***Boycott HAL, Princess, MSC *** scam pricing***

[MicCanberra]

Different operations (though the same name).

So are there differing Carnival companies?:confused:

[Kiwi Kruzer]

So are there differing Carnival companies?:confused:

 

 

Carnival is the umbrella company for ...

 

AIDA Cruises, Germany

Carnival Cruise Lines, United States

Costa Cruises, Italy

Cunard Line, United Kingdom

Holland America Line, United States

Ibero Cruises, Spain

P&O Cruises, United Kingdom

P&O Cruises Australia, Australia

Princess Cruises, United States

Seabourn Cruise Line, United States

[MicCanberra]

Carnival is the umbrella company for ...

 

AIDA Cruises, Germany

Carnival Cruise Lines, United States

Costa Cruises, Italy

Cunard Line, United Kingdom

Holland America Line, United States

Ibero Cruises, Spain

P&O Cruises, United Kingdom

P&O Cruises Australia, Australia

Princess Cruises, United States

Seabourn Cruise Line, United States

Thanks, I was aware of some of those companies, but not all.

So if SAVTA2 cruised with Carnival wouldn't that be the same Carnival that cruises in Aussie waters as well?

[Aus Traveller]

Thanks, I was aware of some of those companies, but not all.

So if SAVTA2 cruised with Carnival wouldn't that be the same Carnival that cruises in Aussie waters as well?

Yes. I think it is only P&O that have a separate company for Australia.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Thanks, I was aware of some of those companies, but not all.

So if SAVTA2 cruised with Carnival wouldn't that be the same Carnival that cruises in Aussie waters as well?

 

P&O Australia calls itself Carnival Australia as well....:confused:

 

I guess its the same question as...

We know Holden is a General Motors car, so does that make it a Chevrolet? :D

 

 

 

[Aus Traveller]

P&O Australia calls itself Carnival Australia as well....:confused:

 

I guess its the same question as...

We know Holden is a General Motors car, so does that make it a Chevrolet? :D

 

 

P&O Australia and also P&O UK are owned by the Carnival Corporation, that also owns Carnival Cruises. I doubt that Carnival Cruises in Australia is a separate corporation in the way that P&O Australia is. I am pretty sure that Carnival Cruises in Aust is totally administered by their head office in USA - I mean Carnival Cruises head office, not Carnival Corporation head office. So many 'Carnivals' gets confusing.

[MicCanberra]

P&O Australia and also P&O UK are owned by the Carnival Corporation, that also owns Carnival Cruises. I doubt that Carnival Cruises in Australia is a separate corporation in the way that P&O Australia is. I am pretty sure that Carnival Cruises in Aust is totally administered by their head office in USA - I mean Carnival Cruises head office, not Carnival Corporation head office. So many 'Carnivals' gets confusing.

Yes, very confusing and now I have that old song in my head, 'when the carnival is over....:rolleyes:

[The_Big_M]

P&O Australia and also P&O UK are owned by the Carnival Corporation, that also owns Carnival Cruises. I doubt that Carnival Cruises in Australia is a separate corporation in the way that P&O Australia is. I am pretty sure that Carnival Cruises in Aust is totally administered by their head office in USA - I mean Carnival Cruises head office, not Carnival Corporation head office. So many 'Carnivals' gets confusing.

 

No, Carnival is local (hence the earlier comment). Carnival Spirit is operated by the local Carnival, not the US one.

 

Carnival locally also operates P&O Aust.

[MicCanberra]

Either way, I don't plan to cruise on Carnival (by any company) anytime soon.:D

[Pushka]

That's a lot of cruises you'll miss out on.

[firstAlaskancruise]

WOW, thanks for listing some of the issues, I had heard some other things about Carnival but put it down to being a cheaper ( 3-4 star) cruise line catering for party crowds and families. I didn't think Carnival would ever tempt me but now it is confirmed.

I am so sorry your South American cruise was ruined, I think you will need another cruise just to recover.:D

 

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience. I'd be interested in knowing the name of the ship... we cruised on the Carnival Triumph in late Jan 2013 (two weeks before the fire broke out and disabled the ship). Our cruise was fine except for the engine problem which prevented us from stopping in Cozumel. We are booked on the Carnival Magic (much newer and larger ship) in two weeks and are looking forward to the cruise... and have booked another on same ship for mid February - both of these cruises were free... only paying port fees, taxes and gratuities, because I spent a little money in the casino on the Triumph! I think Carnival does a great job and they sure made the price right for us!!!

 

I love cruising but think 49 days on one ship would drive everyone batty!!

A week is perfect for us...

[MicCanberra]

That's a lot of cruises you'll miss out on.

I meant just the Carnival cruiselines (by name), not all of the Carnival corporation cruiselines. I like Princess, and would be willing to try some of the others like HAL and P&O again.:D

[orangestreet]

Forgive me if this has been answered before, but is it correct that you can book Royal Caribbean and Celebrity cruises from online travel agents in the United States? They are the two cruise lines I want to use and Aussie travel agents so far in my experience have been less than helpful.

 

What's the best way to find out which online travel agents in the US are any good? I know we can't mention any names but is there a way to find out? For example, can somebody tell me what search string to use in google etc?

 

Thanks heaps everybody.

[SAVTA2]

WOW, thanks for listing some of the issues, I had heard some other things about Carnival but put it down to being a cheaper ( 3-4 star) cruise line catering for party crowds and families. I didn't think Carnival would ever tempt me but now it is confirmed.

I am so sorry your South American cruise was ruined, I think you will need another cruise just to recover.:D

 

Thanks for your sympathy MicCanberra.......Actually it was a beautiful ship "SPLENDOR" but that was the ONLY good thing I have to say about Carnival.

Still has not put us off cruising - there are so many other cruise lines to choose from with Royal Caribbean being my favourite so far!!!:D

[MicCanberra]

Forgive me if this has been answered before, but is it correct that you can book Royal Caribbean and Celebrity cruises from online travel agents in the United States? They are the two cruise lines I want to use and Aussie travel agents so far in my experience have been less than helpful.

 

What's the best way to find out which online travel agents in the US are any good? I know we can't mention any names but is there a way to find out? For example, can somebody tell me what search string to use in google etc?

 

Thanks heaps everybody.

I suggest googling X cruises or RCI cruises and have a look at the ones with just .com (without the .com.au) on the end.

:D

[SAVTA2]

Forgive me if this has been answered before, but is it correct that you can book Royal Caribbean and Celebrity cruises from online travel agents in the United States? They are the two cruise lines I want to use and Aussie travel agents so far in my experience have been less than helpful.

 

What's the best way to find out which online travel agents in the US are any good? I know we can't mention any names but is there a way to find out? For example, can somebody tell me what search string to use in google etc?

 

Thanks heaps everybody.

Yes I know a good online USA Travel Agent!!!! How can I give you the name???

[The_Big_M]

I meant just the Carnival cruiselines (by name), not all of the Carnival corporation cruiselines. I like Princess, and would be willing to try some of the others like HAL and P&O again.:D

 

Bit much to generalise from one experience. There are also many positive experiences with Carnival.

 

Also, some of the issues weren't due to Carnival being bad as such e.g. the cabins already mentioned is standard, the boarding issues are due to the port operators rather than the cruise line and so on.

[MicCanberra]

Thanks for your sympathy MicCanberra.......Actually it was a beautiful ship "SPLENDOR" but that was the ONLY good thing I have to say about Carnival.

Still has not put us off cruising - there are so many other cruise lines to choose from with Royal Caribbean being my favourite so far!!!:D

Yes, plenty of choices with lots of cruises.:D

[orangestreet]

I suggest googling X cruises or RCI cruises and have a look at the ones with just .com (without the .com.au) on the end.

:D

 

Thanks MicCanberra. So am I correct in assuming I can book Celebrity and Royal Caribbean cruises emanating from Australia using US based websites?

 

I am based in our beautiful 'bush' capital too. We should catch up sometime to talk cruises over coffee :)

[MicCanberra]

Thanks MicCanberra. So am I correct in assuming I can book Celebrity and Royal Caribbean cruises emanating from Australia using US based websites?

 

I am based in our beautiful 'bush' capital too. We should catch up sometime to talk cruises over coffee :)

 

Yes, you can but not all of them allow it. Bear in mind that with those sites you pay in USD (not so great anymore) and their prices do not include the taxes and fees that the Aussie sites have too include.

Coffee and cruise talk would be good, I live and work in Tuggeranong.:D

[SAVTA2]

Bit much to generalise from one experience. There are also many positive experiences with Carnival.

 

Also, some of the issues weren't due to Carnival being bad as such e.g. the cabins already mentioned is standard, the boarding issues are due to the port operators rather than the cruise line and so on.

If you were responding to my post - I never mentioned the Cabins!:confused:

 

I am an experienced cruiser and in my view 'first impressions' are a very big factor in deciding whether or not I would choose the company again!!:rolleyes:

What were YOUR positive experiences?

[The_Big_M]

If you were responding to my post - I never mentioned the Cabins!:confused:

 

I am an experienced cruiser and in my view 'first impressions' are a very big factor in deciding whether or not I would choose the company again!!:rolleyes:

What were YOUR positive experiences?

 

I haven't sailed Carnival, but have read many other reviews where people enjoyed their cruises.

 

Just looking at the issues you mentioned I've experienced the same on other cruise lines, including those recommended by Mic, or it's not specific to Carnival. For example:

1 - it's a port issue, not a Carnival issue. Other lines you could also go through the same check-in staff and facilities at that port.

2- Same issue with RCL, P&O, and others.

3- Without saying what the complaint was, being redirected to head office may well be best.

4 - Food's a common complaint of many lines, and there is some variability, as well as subjectivity. Had the 2nd most disappointing cruise meals on Celebrity last time, so there you go.

5 - Entertainment, same issues on Celebrity. In fact, films are only shown on the in-room tv, and repeated for the course of the cruise so sounds worse than you have.

6- dodgy cruise director - again, happens on all lines.

7 - Sounds like a mess-up there.

 

The rest of the points aren't issues at all except

12 - only one gangway isn't great, but could have been caused by other factors.

 

Each person has their own experiences though, so while you didn't enjoy yours, even if I had been on Carnival and had a great one, it wouldn't change yours. Even people on the same cruise have different experiences. I just don't see anything in the list above that proves Carnival is bad in general, or outweigh's other's positive experiences.

[Fletch1]

I am not sure if anybody has mentioned this, but do your home work if booking through a US agent. We were booked on the Celebrity Infinity through a US agent and paying in US$. With our dollar dropping, I saved about $700 cancelling (and getting every cent of my deposit back) and re booking through an Aus agent in AUS$.

 

Funnily enough, the cost in digits was only 100 when re booking (ie. US$3200 compared to AUS$3300).

 

It was very worthwhile booking in the US when our dollar was high, but may not not anymore.

[MicCanberra]

I am not sure if anybody has mentioned this, but do your home work if booking through a US agent. We were booked on the Celebrity Infinity through a US agent and paying in US$. With our dollar dropping, I saved about $700 cancelling (and getting every cent of my deposit back) and re booking through an Aus agent in AUS$.

 

Funnily enough, the cost in digits was only 100 when re booking (ie. US$3200 compared to AUS$3300).

 

It was very worthwhile booking in the US when our dollar was high, but may not not anymore.

 

That is correct, especially when you take their prices and add the taxes and port fees.:D

[icat2000]

At the moment I have a booking through a US agent. I'm still $400 better off at the moment even with the drop in the dollar. I will continue to watch it.