so are these recent changes the truth?

[Trumpster]

We haven't cruised for a couple of years and just booked a cove balcony on the Breeze for Nov 2016. I was glad to see that they have brought back the Lobster for Elegant nites. I look forward to that. Although I am not a smoker, my sister and cruise-partner is and loves to sit on our Balcony to read and smoke. That is her cruise... she loves to hang out in the cabin, sit on the Balcony and read/watch the water. She has always been very considerate of our neighbors. I do wish they would change it back to being able to smoke on your own Balcony and people would be considerate. I know it is not popular and I myself do not like the smoke but I know this is what she enjoys. And if the Elder is happy the little sister is happy. LOL

All that being said, as long as they don't take away

1) Strawberry bisque

2) Crème Brulee

and 3) Omelettes made to order at the Buffet.... Im Good.

 

Smoking is never coming back to the balconies. I would wager smoking will become even more restricted not less.

 

Reports have already shown the Magic's outdoor smoking areas have been restricted even further after dry dock.

 

No longer is it all of deck 5 port and deck 11 starboard. Now its a small area of deck 11 aft, uncovered and aft of red frog pub seating on deck 5.

 

This what was reported but little has been said of this. Forcing smokers to the casino.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=49567189

[ccruisequeen]

We noticed the decrease in variety of teas several months before they made it official. My mom likes chamomile tea and it seemed to have run out. When the announcement was made, it made sense.

 

In May, she plans to bring her own, as I do with my hot chocolate

 

 

 

I no longer see carnival from my condo front porch :(

[Trumpster]

 

I no longer see carnival from my condo front porch :(

 

If I may, I have been wondering what you mean this?

[PedroLeBlanc]

Carnival is known for constant change-the last time we cruised they had taken away decent tea and served Lipton, not Bigalow or Twinings.

 

Its all a matter of perception.

Over here in the UK, Liptons is considered an inferior, cheep, discount store style product.

Twinnings is considered a better type of tea, with magical powers.

[Hog Rider]

Carnival is known for constant change-the last time we cruised they had taken away decent tea and served Lipton, not Bigalow or Twinings. Even at tea time. I read last month that if you want a decent tea, at tea, you actually have to pay for it. So of course I will bring my own box of tea.

 

But then last week I read a review that said you only get service from your steward once a day, and you have to tell him when you want it. So if I want fresh towels I guess I will have to figure out if I want to shower at night, or in the morning?

 

Is this true, or a comment from one of those bogus Carnival haters?

 

I cruised in January and will cruise in September-what else has changed in the last few months?

 

All true. Brought to you by cutback cruise lines. Heald says it's both on service, but the mysterious form with both has never appeared on any ship.

[golfb4cruzing]

Pretty sure that was answered a few times.

 

Those of you who say you require the twice a day service to replace towels, do you change your towels every day at home?

 

Yes we do.

[NCTribeFan]

...Regarding tea, my wife is not a coffee drinker and could not believe that they only had lipton. First time ever she couldn't get a good tea on a cruise. So, all tea drinkers who want something like an English breakfast tea will need to pack their own for the week.

 

I'm a tea drinker and have 4 or 5 cups a day. Heading out to Italy to sail on Vista in 3 weeks and, yes, it will be painful to not have access to a couple of decent cups of tea in the morning with all-day excursions nearly every day. And flying to Europe for over 2 weeks with 1 bag <50 pounds and a smallish carryon, there's no room for tea bags, even though they take practically no space or weight.

 

So, yeah, it does matter to some of us. That Lipton crap makes a cup of tea that tastes like dust. Seriously. I cannot drink it. :(

 

Marshhawk - there have been a lot of threads about recent changes. You must have read some of them because you're original post referenced them. Not sure what changes you would expect since January. You know I'm not giving you a hard time, but just wondering why you think the things you've already read aren't true but the things people will post in response are true? We're all just a big bunch of lying dogs on Cruise Critic, you know. At least according to folks on some other sites. :p

 

Vista is #25 but I'm not using my Milestone OBC (because I'm sharing with 3 others to keep the cabin cost down since it's all so expensive). Once I get that, I'm probably moving on, not because of the changes (or as most insist on calling them - cutbacks) but simply because I'm ready. I'm tired of having the FUN FUN FUN shoved down my throat! I need something a little more sedate (I like to use my ship time to read, relax, or play Roulette) not run from location to location doing things. I want some interesting ports I haven't visited. I want different MDR meals. It's just time, for me, to move on. And I hope I'm not disappointed.

 

I hope you aren't disappointed when you sail in September. But managing expectations is a good thing. I recommend reading some reviews of your ship between now and the time you sail to get an idea of what others are experiencing (knowing that every person on every sailing has a different experience and you're reading a microscopic sample size of reviews).

[TerReuv]

Pretty sure that was answered a few times.

 

Those of you who say you require the twice a day service to replace towels, do you change your towels every day at home?

 

Actually, no one really did answer the question totally. No one explained what the deal was. It seems like everyone started to go off on their own tangent.

[Trumpster]

I answerd the question completely. :cool:

[Havingfun2010]

ummm, where did I go wrong here? I was asking about changes, not complaining about them, and all of a sudden you think I want to pay more for a tea bag?? there is a reason why I don't stay on the carnival portion of this site anymore.

 

what are the new changes since January is all I wanted to know.

 

Remember that a "Carnival" change is really a change in service, or a "Downgrade" in the level of service provided. Therefore, people complain.

[marshhawk]

my next ship is down under at the moment, and the Australian cruisers expect a different experience, so the change information I would be looking for, wont show up in reviews for a few months.

 

I finds the changes/cutbacks are never announced by Carnival, I just sort of find out once I am on the ship. I actually read about the cabin service changes on a review, from the reviews page, and it was about a smaller ship, not the Dream. Was doing some research about the Ecstasy and that's where I read about it. Not on the Carnival page, and since I find so many of those reviews, so lopsided, I thought I would check.

 

Towels (used) breed more molds than most other things in your home, so yes, I actually do change my towels every night.

 

Tea bags don't take up much space when they are spread out through out the suitcase. but since I will be flying, I will buy my tea once in Seattle. I enjoy my" cuppa "at bedtime, Nightly Calm ,really does help me sleep through the night. And a cup of Peppermint does settle the tummy. Lemon Ginger, aids with colds. Lipton, well it does taste like dust. I couldn't quite place the taste, but dust works.

[krehberg]

Smoking is never coming back to the balconies. I would wager smoking will become even more restricted not less.

 

Reports have already shown the Magic's outdoor smoking areas have been restricted even further after dry dock.

 

No longer is it all of deck 5 port and deck 11 starboard. Now its a small area of deck 11 aft, uncovered and aft of red frog pub seating on deck 5.

 

This what was reported but little has been said of this. Forcing smokers to the casino.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=49567189

 

Nothing ruins an enjoyable cruise more than trying to enjoy my balcony and having to smell someone else's smoke. While I'm glad they banned smoking on balconies, it sucks when people don't comply.

 

Will be nice one day..we limit smokers on the ships to a 4x6 room so they can cough on each others toxic fumes :D

[WetToes]

Carnival is known for constant change-the last time we cruised they had taken away decent tea and served Lipton, not Bigalow or Twinings. Even at tea time. I read last month that if you want a decent tea, at tea, you actually have to pay for it. So of course I will bring my own box of tea.

 

 

On my recent (3/13-27) cruise there was a wooden box of Bigalow at the drink stations.

[Warm Breezes]

Pretty sure that was answered a few times.

 

Those of you who say you require the twice a day service to replace towels, do you change your towels every day at home?

 

We will not be requesting 2x per day but we will be requesting extra towels. Unlike at home, on a cruise we shower when we wake up, then we are lathered in sun tan lotion and layout in the sun or go off to a beach, etc during the day. We come back to the room and shower again before dinner. This is our reason for asking for extra towels and probably why many want 2x per day service.

[declansdad]

We will not be requesting 2x per day but we will be requesting extra towels. Unlike at home, on a cruise we shower when we wake up, then we are lathered in sun tan lotion and layout in the sun or go off to a beach, etc during the day. We come back to the room and shower again before dinner. This is our reason for asking for extra towels and probably why many want 2x per day service.

 

 

Showering a couple times a day while on vacation or even at home is pretty common and I like the twice a day service while on a cruise but I don't need them to change the towels morning and night. Wouldn't do it at home, they don't do it in hotels and I certainly don't need it on a cruise. Just seems wasteful to me.

 

Having the steward come twice a day to make the bed, turn down the bed and help keep things tidy is a nice touch though.

[declansdad]

Actually, no one really did answer the question totally. No one explained what the deal was. It seems like everyone started to go off on their own tangent.

 

If you say so but I think all the people who answered that would disagree with you.

[richfret]

Carnival is known for constant change-the last time we cruised they had taken away decent tea and served Lipton, not Bigalow or Twinings. Even at tea time. I read last month that if you want a decent tea, at tea, you actually have to pay for it. So of course I will bring my own box of tea.

 

But then last week I read a review that said you only get service from your steward once a day, and you have to tell him when you want it. So if I want fresh towels I guess I will have to figure out if I want to shower at night, or in the morning?

 

Is this true, or a comment from one of those bogus Carnival haters?

 

I cruised in January and will cruise in September-what else has changed in the last few months?

 

OK, so much for the reductions. On the other hand, my first cruise was on the Sensation in 1995 and 18 cruises later, on the Breeze in January. There certainly are many positive differences between the 2 ships and none have been mentioned. It's like the Ford Model T and a current model. I think I rather have the current model.

 

As for tea, I am trying coffee.

[RuthlessBoss]

Nothing ruins an enjoyable cruise more than trying to enjoy my balcony and having to smell someone else's smoke. While I'm glad they banned smoking on balconies, it sucks when people don't comply.

 

Will be nice one day..we limit smokers on the ships to a 4x6 room so they can cough on each others toxic fumes :D

 

Your post makes no sense and is rude:mad:

[firemanbobswife]

Showering a couple times a day while on vacation or even at home is pretty common and I like the twice a day service while on a cruise but I don't need them to change the towels morning and night. Wouldn't do it at home, they don't do it in hotels and I certainly don't need it on a cruise. Just seems wasteful to me.

 

Having the steward come twice a day to make the bed, turn down the bed and help keep things tidy is a nice touch though.

 

 

The reason I have them change out my towels on a cruise is because they never seem to dry and stay damp. What's the point in trying to dry off with a wet towel?

[krehberg]

Your post makes no sense and is rude:mad:

 

Rude is someone smoking on their balcony when it is "technically" prohibited

[Warm Breezes]

Showering a couple times a day while on vacation or even at home is pretty common and I like the twice a day service while on a cruise but I don't need them to change the towels morning and night. Wouldn't do it at home, they don't do it in hotels and I certainly don't need it on a cruise. Just seems wasteful to me.

 

Having the steward come twice a day to make the bed, turn down the bed and help keep things tidy is a nice touch though.

 

Your choice. I prefer fresh towels and not slightly damp ones when I shower in the afternoon. I also ask for extra towels in hotels on extended stays. I would ask for PM service so we can sleep in without having to mess up their cleaning schedule. My choice. This is where I think it is a great option for them to ask ahead of time so both of our choices could be honored. I do think, however, that they should just ask during on-line check in like they do the bed set up, dining times, and check in times.

Edited April 11, 2016 by Warm Breezes

[KatieCharlotte]

Pretty sure that was answered a few times.

 

Those of you who say you require the twice a day service to replace towels, do you change your towels every day at home?

 

No, I do not. At home, the five members of my family do not share one small space. I would not need my towels changed so frequently on a cruise if I had room to adequately hang up (and actually dry): five shower towels, five beach towels, many washcloths and hand towels, five swimsuits (up to eight if we swim twice in one day), and a multitude of cover-ups and swim shirts for my fair-skinned children. :eek: The shower clothes line and all extra hooks and other space is taken up by our swim gear. Having towels for five people packed onto one towel rack is fine, but they're not going to get dry that way. So, it's nice to leave wet towels on the floor and have them replaced, whether we shower first thing in the morning or before dinner.

[Trumpster]

Your post makes no sense and is rude:mad:

 

 

Ever see the glass boxes Tim Horton's used to use as a smoking section in their shop's before Canada just completely outlawed indoor smoking?

 

Looked like a glass Box not much bigger than 4x6 room filled with smoke.

 

The Hindenburg had a smoking room that had double doors, double walls and was atmospherically isolated. Of course that may have had something to do with Hydrogen ;)

[Sparky2]

According to JH you can still get service morning and night.

 

However on the Dream one of the ships they are trying this out on' date=' people have been discouraged from checking off both.

 

We will be on the Dream next month and will definitely [b']request twice daily [/b]and interested what will happen.

 

They did eliminate smoked salmon from breakfast room service menu some months ago.

 

On our next cruise (2/26/17), if we are not able to have AM & PM service there will be no EXTRA tip. We are not messy so it doesn't take a steward very long to do our cabin.

[declansdad]

The reason I have them change out my towels on a cruise is because they never seem to dry and stay damp. What's the point in trying to dry off with a wet towel?

 

 

Valid point, thanks for answering.