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

[serene56]

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!

 

 

This was NOT the case in MArch on the Freedom- Everything but pizza was closed by 10pm-- then the midnight bites opened at 11:30pm on the promanade deck (where they serve the sushi- ) this was served until 1am- and closed pronto.

anyone have gone to the grill at 11:30 for food since March, 2010?

[love to read]

I had not sailed with Carnival since 1999, until the wife and I sailed the Pride out of Baltimore, Md on 5/16/2010. I did not miss the midnight buffet because I do not eat that late at night. I think the thing I missed the most was the live caribbean band. Although the two man setup was not bad. I must say that the cruisers who sail Carnival are much friendlier than on some other lines. The staff is still very attentive to the passenger needs, and the food was good.

[DEBnGAB]

I had not sailed with Carnival since 1999, until the wife and I sailed the Pride out of Baltimore, Md on 5/16/2010. I did not miss the midnight buffet because I do not eat that late at night. I think the thing I missed the most was the live caribbean band. Although the two man setup was not bad. I must say that the cruisers who sail Carnival are much friendlier than on some other lines. The staff is still very attentive to the passenger needs, and the food was good.

 

You said it there!

[vacruizer]

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

 

I think they are referring to the formal night now being "elegant night" and the dress code relaxed. Quite a few people aren't bothering anymore and just wearing the usual cruise dinner attire each night. That one I don't really care about - you have the option to dress up if you want or not if you want.

 

There are still live bands out there, but what I've noticed is they are smaller sized, using pre-recorded backups to make them sound like a larger band (glorified karaoke if you ask me) and there seem to be fewer acts performing at the same number of venues. For example, the show band (which is really now only 4 or 5 people) will do the past guest party, then jazz before dinner, then on to the two production shows later. This is a pretty tiring schedule for a musician - especially when you add in rehearsals to this.

 

Or the Calypso group (which is now a duo instead of 4 or 5 people) who plays on Lido sometimes, in the casino on other nights, etc. I also noticed our last two sailings didn't have the usual rock cover band that plays in one of the lounges - that seems to be entirely gone at least on the Pride.

[TheTravelista]

This was NOT the case in MArch on the Freedom- Everything but pizza was closed by 10pm-- then the midnight bites opened at 11:30pm on the promanade deck (where they serve the sushi- ) this was served until 1am- and closed pronto.

anyone have gone to the grill at 11:30 for food since March, 2010?

 

 

This was my experience on the Freedom last year as well. I figured it changes by ship? What were the midnight bites by the way? I always saw them listed in the capers but I wasn't sure if they were worth the trip or not.

[TheTravelista]

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

 

There are no formal nights. There are "Elegant" nights which are a joke.

[toby #1]

I miss people dressing up for dinner. ( we still do )

 

Red punch

 

Free post cards with the ship on them.

 

Better customer service from the pursers desk.

[badbehavior]

I miss the crepe buffet. I love crepes:D Also the fresh orange juice machine, nothing like fresh squeezed orange juice! The red punch to. Minor nits but my picks.

[TheTravelista]

I miss the crepe buffet. I love crepes:D Also the fresh orange juice machine, nothing like fresh squeezed orange juice! The red punch to. Minor nits but my picks.

 

Oh wow. You took it back with the late night crepes lol!! Its been so long, I completely forgot about those.

 

They truly were great.

[badbehavior]

Oh wow. You took it back with the late night crepes lol!! Its been so long, I completely forgot about those.

 

They truly were great.

 

Exactly! My honeymoon cruise. Nothing like err working up a late night appetite :eek: and having a good crepe after!

[Havingfun2010]

I miss the midnight buffet. I like to sleep late, and the midnight food was my third meal, now all I get is crappy Pizza.

 

Miss the shows on deck, the steel drum bands etc. Now, we get is some big TV, showing commercials.

 

Miss the variety of entertainment, which has gone down hill. Bands are less, with more premixed music.

 

Miss the dress codes, and also miss seeing people turned away from the MDR for dress code violations. That's why ships have options, for those that want to dress nice, and those that don't.

 

Miss the lack of food choices late night.

 

Miss having the ability to walk down the promenade without tripping over 1 dozen photographers.

[JGaleCPA]

I miss being younger in the old days!

[TheTravelista]

I miss the midnight buffet. I like to sleep late, and the midnight food was my third meal, now all I get is crappy Pizza.

 

Miss the shows on deck, the steel drum bands etc. Now, we get is some big TV, showing commercials.

 

Miss the variety of entertainment, which has gone down hill. Bands are less, with more premixed music.

 

Miss the dress codes, and also miss seeing people turned away from the MDR for dress code violations. That's why ships have options, for those that want to dress nice, and those that don't.

 

Miss the lack of food choices late night.

 

Miss having the ability to walk down the promenade without tripping over 1 dozen photographers.

 

I thought it was my imagination that the Promenade was now ridiculously crowded with photo ops!

 

Its crazy, they're everywhere! They used to do a much better job of spreading them out in different locations, or maybe there was just less of them.

[dan40]

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....

 

 

Amazing,,,,I sailed on the Cunard Princess as well. And had the worst waiter in 40 years of cruising. His assistant was among the best, he was the worst. The rest of the crew, service and operational both were terrific. We did visit the Pig & Whistle [the crew's bar] way down by the prop shafts. And the Petty Officer's club and the engine room while underway. Great little ship. Was the very tall Bella Lugosi lookalike Captain still on the bridge when you sailed her?

[tampabrat22]

We havent been cruising that long, but I have noticed the changes. Not all of them are bad and I do appreciate some of the new things that have been introduced (like the fondue! LOL) but these are a few things I wish they still had:

 

Coin paying Slot Machines (the new machines just arent as exciting!)

Decent steaks in the MDR

Printed Documents/ Luggage tags

Formal nights (with proper dress)

Midnight buffett (great memories of late nights hanging out with friends on the lido with a midnight snack)

[zqvol]

I haven't noticed any changes that I miss, and I have been off and on Carnival for six years, with another one booked at Christmas time.

 

I have noticed these improvements:

 

1. Formal nights are gone . . . thank goodness

2. Any time dining

3. Slots are coinless, no more nasty hands and less chance of spreading noro

4. E-Docs only

5. Less wasted food from lack of "midnight" buffets that were more pic opportunities that food opportunities.

6. Less blasting music on the lido deck

7. Relaxed dress codes

8. Customer service has improved

[Boozebabe]

Flowers (plural) and a peppermill in the MDR. They now put a tiny sprig of a cheap Alstromeria lily on the tables. Nice flowers if the put a couple sprigs but one? come on!!. I asked for ground pepper on the Destiny on my last cruise in january and the waiters assistant just looked at me strangely. Guess he never saw one before. Then I asked the waiter and he said they dont have one and placed the pepper shaker in front of me.

 

 

I love ground pepper on my salad and potatoes. And I miss it. Whats next??? napkins

[Knights on the Beach]

Although I haven't experienced the new format yet, I'm sure I will miss the old style captain's cocktail party. We have really enjoyed those in the past. There's just something about being all dressed up and being served complimentary drinks off a tray. lol They always knew they could get rid of the champagne with me. ;) I understand there will be a farewell party the last night, but it certainly won't be anywhere near the same. I'd much rather toast the beginning of a cruise than the end of it! :(

[tootsiescurly]

We miss the classical music at the atrium bar late afternoon - early evening. We loved having a cocktail early evening and listening to classical music.

[Boozebabe]

We miss the classical music at the atrium bar late afternoon - early evening. We loved having a cocktail early evening and listening to classical music.

 

 

HI toosie, rememeber me from the Legend cruise a couple years ago? You "recognized" me while waiting in the pre-boarding area.

[viaggi_per_mare]

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.

 

 

 

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

 

.

 

The pins are not the same actually. They are slightly larger and a different design. We are Platinum and got the pins for the Dream on our last cruise. they were the same as usual. The pins for sale in the gift shop, do not match the other design. They were definitely larger and different.

 

They also had pins from several ships in the gift shop, not just the Dream we were on. I think they were $8.00-$10.00 each but I'm not sure on that as we didn't need to buy one.

[CarribbeanTina271]

My last cruise on the INspiration in March I really missed my nightly chocolates:( Not that I need them, but it has been sorta my thing to have it after dinner when I go in to change for the rest of my evening.. I don't think they have stopped this on all ships yet and hopefully they won't on all of them either

[mjmiller]

This was NOT the case in MArch on the Freedom- Everything but pizza was closed by 10pm-- then the midnight bites opened at 11:30pm on the promanade deck (where they serve the sushi- ) this was served until 1am- and closed pronto.

anyone have gone to the grill at 11:30 for food since March, 2010?

 

Per my Capers (whatever they're called now! :rolleyes:) from the Dream May 2010, evening food besides MDR was: the grill was open noon - 6pm. The "bistro" was open 6pm-9:30pm. Sushi was open 5pm-8:15pm. The deli was open 11am-11pm. And late night snacks was open 11:30pm - 1am. Since I seldom eat after dinner, I have no clue what's in late night snacks, except that I know that one night was the late night Mexican buffet.

 

My last cruise on the INspiration in March I really missed my nightly chocolates:( Not that I need them, but it has been sorta my thing to have it after dinner when I go in to change for the rest of my evening.. I don't think they have stopped this on all ships yet and hopefully they won't on all of them either

 

We had chocolates every night on the Dream. Hopefully your experience was a fluke!!

 

JMHO - yes, some things have decreased in quality or choices. yet others have increased or improved. Personally, I'll take the variety of the Lido lunch (burrito bar, pasta bar, mongolian BBQ, tandoor, etc) over having 12 pieces of silverware at dinner ANY DAY!! The Dream had the best main show I've ever seen at sea - it was really amazing. That more than made up for not getting a pin that I would shove in a drawer and never see again. Things change. So be it. I love Carnival and continue to enjoy cruising with them, as can be seen from my siggy - B2B coming up in January!! (that seems like forever away!)

[QNTMLPR]

Wow, has Carnival changed that much since I last cruised in 2007? So does this mean I no longer have to pack my dress suit since there is no more formal night? No more assigned seating in the MDR?

[gone_cruisin]

I also missed the nightly towel animals. On the Freedom last November, the stewardess did towel animals on 4 times. I also wish they would change them up.