Just a Point of View

[fair-winds39]

I just don’t get it. A little background…we have been cruising since the mid eighties and yes, we are in the “old school” category. We have cruised with Carnival, Celebrity, NCL, RCI, Cunard. Our last nine or so cruises were with Carnival, and I (on a sisters’ only cruise) just came off a competitor’s cruise in mid March, and our next is the Venezia this year. Maybe because we cruise mainly in Sept., Dec., Jan., Feb.,Mar., on 7 day and longer cruises we’ve never run into the unruly drunks, troublemakers that a few folks see on a Carnival cruise.

 

Prior to 1990, we were pretty much exclusive to another cruise line, but a relative of DH said we just had to try Carnival. We (4 couples) gave in after they twisted our arms, and decided to try the Legend. We were skeptical too, but as it turned out, our worries about “those Carnival cruises” never happened. 

 

Not certain if we have been lucky or what, but reading about some of the lowlife, drunken, out of control individuals that some people mention when describing a Carnival cruise, we have never seen that. It’s frustrating because we’ve always had a good time on all of our cruises, including Carnival. In fact, since 1993 or so we’ve cruised exclusively with Carnival, with the exception of my cruise this past March. 

 

I get tired of reading the not so flattering reviews about Carnival. Many of the derogatory things folks mention about Carnival aren’t the cruise lines fault, it’s that some people think, especially on the shorter cruises, and their upbringing, that anything goes. Blame the guests with the inappropriate behavior. They can drink as much as they want, behave like animals, and get away with that nonsense. Yes, rules need to be enforced, and maybe it is a little ignored, but I think that most of the mainstream cruise lines have experienced the same behavior as has been mentioned about Carnival. Thanks for allowing me to vent. I understand also that everyone has there own opinions about this, but I think Carnival continues to get a bad rap.

[mz-s]

8 minutes ago, fair-winds39 said:

Maybe because we cruise mainly in Sept., Dec., Jan., Feb.,Mar., on 7 day and longer cruises we’ve never run into the unruly drunks, troublemakers that a few folks see on a Carnival cruise.

 

That's exactly it. It's not exactly rocket science.

 

Just because you've never seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist or not a big deal.

 

The Carnival Magic had to be escorted into NYC bay last Summer by the Coast Guard because of the fights onboard. Was that not real because you weren't onboard to bear eyewitness?

 

 

8 minutes ago, fair-winds39 said:

Many of the derogatory things folks mention about Carnival aren’t the cruise lines fault

 

8 minutes ago, fair-winds39 said:

They can drink as much as they want, behave like animals, and get away with that nonsense.

 

These two sentences have no business being in the same paragraph.

 

I will say that by most accounts things seem to be better this year, so Carnival is doing better and they should be commended. Someone the other day reported they only smelled pot once on their recent cruise and the drug-sniffing dogs were really cute.

 

Perhaps the most toxic point of view is "I don't need it/see it/etc so it shouldn't matter to anyone else"

Edited April 15, 2023 by mz-s

[jimbo5544]

14 minutes ago, fair-winds39 said:

I just don’t get it. A little background…we have been cruising since the mid eighties and yes, we are in the “old school” category. We have cruised with Carnival, Celebrity, NCL, RCI, Cunard. Our last nine or so cruises were with Carnival, and I (on a sisters’ only cruise) just came off a competitor’s cruise in mid March, and our next is the Venezia this year. Maybe because we cruise mainly in Sept., Dec., Jan., Feb.,Mar., on 7 day and longer cruises we’ve never run into the unruly drunks, troublemakers that a few folks see on a Carnival cruise.

 

Prior to 1990, we were pretty much exclusive to another cruise line, but a relative of DH said we just had to try Carnival. We (4 couples) gave in after they twisted our arms, and decided to try the Legend. We were skeptical too, but as it turned out, our worries about “those Carnival cruises” never happened. 

 

Not certain if we have been lucky or what, but reading about some of the lowlife, drunken, out of control individuals that some people mention when describing a Carnival cruise, we have never seen that. It’s frustrating because we’ve always had a good time on all of our cruises, including Carnival. In fact, since 1993 or so we’ve cruised exclusively with Carnival, with the exception of my cruise this past March. 

 

I get tired of reading the not so flattering reviews about Carnival. Many of the derogatory things folks mention about Carnival aren’t the cruise lines fault, it’s that some people think, especially on the shorter cruises, and their upbringing, that anything goes. Blame the guests with the inappropriate behavior. They can drink as much as they want, behave like animals, and get away with that nonsense. Yes, rules need to be enforced, and maybe it is a little ignored, but I think that most of the mainstream cruise lines have experienced the same behavior as has been mentioned about Carnival. Thanks for allowing me to vent. I understand also that everyone has there own opinions about this, but I think Carnival continues to get a bad rap.

Nice post.  We have cruised Carnival all times of year from 11 different home ports.  It is true that during spring there certainly are people looking to have more FUN then other times of year, from our 50 plus Carnival cruises, they are not any worse than any other line.  There are bashers that have a different view and each are entitled to their own view.  Carnival IS the FUN ships.  This FIN is a way they want to cruise with their clients, despite some views to the contary, it does entice, degrade or fuel any worse behavior than Dienys or HAL.  Thanks for posting your “vent”.

[ColeThornton]

50 minutes ago, fair-winds39 said:

Thanks for allowing me to vent.........

 

No need to thank us, you started venting on your own.  lol       😉

[fair-winds39]

2 hours ago, mz-s said:

 

That's exactly it. It's not exactly rocket science.

 

Just because you've never seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist or not a big deal.

 

The Carnival Magic had to be escorted into NYC bay last Summer by the Coast Guard because of the fights onboard. Was that not real because you weren't onboard to bear eyewitness?

 

 

 

 

These two sentences have no business being in the same paragraph.

 

I will say that by most accounts things seem to be better this year, so Carnival is doing better and they should be commended. Someone the other day reported they only smelled pot once on their recent cruise and the drug-sniffing dogs were really cute.

 

Perhaps the most toxic point of view is "I don't need it/see it/etc so it shouldn't matter to anyone else"

Geez, I need to cut and paste a little better.

[icft]

You have a valid point of view. I largely disagree but if you haven't experienced the problems it is understandable.

 

We have cruised Carnival exclusively since 2001 and since reopening have been cruising five or six times a year with all cruises being a week or longer. Pre-covid we were very happy with Carnival. Post-covid, during the masking period, we didn't like the masking but understood and the lower number of passengers about made up for it. But once the masks were off and the ships full again things seemed to fall apart.

 

At that point the food quality went downhill fast and that decline continues. The service overall has gone downhill. The real killer though is we started, for the first time, feeling not totally safe. A different class of cruiser became more common; people who are rude, aggressive and don't know how to behave in public. We have not seen any fights, but we have seen a small number of assaults. It only becomes a fight when the person shoved, or whatever, reciprocates.

 

Our unease with the new class of passengers (though they be a small percent) caused us to book a cruise for next January on NCL as a test. Then on our Carnival cruise last month my wife was assaulted so we have booked more NCL cruises and will be making them our primary cruise line going forward. They have not tried to be the low cost cruise line so we are hoping for better passengers. But we recognize that in today's society boorish people may be unavoidable on cruises. If so we will give up cruising.

 

At this point our thinking is that Carnival's attempt to be the low cost cruise line has attracted low class people. While we will probably continue to take some Carnival cruises (fourteen day Journeys cruises have always had more genteel cruisers) I don't see us ever being regulars again.

 

We don't think Carnival gets a bad rap. People are just recognizing the reality.

[LatinaInTexas]

12 minutes ago, icft said:

You have a valid point of view. I largely disagree but if you haven't experienced the problems it is understandable.

 

We have cruised Carnival exclusively since 2001 and since reopening have been cruising five or six times a year with all cruises being a week or longer. Pre-covid we were very happy with Carnival. Post-covid, during the masking period, we didn't like the masking but understood and the lower number of passengers about made up for it. But once the masks were off and the ships full again things seemed to fall apart.

 

At that point the food quality went downhill fast and that decline continues. The service overall has gone downhill. The real killer though is we started, for the first time, feeling not totally safe. A different class of cruiser became more common; people who are rude, aggressive and don't know how to behave in public. We have not seen any fights, but we have seen a small number of assaults. It only becomes a fight when the person shoved, or whatever, reciprocates.

 

Our unease with the new class of passengers (though they be a small percent) caused us to book a cruise for next January on NCL as a test. Then on our Carnival cruise last month my wife was assaulted so we have booked more NCL cruises and will be making them our primary cruise line going forward. They have not tried to be the low cost cruise line so we are hoping for better passengers. But we recognize that in today's society boorish people may be unavoidable on cruises. If so we will give up cruising.

 

At this point our thinking is that Carnival's attempt to be the low cost cruise line has attracted low class people. While we will probably continue to take some Carnival cruises (fourteen day Journeys cruises have always had more genteel cruisers) I don't see us ever being regulars again.

 

We don't think Carnival gets a bad rap. People are just recognizing the reality.

I feel this way also based on observations and experiences. It hasn't gotten to the point where I have considered not sailing Carnival...yet.

The eye opener was my last cruise on MSC. I have never sailed with so many beautiful, well mannered, extremely polite, and quiet people lol.

Yes the fun factor was missing but I realized I could still have fun and enjoy a cruise without it. Now that the fun factor has started evolving to being ill mannered, entitled, loud, sometimes threatening it's not exactly fun anymore.

Will be trying NCL next month so after that I will have tried the 4 lines within my budget and can reevaluate the pros and cons of each line based on current experiences, not what it used to be.

[ray98]

I absolutely disagree with this because I have experienced it first hand.  It will be a long time before I ever sail out of New Orleans again due to the behavior we witnessed on two sailings.  It was simply out of control.  Just because you haven't experienced it does not mean it is not or has not happened and impacted people cruises. 

 

Carnival is taking great steps to address it but what is the saying about once the cat is out the bag.

[fair-winds39]

3 minutes ago, icft said:

You have a valid point of view. I largely disagree but if you haven't experienced the problems it is understandable.

 

We have cruised Carnival exclusively since 2001 and since reopening have been cruising five or six times a year with all cruises being a week or longer. Pre-covid we were very happy with Carnival. Post-covid, during the masking period, we didn't like the masking but understood and the lower number of passengers about made up for it. But once the masks were off and the ships full again things seemed to fall apart.

 

At that point the food quality went downhill fast and that decline continues. The service overall has gone downhill. The real killer though is we started, for the first time, feeling not totally safe. A different class of cruiser became more common; people who are rude, aggressive and don't know how to behave in public. We have not seen any fights, but we have seen a small number of assaults. It only becomes a fight when the person shoved, or whatever, reciprocates.

 

Our unease with the new class of passengers (though they be a small percent) caused us to book a cruise for next January on NCL as a test. Then on our Carnival cruise last month my wife was assaulted so we have booked more NCL cruises and will be making them our primary cruise line going forward. They have not tried to be the low cost cruise line so we are hoping for better passengers. But we recognize that in today's society boorish people may be unavoidable on cruises. If so we will give up cruising.

 

At this point our thinking is that Carnival's attempt to be the low cost cruise line has attracted low class people. While we will probably continue to take some Carnival cruises (fourteen day Journeys cruises have always had more genteel cruisers) I don't see us ever being regulars again.

 

We don't think Carnival gets a bad rap. People are just recognizing the reality.

So sorry for your wife’s experience on your cruise last month. Hope your January cruise is enjoyable.

We’ve been lucky, and for the most part our cruises have been fine, but what I will say is cruising has changed a lot over the years in many areas, it just isn’t the same as it was, so all we do is hope for the best. 

[BlerkOne]

2 hours ago, fair-winds39 said:

, but I think Carnival continues to get a bad rap.

They do. There is a shift in society to constant complaining and looking for fault (in others, of course).

 

Enjoy your Carnival cruises. I know I do. From the oldest ships in Carnivals fleet to the newest.

 

Some say just because something didn't happen on my cruises doesn't mean it didn't happen which is true. That works both ways. Because something occasionally happens, by definition, most of the time it doesn't. Planes occasional crash, but only once.

[BlerkOne]

9 minutes ago, fair-winds39 said:

, but what I will say is cruising has changed a lot over the years in many areas, it just isn’t the same as it was, so all we do is hope for the best. 

Everything has changed. Change happens. Living in the past isn't sustainable.

 

We can improve the present, and part of that is not turning a blind eye to rule breakers.

[jimbo5544]

3 hours ago, icft said:

You have a valid point of view. I largely disagree but if you haven't experienced the problems it is understandable.

 

We have cruised Carnival exclusively since 2001 and since reopening have been cruising five or six times a year with all cruises being a week or longer. Pre-covid we were very happy with Carnival. Post-covid, during the masking period, we didn't like the masking but understood and the lower number of passengers about made up for it. But once the masks were off and the ships full again things seemed to fall apart.

 

At that point the food quality went downhill fast and that decline continues. The service overall has gone downhill. The real killer though is we started, for the first time, feeling not totally safe. A different class of cruiser became more common; people who are rude, aggressive and don't know how to behave in public. We have not seen any fights, but we have seen a small number of assaults. It only becomes a fight when the person shoved, or whatever, reciprocates.

 

Our unease with the new class of passengers (though they be a small percent) caused us to book a cruise for next January on NCL as a test. Then on our Carnival cruise last month my wife was assaulted so we have booked more NCL cruises and will be making them our primary cruise line going forward. They have not tried to be the low cost cruise line so we are hoping for better passengers. But we recognize that in today's society boorish people may be unavoidable on cruises. If so we will give up cruising.

 

At this point our thinking is that Carnival's attempt to be the low cost cruise line has attracted low class people. While we will probably continue to take some Carnival cruises (fourteen day Journeys cruises have always had more genteel cruisers) I don't see us ever being regulars again.

 

We don't think Carnival gets a bad rap. People are just recognizing the reality.

Wow

[jimbo5544]

2 hours ago, fair-winds39 said:

So sorry for your wife’s experience on your cruise last month. Hope your January cruise is enjoyable.

We’ve been lucky, and for the most part our cruises have been fine, but what I will say is cruising has changed a lot over the years in many areas, it just isn’t the same as it was, so all we do is hope for the best. 

You are correct it has changed….for all cruise lines

[1kaper]

2 hours ago, LatinaInTexas said:

The eye opener was my last cruise on MSC. I have never sailed with so many beautiful, well mannered, extremely polite, and quiet people lol.

 

MSC is not without issue. They have been seeing fights. They have also stopped selling the drinks included packages on their short cruises. 

[LatinaInTexas]

2 hours ago, 1kaper said:

 

MSC is not without issue. They have been seeing fights. They have also stopped selling the drinks included packages on their short cruises. 

Perhaps but they also still have twice a day room service, no signing a slip after ordering a drink, no drink limit, hot tubs that are hot and bubbling, and never stood in a mile long line to get my morning spiked coffee, no issues there lol. Seriously though I know no cruise line will be perfect, have to decide what I will tolerate and or compromise on. I think if MSC was sailing out of as many different ports as Carnival they might have a broader and more shall we say interesting type of passenger.

[1kaper]

2 hours ago, LatinaInTexas said:

Perhaps but they also still have twice a day room service, no signing a slip after ordering a drink, no drink limit, hot tubs that are hot and bubbling, and never stood in a mile long line to get my morning spiked coffee, no issues there lol. Seriously though I know no cruise line will be perfect, have to decide what I will tolerate and or compromise on. I think if MSC was sailing out of as many different ports as Carnival they might have a broader and more shall we say interesting type of passenger.

Oh listen. I’m an MSC fan as well. I had two trips booked with them this year and one with Carnival. 

[Cruising_Addict]

For what it’s worth, I have done a dozen cruises on Carnival, some during spring break, including a 4-day and a 5-day during spring break. I have never encountered unruly passengers or seen fights break out either. So I also don’t get it. But I also don’t hang out in bars, nightclubs of even on the lido. It’s not my thing. So maybe my husband and I just avoid it due to our lifestyle and personal choices. I really don’t know. 

[jimbo5544]

10 hours ago, LatinaInTexas said:

 I think if MSC was sailing out of as many different ports as Carnival they might have a broader and more shall we say interesting type of passenger.

I would love to see the data that supports your comment, I do not know but highly doubt they sail out of as many homeports.

[jimbo5544]

4 hours ago, Cruising_Addict said:

For what it’s worth, I have done a dozen cruises on Carnival, some during spring break, including a 4-day and a 5-day during spring break. I have never encountered unruly passengers or seen fights break out either. So I also don’t get it. But I also don’t hang out in bars, nightclubs of even on the lido. It’s not my thing. So maybe my husband and I just avoid it due to our lifestyle and personal choices. I really don’t know. 

Or maybe you do not have jaded view sunglasses on.

[nycruise1]

We have never experienced anything to question our cruising with Carnival.  We do enjoy the fun factor, and that vibe more than makes up for any questionable behavior.  But even that was never what I would consider out of bounds.  I will agree that Carnival does not get the most genteel crowd, but most are there just to have fun.  I hope the day never comes, but if something ever happened to us personally, I guess we would consider our options at that point.  Even then, a single incident likely would not preclude us from cruising with Carnival.

[Pyrate13]

Not to say it doesn't happen, but we have sailed Carnival for most of or cruises and nave never experienced the behavior spoken about. It also happens on other lines as well and even in Disney World. Society overall has changed in my opinion.

[LatinaInTexas]

2 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

I would love to see the data that supports your comment, I do not know but highly doubt they sail out of as many homeports.

That is my point, because MSC doesn't sail out of as many homeports as Carnival I don't think they get the variety of different people like Carnival does. Since you mostly have to cruise out of Florida to sail MSC it seems like they get a lot more people from other countries which seemed to me on my cruise to be for the better lol. 

Compared to say people cruising from NY or Texas or New Orleans for example. I see a lot of complaints about the type of local people getting on the ships from these ports. More than likely a majority of them won't fly to Florida to cruise on MSC versus the convenience of cruising from home. Multiply that by all the homeports Carnival cruises from. That's what I meant by MSC probably doesn't get the same type ofvariety that Carnival does. No data to prove it was just a total random thought, observation.

[Hoosierpop]

Totally agree. On the FB groups I get on for each sailing, by the end of the cruise, you’d think we were taken over by bands of marauding adults and kids. I’m sure people experience or see bad behavior. But I also think that some people are not happy unless they are complaining. Or they are not happy unless they are judging others.

 

Why people care so much about what others are doing is beyond me. As far as Carnival getting a bad rap, sure. But these ships are full and the vast majority of people are having a great time. If people didn’t have fun, unless something happened like their AC didn’t work, that’s their fault.

[jsglow]

I'm glad I'm well into the triple figure days and know what my experience has been.

[ldubs]

8 hours ago, Cruising_Addict said:

For what it’s worth, I have done a dozen cruises on Carnival, some during spring break, including a 4-day and a 5-day during spring break. I have never encountered unruly passengers or seen fights break out either. So I also don’t get it. But I also don’t hang out in bars, nightclubs of even on the lido. It’s not my thing. So maybe my husband and I just avoid it due to our lifestyle and personal choices. I really don’t know. 

 

4 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

Or maybe you do not have jaded view sunglasses on.

We are also among those who have not experienced unruly passengers on a Carnival cruise.  Full disclosure, we have been on one Carnival cruise since covid with previous being 10 years or so ago.  Our previous experience on Carnival was good.  The most recent was lacking but that had nothing to do with passengers acting up.    

 

The number of out-of-line people creating the bad reputation, is likely a small percentage of the total passengers.   I think a lot of the generalizations about Carnival passengers are very unfair.   Sadly, even though from a relatively small number of troublemakers, the reputation has been earned and needs to be dealt with.