Back to RCL for good!!!!!

[cruzingagain]

Just got off the Carnival Pride....I don't know why I do that to myself. I guess the price just tempts me. But you know what they say, you get what you pay for!!! From here on out, it is RCCL all the way!!!!

[clearwaters]

Our first cruise in June 2006 was on the Pride. We thought it was nice. Carnival DOES nickel and dime you a lot, though. We are going on RCCL next month for our 2nd cruise. Based on your comments, I'm glad we made the right decision this time...

[cruzingagain]

You will notice the difference in DETAILS. Also in the service. You will throughly enjoy RCL. I have been on 19 cruises, 6 on NCL, 11 on Carnival, 1 on Princess and 1 on RCL.

 

RCL is my favorite!!

[critterchick]

Our first cruise in June 2006 was on the Pride. We thought it was nice. Carnival DOES nickel and dime you a lot, though. We are going on RCCL next month for our 2nd cruise. Based on your comments, I'm glad we made the right decision this time...

 

I haven't sailed on Carnival. But I would be horrified to find out that they "nickel & dime" one more than RCI does. But by charging for all the little extras, they (all of the major mass market lines that I've encountered) keep the base price of the cruise lower and you only pay for what you drink/eat(speciality restaurants, Ben & Jerry's, etc.)/gamble/spa, etc. As annoying as I find that drawer full of receipts at the end of each cruise, I don't really mind having to whip out my Seapass every time turn around.;)

[MrPete]

Just got off the Carnival Pride....I don't know why I do that to myself. I guess the price just tempts me. But you know what they say, you get what you pay for!!! From here on out, it is RCCL all the way!!!!

 

Want to give some details other than a blanket statement?

 

I haven't sailed on Carnival. But I would be horrified to find out that they "nickel & dime" one more than RCI does.

 

They don't. I found it worse on RCCL.

[cruzingagain]

I'll just mention the TOP one. Although there were several. (I got my thread removed when I told this on the Carnival Boards!)

 

We went on this cruise with another couple for my fiance's birthday. I ordered a cake to be delivered at the dinner table the night of his birthday. (The cake was ordered before hand through the Bon Voyage dept.)

 

When I brought it to the waiter's attention, he went to the asst. maitr'd and told her we were expecting a cake. She CAME OVER TO OUR TABLE OF 4 and said "your waiter said something about a cake".....this is supposed to be a surprise!!!!!

 

They were showing no record of my ordering a cake. Anyway, insult was added to injury the way the whole thing was handled.

 

When I got home (last Sunday), I called the Carnival office, explained what happened, and canceled my charges through my bank. Carnival did graciously offer to give me an "onboard credit on a future cruise". Won't do me any good, because I will not cruise Carnival again. This is not the first time I have encountered rudeness on that cruiseline. Maybe this sounds petty to some of you, but this whole cruise was planned for his birthday. He had never cruised Carnival, and really does not want to again after he saw how they treated me about his cake.

 

Cheaper or not, they won't get my business anymore.

[PaddleAddict]

It doesn't sound rude to me, it sounds like an honest mistake. :confused:

[clearwaters]

I'll just mention the TOP one. Although there were several. (I got my thread removed when I told this on the Carnival Boards!)

 

We went on this cruise with another couple for my fiance's birthday. I ordered a cake to be delivered at the dinner table the night of his birthday. (The cake was ordered before hand through the Bon Voyage dept.)

 

When I brought it to the waiter's attention, he went to the asst. maitr'd and told her we were expecting a cake. She CAME OVER TO OUR TABLE OF 4 and said "your waiter said something about a cake".....this is supposed to be a surprise!!!!!

 

They were showing no record of my ordering a cake. Anyway, insult was added to injury the way the whole thing was handled.

 

When I got home (last Sunday), I called the Carnival office, explained what happened, and canceled my charges through my bank. Carnival did graciously offer to give me an "onboard credit on a future cruise". Won't do me any good, because I will not cruise Carnival again. This is not the first time I have encountered rudeness on that cruiseline. Maybe this sounds petty to some of you, but this whole cruise was planned for his birthday. He had never cruised Carnival, and really does not want to again after he saw how they treated me about his cake.

 

Cheaper or not, they won't get my business anymore.

 

I learned to ask for a copy of the itemized order receipt (since you pay by credit card) from the Bon Voyage Dept (or whatever the cruise line calls that dept). That way everything is right there in writing when someone says they don't know what I'm talking about...

[Cruising89143]

It doesn't sound rude to me, it sounds like an honest mistake. :confused:

 

Sometimes things can just build up and that is what happened to me with Carnival. I cruised with them 16 times and eventually just got tired of certain things. I tried the Navigator of the Seas and haven't looked back. This can happen with any cruise line but for me it was Carnival.

[nstr]

I haven't taken my cruise yet on RCCL but I have cruised 2x with Carnival and both cruises were great. From what I understand , all cruise ships are out to sell people things during the cruise. This is how their revenue is made. A polite no TY always ends the sales attempt. I don't understand what people mean by nickling and diming :confused: ? When you book a cruise its made clear what comes with the set price you piad. Anything else that costs money is an extra. You can chose to buy or not buy. The one thing I can see in the OP's post is the lack of communication after it was found the cake order was lost. The surprise was spoiled. I would've been upset too. They did offer an OBC and that was nice of them. The OP refuses it and thats her choice. Mistakes do happen.

[cruzingagain]

It doesn't sound rude to me, it sounds like an honest mistake. :confused:

 

 

I agree that it COULD HAVE BEEN an honest mistake, but I did not go into detail with the things they said to me. From the asst. maitr'd to the maitr'd to the pursers desk, I was made to feel as though I was lying and made to feel as though my business was not important to them. The only time I was made to feel better was AFTER the cruise was over.....little late then!!!! Having been in the hospitality business for over 20 years, I know this could have been smoothed over with VERY little effort. Instead, I was insulted.

[PhoenixCruiser]

I read your thread on the Carnival board before it was removed.

 

I think you are really making a huge issue over over a mistake. For a child's first birthday cake, your wedding cake, yes, but for an adult birthday?

 

Thanks for sharing your experience with us.

 

###

[cruzingagain]

I read your thread on the Carnival board before it was removed.

 

I think you are really making a huge issue over over a mistake. For a child's first birthday cake, your wedding cake, yes, but for an adult birthday?

 

Thanks for sharing your experience with us.

 

###

 

Different things are important to different people.

And it really became more about the way I was treated than the actual cake itself. My cruise was not ruined, but my opinion of Carnival was.

[cruzingagain]

I read your thread on the Carnival board before it was removed.

 

I think you are really making a huge issue over over a mistake. For a child's first birthday cake, your wedding cake, yes, but for an adult birthday?

 

Thanks for sharing your experience with us.

 

###

 

Different things are important to different people.

 

It really became more about the way I was treated than the actual cake. My cruise was not ruined, but my opinion of Carnival was.

[Cruising89143]

Most of the cruise lines have added more revenue making items on board. It's a choice as to buy them or not. I don't have a problem with it. If I don't want to buy it then I don't. Don't see where RCI has anymore than Carnival or NCL for that matter.

[tkportersat]

Sorry you had a bad experience but where was your confirmation for the cake purchase? Every time I have ordered w/ the Bon Voyage dept I have been sent a confirmation and I always bring it with me on board...just in case. I have always gotten my orders but I will still take it. Seems like it was an honest mistake and that it could have happened on any line.

 

As far as some referencing "nickle and diming", that happens on Carnival and RC, never could tell one was doing it more than the other. All are trying to make that extra few dollars but I have never been made to feel like I have had to purchase anything I didn't want to. Service has been equal on my trips as well.

 

I agree that it COULD HAVE BEEN an honest mistake, but I did not go into detail with the things they said to me. From the asst. maitr'd to the maitr'd to the pursers desk, I was made to feel as though I was lying and made to feel as though my business was not important to them. The only time I was made to feel better was AFTER the cruise was over.....little late then!!!! Having been in the hospitality business for over 20 years, I know this could have been smoothed over with VERY little effort. Instead, I was insulted.

[clearwaters]

I read your thread on the Carnival board before it was removed.

 

I think you are really making a huge issue over over a mistake. For a child's first birthday cake, your wedding cake, yes, but for an adult birthday?

 

Thanks for sharing your experience with us.

 

###

 

...just a sideline comment. These B'day celebrations always crack me up! The adults take it sooooo seriously!! The baby doesn't know it's their first birthday!! They're one year old!!! :D

 

Anyway, I think the people who run Carnival have their hearts in the right place by trying to provide a way for many more people to be able to GET ON THE SHIP. Maybe those folks cannot afford expensive spa treatments and so on---but they are on the ship!! And that's great!!

 

What I mean by nickel and dime is, for example, when we booked our RCL cruise (our first cruise was on the Pride in 2006) we just KNEW the rock climbing wall, ice skating and minature golf were available for a fee.:eek: Turns out they are free on RCL.

 

Everything extra like that had a cost on Carnival... that's what I meant by nickel and dime. :)

[feistytigger]

i'm sorry you didn't have an awesome time on carnival! that stinks about the surprise being ruined. very puzzling to me that they didn't get what was going on. our servers on our 2nd carnival cruise brought us a special dessert on our anniversary and sang to us at our friends' request, and it was a complete surprise to us. very sweet.

 

since i've been amazed with the service we received on our 2 carnival cruises, i am super excited about our rci one! great to know that you love rci so much.

[ala-kat]

I agree that it COULD HAVE BEEN an honest mistake, but I did not go into detail with the things they said to me. From the asst. maitr'd to the maitr'd to the pursers desk, I was made to feel as though I was lying and made to feel as though my business was not important to them. The only time I was made to feel better was AFTER the cruise was over.....little late then!!!! Having been in the hospitality business for over 20 years, I know this could have been smoothed over with VERY little effort. Instead, I was insulted.

 

Wasn't this pre-ordered online? Anytime I order something such as this, I print off the verification as proof of the transaction and take it with me. If they have no proof of the transaction, that is all they have to go on. Mistakes do happen, and people do lie (not saying you did, but it does happen). If you, on the other hand, have proof, problem solved.

[ala-kat]

KNEW [/b]the rock climbing wall, ice skating and minature golf were available for a fee.:eek: Turns out they are free on RCL.

 

Everything extra like that had a cost on Carnival... that's what I meant by nickel and dime. :)

 

Carnival doesn't have rock climbing or ice skating. Minature golf is free (unless you don't return the equipment).

[MrPete]

I'll just mention the TOP one. Although there were several. (I got my thread removed when I told this on the Carnival Boards!)

 

We went on this cruise with another couple for my fiance's birthday. I ordered a cake to be delivered at the dinner table the night of his birthday. (The cake was ordered before hand through the Bon Voyage dept.)

 

When I brought it to the waiter's attention, he went to the asst. maitr'd and told her we were expecting a cake. She CAME OVER TO OUR TABLE OF 4 and said "your waiter said something about a cake".....this is supposed to be a surprise!!!!!

 

They were showing no record of my ordering a cake. Anyway, insult was added to injury the way the whole thing was handled.

 

When I got home (last Sunday), I called the Carnival office, explained what happened, and canceled my charges through my bank. Carnival did graciously offer to give me an "onboard credit on a future cruise". Won't do me any good, because I will not cruise Carnival again. This is not the first time I have encountered rudeness on that cruiseline. Maybe this sounds petty to some of you, but this whole cruise was planned for his birthday. He had never cruised Carnival, and really does not want to again after he saw how they treated me about his cake.

 

Cheaper or not, they won't get my business anymore.

 

Yes, but what about the cruise? :confused:

[clearwaters]

Carnival doesn't have rock climbing or ice skating. Minature golf is free (unless you don't return the equipment).

 

I know. I was on a Carnival ship! :)

[ala-kat]

I know. I was on a Carnival ship! :)

 

and they're not going to 'nickle & dime' on services they don't even offer.

 

They also offer espresso & cappa at no charge in the dining room, morning to night.

[AliciaSK]

I am beginning to think there isn't as much difference in cruise lines as in specific cruises. We have done 2 Carnival 2 Princess 1 Norwegian and just last week did the Monarch of the Seas for our first taste of RCCL. The staff was SO wonderful but the passengers were another story. I have never felt before like there were "classes" on a ship. The higher your room the more people seem to feel like they deserved special treatment. Line cutting, screeching to the staff for the special treatment they felt they deserved. I came back thinking I prefer Princess but I can't imagine not enjoying a cruise.

[PaddleAddict]

I also wonder about the nickel-and-diming comment. I have cruised Carnival, and I am about to cruise RCI for the first time, so I will be able to compare soon.

 

Thinking about it, the only "extras" I paid for on Carnival were specialty coffee/esperesso/etc. (I could order it in the dining room for free, but if I wanted it outside the dining room you had to pay, or you could get the "blah" coffee from the buffet), alcohol (obviously you pay for this on all lines), Bingo, casino (again, pay for this on all lines)... where else do they nickel and dime you?