Carnival Cut backs I noticed, that I had expected. Thought I'd share.

[ShakyBeef]

Then, on Carnival Pride on November 30th, 2009 (also first Formal Night / second day of cruise):

 

"CAPTAIN'S CELEBRATION!

MEET & GREET - TONIGHT!!!..."

(this one was $1 off all drinks 5:00-8:00PM)

 

 

Also, right below the blurb in the Capers about the Captain's Celebration was the announcement of (remember this one?;)):

 

"Fun Farewell...

Looking ahead to the end of the week...Fun Farewell...thelast day of the cruise. Join your fellow shipmates for a farewell appreciation party with complimentary cocktails on Saturday.

5:00pm-6:00pm - Taj Mahal Lounge, Dk 2 Fwd"

 

:D

[NIATPAC29]

Some cutbacks but also many things added. Carnival has the --fun--ships and as long as they do im all in !!

[Crusin Karen]

Yes, back in the day, they had the Captain's Welcome Aboard party the lst formal night for everyone, then later in the week was the past guest party. I think THAT was probably when they showed the movie about building the ships and showed all the different ones with pax clapping to the ones they sailed on. I KNOW "back then" they had both parties, and yes, now it is just the $1 off drinks, with officers there but just standing in the Promenade. We are platinum, going to be Diamond when we step aboard Pride in 2 1/2 weeks :D and so still get the "free" cocktail party. BallFour4, that is a terrible cocktail party and they should be ashamed!

[BallFour4]

Hey CCL Cheerleader, since you don't mind paying the increasing prices today for the decreasing amenities/services/quality etc....why don't you pay double so that others who can't afford to cruise now can go? Just sayin........

 

Who pottied in your Fruit Loops?

 

Cheerleader? Have you read my reviews, posts and other thread comments? I'll say flat out you haven't.

 

.

Edited February 24, 2016 by BallFour4

[JUST4FUN101]

On the Freedom in July i did notice that they cut back on the A/C .

It was warm in my room almost to warm not very fun for me .

Carnival trying to save on fuel this way ?

[sassykitten74]

aww no more past guest party? That is disappointing.

[JUST4FUN101]

aww no more past guest party? That is disappointing.

Now they "give"you a coupon for "a" drink your last day after 5 pm how Informal is That. In my opinion carnivals gone down the Proverbial crapper

 

Sent from my SM-G950U using Forums mobile app

[simplelife]

Chocolates have been history for a long time; no big deal as they didn't take very good. Free samples of toiletries have been long gone too ; again, no real loss, since you never know what you were going too get so you had to pack everything anyway. (The Liquid body wash &shampoo and the bar soap are what Carnival has always offered as far as I can remember). I do miss the past guest party and Captains party with free drinks and hours d'ouvres. On one of our early cruises the casino was giving out free drinks the first night.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[mosiegirl]

The chocolate was terrible, don't need nasal strips, hate sushi, have no desire to speak with the maitre d, don't care about table cloths, the past guest party was a big old carnival advertisement. Only good part was the free drinks. It wasn't worth the hour or so from my cruise.

 

 

I'm good. :)

 

 

Same here.. except I miss the ice twice a day, and the extra turn down service at end of day.. Used to enjoy those..

[deborahjo]

Not one of your comments will ever keep me from cruising. Things change. Just have to go with the flow anymore.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[nealstuber]

Is the chocolate thing real? Because if so I'm going to have to launch a campaign to get them back! Say it ain't so!!!

 

 

 

Take a bag of fun sized Kit-Katy bars with you.

Problem solved.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[richfret]

I am a Cruise-a-holic with 20 past Carnival cruises going back to 1995. Have there been cuts? Yes, but note the following. These are the prices I paid for either 7 or 8 days for the last 11 years for my wife and myself. It is the cruise only without port charges or gratuities: $2,044, $2,014, $1,972, $2,010, $2,138, $1,488, $1,738. $2,238, $1,358, $1,458 and $1,388 for my 2018 cruise. Given inflation and other factors, I would have to say Carnival has done a fine job of keeping costs reasonable. There have been cuts but there also have been many pluses that have not been mentioned,

 

I do realize that the prices shown were for cruises taken on several different Carnival ships and with cabins located on different decks. They were either balcony or window. In the end, however, all were great cruises regardless of location.

 

ON THE OTHER HAND, I WILL NEVER FORGIVE CARNIVAL FOR TAKING AWAY MY CHOCOLATES! Imitation of real, I need them on a cruise. So Carnival, raise the price $5.00 and put about 15 on our pillows.

[jsglow]

I am a Cruise-a-holic with 20 past Carnival cruises going back to 1995. Have there been cuts? Yes, but note the following. These are the prices I paid for either 7 or 8 days for the last 11 years for my wife and myself. It is the cruise only without port charges or gratuities: $2,044, $2,014, $1,972, $2,010, $2,138, $1,488, $1,738. $2,238, $1,358, $1,458 and $1,388 for my 2018 cruise. Given inflation and other factors, I would have to say Carnival has done a fine job of keeping costs reasonable. There have been cuts but there also have been many pluses that have not been mentioned,

 

I do realize that the prices shown were for cruises taken on several different Carnival ships and with cabins located on different decks. They were either balcony or window. In the end, however, all were great cruises regardless of location.

 

ON THE OTHER HAND, I WILL NEVER FORGIVE CARNIVAL FOR TAKING AWAY MY CHOCOLATES! Imitation of real, I need them on a cruise. So Carnival, raise the price $5.00 and put about 15 on our pillows.

 

Great analysis. They've done a wonderful job at keeping the price down. The question I ask myself is whether they've pushed that model a bit too hard to the detriment of the product offering. I mostly notice it in the dining room and now possibly with room stewards. One gets what one pays for.

[Raxter54]

Table cloths? Don't care. Chocolates? If I need chocolate, I'll bring my own, they'd be better tasting anyway. Past guest party? Don't qualify, yet, but since DW and I don't drink, probably wouldn't miss it. But - I would be willing to pay more if they would hire more stewards/waiters to lighten their work load....

 

Sent from my Galaxy 4

[Crus4US]

For our family these cutbacks are a deal breaker. We went on a cruise last Spring Break after a long hiatus from cruising. With the exception of Guy's and the Blue Iguana the food was terrible, especially the Lido deck. The Lido deck seemed to be leftovers from the main dining room. The cuts to the wait staff and cabin stewards were apparent as the prior service was outstanding, this time they are simply overwhelmed. There were virtually no waiters on the lido offering drinks and we had to fight for spots on the lido just to lounge. The getting rid of past guest celebrations, the chocolate on the pillow, the cabin steward knowing your name, the waiter remembering our preferences, even the table clothes....(my water glasses sliding all over, at least give us coasters) I miss all of that. We have to travel far and airfare is expensive so to get subpar service and food is a deal breaker. I realize this is an industry wide phenomenon but it really impacts the consumer as well as the employees who have to work a lot harder and puts their tips in jeopardy. JMHO

[Oppalopa]

My husband loves all the freebie stuff that used to come in the bathroom basket and was really bummed when they took it away. So now I secretly pack a bunch of travel-sized items from Target (deodorant, lip balm, mouthwash) and sneak into the bathroom as soon as we get to the room to place it. Each cruise I add more stuff.. even his favorite gum and candies. He gets so excited when he sees the stuff and still has no idea it's me. :D:D:D

You are a good wife.;)

[jimbo5544]

For our family these cutbacks are a deal breaker. We went on a cruise last Spring Break after a long hiatus from cruising. With the exception of Guy's and the Blue Iguana the food was terrible, especially the Lido deck. The Lido deck seemed to be leftovers from the main dining room. The cuts to the wait staff and cabin stewards were apparent as the prior service was outstanding, this time they are simply overwhelmed. There were virtually no waiters on the lido offering drinks and we had to fight for spots on the lido just to lounge. The getting rid of past guest celebrations, the chocolate on the pillow, the cabin steward knowing your name, the waiter remembering our preferences, even the table clothes....(my water glasses sliding all over, at least give us coasters) I miss all of that. We have to travel far and airfare is expensive so to get subpar service and food is a deal breaker. I realize this is an industry wide phenomenon but it really impacts the consumer as well as the employees who have to work a lot harder and puts their tips in jeopardy. JMHO

 

 

 

Sounds like the next hiatus will be even longer.......

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[candi28]

Yes lots of Carnival Cutbacks, slow service and overworked servers in dining room etc was very noticeable, cutbacks in food quality, cutback in entertainment, cutbacks in workers serving guest on other food venues besides dining room, no midnight buffet or snacks etc, costs for most room service items besides sandwiches and when we ordered sandwich at night they told us they didn't have anyone to make it true story!! For $1300 pp 6 nights I would have hoped for more.

[Midwestgal]

What ships are American Table ?

[Drazil65]

$2,044, $2,014, $1,972, $2,010, $2,138, $1,488, $1,738. $2,238, $1,358, $1,458 and $1,388 for my 2018 cruise.

I agree with you 100%, if you had to pay to fly (or get some transpo) to each port of call, a hotel room for a week (with a balcony overlooking the ocean), food 3 or more times a day, tips included, entertainment included, have someone drive you around while you just relax, for 2 (3 for us) people, it would be so much more money and hassle.

 

 

These are really good prices you list for the week and the amount we pay for a balcony for 3 people is what keeps us cruising many times, it is a value for the week for our family. We have cruised a few lines but mostly we do CCL for many reasons including stock owners, but we like many of the options that we get with CCL... Every line has their own appeal but cruising is a great value for families no matter how you look at it or what line you choose.

[jimbo5544]

Yes lots of Carnival Cutbacks, slow service and overworked servers in dining room etc was very noticeable, cutbacks in food quality, cutback in entertainment, cutbacks in workers serving guest on other food venues besides dining room, no midnight buffet or snacks etc, costs for most room service items besides sandwiches and when we ordered sandwich at night they told us they didn't have anyone to make it true story!! For $1300 pp 6 nights I would have hoped for more.

 

 

 

Let's look at it the other way, which areas did you not a cutback in?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[timeinthesand]

Just sailed the Liberty 7-Feb-16 for the 3rd. time, and noticed these things that are now History.

 

1) No more chocolate at night on your rack.

2) No more items in your bathroom, just bar soap and the 2 liquids in the shower.

3) Promenade deck Sushi at 5pm. is history.

4) Maitre' D no longer comes to any table on your cruise.

5) No more table cloths, or neatly folded napkins at diner. Table cloths are only formal nights now.

6) Pass guest get together's, with drinks and hors d'oeuvres History! Was told only for Carnival Platinum members now.

 

I will still have fun.

[ray98]

Just sailed the Liberty 7-Feb-16 for the 3rd. time, and noticed these things that are now History.

 

1) No more chocolate at night on your rack.

2) No more items in your bathroom, just bar soap and the 2 liquids in the shower.

3) Promenade deck Sushi at 5pm. is history.

4) Maitre' D no longer comes to any table on your cruise.

5) No more table cloths, or neatly folded napkins at diner. Table cloths are only formal nights now.

6) Pass guest get together's, with drinks and hors d'oeuvres History! Was told only for Carnival Platinum members now.

 

 

I am pleased by all those examples except the Sushi.

 

Less meaningless candy to throw away, less bathroom clutter, less meal interruptions, table cloths are moving to a thing of the past and I never attended any past guest event.

[Trin1103]

I will still have fun.

 

Seriously - this. Nothing on the list would even make me think twice about anything. If anything - I do agree with another poster here in saying that some of the cutbacks are actually good if they allow Carnival to excel at other areas of service. Seriously who needs any bathroom toiletries? If you aren't bringing your own and don't have an organized packing list, you're doing it wrong.

 

Chocolates? Pffft. After returning from the MDR of an evening that's the LAST thing on my mind! :')

 

Trin

[K.T.B.]

Just sailed the Liberty 7-Feb-16 for the 3rd. time, and noticed these things that are now History.

 

1) No more chocolate at night on your rack. My wife and I are both diabetic, so this is actually a good thing for us.

2) No more items in your bathroom, just bar soap and the 2 liquids in the shower. In all my previous cruises, I cannot recall ever using the items they provided other than shampoo.

3) Promenade deck Sushi at 5pm. is history. I don't like sushi, so I'm ok with this! (Sorry for those who do like it though...)

4) Maitre' D no longer comes to any table on your cruise. Not a deal breaker, he never came to my table on my last Carnival cruise in 2015. So not really a recent development.

5) No more table cloths, or neatly folded napkins at diner. Table cloths are only formal nights now. No big deal, it doesn't add or subtract from the experience for me.

6) Pass guest get together's, with drinks and hors d'oeuvres History! Was told only for Carnival Platinum members now. Having gone to these in the past, I'm not extremely upset, but it is disappointing.

 

My comments in red.