What do you miss from Carnival? Have they gone downhill?

[gslargent]

I haven't been on a cruise since 2007, but my 8th Carnival one will be in two weeks. It seems that some people think that Carnival has gone downhill a little bit, whether it is service, events, entertainment, food, amenities, etc. In your opinion, what's missing from Carnival? Is it that they are cutting back due to tougher times?

 

I hear that the Captain's party is no longer free and there is no midnight buffet. What things do you miss?

[gone_cruisin]

I know it's silly, but I miss the ship pins. I started a pretty nice collection and now they are gone. :(

[Anjanu]

I don't think the pins are gone. Although they are no longer free, I believe that you can now purchase them in the gift shops.

[TheTravelista]

I miss the hot appetizers at the past guest party.

 

I miss formal nights. (Sue me, I like getting dressed up.)

 

I miss the live bands on the Lido.

 

I miss the Deli and the Grill being open until 11 pm. And the steak sandwich at the Grill.

 

Petty as it may sound, I miss luggage tags.

 

I think thats basically it. None of these things are factors that would make me not cruise Carnival again. I don't think Carnival has gone downhill, just made a few minor cutbacks. My biggest issue with Carnival is their resistance to change and truly be innovative as far as their ships are concerned at that is whats leading me astray after 18 cruises. I'm just bored with them.

[Traveler353]

.

 

The 200% single supplement for 1A cabins, that steams me.:mad:

But I guess I will get over it because I am still booking future cruises with them.

[LHP]

I haven't been on a cruise since 2007, but my 8th Carnival one will be in two weeks. It seems that some people think that Carnival has gone downhill a little bit, whether it is service, events, entertainment, food, amenities, etc. In your opinion, what's missing from Carnival? Is it that they are cutting back due to tougher times?

 

I hear that the Captain's party is no longer free and there is no midnight buffet. What things do you miss?

 

While it is true that there are no longer any free drinks at the Captain's Party...the free drinks have simply been moved to the LAST night of the cruise and they call it a Farewell Party.

 

For some reason, whenever someone complains about no more free drinks at the Captain's Party...they never mention there is still the same availibility of free drinks as there always has been. They just moved the night and changed the name.

 

The "orchestra" has been replaced by a Stage Band. I doubt that effected most people.

 

The pins are no longer free (unless you are Platinum) but you can now purchase them in the gift shop if someone collects.

 

The Gala Midnight buffet has been gone for awhile now...but a Chocolate Buffet has been added and this one actually gets eaten!! :D

 

Over the years, I have actually watched MORE stuff added (like food stations, better water parks and Adult Serenity arease on the Fantasy class ships). I remember the days when there was no Mongolian Wok or Roast chicken on a Fantasy class ship.

 

Sometimes folks just like to harp on the couple of things that have been "taken away" instead of looking at the big picture.

[LHP]

I miss the hot appetizers at the past guest party.

 

We had meatballs on the Fantasy...does that count as "hot"???

 

I miss formal nights. (Sue me, I like getting dressed up.)

 

They still have elegant nights.

 

I miss the live bands on the Lido.

 

They still have live bands on Lido. In fact now they rotate the cover bands and solo entertainers so that it is not just calypso any more.

 

I miss the Deli and the Grill being open until 11 pm. And the steak sandwich at the Grill.

 

On the Fantasy in May, I got a hamburger (or chicken sandwich) almost every night at 11:30 - midnight.

 

 

Petty as it may sound, I miss luggage tags.

 

Those... I miss too....not petty at all. Because I also miss the mailed documents.

 

I think thats basically it. None of these things are factors that would make me not cruise Carnival again. I don't think Carnival has gone downhill, just made a few minor cutbacks. My biggest issue with Carnival is their resistance to change and truly be innovative as far as their ships are concerned at that is whats leading me astray after 18 cruises. I'm just bored with them.

 

 

I just highlighted somethings that we just experienced last month....

 

I do miss the mailed documents because we keep them and I always note the staff and crew names....and a little mini travel log in them.

 

Not as much fun now doing it on the printed docs....

[TheTravelista]

I'm glad to hear the Grill was open late for your cruise! Hasn't been my experience lately but I'll see on the Dream in about a week. I do prefer the Deli late at night though :(

 

And by live bands I meant the Calypso players only, when it was like a 5 piece band and they were out there for almost the whole day. Just added to the whole vacation-y feel for me.

 

The "Elegant" nights are a joke lol!

 

And I missed the meatballs on Freedom last July. All I saw were various cold meats and cheeses and veggies on top of different cuts of bread. I'll check out the selection again. They used to have this shrimp years ago that was to die for!

[martinchem]

I miss the Carnival Ship Prints that we always got after dinner the last night of the cruise. I have them from 9 different ships, but stopped receiving them a couple years ago. I really wish they'd sell them in the the stores on the ships if they can't give them away any more, I'd like at least one for every Carnival ship I've been on, and I am platinum.

[golfadj]

Carnival is still a very good buy for the buck.

 

Only thing I miss is the minute steak at the grill. However the burgers are still great.

 

They have added some very nice new venues on the lido deck I must say.

 

I did like the old capt's party. This new one is a waste of time and the only thing to do is take a few pictures for my DW. They do not really advertise the farewell party so attendance is rather amazingly small.

[snydermann]

Ditto on the mailed documents. Somehow printing them out myself isn't the same as opening them in the mail. :(

 

We didn't even get an email confirmation after booking on the Carnival site. :eek: (Reservation and payment does show on our account though).

 

We do think the whole cruise experience isn't the quality it used to be (15 years ago, or so), but maybe we're looking back with rose-colored glasses. :confused:

[SkyMaster]

I too miss the full orchestra, but the stage band is O.K. (They do an outstanding job with the pieces they have IMO.)

 

The other thing that I REALLY miss is the "RED PUNCH" on the Lido!

 

"SKY"

[LHP]

I'm glad to hear the Grill was open late for your cruise! Hasn't been my experience lately but I'll see on the Dream in about a week. I do prefer the Deli late at night though :(

 

And by live bands I meant the Calypso players only, when it was like a 5 piece band and they were out there for almost the whole day. Just added to the whole vacation-y feel for me.

 

The "Elegant" nights are a joke lol!

 

And I missed the meatballs on Freedom last July. All I saw were various cold meats and cheeses and veggies on top of different cuts of bread. I'll check out the selection again. They used to have this shrimp years ago that was to die for!

 

 

This has been our experience on all 6 cruises last year and 2 we have done so far this year. The only reason I know this is because our youngest son has a routine of getting a burger and fries just before he goes to bed at 11:30pm....and sometimes when he wanted to turn in a little early...he had to wait until 11:30pm for the Grill to be serving his burgers....

[TheTravelista]

I too miss the full orchestra, but the stage band is O.K. (They do an outstanding job with the pieces they have IMO.)

The other thing that I REALLY miss is the "RED PUNCH" on the Lido!

 

"SKY"

 

LOL! This is truly the most important thing. If they bring this back, all other things including luggage tags, will be forgiven.

[Tapi]

What things do you miss?

 

I miss sailing on ships that felt like ships....:rolleyes:

 

No offense to modern cruise ships, but today's vessels feel like square chunks of metal packed with thousands of people. I remember when ships were small (my first cruise was on the 16,000 ton Cunard Princess), and things that are now only reserved for the ultra luxurious cruise lines were the norm on regular cruise lines.

 

Service was impeccable, white gloved cabin stewards would escort you to your cabin, you got to know the other passengers, The Captain's Gala Night meant that you actually got to meet and mingle with the captain, visits to the bridge while the ship was at sea was something available to all passengers, the midnight buffet was a highlight of the cruise, formal attire meant more than dressy shorts and a polo shirt, and watching a movie meant going to an actual movie theatre, not watching a pay per view movie on TV....

 

No telephones, no internet, no celphones, no email, no cable TV. Going on a cruise TRULY meant getting away....

[TheTravelista]

This has been our experience on all 6 cruises last year and 2 we have done so far this year. The only reason I know this is because our youngest son has a routine of getting a burger and fries just before he goes to bed at 11:30pm....and sometimes when he wanted to turn in a little early...he had to wait until 11:30pm for the Grill to be serving his burgers....

 

Good to hear. Looking forward to my burger at 11 pm. Thanks :D

[serene56]

I miss the "capers"

the fun times just wasnt fun reading this past cruise.

I thought the ship wide entertainment was cut way back

[SkyMaster]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyMaster

I too miss the full orchestra, but the stage band is O.K. (They do an outstanding job with the pieces they have IMO.)

The other thing that I REALLY miss is the "RED PUNCH" on the Lido!

 

"SKY"

 

LOL! This is truly the most important thing. If they bring this back, all other things including luggage tags, will be forgiven.

 

ABSOLUTELY!

Actually, that IS the only thing that I really miss. Yes, Carnival has gotten rid of several other things, but the RED PUNCH was GOOD,,,and besides, I can get luggage tags from the porter who takes my checked bags. :D

 

"SKY"

[MikeM]

Filet

Real Slot Machines

Bread Left on the MDR table

Crumb Scrapers

Pillow Fights

Beer Drinking Contests’

Steel Drums

12 pieces of Silverware and 4 glasses per place setting

Hot food room service

Steak Sandwich

Real Onion Rings

Thicker Bacon

Grand Buffett (don’t really miss it)

Fish and Chips on some ships

Passengers with out an agenda

[LHP]

Good to hear. Looking forward to my burger at 11 pm. Thanks :D

 

Actually....you have to wait until 11:30pm.... since youngest son usually goes to bed at 11:30pm....Dad swings by and grabs him a burger...

 

A couple of nights our son wanted to go to the cabin at 11pm and had to settle for pizza (since the Grill did not open until 11:30pm)...

[TheTravelista]

Actually....you have to wait until 11:30pm.... since youngest son usually goes to bed at 11:30pm....Dad swings by and grabs him a burger...

 

A couple of nights our son wanted to go to the cabin at 11pm and had to settle for pizza (since the Grill did not open until 11:30pm)...

 

Ohhhh so it OPENS at 1130 pm?? Maybe thats why I missed it. I was usually busy doing other things at that time. I remember it being open from like 6pm til 12 or so.

 

Now I get it, thanks!

[okwriter]

I guess one of the advantages of being a relative newbie is that I don't miss what "used to be" because I don't know what it was! :D

 

Wonder what I'll miss someday!

[vacruizer]

The Captain's party gets me. I experienced the new setup for the first time a few weeks ago on the Pride and I really didn't care for it.

 

I am not at all complaining about drinks (although I do think the ultimate driver of this was lowering liquor cost as far fewer people will want to drink at 5pm the last evening as they are trying to pack up) but the whole atmosphere was just crummy. They could do away with the free drinks alltogether as far as I'm concerned if they'd bring back the general format of the old party.

 

The atrium was so packed you couldn't walk and nowhere to sit. It was really just a bunch of people aimlessly milling around. At least I could sit down at the old style parties. At the designated time, a few of the ship's officers came out on the next level up in the atrium and the CD introduced them. But it was so loud that you couldn't hear and very few people even bothered to stop their conversations and pay attention. My personal opinion is that it lacked dignity and respect for the Captain and senior officers. But maybe I'm just old-fashioned that way. I probably won't bother with another Captain's Party after this. It just didn't feel like the festive "welcome to your vacation and thank you for being here" atmosphere I remember.

 

The farewell party was also a big disappointment and very sparsely attended. There was very little advertisement of this event unless you really paid attention to the Capers. Announcements were pushing every other event but not this one (which again points to liquor costs in my mind.) It was also BORING! Rarely am I bored on a Carnival ship. Everyone just sat in the main lounge and stared at the show band doing 70s covers with a singer. The band and singer were quite good, but there was no "buzz" to the event - maybe because everyone there needed to be packing and was bummed the cruise was almost over? Or skipped attending since many had a long day of travel the next day? There was nothing organized about it, everyone sat down, had the pre-mixed drinks and watched the band for 45 minutes.

 

I still really enjoy Carnival, but do miss the larger entertainment acts and bands along with the classical and jazz groups. Everything now is mostly soloists with pre-recorded backgrounds. :( Even the show band is down to 4 or 5 guys and no horn section anymore. Most of the musicians are still really good, but several looked utterly bored playing along with a recording. I would be too.

 

I also found the whole past guest pin thing a bit of an insult to those of us who do collect them. You can't give me a 25 cent pin for spending thousands of my hard earned vacation $$ with you? Certainly no deal-breaker, I know it's just a little pin, but kind of tacky in my mind to yank something small that people look forward to.

[carnivalpinnacle]

there still are formal nights and live bands.... what ship did you go on, because the miracle has these...

[linbobky]

the rum swizzel party the first evening of the cruise:(

 

 

the big cheese tray they would bring out before you ordered dinner:(

 

the pasta cart the md would push around in the dinning room and serve

 

you different kinds of pasta!

 

can't you tell, i like food and drink:D