What Would You Do If You Were Carnival CEO?

[Big_G]

I would get their scheduling in order. I've never seen a line cancel so many cruises because of drydock and I've never seen so many people complain about future schedules being held back.

[FlyingCruiserNJ]

If I was CEO I would put back some of what was taken away....

 

Steel drum band back on lido

 

New ports--less dependency on Bahamas and Mexico

 

Purchase a private Island for Carnival ships to use and develop it so two ships can visit at the same time

 

Production shows--the new Playlist is OK, but the old shows weren't bad...have ONE production show, one variety show, a passenger talent show, and three nights of comedy in the big lounge.......

 

Turn the night club into the a Red Frog Pub on each and every ship and have a band playing in the pub.

 

Get rid of the art auctions

 

Lido food--every ship must have a Cuchina del Capitano, Guy Burger, and Blue Iguana Cantina.....

 

Bingo--limit the bingo's and have more fun games/activities in the big lounge. Bring back The Quest for the late night adult fun...

 

Pricing of the cruise will have to be raised slightly, but it would be worth it to have some of the old fun back...

 

Naturally, head office big wigs would need to have twice annual trips on various ships to see what is going right and what is wrong....Send in "secret shoppers" on each ship each quarter to evaluate the ship and crew...

 

There is probably more, but I can't remember it now...working all day hurts my brain..

 

Yes, the steel drum bands on lido liven up the experience quite a bit. Something is missing with just a dj on stage these days. And honestly, how much does a band like that cost Carnival? It can't be that much. Bring them back.

 

Yes, they rely way too much on Mexico and the near Caribbean. I think I heard that 14 or so ships will be based in Florida alone next year. Carnival obviously bases their business model on short sailings to near destinations, multiple times per week per ship so they sort of have to do that. Also, many pax traveling Carnival want long weekend getaways and not long, exotic faraway voyages. Also, I am not sure about this but I think they burn way less fuel sailing to those close-in ports than going on longer trips. They sail significantly slower going to the Bahamas, etc and that is probably a lot cheaper for them. This model will not change anytime soon.

 

I'm actually not a huge fan of the private islands as I would rather see places with stuff to explore and whatnot.

 

The stage shows will continue to be the same old, same old. They keep the same shows forever because it costs too much to change them out all the time, and the music that they lack won't be coming back anytime soon either. They are not bad but I have seen (and been part of a long time ago) high school productions that were better. The hasbro/love and marriage show, etc and cute and funny but they should not replace professionally created and performed productions. But then again, when I do go to a stage production, the place is rarely packed. So again they think they are just playing to their audience so to speak. Comedy is one thing they do right and should not change much.

 

I am not a major club person as I'm not the greatest dancer and I actually like to sit down and talk to and hear people without having to shout over the speakers. But yeah, when they have the late deck parties, attendance is great. People of all ages participate. Lots of drinks get sold, etc. Rebranding the clubs might not be a bad idea. Also, the music that gets played outside the club and casino would go over very well in a combined type venue.

 

I have never gone to an art auction, and never plan to. But they make money from them so they are not leaving.

 

I love Guy's burgers and the cantina as much as anybody but I disagree here. Mongolian wok and rotisserie bar is very good on the smaller ships. Perhaps if they put all of them on all ships that would be a happy compromise :) But then they might go the rccl route and begin to charge for their use. I would surely improve the main buffet offerings and times. They have gotten steadily worse. I know people who only go there at non-dinner times for their food and I know they have complained about the declining quality and availability.

 

Bingo-see Art Gallery. Going nowhere anytime soon. Plenty of people like it too although I am not one of them.

 

Yeah, I would make many of the same adjustments that you are suggesting. I WOULD NOT HAVE DONE WHAT THEY ARE DOING WITH THE MDR EXPERIENCE. Can I be more clear on that? They WILL lose business from that decision. Hopefully they change their minds there. It is too important a part of the cruising experience for too many to just cheapen to the point of being unenjoyable.

 

Now, they wouldn't even really have to raise fares that much but they would probably if they re-introduced some of the things they have taken away. Also, bringing back amenities bit by bit is good for corporate image if they can make it out like they are listening to the will of the people in doing so.

[FlyingCruiserNJ]

To name a few...

 

Add the Steel drum band back to lido deck

 

I would study the MDR usage. Create a MDR opt out option and if you want to eat in the MDR you must use any time dinning and be charge a fee.

 

Use the past guests as part of the quality control review process. After completing an evaluation the guest would receive a discount on their next cruise.

 

Reduce the number of tables for wait staff

 

Improve communication

 

Improve the VIFP program

 

Change the ports

 

Add no fee drink in the staterooms (non alcoholic)

 

The MDR opt out thing might not be a bad idea at all. The dining rooms are not full anymore and maybe if they had a better idea of how many people they would have each night, they would not have to cook and waste as much food as they do now.

 

Offering incentives for giving feedback is not a bad idea either but I doubt they would do that because while most people will take the surveys seriously, others will not and they don't want to lose future revenue because of something that might not be completely reliable for them. I already get good discounts through being a past cruiser and thru a few other avenues.

 

In general, communication pre-cruise is usually pretty good. I can also talk to customer service or a pvp if I need something concerning a cruise in the future. Onboard is a different story. Often times, guest services isn't the best and could use some serious adjustments.

 

They absolutely have to reduce the workload on the mdr staff though. They are simply stretched too thin to actually interact with the passengers like they used to be able to. Adding a few waiters won't break the bank. People notice cutbacks like that and when the company does them, it makes them look cheap. Period.

 

I cannot complain too much about the vifp program as they were generous enough to allow people who were close to platinum before the changes to achieve the status by the end of this year. And guess what, sales did actually go up as well. I do not have a problem with them offering FTTF, but platinum cruisers should then receive more added perks. A free drink and strawberries/a nice backpack as a gift, etc are good but are things like that enough to differentiate the platinums from the fttf?

 

Also, they will not waver any more with the drinks. They make too much money from selling $5 bottles of water and $2 cans of coke to people in the staterooms. They already allow people to bring on soda and wine and I doubt they will allow any more stuff to be free than already is.

 

Good ideas and food for thought though. This is an interesting thread.

[FlyingCruiserNJ]

Lost in all of this is the fact that I don't think they can raise fares. The ships are generally not sailing full except for times like peak periods. They have to slash fares to get people on the boats. Yes, I believe they are losing some business due to their cutbacks but I think they might be scared that if they raise fares too much, they lose their main edge and will have even less customers. It is a fine line and one they seem to be having trouble finding right now IMO.

 

Sure, the free stuff offered onboard is just an appetizer to make more money off other things but if you don't actually have any passengers, they won't be spending any money on your ships at all.

[Keel Haul]

I would cancel the Duck Dysentery Cruise because the itinery should be moved to the Baltic.

[John Reid]

What "you people" don't understand about modern day cruising is it's not about cruising. It's about ancillary revenues from gambling, alcohol, gift shops, excursions and those terribly annoying photographers. It's like Las Vegas where they draw people with entertainment, cheap buffets and low price hotel rooms so they can get gamblers.

 

Actually, that is the Las Vegas of at least 14 years past. Cheap buffets are gone; cheap rooms are tougher to find - and only on weekdays. The Las Vegas model now is a different world. It is fashionable restaurants with named chefs, bottle service clubs, top-of-the-line shows, major entertainment events, designer shops - all quite expensive. In 2012 the Nevada state Gaming Control Board indicated that 62 percent of the revenues at Strip casinos came from rooms, entertainment, food, drinks, and retail sales. 1999 was the last year that gambling revenues were higher than the other sources. Top entertainment, dining, and clubbing/drinking are their focus now.

[Pennstateman]

Figure out a way to attract the rccl crowd who currently disdains carnival and their high pressure drunken party ship reputation. Note the word REPUTATION, not necessarily my opinion

[JMAE]

Lost in all of this is the fact that I don't think they can raise fares. The ships are generally not sailing full except for times like peak periods. They have to slash fares to get people on the boats. Yes, I believe they are losing some business due to their cutbacks but I think they might be scared that if they raise fares too much, they lose their main edge and will have even less customers. It is a fine line and one they seem to be having trouble finding right now IMO.

 

Sure, the free stuff offered onboard is just an appetizer to make more money off other things but if you don't actually have any passengers, they won't be spending any money on your ships at all.

 

Folks talk about Carnival is moving the ships from NY and Baltimore because the cruises are at a low cost, I disagree. I agree with you, the cost is cheap across the whole cruise line. They have cruises from Florida cheaper than Baltimore and NY. The only savings they may achieve by moving the ships from NY and Baltimore to Florida if they reduce the miles traveled. The other problem they will have to deal with after the move is the increase in rooms in Florida, because when volume goes up price goes down. To me it appears they are kicking the can down the street until they hit the next bump. We need a dynamic thinker running the company.

[EZ4]

Figure out a way to attract the rccl crowd who currently disdains carnival and their high pressure drunken party ship reputation. Note the word REPUTATION, not necessarily my opinion

 

I doubt that the RCI crowd is wowed by Carnival in any way, shape or form. Carnival has allowed themselves to fall behind the curve. They have lost their way and are just thrashing about.

[SamGoodyTwoShoes]

I would bring back plank walking and hand Carnivalphobics a map.

[2 cruzen]

What "you people" don't understand about modern day cruising is it's not about cruising. It's about ancillary revenues from gambling, alcohol, gift shops, excursions and those terribly annoying photographers. It's like Las Vegas where they draw people with entertainment, cheap buffets and low price hotel rooms so they can get gamblers.

 

Why did you ask an open question to "us people" if you didn't want to hear any responses. Seems you have your idea and all other responses are wrong.

[PrincessVIP]

How about picking us up from home in a lemo for starters?

[golfb4cruzing]

Sell, sell, sell. Surprised no one suggested this yet.:eek:

[FlyingCruiserNJ]

Folks talk about Carnival is moving the ships from NY and Baltimore because the cruises are at a low cost, I disagree. I agree with you, the cost is cheap across the whole cruise line. They have cruises from Florida cheaper than Baltimore and NY. The only savings they may achieve by moving the ships from NY and Baltimore to Florida if they reduce the miles traveled. The other problem they will have to deal with after the move is the increase in rooms in Florida, because when volume goes up price goes down. To me it appears they are kicking the can down the street until they hit the next bump. We need a dynamic thinker running the company.

 

On too much of the fleet, the product has become stale, boring and predictable. I give them credit for trying to refresh things like the mdr, but they are going about it totally wrong. Instead of improving it, they are just making it cheap. People in general are not stupid. They know what is going on.

 

I think the lousy yields they are getting in the northeast combined with the crazy epa regulations is driving them out. I cruised the glory from Boston in June and the 5-day fares to Canada were a steal. I saw special rates posted from NYC on the splendor for like $250 on an 8 day voyage a couple weeks ago. At those prices, who cares if the ship sails full? Those low fares are unsustainable. Guess what? Both ships will be gone next year. No coincidence. I also believe they need some new ideas and insight among the decision makers.

 

They are literally losing money on boarded pax unless they can pry hundreds of dollars of ancillary revenue from many of them. That has to change. Im not completely sure what they should do but they really need to work on things.

[Florissouri]

I would bring back plank walking and hand Carnivalphobics a map.

 

Would you make Arnie Donnie walk the plank?

 

If you were CEO would you live in St Louis?

[djhsolara]

1. Really get out there and publicize the changes that have happened post-Triumph. So many potential cruisers have an "anyone but Carnival" mentality because of the sound bites they have heard on the news a year ago. Carnival has invested in hundreds of millions in new equipment and has a new CEO, so they should use that to devise a very clever PR strategy to address the lingering aftertaste of the media circus from last year.

 

 

 

2. This is more of a Carnival CORPORATION issue than a Carnival CRUISE LINES issue but: create an "alliance" of loyalty programs between Carnival Corporation brands so they all become one big program. Airlines do this (you can use your United miles to fly Lufthansa to Germany since they're in the same alliance). Hotels do this (same corporate parent, same loyalty program for Hilton vs. Hampton Inn). Over a lifetime of cruising even your best passengers will want to try different cruise experiences, and making VIFP work on Princess will nudge that VIFP member towards Princess rather than Celebrity in the future.

 

 

 

3. Institute a program where over the next few years, with each ship's next drydocking, every Carnival ship gets the new post-Farcus decor.

 

 

 

4. Greater variety in ports. New York-to-further-south-than-Grand-Turk closed loop itineraries. Better balance in HMC calls (more of them) vs. Freeport/Nassau calls (a few less of them). Perhaps do what RCCL did with Labadee in addition to CocoCay and acquire a second exclusive beach location (get to keep more shoreside revenue that way!).

 

 

 

Regarding #2 - TOTALLY AGREE!! Why shouldn't I be rewarded in the same program for sailing on any Carnival Corporation ship? Ridiculous that my loyalty doesn't count among their cruise lines.

 

Regarding #4 - Even though it is all owned by Carnival Corporation, Half Moon Cay is Holland America's private island, not Carnival Cruise Lines. Grand Turk's cruise terminal area, however, was completely developed by Carnival Corporation which makes it a "quasi-private-island" experience.

 

 

Sent from my iPad

[cccer]

Actually, that is the Las Vegas of at least 14 years past. Cheap buffets are gone; cheap rooms are tougher to find - and only on weekdays. The Las Vegas model now is a different world. It is fashionable restaurants with named chefs, bottle service clubs, top-of-the-line shows, major entertainment events, designer shops - all quite expensive. In 2012 the Nevada state Gaming Control Board indicated that 62 percent of the revenues at Strip casinos came from rooms, entertainment, food, drinks, and retail sales. 1999 was the last year that gambling revenues were higher than the other sources. Top entertainment, dining, and clubbing/drinking are their focus now.

 

Excellent point, I have not seen a cheap buffet in Vegas in quite some time. Still lots of fun though.

[kona_wahine]

As CEO, I would really like the idea of mystery cruisers. A true taste of what cruising is like for normal people. That would be a great job!!

 

Of course, a company is looking at the bottom dollar to make sure the company is profitable. I'd be hands on myself. I'd rather see raising the rate $50 instead of cutbacks. Too many cutbacks makes unhappy customers.

[heatherbelle]

Send the board on a Disney cruise to show them how to do it right.

 

Send the chefs on a cooking course to learn how to prepare a decent buffet and scrumptious desserts.

 

Get rid of some of the annoying cruise directors who act like they have come straight out of a 1950's Butlins holiday camp. (Americans might need to google Butlins).

 

Revamp the entire entertainments programme to what the passengers want. (We did enjoy what we saw though).

 

Get rid of those annoying photographers on the gang planks.

 

Give the staff a proper wage and set the industry standard.

[Pennstateman]

Embrace who you are...market yourself to obnoxious over-drinkers You will never get to the next level, or attract more civilized passengers, so go after your market. Oh, and keep making those public announcements selling everything under the sun every 12 seconds

Edited December 25, 2013 by Pennstateman

[thinfool]

I would hire teams of cruise "mystery shoppers" and have each ship in the fleet "shopped" once a month, more if needed, to evaluate the Carnival product from the perspective of the guest to ensure product quality fleet-wide.

 

Are you sure that this isn't happening? Or some form of it. Princess absolutely does it as they called my wife to do it when we sailed to Alaska.

 

Purchase a private Island for Carnival ships to use and develop it so two ships can visit at the same time

How many would you develop? CarnivalCorp already has exclusive use either by contract or ownership of Grand Turk, Mahogany Bay, Princess Cay, Half Moon Cay and their dock at Cozumel. All can dock at least two ships. There are more, I think.

 

 

Naturally, head office big wigs would need to have twice annual trips on various ships to see what is going right and what is wrong

This is already an ongoing program. Tho it happens more than twice a year.

And, regardless of your opinion of John Heald, responses to his questions on FB are making a difference. (tho many things move very slowly)

 

Change the ports

This would be very welcome to past, experienced cruisers...but would likely require a new mindset and revision of Carnival's "target" demographic.

 

create an "alliance" of loyalty programs between Carnival Corporation brands so they all become one big program

While this is very appealing to frequent cruisers, many sailings already cannot deliver all of the perks to platinum, diamond, elite passengers by the simple fact that there are too many on a given sailing. This has been brought up to the 'powers' at CCL and the answer is always 'no'.....not even a 'maybe'.

 

Institute a program where over the next few years, with each ship's next drydocking, every Carnival ship gets the new post-Farcus decor

YES!!! If anything shows constipated thinking on the part of Carnival Cruise Lines, this is it.

suspending retirement benefits for crew members

 

I still don't have an accurate account of this...all I read was from an 'ambulance chaser'.

 

Give the staff a proper wage and set the industry standard

Good idea, very thorny subject....and not gonna happen any time soon. :)

 

Finally, Carnival has embarked on a safety upgrade program that is costing them upwards of $300 million. This is a big hit. Some passenger improvements may have been deferred until this expense has passed.

[MikeM]

Get rid of sharing meals in the MDR.

Serve meals hot in the MDR.

[hattack]

I would draft the Miami Heat & Dolphin Cheerleaders to be in the Carnival Cruise terminal on embarkation day to take pics with the guests before boarding

[DirtyDawg]

I would draft the Miami Heat & Dolphin Cheerleaders to be in the Carnival Cruise terminal on embarkation day to take pics with the guests before boarding

 

Now we're talking!:D

[MrBanana1240]

• I would have a ship run Glory's old route, with Canada in the summer and Norfolk between and then Miami but with more exotic itineraries.
  
• I would bring back Tortola, Dominica and St. Maarten as ports and use them more.
  
• I wouldn't have the sip call at Nassau too much. Ships would never leave Baltimore, Boston or New York.
  
• I would bring back that Southern Caribbean itinerary to Limon and Panama.
  
• I would stop sending the Spirit-class to Australia, as they could just redo the Fantasy when she retires.
  
• I would bring longer cruises to the southern Caribbean
  
• I would bring back Bermuda as a regular
  
• I would send a ship out to Europe.
  

Thank you for letting me rant (: