cruzfitter

Yes, wrigley means a TA that is a human, not a big huge online booking agency that takes your order for your vacation and doesn't care after the fact...

Well at least one person understands what I was trying to say.

Apparently, you have no experience with the " big online booking agencies " as you put it. You can use the same agent each time you book and build a relationship with them, the same as you would with a local TA or a PVP. But when you need something changed at 2am on a Sunday morning, you can still call your TA and someone will answer and start working on the issue. The person who takes you call will also leave a message with your agent, so that they are in the loop. Choose whatever way you want to book your cruises, but please don't try to tell people that the way you do it is the ONLY RIGHT WAY. You can get the same service good or bad which ever way you choose.

It's always a good measure to book direct or with a TA. Because then you always have someone who you can call

What makes you think that you can't call an online TA? Not only can you call them, but there is someone available 24/7. Or you can leave a message for the specific TA you booked with and wait for them to call you back, just like a regular TA.

This is why this place really pisses me off when I get responses like that!

 

Looking at a dinning room doesn't tell me I need to wear 70's one night does it

 

 

Also I have stayed in many top class hotels and just because they are top class doesn't mean you have to dress up

You don't NEED to wear 70's attire, but you can if you want to. You have to remember that theme parties are planned by the CD, probably on a week to week basis. Do you think that each CD should send an email to corporate each week so that they can post it somewhere? Next thing you know, something gets mixed up and they then they get complaints " I packed a 70's outfit complete with platform shoes and there was a 50's party".

If people don't know where to look for info for dress codes in general, where exactly should they put info on theme parties, so that people can find it?

I have to say that after the way this thread started, I'm liking that it has actually become a discussion of facts.

A good site to follow for an overview of the cruising market is http://www.cruisemarketwatch.com. The site is partially down for maintenance today, but when the inter-active part is working, it will give a breakdown of general financials of individual cruise lines inside the corporate umbrellas of CCL and RCL as well as other cruise lines.

Certainly that's another valid angle in the discussions we've seen in this thread.

 

I wonder if someone planned for and booked a cruise 10-12 month ahead of time...and then a short time before cruising they found out they'd been moved to a totally different ship, or different cabin class (less), or different destination ports...how they'd feel...when their online cruise confirmation and board docs told them an entirely different story for months on end? My guess is "misled" wouldn't quite fit many people's answer.

Seriously. It is now April, the 1st cruise on QotS isn't until November and the changes don't happen until next March at the earliest. I'm positive that all passengers will be notified long before then. I'm also sure that RCCL won't change someone's ship without their approval.

Clearly some people don't understand the history on this issue.

 

That's OK.

 

But telling the United States public via numerous media ads and promotions about one ship (Quantum) for about a year (including setting itineraries for bookings that were cancelled)...only to move that ship to China...and also to promote Anthem being ported in Ft. Lauderdale for months...only to move that ship to another report...

 

Those are misleading at bare minimum, deceptive practices to others...especially after lengthy promotions reflecting something entirely different than the end result...and in parallel doing that while they were moving to execute these announced changes (which didn't happen overnight as some seem to think - that took months of planning where they were saying one thing publicly and planning something else).

 

Call it what you will - but RCI was not being straight with the public. No sugar coating it.

I know all about RCCL's announcements. But unless you have some proof that RCCL knew from day one that they were going to make these changes then there is no deception. It is a business decision based on situations that have come about. I am on Cruisecritic every day, I get emails from RCCL, I get emails from the Crown and Anchor society, don't try and tell me that I don't understand the history of the situation. You are pouting because things didn't work out the way you wanted and now you're trying to make people believe RCCL conspired against you.

 

Change is generally a good thing...many of us live and breathe it every day. Change based on deception, however, is not a good thing as it leads a lack of trust - bad for any business.

You seem to believe that RCCL purposely say it was putting ships at a port, knowing that they were not going to leave them there, just to deceive some of their customers. Unless you can prove something like that, you're just blowing smoke.

Princess does not allow smoking everywhere, no smoking on balconies either.

Smoking is allowed in Casino on certain nights and in the cigar bar and one or 2 other smoking areas.

I believe "vape" refers to e-cigarettes.

What's is freestyle cruising, we've only sailed on Carnival. So can you explain the difference between freestyle cruising and what the other cruise lines offered?

 

 

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All that it really means is free style dining? Which, except for dress code you can get on most cruise lines including CCL.

Not in the least. Always pushing style over substance (IOW "wow"), RCCL has a long history of trying to copy and one-up what NCL does. And its a practice they'll continue as long as their customer base continues to buy their "innovations".

I'll try this again. Care to elaborate?

Freestyle on NCL is about a dang sight more than dining.

I would love for you to explain this statement.

What on his list has changed? What on the list are we being charged:confused:

What is your problem? I pointed out that a person was not responding to what the OP was talking about. Nowhere did I say that I agreed or disagreed with the OP. And for the record apparently, Princess is charging double for access to the adult area. I don't know if this is true or not, nor do I care, as I don't plan on using it.

Adding optional services that have an added charge is one way of combatting inflation without raising the total cost of the cruise itself.

You're not getting what the OP is talking about. He's not commenting on new optional services with a charge. He's talking about things that used to be included in your fare, for which you are now being charged.

I believe that the passengers were compensated enough. But, if is proven that Carnival was negligent then there should be a punitive assessment. Perhaps donated to a charity.

Regarding the "pen issue" (no more pens), I'd much rather not have an RCI provided pen than have what happened to me on my last Celebrity cruise...

 

12 night cruise, in Europe, in Aqua Class, the morning of the last day of the cruise while making up the cabins the cabin steward collected the pens from every cabin, so we were all pen-less through disembarkation.

 

It was widely viewed as a rather transparent effort to make sure nobody steals their pens, and wow was that tacky / unexpected at the end of a long, expensive cruise in Europe on Celebrity! I couldn't believe it!

 

Back to RCI, in all honesty, who cares. I always have my own pens with me when I travel and there's PLENTY of paper to write on... think of all the sales crap they shove into the Cruise Compass every day. I've never had trouble using the backs of those sales solicitations to write a note to the cabin steward if necessary. Just my $.02.

I normally don't take pens when I dis-embark, but on my European cruise on Equinox on the last night the cabin steward placed a new set of all the little amenities in one of the unused upper storage areas. I saw this when checking cabin to be sure nothing was left behind and assumed since there was a new pen in with the other amenities that it was expected that the pen would go with the last guest. I wonder if your cabin steward did this also but since your pen was still in the cabin he just put it with the other things to be re-stocked.

To the OP have you tried to book a D1 with 3 guests and go back later and drop 1 off the booking? I doubt that anyone would think twice about it being a D1 and try to make you change rooms.

Carnival stock is up.

This has nothing to do with the article referenced. Carnival Cruise Line doesn't sell stock. Carnival Corp. does, and it has I believe 9 more cruise lines that can also affect the stock price. So while the stock price is up it may or may not be a result of any 1 cruise line under the CCL umbrella.

I find it humorous that people will post that some seamingly negative posts have no bearing on this threads topic, but gloss right over the above quoted post, which also has no bearing.

Just like with everything else people are more likely to give negative reviews than spend the time to give a positive one. Rarely do people take the effort to praise something or someone but they will most certainly go the extra mile to tell all about the bad. Sad but true. I will be on the Sunshine in 44 days and I intend to enjoy every last minute. I will be sure to give a rating and a review of my fabulous time.

This is true. But it would be that way for all cruiseships. So, in reality, you can get a good frame of reference by comparing ship's ratings across the board.

I say we take down the bridge...

I don't think that will help. Freedom is 184' wide. The new locks are only supposed to be 180' wide. I'm not sure if the 184' is at the waterline, but if so it isn't going to fit.

Does anyone know if CCL is offering any excursions during the extended time in port while these concerts are going on?

LOL! Not in January they didn't.

Your original claim was they were selling out 15,000 - 20,000 seat arenas and now you're backpedaling.

Mcnichols arena is only one place that they played. I only mentioned it because it was a place that they played in January. You know the month that Lady A only sold 7000 tickets. Kansas may not have sold 15000-20000 tickets but they sold out what is considered a 15000-20000 seat arena. Either way Kansas sold more tickets than Lady A for a concert in January.

Let's let this go. It isn't on topic anymore.

McNichols Arena capacity as a basketball arena was listed at 16,600 from 1975-1986 and 15,900 for hockey before being slightly expanded in '86. A traditional "end stage" concert set-up would be around 2/3s of those figures, although in 1976 Elvis sold 19,000 tickets in a concert that was configured "in the round" with the stage in the center and chairs on the floor.

It would stil be around 13000 seats after you add in the floor seats. Which is still more than 7000. I used to work turn around at the 17000 seat Spectrum in Philadelphia and it held 14400 for end stage concerts.

LOL! Not in January they didn't.

 

http://www.therichest.com/expensive-lifestyle/entertainment/the-10-artists-with-the-biggest-concert-crowd-in-2012/

Jan. 21, 1978 Kansas played the 17000 seat Mcnichols arena in Denver. I bet there were more than 7000 fans at that concert.

I didn't say they were "b" list. I said that might be why vacruiser thinks there a "b" list act. They wouldn't be on any list for me. Not my type of music.

I question the accuracy of your bloggers numbers, but it was a Sunday night and a show that was rescheduled from December 12th, but to say they aren't "A" list is completely false.

Hot Tickets for January...

 

Lady Antebellum brought nearly 7,000 fans to Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio, Jan. 11.

http://www.venuestoday.com/news/detail/hot-tickets-jan-21-2014

Wow, 7000 fans. You realize Kansas, and REO in their prime sold out 15000- 20000 seat stadiums, right. I guess that is why vacruiser considers Lady A a "b" list act. If at their prime they can only sell 7000 tickets.

Nope, I think all entertainment options are a good thing. My comment was that I prefer (much) broadway over the b level broadway (type) plays offered on rccl. I would not go see hairspray in either case, but def not on a cruise. I think the concert options are far better than imitation broadway plays (on any line)....including rccl. Are you critiquing all my posts?

 

 

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Sorry, for some reason my iPad wouldn't quote all four posts at one time.

While, I agree that options are good, I was trying to point out that you seem to only believe this when it concerns CCL. You automatically put down the Broadway type show offered by RCL which it appears you haven't seen on B-way or a cruise ship. I was on Oasis myself and chose to do the flowrider instead of Hairspray, but might have chosen to go to Chicago if I was on Allure.

You're not interested in one type of entertainment for your own reasons. Other people have their reasons for not being interested in Carnival Live, such as they feel the acts are past their prime or too expensive ($10 at a state fair as opposed to $20-40 on a cruise). I guess I don't understand how putting down the options on 1 cruise line makes the options on another cruise line any better.

One hit wonder to you?? Wow!

 

How many Grammy Awards do they need to win before they're no longer a "one hit wonder?" They're up to 7 already.

How many songs have they won Grammy awards for, exactly?