they don't have enough TV channels" argument seems trivial to me, and NO, I'm not 90 years old (I'm in my 30's)

 

I remember and prefer the good ole' days of news at the desk or posted on the wall just outside the purser's desk, along with our current location. No GPS on the laptop or cellphone...:cool:

 

It's much more exciting to see a tv in port after 6 days, and find out a hurricane is on your tail as you leave port....St.Thomas 1995!:eek:

 

If we use a TV in our cabin these days, it is for background music, or viewing our pics, and checking the S&S bill. Who cares what channels are available?? We are not in the cabin enough to worry about it....:confused:

 

Go on a land vacation if you want to have DirecTV available 24/7....:rolleyes:

 

We had DTV in Vegas, and watched 1, (maybe even half of it ) movie in a week's stay!!:)

[RuthlessBoss]

How is offering an upgraded TV package to those who might want it going to cost you anything extra?

 

Do you pay more for soda because someone bought the soda card?

 

Explain that one please?

Soda is on board in cans or soda machine, OR bring it with you, no satellite equipment required nor needs to be installed:D

[ccruisequeen]

In recent months, appetizers have added back shrimp cocktail and spring rolls.

 

I would love adding creme broule to the everyday dessert menu.

 

On the west coast, tv is three hours earler. So if I want to listen to tv before bed, I'm stuck with overnight news and infomercials. I usually listen to my iPod.

[Lovefuninthesun]

I just got off the same cruise -- our experience was different!

 

We thought the menu was great -- not everything to my liking, but there has to be something for everybody! We thought the choices were fine. And we thought the fish and chips were GREAT!

 

Re: the TV stations -- I could care less what's on TV -- I'm on a cruiose! I can watch boring cable TV with 200 channels at home!!:o

[my_crib_too]

I agree that something could/should be done about the TV situation. I think it's possible if Carnival was willing to pony up the $$. Wanna have some fun? Cruise during football season and go to the sports bar on a Saturday afternoon and watch, and listen, to the shock/dismay/anger as people realize that top ranked teams are not being televised but instead they are showing Detroit Community College vs. Cleveland Jr. High School or some such nonsense. There was a near riot on our last Legend cruise. Seriously, there was shouting and tears. I'm not much of a college fan, so it was amusing to me, but I don't blame them for being a little upset. If they're gonna show a crap game that no one cares about, it'd be better to show nothing at all. It's almost adding insult to injury..

 

Time for Carnival to open a sportsbook in the casino. All the games would be on in the casino then. That would be fun to bet on a few games while at sea.

[kujobie]

Time for Carnival to open a sportsbook in the casino. All the games would be on in the casino then. That would be fun to bet on a few games while at sea.

 

Excellent idea. Gets people to the casino and make sports fans happy, too.. Even if they played the games in sports bars or other bars, and not in the cabin, I'd be happy and they'd get me out of the cabin and buying drinks, at least if it was a game I wanted to see.

[jwjax]

Time for Carnival to open a sportsbook in the casino. All the games would be on in the casino then. That would be fun to bet on a few games while at sea.

 

Interesting Idea??:) Is any cruise line offering this yet??

 

I would be in for it, but I can't see them doing it on the scale that Vegas does!:confused:

[Brenna's Mom1]

Time for Carnival to open a sportsbook in the casino. All the games would be on in the casino then. That would be fun to bet on a few games while at sea.

 

A very positive suggestion and will make all the guys happy who end up realizing the cruise their wives or SO booked was the same weekend as the "Big" game.

[Rottweiler Puppy]

Who says I don't.

 

That would be crazy IMHO. lol But if you like it then go for it.

[FlaParrotHead]

I remember and prefer the good ole' days of news at the desk or posted on the wall just outside the purser's desk, along with our current location. No GPS on the laptop or cellphone...:cool:

 

It's much more exciting to see a tv in port after 6 days, and find out a hurricane is on your tail as you leave port....St.Thomas 1995!:eek:

 

If we use a TV in our cabin these days, it is for background music, or viewing our pics, and checking the S&S bill. Who cares what channels are available?? We are not in the cabin enough to worry about it....:confused:

 

Go on a land vacation if you want to have DirecTV available 24/7....:rolleyes:

 

We had DTV in Vegas, and watched 1, (maybe even half of it ) movie in a week's stay!!:)

 

@jwjax. I think we may have been with you in 95. Heard the last night at sea about Maryanne. Thought it was some passenger dancing on tables or who went overboard. Instead it was the hurricane days behind us hitting about every port we had been to. I had video and stills from St. Thomas that sailing of places that were no longer standing by the time we disembarked in Miami.

 

We didn't know about it because we seldom turn on the TV in the cabin (sailing over 9/11, we made an exception).

 

The whole sailing was smooth blue water, which is why we never worry about sailing during hurricane season - but then, that's for another thread.

 

B&B

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[SMSACE6]

Just returned from our latest and last Carnival cruise on the Freedom.

 

The cruise was very relaxing, but one item has become irksome.

 

The menu. I can just about tell you what the Carnival menu is if you give me one appitizer. The menu has not changed in YEARS! Would an annual change be too much to ask? The "braised spare ribs" are consistently tough. When I mentioned it to our server, he offered, with a straight face, to get me a PB&J sandwich. Cute, but no.

 

They could also provide a broader TV selection. This is 2012. The only difference between Carnival's TV lineup and my parents 1978 TV service is that I am not the remote. How about a "basic" cable assortment instead of the constant bombardment of infomercials. I don't care how much of that cream that Victoria Principle slathers on her face, she is still 60 years old......and looks it.

 

The "fish and chips" station. How about giving us more than 2-3 oysters at a time? Also, you might not want to flatten them. They looked like they had been hammered flat by Gallagher and his mallet! Leave them as they come out of the shell.

 

Other than the menu, Carnival does a great job. However, variety is the spice of life, so we will cherish our memories and photos for years to come, but it is off to other lines for us.

 

I sort of understand how you feel about the menu, but for me it is actually the recent changes to the menu, that I dont like. Fried chicken and meatloaf etc...., just not what I want to eat in the MDR on a cruise. However, Carnival also has one of the biggest menus on a cruise ship, and there is so much variety, that Im fairly certain I could find something that I like.

 

My last cruise was on the Freedom two years ago, the first time I had three man wait team, yet the longest time spent in the dining room. It took minimum 2 hrs, and sometimes 2 1/2, and often I just left before dessert and coffee. There were also inconsistencies that I didnt like, such as no ice in the ice bucket at evening, and that is when I wanted it. It took several phone calls, to actually get the room steward's attention to this, and several evenings of having to order ice from room service. It wasnt a big deal, but just as your say, irksome! There were other irksome things too, too many to mention here, but I did have a very nice cruise.

 

When I decided to book a cruise for next year, I decided after 5 Carnival cruises it was time for a change. So really, sometimes a change is good, and maybe I will like the change or not. I have not written Carnival off yet, but after next cruise on another line, I will decide if I come back anytime soon.

 

So, OP, maybe, like me, you are just ready for a change.:)

[mpcaruth]

We only cruise once a year on Carnival, so the menu does not really get boring. One suggestion it to eat in the Steakhouse. Amazing food, varied choices, and supposedly the best service you can get.

 

As for TVs... I would considering paying the cruiseline to take it OUT of my cabin. :D My family can watch TV at home. (Now, my husband would not agree with removal of the TV).

 

I agree with many other posters, it's nice to have variety, so try another cruiseline. I have only cruised Carnival and Royal Caribbean. The RCI cruises were on older ships, the Grandeur and the Explorer. While they were different, we still prefer Carnival. I would love to try the Oasis or Allure, but the price is always double for our family of 4. We had a hard time choosing over the new Carnival Sunshine or the NCL Jewel out of New Orleans next year. We decided that we really wanted to try something new, so we picked the Jewel.

[Surfwench]

Just returned from our latest and last Carnival cruise on the Freedom.

 

The cruise was very relaxing, but one item has become irksome.

 

The menu. I can just about tell you what the Carnival menu is if you give me one appitizer. The menu has not changed in YEARS! Would an annual change be too much to ask? The "braised spare ribs" are consistently tough. When I mentioned it to our server, he offered, with a straight face, to get me a PB&J sandwich. Cute, but no.

 

They could also provide a broader TV selection. This is 2012. The only difference between Carnival's TV lineup and my parents 1978 TV service is that I am not the remote. How about a "basic" cable assortment instead of the constant bombardment of infomercials. I don't care how much of that cream that Victoria Principle slathers on her face, she is still 60 years old......and looks it.

 

The "fish and chips" station. How about giving us more than 2-3 oysters at a time? Also, you might not want to flatten them. They looked like they had been hammered flat by Gallagher and his mallet! Leave them as they come out of the shell.

 

Other than the menu, Carnival does a great job. However, variety is the spice of life, so we will cherish our memories and photos for years to come, but it is off to other lines for us.

 

Hehe.... that's pretty funny, wish I'd been there. Did you ask for additional oysters? Did you order something beside the short ribs? Who goes on vacation to watch TV?

 

I understand Celebrity is known for their dining quality. You might just be bored.... come back and post a contrasting review. :)

[richiab]

Unless you have mega bucks and can design your vacation exactly the way you want it, you have to settle for one that comes as close as possible with available funds. Then enjoy yourself! We have been on over 20 cruises on various lines and not one of them was "perfect" but they were all great!

[Warm Breezes]

Just returned from our latest and last Carnival cruise on the Freedom.

 

The cruise was very relaxing, but one item has become irksome.

 

The menu. I can just about tell you what the Carnival menu is if you give me one appitizer. The menu has not changed in YEARS! Would an annual change be too much to ask? The "braised spare ribs" are consistently tough. When I mentioned it to our server, he offered, with a straight face, to get me a PB&J sandwich. Cute, but no.

 

They could also provide a broader TV selection. This is 2012. The only difference between Carnival's TV lineup and my parents 1978 TV service is that I am not the remote. How about a "basic" cable assortment instead of the constant bombardment of infomercials. I don't care how much of that cream that Victoria Principle slathers on her face, she is still 60 years old......and looks it.

 

The "fish and chips" station. How about giving us more than 2-3 oysters at a time? Also, you might not want to flatten them. They looked like they had been hammered flat by Gallagher and his mallet! Leave them as they come out of the shell.

 

Other than the menu, Carnival does a great job. However, variety is the spice of life, so we will cherish our memories and photos for years to come, but it is off to other lines for us.

 

Sounds like you want something different out of your vacations than Carnival is currently offering. When that happens to us we choose to do something different. I don't expect Carnival to cater to what we want out of cruise, that is unrealistic. If they are offering what we want out of a vacation, then great we may chose them...if not there are plenty of other options to choose from....as you said, variety is the spice of life. What I don't do is waste my time complaining that they aren't offering what I want....I just move on and find somebody that is.

[kujobie]

Sounds like you want something different out of your vacations than Carnival is currently offering. When that happens to us we choose to do something different. I don't expect Carnival to cater to what we want out of cruise, that is unrealistic. If they are offering what we want out of a vacation, then great we may chose them...if not there are plenty of other options to choose from....as you said, variety is the spice of life. What I don't do is waste my time complaining that they aren't offering what I want....I just move on and find somebody that is.

 

I think the problem is, people like me who have cruised Carnival for a while, want the product that they used to offer, with better food and better entertainment, and are willing to pay a little more for it. I like Carnival and would be willing to pay a little more for something other than three hots and a cot. Live music, talent, better service. You used to get that with Carnival. I'll try another line if I have to, but I don't want to. I like Carnival. I wish it wasn't that way..

[TriciaEMTB]

I think the problem is, people like me who have cruised Carnival for a while, want the product that they used to offer, with better food and better entertainment, and are willing to pay a little more for it. I like Carnival and would be willing to pay a little more for something other than three hots and a cot. Live music, talent, better service. You used to get that with Carnival. I'll try another line if I have to, but I don't want to. I like Carnival. I wish it wasn't that way..

 

Not everyone is willing to pay for it who cruise carnival. If you want an upscale line, choose one but don't expect a line that caters to new and budget cruisers to adjust to the minority.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[gliner]

I sort of understand how you feel about the menu, but for me it is actually the recent changes to the menu, that I dont like. Fried chicken and meatloaf etc...., just not what I want to eat in the MDR on a cruise.

 

You forgot the Bacon Mac and Cheese......LOL

[gliner]

Hehe.... that's pretty funny, wish I'd been there. Did you ask for additional oysters? Did you order something beside the short ribs? Who goes on vacation to watch TV?

 

I understand Celebrity is known for their dining quality. You might just be bored.... come back and post a contrasting review. :)

 

Yes, I asked....and asked...and asked again. I can't get enough of those oysters!!

 

I did order something else, a sandwich from the deli.

 

Well, as for TV, I don't gamble, I don't drink, nor do I lay out in the sun. I am an avid SCUBA diving Divemaster. So if it is a sea day, and raining.....as it was for 2 days last week on the Freedom, having something to watch other than infomercials and year old movies would be nice.

[gliner]

For the most part, based on the past cruises you have listed, it looks like you cruise about once a year. If you cruised several times a year, on the same cruise line, it would be easier to be more understanding of your opinions on the menu and food choices. Wow! You must have an excellent memory if you can remember, from one year to the next, all of the appetizers and menu selections. In order to keep from getting bored by Carnival's menu selection, maybe you should alternate cruise lines. As you've stated, "Variety is the spice of life." As far as channel selections on the TV are concerned, it's just not that big of a deal to us. We can watch TV at home. There are enough other things to see and do on the ship without wasting time sitting in our cabin watching television. If I had the choice, I'd say take away the TV and install a stereo/cd player so that we could have more of a music choice in our cabin, or, at the very least, provide access to either Sirius or XFM satelite radio.

 

I have cruised 5 times in the last 2 1/2 years. The Carnival menu has been the same on each of those 5 cruises. It does not take a superior memory to remember the appetizers or entrees. The desserts are easy too. On an 8 day cruise, Creme Brulee will only be served once, as is Black Forest Gateau, so you better grab them when you see them. ;-)

 

TV is not an end all, but sports fans might like to have ESPN, I like the news, others like movies. We spend 1/3 of our time in the cabins on average, why not offer something substantial in the way of entertainment?

[RuthlessBoss]

You forgot the Bacon Mac and Cheese......LOL

Just because you want fancy foods (but don't want to pay for it) doesn't mean others don't like comfort foods. I did buffet mostly, and plenty of meatloaf, chicken and mac/cheese was chosen. Same for hamburgers and fries.

[gliner]

Just because you want fancy foods (but don't want to pay for it) doesn't mean others don't like comfort foods. I did buffet mostly, and plenty of meatloaf, chicken and mac/cheese was chosen. Same for hamburgers and fries.

 

I'm not a prude or a foodie. However, I do expect a better menu in the MDR than that in the buffet.

[aidansaunt2004]

I find it slightly amusing that some people are saying "Who goes on vacation to watch tv?"

 

Well, we don't go on vacation to watch the hairy chest contest or drink. We don't watch much tv at home so when we're on vacation we enjoy things that we don't normally get to do, such as: nap, watch tv, get room service etc.

 

Oh, and it has NOTHING to do with being "bored" with each other. People relax in different ways.

 

Yes, we did find the tv lineup to be somewhat "limited". On our last cruise we found ourselves watching the "daily movies".

 

Everyone relaxes in their own way. Some people may relax by drinking and lounging in the sun. Some people may relax by visiting the spa. Everyone is different.

[mplusj]

Carnival is a budget cruise line. They have to spend money very carefully to keep prices low and I won't begrudge them because of their limited tv selection. When I'm in my room I have my tablet, iPod and several other options to keep my entertained. I just started downloading movies and TV shows for my tablet in preparation for my next cruise in 3 weeks. May I suggest you bring along a tablet on your next cruise to help keep you entertained.

 

As for the food, I don't cruise very often but when I do, by the end of the week I'm tired of the food. I can't imagine how the frequent cruisers do it! You have my sympathies there.

[Tapi]

I have cruised 5 times in the last 2 1/2 years.

 

I think there's the problem. You've cruised on the same cruise line over and over during the last 2 years. Carnival doesn't need to change. YOU need to change (and I don't mean that in a disrespectful way).

 

Honestly, try other cruise lines, other regions of the world, etc. You'd be amazed at how different things feel.

 

We had been feeling "Carnivaled" out after sailing on them exclusively for 5 years. Our Carnival cruise in 2010 was not very enjoyable, in big part because it felt like it was the same thing over and over. We decided to branch out and try another cruise line in 2011, and then returned to Carnival after that. Even though the menus hadn't changed much, our "return to Carnival" cruise aboard the Dream felt fresh, the excitement was back, and we ended up having one of the best Carnival cruises we've ever had.

 

Next year, we are trying NCL (for the 1st time). Trying other cruise lines doesn't mean that Carnival is bad. It just adds a bit of variety to your life.