Why keep cruiseing with Carnival??

[Tapi]

Personally, I'd rather cruise on a smaller, older ship-like ship than a brand new floating amusement park. But then, we cruise for ports rather than for what the ship has to offer, anyway.

 

Here's my philosophy:

 

An older, smaller ship is fine if I'm visiting new ports, or sailing on a unique itinerary. It's also OK if a convenient port of departure is a priority.

 

But if I'm going to Cozumel or Nassau for the 10th time, it better be on the nicest, newest and biggest ship possible since I'll be spending a lot of time on the ship and the focus is definitely not on the itinerary!

 

Although a lot of people like to say "I don't need an amusement park at sea", these big ships are about SO much more than just the gimmicky stuff that is normally advertised. They are about space, dining options, better accommodations, and surprisingly, more quiet spots to enjoy the ocean go by. These are aspects of big ship cruising that IMHO are not emphasized enough. For example, when we sailed on the Allure, we didn't rock climb, or zip line, or use the flow rider. But we enjoyed the biggest dining selection that we've ever experienced at sea (we probably repeated the same venue only once or twice during the entire week), we LOVED finding and enjoying decks aaaaaall to ourselves to watch the ocean go by, and our Boardwalk stateroom was wonderful and something that we'd never experienced before. Yes, the entertainment was awesome, and the ship is an impressive engineering marvel, but it was the smaller, more traditional things which made the cruise truly stand out.

Edited November 12, 2015 by Tapi

[skyeman27]

Or raise the price. I'd rather pay more and keep the things that make cruising special. With all the cruisers, the price won't jump crazy. If you can't take a small bump in price, you shouldn't be cruising to begin with.

 

 

What do you think a small bump is in dollars per day?

[Babycat]

I'd like to try other cruise lines but Carnival, at just 20 minutes travel, is just too convenient in the New Orleans area. Other cruise lines port here but I'm insulted, admittedly unjustified, that they bring only their second or third class ships to our area. It also doesn't help that my wife feels safer with a known rather than taking a chance on an unknown cruise line.

[Harrier1961]

What is the point of being loyal, and keep cruising with Carnival? Over the past 10 years I have been on 8 cruises. The latest one being with the Ecstasy just last week. The multiple "small" cut backs have greatly added up compromising the cruise experience that they once had. From turn down service, to lobster and the smallest paying for a deck a cards that were once free at guest services. And now with F2F, you can buy the perks that a loyal customer receives. Why would one not go to a different cruise line and receive the quality vacation with the newest and greatest that carnival once provided? Has anyone else felt the same, and thinking of being done with Carnival?

 

Ironic thing is, the people that only cruise other lines are most likely saying the same thing about XXX line and wanting to try Carnival.

Just saying...

 

From what I hear, all of the lines are doing "cut-backs" if that is what you call every little change.

 

Andy

[asalligo]

Carnival is often cheapest, thus will always have a niche, but yes, they have lost my loyalty that they once had. There was a point in which I was working toward platinum, but they pretty much put that out of reach for me now and I long for the experience I had when I first started cruising. I will be trying Princess in the spring for the first time and am looking forward to seeing the difference.

 

Like many have said though, I really just want to get on the boat for as long as possible. If Carnival remains the cheapest choice, I am sure I will always be back.

 

I wonder if they realize though at one point they had my exclusive loyalty and they lost it all from cuts.

Edited November 12, 2015 by asalligo

[golfb4cruzing]

Then sail other lines and you'll be paying more. And you may or may not get to keep the things that make cruising special......to you.

 

What you don't seem to understand is that many people do have the ability to take a small bump in price but simply are too thrifty to want to. No one every got rich by throwing all their money away.

 

We do cruise with Princess and I haven't paid more than Carnival. That is a big myth that folks like to believe. IF you watch, you can sail at even cheaper price. Princess has beaten Carnival big twice. Plus Princess give Vets $100 OBC every cruise.

[golfb4cruzing]

What do you think a small bump is in dollars per day?

 

$100-$150 more per person, total on 7 day trip. Roll in the gratuities and add back little things.

Why are people so hung up on keeping gratuities separate?

Edited November 12, 2015 by golfb4cruzing

[golfb4cruzing]

IIRC the last time we were on the Pride it cost $1400 for a balcony. In my example above the same balcony cost $1900 (vs $3300 on NCL). So it looks like they have raised the price. We cruise to visit ports, spend time at sea and to spend time together with acceptable food and entertainment.

 

Hopefully this is for 2 people. We normally pay around 1800 for upper deck, mid to aft balcony on a Princess ship, doing 7 day Caribbean. But we each get $100 OBC, to start, as veterans. So that takes it down to 1600. Then we'll get some specials or OBC to book. To me, better food, better entertainment but that's all relative. The one thing missing is the Comedy Club.

[sparks1093]

Hopefully this is for 2 people. We normally pay around 1800 for upper deck, mid to aft balcony on a Princess ship, doing 7 day Caribbean. But we each get $100 OBC, to start, as veterans. So that takes it down to 1600. Then we'll get some specials or OBC to book. To me, better food, better entertainment but that's all relative. The one thing missing is the Comedy Club.

 

Yes, that's for two. I'll have to start looking at Princess too (even though I'm the only one that gets the OBC), but I suspect that the price differential will larger the further one out one is from the cruise (I typically book 12 to 18 months before a cruise).

[SonarSonarSonar]

 

[...So to answer your question, how does one become such a food expert, you do so by allowing yourself to become one. Get out of your comfort zone, try new things, and be willing to learn. It's really not that hard.

 

 

Couldn't have said it any better.

 

 

 

 

.

[sparks1093]

Hopefully this is for 2 people. We normally pay around 1800 for upper deck, mid to aft balcony on a Princess ship, doing 7 day Caribbean. But we each get $100 OBC, to start, as veterans. So that takes it down to 1600. Then we'll get some specials or OBC to book. To me, better food, better entertainment but that's all relative. The one thing missing is the Comedy Club.

 

Okay, just looked at Princess to compare with the CCL and NCL cruises I cited above. Princess comes in at $2308 for a mid-ship balcony but there is a hitch- the cruise is out of Ft Lauderdale so we would have to factor airfare in, which is at least $400 each. Of course if we were flying to Florida for the cruise on either CCL or NCL Princess does look competitive.

[asalligo]

True. A multi car crash or being shot or stabbed could cause one to have a bad day on land as well. But, we were talking about cruising, weren't we and that's what it would take for me to consider it a bad day on a cruise. :rolleyes:

 

LOL, this is extreme, but I completely agree with the original sentiment. I stand by the comment that I would take my worst day on a cruise ship over my best day at work ever.

[skyeman27]

$100-$150 more per person, total on 7 day trip. Roll in the gratuities and add back little things.

Why are people so hung up on keeping gratuities separate?

 

Referring to this topic who are the people that posted that are so hung up on keeping gratuities separate?

[Who Cares?]

We do cruise with Princess and I haven't paid more than Carnival. That is a big myth that folks like to believe. IF you watch, you can sail at even cheaper price. Princess has beaten Carnival big twice. Plus Princess give Vets $100 OBC every cruise.

 

I have no idea what site you are looking at but I simply don't believe you based on the results I find on VTG. As an example, the first 2 weeks of January, the Carnival Glory and Splender out of Miami run between $449 to $529 per person for a 7 night cabin (lowest price). The same time frame for the Emerald Princess and Regal Princess out of Fort Lauderdale runs from $649 to $924 for a week, again lowest price. The $100 OBC doesn't come close to making up for the $200 per person increase. So, it's no myth, it's fact, Carnival is cheaper, almost always.

[Who Cares?]

$100-$150 more per person, total on 7 day trip. Roll in the gratuities and add back little things.

Why are people so hung up on keeping gratuities separate?

 

Who's hung up on keeping gratuities separate from what??? :confused:

[Shipbound]

I have no idea what site you are looking at but I simply don't believe you based on the results I find on VTG. As an example, the first 2 weeks of January, the Carnival Glory and Splender out of Miami run between $449 to $529 per person for a 7 night cabin (lowest price). The same time frame for the Emerald Princess and Regal Princess out of Fort Lauderdale runs from $649 to $924 for a week, again lowest price. The $100 OBC doesn't come close to making up for the $200 per person increase. So, it's no myth, it's fact, Carnival is cheaper, almost always.

 

I agree and that is why I go on CCL cruises since I cruise solo most of the time Carnival fits my budget.

 

 

gary

[texast518]

What is the point of being loyal, and keep cruising with Carnival? Over the past 10 years I have been on 8 cruises. The latest one being with the Ecstasy just last week. The multiple "small" cut backs have greatly added up compromising the cruise experience that they once had. From turn down service, to lobster and the smallest paying for a deck a cards that were once free at guest services. And now with F2F, you can buy the perks that a loyal customer receives. Why would one not go to a different cruise line and receive the quality vacation with the newest and greatest that carnival once provided? Has anyone else felt the same, and thinking of being done with Carnival?

 

Might as well quit going to grocery store, flying, getting your hair cut, eating out--- everything is changing, not like it used to be, and usually worse. I could complain on CC for days, but I don't. Life is SHORT, live it! Now off my soap box and gave ya'll more to comment about.

[seabum]

Way back in 1992 we paid +/- $800 PP ++ for a 7 day cruise on Princess. This equates to over $1350 in today's dollars.

 

Yet we just booked a 11 day on Carnival for about $700 PP ++.

 

Personally I don't know how they do it at all.

 

Yes I've seen cutbacks - no fresh flowers everywhere - MDR food portions smaller - cabin stewards have twice as many cabins to take care off - etc.

 

Shoot back on that first one they were passing out free DOD's for the sailaway - even handing out paper streamers that we all tossed over the rail as we pulled out of port.

 

Compared to a land based vacation - these are a bargain - and like others have said all lines have their pluses and minuses.

 

I love the service and smaller ships and unique itineraries of HAL - but the demographics dont work for us.

 

CCL has the largest cabins - more departure ports - tons of activities day and night - great fares etc.

 

Princess offers a more refined experience than CCL to me - but needs to expand their Caribbean ports - IMHO the only line to sail to AK on - they own that market being one of the first to sail up there.

 

Personally I did not like RCL nor NCL for various reasons - but others swear by them.

 

Lastly I had one of my best cruises ever on the old Island Breeze of the now defunct Premiere line. All 32,000 tons of her. No rock climbing - no bowling alley - no ice skating - but we had a blast and made life long friends on that trip. It was also my first time seeing the legendary (to some here on CC) Bert Stratton in the piano bar -

 

I'm thrilled to still be able to cruise as often as we do - for the prices we can - and to be able to enjoy different experiences on varying lines.

 

and cant wait till our next adventure in a few months -

 

Cheers everyone !

[theriac]

Easy because I'm one of the fortunate people who get casino offers. I don't gamble much but one time with $100 I was able to spend 6 hours playing roulette with the houses money and now I'm constantly given fantastic prices. I'm open to sailing other lines as I have(I didn't like RCI, at all!) but I like the product Carnival has at the price they offer. When I started cruising it wasn't for lobster, a party with drinks, or for amazing Vegas style shows. I just like relaxing, playing trivia, sleeping in, eating decent food, watching a comedian, and spending time with family and friends. I know someone going on NCL star Christmas week for a cost of $1300 per person before port charges and gratuities in a balcony. They also got the drink package included. I'm going on a cruise the same week in a bowling alley balcony cabin for a total of $1000 for 2 people including the cost of gratuities. I'm also getting like $50 in fun play chips. It literally makes cents(pun intended) to go with Carnival. I'm not a cheerleader in anyway, but I will certainly stand up for Carnival when I hear it being bashed unjustly or being called "Walmart of the Seas." I appreciate everyone has different likes and tastes and until I have that cruise from hell experience with Carnival I will continue to cruise with them as well as other lines.

 

Speaking of casino offers I feel like other lines should start a promotion where they match casino offers once or twice on similar itineraries. It couldnt work on premier cruise or those special offers, but certainly could for pack and play or the basic casino offers. Obviously people who get them gamble so why not gamble on the gamblers and try and earn their business. It makes sense to me. They wouldn't be loosing much revenue and could gain so much business by people realizing they like the other line so much more. So many people will never leave Carnival though because of offers they get from the casino. Just a thought, and if I were in charge of a cruise line I would certainly try it.

[theriac]

I just realized cents wasn't a pun in my last post, it was a double entendre. I don't know why I thought of that almost an hour later but wanted to correct my self.

[tinkr2]

Cruising has changed substantially in the last 10 years. All of the lines have made cutbacks or charge for some items. Ecstasy is one their cheapest ships to sail on so it is logical to me that they would chose to try cutbacks there. If you wish to pay a lot more check out the other lines. I love RCCL but pay much more. Carnival provides a great product, especially for cheaper, shorter cruises such as the Ectasy itinerary.

[tinkr2]

I am sorry but perhaps you meant a group of several people as your definition of a gang. Were they dressed in gang colors or brandishing gang signs? Did they self-identify as gang members? Sometimes a group of people standing around laughing and talking loudly in front of a venue can be a little off-setting but I have never seen gang members on a cruise unless they did not wear identifying clothing.

Hahaha that's what I was picturing, a group with head scarves all in one color with broken bottles on their hands.... now that would be surprising on a cruise.

[Cruisegoer]

People often believe that they are getting the best bargain on a Carnival Cruise but in reality, they are removing the services, food, and entertainment that once made Carnival a great choice. Price wise, you can get on other cruise lines for the same or possibly slight more than on Carnival. So if you pay an extra $100 per person on a 7 day cruise, and get better entertainment, food, and service. A "bargain" is getting the level of service for an affordable price. Getting the cheapest is not always a bargain and Carnival is the cheapest cruise line, in both price and services.

 

I just sailed the Liberty OTS in January 2015 and there was nothing spectacular about the entertainment, service and least of all the food. I've always found CCL's options to be much more abundant and better than RCLs so if you think the extra $100 that your talking about (which would really only get you from CCL to RCL not to Celebrity or HAL), then you're most likely talking about alot more than $100pp.

[golfb4cruzing]

I have no idea what site you are looking at but I simply don't believe you based on the results I find on VTG. As an example, the first 2 weeks of January, the Carnival Glory and Splender out of Miami run between $449 to $529 per person for a 7 night cabin (lowest price). The same time frame for the Emerald Princess and Regal Princess out of Fort Lauderdale runs from $649 to $924 for a week, again lowest price. The $100 OBC doesn't come close to making up for the $200 per person increase. So, it's no myth, it's fact, Carnival is cheaper, almost always.

 

I'll give you a couple of examples. We haven't cruised Carnival since 2012, after our worst cruise ever, on the Destiny.

Always 7 days and Caribbean

2006 Glory 1850

2011 Legend 1720

2012 Destiny 1777

2012 Ruby Princess 1999 - 200 Vet OBC = 1799

2014 Ruby Princess 2028 - 200 Vet OBC = 1828

 

So for my money Princess wins every time.

[Cruisegirl6]

Like the old saying goes, "You get what you pay for", this is so true! We don't mind paying a few hundred dollars more to have better food, entertainment, larger better ship such as the Allure of the Seas for instance, and we do get overall excellent service too....but we always keep coming back to Carnival because of its wonderful prices...it allows us to have an extra cruise or two a year (excluding our land based vacations of course). We prefer Carnival's casinos over any other cruise line and the casino treats us very well giving us wine and goodies each evening. The bartender staff is the most friendliest having nice conversations with them and all the staff as you walk by says hello or something nice. We feel that Carnivals steakhouse is our favorite speciality restaurant out of all of NCL (ugh hate that cruise line for too many reasons lol) and RC. I don't like the 15 maximum drink on the Cheers program I find myself counting my drinks and its stressful but honestly we never got to the 15th but hate counting our drinks. lol

 

Carnival doesn't offer us quality/variety when it comes to food in the MDR and buffet, when we cruise Carnival the negative is the food although at home we never eat in fast food establishments, we don't eat fast food type foods such as pizza, hot dogs and such....we limit our carbs and don't eat sugar foods....so crusing Carnival we actually get to cheat eating such things. :D I have to be gluten free and dairy free my other half sugar free we find Carnival is wonderful in watching over us with these issues.

 

Our next cruise is on the Fascination she does not have a steakhouse but learned in the MDR for an extra $20 we can get a better steak and a couple other better entree's so thank you Carnival for that! :)

 

We never had a bad Carnival cruise, entertainment we just don't expect and we don't expect good food and cabin steward and waiters in the MDR are a hit or miss but we NEVER HAD A BAD CARNIVAL CRUISE. ;)

Edited November 13, 2015 by lyndamr