liquor disappeared from food and beverages orders for upcoming cruise

[pc_load_letter]

Will they lose money on this decision yes. Will it help keep troublemakers from causing trouble...no.

 

Meh, I never pre-purchased booze for my room but I know people who did. Was a nice option to have.

 

Would have been better to see if it was restricted to higher level VIFP people.

[BlerkOne]

1 minute ago, pc_load_letter said:

Will they lose money on this decision yes. Will it help keep troublemakers from causing trouble...no.

 

Meh, I never pre-purchased booze for my room but I know people who did. Was a nice option to have.

 

Would have been better to see if it was restricted to higher level VIFP people.

It would not eliminate, but will help.

 

Restricting to VIFP levels? Nah. A few issues... With all the free cruises given out - the recipients really have nothing to lose. They will just move on to another line if they get banned. But they are at the highest levels on down 

 

Then there would be the incessant whining by some on the cusp of a different level or will cross over on a cruise or a family divided by VIFP levels, or or...

 

Carnival is too wishy washy on rules as it is. Best to make a black and white rule and be done.

[bucfan2]

7 minutes ago, MScarn123 said:

 

I appreciate your kindness! It seems like most people on Cruise Critic are friendly, but the nasty ones are really nasty.

 

Anyway, what cruise lines have you tried since Carnival? Do you know if they offer in-room liquor, or a more flexible beverage package?

 

 

NCL, RCL and Celebrity...we are loyal to the best deal at the time lol.  Just love cruising, and enjoy each line for what they are.

 

Can't help you on the liquor questions tho, as we aren't big drinkers.  Others are likely to chime in.  Al the best.

[txgranny]

18 hours ago, MScarn123 said:

We have a week long Carnival cruise booked for October 2023, booked it sometime last year with an Early Saver sale. This would have been my first cruise. The in-room liquor was great since we would have to buy Cheers for both of us, even though my spouse doesn't drink. Also, I spent significantly more to book a larger cabin/suite with the intention of mixing drinks and sitting on the balcony away from the crowds.

 

As far as the post pandemic cutbacks, I don't care about not having bacon every day, nor do I care about Guy's fries, lower quality food in the MDR, or not having half price fishbowls, but not having in-room liquor is a problem.

 

I will not spend nearly the cost of the entire cruise for a Cheers package that only one of us will use, nor will I go back and forth from the bar to my room, spending $10-15 every time I want a drink. My vacation time is limited, I work hard for my money, and I would rather spend it on a vacation where I am free to mix drinks in my room like a grown adult.

 

Also, I don't think I would hit the 15 drink maximum, but it just seems like a real buzzkill to have your drinks counted on vacation.

 

We will most likely cancel the cruise because of this cutback.

All inclusive land vacations are cheaper.

[1kaper]

13 hours ago, Island Dog said:

We are cruising on Spirit next month but after that we are booked on 3 cruises (so far) in 2023 and none of them are with Carnival. NCL offers a similar, but better experience to Carnival with drinks, wifi and specialty dining included with a slightly higher price tag. 

 

 

Which cruise?  We are on Spirit next month too.  

We originally booked another Carnival cruise but switched to MSC.  I have a cruise booked with a friend on MSC as well.  Because I played in the casino last time, I have gotten some cheap cruise rates ($100 pp), but adding in Cheers, it is a just as cheap to sail with MSC and get drinks and wifi included.  

[Island Dog]

2 hours ago, MScarn123 said:

 

I appreciate your kindness! It seems like most people on Cruise Critic are friendly, but the nasty ones are really nasty.

 

Anyway, what cruise lines have you tried since Carnival? Do you know if they offer in-room liquor, or a more flexible beverage package?

 

 

I can't really comment on in-room liquor as we haven't used that option but...

 

 

NCL- great product similar to CCL but a little better imo. Drink pkg bundled with specially dining and wifi at a fair price. MDR food quality slightly inferior to CCL. Specialty dining is real good as are other free dining options that are unique to the line. Entertainment is the best at sea. They have replaced Carnival as our sweet spot now.

 

 

MSC-cheaper than Carnival. Offer pkgs including liquor and wifi at rock bottom prices. However, service is inferior to CCL, as is MDR food. Specialty dining is good and ships are stunning. Usually with plenty of pools. Entertainment geared more towards a European audience. Caste system onboard is frustrating to me.

 

Princess and HAL-similar in that you can get drinks bundled into your fare. Skewed towards an older crowd. HAL more so. MDR food is excellent and service is impeccable. Specialty dining as well. Entertainment geared towards an older audience. Ships are more traditional without any theme park style attractions. 100% fresh water pools on Princess, as well.

 

Celebrity-can't comment with accuracy as we haven't sailed with them in many years but are offering a similar experience to PCL and HAL. A friend just sailed this past summer and had a positive experience. 

 

Hope this helps...

 

 

 

 

Edited October 27, 2022 by Island Dog

[Island Dog]

16 minutes ago, 1kaper said:

 

 

Which cruise?  We are on Spirit next month too.  

We originally booked another Carnival cruise but switched to MSC.  I have a cruise booked with a friend on MSC as well.  Because I played in the casino last time, I have gotten some cheap cruise rates ($100 pp), but adding in Cheers, it is a just as cheap to sail with MSC and get drinks and wifi included.  

Thanksgiving week. First holiday sailing for us.

[d12j28]

Take it for what it's worth but according to a couple bartenders I talked to last week it's supply issues. 

[1kaper]

9 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

According to the article, he did. Perhaps you can ask him next time he goes live.

 

I did find a post where he confirmed it. 

 

 

[1kaper]

2 minutes ago, Island Dog said:

Thanksgiving week. First holiday sailing for us.

We are on the same one. 

[staceyglow]

35 minutes ago, d12j28 said:

Take it for what it's worth but according to a couple bartenders I talked to last week it's supply issues. 

If it were supply issues, I would think they would have called the charge "temporary". 

[Guest BasicSailor]

Safely monitor Alcohol consumption!   These words speak volumes around the violence on a Carnival ship. Hell, we can't even get along here in the Carnival threads without someone starting a bickering contest with someone. With all the photos people post of themselves in the forums I'm surprised some people haven't been drug across Lido and thrown into the pool 😇 Not naming names of course 🤣

[mom2tcdx2]

I have to say them doing away with liquor purchases doesn't really bother me at all.  I have sailed on over 35 cruises and have never bothered to buy a bottle of liquor or bring wine onboard.  I would much rather have a cocktail and not just a shot of liquor, so the bottle in my cabin never really did any good.  Even did a suite on Princess that provided the little bottles in cabin and didn't even drink those as I preferred to just order a cocktail when I wanted one.  

 

Perhaps they decided to do away with because maybe there weren't enough people taking advantage of the puchase?  I could see them no longer offering if just a small percentage of people were buying.  

[1kaper]

2 minutes ago, mom2tcdx2 said:

I have to say them doing away with liquor purchases doesn't really bother me at all.  I have sailed on over 35 cruises and have never bothered to buy a bottle of liquor or bring wine onboard.  I would much rather have a cocktail and not just a shot of liquor, so the bottle in my cabin never really did any good.  Even did a suite on Princess that provided the little bottles in cabin and didn't even drink those as I preferred to just order a cocktail when I wanted one.  

 

Perhaps they decided to do away with because maybe there weren't enough people taking advantage of the puchase?  I could see them no longer offering if just a small percentage of people were buying.  

 

 

John Heald said it was to safely monitor alcohol consumption.  He did mention it was a smaller number that did this but he did say it was revenue for the line as well.  

[d12j28]

10 minutes ago, staceyglow said:

If it were supply issues, I would think they would have called the charge "temporary". 

That's why I said take it for what it's worth.

We got off the Spirit Saturday (right before this announcement) and they were out of mint, lime and some hard stuff on the first day (waiting to get resupplied). Last day they were out of a bunch of stuff again (Tito's vodka, sparkling Moscato, etc). The people we talked to said they were having a hard time getting enough through vendors. 

[Indytraveler83]

Im a little confused as to why people think this is a cutback.  Carnival has not been shy about raising prices on just about everything.  If it were a financial decision, why would they remove a massively overpriced item that people already buy, rather than just hiking the price more?  

 

We have all seen the increase in more violent behavior on cruise ships, and my guess is that Carnival is trying to thwart that (or at least appear that they are).  Their bigger concern is to keep fights or medical emergencies out of the news (that is a financial consideration) so that people keep booking.  

 

That may also be why they are staying fairly quiet about it.  Some sort of analysis of violent or medical issues likely determined that people who buy bottles in room are x times more likely to be a source of these issues.

 

This, along with the cut from 24 hour pizza feels like an attempt to get the ships away from some of the more wild late night activities.

[Elaine5715]

18 minutes ago, MScarn123 said:

 

As a first time customer, this explanation doesn't portray Carnival in the best light. They are coyly admitting to a problem with drunks fighting, but instead of increasing security (more overhead cost for Carnival) or increasing cruise fares, they are now punishing everyone by turning the Fun Ships into adult babysitting with many restrictions and counting your drinks.

 

How many of the fighting drunks are cruising for next to nothing? I've never even been on a cruise and get frequent $50 cruise emails from Carnival. This ultra low price point attracts those who don't know how to behave in public, a big reason I fly on Southwest instead of Spirit.

Actually, I would suggest the combatant family group members are sailing for free, courtesy of another family member footing the cruise costs so they have no sense of decorum or concern. 

[Elaine5715]

24 minutes ago, d12j28 said:

That's why I said take it for what it's worth.

We got off the Spirit Saturday (right before this announcement) and they were out of mint, lime and some hard stuff on the first day (waiting to get resupplied). Last day they were out of a bunch of stuff again (Tito's vodka, sparkling Moscato, etc). The people we talked to said they were having a hard time getting enough through vendors. 

They have run out of fresh mint onboard even before COVID.  As I look at my 6 pages of mojitos tip, I don't know why...😆

[Island Dog]

Whether you view this as a cutback or not is all conjecture. One thing that is a fact is that Carnival's stock has plummeted from a high near $50 a share in Dec 2019 to a low around $7 recently. No doubt, big shareholders are not happy with this and are likely demanding to see some active attempts to stop the bleeding. A horrible public image isn't helping ease their fears. In addition, as other lines have felt the real pain of pandemic losses, the drop off the cliff hasn't been as bad as it has been with Carnival.

 

I think the cutbacks, as well as this decision, are rooted in those realities.

[Riles34]

31 minutes ago, Indytraveler83 said:

Im a little confused as to why people think this is a cutback.  Carnival has not been shy about raising prices on just about everything.  If it were a financial decision, why would they remove a massively overpriced item that people already buy, rather than just hiking the price more?  

 

We have all seen the increase in more violent behavior on cruise ships, and my guess is that Carnival is trying to thwart that (or at least appear that they are).  Their bigger concern is to keep fights or medical emergencies out of the news (that is a financial consideration) so that people keep booking.  

 

That may also be why they are staying fairly quiet about it.  Some sort of analysis of violent or medical issues likely determined that people who buy bottles in room are x times more likely to be a source of these issues.

 

This, along with the cut from 24 hour pizza feels like an attempt to get the ships away from some of the more wild late night activities.

It is a cutback to the "law abiding citizens" who follow rules and can be a good person. Many of us like to make a drink and hang out on our balcony. Now we will have to make the 20 minute trip to the bar just to get a beverage and lose out on our relaxation. I know it may seem petty to some, but lots of us enjoy this amenity that is no longer. I would have rather paid $130 a bottle than wasting time waiting in line for a drink. I don't think this will have any effect on the consumption of booze and fights. Now people will fight in line to get that drink, jk. But hey, what do I know? 

[d12j28]

30 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

They have run out of fresh mint onboard even before COVID.  As I look at my 6 pages of mojitos tip, I don't know why...😆

Oh I know! The wife gets very upset. LOL 

 

On this specific cruise they just seemed to run out of more than usual. 

[1kaper]

21 minutes ago, Island Dog said:

Whether you view this as a cutback or not is all conjecture. One thing that is a fact is that Carnival's stock has plummeted from a high near $50 a share in Dec 2019 to a low around $7 recently. No doubt, big shareholders are not happy with this and are likely demanding to see some active attempts to stop the bleeding. A horrible public image isn't helping ease their fears. In addition, as other lines have felt the real pain of pandemic losses, the drop off the cliff hasn't been as bad as it has been with Carnival.

 

I think the cutbacks, as well as this decision, are rooted in those realities.

 

$6.11 was the low.  

Stock was up yesterday and today. It hit over $9 yesterday.  But did not stay there. 

 

[SwordBlazer Cruising]

14 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

I know you weren't replying to me, but it seemed like a good post to reply to...

 

you could add your speculation (or mine) is as valid as any, and more valid than some.

 

SWAG away!

Definitely was not intended for you, my error. Your points are VERY valid with great merit.

[BlerkOne]

Cutback refers to a reduction in costs, not a reduction in profits, which it is. Carry on.

[mom2tcdx2]

1 hour ago, BlerkOne said:

If you opt for NCL, enjoy paying $20+ per person per day gratuity for the drink package whether you use it or not, in port or at sea. Talk about tacky.

I guess I don't quite follow your point?  Both NCL and Carnival (and Royal) all charge a gratuity when purchasing a drink package or in NCL's case it being provided.  Not really sure how their charge is any different than the gratuity that Carnival adds when you buy the drink package?  

 

In the end you just have to price everything and see which line offers the more bank for your buck.

 

I have to say though I also don't recall seeing liquor as something that could be purchased on Royal, MSC, NCL, Disney, etc only ever saw this on Carnival.  The other all seemed to offer beer, wine, champagne.