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I will Stop Cruising if....

Jamericannn

By Jamericannn,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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spleenstomper

spleenstomper

Posted
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skymaster---I believe NCL Freestyle Cruising is like Carnival's My Time Dining, and if so, what is wrong with that? We found the Freestyle philosophy on NCL much preferable to the set dining times that restrict and tie you to a certain time of dining every night. We found it extremely enjoyable, and less stressful. No need to rush back to room to get ready if you wanted to do something late afternoon or early evening. I found it very freeing!!

 

 

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We had no trouble with freestyle dining, but if I remember right, we made reservations. (Pride of Hawaii... we ate at the upcharge restaurants).

 

YTD is a disaster and yes, I will add that to my list. If carnival goes all YTD, I'm done.

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Jamericannn

Jamericannn

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We had no trouble with freestyle dining, but if I remember right, we made reservations. (Pride of Hawaii... we ate at the upcharge restaurants).

 

YTD is a disaster and yes, I will add that to my list. If carnival goes all YTD, I'm done.

 

Some people love it but I also do not think o would (haven't done it yet and not planning to). I like the idea of know where my table is and get the same staff every night. I do early dining so no worries and no waiting.

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cocoaloco

cocoaloco

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:cool: With a kudo to Fireman Bob's Wife - When will I stop cruising? - after they scatter the ashes from the fantail. The sea is for me.... :cool: The other stuff is just stuff.... think about what is important...we only have one life - might as well go through it on a cruise ship ...:hearteyes:

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KPfromCT

KPfromCT

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I really cannot think of anything that would make us stop cruising.

We get the cutbacks, but you are going to see that everywhere.

Try pricing out an AI with airfare and compare it to the price of a cruise. It's crazy.

We've done Sandals 6 times, and no longer enjoy it, and don't see the value in it.

To each their own.

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Momma1980

Momma1980

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Hope this doesn't come across as sounding self centered (well not too much :o). We have enjoyed other vacations like Nascar races' date=' following the Cubs, amusement parks, etc. So, when we started cruising in 2000, the one thing that I really enjoyed was that when we were on a cruise -we could be as busy or laid back as we wanted and that we were being "pampered". It just seemed like the staff was happier, the room stewards were always greeting us in the hallway, you had to tell multiple drink staff "no thank-you" instead of searching them out, the fussy re-arranging of silverware between courses, having free champagne one evening in the MDR, free cappuccino in the MDR every night, seemed like a lot more parties with free drinks. I think that to keep the prices more affordable, there have been too many cuts. I feel like I have to apologize whenever I make a request from my room steward or dining staff. I liked it better when there was more staff so you didn't feel guilty making simple requests.

 

I would try another cruise line first but - I would stop cruising altogether if I continue to feel like instead of being "pampered" on my vacation - I am made to feel like I am a burden to the cruise staff.[/quote']

 

 

This post resonates with me. I also enjoy cruising because I don't have to deal with making hotel reservations or dining plans for each night of my vacation. I can just relax and enjoy.

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grandmarnnurse

grandmarnnurse

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In a word "yes" if you are expecting any of those things. They are ALL gone now.

 

Well, then, I guess I will just go into that cruise on Breeze with an open mind, and plan on having a great time, because in answer to the OPs question as to what it will take to get me to stop cruising:

I will cruise until I can no longer due to health, or I run out of money--lol! Seriously--I am a cruise addict, and if I could afford to cruise more than once a year, I would! My hubby and I are retired, and hope to move closer to Florida ports eventually. We currently live outside Buffalo, NY, so we always have to factor in the cost of flights to our total vacation costs. I would like to avoid that one added cost if possible.

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Warm Breezes

Warm Breezes

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I'm not standing in a hallway and waiting 45 minutes for a table when I'm on a cruise!

 

 

I've done YTD only since its inception on Carnival and have yet to wait 45 minutes and never had to wait standing in the hallway. We usually have no wait at all but when we do it is between 10-30 minutes (max on elegant night) depending on the night and the time and they give you a pager so you just go to the nearby bar and enjoy a drink as you wait...NBD. I have no problem having a drink while I wait for a table on our cruise.

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tonyasnews

tonyasnews

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We really like Carnival except their evening shows. People were walking out in the middle of them during our last cruise, including us. We just stopped going after the second night. Probably won't be back on Carnival until they up the entertainment of their shows. We do like the family fun on the ship's but wouldn't cruise Carnival if it was just my husband and I cruising.

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
edsbiggbuck

edsbiggbuck

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... if the continual staff-to-passenger cutbacks mean overworked staff and the inability to get my room cleaned twice a day without feeling like a burden. I'm already teetering on the edge of wondering if I'm supporting an unethical industry, with so much talk of crew practically dead on their feet.

One simple way to get Great Service EVERY Cruise. TIP THEM. 10 min on the ship go to your room find the steward and give them a $20 we have been cruising for 15 years twice a year and have never had to ask for Anything.

 

Fine the Bar you'll be at most of the cruise either the pool, casino, club and TIP the Bartender 1st drink in you'll never wait for another drink. I garrentee you they will have your drink being made before you can ask.

 

With all the money you'll waste on Stuff. Those 2 tips will make your cruise enjoyable.

 

Try it and when you get back you'll say to yourself..wow I never had to ask for anything.

 

Sent from my SM-N920V using Forums mobile app

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A&Jfamily

A&Jfamily

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Yep in the past....Oh the good old days when you pulled up to a gas pump and five guys rushed out to service your car...checked the oil, washed the windows, pumped the gas and did it all with a smile. Or inexpensive restaurants where they parked your car for free, pulled out your chair, had table cloths and cloth napkins, water wasn't an "asked" for item and meals included salads and desserts and coffee was refilled after every sip. Or stores like Sears and Penneys had registers in every department and suit or black dressed salespeople that were department specific and knew everything about what they were selling. Or food stores where they unloaded your cart, bagged your groceries, and the bag boy loaded your car. Or when airlines served you alcohol on the house, appetizers, full course meals on every flight, unlimited beverages, blankets, pillows, playing cards, and toys and badges for the kids. Or hotels/motels where they unloaded and loaded your car and bellboys delivered and picked up your luggage. Or when milk trucks delivered milk and bread and butter every day and took away the empties. Or when drugstores delivered your prescriptions free of charge after the Doctor had made their house call. Or when elevators had operators, doors had door men, parking lot attendants parked your car.

 

 

 

What is it about cruising that, of all the service industries, patrons demand that they stay the same even though life has significantly changed over the years. It mystifies me.

 

 

 

I'm with those that say cruising, for me, will stop when I can no longer get to the ship. Change doesn't bother me since I'm the kind of person who adjusts easily and just goes with the flow. Too many other things in life to worry about and stress over that I refuse to have my vacations ruined by the comparisons to how it used to be...It is what it is and it is up to me to adjust and accept.

 

 

Well said!

 

People seem to easily forget that change isn't a one way street. I remember fondly from childhood all the things that you spoke of - most of all fresh milk in glass bottles in the container on the back porch!

 

But in that time we didn't have remote controls (I was the remote control) internet (I had to use a card catalog to write my history paper) DVRs to watch a million shows of our choice at our convenience (not LoveBoat every Friday night), Amazon (oops - only a couple of k-cups left honey - push a few buttons and voila) cell phones and tablets just to name a few!

 

Service has changed. Not only to cut costs but also because of ease we can do so much more at our fingertips.

 

Change isn't necessarily good or bad, it's just part of life.

 

That said, I don't foresee intentionally giving up cruising of one type or another. We might switch locations or to a river format but as long as cruises are offered it will be one of our go to travel choices.

 

 

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shukapaw

shukapaw

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We really like Carnival except their evening shows. People were walking out in the middle of them during our last cruise, including us. We just stopped going after the second night. Probably won't be back on Carnival until they up the entertainment of their shows.

 

We already switched to other cruise lines after the change in the evening shows. The new format stinks!

 

~Brian

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funkidd

funkidd

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Currently I do believe that cruising is affordable. I get a good value for my dollar. Over the past 10 years I see that value eroding however. I'm not sure if it is because cost cutting or simply trying to improve the bottom line.

 

I will stop riding carnival when the kids get to crazy and begin to overrun the ship. We're not there yet but it's getting closer. I will stop cruising when the price value isn't there. When the cruise industry finally gets to the point of charging for all food.

 

 

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grandmarnnurse

grandmarnnurse

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The only option is Carnival

 

You need to try other lines, too. I am not a cruise line "snob". (Not saying you are. Just using that as an expression) I love every line I've tried! I was pleasantly surprised by the value and service with NCL! I loved RCCL, but found I always end up paying more with them. I have not ruled out Carnival for any future cruises, though, as we always had a great time on Carnival. I am just happy to be cruising ANY ship on ANY line! Give me the sun in my face, and a cocktail in hand, and I'm happy! Lol! Cruise addict for life!

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