Carnival Long Lines for Everything

[BlerkOne]

"Don't believe everything you read on the Internet"

Benjamin Franklin

[sgttami]

33 cruises on 5 different lines and I've never waited an hour for anything. 

 

 Simply because, I wouldn't.

[mz-s]

It's just so out of the ordinary I am having trouble believing it. Now we all know that if you go to Guy's at 12:15 or Pizza at 12 midnight you're going to wait. But an hour? Simply never seen it.

 

The Sunrise is a big ship, certainly someone else had to have been on the ship and can corroborate.

[ShadowCat92]

4 hours ago, lazydayz said:

 

Most three night cruises are the booze cruises.  The four night cruises can go either way - if they are not over the weekend, they tend to be more sedate.  However, we are taking our three grands on a three night (weekend) cruise on June 24, and there is plenty for a family to do.  For us, the big draw on this one is a chance to check out Bimini, and to celebrate DH's birthday at the steakhouse (a first for the two younger grands, who are 13 and 15 - and a big risk for future cruises - LOL).  

 

If we encounter lines like the OP did, we will either wait for the lines to die down or find something else, even if it has a delivery fee. 

 

And note to the OP, this is not normal.  We were on the Mardi Gras in May, at 100% capacity and waited less than 10 minutes for Shaq's Big Chicken. 

We will be on this one too!! Needed a quick getaway. Haven't tried a 3 day but im hoping it's not too rowdy. Happy early birthday to your DH. 

[lazydayz]

2 hours ago, ShadowCat92 said:

We will be on this one too!! Needed a quick getaway. Haven't tried a 3 day but im hoping it's not too rowdy. Happy early birthday to your DH. 

Thank you! Hope you have a great cruise. 

[southbayer]

yeah i've never really waited more than15 min in a single line... I would go to deli and come back later for guys!  Yeah, I really think the herd mentality has a lot to do with it I think.

[Hoosierpop]

Only been on two cruises post pandemic but I have found the lines similar to before. I agree with the poster who said there can be herd mentality for certain venues so I just get a feel for what time of day things get busy and adjust accordingly. 

[Batman5924]

We have cruised Carnival at least 15 times.  When my kids were younger, the slide lines on the breeze would get pretty long.  But you got to to it.  Right. They want to slide.  I always thought they should’ve put a cocktail/beer cart halfway up the tower to the top of the slide.  I would’ve rode that all day.  Now that they are older and don’t want to cruise anymore, I agree with some of the other posters.  We just go where people aren’t and come back at off peak times.  It generally works out.

[firefly333]

I've read some other complaints about sunrise. I said this is a ship that was amped and extra cabins added to a already crowded ship. 4 day cruise and its summer so high capacity.

 

I complained on grandeur.. its rcl oldest ship and has dining staff issues. I see rcl cut off bookings for most of the rest of the summer for grandeur. Dining is short staffed.  At least they stopped booking.

 

Booking the ship with the least space per pax on a short carnival cruise. You got what you paid for. A crowd.

 

Book a nicer newer ship doing longer cruises to decide. And not during summer or holidays. 

[mz-s]

1 hour ago, firefly333 said:

I've read some other complaints about sunrise. I said this is a ship that was amped and extra cabins added to a already crowded ship. 4 day cruise and its summer so high capacity.

 

I complained on grandeur.. its rcl oldest ship and has dining staff issues. I see rcl cut off bookings for most of the rest of the summer for grandeur. Dining is short staffed.  At least they stopped booking.

 

Booking the ship with the least space per pax on a short carnival cruise. You got what you paid for. A crowd.

 

Book a nicer newer ship doing longer cruises to decide. And not during summer or holidays. 

 

34:1 space ratio seems about standard for Carnival (outside of the Spirit class obviously). That's what Fantasy class, Sunshine class, and Excel class are purported to have per GoCCL. I didn't look at the other classes but they should be in that range as well.

 

All the ships feel crowded in the Summer though. That's when the pullmans and trundles get filled up with kids that don't sail during the school year.

Edited June 15, 2022 by mz-s

[firefly333]

30 minutes ago, mz-s said:

 

34:1 space ratio seems about standard for Carnival (outside of the Spirit class obviously). That's what Fantasy class, Sunshine class, and Excel class are purported to have per GoCCL. I didn't look at the other classes but they should be in that range as well.

 

All the ships feel crowded in the Summer though. That's when the pullmans and trundles get filled up with kids that don't sail during the school year.

Triumph class didnt need more cabins added. It's how carnival squeezes the most people into as little space as possible. And I said the same thing, its summer. Carnival used to typically sail at what they called 110% capacity. More cabins filled with more kids. It's coming back that's all. Nothing unexpected. I'll sail at diamond my next cruise on dream. .. been on more than a few carnival.

 

I prefer dream class  myself. 

[mz-s]

8 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

Triumph class didnt need more cabins added. It's how carnival squeezes the most people into as little space as possible. And I said the same thing, its summer. Carnival used to typically sail at what they called 110% capacity. More cabins filled with more kids. It's coming back that's all. Nothing unexpected. I'll sail at diamond my next cruise on dream. .. been on more than a few carnival.

 

I prefer dream class  myself. 

 

I have never been on Dream class, hope to soon!

[Joebucks]

8 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

Triumph class didnt need more cabins added. It's how carnival squeezes the most people into as little space as possible. And I said the same thing, its summer. Carnival used to typically sail at what they called 110% capacity. More cabins filled with more kids. It's coming back that's all. Nothing unexpected. I'll sail at diamond my next cruise on dream. .. been on more than a few carnival.

 

I prefer dream class  myself. 

 

Ratio is 34 (Sunrise) vs 35 (Dream class). You're drawing your own conclusions of a completely different experience

[BlerkOne]

Space Ratio is a term thrown about that few people seem to understand. It is the enclosed space divided by the number of passengers. Enclosed space as in volume. Not square footage. High ceilings inflate the number, but cruises can still be packed like sardines. Carnival has a larger average cabin size than Royal, for example, so you have more personal space there.

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

On 6/14/2022 at 11:55 AM, JP350 said:

I just got off a 4 night cruise on the carnival sunrise. (Which was my first carnival cruise) There were lines for everything related to food all hours of the day. The only exception to this rule was the mdr where service was slow but manageable. Other than that howeverI waited in an hour line for guys burgers 3 days and a 45 min line for the deli 1 day. Pizza had an hour and a half line the whole time as well. Is this normal on carnival to wait for food like this because that could effect if I cruise them again. The cruise was a 90% capacity which idk if that was a factor. I’ve been on 16 Royal Caribbean cruises one on symphony where we had 6400 passengers on bord and I still had to wait no more than 5 min for any food. Other than that the crew was excellent.

50 cruises with carnival. never ever had your experience. Pizza line maybe the longest 15 min. because we have a pizza made the way we like it. Guy's maybe 5 or 6 min. Sometimes I also have the burger made the way I like it, so yes a bit longer. Buffet, never. Always quick unless waiting for something to be made or brought out that is empty.

[mz-s]

1 minute ago, ALWAYS CRUZIN said:

50 cruises with carnival. never ever had your experience. Pizza line maybe the longest 15 min. because we have a pizza made the way we like it. Guy's maybe 5 or 6 min. Sometimes I also have the burger made the way I like it, so yes a bit longer. Buffet, never. Always quick unless waiting for something to be made or brought out that is empty.

 

If you go to pizza right as the late comedy show is letting out, or at say midnight-1AM, you will have a much longer wait than 15 minutes.

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

Just now, mz-s said:

 

If you go to pizza right as the late comedy show is letting out, or at say midnight-1AM, you will have a much longer wait than 15 minutes.

Sure you will. That is unstainable, is it not? That is only certain times not all the time. Just do not go at that time.

[BlerkOne]

8 minutes ago, mz-s said:

 

If you go to pizza right as the late comedy show is letting out, or at say midnight-1AM, you will have a much longer wait than 15 minutes.

or you can order and have delivered to the casino or wherever.

[mz-s]

11 minutes ago, ALWAYS CRUZIN said:

Sure you will. That is unstainable, is it not? That is only certain times not all the time. Just do not go at that time.

 

In my experience pretty much any time after the dinner buffet ends to say 1AM, the line for pizza is at least 20 minutes on this class of ship. Typically much longer.

 

4 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

or you can order and have delivered to the casino or wherever.

 

You don't save any time doing that in my experience, but you do save waiting in line. It's not free though.

[BlerkOne]

6 minutes ago, mz-s said:

 

You don't save any time doing that in my experience, but you do save waiting in line. It's not free though.

Waiting in line is time wasted I'll never get back.

[mz-s]

3 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

Waiting in line is time wasted I'll never get back.

 

Fair enough. I hate waiting in line. I usually do the buffet or Deli (but only when the line is manageable)

[jetsfan58]

Thank you for your analysis of the Carnival Fleet after one Cruise. Let us remind you that this is a Carnival Cruise forum and not those other guys. Welcome to the Carnival Cruise Nuts brigade! Now that's out of the way lets chat.

 

My family and I have been loyal Carnival Cruisers for a very long time. During those many years I have never experienced anything even remotely close to what you are describing. There are personnel shortages throughout the industry; not just Carnival. The reason we are so loyal to Carnival is because we did exactly what you did and many years ago tried one Royal Caribbean Cruise. We were not impressed with the Cruise or the Cruisers and we found out that we spent almost double for the Cruise as compared to Carnival.

 

Long story short we all have choices and preferences when it comes to Cruising. Maybe you will be like me and my family and decide that the other Cruise line was not for us!! Nothing wrong with that choice if that is what you decide. Otherwise welcome aboard and welcome to the Carnival Cruise Nuts forum!!!

 

Long Live Cruising (Carnival that is) !!!                   

[tbjl24]

17 minutes ago, jetsfan58 said:

Thank you for your analysis of the Carnival Fleet after one Cruise. Let us remind you that this is a Carnival Cruise forum and not those other guys. Welcome to the Carnival Cruise Nuts brigade! Now that's out of the way lets chat.

 

My family and I have been loyal Carnival Cruisers for a very long time. During those many years I have never experienced anything even remotely close to what you are describing. There are personnel shortages throughout the industry; not just Carnival. The reason we are so loyal to Carnival is because we did exactly what you did and many years ago tried one Royal Caribbean Cruise. We were not impressed with the Cruise or the Cruisers and we found out that we spent almost double for the Cruise as compared to Carnival.

 

Long story short we all have choices and preferences when it comes to Cruising. Maybe you will be like me and my family and decide that the other Cruise line was not for us!! Nothing wrong with that choice if that is what you decide. Otherwise welcome aboard and welcome to the Carnival Cruise Nuts forum!!!

 

Long Live Cruising (Carnival that is) !!!                   

Just because it’s a carnival forum doesn’t mean everyone loves everything about carnival. I certainly don’t. 

[jetsfan58]

4 minutes ago, tbjl24 said:

Just because it’s a carnival forum doesn’t mean everyone loves everything about carnival. I certainly don’t. 

I certainly respect your choice just please respect mine. I did not misspeak and was totally transparent in my views.   

[jetsfan58]

I also welcomed the author to the World of Carnival!! That's what we are supposed to do for our new patrons!