Bingecruiser1947

Its not a matter of the PC Police on Carnival. The Networks are charging cable and satellite companies more in fees. Its why people are dropping major providers. I don’t want to pay even more for broadcast tv on ship. I”ll miss the few minutes I actually watched tv, but I’m sure I can find something else to do on ship. And, as always, if you don’t like Carnival, please do go somewhere else. Thats your choice.

Respectfully, Zeph, once you've paid, you've made the decision (choice), at least on this upcoming adventure.

If you missed the tone of my missive, it was more about Carnival being less than candid re' their TV channel portfolio than it was about the TV channel selections themselves. Any comment on that?

Advertising shouldn't say your room is like being home, with your favorite TV shows, when they aren't even offered. Had they just listed all the broadcast channels (if any) and the cable channels, instead of the way their literature was written, no worries. My choice of sailing on them or not. But they didn't.

CHOICE would be metering cabin usage with appropriate charges per hour and letting those who want to watch TV to do so. Having a fairly good grasp of satellite/cable operations, I'm not going to buy into the notion that it's a cost issue. The marketing power of Carnival in particular and the cruise industry in general says different. Sailing NORTH/SOUTH...maybe I'll have to rig up my own on-board balcony DISH.

CNN International? What a hmmm...I'm really not that excited about a drought in the Sudan, a tiger attack in Pakistan or a rebel ambush in Sri Lanka. But that's just me.

Regarding the PC police...in the case of my former gym, it was a PC issue. They offered ALL the cable news networks, but the only one that appeared to be on most screens was FNC. PC gyms and FNC? Incompatible, regardless what the members are watching. .

We are first-time Carnival cruisers. Been on other lines. Never had a really bad experience. Our first Carnival trip will be this April. I've read through a number of posts commenting on the lack of network TV/Cable News channels available. If true, then very unfortunate...But we've already paid for the trip, so it is what it is.

But I will be disappointed if we can't get CNN/MSNBC/FOX/etc. Why?

I believe that amenities on a Cruise ship are important. Just like I don't being in a foreign hotel with only local, non-English stations, I like to be surrounded by as much of "home" as I can when away from home. This is what Carnival states (pasted from their website, Bold Itals are mine):

ALL THE PERKS. IN EVERY ROOM.

"Homesick"...well, with no news stations, without access to what the heck is going on in the world, yeah, I'd be a little "homesick." If I am in error, if Carnival has not dropped various network/cable channels, then my apologies. If they have dropped them...hmmm.

They go on to say in their website:

STATEROOM TELEVISION PROGRAMMING

Grab the remote, order room service and catch a movie or your favorite TV show ... all from the comfort of your stateroom.

Ok...my favorite TV shows? On Broadcast networks: Lethal Weapon, 60 Minutes, The Big Bang Theory... My favorite Cable News TV shows: Don Lemmon, Chris Mathews, Laura Ingraham...if the major networks are unavailable, then I'm not able to catch my "favorite TV show."

Followed by this hard-to-decipher disclaimer:

Television Programming

Depending on the satellite and location of the ship, we receive some network channels in the staterooms (subject to change).

I'm not sure what that means...does that mean stations like NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, FNC, MSNBC, etc, might not always be available, depending on location? Wording is quite vague. If location is a factor, I can certainly understand that.

I've read other exchanges on these web boards ranging from the cost of the cable to a particular cruise line, to attempting to make the cruise more relaxing by eliminating news/politics (not necessarily Carnival, since I don't know their politics).

I'm not really buying either excuse. With the buying power of cruise lines, they can certainly negotiate with satellite providers for discounted rates...and pass the minimal charges onto those who want to be cruising couch potatoes. And for news/TV junkies, NOT having access to a full range of viewing is not exactly more relaxing.

I recently switched gyms because the previous gym owners' PC police dropped all cable news coverage. An exercise bike is boring enough...but add to that your only choices being soap operas, Ellen or The View and enough already...time to find a new gym.

If Carnival does have a full range (or even a limited range) of broadcast/Cable channels, bravo to them. If they don't...