Carnival Cruisers What Would Make you leave Carnival?

[Warm Breezes]

We are going on Royal Caribbean in May on the Liberty of the Seas after our many cruises with Carnival. We are not unhappy with Carnival but we want to try something different. However, we have noticed a price increase with Carnival and we could go on Royal for $500 cheaper and a $200 OBC. We have not sailed Royal Caribbean in over 10 years and when we did it was on one of their smaller ships.

 

I just booked on CCL Dream last week and the price we paid for our balcony room for 2 was less per person/per day than we paid for our 2 person balcony room on CCL Glory in 2010, CCL Freedom in 2012, NCL Jewel in 2012, Ruby Princess in 2013, and CCL Splendor in 2014, it was even less pp/pd than we paid for our 2 person inside room on NCL Epic in 2011. While the majority of the time I was watching prices, this cruise was still more than what I had paid on a pp/pd basis than some of those cruises, but less than the other cruises I was looking at in the same time period which included other CCL, NCL, and RCCL ships. I lucked out when the doctor gave me the ok to cruise because I was able to find a deal with a TA $350 less than what I was even pricing it at before on the CCL and other on-line websites. This brought the price down below the cruises we have purchased in the last 6 years. So personally there was no increase but a decrease for us this year.

[Warm Breezes]

I have to admit, I have recently booked and sailed a few RCCL cruises and loved them. I still sail CCL (platinum 25 days to diamond) and have 2 booked this year, but I must admit that I have been lured away by the near equal pricing lately and the bonus OBC. I wish CCL would offer some bonus OBC or drink packages or at least allow for the travel agents to offer some (right now they cannot offer lesser proicing). However, I do love both the companies as they each excel in different areas... But the photographers lined up like a gauntlet REALLY turn me off! It totally ruins the atmosphere so I wish CCL would ease up on the paparazzi!

 

You can still find TA's with lower pricing and offering OBC. I can't tell you who because this board does not allow it. The TA's just can't advertise their lower prices. They can do it by making booking blocks of rooms and getting free rooms so they can discount rooms along with other perks for booking blocks of rooms. You need to do your research. I booked our CCL Dream cruise last week with an inside and a balcony room for $350 less than current advertised prices plus a $250 OBC that wasn't being advertised.

[manmachine]

One more week long cruise like on the Breeze where our cabin AC is 74 degrees at night... On the "lowest" setting.

 

What a crock.

[ShakyBeef]

One more week long cruise like on the Breeze where our cabin AC is 74 degrees at night... On the "lowest" setting.

 

What a crock.

 

Quite possibly selfish, inconsiderate (or just ignorant) neighbours bungee-cording their balcony doors open affecting your A/C. I hate that.:mad:

[laumicmah]

For a cost-effective cruise...nothing, unless something out of control happened during the cruise affecting everyone and Carnival decided to not do anything about it.

 

If I want luxury, I'll book a luxury cruise line.

 

 

This is me...except we'd never want luxury. We are lowkey folks and like lowkey vacations that are inexpensive. So it's Carnival for us unless, like Keys says, something terrible happened while on a cruise and the cruiseline failed to address it.

[Firefighterhoop]

Sorry double post... its Monday, can you tell.....

Edited February 22, 2016 by Firefighterhoop

[Firefighterhoop]

Right, I think you and I are in agreement here. Was there something I said in the post you quoted with which you disagree?:confused:

 

Nope was totally agreeing with you!!!! Was hoping the quote you were replying to would have shown up as well, because I was agreeing with your reply (and adding my 2 cents).

Edited February 22, 2016 by Firefighterhoop

[ShakyBeef]

Nope was totally agreeing with you!!!! Was hoping the quote you were replying to would have shown up as well, because I was agreeing with your reply (and adding my 2 cents).

 

Oh, OK, great!:) Thanks for clarifying.:o:D

[Schoifmom]

Lets Hear from You?????:D

 

There are two things that could make me leave Carnival (other than sailing on another line simply for an itinerary that CCL doesn't offer):

• It stops being a great value
  
• A horrible cruise experience that CCL wouldn't make right
  

[BigB0882]

It would be tough to make me leave Carnival for good. For one thing, nothing is cheaper since they constantly send us casino offers. We don't cruise other lines so obviously no other line has sent us any offers. We would have to pay full price for another cruise line (which we will be doing next June on Celebrity).

 

The other issue is convenience. We live only an hour from New Orleans so we are going to use that port since it is within driving distance. As of now, Carnival is the only line sailing out of New Orleans other than NCL which I have very little interest in sailing. NCL just doesn't seem like a good fit for us and again, especially not when I can get on a ship at the same port for super cheap thanks to casino offers.

 

I guess if Carnival left New Orleans...that would do it. lol

Edited February 22, 2016 by BigB0882

[HectorAchilleus]

The only thing that would cause me to leave Carnival would be if they stopped using tablecloths in the dining room . . . .only kidding.

 

I suppose that if other lines were as inexpensive.

 

Also, if they keep diluting Plat and Diamond perks, I would start shopping.

[Pesh]

I've seen the phrase "the free food in the dining room" used a few times on this thread. Guys, the food in the dining room is not free, you just pre-paid it. It's part of your cruise fare.

[ShakyBeef]

I've seen the phrase "the free food in the dining room" used a few times on this thread. Guys, the food in the dining room is not free, you just pre-paid it. It's part of your cruise fare.

 

Correct, that's why I say "free" (quotes included) when referring to MDR and other included food on a cruise. That is, I use the quotation marks unless I slip up or just get lazy.:p

[Jenhem31]

I might not sail certain ships, but wouldn't cut Carnival all together. Why be loyal to a company that isn't loyal to you? I love trying other lines

[ssolomon56]

We been on nearly 50 cruises in the past 16 years....we have tried them all...MANY times! We've cruised on Carnival more than any other...mainly because of the price and convenience. Also, since becoming Platinum, we get great perks.

 

We have pretty much eliminated ONE cruiseline though, and that's NCL. It got worse, and worse and WORSE! Finally, we said "ENOUGH". The food was horrible! I mean HORRIBLE! Also, they didn't offer enough of what we like...entertainment, games, karaoke..etc. There are too many other choices, why spend our money on that!

 

So...Carnival would lose me, if they followed suit with NCL. Bad food, bad shows....no karaoke...no games...etc.

[mrb1963]

I might not sail certain ships, but wouldn't cut Carnival all together. Why be loyal to a company that isn't loyal to you? I love trying other lines

 

Exactly!

[Tapi]

There are two reasons why I sail Carnival: price and convenience. Take those away and I would probably never set foot on another Carnival cruise again.

 

Carnival is still delivering convenience. We live in Atlanta, which gives us 3 easy "drive to ports" served exclusively year-round by Carnival (Jacksonville, Mobile, and Charleston). We've sailed from Jacksonville and Mobile and the convenience that came from sailing from these ports made up for the older and smaller ships, as well as for the repetitive itineraries. There's a good chance that our next Carnival cruise will be from Mobile simply because of convenience.

 

Where Carnival isn't delivering as much is in the price department. It's not that Carnival prices have increased, but we've consistently found cheaper prices somewhere else. We haven't set foot on a Carnival cruise in over 5 years and it's been mostly because we keep finding better deals on other cruise lines which also deliver a more premium product.

 

- When we sailed to Alaska, Holland America was considerably cheaper than Carnival, and for a better itinerary. They also gave us a free upgrade to a balcony, OBC, and the kids sailed for free!

- When we last sailed to the Bahamas, we were able to obtain two connecting oceanview staterooms cheaper on Royal Caribbean than one stateroom for four guests on Carnival.

- When we sailed along the Pacific Coast for our last cruise, Princess was almost 50% cheaper than a comparable itinerary on Carnival departing the same exact day.

 

We were planning on returning to Carnival this year, and had a cruise booked on the Valor. That's until Carnival got out priced again, this time by MSC with their 2 for 1 balcony promo and their kids sail free promo. We could sail on a 7 night itinerary in a balcony stateroom for LESS money than for a 5 night itinerary in a porthole stateroom!

 

I haven't left Carnival. I'm just on an extended hiatus until I once again find that perfect balance of price and convenience.

Edited February 23, 2016 by Tapi

[camarowesley]

It's already happened for us, we are currently taking a break from Carnival because of the excessively warm (in our opinion) cabin temps. Keep hoping to see something on these boards saying it has improved, but so far it doesn't look as if anything has changed.

Edited February 23, 2016 by camarowesley
typo

[jh2360]

Better itineraries on other lines

[KatieCharlotte]

We cruise Carnival because of the value for the money. I travel with my family during popular times of the year, and we haven't found any good offers on other cruise lines. Years from now, when I'm taking long cruises in the off-season with just DH, I will likely abandon Carnival and try something more upscale.

 

Until then, what might drive me away from Carnival and/or cruising in general is if the price exceeds the value or the customer service goes too far downhill, from the initial booking experience to the steward and dining room service. I don't mind if there are a million ways for other people to voluntarily spend extra money on board, as long as I am receiving a relaxing vacation at a good price. But I've never been afraid to walk away from a company that blatantly acts like it doesn't have to do anything but offer low prices to keep its customers and abandons good customer service. It's a fine line that Carnival hasn't crossed... yet.

[seester2e]

I don't know about stopping all together but DH and I have already started talking about trying out some others. We understand that times change and sometimes you don't always like the changes that are made. However lately the changes they are making are starting to take a huge bite out of some of the things we like about cruising vs just a special land vacation. We do not like this new American Table menu in the dining room. We like to try different things while we cruise, one of the perks to cruising instead of just heading to Florida. I can get a burger at home you know? Extra touches like the table cloths, special service from the wait staff, instead of dropping the bread basket off for everyone to stick their fingers in). Little things in the grand scheme, but they take away from the special experience when they add up. There isn't anything that makes taking a cruise stand out from a resort etc. We followed the rules, didn't even bring so much as the allowed bottle of wine on. But with the changes to picking up the purchased alcohol, we stopped buying that. We self assist and have to fly to all ports. That is just more hassle than we are going to deal with. Seems like the last three ships we've been on, even with some of the supposed upgrade...looked like they had been in battle, things broken everywhere. I know I'm paying a lower fare and you get what you pay for, but there still has to be a line somewhere. I guess it is all going to depend on the changes they keep making and if I think it is all worth my money or not. We love to cruise but if it is no longer going to be something special...

[tree.critter]

If I was given oars when I boarded and asked to help propel the ship.....yep, I think that would do it for me.

[ready2cruzagain]

One more week long cruise like on the Breeze where our cabin AC is 74 degrees at night... On the "lowest" setting.

 

What a crock.

We had that on our Glory sailing last month. I did not have a thermometer but wished I had. It was so hot in our room that we could not sleep at night.

[MAGNUM PI]

Reference the present propulsion problems, with Carnival Fantasy.....

And related past Carnival fleet problems.

 

Fantasy had to change its itinerary; not enough power/speed to make it to Cozumel, from Miami. Going to Bahamas instead.

 

When booking a cruise, like to know that the itinerary is not a mere suggestion.

[beachbum53]

They will probably eventually price themselves out of my economic reality.

 

Or if the main dining room offerings become grim and the numbers of extra fee eateries increases.

 

And if they do more of the "class system" sort of things, like keeping some areas of the ship for the exclusive use of "first class" passengers.

 

We have been platinum for quite a while, but I shop all the alternatives for every cruise.

So I guess we are loyal to ourselves and our budget.

 

Could you elaborate on what you mean about "class system", and "keeping some areas of the ship for the exclusive use of first class passengers"? I've never experienced that. What exactly do you consider "first class" passengers? I know that Carnival changed their past guest party to be for only Platinum and Diamond cruisers about a year ago. Is that what you're referring to?