Very disappointed with Destiny 12/9/10

[SmogMonster]

As the OP, I am sorry i have not kept up with this thread. The holiday season kept me off the internet for awhile.

Some of you have taken my original post and used it to complain about the BSB fans. If you reread my OP I didnt really have a problem with the fans. Sure we had the speakers in the hall and girls running around, But my
main complaint was with Carnival and their large group charter policies.

Someone asked what areas where not available to the non BSB cruisers. If i remember all the posts, someone answered that they only took over the paladium lounge. While this may be true, the presence of this large group forced other non-bsb events to be cancelled or moved.

For example, their was no past guest cocktail party. The towel folding classes were held outside the casino. we actually had to sit on the floor near the casino bar while the teacher stood just off the passageway. THe bean bag toss was done in the same place. They set up the targets in the open area near the casino bar with the tossers standing in the hall. The golf simulator was shut down because (we were told by the staff) that the BSB families needed a place they could hang out. This is the room near the cigar bar.

Bingo had to be called on the lido deck which made it difficult to hear the numbers being called. They couldnt use the light up board which keeps track of the numbers called.

We were kicked off the lido on the third night at 9pm because (we were told by the staff) they had to get it ready for the BSB party.

The library was shut down the entire cruise because they used this as a staging area for all the T shirts etc they were going to give away to the BSB fans. It was locked the whole time and you could see all the boxes of tee shirts and what-not stacked in there.

Another poster said that the lido parties that went on til 4am was open to all cruisers. While this might be true, thats not the point. I wasnt interested in attending the party. I wanted to get some sleep!

I took LRN's advice and sent a nicely worded letter to Carnival. I was very complimentary of the staff and mentioned several by name that did an excellent job. I also expressed my concern and recommendations. I will let you know if I hear anything back.

[jebuell]

Thank you for updating what was all unavailable to you on this cruise. It makes it very helpful for future cruises... I will for sure be checking those calendars!

While I'm sure the BSB stuff only took up a few hours in two places here and there, you have to think about the impact that such a large group has. The OP has clearly made their point that it's inconsiderate to not be made aware there is a charter on board. IMO, only full charters should be allowed but then Carnival would lose a ton of money because the Rick cruise and others who can't quite get a full charter would just go elsewhere.

[cruisinwithbsb]

[quote name='SmogMonster'] For example, their was no past guest cocktail party.[/QUOTE]

I was told by a staff member that there are no past guest cocktail parties on a four days cruise on the carnival Destiny, only on cruises more than four days. So this was not because of the BSB events, it was because that is policy in the first place.

[cruisinwithbsb]

[quote name='SmogMonster'] For example, their was no past guest cocktail party. The towel folding classes were held outside the casino. we actually had to sit on the floor near the casino bar while the teacher stood just off the passageway. THe bean bag toss was done in the same place. They set up the targets in the open area near the casino bar with the tossers standing in the hall. The golf simulator was shut down because (we were told by the staff) that the BSB families needed a place they could hang out. This is the room near the cigar bar.

Bingo had to be called on the lido deck which made it difficult to hear the numbers being called. They couldnt use the light up board which keeps track of the numbers called.

We were kicked off the lido on the third night at 9pm because (we were told by the staff) they had to get it ready for the BSB party.

The library was shut down the entire cruise because they used this as a staging area for all the T shirts etc they were going to give away to the BSB fans. It was locked the whole time and you could see all the boxes of tee shirts and what-not stacked in there. [/QUOTE]

You told us which events were changed and where they were changed to. When were these events and where are they usually held? I am just kind of curious to see, in fact, if they were held during any of our events and to see if they were changed because of our events. It is not that I don't believe you. It is just that some people are going to blindly take your word for it when they weren't actually there.

Case in point, we did not have anything on the Lido deck on the 3rd night. So if they told you to get out, it was not because of us. Our event that night was in the Paladium Lounge.

The Library part is true. I can't deny that.

And as I said in a previous post there are no past guest parties on the Carnival Destiny for just four day cruises.

[SmogMonster]

[quote name='cruisinwithbsb']You told us which events were changed and where they were changed to. When were these events and where are they usually held? I am just kind of curious to see, in fact, if they were held during any of our events and to see if they were changed because of our events. It is not that I don't believe you. It is just that some people are going to blindly take your word for it when they weren't actually there.

Case in point, we did not have anything on the Lido deck on the 3rd night. So if they told you to get out, it was not because of us. Our event that night was in the Paladium Lounge.

The Library part is true. I can't deny that.

And as I said in a previous post there are no past guest parties on the Carnival Destiny for just four day cruises.[/quote]

Well, I was there and all I can tell you is that is what we were told by the ships crew. I do not see why you are so defensive over this. I have said already that my complaint was with Carnival, Not with the BSB or the majority of their fans.

Sitting on the floor in the casino to do towel folding and playing the bean bag toss is not exceptable. I do not recall where they are usually held but I can tell you its not sitting on the floor.

[jebuell]

[quote name='SmogMonster']Sitting on the floor in the casino to do towel folding and playing the bean bag toss is not exceptable. I do not recall where they are usually held but I can tell you its not sitting on the floor.[/quote]

Not sure on other cruises but on mine the towel folding was held in the main theater/lounge.

[GlendaleCruiser]

[quote name='jebuell']Not sure on other cruises but on mine the towel folding was held in the main theater/lounge.[/quote]


That's where I attended, too. Main theatre one day before bingo.

[trvlqueen]

[quote name='Little Elm']I can tell you Rick's shows were in the Palladium Lounge at 5pm. So our shows were done before the regular shows were scheduled to start. There was a cocktail party on the Lido at the very back, on the first and last night. Anyone could go, but not sure if anyone not in the group would want to. I got in, and got out. It was nuts. Rick also puts on a show 1 night each cruise on the Lido deck that is open to everyone.

The only thing that might bug people is that Rick takes over the piano bar late at night and plays. It is packed, but open to everyone who dares to enter.[/quote]

THAT actually sounds like fun! And my dd's (who are 13 and 16) now love Rick's music - it's kind of funny to hear them blaring the same music I used to listen to - although I had a big old record player with ginormous speakers and they have i-pods with tinny little speaker thingys - I might be convinced to book this one!

As to everyone who has their panties in a knot - yes, it would be nice if CCL let you know when there was a group on board - but no, they never will. So it's up to you - we moved a vacation we'd planned to Disney World once because we learned that a HUGE contingency of Gay, Lesbian, Transgendered, and Bi people would be there as a group. Disney didn't tell us - we googled to be sure we would be there at a good time. I have no problem with people making their own lifestyle choices, but didn't feel like explaining those choices to my kids while they were under the age of 10 - so we changed plans. If you have no idea that a group can be on a ship, I understand your frustration - and I agree that a party until 4am is unreasonable. But it is true that many groups (weddings, family reunions, etc) book out sections of the ship not in use for 'normal' activities on every cruise - so the group was not out of line for doing this. IF, however, your ability to enjoy the ship and experience a 'normal' cruise was impacted, then it should have been up to the cruise line to let the passengers know and set expectations clearly.

I'm sorry you had a bad experience - but you are now the beneficiary of your own unfortunate experience and can make sure to double check in the future. (and to warn your friends, as well)

[jebuell]

[quote name='trvlqueen']THAT actually sounds like fun! And my dd's (who are 13 and 16) now love Rick's music - it's kind of funny to hear them blaring the same music I used to listen to - although I had a big old record player with ginormous speakers and they have i-pods with tinny little speaker thingys - I might be convinced to book this one!

As to everyone who has their panties in a knot - yes, it would be nice if CCL let you know when there was a group on board - but no, they never will. So it's up to you - we moved a vacation we'd planned to Disney World once because we learned that a HUGE contingency of Gay, Lesbian, Transgendered, and Bi people would be there as a group. Disney didn't tell us - we googled to be sure we would be there at a good time. I have no problem with people making their own lifestyle choices, but didn't feel like explaining those choices to my kids while they were under the age of 10 - so we changed plans. If you have no idea that a group can be on a ship, I understand your frustration - and I agree that a party until 4am is unreasonable. But it is true that many groups (weddings, family reunions, etc) book out sections of the ship not in use for 'normal' activities on every cruise - so the group was not out of line for doing this. IF, however, your ability to enjoy the ship and experience a 'normal' cruise was impacted, then it should have been up to the cruise line to let the passengers know and set expectations clearly.

I'm sorry you had a bad experience - but you are now the beneficiary of your own unfortunate experience and can make sure to double check in the future. (and to warn your friends, as well)[/quote]

Well, Disney won't tell you about Gay Day because it's not something they approve and actually deny it even exists. Carnival is aware of half charters. :)

[SmogMonster]

[quote name='trvlqueen']THAT actually sounds like fun! And my dd's (who are 13 and 16) now love Rick's music - it's kind of funny to hear them blaring the same music I used to listen to - although I had a big old record player with ginormous speakers and they have i-pods with tinny little speaker thingys - I might be convinced to book this one!

As to everyone who has their panties in a knot - yes, it would be nice if CCL let you know when there was a group on board - but no, they never will. So it's up to you - we moved a vacation we'd planned to Disney World once because we learned that a HUGE contingency of Gay, Lesbian, Transgendered, and Bi people would be there as a group. Disney didn't tell us - we googled to be sure we would be there at a good time. I have no problem with people making their own lifestyle choices, but didn't feel like explaining those choices to my kids while they were under the age of 10 - so we changed plans. If you have no idea that a group can be on a ship, I understand your frustration - and I agree that a party until 4am is unreasonable. But it is true that many groups (weddings, family reunions, etc) book out sections of the ship not in use for 'normal' activities on every cruise - so the group was not out of line for doing this. IF, however, your ability to enjoy the ship and experience a 'normal' cruise was impacted, then it should have been up to the cruise line to let the passengers know and set expectations clearly.

I'm sorry you had a bad experience - but you are now the beneficiary of your own unfortunate experience and can make sure to double check in the future. (and to warn your friends, as well)[/quote]

I agree with you that Carnival wont tell us if they have groups booked but thepoint is that they should. Especially when the group will fill half the ship. The destiny can carry 2600+ passengers and there were 1400 BSB fans plus all the support people for the charter company, etc. I do not expect to be informed of a family reunion with 50-100 people or a wedding party etc. But when half the ship is chartered, Carnival should make that info available. I shouldnt have to google stuff to find out.

Now, all that aside, we loved the ship, the crew was great, food excellent and we enjoyed ourselves like we do on every cruise. I just wish that Carnival would reevaluate their large charter policies and procedures.

[Fat Boy]

I'm surprised the BSB cruise was only a partial charter. The NKOTB has the whole ship (stepping up to the Destiny this year after two sold out years on the Imagination).

[nys1emt]

We were on the Rick Spingfield cruise in Nov but didn't know about it until long after we booked. We were a little wary, but truthfully, the cruise was just fine. He and his fans were more than courteous during the week, and we got a kick out of the "Rick Springfield" channel on the TV. His activities never interfered with any plans we had and we got around the ship just fine. We frequently saw him out and about the ship, and no one seemed to be acting out during those times.
I believe he or one of his group was just down the hall from us on Deck 7 in a suite, as we saw him hanging out in a room we went by and he waved to us. We took an alternate path the rest of the time, but there wasn't any reason to avoid that hallway, we just did so out of courtesy. All of our hallway doors were decorated (I remember one called the Yellow Rick Road) and it only served to help us find our hallway quickly once we got off the elevator.
We heard the piano bar did get taken over by him but since that wasn't a place we normally hang out, it wasn't a big deal. We saw signs for photo ops and autographs, but they were at times when other things were scheduled elsewhere.
We also never choose a deck under an activity area, and I guess we had either incredibly quiet fans on our floor or just ones who didn't annoy others. I would book this same cruise again next year without blinking an eye.
Sorry you didn't have the same experience with the BSB cruise....

By the way, Danny Gokey from AI has a cruise going on Feb. 3rd on the Inspiration to benefit Sophia's Heart, founded for his wife that passed away.... for anyone not aware of that one...

[DB2VA]

I googled my April cruise as someone suggested, and just happen to see that there is a Boys11 Men Cruise on the Imagination Feb, 11-14 2011.

[capndinghy]

I[FONT="Century Gothic"][SIZE="5"]f the ship is 'chartered' out to a special interest party, the regular passengers should be advised before hand. I could care less how much more the special interest group paid.

Just because 'you' like the Backstreet guys (or whoever) it does not mean I do.
[/SIZE][/FONT]

[friedshrimp]

[quote name='capndinghy']I[FONT="Century Gothic"][SIZE="5"]f the ship is 'chartered' out to a special interest party, the regular passengers should be advised before hand. I could care less how much more the special interest group paid.

Just because 'you' like the Backstreet guys (or whoever) it does not mean I do.
[/SIZE][/FONT][/QUOTE]

[B][SIZE="6"]Exactly![/SIZE][/B]

[Chowder_17]

FYI: There is a 311 cruise coming up in March on the Destiny

[url]http://www.311.com/CRUISE[/url]