What would you give up for a 5% to 10% fare reduction?

[Cyber Kat]

I'm not looking for a reduction. Quite frankly, I'd pay more to get back some of the things they have taken away.

 

I'm not a bargain hunter, I just like Carnival because it fits. I like the ships - I don't like those mega ships that are more floating mall/theme park that some of the other lines tout. I'm good with the itineraries and I'm happy to relax in a familiar nonvirulent. But I did like the tablecloths and the chocolate on the pillow - the old chocolate, not the ones they had before they stopped. I liked having more staff. They only had 1 bartender instead of 2 most times on our last cruise. I don't like rushing in the MDR - and the poor wait staff are going nuts with more tables.

 

I like the towel animals and the twice a day cabin tending. I've only been cruising Carnival since 2002 and so much has changed. I know things change ... but I'm not looking for more cutbacks to save a few bucks.

[First and Ten]

Your idea of entertainment and mine are different. I prefer the dive in movies, deck parties, the casino and sitting talking with family or new friends, and even *gasp* listening to pre-recorded music. Not the musicians, hypnotists and ventriloquists.

 

Obviously so, which is fine....I personally think the shows add to the experience and I love the different bands they have playing around the ship at different times....Would I want to see the bands and the shows done away with to save 5%, no....I think it would be a pretty boring ship. I don't get why people take a cruise to sit at a blackjack table for 12 hrs a night. Again, that is me and I realize some people like doing that, more power to them. as far as realistically doing away with the Casino, Photographers or Spa Service, no way....Cruise line make killer $$$$ off those services

Edited May 9, 2016 by First and Ten

[stevec999]

Carnival pricing is good for what is offered. I would lean more towards a price increase to get more. We enjoy Carnival and will continue to sail with them but are branching out a bit to see what is available.

 

We tried HAL in February and it was just a small amount more. Very different experience than Carnival but still enjoyable. Will write up a short review after our Carnival trip next week.

 

We are curious if more money actually improves the cruise experience. So to that end we are booked on a Oceania next January. For my wife and I it is about 3 times the price of the Carnival ship next week for us and our daughter. It will be interesting for sure :).

[Cyber Kat]

Hey Micshelle, if you are reading this it looks like lots of people want really cheap fares. So please, please, bring back Steerage class! Awe, the good ol' days.;)

 

 

You know, I was thinking the same thing. I think Carnival needs to institute a 2 class system - Bargain class where you can only eat at the buffet and you have to clean your own room and bring your own towels, and 1st class where we get back all the nice things they've taken away already - without lowering the prices!

[pjinaz]

We cruise for 2 reasons. DH because he loves being on the sea. Me because I love being pampered for a change. I really don't want to see the "spoiling things" go away for a % or 2 on the fare.

 

At home every day/week I make beds, clean house, do laundry, grocery shop, cook, do dishes, and pay bills. I don't want to do ANY of those things on my vacation. On a cruise vacation I want the room serviced (we're pretty tidy anyway :)), the ice bucket filled, fresh towels, and tomorrow's Fun Times laid out on the bed for me to peruse. I want to go to the MDR and have the staff remember my name and my fairly simple preferences. I love being able to pick which bar I might want to go to at night and not have to be the designated driver - a bar where the server remembers after a couple of visits that I'm a scotch on the rocks person. We always do auto gratuities and have no problem handing over some extra cash the last night to those staff that have made our trip extra nice.

 

I know people cruise for a lot of different reasons - those are mine - and when a cruise line quits providing those things then I'm crossing them off my search list for new cruises.:rolleyes:

 

Exactly!

[crewsweeper]

Pillow chocolates, twice daily cabin service, team wait staff in MDR, theater shows, past guest party for golds.

 

Oh yes, and towel animals.

 

In other words...tent camping at sea without S'Mores:D:D

[nissach]

I agree with Buck64.

 

But the third item, cruise director, is one worth considering. All they do is read a corporate approved spiel shilling the high profit and low value offerings of the cruise line.

 

Once I started cruising lines other than Carnival, I realized that the Carnival CD's are the loudest and most long winded of them all.

 

Let's start a movement on CC, no more CD's!

 

Need a 'LIKE' button!!

[pjinaz]

Monday:

 

1. Post a sarcastic comment.

2. Make sure to expressly state it is sarcastic and not to be taken seriously.

3. Make sue to capitalize the statement that it is sarcastic.

4. Sit back, drink coffee. Watch as people take you seriously.

 

I need a cruise.

 

I really wish cruise critic would add a LIKE button.

[Foxinspace]

My list and I know I will be in the minority on several:

 

Shampoo/conditioner in showers (does anyone use it?)

Eight flyers per day in my room for crap I won't buy or activities I have no interest in that are in the Fun Times anyway

In-room movies

Network TV

Nightclubs

Karaoke

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Keep the photographers but stop printing all those pictures - have kiosks where people can view them and print/buy what they want - that is a HUGE waste of money, some don't even go to look at their pictures let alone purchase them. I would purchase a lot if I saw them on a screen. Sell disk with those pictures for people to share digitially and release the rights so people can print their own or have them printed in the sizes they want.

 

I agree with the above.

 

Get rid of the photo walls!! Set up a couple kiosks where people can look at their own pics on a screen and select what they like and have it printed. Limit the number of photograph set ups in the lobby! They already take over so much of the ship, move them up to where the photo walls were and suddenly the whole lobby is actually usable again! Could put in a couple of "extra pay" specialty restaurants like the Sushi stands.

 

Stop giving me hundreds of print outs to remind me to buy things, or go to the spa! Give me one spa list of prices and deals at the beginning of the cruise and let it alone. A nice simple list of Day 1 deal X, Day 2 deal Y and so on.

 

Yup that Shampoo and body wash can just go.

[jmcancruise]

Ok you guys quit giving the big guys ideas. We all have things we would probably be willing to give up, but all of those things together make carnival what it is today. Personally although there are things I could live without, when I step on to a carnival ship I enjoy the familiarity of the combination of all the things that make up carnival. Let's not mess with "perfection" , ok so far from perfection, still I enjoy the ships as they are today and am disappointed when cuts are made even if it is going to save me a few dollars.

[Computer Nerd]

Live Music of any sort. Hypnotists or Ventriloquist acts.

 

Instead of having to save those berths for the musicians et al, Carnival could sell them and pass that savings onto the customers - that should save at least 5%.

 

i don't think customers are allowed in crews quarters.

[Computer Nerd]

You could cut the wait staff by 1/3 and give the 2 remaining team members their own tables. There is no reason that I need a head waiter to take my order, a team waiter to go get my order, a head waiter to serve it, an assistant team waiter to fill my water glass and bus my table.

 

I would also give up towel animals, evening turndown service, photos

 

yes, i could see a reduction in wait staff but not the complete elimination of the wait staff which is what i was responding to.

[Computer Nerd]

Everyone is entitled to their ideas and we all have opinions....Just one question, to the posters that want to eliminate the shows and the bands to save $$$$. If they did that, what do you plan on doing on the ship? Wander around with a drink in your hand listening to piped in music. I think part of the cruise experience is being "entertained". are the stage shows going to compete for a TONY award, not at all, but it is entertainment and isnt that part of the cruising experience?

 

i haven't been to a show in years. never cared for them when they had they live bands and such and care even less for them now. i grab a beer or a soda and make my way to the lido deck for whatever movie is playing each night. love muts. :)

[Lakesregion]

isn't that a buffet? They already have a buffet :confused:

 

Exactly and since everyone dresses like they are at Big Bob's buffet why have a nice dining room. Could save the line major money for the stockholders. Customers who are willing to give up the entire farm will never see the milk.

[Lakesregion]

i haven't been to a show in years. never cared for them when they had they live bands and such and care even less for them now. i grab a beer or a soda and make my way to the lido deck for whatever movie is playing each night. love muts. :)

 

Not sure why you would want to spend a $1,000 or more to do what you can do at your own home with that 72" flat screen monster and a 12 pack of beer.

[jdemps]

Exactly and since everyone dresses like they are at Big Bob's buffet why have a nice dining room. Could save the line major money for the stockholders. Customers who are willing to give up the entire farm will never see the milk.

 

Smart casual is accepted at just about any restaurant these days whether it's $20 a person or $200 a person. I don't think cruise elegant is very hip..lol

but i do agree that t-shirts and tennis shoes are pretty much not acceptable for dinner on a cruise ship. I can honestly say that I have never noticed what others were wearing to dinner though - too focused on my party and having all that great food.

[Lakesregion]

You know, I was thinking the same thing. I think Carnival needs to institute a 2 class system - Bargain class where you can only eat at the buffet and you have to clean your own room and bring your own towels, and 1st class where we get back all the nice things they've taken away already - without lowering the prices!

 

Most sensible suggestion to date. Goes back to the old days of sailing. Three classes. Those that could afford the first class received it in spades and had the run of the whole ship. Those in second class had a decent voyage but could not enter the first class section and those needing a cheap sailing were in third class where they were housed and feed and knew their place which was in third class. Oh for the good old days. Those in second class went home and strived for first class status as did those in third class. Now every one just wants a participation trophy without ever earning any aspect of the gold ring.

[Tapi]

If you want to see rock bottom prices, unbundle everything that you can think of. Charge for all the food, all the drinks, cabin service, housekeeping, entertainment, use of pools, fitness center, etc. Then you, as a passenger, can choose what you add on to a basic fare.

 

But be careful what you wish for. This approach was already tried and failed miserably. Some of you may remember EasyCruise in Europe which was supposed to make cruising ultra affordable. The ship was more of a place to spend the night as the ship spent very few hours at sea. About the only form of entertainment at night was sitting at the bar. Cabins were modular spaces that looked like a plastic capsule with beds and the most basic necessities. Housekeeping cost extra. Any food served onboard cost extra as well as drinks (including water). Prices were also on a "per night" basis and you could choose how many nights you spent on the ship including where you embarked or debarked.

 

Even the most frugal of cruiser found this approach to cruising very off-putting and after a few seasons and attempts at reinventing themselves, they went out of business.

 

I hope that Carnival doesn't make the same mistake of getting too cheap. They've already alienated enough passengers as it is.

Edited May 9, 2016 by Tapi

[James in SA]

Hey, as you can see it would be possible to put way more passengers on the ship and bring in more revenue. Some pesky rules would have to be dealt with, but passengers who did not want to pay for the luxury of a cabin could sleep in public areas and use the pools to bathe in. Hey, few people are using those Lido deck loungers at night anyway. What a waste!

 

[Computer Nerd]

Not sure why you would want to spend a $1,000 or more to do what you can do at your own home with that 72" flat screen monster and a 12 pack of beer.

 

because there is so much more to cruising than just watching a movie or drinking a beer........but going to a show sure isn't one of those things.

 

btw, my tv is only 55 inches and a 12 pack of beer would last me two months at home.

[katiel53]

How about eliminating the kids clubs? I'm sure it costs Carnival money to use the space they use and for the employees that man the club. How about a if I use the kids club, I pay? No usage of it, get a discount on the cruise.

 

How about the gym? Use it pay, don't use it, get a discount on your cruise. How about hot tubs and the pool? If you use them, you pay, if not get a discount. Same with shows, you go to them, you pay. No shows get a discount.

 

Of course these things will never happen, but you asked what I would give up to get a discount.

 

One thing that could cut down on cruise prices for all of us is if Carnival enforced the fine for smoking on balconies. Not one cruise have I been on since the change that a neighbor on one side or down a couple of cabins didn't smoke cigs or pot. Nothing is done about that and if the rules were enforced, it could make a lot of money for Carnival over a short period of time.

 

Oh, another one, how about charging when people get a second or third appetizer, main course or dessert? My, my, my lots of ways to get a discount!

[Computer Nerd]

Most sensible suggestion to date. Goes back to the old days of sailing. Three classes. Those that could afford the first class received it in spades and had the run of the whole ship. Those in second class had a decent voyage but could not enter the first class section and those needing a cheap sailing were in third class where they were housed and feed and knew their place which was in third class. Oh for the good old days. Those in second class went home and strived for first class status as did those in third class. Now every one just wants a participation trophy without ever earning any aspect of the gold ring.

 

the difference is back in those days, sailing was used as transportation instead of a vacation as is done today......for the most part. rarely, if any, were there any closed loop cruises 100 years ago whereas now it's probably 95 percent of all cruising.

[Computer Nerd]

How about eliminating the kids clubs? I'm sure it costs Carnival money to use the space they use and for the employees that man the club. How about a if I use the kids club, I pay? No usage of it, get a discount on the cruise.

 

How about the gym? Use it pay, don't use it, get a discount on your cruise. How about hot tubs and the pool? If you use them, you pay, if not get a discount. Same with shows, you go to them, you pay. No shows get a discount.

 

Of course these things will never happen, but you asked what I would give up to get a discount.

 

One thing that could cut down on cruise prices for all of us is if Carnival enforced the fine for smoking on balconies. Not one cruise have I been on since the change that a neighbor on one side or down a couple of cabins didn't smoke cigs or pot. Nothing is done about that and if the rules were enforced, it could make a lot of money for Carnival over a short period of time.

 

Oh, another one, how about charging when people get a second or third appetizer, main course or dessert? My, my, my lots of ways to get a discount!

 

actually that could make a good premium service for carnival. pay 20 dollars a day for the authorization to smoke on your balcony. unlimited cigarettes, e-cigs, and cigars per 24 hour period paid for. :D

[James in SA]

the difference is back in those days, sailing was used as transportation instead of a vacation as is done today......for the most part. rarely, if any, were there any closed loop cruises 100 years ago whereas now it's probably 95 percent of all cruising.

 

Exactly! We go on cruises to have a wonderful, fun, memorable vacation experience. Carnival needs to get away from this mentality of seeing what they can cut and how much they can degrade the experience and still fill their ships.

 

Really, they should be trying to come up with ideas to make the cruise vacation experience even better. Right now the cruise industry is riding a wave of popularity, but that is a fickle thing. If Carnival cruises earn the reputation of a meh experience with mediocre entertainment, food, and service, social media will be brutal, and that reputation will be hard to overcome. Not saying that they are, but they should not move closer in that direction.

 

Cost efficiencies are not a bad thing, but they need to add VALUE to the cruise experience, not make it cheap.

 

Edited May 10, 2016 by James in SA

[LMaxwell]

I'm not willing to pay less to give up anything. I think we've given up enough.

 

I'm willing to pay a few bucks more to get back things like nightly midnight buffets, late night crepes, actual captain's gala/farewell cocktail parties, and adequate wait staff in the dining rooms.

 

I agree most with this statement, but it seems we are the minority. People constantly claim they don't mind all the little cutbacks if they think they are saving $25 per person on their cruise. So I was curious what things people would give up to lower their fare.

 

Stuff like casino, spa, etc...that makes no sense. Those are big money makers, and they are optional. But if CCL can cut out some TV carrier contracts, or buy less bathrobes and save me money, maybe that isn't such a bad thing.

 

Or at least maintain prices and bring back value add events like the midnight buffets, etc. I like vacations to feel a bit special.