Am I the only one who thinks Carnival needs to change the Photo Gallery procedures?

[Christine in MO]

The current way they do this is a DISASTER!!!! DH and I had our pics taken during both formal nights at most (but not all) of the photo set ups. Of course they take 3-5 pics at EACH station. In the end we had nearly 50- 8x10 photos to choose from :eek: Not to mention the "random" pics from all other things. We didn't even find all of them and once we found the majority of them we couldn't find any where to sit down & sort through what we wanted & what we didn't want. I would love to see them implement something like the amusement parks do when taking your picture (give you a ticket or number to look up your pic on a TV/computer screen). Or even better some how get the pics associated with your cabin # so you can look at them on your TV screen in your cabin or even TV screens/computers in the photo gallery area. In stead of printing ALL of those pics. I see this solution being a win-win situation for the guests as well as Carnival. It could also reduce the cost to produce all those pics therefore possibly reducing the price for the guests who might then order more. Am I the only one that feels this way? It was just very frustrating not being able to find our pics and then dealing with the crowds of people who were also looking for their pics...it was a mess.

[steph7021]

Yep- I agree. Yes, it would cost more to implement a system.....but the amount of pictures that they toss is outrageous! Surely it would even out. How many people give up and leave when they see the swarms of people?

[serene56]

We check out the photos about half an hour before closing. Its not crowded at that time. ANd if we dont like it we get rid of it. Saves us time later in the week for sorting what we want and what we dont.

 

Something we learned one cruise long ago-- dont put all your pics together-- someone will come along and put them where they belong. DId you know that pictures are grouped according to where they were taken--PLUS by the color of your clothing??

[zaandam_2]

i agree. the current system is very wasteful.

[Christine in MO]

We did toss a couple after the first formal night (these were ones that where terrible). But we kept many "potentials" to compare to the next formal nights shots. As I was on a budget of 3-5 pics I wanted to be sure & get the best body shot, the best head shot, our favorite "prop" etc which is why we did not throw a whole lot out at the beginning.

[Nightwind]

I think the current procedure sucks...but I can't think of any other way that would work, given that most of the photos are candids. It'd be hard for the photogs to keep track of if there was some kind of more organized system. But then, I know nothing of photography, so maybe there IS a better way...

[DqALEX]

To bad there not on your cabin TV, and you can pick the ones you want there if you want any. It would save a lot of paper. You could give them your cabin #

[chitown cruisers]

OMG I hope they don't make it better/easier:eek: ...............our first cruise we bought 12 8x10's and only 6 on our last cruise........I can afford the cruise not the Photo op's:D

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

actually we never had family portraits done, so the original 12 are priceless not too many times we have our little ones in tuxes.

[Ship Addict]

And while they're at it can they offer more choices of sizes? I don't want all 8x10s of the formals -- some 4x6 or 5x7s would be nice.

[chitown cruisers]

And while they're at it can they offer more choices of sizes? I don't want all 8x10s of the formals -- some 4x6 or 5x7s would be nice.

the 8x10's do scan nice at home and print beautiful 4x6 or 5x7....oh yeah....shhhhhhh!

[Timmys_mom]

I agree too, and I even included the suggestion regarding how Disney does it when I wrote my post-cruise "had a good time" letter to guest relations. I too would order more pictures if I didn't have to purchase an expensive 8x10 and then pay to have a 5x7 printed.

[clgcrusier]

There HAS GOT to be a better way-they can link your sail and sign card to so many things, why not use that? I have tried in the past to find pictures, and just gave up out of frustration. And if you try to keep them together, you're right-someone moves them daily to make room for more pictures! If they can figure out ways to handle so many people for dinner, embarking, disembarking, etc., seems like they could come up with something to fix this bottleneck. Especially if they want to sell more pictures. And I really don't like having a bad shot of myself displayed for all to see!:(

[jandjfun]

You can bet that at 20 bucks a pop they are more than making up for the ones thrown away. Plus they are COUNTING on impulsive buying. Can you stand to throw away a picture of your little girl/boy? I can't. Or the fact that there are 3 really good prints, even though you only wanted one, you buy all three? See what I mean?

I do however hate that we can't sit down and go over them (in most cases). So we go the day after the photos are taken, throw away the ones we don't like, and save the ones we do. Each time we go look at more pictures we do more illiminating... Finally at the end of the cruise we just have to choose between a couple. But what a pain! I also agree that 8x10's are to big in most cases. 5x7's would be nice. I know that we would actually buy more if we didn't have to buy the 8x10 first.

[ladycaveat]

I couldn't agree more! Looking for your pictures is like looking for a needle in a haystack. If it would have been better set up . . . I'm sure the cruise line would make a lot more sales. Also, if the "casual" photos where not only offered in 8X10 size . . . I'm sure a lot more photos would be purchased. I mean . . . who wants a picture of someone holding up a bag of money in front of the casino in an 8x10? Formal picture in 8x10 . . . fine. Casual pictures should all be offered in the 5x7 size with the option of having them enlarged. Just my opinion. I know I would have bought a lot more had offered in a smaller size.

[chitown cruisers]

It's easier/clearer to make smaller copies of an 8x10 than it is to enlarge a 5x7 without losing details/clarity. We buy the 8x10, take it home and scan it......from there we can make unlimited wallets, 5x7, 4x6 or even more 8x10. Chances are if you don't have a scanner/printer to do the job....you probably know a dozen freind, family or coworkers who do have the capability. We printed out sheets and sheets of all different sizes(for next to nothing cost) to add photos to our Christmas cards.....the sheets look like anything we've ever recieved from a professional photographer studio. And if I need more...I'll make them.

 

Sorry for getting off the OP's topic.

[SueSea]

As long as we are wishing, and if we can only have one change, I'd prefer to see lower prices rather than a better process. I and many of my cruising friends would buy A LOT more pictures if they were reasonably priced. Heck, I might buy one of everything if they weren't priced so darned high. The lower profit margin would be offset by a much higher volume of sales, and there would be far less waste. And I wouldn't mind spending so much time searching for my pix in a small, crowded space if the price was right!

[Got2bsunny]

WDW does a GREAT job of doing photos giving you a photo card then they keep them on a special website for something like 90 days so you can order photos.

 

We went to WDW for our honeymoon so had TONS of photos taken. Once we got home, I reviewed the photos a choose what I wanted. The cost of all the photos came to about $300.00!!! :eek:

 

I'm not a big fan of 8x10 preferring 5x7 for scrapbooking.

 

Pam:cool:

[george2000]

I agree. My dad, my daughter and I had one picture taken on formal night. Since my dad is elderly, i wanted a good pict of all of us. We never did find the picture. The crew members were very rude and said we must have been confused about the background. Since we only had one picture taken on the whole cruise, I doubt we were confused. I think having them show on your TV is an excellent idea.

[cruzegirl]

I agree with all said here.... Something different needs to be done.... And let me tell you, the worst ship that I've experienced re: photos is the Carnival Paradise... Small photo area, rude staff, VERY limited technology or supplies... It was nuts...

I like the idea of linking them to your sign/sail or cabin number or something. Seeing them on the tv or computer and order from there. While yes, it's easier to scan from a 8X10 and then print a 5X7 or 4X6, it's a pain in the tush to have to sift through all those photos and take home 8X10's.... I have countless 8X10's sitting in drawers as that was the only size available but I don't want to display that size. My photos are mostly for albums/scrapbooking. I want 4X6's and some 5X7's.... I think people would by more if there were more variety of sizes to choose from.

And I like what Princess did for me on my cruise. Starting the 3rd night I would go to the photos, pick through all my photos and they would put them in a folder and set them aside with my name/cabin number on the folder. I didn't pick the ones from the 1st two nights as I didn't know this was an option. However, I then had to look through 1000's of photos for our embarkation/formal night photos that I didn't put aside. What a pain in the tush.... If I'd known that they do that the first night, it would have been easier. But it was easier to look for just 2-3 photos in those 1000's than all 7 nights:eek:

I would love to be the one to revamp the way ALL cruiselines do their photo galleries...... :D

[Sandi149]

Totally agree....we were on the Legend in Oct. and not only was the area sooooo crowded, you couldn't even find the pictures. Finally I found a pic of hubby and I on formal night. I did buy it but I'm sure there were other pics that they took, but I just didn't feel like looking through so many pictures and having to deal with the crowds of people. When we go on the Miracle in June I'm not even sure I will buy any pictures. The area where they had it was such a small space. I really think they should figure out an alternative way to display their pictures with so many people onboard.

[Top-Cat]

I would like to see them offer a price break or package deal. The more you buy, they knock off a little. I agree that it is hard to see and sort through. On one ship, and I can remember which, the card room opening was inside the picture area. We went in there and sat in the floor and looked them over.

[Corsair41]

I've always found that it's certainly easier (and less of a pain) to go look for the pics when the entire ship isn't doing the same.

 

BTW, copying a photo in anyway without the photographer's knowledge (and permission) is pretty much the same thing as downloading a song without paying for it. That's the reason the CCL puts their logo and name on the prints. In this case, it technically belongs to them, and you are in essence paying for a license when you purchase the photo. It really doesn't seem like a big deal, since CCL makes quite a bit from the pics, but it all adds up.

[MrPete]

To bad there not on your cabin TV, and you can pick the ones you want there if you want any. It would save a lot of paper. You could give them your cabin #

 

I suggested this to Mr. D. last year, who forwarded this on to his techies. They say they are just not ready with this yet.

 

BTW, how do you know which pictures are yours?

[megr1125]

I haven't cruised carnival but i agree, there has to be a way these cruise lines can simplify it.

 

RCL has gotten a little more organized...they now will say...1st formal, 5-7 PM, centrum background...or something. they try to get an approximate time on them. still i have to look at a bunch, but it isn't TOO bad.

 

 

at least they print a couple different sizes/set ups...like a 5x7 embarkation photo, then an 8x10 of the same pose, but with the itinerary map, etc.

 

Hmmm...maybe if we write the software we can sell it, retire and cruise???

 

 

Hmm........sounds like a plan

[HeidiHo]

When we were on the Miracle my daughter and her friend went around to many different stations and had their pictures taken. We could NEVER find any of them. We suspect some other kids picked them up and threw them in the trash. My daughter and her friend were so disappointed. Three Years ago we were skiing at Breckenridge and my daughter and another friend had a photo taken on the mountain. Were were given a ticket with a number on it and at the end of the day we could view it on one of their computers and make a purchase. About a year later my daughter used the picture for a school project and it somehow disappeared. She was very disappointed. I was able to go back on the photographers website and order another copy to be mailed to us. It wasn't cheap with S&H and everything but it was worth it for my daughter to have the memento. I wish Carnival would do something like that too but maybe the cost would be too high. I really wouldn't want to pay more for photos than we already are.