Gimme your CCL pet peeves

[RoperDK]

On 10/9/2023 at 1:41 PM, Tiger0613 said:

I have Verizon.  I get wifi texts using the Message+ app on the value plan and premium plan.  I've never had the social plan.

 

Check the settings on your phone.  On Verizon, I have to enable HD Voice in the My Verizon app and turn on wifi calling on my phone's settings.  At one point I had to change a setting in the Message+ app on my S7 and S8 as well, but not on my current phone(S21).

 

I only recently figured out how to turn on wifi calling on my previous and current unlocked phones(S8 and S21).  Verizon was blocking wifi calling on my unlocked S7 that I purchased directly from Samsung.  Wifi texting still worked on my S7.  I will attempt wifi calling again on my next cruise.

I have Verizon, too.  I have used wifi calling/texting on Royal many times.  Our last cruise was on Mardi Gras in Jan. We weren't able to call or text on that ship. Maybe they have enabled it, now.    

 

 

On 10/9/2023 at 11:49 PM, Pellaz said:

Hear, hear!  

 

When I got a call from home while walking through the Windjammer buffet on a recent Royal cruise at around midnight (music charter; crazy dining hours), I felt like absolute royalty.  Carnival seems to port-block wi-fi calling.  I've initiated a call home and it connected for a second, then got cut off. 

Yes, I love that phone and text is just like at home on Royal.  Of course, you have to pay for the internet plan.  Much better than the chat feature on the hub app for communicating with your family on the ship. 

[dlphn501]

On 10/8/2023 at 4:30 PM, BnDcruisers said:

Blue card holders, AKA, first time cruisers, trying to drink their weight in booze.

People suddenly stopping while in the buffet line or, turning around because they forgot something or heading back to their table with people walking behind them carrying their plates, I have seen people end up with food spilled on their backs. 
On CCL, they only have the very fancy desserts, cakes etc on the lunch buffet. 
People walking up the left side of a staircase, while people are coming down the same side of the staircases. 
Parents turning their young kids loose at the beginning of a cruise and not seeing them again until the cruise is over. Very annoying 😡
And the most disgusting thing of all is people wearing swimsuits that are waaaaaaaay too small for their bodies and that they are waaaaaaay too big and old to be wearing them. Think pickle slings and butt floss on grandparents, not a pretty sight. 🤮 

 

 

So with the exception of the last item, rudeness/not having manners.

The stairs thing irks me too. You see coming, in my heels holding the handrail, but sure, I'll move over because you don't know left from right.

[dlphn501]

On 10/9/2023 at 8:43 PM, icft said:

My old eyes don't like trying to read a tiny screen or fumbling around to have the screen on when they come to take the order so I can remember what made-up name they gave something.

 

It's easier for me to read a menu from my phone because I can zoom lol

[dlphn501]

On 10/11/2023 at 1:43 AM, icft said:

We resisted, but finally caved. One of the things we enjoyed about cruising was putting our phones in the safe and being away from the rest of the world for a week with only our sign and sail cards to keep up with. Alas, another of the joys of cruising that have disappeared.

You can still disconnect and stay away from the rest of the world with a cell phone in your pocket.  I use mine for a camera.  And obviously the MDR menu.  And an alarm clock.  Sometimes music that I have in my phone's storage.  Doesn't mean you have to catch up on what's going on back home or "in real life".  

[shiner6]

After cruising many other lines, we did our first Carnival cruise this June to Norway. I'll admit that I was apprehensive because of all of the negative things I had heard beforehand.  I shouldn't have worried! We had the cruise of a lifetime!  The other travelers were mostly fine and friendly except for a very few.  What I noticed most was the casualness of the dressing. I am very much in favor of that, but also enjoy seeing some dressed up in their finest. It was great. There were about 5 people however who seemed to be in poverty by the look of their apparel. Not only was it shockingly old, but noticeably dirty as well. I could smell urine as they passed by--sooo disgusting.......One man in particular stood out--He had a white sleeveless tshirt (filthy) with farmer jeans (also filthy). Another woman (not with him, also had similar dressing pattern and smells. I am an RN, so it takes a lot to ruin my appetite, but they sure did spoil some of the ambiance for me.  I debated whether or not I should say something, but my husband convinced me to let it go.  We got up and moved to the other side.  From that point on, I made sure we were not seated near them for the remainder of our trip and all went well.  Yes, the food is not stellar, but there are certainly plenty of choices and you will not go hungry. We ate in the specialty rstaurant and at the Chef's table--Both were spectacular and very well executed.  Carnival exceeded my expectations and I am booked on another cruise in December.

[Rudyard]

1 hour ago, dlphn501 said:

You can still disconnect and stay away from the rest of the world with a cell phone in your pocket.  I use mine for a camera.  And obviously the MDR menu.  And an alarm clock.  Sometimes music that I have in my phone's storage.  Doesn't mean you have to catch up on what's going on back home or "in real life".  

I've never understood the whole "I'm not disconnected if my phone is within ten feet of me" thing. I'm like you in that I use my phone as a camera, for the menus, and for the Fun Times. As long as my job isn't able to call or text me I'm disconnected as far as I'm concerned. 

[skridge]

On 10/8/2023 at 11:59 AM, highSeas22 said:

This has nothing to do with cruise lines . That's passenger driven

They could debark people that hide ducks.

[RMcoolX]

Not being able to request a table for two pre-cruise in the MDR. I think it's crazy to have to run down the Maitre'D as soon as you get onboard to try and make this request. 

 

 

 

[glrounds]

On 10/8/2023 at 5:36 PM, Shayhooper said:

 

I’ve never enjoyed the servers dancing during service.  Half of them seem to enjoy it but the other half clearly…… do not.  For me, it is painful to watch.

 

I'm embarrassed for them. I always try to avoid this dog'n'pony show.

[TiredTrucker]

5 hours ago, shiner6 said:

After cruising many other lines, we did our first Carnival cruise this June to Norway. I'll admit that I was apprehensive because of all of the negative things I had heard beforehand.  I shouldn't have worried! We had the cruise of a lifetime!  The other travelers were mostly fine and friendly except for a very few.  What I noticed most was the casualness of the dressing. I am very much in favor of that, but also enjoy seeing some dressed up in their finest. It was great. There were about 5 people however who seemed to be in poverty by the look of their apparel. Not only was it shockingly old, but noticeably dirty as well. I could smell urine as they passed by--sooo disgusting.......One man in particular stood out--He had a white sleeveless tshirt (filthy) with farmer jeans (also filthy). Another woman (not with him, also had similar dressing pattern and smells. I am an RN, so it takes a lot to ruin my appetite, but they sure did spoil some of the ambiance for me.  I debated whether or not I should say something, but my husband convinced me to let it go.  We got up and moved to the other side.  From that point on, I made sure we were not seated near them for the remainder of our trip and all went well.  Yes, the food is not stellar, but there are certainly plenty of choices and you will not go hungry. We ate in the specialty rstaurant and at the Chef's table--Both were spectacular and very well executed.  Carnival exceeded my expectations and I am booked on another cruise in December.

 

I work with a gentleman that never bathes or washes his clothes...I guess it takes all types to make the world go around.  Glad you had a good sail anyway.

[glrounds]

On 10/9/2023 at 3:25 PM, highSeas22 said:

That's funny, there are 1000 post a day on the cruise lines  that are not constructive. The post is literally call pet peeve🤦

And yours are one of them . . . .

[glrounds]

On 10/10/2023 at 4:11 PM, john91498 said:

 

I was on the Panorama in August and it had a midnight buffet. Hotdogs, chicken tenders and 2 kinds of pizza. Amazing food when you're drunk. 😅

 

And all the girls get better lookin' too. 😊

[crazyank]

5 hours ago, skridge said:

They could debark people that hide ducks.

We can only hope.

[Joebucks]

11 hours ago, Rudyard said:

I've never understood the whole "I'm not disconnected if my phone is within ten feet of me" thing. I'm like you in that I use my phone as a camera, for the menus, and for the Fun Times. As long as my job isn't able to call or text me I'm disconnected as far as I'm concerned. 

 

Omg! If it's not in the safe in the room, then you are basically at work!!

[staceyglow]

8 hours ago, RMcoolX said:

Not being able to request a table for two pre-cruise in the MDR. I think it's crazy to have to run down the Maitre'D as soon as you get onboard to try and make this request. 

 

 

 

We always have a table for 2 because we get YTD and request it when we check in every night. 

[surfjock27]

I have two, one directed towards the cruise line and one towards fellow passengers.

I understand that most cruise lines limit the time between drinks, when on the drink package. However, those other cruise lines do not have a limit as to how many drinks you can consume in a day. With Carnival, it is 15 a day, so waiting between drinks shouldn't matter. I understand they do it to cut down on people sharing packages, but people are going to share regardless, with only 15 in the allotment. If I want a floater on the drink, having to wait is frustrating. I also understand that you can tip extra and get the floater, but it's still the policy. 

 

The other is impolite smokers/vapers. 

I am seeing people vaping more and more around the ship, in non smoking areas, even while sitting at bars sometimes. Come on people!
In addition, I enjoy the casino and sometimes the better machines are in the smoking section, and I have no issue sitting beside someone who smokes, but be polite about it. Don't turn to me and blow smoke right into my face, simply because you don't want someone sitting beside you. The rules also state that you can smoke in the casino when "actively gambling", not just because you don't want to walk up to smoking section, but would rather occupy a machine to smoke, while not using it. 

</rant>

Edited October 13, 2023 by surfjock27

[Drew B 58]

This isn’t Carnival specific nor even necessarily cruise specific, but I think it might be worse on Carnival.

 

Terrible blackjack players!  I find more folks playing badly (often because they are HAMMERED) in the Carnival casinos than elsewhere.  There are certainly atrocious players on land, too, but with many more available tables in land casinos, the chance of being stuck with one (or more) of them is lower.

[kbnovak]

The dancing/singing/parading wait staff in the MDR.  Service gets stopped, and my food gets cold.

[DramaQueen22]

The people who stand in the middle of the pathway and make it nearly impossible for others to get around.  Happens all over the ship

 

Loud talkers who think they're the only ones in a room

 

No real late night food options.  I love the pizza, but the line is always so long

 

New shopping options.  If you cruise more than 1x per year, you see the same selection on every ship.  And get rid of the EFFY jewelry!  So overpriced.  

 

Bad karaoke singers

 

Hard sells after a spa service

 

 

[Illbcruzn4life]

5 minutes ago, DramaQueen22 said:

The people who stand in the middle of the pathway and make it nearly impossible for others to get around.  Happens all over the ship

 

Loud talkers who think they're the only ones in a room

 

No real late night food options.  I love the pizza, but the line is always so long

 

New shopping options.  If you cruise more than 1x per year, you see the same selection on every ship.  And get rid of the EFFY jewelry!  So overpriced.  

 

Bad karaoke singers

 

Hard sells after a spa service

 

 

On Horizon the lines were 45 minutes every night. On Celebration they were 5-10 minutes wait.

 

Isn't that why peole go to karaoke, to hear bad singers?

[kew1031]

On 10/8/2023 at 3:02 PM, icft said:

My sub-peeve on this is their cakes. When I want a slice of cake I want some cake. Our experience has been that the layers of icing are thicker than the layers of cake. At 10 years old I thought that was great. At 70 I want some cake. 😁

I really don't like cake frosting; I will scrape it off of almost any cake anywhere. I am a bit of baked goods snob, I confess. I'd rather bake my own cake, but I can't do that on the ship. 
Their cakes must be pre-made and frozen, thawed and decorated each day. The cakes, almost without exception, are coarse and dry. Pretty to look at, but not all that edible.

[MtnSeaGirl]

I miss some of the soups that are no longer in the MDR.  My DH doesn't always like what I like to eat what I do so to make a big pot of something he does not like would be wasteful.  Small thing to many, I'm sure, but I miss some of my favs.  I also miss the level of service in the MDR.  There used to be a head waiter and then another waiter.  Dinner was relaxed.  When the kiddo was younger, they often did a little 2 minute magic trick for him.  Good memories.  They are all so busy now and taking care of more passengers per staff member it seems. New push to get folks in and out quickly so the cruisers can go to other activities.  Grateful to be cruising again so even though I miss these things, it is not the end of the cruising world.  

[Pellaz]

7 hours ago, kbnovak said:

The dancing/singing/parading wait staff in the MDR.  Service gets stopped, and my food gets cold.

 

In fairness to Carnival, service does not completely stop.  Many servers will still be circulating and bringing out orders.  Service DOES slow a bit, but it isn't the end of the world as so many people seem to think.  

[simplelife]

On 10/8/2023 at 4:36 PM, WhiteOptima said:

Levels of Cheers would be great!  My DH doesn’t drink but loves milkshakes.  I get him bubbles for his Diet Pepsi but has to pay for milkshakes.  I drink and love coffee but can’t do Cheers because it isn’t worth it for both of us.  Either add coffee and milkshakes to bubbles or make different drink packages.  How hard can it be?

Yes, I would live to see an enhanced bubbles package that includes coffee and other nonalcoholic drinks, I would also like to leveled drink packages - so many drinks over the course of the cruise rather than unlimited.

[simplelife]

6 hours ago, Pellaz said:

 

In fairness to Carnival, service does not completely stop.  Many servers will still be circulating and bringing out orders.  Service DOES slow a bit, but it isn't the end of the world as so many people seem to think.  

I love the MDR show. It comes after the main course has been served and you have a few minutes to finish up or digest before dessert.  It's maybe 5 minutes and so fun!