Has Carnival changed its daily activities and shows?

Hi! I haven't been on Carnival in about 2 years. We are planning to go on the Paradise (it is the only one that lines up with our vacation days and budget this year I think.) I was reading through a review and someone posted the FunTimes. I got to noticing that there weren't any scavenger hunts listed (unless I missed them somehow), and that several of the other guest activities had been moved to night time, and now took place as the main events instead of the Broadway style shows. I also noticed that most of the "entertainment" happened at 8,8:30, or 9, so anybody doing late dining would miss out. Is this the case? We don't drink, gamble, and don't even do much onboard shopping. We loved doing the daytime guest activities, did late dining, then caught the shows after. We also did the guest talent show. Do they still do that?

I am sure that even if things have changed, we wil have fun. We will be happy just to be on a ship and not working. The sea has been calling my name lol! I just don't want to be caught off guard if things have changed a lot. Have yall noticed a change in the activities/shows or any other big changes in the last couple years? (I know about the bottled water thing and past guest party thing ;) ).

There have been big changes to activities & entertainment. There is a lot more relying on guests to be the entertainment these days. I don't know what type of shows Paradise has. Most ships have switched over to Playlist Productions: 30 minutes instead of an hour, no live music at all, 8 or fewer dancers who also kind of sing, and no props. I prefer the older style productions shows, the kind that you would be used to. That's the overwhelming majority opinion, but there are some people that like the new style. Typically, if they aren't doing the show for late diners after dinner, then they'll do it before dinner: around 7:00.

I have had a couple cruises where the welcome aboard show was at 7:30, so early diners came in late, and the late diners had to leave early. It was a bit of a mess. On my last cruise, on one night, there was a 10:30 show for late diners, with a deck party on lido deck at the same time. Poor planning. On my 1 sailing on a ship with Playlist Productions shows, I was quite disappointed in the shows, and they used the Hasbro game to be the nighttime entertainment. Love & marriage game might also be used as the nighttime entertainment. And there might be a night with no show or game & almost nothing else going on throughout the ship. These cheap substitutes are more typical with 7+ day sailings, but you might see some of that on the shorter sailings as well.

There have still been games out by the pool in the afternoons. I haven't noticed any real cutbacks with those, as those don't really cost much money at all to do. I haven't been on the lookout for scavenger hunts, but I haven't seen them on my last few cruises.

On Glory it is the new format which we liked better. The new format has 4 singer/dancers and 4 dancer/singers. They use lighting and video effects instead of the fancy costumes and a multitude of dancers.

They had the Hadbro show one night and the marriage game one night. There is also the Punchile club with great comedians.

On Splendor it was the old style with all the dancers. We did not like it and I'm guessing by the attendances that neigthef did most of the others. On Glory the theatre was pretty full every night. On Splendor it was 2/3 empty every night. They did theHasbro show on 2 nights and they also did the marriage game. They had the comedy club, which was good. They also had one viditkng singer who was excellent.

I didn't notice anyway time things, except the hairychedgvompetition.

On Glory it is the new format which we liked better. The new format has 4 singer/dancers and 4 dancer/singers. They use lighting and video effects instead of the fancy costumes and a multitude of dancers.

They had the Hadbro show one night and the marriage game one night. There is also the Punchile club with great comedians.

 

On Splendor it was the old style with all the dancers. We did not like it and I'm guessing by the attendances that neigthef did most of the others. On Glory the theatre was pretty full every night. On Splendor it was 2/3 empty every night. They did theHasbro show on 2 nights and they also did the marriage game. They had the comedy club, which was good. They also had one viditkng singer who was excellent.

I didn't notice anyway time things, except the hairychedgvompetition.

IMHO this is not entertainment. Poor excuse and I sure hope it changes before our 21 days on the Glory next year. I can't imagine having 6 nights of the Hasbro game show as our main entertainment~!:mad:

Just off "Paradise", and as of last week they still presented the TWO GREAT production shows, although they are in the process of switching to the far less desirable "Playlist Production" shows. There is no Guest Talent show now, and I was told it's because the on board band is different now. (I was told by a different source, that they are dropping the guest talent show from all the ships.) I don't know much about the other activities, as I find myself napping in the afternoon, and enjoying the shows, and karaoke in the evening. Oh yes, karaoke is in bad shape as well, as they've "upgraded" their system to an all solid state system, with no discs, and IMO, very little choice in music. You'll have a GREAT cruise anyway, so relax, and enjoy.

"SKY"

On Glory it is the new format which we liked better. The new format has 4 singer/dancers and 4 dancer/singers. They use lighting and video effects instead of the fancy costumes and a multitude of dancers.

They had the Hadbro show one night and the marriage game one night. There is also the Punchile club with great comedians.

 

On Splendor it was the old style with all the dancers. We did not like it and I'm guessing by the attendances that neigthef did most of the others. On Glory the theatre was pretty full every night. On Splendor it was 2/3 empty every night. They did theHasbro show on 2 nights and they also did the marriage game. They had the comedy club, which was good. They also had one viditkng singer who was excellent.

I didn't notice anyway time things, except the hairychedgvompetition.

I was on the September 5 sailing of the Glory. I thoroughly enjoyed all four of the main shows; I watched twenty minutes of the Hasbro show last year and NOTHING could induce me to try another one. We had a good time on the cruise, but found ourselves spending a lot of time in the casino because there just wasn't anything else we were interested in. That turned out to be a good thing because I received a "free" casino cruise offer, but, in all honesty, I am looking forward to the Navigator of the Seas in December because there will be more things to do that I am interested in.

Just off the Paradise about a month ago. I did post a review (although sorry the pics didn't upload!).

As for the entertainment ... here's my assessment:

They have not converted to "Playlist" yet; They still have the "old style" broadway-type shows with lots of singers, dancers and more costume changes than a Cher concert! I have always enjoyed these types of shows! Also, they DO have TWO shows nightly, so having "late" seating dinner will not prevent you from seeing THESE shows (It WILL conflict with other nightly entertainment, see below) The ONLY time there is only one nightly show is the "welcome" show, on the first night, and also the "Love and Marriage" - so those nights with late seating you are beat.

However, I will say we DID switch from LATE seating to EARLY seating because what we discovered we liked to do is see the "Adult" comedy shows in the new Punchliner club ... probably a more popular choice than the broadway shows in the theater these days ... and with late seating dinner, by the time we rushed up to see the 10:30 comedy show it was standing room only... so we switched to Early seating. I have "always" preferred late seating, but after trying it for the first time, I'm now coverted to EARLY seating and that's what I picked for my February cruise on the Pride.

As for the activities during the day ... they are kinda sparce. Gone are the "good old days" when sea days were packed with Lido deck favorites like the "horse race" and the "dancing contests" and the "hairy chest" and you could go from one activity to the next all day long - I miss these days since I was never much of a "lounge by the pool and sip cocktails" type of guy, and now that I'm in Recovery I don't even drink alcohol anymore, lol - So I would like to have more "planned" activities -

Although it might be different on bigger ships ... the majority of activites I saw during the day on the Paradise were mostly either TRIVIA or things designed to sell you something, like jewelry "activities" or art gallery "activities"

With that being said ... I thoroghly enjoyed our 4-days on the Paradise (tho I recommend the 5 day if you can swing it) - Never were we "bored," and it's a great size ship too ... Goldilocks would have loved it, cause it's "not too big, not too small ... it was JUSSSSST Right." ;)

Oh and by far the BEST food onboard can be found at the "SeaDay Brunch" - Be SURE to hit that on Sea Days - In fact, I wanted to eat it TWICE, once early for "breakfast" and a few hours later for "lunch" - but it never quite worked out to do that. They have things on that menu that you will not find anywhere else on the ship.

IMHO this is not entertainment. Poor excuse and I sure hope it changes before our 21 days on the Glory next year. I can't imagine having 6 nights of the Hasbro game show as our main entertainment~!:mad:

Yes totally agree. We didn't know what the Hasbto show was do we went to see. On Glory they only had it once. We stayed 10 minutes. People on Splendor were complaining about the lack of entertainment. On Glory the theatre was pretty full most nights. On Splendor it was mostly empty every night. That says something about the shows. The only time it was fairly full was when the guest singer was on.

We went to the comedy club most nights which is normally not our style. The comedians were all great.

Yes totally agree. We didn't know what the Hasbto show was do we went to see. On Glory they only had it once. We stayed 10 minutes. People on Splendor were complaining about the lack of entertainment. On Glory the theatre was pretty full most nights. On Splendor it was mostly empty every night. That says something about the shows. The only time it was fairly full was when the guest singer was on.

We went to the comedy club most nights which is normally not our style. The comedians were all great.

That is extremely odd. I'm not doubting your experience. I'm just saying that it is not typical. The old style full production shows, like they have on Splendor, are typically very well attended, and an overwhelming majority of people prefer those to Playlist Productions. Nothing wrong with being in the minority opinion on that, as I am in the minority opinion on other things, but it is the minority. My experience with Playlist shows is that they were very poorly attended, and tons of people walking out in the middle of them, and I read reports like that everywhere. I don't know what shows Glory has, but this was my experience with Breeze's Playlist shows. My cruise on Splendor was absolutely fantastic, and the shows were spectacular, and the showroom was packed out, and the people loved them. I heard plenty of people around the ship praising those shows.

Many people are speculating that Carnival will eventually do away with Playlist shows, and replace them with nothing, using "lack of attendance" as an excuse to cancel it. They have done that with other things. They shrunk the theater in the Destiny/Sunshine when it was renovated, and the Vista is going to have the same tiny theater, which says that Carnival is seeing and expecting low attendance in the shows. I don't think that Carnival will eliminate all shows, but the reason people are speculating this is because of the poor attendance.

Hi

We have been cruising since 1995 . Our cruises includes NCL, Costa Carnival, RCI. We have enjoyed all our cruises. Some a little more than others. With over seven cruises on Carnival . The changes over the last years. playlist pro., dj music and no kettle drums Caribbean band on lido, lack of live entertainment except karaoke by passengers. less to do. We decided to venture out on other lines . See whats out there. Carnival has been good in pricing and such and sometimes a change is needed. Still looking at the new Carnival Vista. and Freedom of the Seas for next year. RCI have been good so far. Just our opinion Keep on cruising, its a big sea out there:)

Just looking to Cruise

kruise runner:cool:

That is extremely odd. I'm not doubting your experience. I'm just saying that it is not typical. The old style full production shows, like they have on Splendor, are typically very well attended, and an overwhelming majority of people prefer those to Playlist Productions. Nothing wrong with being in the minority opinion on that, as I am in the minority opinion on other things, but it is the minority. My experience with Playlist shows is that they were very poorly attended, and tons of people walking out in the middle of them, and I read reports like that everywhere. I don't know what shows Glory has, but this was my experience with Breeze's Playlist shows. My cruise on Splendor was absolutely fantastic, and the shows were spectacular, and the showroom was packed out, and the people loved them. I heard plenty of people around the ship praising those shows.

 

Many people are speculating that Carnival will eventually do away with Playlist shows, and replace them with nothing, using "lack of attendance" as an excuse to cancel it. They have done that with other things. They shrunk the theater in the Destiny/Sunshine when it was renovated, and the Vista is going to have the same tiny theater, which says that Carnival is seeing and expecting low attendance in the shows. I don't think that Carnival will eliminate all shows, but the reason people are speculating this is because of the poor attendance.

Just off the Glory last two week and two evenings only entertainment in main lounge was Hasbro. Actually after Hasbro was the old old love and marriage show which has been moved from an afternoon activity.

No flyons at all which seems to be the trend.

Four evenings of playlist. Epic Rock is a good show but the other three do not plan to ever go to again. Divas with its bright flashing lights is the best migraine trigger in the world.

Only saving grace last week was awesome PBE.

Carnival's entertainment is getting worse and worse.

Just off the Glory last two week and two evenings only entertainment in main lounge was Hasbro. Actually after Hasbro was the old old love and marriage show which has been moved from an afternoon activity.

 

No flyons at all which seems to be the trend.

 

Four evenings of playlist. Epic Rock is a good show but the other three do not plan to ever go to again. Divas with its bright flashing lights is the best migraine trigger in the world.

 

Only saving grace last week was awesome PBE.

 

Carnival's entertainment is getting worse and worse.

I giggled while reading this, my sentiments exactly regarding DIVAS. I was truly disappointed about the big shows on the Breeze last year, we also saw MOD or something with the British Invasion songs from the 60's. At least that one didn't trigger a headache but I was watching the animation more than the live singers.

Seriously disappointed in the shows and then being crammed into that tiny Comedy Club space. I seriously think that people are starved for "good"entertainment the unfortunately the venue isn't capable of accommodating crowds. I wish they'd bring the comedy show to the main stage on a few nights.

They haven't changed the Marriage show questions in 20 years. Now they have guests on stage acting silly, carrying a ping pong ball on a spoon around the room in a race, dropping things from their butt crack into a bucket. Very humiliating or just silly.

They did have all new trivia questions in early September.

Some ships supply a confusing week long list of shows or comedians and different times during week early or late diners can catch.

Menu is not so hot. Lido is mush. Mongolian Wok is very good. Desserts on Lido look beautiful but except for key lime pie have no flavor at all. Some chocolate cake creations are good. Some ships charging for some room menu foods some of which were free in the past. Even a $5 pan pizza. Hope it better than the pizza on Lido but I have to admit most people like the flat bread w/almost no sauce they now serve.

Scratching my head over these posts. We were on the Princess Regal in March. did not like it. Felt there was nothing to do. Trivia was automated and anyway....

On Sunshine In June.

Trivia...which we love

Scattergories

Zumba

Crafts..don't remember what they made...Masks?

Cooking demonstration

bingo

Lectures

Seminars The Perfume one is one I like. I know they are selling you stuff but I just like perfume shows

The Quest

A scavenger hunt

Deck Parties

The Pool games

Putt Putt Golf

FOUR great shows. I saw them all. LOVED them

One great magic comedy act. Drug my husband there...even he roared with laughter

Meetings with Vets, Gays, Singles, whatever

Bands playing where I could sit with my honey and listen

Karaoke

Talent Contest

Tour the ship with the Officers

Past Guest party for Platinum and Diamonds. VERY NICE.

three meals a day

trips to the coffee bar

donated some to the casino

looked at the art show with my honey. Wished i had $500 to pop for one.

read a book in a cozy corner

chatted with lovely people

spent hours searching for my photos in photo shop

NEVER made it to TEA

AND OTHER STUFF WE DID went to all of the specialty Restaurants. enjoyed them all

And there was a lot we did not do.............

DID we cruise on the same LINE?

They haven't changed the Marriage show questions in 20 years. Now they have guests on stage acting silly, carrying a ping pong ball on a spoon around the room in a race, dropping things from their butt crack into a bucket. Very humiliating or just silly.

 

They did have all new trivia questions in early September.

 

Some ships supply a confusing week long list of shows or comedians and different times during week early or late diners can catch.

 

Menu is not so hot. Lido is mush. Mongolian Wok is very good. Desserts on Lido look beautiful but except for key lime pie have no flavor at all. Some chocolate cake creations are good. Some ships charging for some room menu foods some of which were free in the past. Even a $5 pan pizza. Hope it better than the pizza on Lido but I have to admit most people like the flat bread w/almost no sauce they now serve.

Key lime pie is the best dessert they have. Always try to remember to bring a few slices back to our cabin for later in the week.

Never understood why they keep doing the same questions on marriage show and now most cruises do this in the evenings to avoid spending money on a flyon.

I was on one cruise and John Heald did the Marriage show and he changed it up a bit and it was much better.

I was on one cruise and John Heald did the Marriage show and he changed it up a bit and it was much better.

You would think the CD's would get bored doing it the same way week after week.

You would think the CD's would get bored doing it the same way week after week.

and year after year and in John's case decade after decade.

Scratching my head over these posts. We were on the Princess Regal in March. did not like it. Felt there was nothing to do. Trivia was automated and anyway....

 

On Sunshine In June.

Trivia...which we love

Scattergories

Zumba

Crafts..don't remember what they made...Masks?

Cooking demonstration

bingo

Lectures

Seminars The Perfume one is one I like. I know they are selling you stuff but I just like perfume shows

The Quest

A scavenger hunt

Deck Parties

The Pool games

Putt Putt Golf

FOUR great shows. I saw them all. LOVED them

One great magic comedy act. Drug my husband there...even he roared with laughter

Meetings with Vets, Gays, Singles, whatever

Bands playing where I could sit with my honey and listen

Karaoke

Talent Contest

Tour the ship with the Officers

Past Guest party for Platinum and Diamonds. VERY NICE.

three meals a day

trips to the coffee bar

donated some to the casino

looked at the art show with my honey. Wished i had $500 to pop for one.

read a book in a cozy corner

chatted with lovely people

spent hours searching for my photos in photo shop

NEVER made it to TEA

AND OTHER STUFF WE DID went to all of the specialty Restaurants. enjoyed them all

And there was a lot we did not do.............

 

DID we cruise on the same LINE?

Some CD's promote a lot more activities than others.

and year after year and in John's case decade after decade.

You would think that Carnival Corp would look around what their various CD's are doing and look to make improvements and show just a little imagination.

On our one Princess cruise the activities were much more imaginative. Have another one coming up and interested to see if it was the CD or just Princess does better activities.

You would think that Carnival Corp would look around what their various CD's are doing and look to make improvements and show just a little imagination.

 

On our one Princess cruise the activities were much more imaginative. Have another one coming up and interested to see if it was the CD or just Princess does better activities.

Next month will be my first cruise with Princess and I'm keeping an open mind so I can compare and contrast the entertainment. Thanks for your take on the activities.

Next month will be my first cruise with Princess and I'm keeping an open mind so I can compare and contrast the entertainment. Thanks for your take on the activities.

Hope you enjoy it. Ours was a TA and the demographics were totally different than what we have seen on Carnival in the Caribbean. Much more sophisticated people looking to see the world.

Entertainment was much different with a number of nights of classical music.

Oh my! I will be sailing on the Glory as a solo in December for the first time with Carnival for the past two years. I am now approaching my fortieth cruise;many with Carnival but also with Norwegian, Princess, Celebrity, and Royal Caribbean.

Although I never rated Carnival's entertainment highly, it was still a good thing to do after dinner. For the majority of my cruises I sailed with my DH, but for the last three years he has been less willing to go through the airport and flight hassles that go with traveling, but stuck here in the brutal winters of the North Shore of Massachusetts, I have overcome my fears of going alone and gotten out of the nasty Northeastern weather; sometimes with Carnival because they were offering zero or low singles supplements, but also increasingly going with Norwegian due to their solo studios and solo activities. They have evidently gone the opposite direction from Carnival, offering at least one ninety minute Broadway show plus live entertainment both at sail away and countless other venues.

still, I had fairly recent memories of a Crnival Splendor cruise from New York that was the first solo cruise I took when my man refused to go. I was disappointed that at sail away it was a dim spectre of previous cruises that we had had as a couple and the mechanical piano playing endlessly kinda grossed me out, but still with a good itinerary, decent price, okay evening entertainment, and good food opportunities, it was still a great cruise!

Now I am hearing that only not only have they downgraded the entertainment in the evenings considerably, but they are thinking of eliminating all live evening entertainment altogether! Wow, cruises have always offered a good alternative to all inclusive so and other tropical getaways. But when you figure in the loss of free internet, having to leave a wonderful evening in a tropical paradise to raise back to as hip by 4:30, extremely high booze prices, not just in bars but even if you want to enjoy a drink in your room, smaller room sizes,much smaller pool sizes, a and paying high internet prices for what is free in most hotels and all inclusives, I am looking at the cumulative price of adding on wifi, beverages, paid restaurants offering things that used to be free a few years ago, and now almost nothing offered complimentary for entertainment in the evening and wondering what is Carnival ever thinking?

Oh my! I will be sailing on the Glory as a solo in December for the first time with Carnival for the past two years. I am now approaching my fortieth cruise;many with Carnival but also with Norwegian, Princess, Celebrity, and Royal Caribbean.

Although I never rated Carnival's entertainment highly, it was still a good thing to do after dinner. For the majority of my cruises I sailed with my DH, but for the last three years he has been less willing to go through the airport and flight hassles that go with traveling, but stuck here in the brutal winters of the North Shore of Massachusetts, I have overcome my fears of going alone and gotten out of the nasty Northeastern weather; sometimes with Carnival because they were offering zero or low singles supplements, but also increasingly going with Norwegian due to their solo studios and solo activities. They have evidently gone the opposite direction from Carnival, offering at least one ninety minute Broadway show plus live entertainment both at sail away and countless other venues.

still, I had fairly recent memories of a Crnival Splendor cruise from New York that was the first solo cruise I took when my man refused to go. I was disappointed that at sail away it was a dim spectre of previous cruises that we had had as a couple and the mechanical piano playing endlessly kinda grossed me out, but still with a good itinerary, decent price, okay evening entertainment, and good food opportunities, it was still a great cruise!

Now I am hearing that only not only have they downgraded the entertainment in the evenings considerably, but they are thinking of eliminating all live evening entertainment altogether! Wow, cruises have always offered a good alternative to all inclusive so and other tropical getaways. But when you figure in the loss of free internet, having to leave a wonderful evening in a tropical paradise to raise back to as hip by 4:30, extremely high booze prices, not just in bars but even if you want to enjoy a drink in your room, smaller room sizes,much smaller pool sizes, a and paying high internet prices for what is free in most hotels and all inclusives, I am looking at the cumulative price of adding on wifi, beverages, paid restaurants offering things that used to be free a few years ago, and now almost nothing offered complimentary for entertainment in the evening and wondering what is Carnival ever thinking?

Carnival has come to the conclusion that new cruisers will be willing to spend more than us older experienced cruisers and that is now their target market.

As a result they are charging for stuff that used to be included. I dont think they have any immediate plans to eliminate all live entertainment but they have certainly reduced its quality.

Now I am hearing that only not only have they downgraded the entertainment in the evenings considerably, but they are thinking of eliminating all live evening entertainment altogether!

This is just speculation on the part of some people that has been expressed on these boards. Some of that speculation is done halfway joking, but still realizing that it's a possibility. It all depends on what Carnival can get away with. If they can still fill the ship with eliminating x or y, or replacing them with something less costly, they'll do it. If people like the less costly replacement more or if they don't care, Carnival will push it even further.

Carnival has come to the conclusion that new cruisers will be willing to spend more than us older experienced cruisers and that is now their target market.

The newer cruisers are their target market. I would fit the "young" demographic, but I also started cruising young. I find myself enjoying fun things to do closer to home more than how Carnival cruises currently are, and I spend less money with those kind of trips.