What has changed in the last 5 years?

[islandcroozers]

Hi fellow cruisers....we have just taken a 5-year break from cruising, and we're dying to get back to our favorite type of vacation! We will be sailing in 3 weeks on the Carnival Freedom.

 

So, while we used to feel like experts, we now find ourselves wondering what if anything has changed about the cruise experience in the time we've been away? We have researched the upgrades to the ship, etc, but the little things....

 

For example, the showers. Do they still have the dispensers for shampoo and body soap? Have they added conditioner? Can we still expect a freebie basket in the bathroom? Have there been any changes in the main dining room? Does everybody still tip the maitre D? Have all the other tipping policies stayed the same? Here's a random one....do they still have a night where they sell the glass figurines? (I have a dolphin collection from every ship we've sailed, wondering if I'll be able to add to it?)

 

Also, any other info anybody has will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[mzloolue]

You could let it all be a surprise and then come back and tell us what you think has changed.

[islandcroozers]

You could let it all be a surprise and then come back and tell us what you think has changed.

 

 

LOL...don't worry -- I'm sure there will be a lot of surprises. But there are a few things that I'd like to know ahead of time, including whether I'll need to pack my own conditioner, whether I should start a new collection this time, etc.

 

And I'm a planner, can't help myself! You should see the lists I've got going already!

[funinthesun1964]

They still have body wash and shampoo dispenser in shower, but no conditioner so take your own.

 

Those baskets with goodies are running slim lately on some cruises. If you are lucky, you will get a small tube of toothpaste, maybe some breathe right strips. The round soap is not brand name anymore, it's a generic. Black letters on white plastic, says "SOAP".

 

Caribbean music on Lido deck is gone, to have been replaced by a DJ. DJ also there upon entering into Atrium Lounge. But, live singers and also band are to be found on the ship. Quality of show production has decreased, most ships no longer have the live band, its canned music with the dancers and singers aren't all that talented. It's a little painful to watch sometimes.

 

But, still it is fun cruising. MDR has 3-person wait teams now, I have found that its not as personable since they have more tables, but I still like it. I also like anytime dining if I can request it. You can still request same wait team each night if you go this option.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

[funinthesun1964]

Also - I didn't see glass figurines on the ship, but then again, I wasn't looking for them. I d0 browse through the ships and see what they have, I just don't recall seeing glass figurines. Maybe someone else who collects them would know for sure.

[funinthesun1964]

You don't tip the Maitre'd any more.

The tips are charged by person 11.50 per day, and split among wait staff, your room steward(s), and the behind the scenes kitchen people, etc. So they tell us how much to pay and they said they will split it fairly from there. Fine. Also, that amount has been raised in the past few years and I hear it is once again raising in the near future. So the new rate may be 12.00 or more per person per day, I don't know. You can prepay the tips or else around the 2nd day of your cruise, it will be added to your sign and sail account.

[sandytxtx]

yes they do still have the glass, I collect them too. I also have started getting the globes, a little bit higher, but sure are pretty. now when my family take a cruise without us, they get me a globe. I am older now and it is getting harder to get around and cruise, so I love it when they get me a globe.

:D

[sharona211]

Curious about changes too. My last cruise was a short Western Carib on the Destiny at least 5 years ago. Now planning a family cruise likely on the Valor for April. Been reading CC trying to catch up and a few things are unfamiliar.

 

What is with all the talk about buying spa access? I don't remember paying extra to use the steam or sauna or showers on the Destiny. Is this something new? Is the spa only open to a limited number of extra fee paying guests these days?

 

FTTF? Worth the cost?

 

15 drinks per day?? Really?? Not to be TOO judgey but that is a lot. How many drinks does it take before you break even on this option?

 

Seems like there are now a lot of food/beverage options on board that are NOT included in the cost. One of the things I liked best was not having to say no.

 

Anytime dining sounds like a change for the better.

 

Do the waiters still dance? I know it's corny but I think my DD will love it.

 

No smoking on the balconies? I'd rather they let them smoke there (after all it's outside!) and give me a smoke free casino room! Or did they get the casino too? I'm not one of those former smokers who's forgotten what it's like, but I do prefer to avoid the second hand smoke for health reasons.

 

Has the Caribbean music on the deck been replaced on all the ships? If so that's a shame. That always gets me in a vacation mood!

[lcgvol]

One thing I miss from our first cruise in 2008 is the Midnight Grand Gala buffet. The food sculptures and displays were beautiful but I'm sure there was a lot of waste. The Mexican midnight buffets are nice too, just not the same.

[luv2trvlnow]

Curious about changes too. My last cruise was a short Western Carib on the Destiny at least 5 years ago. Now planning a family cruise likely on the Valor for April. Been reading CC trying to catch up and a few things are unfamiliar.

 

What is with all the talk about buying spa access? I don't remember paying extra to use the steam or sauna or showers on the Destiny. Is this something new? Is the spa only open to a limited number of extra fee paying guests these days?

 

 

Do the waiters still dance? I know it's corny but I think my DD will love it.

 

Has the Caribbean music on the deck been replaced on all the ships? If so that's a shame. That always gets me in a vacation mood!

Paying for spa access is for the ships with the Cloud 9 Spa (Breeze, Dream, Magic, Splendor, & Sunshine I believe). The regular steam, sauna, and showers are no charge.

The waiters still dance, just not every night.

Sorry, the Caribbean music on deck had been replaced on all the ships with a DJ.

Sharon

[pamrose228]

Prior to my cruise in January, the last time we cruised before was Summer 2008. The one thing gone was the midnight or late night buffet with the flower veggie and fruits and ice carvings.

[jonbgd]

Curious about changes too. My last cruise was a short Western Carib on the Destiny at least 5 years ago. !

 

Wow that ship isnt even with Carnival anymore:eek:

[sharona211]

Wow that ship isnt even with Carnival anymore:eek:

 

It's the Sunshine now yes? I loved the 2 cruises I took on her. The first was a 7 day when she was really new. Our first balcony since it was suddenly so affordable. Very romantic. The last was a girls getaway to KW and Coz that was a total blast!

[luv2trvlnow]

Wow that ship isnt even with Carnival anymore:eek:

Oh, but it's still with Carnival!!! Just was renamed the Carnival Sunshine after being redone.

Sharon

[islandcroozers]

They still have body wash and shampoo dispenser in shower, but no conditioner so take your own.

 

Those baskets with goodies are running slim lately on some cruises. If you are lucky, you will get a small tube of toothpaste, maybe some breathe right strips. The round soap is not brand name anymore, it's a generic. Black letters on white plastic, says "SOAP".

 

Caribbean music on Lido deck is gone, to have been replaced by a DJ. DJ also there upon entering into Atrium Lounge. But, live singers and also band are to be found on the ship. Quality of show production has decreased, most ships no longer have the live band, its canned music with the dancers and singers aren't all that talented. It's a little painful to watch sometimes.

 

But, still it is fun cruising. MDR has 3-person wait teams now, I have found that its not as personable since they have more tables, but I still like it. I also like anytime dining if I can request it. You can still request same wait team each night if you go this option.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

 

 

Thanks for all the tips!:)

[islandcroozers]

yes they do still have the glass, I collect them too. I also have started getting the globes, a little bit higher, but sure are pretty. now when my family take a cruise without us, they get me a globe. I am older now and it is getting harder to get around and cruise, so I love it when they get me a globe.

:D

 

Awesome! Thank you!:D

[andy.capitan]

Hi fellow cruisers....we have just taken a 5-year break from cruising, and we're dying to get back to our favorite type of vacation! We will be sailing in 3 weeks on the Carnival Freedom.

 

So, while we used to feel like experts, we now find ourselves wondering what if anything has changed about the cruise experience in the time we've been away? We have researched the upgrades to the ship, etc, but the little things....

 

For example, the showers. Do they still have the dispensers for shampoo and body soap? Have they added conditioner? Can we still expect a freebie basket in the bathroom? Have there been any changes in the main dining room? Does everybody still tip the maitre D? Have all the other tipping policies stayed the same? Here's a random one....do they still have a night where they sell the glass figurines? (I have a dolphin collection from every ship we've sailed, wondering if I'll be able to add to it?)

 

Also, any other info anybody has will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

Freedom has Fish and Chips, which you may have discovered on Valor.

 

Added Guy's Burger Joint (phenomenal) and Blue Iguana Cantina (ditto and both complementary). Blue Iguana has a breakfast option.

[snedecor]

Regular steak is gone from the MDR menu, replaced by "flat iron" steak.

 

Fruit punch is gone. (Long live fruit punch)

 

Midnight buffet is mostly gone, there are a few still left.

 

Anytime shrimp cocktail was "almost" gone (was gone but was reinstated on the hue and cry from loyal fans!)

 

"Make at your table" salads are gone, though that may have been before 5 years ago...

 

Leisurely wait staff who have time to chat with you are gone; team waiters are now in force, and most are stretched to the max with no extra time.

 

Free access to bacon at the breakfast buffet is gone, replaced by "bacon police" (friendly servers who will give you 2 pieces, and give you 1 more if you ask again, and give you 1 more if you ask again, etc.)

 

Trays in the buffet are gone, replaced by one huge oval plate. Good luck trying to get a salad bowl, a desert bowl or plate, a drink, sweetner, silverware, straw , napkins, food, etc. on that oval plate,( ESPECIALLY if you are getting for two)

 

All the 2.0 stuff is NEW. Guys Burgers is FANTASTIC. Burrito stuff is not as great, certainly not real Mexican or Tex-Mex. Waterworks is lots of fun on some ships. Serenity decks are a welcome relief for adults. Spa deck cabins are new from 5 yrs ago, I believe...

 

More and more, the traditional "Vegas-style" shows with large movable sets, show bands, 10 or more dancers, lots of costume changes, and typically 2 marquee singers is going away, replaced by a much more subdued, smaller production in front of a video wall, no or smaller band, smaller amount of dancers, but more of them actually sing and dance. Cheaper, easier to produce, send one Powerpoint presentation which has the video and audio out to multiple ships, and you're done. Sad, when directly compared, but OK if you've never seen one of the older ones to compare it to.

 

More and more, Carnival is moving toward "let the customer be the entertainment" with things like "newlywed show", Hasbro game show, "Legends" (Karaoke gone wild). Certainly a lot cheaper than bringing in real talent..., but I miss the real magicians, jugglers, guitar players, singers, etc.

 

 

Those are some off the top of my head...

[dav3]

Wow do I miss those midnight buffets...

 

I also really enjoyed the production shows with live music, now it seems the music is recorded for the shows.

 

On my last sailing on the Ecstasy, I remember the dessert being served to you by a staff member rather than self-serve... I'm sure you could ask for several pieces but I was always too embarrassed to do so. I have a huge sweet tooth so this stood out.

 

Overall, still a great experience though.

[cruzinlisa]

Curious about changes too. My last cruise was a short Western Carib on the Destiny at least 5 years ago. Now planning a family cruise likely on the Valor for April. Been reading CC trying to catch up and a few things are unfamiliar.

 

What is with all the talk about buying spa access? I don't remember paying extra to use the steam or sauna or showers on the Destiny. Is this something new? Is the spa only open to a limited number of extra fee paying guests these days?

 

FTTF? Worth the cost?

 

15 drinks per day?? Really?? Not to be TOO judgey but that is a lot. How many drinks does it take before you break even on this option?

 

Seems like there are now a lot of food/beverage options on board that are NOT included in the cost. One of the things I liked best was not having to say no.

 

Anytime dining sounds like a change for the better.

 

Do the waiters still dance? I know it's corny but I think my DD will love it.

 

No smoking on the balconies? I'd rather they let them smoke there (after all it's outside!) and give me a smoke free casino room! Or did they get the casino too? I'm not one of those former smokers who's forgotten what it's like, but I do prefer to avoid the second hand smoke for health reasons.

 

Has the Caribbean music on the deck been replaced on all the ships? If so that's a shame. That always gets me in a vacation mood!

 

I will try to answer some of your questions

 

Spa- I think they are talking about Cloud 9 spa which is on certain ships. As far as spa services like massages, those are of course extra cost.

 

FTTF- $49.99. Gets you priority boarding, tenders, debarkation, special line at guest services, immediate access to your room. For me its worth it because I travel with a 3 year old and a lot of stuff so I like early access to the room. And we drive from port but are not good candidates for self debarkation (because of the 3 year old), so early debarkation is good too so we can get on the road.

 

Can't comment on the "cheers" too much because I don't plan to get it. Drinks can add up if you think about it though, if you have a couple of frozen cocktails by the pool, a couple of drinks at dinner and stay up late. Personally I could not drink that much even if I were not dieting (which I am now), but my DH probably could come close.

 

Extra cost Food/bev options. Some ships (Dream, Magic, Breeze) I would say maybe, but for most ships, including Valor, I don't really think so. They have a steakhouse that costs extra, but you don't have to go. They have cakes and treats for sale which look amazing, but there is plenty of that on board. Drinks, including alcohol, soda and coffee are extra, but that is not really new.

 

ATD. I have a love hate relationship with it. I love the convenience, but IMO service is not as good as before. Most of the time its decent (like your standard trip to a chain restaurant at home), but nothing that knocks your socks off. Sometimes its less. But never so bad that I had to complain or take tips off.

 

Dancing waiters- Yep. But if you have ATD, you have to time it so you are still there. THey base "show time" on the fixed dining times. I believe it is around when they have dessert.

 

Smoking- still allowed in casino, but only part of it I believe. I have my opinions but will keep them to myself.

 

Music- I really have not noticed either way. They do play music on lido, but I just kind of tune it out. I know its there, but don't really pay attention to what kind. I never had a problem getting into party mode, just being the ship does that for me.

 

Have a great time.

[cruzinlisa]

Wow that ship isnt even with Carnival anymore:eek:

 

Well technically... :cool:

[islandcroozers]

Wow, some of the changes do not sound like they are for the better, but then I guess some good things are bound to get lost along the way.

 

I'm especially disappointed in what I've heard about the nightly stage shows, one of the highlights for me. The one night I did not enjoy was the night when certain passengers who had been picked early in the week went on stage to perform the legends concert. Same old thing every time -- boring unless you have someone in your party participating. Sounds like they didn't get rid of that one though! :mad:

 

All in all I'm still pretty stoked about my upcoming cruise though. Please don't tell me those fabulous comforters have been replaced on the beds! And are robes and beach towels still provided?

[kcruzgrl]

FTTF, we have done it twice and really enjoyed it. Boarding early is important to us, and we do not have status with Carnival, so this was our way to get on as early as we could. Both times our room was ready with bags in it the minute we got on. This is a nice feature, however I hear it doesn't always work this way. It is nice to avoid the line at the front desk and just walk up without a wait. And we like to be in control of when we get off the ship. For us it has been worth it.

[dav3]

All in all I'm still pretty stoked about my upcoming cruise though. Please don't tell me those fabulous comforters have been replaced on the beds! And are robes and beach towels still provided?

 

I remember on my sailing on the Ecstasy thinking how comfortable those beds were! No complaint here about the beds. And they do provide beach towels and robes in the cabin.

[sailor_jimc]

Yes.. things continue to change. Some are good some are bad. Comparing cruising now to cruising 25 years ago.. yes it is very different. But I think that can be said for every cruise line.

 

I don't like the new shows. And I agree with the comment about more "guest talent" being in the shows. I don't like it.

 

I LOVE guys burgers and the burrito bar and the new pizza...

 

So yes, they are changing things, but they have to change to keep current (and to save money). Hopefully they will figure out that the new shows are not entertaining enough before it is too late. But, they have been in business a long time, you have to assume they will keep making changes for the better while gettign rid of the bad changes...they have been doing so for a long time.