Permanent Cutbacks on Carnival

[Super27]

23 hours ago, DrSea said:

I find it interesting that you consider vegas vs cruise when making your decision. I am in the same boat too (haha, get it?), but I don't gamble. So cruising almost always wins. For a gambler such as yourself, why does cruising win out? What are the little extras that you're alluding to?

 

I generally find that Carnival's casino provides better offers and comps for the amount spent than Vegas does. I also enjoy what feels like a much more personal level of service on the ships versus a hotel in Vegas. Having a dedicated room steward, for instance, and they do such a good job at little things and remembering preferences like a certain amount of towels, robes, keeping us stocked with ice. etc...it just adds a small feeling of luxury. Free room service is also a big plus for the cruise ship...it's a small thing, but again just makes it feel more like a true vacation.

[snowballs mom]

4 hours ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

Tell us how you really feel about HAL, LOL.  Have never sailed on them and only did two cruises on PCL, on the new Discovery back in April.  Like I said before, we rarely eat at the buffet for dinner, but the buffet at lunch time on the Edge Class of ships on Celebrity, which we have done three times has been the best we have seen in over 40 cruises.

I agree about Celebrity. We were on the Equinox this past February and the buffet was excellent.

[DrSea]

4 hours ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

Tell us how you really feel about HAL, LOL.  Have never sailed on them and only did two cruises on PCL, on the new Discovery back in April.  Like I said before, we rarely eat at the buffet for dinner, but the buffet at lunch time on the Edge Class of ships on Celebrity, which we have done three times has been the best we have seen in over 40 cruises.

Not been on X yet. Viking is my favorite buffet and has the best food at sea imho. It's expensive from a total sticker price perspective, but what you get is a lot of value.

 

Haha, you don't want me to bore you with my ridiculous experience on HAL.

[bdever]

On 8/4/2022 at 6:06 AM, Saint Greg said:

The one I don’t like is brunch closing at noon. They had it that way on Splendor. Not a fan. I like to go for lunch in the 12pm hour.

I’m with you Greg. 

[bdever]

On 8/4/2022 at 6:19 AM, willyt25 said:

As someone who enjoys the Havana area I will really miss the food service in Ocean Plaza.  That was such an easy place to grab a bite without having to brave the lido during peak breakfast and lunch hours.

Yes indeed Willy. I’ve always thought of it as adding to the value of being a solo Havana passenger. It’s getting harder to justify now.

[LMaxwell]

New CEO is off to a running start and they don't even have to spin this; the hardcore devotees will do it for them.  No one here seems to have heard of death by a thousand cuts.  You never can identify which was the fatal one. 

[mouche]

No biggie for me, although the late buffet will will missed, and those pizza lines are going to be even longer.🙄

[LMaxwell]

I'm willing to bet the Sea Day Brunch just becomes "Big Breakfast at Sea" with significant cutbacks to offerings.  Carnival used to do regular MDR lunches on sea days and port days with early port calls (think Key West).  Sea Day Brunch eliminated those.  Now there will be further cutbacks to SDB times.  By closing it "early" people aren't going to rush down at 11:30 or noon; they'll just use lido options.  Next thing you know Mgmt will say demand was too low to continue the extensive menu and hours, so it will just be a "special" breakfast for sea days.  None of these things happen by accident. 

 

After that get prepared for "nominal charges" big eaters...

[ninjacat123]

20 minutes ago, LMaxwell said:

I'm willing to bet the Sea Day Brunch just becomes "Big Breakfast at Sea" with significant cutbacks to offerings.  Carnival used to do regular MDR lunches on sea days and port days with early port calls (think Key West).  Sea Day Brunch eliminated those.  Now there will be further cutbacks to SDB times.  By closing it "early" people aren't going to rush down at 11:30 or noon; they'll just use lido options.  Next thing you know Mgmt will say demand was too low to continue the extensive menu and hours, so it will just be a "special" breakfast for sea days.  None of these things happen by accident. 

 

After that get prepared for "nominal charges" big eaters...

"normal charges"? what's that?  Thx!

[LMaxwell]

11 minutes ago, ninjacat123 said:

"normal charges"? what's that?  Thx!

Nominal, not normal.  

 

Nominal means a "small" charge. For your convenience.  MDR dinner will become 3 course meals - choose app, main, dessert.  Want more? No problem. There will be a nominal charge for additional apps or mains.  Then you will have people that say "I never order more than 1 app, so I'm fine with this" or "Let people pay for what they want, that's fine" and rationalize more cutbacks as "enhancements". 

[mz-s]

37 minutes ago, LMaxwell said:

I'm willing to bet the Sea Day Brunch just becomes "Big Breakfast at Sea" with significant cutbacks to offerings.  Carnival used to do regular MDR lunches on sea days and port days with early port calls (think Key West).  Sea Day Brunch eliminated those.  Now there will be further cutbacks to SDB times.  By closing it "early" people aren't going to rush down at 11:30 or noon; they'll just use lido options.  Next thing you know Mgmt will say demand was too low to continue the extensive menu and hours, so it will just be a "special" breakfast for sea days.  None of these things happen by accident. 

 

After that get prepared for "nominal charges" big eaters...

 

My grandmaw used to say "weigh them on the way in, weigh them on the way out" lol

[pc_load_letter]

50 minutes ago, LMaxwell said:

Nominal, not normal.  

 

Nominal means a "small" charge. For your convenience.  MDR dinner will become 3 course meals - choose app, main, dessert.  Want more? No problem. There will be a nominal charge for additional apps or mains.  Then you will have people that say "I never order more than 1 app, so I'm fine with this" or "Let people pay for what they want, that's fine" and rationalize more cutbacks as "enhancements". 

 

Didn't a cruise line say they were going to do this a few years back and did test it out?

[LMaxwell]

9 minutes ago, pc_load_letter said:

 

Didn't a cruise line say they were going to do this a few years back and did test it out?

Yes, holland america.  It was phased out very quickly; but saw many of the same types of "defenses" from paying customers.  I think it's a lot easier to implement on Carnival than on the premium brands. 

 

I never see cut backs uncut.  I just see them devolve the product more and more.  The new CEO has a long financial background with Carnival and they've got a huge revenue and cash flow crisis currently. Surely charging $4 for an extra app won't cause anyone to leave...

 

By the way, love the name. Perfect for a Monday morning. 

Edited August 8, 2022 by LMaxwell

[wemjam]

I think the big picture here is things change.  Sorry, it is just the facts of life.  Carnival can not keep just doing everything exactly the same way forever.  Those that have cruised before, especially for a long time, like to pick apart Carnival any time they make a change that is "taking something" away from them.  Don't get me wrong, I am not a cheerleader here, because some changes have annoyed me too.  But I understand that things are ever evolving.  

 

Let's not forget that change also brings positive things too: 

1. Facial recognition - SO much better and efficient getting off the ship now!

2. Kiosks on board to handle account issues instead of going to guest services and waiting in lines

3. Check in efficiency has dramatically improved (I remember my first cruises waiting in HUGE lines for long periods of time to check in, so much shorter now)

4. Adding ability to buy things before you board - excursions, dining, etc. (never used to be able to do that)

5. Carnival Hub App - getting all the info at your finger tips (account balances, checking in for dinner - so much faster and better, buying excursions and such, ordering food)

6. Revamping of older ships to include new bigger and better options in entertainment, food options, etc.

 

These are the key things that come to mind for me and I am sure there could be more - but ALL of these costs them money to make cruising better for their guests.  So sometimes we deal with things leaving, and sometimes it is new things coming.  If we aren't moving forward... we are moving backwards. 😁

Edited August 8, 2022 by wemjam

[mz-s]

12 minutes ago, wemjam said:

I think the big picture here is things change.  Sorry, it is just the facts of life.  Carnival can not keep just doing everything exactly the same way forever.  Those that have cruised before, especially for a long time, like to pick apart Carnival any time they make a change that is "taking something" away from them.  Don't get me wrong, I am not a cheerleader here, because some changes have annoyed me too.  But I understand that things are ever evolving.  

 

Let's not forget that change also brings positive things too: 

1. Facial recognition - SO much better and efficient getting off the ship now!

2. Kiosks on board to handle account issues instead of going to guest services and waiting in lines

3. Check in efficiency has dramatically improved (I remember my first cruises waiting in HUGE lines for long periods of time to check in, so much shorter now)

4. Adding ability to buy things before you board - excursions, dining, etc. (never used to be able to do that)

5. Carnival Hub App - getting all the info at your finger tips (account balances, checking in for dinner - so much faster and better, buying excursions and such, ordering food)

6. Revamping of older ships to include new bigger and better options in entertainment, food options, etc.

 

These are the key things that come to mind for me and I am sure there could be more - but ALL of these costs them money to make cruising better for their guests.  So sometimes we deal with things leaving, and sometimes it is new things coming.  If we aren't moving forward... we are moving backwards. 😁

 

I agree that Carnival's positive changes should be celebrated.

 

But I don't see what this has to do with the cutbacks.

[JT1962]

2 hours ago, LMaxwell said:

 

 

After that get prepared for "nominal charges" big eaters...

MSC currently charges extra for Shrimp

Cocktail and Steak in the main dining room, other than elegant night, unless you are in the Yacht Club level dining room. Many complain about this, but would also complain if they raised the base fares $ 10-20 a day to be able to offer “free” shrimp cocktail and steak every evening.

[4hunters]

34 minutes ago, LMaxwell said:

Yes, holland america.  It was phased out very quickly; but saw many of the same types of "defenses" from paying customers.  I think it's a lot easier to implement on Carnival than on the premium brands. 

 

I never see cut backs uncut.  I just see them devolve the product more and more.  The new CEO has a long financial background with Carnival and they've got a huge revenue and cash flow crisis currently. Surely charging $4 for an extra app won't cause anyone to leave...

 

By the way, love the name. Perfect for a Monday morning. 

Somebody's got a case of the Mondays! 😉

[mz-s]

9 minutes ago, JT1962 said:

MSC currently charges extra for Shrimp

Cocktail and Steak in the main dining room, other than elegant night, unless you are in the Yacht Club level dining room. Many complain about this, but would also complain if they raised the base fares $ 10-20 a day to be able to offer “free” shrimp cocktail and steak every evening.

 

If you want an a-la-carte, nothing is included, cruise experience, more power to you. Historically this is not how cruising has worked however.

Edited August 8, 2022 by mz-s

[JT1962]

2 minutes ago, mz-s said:

 

If you want an a-la-carte, nothing is included, cruise experience, more power to you. Historically this is not how cruising has worked however.

I cruised with MSC in January and loved it and am booked for 19 days in October. Very low solo rates and the things I enjoy are included. It’s nice to not have to pay a higher base fare for things I won’t be using.

[Snowflake luvr]

On 8/4/2022 at 5:47 PM, Indytraveler83 said:

 

I didn't think of it, but that may be another factor.  Carnival has long publicly considered itself a "family" cruise line, while benefiting from the "party" crowd on the short, cheap "booze cruise."

 

It could be a bit of a quiet way to try to encourage that late night party to head to bed before anything too bad happens.  

Carnival will fly whatever flag you want them to as long as your paying. Carnival has been the King of Cutbacks for the last 20 years and probably have a ways to go yet. 5 years from now you will be paying them and have to bring a sleeping bag and pack a cooler with food but no drinks they will sell you those.

[ray98]

2 hours ago, wemjam said:

I think the big picture here is things change.  Sorry, it is just the facts of life.  Carnival can not keep just doing everything exactly the same way forever.  Those that have cruised before, especially for a long time, like to pick apart Carnival any time they make a change that is "taking something" away from them.  Don't get me wrong, I am not a cheerleader here, because some changes have annoyed me too.  But I understand that things are ever evolving.  

 

Let's not forget that change also brings positive things too: 

1. Facial recognition - SO much better and efficient getting off the ship now!

2. Kiosks on board to handle account issues instead of going to guest services and waiting in lines

3. Check in efficiency has dramatically improved (I remember my first cruises waiting in HUGE lines for long periods of time to check in, so much shorter now)

4. Adding ability to buy things before you board - excursions, dining, etc. (never used to be able to do that)

5. Carnival Hub App - getting all the info at your finger tips (account balances, checking in for dinner - so much faster and better, buying excursions and such, ordering food)

6. Revamping of older ships to include new bigger and better options in entertainment, food options, etc.

 

These are the key things that come to mind for me and I am sure there could be more - but ALL of these costs them money to make cruising better for their guests.  So sometimes we deal with things leaving, and sometimes it is new things coming.  If we aren't moving forward... we are moving backwards. 😁

 

 

While these may be positive for the customer you cannot overlook most save or make Carnival money.  Technology is doing the work a paid employee used to, they are providing you with more options to spend money and as for ship upgrades they have to keep up with the competition or they don't get the best return from fare prices.  You can't pretend all these things enacted just to benefit their customers.  Either way, none of that has anything to do with eliminating longstanding practices on cruise ships.

[BlerkOne]

So much betting going on. I bet most people who threaten to leave Carnival don't, or they soon return.

[fuddrules]

5 hours ago, LMaxwell said:

New CEO is off to a running start and they don't even have to spin this; the hardcore devotees will do it for them.  No one here seems to have heard of death by a thousand cuts.  You never can identify which was the fatal one. 

 

I read here the fatal one was the removal of the chocolate wax from the pillow.   I'm a little surprised Carnival is still around.

[kdr69]

2 hours ago, Snowflake luvr said:

Carnival will fly whatever flag you want them to as long as your paying. Carnival has been the King of Cutbacks for the last 20 years and probably have a ways to go yet. 5 years from now you will be paying them and have to bring a sleeping bag and pack a cooler with food but no drinks they will sell you those.

🙄

[kdr69]

Who knew that no filet would be the downfall of civilization as we knew it.....🤨