My cutback's on Carnival

[Crusin Hogs]

With all the cutbacks Carnival is doing , What are you cutting back on with Carnival ?

 

After 9 cruises ,last 3 were The Dream , The Magic ,and The Breeze , We are cutting back on cruises , We would consider any of the last 3 ships we sailed on ,but nothing older Than The Dream , We will do the Vista .

We no longer buy any pictures on board either

[put me on a ship]

We've been cutting back how much we cruise with Carnival. Other lines can be comparable price wise, and offer so much more!

[Podna's]

We've been cutting back how much we cruise with Carnival. Other lines can be comparable price wise, and offer so much more!

 

 

Just the opposite for me. Cut out other lines all together. Tried them, but Carnival offers me everything I'm looking for. Op I did cut back on Carnivals excursions. I feel I get more bang for my buck on my own.

[SMSACE6]

I really have no issues with Carnival cruises at this time. My most recent cruise was last November on the Freedom and loved it!

 

One thing I did cut back on though was time in the casino. I just found the smoke too much to take. I did go in for a while, but on previous cruises, I would spend 3 hours or more in there after dinner, but this recent time, I found that after an hour, my eyes were sore, and I just could no longer take the smoky atmosphere. The slots were tight too....so probably a combination of those things.

 

I spent about half of my gambling budget that cruise, just because of the smoke in the casino, but the upside of all of this is that I discovered so many other wonderful ways to spend my evenings on board. Movies on the deck, comedy shows, and yes even playlist production. All were enjoyable for me.

[Tapi]

After 9 cruises ,last 3 were The Dream , The Magic ,and The Breeze , We are cutting back on cruises , We would consider any of the last 3 ships we sailed on ,but nothing older Than The Dream

 

 

9 Carnival cruises in a row is what it took for us to venture out and try other cruise lines. While there was nothing really wrong with Carnival, everything was just feeling stale and repetitive. We wanted something more out of our cruise vacations.

 

And it has been one of the best decisions I've made since I started cruising. New cruise lines, new ships, new experiences, new entertainment, new cuisine, new itineraries, etc. We went from Carnival to Royal Caribbean back to Carnival to Holland America back to Royal Caribbean to Princess, and now planning on Disney. Every time we set foot on a ship we've never sailed on before, we get that awesome "first time cruiser" feeling all over again. [emoji41]

Edited February 24, 2015 by Tapi

[Acosmo]

We cutback on Carnival for a while but are going again at the end of April. We cut back on pictures, no excursions purchased from the ship, order bottles to the room and cut back on purchased drinks from the bar.

 

We don't pay for massages or other spa treatments, and try to pay our Sail and Sign down or off throughout the cruise. We don't buy things in the ship stores.

 

On the other hand, we splurge on nice bottles of wine, dinners in the steakhouse, and tip great service with cash.

 

All cruises are good, most are great, on any cruise line.

[Warm Breezes]

No cutbacks. We have one Carnival Cruise booked in April and are choosing between Carnival Dream and NCL Dawn in December. NCL has better itinerary, CCL has newer updated ship. Price is equal for connecting OV and Porthole room on Dream for 5 vs inside across from balcony on NCL for 5 on Dawn including OBC (smaller rooms). We are leaning towards Carnival again.

 

I'm sure we will be doing NCL again in the next couple of years since we have a future cruise credit....but when the choice comes down to an older NCL vs a newer CCL at the same price....looks like CCL will win this time. I base my decision based on what the ships are currently offering me for the vacation I am currently looking at....what they may have had in the past doesn't even come into that decision and my spending on board will be based on what I want at that time....again what they had in the past has no bearing on what I will spend in the future.

[cccer]

No real cutbacks but we are getting a little tired of Carnival. Nothing wrong with Carnival but it is getting to be the same thing over and over. Looking to do Europe next year and will probably not go on Vista, but then again if it's a real good deal we might.

[idlenote]

Since we quit being gainfully employed we find we are taking a lot of longer cruises with Carnival and the atmosphere on these ships are very different from the week and shorter cruises. Better entertainment, more variety of food (a lot of dishes you normally don't see), and most definitely not the booze cruise rowdy passengers you normally see. Excursions also are much better, whether through the ship or not. Don't see many chairhogs but on the other hand it can be hard finding a table at lunchtime in the lido for all the card players.

 

Of our next 6 cruises the shortest one is 10 days, but one of these is on the Celebrity Equinox and I am afraid that this may be the beginning of the end. If it turns out to be so much more upscale than what we have seen of late I am afraid that DW may put her foot down. We do remember to back when we first started cruising and know what has been taken away.

 

Just one particular example is the Your Time Dining which just gets worse and worse all the time. 20-30 minute wait to get in, then another 20-30 minute wait for someone to bring you bread and water and then the waiting just goes on and on. Last three cruises, 19 days and no more than 6 times in the MDR, on one cruise I think it was only once. Waitstaff are overworked and tired. I don't mind serving myself on the Lido but that wasn't what I paid for.

Edited February 24, 2015 by idlenote
spelling

[Boozebabe]

The amount of shoes and purses I take. DH will probably do back-flips when he finds out.

[rlkubi]

We still love Carnival! Yes they are doing cutbacks but every business has been having cutbacks due to the economy. I'm still perfectly happy with my vacation on Carnival. Had an awesome time on the Freedom repositioning cruise recently!

[PA Dutchman]

A little cut back, 4 last year and 0 this year with Carnival. Time to look around after 37 cruises with Carnival and 46 over all , they don't care so its time for me not to care. There are other things to do.

[theriac]

I don't know if it's cutting back but I've just been spending less onboard. I think that's just from cruising so much I don't need to do everything onboard anymore. I love Carnival and will always defend/inform people of my opinion when I get that look of "oh, you sail carnival." I've never been one to purchase excursions from the cruiseline, however, I will be this June in Tracy Arm Fjord because I can only book that through Carnival. I'm also getting kind of tired of the Caribbean so I'm looking to venture to new lines. All the ports feel the same now which isn't Carnivals fault I just need some time(haha that sounds like me breaking up with a girlfriend in highschool). If I hadn't gotten my recent Pack and Play offer I wouldn't have booked my upcoming cruises and would have been looking at Princess or HAL for Alaska but I couldn't pass up a free cabin. I am happy Carnival will be in Europe next summer and want to sail Vista, but just like Alaska I'm not sure if Carnival is the right fit for Europe instead of a line that is always there instead of just when it only fits there needs because the ship just happens to be there.

[In2why]

Excellent question

 

I no longer buy any pictures, take any Carnival sponsored excursions or buy overpriced crap on board. We never did spa services since they are overpriced compared to at home.

 

I have never reduced tips but if service is as hit and miss as has been reported lately I am going to do so. I am almost wondering if poor service isn't in part brought on by automatic tipping. If you read my other posts and reviews I have always tipped automatically and added to them when we get extras but the service on the ship's are definitely going downhill.

 

I still pay to play in the casino but I never expect to win. I am paying for fun.

 

I love the sea and as long as I have breezes and a good book I can have a great time on board. I also love the matters and bedding and sleep like a baby. If they cut back on the beds I wouldn't cruise. Funny where our breaking points are at.

[ETinCA]

No more art auctions, a picture here and there, less pre purchases, less shirts. Just enjoying the ride and a lower bill at the end.

[pgharea]

I really don't have loyalty to any particular company, I judge the cruise on the ship, ports, and what price point I'll be at. In the last several years I've notice all cruise lines are cutting back but I still think I get a good bang for my vacation buck on cruises.

 

 

• Sent from my screen to yours.

[MCFTJCH2V]

With all the cutbacks Carnival is doing , What are you cutting back on with Carnival ?

 

After 9 cruises ,last 3 were The Dream , The Magic ,and The Breeze , We are cutting back on cruises , We would consider any of the last 3 ships we sailed on ,but nothing older Than The Dream , We will do the Vista .

We no longer buy any pictures on board either

 

We used to buy up to better accommodations, but with all the severe cutbacks, we simply buy up to a better line now.

[legion3]

9 Carnival cruises in a row is what it took for us to venture out and try other cruise lines. While there was nothing really wrong with Carnival, everything was just feeling stale and repetitive. We wanted something more out of our cruise vacations.

 

And it has been one of the best decisions I've made since I started cruising. New cruise lines, new ships, new experiences, new entertainment, new cuisine, new itineraries, etc. We went from Carnival to Royal Caribbean back to Carnival to Holland America back to Royal Caribbean to Princess, and now planning on Disney. Every time we set foot on a ship we've never sailed on before, we get that awesome "first time cruiser" feeling all over again. [emoji41]

 

Again I wish we could do this, Disney is just to much $$$ and we are restricted as to which weeks we can book, thus the other lines are always more costly. And finally as we have talked before we are a family of 4 with little ones, thus kids facilities and programs are important. While NCL was good, Carnival is just as good. And the food on NCL didn't seem as good as CCL. Royal might be an option next year but the cost is always more, always!

I can do a Spa Balcony on Breeze for the same price as an OV on Royal the same week...:cool:

 

So for the time being CCL is the choice.

[foundmyMcGyver]

We still love Carnival! Yes they are doing cutbacks but every business has been having cutbacks due to the economy. I'm still perfectly happy with my vacation on Carnival. Had an awesome time on the Freedom repositioning cruise recently!

 

DH and I were on Freedom repo cruise. We had an awesome time as well. We have 2 carnival and 1 NCL cruise coming up. (5/20015 Pride-10/2015 Gem and 3/2016 Pride)

We love Carnival but have cut back on pics (only because we have so many) and the time spent in casino, we don't mind losing because its about the fun and memories but we like to win at least little. We always played what we won and then some but in the last year have been going less and less as all we were doing was giving and without the little wins we decided to start going to more shows, watch movies etc...that is not a complaint about carnival though, just an observation and we still have a great time.

[golfb4cruzing]

Just One

 

Sailing on Carnival

[Tapi]

Again I wish we could do this, Disney is just to much $$$ and we are restricted as to which weeks we can book, thus the other lines are always more costly.

 

 

Believe me, I know. Summer prices on a 7 night Disney cruise for a family of 4 are beyond ridiculous. That's why we are focusing on a 5 nighter aboard one of their older ships during fall break. That brings prices more in line with what a Carnival cruise costs during the summer. Kids will miss one day of school, but I'm sure they'll be OK.

[bar1068]

We've definitely cut back on visits to the MDR..never saw the appeal, plus takes up too much time we could be relaxing around the ship, enjoying the ocean views and breezes and sunshine on those longer days, when sailing in the summer months especially.

[ebedore]

On Celebrity I bought way too many pictures :eek:- they offer discount packages... onboard Carnival there are no picture discounts. I didn't buy a single photo. That is a huge cutback for me when my normal spend is around $200-$300 on just photos for a cruise. Because of their high prices and lack of volume discounts, they made no sale. Looking back I wish I had purchased at least one picture to put in my vacation photo collection. Maybe it was the principle of it.:rolleyes:

[uncleg]

I have cut back on nothing because of CC cutbacks. I have cut back because my personal economy is not in a recovery mode, canceled last years cruise, no longer to shore excursions, skip my traditional cruise massage also just sail out of closest port to save travel and lodging cost. I just do what the cruise line offers for free, my biggest splurge now are specialty shots offered in MDR, the (was $20.00) wine pairing and maybe a bottle of champagne with dessert one night. Has nothing to do with Carnival and everything to do with not busting limited vacation budget.

[Margarita Mom]

With all the cutbacks and downgrading of the product

we have decided after 24 cruises on Carnival to try Celebrity.