Carnival prices just not cutting it .....

[Trumpster]

It means they want to make you happy, maybe happier than Carnival wants to. Believe me, there are better products out there than Carnival. I see you've only sailed Carnival. New ships with perks does not mean bad product.

 

 

doesn't mean a good or great product either. NCL gives packages like water but the reviews of the chaos these packages have OR have not caused are all over the place. Especially Escape.

 

The Divina is not a carnival cruise (for good or bad) it has better entertainment (but that's not a real high bar to cross) but lacks "action" in many ways, much more subdued.

 

Hopefully Seaside will change that.

[RuthlessBoss]

True, but wasn't their other rodeo sea shipping?

 

That was how they started and continue to do so. In the meantime, they have 13 ships cruising and Seaside will be 14 and built "Americanized" with bells and whistles.

[LMaxwell]

If the other lines have to offer perks like that to get other people to book on them, what does that say about the rest of their product?

 

It says they are trying to build brand awareness. It's not an indictment of their product as you seem to imply.

[Je Souhaite]

That was how they started and continue to do so. In the meantime, they have 13 ships cruising and Seaside will be 14 and built "Americanized" with bells and whistles.

 

Odd reference. Even Cunard started as mailing vessels. And that was almost 2 centuries ago.

[LMaxwell]

Odd reference. Even Cunard started as mailing vessels. And that was almost 2 centuries ago.

 

MSC is the largest privately owned cruise company in the world and their cargo operations are massive. Their shipping operations can absorb any operating losses of their cruise lines.

 

Royal Caribbean started out of a conglomerate of shipping companies. Carnival started out after Ted Arison helped co-found NCL and got a royal screw job by the co-founder there; it was a decade before Carnival even had a single new build ship of their own. Princess started out chartering old Italian ships to make west coast cruises. Holland America was a 19th's century European cargo line that would have vanished about 25 years ago entirely if not for Carnival buying them.

 

That is all to say "so what", know what I mean? :cool:

[jimbo5544]

Yeah, it was. What's your point?

 

I was unsure if they had done any cruise line (as in people) before vs the sea based shipping business - they might be the largest in the world. He certainly has the money to invest. We sailed on the Orchestra a couple of years ago when they first came over to the Caribbean. While it was not our cup of tea (it was different in many aspects, not bad but different) I can say the things they lacked in were not due to a lack of effort.

 

I think they have a number of ships on order and plan to be (if not already) the largest European cruise line. On the Orchestra, there certainly were a lot of Europeans on board, having announcements in 5 languages got a bit tedious by the end of the week.

[going2cruz]

OP we feel the same way....there's no value in Carnival anymore. I feel ripped off evertime I book Carnival now. I guess some of that is now knowing what other cruise lines are about and the quality of the cruise compared to Carnival.

 

I posted this last month on another thread: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=49215262#post49215262

 

Here go's....looking at booking eastern Caribbean April 2017 in next few days...we've been doing April for years so I'm not just picking a specific month to make a point.

 

Celebrity Grand Slam offer that the travel agent is offering, so we pick three perks get them all, Alcohol package no drink limit free ( Add $402 to Carnival 15 drink limit ) perk 2 is pre-paid gratuities ( add $192.00 to carnival ) perk 3 on board credit ( add $50 to carnival ) so for one person grand slam deal saves me $644.

 

Eastern Caribbean Cruise Prices April 2017 leaving off port fees they equal out on both sides

 

Carnival Inside Room $739

Onboard Expense $644

Total Per Person $1383.

 

Celebrity Ocean View $949.00

on board Expense $0.00 ( Grand Slam Deal )

Total per person $949.00

 

Saving Per Person $434

 

Saving per cabin X2 = $868

 

Even with my investor credit no way I'll be booking Carnival.

[Retired_to_Cruise]

I have 5 cruises booked on Carnival, 3 this year and two next year. All are 7 day cruises, and on excellent ship (Magic and Glory), and all are Balcony cabins on Deck 7 aft. Everyone of these bookings were made with early saver between 8 and 12 months before the sailing date. They are all less than $900 per person for the week. At the times that each of these cruises were booked I researched the same types of cruises on several other cruise lines and could find nothing that beat the prices.

 

I can say that this has been pretty consistent for all of the bookings I have made over the 20 cruise I have made on Carnival. The only exception is the Alaska cruise I have taken, and they were, as typical with all cruise lines, high in cost, but never over about $1200 - $1300 per person for a week.

 

I always keep in my mine the fact that this includes my cabin, cabin service, food 24 hours a day, fuel for traveling, and lots of attractions aboard the ship. Go to a decent hotel in any city in the world and check what their room rate will be for a week and consider what that includes.

[jimbo5544]

We do pretty much the same. It is funny how there are people on this thread who accuse them of having to steeply discount to fill rooms and others who say they are higher priced than the competition.

[sparks1093]

OP we feel the same way....there's no value in Carnival anymore. I feel ripped off evertime I book Carnival now. I guess some of that is now knowing what other cruise lines are about and the quality of the cruise compared to Carnival.

 

I posted this last month on another thread: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=49215262#post49215262

 

Here go's....looking at booking eastern Caribbean April 2017 in next few days...we've been doing April for years so I'm not just picking a specific month to make a point.

 

Celebrity Grand Slam offer that the travel agent is offering, so we pick three perks get them all, Alcohol package no drink limit free ( Add $402 to Carnival 15 drink limit ) perk 2 is pre-paid gratuities ( add $192.00 to carnival ) perk 3 on board credit ( add $50 to carnival ) so for one person grand slam deal saves me $644.

 

Eastern Caribbean Cruise Prices April 2017 leaving off port fees they equal out on both sides

 

Carnival Inside Room $739

Onboard Expense $644

Total Per Person $1383.

 

Celebrity Ocean View $949.00

on board Expense $0.00 ( Grand Slam Deal )

Total per person $949.00

 

Saving Per Person $434

 

Saving per cabin X2 = $868

 

Even with my investor credit no way I'll be booking Carnival.

 

Everyone is different, we would save money by choosing CCL since we wouldn't use the perks.

[tbjl24]

Carnival has changed its model.

 

Rather than offering steeply discounted cabins to the public masses....

 

Anyone that does well in the casino is being offered free inside/oceanview cabins with the ability to upgrade for minimal additional cost.

 

Guess they figure they would rather give these rooms to folks they know will gamble.

 

It stinks for those of us who used to really enjoy finding those great deals, but I guess its a model that is working well for Carnival.

 

Oh well. I've personally never done well enough in the casino to score anything more than a few free drinks. I don't want to spend my entire vacation in the casino chasing a free cabin. :(

[LMaxwell]

Everyone is different, we would save money by choosing CCL since we wouldn't use the perks.

You wouldn't use OBC and prepaid grats? And until recently at least I know TA were able to negotiate some more OBC if you bypassed the drink package (not the equivalent of the package amt but some amt). But I see your position

[jimbo5544]

Carnival has changed its model.

 

Rather than offering steeply discounted cabins to the public masses....

 

Anyone that does well in the casino is being offered free inside/oceanview cabins with the ability to upgrade for minimal additional cost.

 

Guess they figure they would rather give these rooms to folks they know will gamble.

 

It stinks for those of us who used to really enjoy finding those great deals, but I guess its a model that is working well for Carnival.

 

Oh well. I've personally never done well enough in the casino to score anything more than a few free drinks. I don't want to spend my entire vacation in the casino chasing a free cabin. :(

I don't think the two are related. The second comment is after our cruise in February on the Sunshine our daughter and son in law came in and said they got a letter on the last morning saying they got a free cruise. My comment was that there was nothing free about that.....:cool:

[beerman2]

Everyone is different, we would save money by choosing CCL since we wouldn't use the perks.

 

And as I stated on NCL board with you, if people are comparing apples to apples with the packages , that is what people are comparing.

 

They are NOT comparing a no frills / base price. Therein lies the difference, when you factor in drinks/speciality dining or other perks right now NCL is ahead of CCL and RCI.

[sparks1093]

You wouldn't use OBC and prepaid grats? And until recently at least I know TA were able to negotiate some more OBC if you bypassed the drink package (not the equivalent of the package amt but some amt). But I see your position

 

I didn't see OBC in the list the PP gave but the OBC and prepaid grats would be the only thing I would use. Since I presume you are still paying for the dining and beverages in the base fare I would be paying for something that I wouldn't buy so it's saving me nothing. Using the PP's example I would still save $600 on my fare by selecting CCL.

[Trumpster]

And as I stated on NCL board with you, if people are comparing apples to apples with the packages , that is what people are comparing.

 

They are NOT comparing a no frills / base price. Therein lies the difference, when you factor in d

rinks/speciality dining or other perks right now NCL is ahead of CCL and RCI.

 

Assuming you can get reservations at the now much busier specialty joints and can get a bar tenders attention at the now swamped bars.

[RuthlessBoss]

Odd reference. Even Cunard started as mailing vessels. And that was almost 2 centuries ago.

 

I was responding to post 147:D

[RuthlessBoss]

OP we feel the same way....there's no value in Carnival anymore. I feel ripped off evertime I book Carnival now. I guess some of that is now knowing what other cruise lines are about and the quality of the cruise compared to Carnival.

 

I posted this last month on another thread: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=49215262#post49215262

 

Here go's....looking at booking eastern Caribbean April 2017 in next few days...we've been doing April for years so I'm not just picking a specific month to make a point.

 

Celebrity Grand Slam offer that the travel agent is offering, so we pick three perks get them all, Alcohol package no drink limit free ( Add $402 to Carnival 15 drink limit ) perk 2 is pre-paid gratuities ( add $192.00 to carnival ) perk 3 on board credit ( add $50 to carnival ) so for one person grand slam deal saves me $644.

 

Eastern Caribbean Cruise Prices April 2017 leaving off port fees they equal out on both sides

 

Carnival Inside Room $739

Onboard Expense $644

Total Per Person $1383.

 

Celebrity Ocean View $949.00

on board Expense $0.00 ( Grand Slam Deal )

Total per person $949.00

 

Saving Per Person $434

 

Saving per cabin X2 = $868

 

Even with my investor credit no way I'll be booking Carnival.

 

Apparently alcohol is important to you. So that's not a fair comparison.

[dave_k58]

You wouldn't use OBC and prepaid grats? And until recently at least I know TA were able to negotiate some more OBC if you bypassed the drink package (not the equivalent of the package amt but some amt). But I see your position

 

THe TA's give the extra OBC out of their commission, is what I have been told by a TA

[Je Souhaite]

I was responding to post 147:D

 

So was I.

[beerman2]

Assuming you can get reservations at the now much busier specialty joints and can get a bar tenders attention at the now swamped bars.

 

Sure we can "assume" most anything. I will most certainly find out first hand when I try pre-booking SDP in July ( 90 days out) and UBP when I board in October.

 

I'm not opposed to pre-planning that people complain about! And if it takes me trying to book restaurants on-line at 12:01 a.m. if NCL web will let me do it

( which itself can be an issue) or calling at the crack of dawn I will.

[jakeT]

I book the best deal for us. You should do the same. You would be a fool not to..

When cruise lines start not doing well they will change or go bankrupt. That's life.

[beerman2]

Apparently alcohol is important to you. So that's not a fair comparison.

 

Shouldn't people be comparing apples to apples? If people do compare pricing with alcohol included, so be it. It's called choices.

 

So if as you quoted " apparently alcohol is important to you" and they are making the comparison of included or paying for alcohol it is a fair comparison. It's no different than those that compare no frills type pricing.

[beta98beta]

I just search around until I find the price I'm willing to pay. If I don't see it then I wait until it appears.

[Scratchrat]

Certainly not trying to be. When you have three of your cruises laid out in front of you and you do comparisons on what you're getting for your money, you have to shake your head when doing so considering ..... Can't help it. I booked the Vista on one of the cheapest weeks they had, too. Not saying I want to cancel or not go but a drink package or some OBC would be nice to go along with it to level the playing field a little. Heck, maybe my price on the Vista Spa cabin is better then some others paid for it, I dunno ......

 

I have a Vista Spa cabin interior on deck 11 for the Inaugural (europe cruises are generally more expensive) for 13 days and it came to $1950 for the two of us.