Why keep cruiseing with Carnival??

[theriac]

Last year Princess was running a special throughout Nov, Dec, and Jan where week long cruises were $299 per person for an inside guarantee with $100 OBC per cabin. They also had 4-5 day sailings $199 per person with $100 OBC per cabin. So Princess can definitely be cheaper. Also if you look at Alaskan cruises when theyre first announce or closer(about a month of two) to the sailing date HAL and Princess are both either cheaper or the exact same price as Carnival. It just depends.

 

It's hard for any line to compete with Carnival in the Caribbean because they flood the market and need to fill those cabins. In the winter 19 of their 24 ships are sailing in the Caribbean so that's why/how their prices are so cheap.

Edited November 13, 2015 by theriac

[Glock19]

I sail Carnival for the price. One more cruise in Dec the my next cruise in Feb I'm diamond. If I cruise with my kids or a quick getaway Carnival has the best price. If its just my wife and I RCI is what Carnival use to be back in the day. I've been cruising carnival since the early 1990's. It has gone down in service and fellow passengers. Carnival to me is now a beer and pretzel cruise line. My last cruise NYC on the Splendor hit a new low. People cutting inline, and the best was the trivia in the atrium lounge. A group went up all at once to get paper and stole the ship on a stick prize before the game started. The CD Malcolm was like okay bring it back. They never did. The poor guy playing and singing in the atrium lounge I felt sorry for him. The kids kept throwing food down from the lido deck. He kept calling for security. Carnival is going down morally that's for sure. But they still have the best price, but in the long run that's going to be their undoing.

Edited November 13, 2015 by Glock19

[SoDak]

I've only cruised on Carnival because of the price but would be open to others if the price is right. Are there any special websites you all search for better prices?

 

I generally get casino deals from Carnival because they want me to come back and leave more of my greenbacks.

[OCruisers]

While I certainly recommend trying a variety of cruise lines, something someone said on another thread last year does make sense to me:

 

His concern was he could only take his family on one 7 day cruise a year. They had been on 8 Carnival cruises and had loved them all so was afraid to try another cruise line they might not enjoy nearly as well.

 

It's their big vacation of the year so I think he does make a good point.

 

LuLu

[BTromboneFrack]

Yes, I am sure there have been cutbacks, but there also have been HUGE additions to the cruise experience. Better itineraries, bigger ships, more special effects during shows, more dining options, stabilizers (my first cruise ship didn't have them), flat screen TV's, more balconies, bigger rooms, giant screen top deck TV's, exotic activities (rock climbing, wave boarding), better pools, more pools, hair dryers, etc., etc., etc. The list goes on and on. And, in addition, cheaper fairs in real dollars. We were on the Festivale in 1987 and looked at our cost for an interior room with no windows. It was within $500 of our aft wrap balcony on the Liberty two years ago. When everyone thinks of the cutbacks, remember what has been added too. That way, no one gets too depressed when we lose the chocolates before bedtime.

 

Carnival still gives us a great vacation at a great price-- and an escape to the ocean.

[Who Cares?]

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.

 

You're comparing prices 8 years apart without even stating what type of cabin and you think that's a valid statement? Oh Lordy, what rationalization! :rolleyes:

 

So if Princess wins every time, why in the world are you even on the Carnival boards? why would you subject yourself to the comments about a cruise line that you no longer care to sail on? Please be honest because a 3 year old can say "because I can".

 

Also, as a note, there are very few double military couples so your pricing that you are saying everyone should look at is actually only available to very few couples. Even with you $200 OBC you Princess cruise in 2012 was more expensive than your Carnival cruise.

Edited November 13, 2015 by Who Cares?

[Who Cares?]

Last year Princess was running a special throughout Nov, Dec, and Jan where week long cruises were $299 per person for an inside guarantee with $100 OBC per cabin. They also had 4-5 day sailings $199 per person with $100 OBC per cabin. So Princess can definitely be cheaper. Also if you look at Alaskan cruises when theyre first announce or closer(about a month of two) to the sailing date HAL and Princess are both either cheaper or the exact same price as Carnival. It just depends.

 

It's hard for any line to compete with Carnival in the Caribbean because they flood the market and need to fill those cabins. In the winter 19 of their 24 ships are sailing in the Caribbean so that's why/how their prices are so cheap.

 

And in 2013 I paid $149 per person for a PT cabin on the Ecstasy. Sure, one can find a one off type of pricing situation for some odd reason but a one off doesn't make it the standard for everyone to follow. Much more often than not, Carnival beats Princess easily in pricing. As for food, entertainment, service, that's all subjective so those points don't even count because they can be quantified.

[sgb]

I really don't care about any of the cutbacks. I can even turn down my bed, and if it ever comes to it, I can make the bed, doesn't take that long to make a bed. I don't need cards, I just go to the casino and play the slots, as far as chocolates on the bed at night, never cared for them. I guess all I need when I'm on the cruise is clean towels. The crew works very hard to make our cruise memorable, I've never had a bad cruise with them yet. Go Carnival!

[martinchem]

Cruising on Carnival is my winter vacation.

[LMaxwell]

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.

 

Look more. And when there is a good deal pounce. Brother going on Regal Princess in 2 weeks. 449 per person balcony. 200 obc for the room. And that was obc for everyone. Hard to beat

[v3cruiser]

I still cruise carnival because they still offer competively priced itineraries to places i have not visited yet. While the cutbacks have been noticable, I think they are still the biggest bang for the buck for how we cruise.

[Cuizer2]

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?

 

Check the other boards, loyal passengers are making similar complaints about the other cruise lines too.

[golfb4cruzing]

You're comparing prices 8 years apart without even stating what type of cabin and you think that's a valid statement? Oh Lordy, what rationalization! :rolleyes:

 

So if Princess wins every time, why in the world are you even on the Carnival boards? why would you subject yourself to the comments about a cruise line that you no longer care to sail on? Please be honest because a 3 year old can say "because I can".

 

Also, as a note, there are very few double military couples so your pricing that you are saying everyone should look at is actually only available to very few couples. Even with you $200 OBC you Princess cruise in 2012 was more expensive than your Carnival cruise.

 

Since you asked, we only do balconies. Just a personal preference and we use it quite a bit. I'm on Carnival boards for two reasons. Entertainment and we are coming back on Carnival next April, so I to do my research. We have not been to Dominican Republic yet. We have a group from FB (we've all never met) and Carnival was decided. I would have gone with Princess but it worked for the group. Maybe the Carnival experience has changed since 2012 and I'll be pleasantly surprised. My money is on NOT.

[gameover]

I do not value the cutbacks as a negative but an opportunity to shop other cruise lines. For the few times I've cruise Carnival, the main perk I receive is a large bottle of water. Carnival remains to have the best value in my opinion and if I cruise with rccl or ncl, I doubt their loytality program is much better. What is disappointing from my end is the cutbacks in food now versus 20 years ago. Back then there were no specilatiy restaurants. Today I would be willing get to spend more in a speciality restaurant than have an average quality dinner. I will say the wait team staff are still great.

[wrigley80]

My loyalty is with Carnival. I took my first Carnival cruise on the Carnival Valor in 2005 and 19 cruises later (all with Carnival)....I have never had a bad experience on a cruise.

In November 2016 I am cruising on the Oasis of the Seas but only because a friend asked me to come along. I am very interested to see the differences.

Yeah the loyalty perks with Carnival may not be the best but I don't cruise for the platinum perks. I cruise for the friends that you meet onboard and the crew that become friends

[KiwiFunCruiser]

If one enjoys the same line and it works for them, then I say go for it after-all they have a large flee to choose from.

[HollandAvery]

We continue to cruise Carnival because the price is just right for us. I've managed to save a lot of money by sticking with Carnival.

Not only that but we like the atmosphere and the family-feel we get with the staff on the ship.

 

The cutbacks have frustrated us a tad, but not enough to throw our hands up and move on to another line just yet.

I think what will be a deal-breaker for us will be if we find ourselves just very bored with a lack of activities that suit us during the day on our upcoming cruise. We found ourselves a tad bit bored during the day during our last cruise during sea days and I'm worried that it'll be a similar case this time around as well. But we'll see...

If it is similar as last cruise we may have to start looking at other lines that offer more during the day during sea days but that still offer plenty of shows and things in the evening.

 

14 more days (practically 13! Hehe)

[Tapi]

What is disappointing from my end is the cutbacks in food now versus 20 years ago. Back then there were no specilatiy restaurants. Today I would be willing get to spend more in a speciality restaurant than have an average quality dinner. I will say the wait team staff are still great.

 

 

It's interesting because I see more food selections now (although quality is debatable) but declining service. My first Carnival cruise was aboard the Tropicale in 1994, so 21 years ago. Although people talk about how good food used to be, I honestly don't remember it being anything spectacular. In fact, I think that it kinda sucked. Our choices were the MDR and a very basic buffet. That was it. Yes, some of the "higher end" entrees may be gone now, but overall, I believe that the variety of choices that we have today far surpass what was offered in the past. Back then there were no pizzerias, no guy burgers, no Mongolian wok, no tandoori grill, no deli, no sushi, and obviously no specialty restaurants for an extra fee. I never considered the food on Carnival to be memorable until I went to Harry's Steakhouse on the Liberty during her inaugural season.

 

The one thing that I think is vastly different now is the level of service. While waiters and cabin stewards still do an exceptional job, it seems like these days they are overworked and exhausted, rushing from one table to the other with stacks of covered plates, sometimes with barely enough time for a quick smile. The one thing that does stick in my head about our cruise on the Tropicale is that our waiter would very leisurely talk and talk and talk to us every single night, joke around, and tell us about him and his personal life, and still had plenty of time to do his job. That is mission impossible with how hard they work these folks now. [emoji45]

Edited November 15, 2015 by Tapi

[joeyancho]

Had I been asked which turn-down service I prefer, I would have said I wanted both morning and night.

 

Had I been told by GS that cards were only available at the casino for $1, I would have asked why the change.

 

People need to be self-advocates. When I get an answer that I believe is not correct, I keep asking until all avenues are exhausted.

 

Who's judging you? :confused: What does ship size have to do with anything?

 

Size matters

[slick1111]

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.

 

I always wonder why people like think they are able to determine who should/should not be cruising. If you don't mind paying more than you should simply cruise with someone else.

Edited November 15, 2015 by slick1111

[mkdreams]

The cutbacks on all cruise lines are adding up and on top of it cruise prices are really getting crazy. These days it is more money for a lot less. I hope it does not keep going in this direction. In five years cruising will not be the same. In the future I see my family doing more land vacations. Which stinks because we love the cruise experience.

Edited November 15, 2015 by mkdreams

[ccruisequeen]

I'm about to leave on my 20th 4-day carnival cruise. I love it because the port is so close to our house. I don't even mind sailing the same ships and ordering the same things from the menu. It's a getaway for me.

 

I've also cruised with Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Holland America and Princess. I love the international cafe on princess as an alternative to the MDR. My mom misses the free drink she used to get as a gold member (it's now only offered on 5+ day cruises), as well as the lobster. We prefer the shorter cruises because they are cheaper with an inside cabin.

 

 

I still cruise for Warm Chocolate Melting Cake (with 2 sugar free ice creams), lobster, and Creme brulee!

[koss78b2]

in general if your good at being able to entertain yourself ,then its all good. Free deck of cards and i actually would be ok with morning room maid service only, a bit annoying in evening when u want to go to room for a bit but know the steward might need to service , so you have to wait, or you feel you have to leave room if ytour just doing a small evening relax in cabin.

[Who Cares?]

Since you asked, we only do balconies. Just a personal preference and we use it quite a bit. I'm on Carnival boards for two reasons. Entertainment and we are coming back on Carnival next April, so I to do my research. We have not been to Dominican Republic yet. We have a group from FB (we've all never met) and Carnival was decided. I would have gone with Princess but it worked for the group. Maybe the Carnival experience has changed since 2012 and I'll be pleasantly surprised. My money is on NOT.

 

Are you doing La Romana or the new port at Amber Cove? Would enjoy hearing about either port.

 

I can't think of a single line where the cruise experience hasn't changed since 2012 so going in with those expectations you are going to be disappointed but something tells me that's what you want to be to justify continuing with Princess. Don't get me wrong, I think the Emerald Princess was one of my most favorite cruises, but not for the extra money that has to be paid on average.

[Who Cares?]

The cutbacks on all cruise lines are adding up and on top of it cruise prices are really getting crazy. These days it is more money for a lot less. I hope it does not keep going in this direction. In five years cruising will not be the same. In the future I see my family doing more land vacations. Which stinks because we love the cruise experience.

 

FYI, the prices of hotels and land based restaurants are going up as well. It's called inflation. ;)