ghjcmo

2 hours ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

It would be nice, but I'm not holding my breath. I've never paid less than 100% single supplement. 

Same here.  Well I take that back.  One time, on my very first solo cruise back in 2014, i actually got a balcony cabin on the Carnival Legend for the price of ONE person.  That has NEVER happened again.  Like you said, it's always 100%.   Always.  

4 hours ago, Mary229 said:

Once seated the service is excellent.  It is as quick or as leisurely as you want.  It is a management issue not a service level issue.

I guess that's kind of a "good news, bad news" thing.  I'm glad to hear the service was good once you got in.  Maybe the management thing is kind of a "hangover" from the shutdown, that is, people haven't been trained properly.  I will say in that respect I do agree with some of the other people here in that this is kind of problem everywhere, not just cruising.

Hopefully it gets better for you. That's quite the journey you're on.  🙂 

40 minutes ago, sunviking90 said:

I have been following this thread with interest and thought I would do a non-milk or grocery comparison. We have been cruising HAL, Princess and a few assorted others for over 30 years, but what I remember as the last “great” cruise we had on HAL was about 13 years ago. By “great” I mean the food was the high quality that we used to expect, service was wonderful, yum yum man, shows every evening, chocolates on the bed nightly, etc. Special coffees were still complimentary in the MDR and our son who was 17 at the time was offered multiple entrees nightly even extra lobster. The room service menu still had salmon, and there was a salmon cookout around the pool on one of our Alaska port days. 
I remember for that particular cruise we paid $3500 cad total for a balcony for the 3 of us (I think our son was a “free” 3rd promo). I also remember at the time that this was an “expensive” last minute booking. Many on the ship paid less than we did I’m sure. Apparently $3500 in today’s dollars is about $4900. I just priced out a cruise for next August, same itinerary in a base veranda for 3 people (port fees and taxes only for the 3rd to make an accurate comparison). It comes to $5600 cad. So, it has indeed gone up, for a MUCH, MUCH lesser experience. This is without any HIA, etc. 
It sounds like the legendary voyages are actually just like what a regular HAL cruise used to be like, but premium priced. 
We have cruised a lot since retirement in the last couple of years and been able to take advantage of some good post pandemic pricing, but at the  prices we are seeing now, it does make us think twice. Knowing the product that we will be receiving, we are very careful not to “overpay”. I’ll wait for a deal and if doesn’t come along, we’ll do something else. 
I don’t mind paying more for something if it is a better product, but that is not the case here.

Yes, are still cruising, and enjoying ourselves, but just really careful that we don’t overpay for a watered down product.

 

Thank you for sharing your story and adding some context with real life examples.  Between what you and rj59 have shared, it's kind of startling to see how much cruising has changed, even more than I realized.  😞  (For example I was shocked to hear lobster was part of the buffet at one time.)

I've told people recently that cruising has changed a lot in 20 years and almost none of it for the better except for the e-muster and relaxed dress codes.  (I'm so done with dressing up for dinner).  But in reading these stories,  I'm reminded of a boss I had many years ago who was opposed to casual dress in the workplace.  He believed that "casual dress led to casual work."   As I sit here thinking about these changes, I find myself wondering if maybe he wasn't on to something. 

32 minutes ago, Wehwalt said:

 I'm reluctant to agree with your use of "taking advantage". 

Well you can call it what you want, but that's what they're doing.  I guess the cliche would be "making hay while the sun shines"   As for them staying in business, they're doing quite well.

https://cruiseradio.net/nclh-upgrades-full-year-guidance-after-strong-second-quarter/

https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2024/07/royal-caribbean-reports-2024-q2-earnings-dividend-is-back/

Admittedly this is for NCL and RCL, but everything I've seen indicates Carnival Corp  is doing well as well.  I haven't seen their latest numbers.   (They just ordered three 8000 passenger ships so apparently they're on solid ground.)

27 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

And not just in one sailing and not just on one ship.  I have been patient since 2022 but the “woe are my finances” excuse is getting long in the tooth.   Many of us have defended and been plenty patient.  I am not demanding a return of past features but basic service.   

That's because we've now been conditioned to accept the lack of basic service.  

Meanwhile  I saw an article just today how NCL had record profits in Q2,  I also saw an article that said RCL is doing so well they are reinstating stock dividends in October.  

https://cruiseradio.net/nclh-upgrades-full-year-guidance-after-strong-second-quarter/

https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2024/07/royal-caribbean-reports-2024-q2-earnings-dividend-is-back/

Just now, Niagarawine said:

Yes the ships are full and there is no impetus to change the product

Yes that's exactly right.  In a perverse twist of irony, the shutdown may have been the best thing that ever happened to the cruise lines because for whatever reason, demand post shutdown  has exploded.  I thought maybe once we got past the pent up demand it might slack but it shows no signs of slowing down.  And the cruise lines know this and are taking advantage of it.  And to make matters worse, the first time cruisers are becoming a larger share of the market.  So they don't know any better.  They don't know how it used to be.

10 minutes ago, doublebzz said:

Agree with your analogy but some posters will nit-pic it, I'm sure.  Not puzzled by any of the responses.  Again, some posters are wedded to HAL and regard any criticism as a personal attack.

Well that must be it, because some of the responses here, and the RIDICULOUS spin is mind blowing.  And for the record, I'm actually talking about the cruise industry in general right now.  Truth be told, I think HAL maybe is holding the line a little better than some of the other lines.  Carnival is the worst right now by far with the nickel and dime price increases.  Although oddly enough, as of 2023, I could still get lobster included in the MDR on my Carnival cruises, and on my Panama Canal cruise with HAL last year, lobster was never included.  So it seems they're all making cuts.

34 minutes ago, MAVIP said:

I am so sorry, but what you describe with the gallon of milk happens in our supermarkets now....a little bit less in weight or in numbers and a little bit higher price....

I don't know where you shop but when I buy a gallon of milk I get a gallon of milk.  Sounds like you need to shop someplace else.   

26 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

That analogy doesn't fly. If you want a gallon of milk, the package says it's gallon of milk, but in reality it's 3/4s of a gallon,  you have a false advertising issue, and possibly fraud. You are upset with HAL because they don't offer what they used to. They are not falsely saying they do. 

 

Again, it's about change and evolution. Are you unhappy with beverage packages or HIA? That's change. And evolution. 

No that analogy is spot on.  Do you work for the cruise lines or something?  Because you sure are "white knighting" for them a lot.  

8 hours ago, doublebzz said:

I think most posters are acknowledging the change and for them it has lessened their enjoyment of cruising. For me, cruising used to be a wonderful experience in and of itself.  Today I just regard it as a mode of transportation from one interesting port to another. I will continue to cruise but my choice of a cruise line, barring some exceptions, will be entirely itinerary driven.

Yeah that's exactly where I fall now.  I have to say I'm a little puzzled and dismayed by some of the responses here.  We all know prices have risen on EVERYTHING everywhere.  But when I go to the grocery store and now pay for a gallon of milk at a much higher price than it was a few years ago, what do I  have?  I still  have a GALLON of milk.  If the grocery stores followed the pricing model going on in cruising right now, we'd pay the new higher price for a gallon of milk, BUT we'd only get 3/4's of a gallon or half of a gallon of milk.   That's EXACTLY what's going on with cruising.  We're getting 3/4's of a gallon.  

12 minutes ago, Seasick Sailor said:

 

No current vacation costs are like you experienced 23 years ago! 

 

We had a timeshare on Maui since 1985. (Sold last year. Not due to high prices, just wanted to move on due to health)

 

It doesn't matter if you have land or sea vacations, it will never be what you got 23 years ago.

Nobody expects it to be the same price.  Give me a little more credit than that.  C'mon now.  When I say it's not the same, I'm talking about the actual cruising experience and how THAT has changed.  And how they have continually taken things away.  If they raised the price BUT kept the same experience, that would be one thing.  But we're paying more now for less product. 

2 hours ago, Mary229 said:

I was responding to someone who implied we could change the lines behavior.  We can only change our own.   I don’t see much for me in the cruise space anymore.  I have more land travel planned  next year for the first time in many years.  

I'm rapidly losing interest because of the CONSTANT drip, drip, drip of price increases for EVERYTHING.  When  I started cruising, it was a great value.   And that has disappeared over the years.   The president of Carnival Corp has openly talked about how they want to increase the cost of cruising to match land based vacations.  I've also noticed it seems like the lines are moving towards this floating amusement park concept while also moving to remove the "at sea" aspect of cruising.  So if there's no cost advantage, and if they're not going to lean into the "sailing" aspect of cruising, then what's the point of cruising?   So I understand your point.  

2 hours ago, esimon said:

Well I’m not nearly as disenchanted as you.  I feel like I’m getting my moneys worth and I love it.  I’m sorry people are so negative and pessimistic but to each is own. 

Well for me they're simply pricing me out of the market.  Not only have they increased base fares, they've also dramatically increased the extra amenities,  While simultaneously reducing the experience. It's nothing like what it was 23 years ago when I first started cruising.  And its not going to stop because demand is off the chart.

12 hours ago, Mary229 said:

When supply is tight consumers really can’t “get smart”.  

Sure we can.  We don't have to consume their product.  

On 7/30/2024 at 4:23 PM, esimon said:

Well, I’m not sure what we’re supposed to do. 

It's simple.   Quit cruising, or at least  cut way back.  Until demand slacks, they will continue to cut and cut and cut while simultaneously increasing the cost of everything.  If we just keep lining up to throw our money at them, they have no incentive to stop.  

On 7/28/2024 at 1:54 PM, ski ww said:

Sad but true, I guess things can only get better.

All indications are it will only get worse.  And if you think about it, can you blame them?  Cruise demand is off the charts.  So from their standpoint, why spend extra money for this and that, when people are still lining up to cruise.    And a lot of that demand is with new cruisers who don't know any better.  Until we cruisers wise up and become smarter consumers, this will continue.  

3 hours ago, scottca075 said:

 

Not really.

Which probably explains a lot.  

On 8/13/2023 at 7:14 PM, ATSEAMYLIFE said:

"The City" is much preferred.  Never, ever "Frisco."  

With the crap going on there, I would think people would have bigger things to worry about than what an out of towner might call the place.  SMH

On 6/25/2023 at 10:03 AM, RedgeToo said:

There are websites that cater for solos offering big discounts for solo travellers. I don't think I'm allowed to name them but sometimes Google is your friend.

Thanks for the heads up.  Usually what I run into is any kind of solo deal is for inside cabins only.  And I always want a balcony.  But I will look into it.  Thanks!

1 minute ago, shadow 123 said:

I missed something here

I was responding to this statement:

"Perhaps it is too much to ask that several people whom you don't know commit to dining with you at the same time and at the same table every evening for two weeks straight."

I guess it's evolving because of the "My Time Dining" concept, but I don't think it's too much to ask as that's basically how it's done when you do fixed seating in the MDR.  

On 5/18/2023 at 3:07 AM, shorne said:

 

. Perhaps it is too much to ask that several people whom you don't know commit to dining with you at the same time and at the same table every evening for two weeks straight.

 

Don't misunderstand me, as I'm not being argumentative, but I think that's an odd comment.  Isn't that kind of the norm for cruising?  Are people really not dining with other people?  Maybe I'm out of touch but in 23 years of cruising, and most of it being solo cruising, I've ALWAYS had dining in the MDR with "several strangers" over a period of 7 days to 2 weeks or whatever. (I don't do "My Time" style dining)   I mean, yeah there may always be someone you don't mesh with well, but as a solo cruiser, I've found it to be a great way to meet people.  

I didn't read this whole thread and I apologize for what it is probably a repeated comment, but honestly the hardest thing for me is paying for two people when it's just me.  I truly understand the economics of it from the cruise line's standpoint, but I still don't like it.  

My very first solo cruise was on the Carnival Legend and I don't know how in the hell it happened, but they actually sold me a balcony cabin for the price of one person.  That was a number of years ago, I've sailed MANY times since, and it's NEVER happened again.  

22 hours ago, ATSEAMYLIFE said:

It should be fine for next month.  The only time we had to sit outside the bay was September and we still docked by 1030 hrs.  

My cruise is July 24-Aug 3.   I'm not terribly concerned, but  It was just something I never really thought about when booking my flights.  

On 5/21/2023 at 8:31 PM, ilovegreenpeeps said:

I was on the recent Discovery Princess cruise that ended May-21 and had a great time.  But the process at the pier before and after – what a mess!

 

 

 

 

I was on the Carnival Splendor last year in May, about this time actually, and yep it was a mess too.  Well the embarkation was, I don't remember the disembarkation being that bad other than having to carry my bags all the way out to the Seattle Express transfer bus.  

On 5/25/2023 at 12:26 PM, Buckeye_Siggy said:

ouch. as an east coaster, i didnt even consider fog or weather a possible issue.   

Yeah neither did I.  I normally book much later flights in the day, but my return flight this time is like 12:30 PM.   I guess I'll cross that bridge if and when I come to it.  🙂