Rare Mary229 Posted March 20, 2021 #1 Share Posted March 20, 2021 Hi everyone and thanks for any help or comments. I sailed Carnival quite a few times years ago when I lived on the Gulf Coast. We have also sailed the old NCL, Princess and now Holland America. There are quite a few longer Carnival cruises on the smaller ships I have been researching. So how bad is the hawking and sales on the ship. The last time we sailed Princess you couldn't walk anywhere on the ship without being accosted by some crew member selling something. it drove us a little batty. Again, we only sail itineraries over 10 days and I know that can make a difference. So what is your experience. We would love to get back on a Carnival ship! Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bostwick girl Posted March 20, 2021 #2 Share Posted March 20, 2021 I can honestly say I’ve never been bothered by hawking as you call it. I’ve been on 32 cruises. On embarkation day there are generally people from the spa stationed around for your convenience to book, usually someone from the steakhouse too, and of course the drinks person. In the evenings there’s generally a few stations here and there on promenade for the art sales/auctions, the Spa people, but that’s pretty much it except for the photographers every night. 8 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Mary229 Posted March 20, 2021 Author #3 Share Posted March 20, 2021 Just now, Bostwick girl said: I can honestly say I’ve never been bothered by hawking as you call it. Thank you. First day is fine, I get that. The DH has never been on Carnival and I think he might like a change of pace from Holland, though we still like their very long voyages. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aplmac Posted March 20, 2021 #4 Share Posted March 20, 2021 Photographers are a real pain, even a blight especially when you've already made up your mind that you're not going to support the ripoff prices! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Mary229 Posted March 20, 2021 Author #5 Share Posted March 20, 2021 6 minutes ago, Aplmac said: Photographers are a real pain, even a blight I have a little trick up my sleeve to get rid of them. On HAL they are only stationed at the end of the gangway. On Princess they were everywhere even interrupting dinner in the dining room. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare puppycanducruise Posted March 20, 2021 #6 Share Posted March 20, 2021 4 minutes ago, Mary229 said: I have a little trick up my sleeve to get rid of them. Can you share? Sometimes those photographers can be a real pain. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Mary229 Posted March 20, 2021 Author #7 Share Posted March 20, 2021 Just now, puppycanducruise said: Can you share? Sometimes those photographers can be a real pain. I tell them I have religious and spiritual objections to being photographed. This only works on smaller ships (under 2000) where they can remember you. The most I have had to say it is twice and never had a problem again - and I tend to take very long cruises. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare puppycanducruise Posted March 20, 2021 #8 Share Posted March 20, 2021 2 minutes ago, Mary229 said: I tell them I have religious and spiritual objections to being photographed. This only works on smaller ships (under 2000) where they can remember you. The most I have had to say it is twice and never had a problem again - and I tend to take very long cruises. Thanks for the tip. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hockeyluver Posted March 20, 2021 #9 Share Posted March 20, 2021 Aside from the photographers 🤔 and the spa area we haven't had any problems in 21 cruises. We just say no thank you and keep on walking. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jperry2011 Posted March 20, 2021 #10 Share Posted March 20, 2021 I've been on 4 7day cruises with carnival and never felt like they were pressuring me to buy anything.. 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovetocruise79 Posted March 20, 2021 #11 Share Posted March 20, 2021 My husband, who hates getting his picture taken, has never been on a cruise and hopefully we sail in November. Not planning on mentioning the photography craziness. He'll figure out out quick enough lol! 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ledges1 Posted March 20, 2021 #12 Share Posted March 20, 2021 Say "no thank you" and they leave you alone. We expect the cruise employees to respect us, we should respect them. They are just doing their job. 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skrufy Posted March 20, 2021 #13 Share Posted March 20, 2021 2 hours ago, Mary229 said: Hi everyone and thanks for any help or comments. I sailed Carnival quite a few times years ago when I lived on the Gulf Coast. We have also sailed the old NCL, Princess and now Holland America. There are quite a few longer Carnival cruises on the smaller ships I have been researching. So how bad is the hawking and sales on the ship. The last time we sailed Princess you couldn't walk anywhere on the ship without being accosted by some crew member selling something. it drove us a little batty. Again, we only sail itineraries over 10 days and I know that can make a difference. So what is your experience. We would love to get back on a Carnival ship! Thank you Have been cruising since 2004 and have never been pressured to buy anything. The photographers will ask if you want your photo taken, just say no thank you and he/she will move on. The waiters who roamed the lido has been reduced that you very rarely notice them. Overall, no one will ask you to stop for a sales pitch. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoungingMcCoy Posted March 20, 2021 #14 Share Posted March 20, 2021 Maybe I'm just lucky, but the only time I remember being pressured to get pictures taken was on our very first cruise as we were entering the terminal. The one where they take your picture in front of the backdrop of the ship you're boarding. (My wife was already cranky by this point and it really shows in the photo. lol) At this point we just say "No thanks" and walk on by. The only time I really felt pressured was when we decided to take a look at the art gallery. That guy was on us like a dog on a steak. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coloradocruiselover88 Posted March 20, 2021 #15 Share Posted March 20, 2021 I generally feel like the spa folks are pushy and even pushier at the end of your service to buy the products they used on (like after getting a facial) so I just tell them at the beginning I will not be purchasing any products so don't even try. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Mary229 Posted March 20, 2021 Author #16 Share Posted March 20, 2021 For those who have never been pressured I just want to say, I have been cruising since 1988 and never had that experience until my last Princess Cruise in about 2017. I understand the sale pressure when you attend a function or participate in a service. I understand the gangway pictures as folks really do like those, I don't. And I don't want my evening meals interrupted at all which I experienced almost every night on Princess. I just don't want to even bother saying 'no thank you" when walking down a public hallway. I was with a group of about 60 family members, all different ages and lifestyles, and they all came away with the same complaint, so I know it wasn't me being peculiar. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanmarcosman Posted March 20, 2021 #17 Share Posted March 20, 2021 2 hours ago, Mary229 said: I have a little trick up my sleeve to get rid of them. On HAL they are only stationed at the end of the gangway. They should be off to the side of the gangway and not holding people up who don't want to stop to have their photo taken. HAL is the worst for this, people primping, preening and posing without consideration to those behind them who want to begin their port day. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Mary229 Posted March 20, 2021 Author #18 Share Posted March 20, 2021 24 minutes ago, sanmarcosman said: They should be off to the side of the gangway and not holding people up who don't want to stop to have their photo taken. HAL is the worst for this, people primping, preening and posing without consideration to those behind them who want to begin their port day. You would think with digital cameras this all would go away! They will even professionally print your digital photos yet people want that photo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefly333 Posted March 20, 2021 #19 Share Posted March 20, 2021 No idea how many cruises I've done, always amazed people know and count them. I have 179 loyalty pts. I've never been bothered onboard by people hawking. If someone wants to take my picture I just keep on walking and maybe give a wave. Or says no thanks. Jamaica, now that's where they hawk. Or Belize. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HillBilly Bob Posted March 20, 2021 #20 Share Posted March 20, 2021 4 hours ago, Bostwick girl said: I can honestly say I’ve never been bothered by hawking as you call it. Completely agree.....there are three great words you can use.....NO thank you. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeyancho Posted March 20, 2021 #21 Share Posted March 20, 2021 The sales pitches are no worse on Carnival than any other major cruise line. To quote Nancy Reagan, "just say no". I think the daily announcements by the hyperventilating cruise directors are much more irritating than any sales pitches. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Mary229 Posted March 20, 2021 Author #22 Share Posted March 20, 2021 So I guess I got my answer. If you don't like the constant sales pitches Carnival may not be the cruise line for you. Thanks guys. We all have differences, that is what makes it all work, something for everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanmarcosman Posted March 20, 2021 #23 Share Posted March 20, 2021 (edited) 18 minutes ago, Mary229 said: So I guess I got my answer. If you don't like the constant sales pitches Carnival may not be the cruise line for you. Thanks guys. We all have differences, that is what makes it all work, something for everyone. Princess is worse than Carnival. Carnival Panorama doesn't have space rented to Park Worst Art Galleries so no more of those announcements or the ream's worth of flyers under the door of your cabin that auctions generate. The auction reminders on Cunard began to run around in our heads while sleeping. RCCL has plenty to sell on their ships and they don't hesitate to remind you on the main walkway which resembles the arcades of Coney Island with its games of chance and spin the wheel. Good luck. Edited March 20, 2021 by sanmarcosman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 1025cruise Posted March 20, 2021 #24 Share Posted March 20, 2021 I don't know if any cruise line where the photographers aren't everywhere, or there aren't announcements to buy this, look at that, etc. I just avoid the sales areas during the sales, and a pleasant no thank you to the photographers works just fine. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Roz Posted March 20, 2021 #25 Share Posted March 20, 2021 @Mary229, the last cruise I took was a 13-day Panama Canal cruise on the Carnival Miracle. It was a wonderful cruise and if there was a lot of "hawking" I was oblivious to it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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