has CCL fallen that far?

[simplylife0010]

As for the specialty restaurant idea, it's not about avoiding MDR food. Reasons for eating in specialty restaurants include ambiance, less people, no or few kids, more personal service, and slower pace. And yes, the food uauslly is that much better than the mass produced food of the MDR.

 

Very nicely put.

[halos]

Maybe before making a statement like that, you should do a little research. Niether NCL or Royal Caribbean are having a difficult time booking their ships. :rolleyes:

 

I agree. That definitely isn't reality, just ridiculous.

[simplylife0010]

Actually I saw that RCL is increasing the pricing on all their pay restuarants now! So again they are depending on that to support the cruise pricing. Look plain and simple everything in our lives seems to be going up in price. McDonalds isn't 12 cents for a burger anymore guys! So as Sandy said we will never win an argument of who is the best CCL or RCL. It's like saying I can affaord a Chevy but want a Cadilac or BMW, we all do but it ain't happening!LOL So we CCL fans will probably be CCL fans for life! Myself all the pricing I have received for RCL is about $100.00 pp more than CCL and $220.00 a couple isn't worth it for the difference in Food, and I sure ly wouldn't go to the pay restuarants! I won't do that on CCL! I want to cruise as many times as possible in my life so cruise pricing is the key as long as you enjoy the cruise lines and the given ship or ships!

Fair seas and following winds:D

 

If you think that a five dollar increase in a restaurant that hold 40-50 people is going to "support" a cruise line then I suggest that you go back and take Economics 101.:rolleyes: Where do people come up with this stuff?

[Cruzaholic41]

Maybe carnival prefers that, so that hopefully them move to one of the more upscale lines in the CCL family.

 

The problem with that line of thinking is CCL is pretty much alone as a constant bargain cruise line. If folks decide to spend a little more money for a better experience, it opens up a world of possibilities, not just brands under the Carnival Corp flag. And if folks are looking for a better experience, but still with a fun atmosphere, the choices probably won't be Carnival Corp brands.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

... And if folks are looking for a better experience, but still with a fun atmosphere, the choices probably won't be Carnival Corp brands.

 

Princess to some extent, but my guess is that most people "straying" from Carnival will shift to Royal Caribbean or NCL.

 

Tom

[JPH814]

there are many if us that would pay the increasing cost to keep what we once expected. it was carnival that decided to downgrade their prices, and then downgrade their product.

 

and little by little, they are attracting a crowd of price concious cruiser.

 

cheap cruises attract cheap cruisers.

 

 

CCL Corporation gives you that option. Pay an additional 10% to 15% and sail on Holland America. They have most of the same itineraries as the Carnival Brand. Have the shrimp, beef wellington, veal cordon blue, osso bucco, king crab legs and a somewhat more upscale dining experiences. ( Just be careful: they have meatloaf on their menu as well; don't let it scare you off.) :)

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

CCL Corporation gives you that option. Pay an additional 10% to 15% and sail on Holland America. ...

 

I know that Celebrity and Royal Caribbean allow guests who have reached certain levels in their respective past guest programs to switch to the other line and start at a higher level - earning them more perks and amenities instantly! This gives guests a reason (when they experiment with other lines) to keep the business under one corporate umbrella. Why Carnival does not do the same is beyond me!

 

Tom

[JPH814]

I know that Celebrity and Royal Caribbean allow guests who have reached certain levels in their respective past guest programs to switch to the other line and start at a higher level - earning them more perks and amenities instantly! This gives guests a reason (when they experiment with other lines) to keep the business under one corporate umbrella. Why Carnival does not do the same is beyond me!

 

Tom

 

 

I agree. I am hoping the anticipated revision to the Carnival Loyaly Program will adress this. Already, OBC for stackholders does apply over all CCL brands.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

I agree. I am hoping the anticipated revision to the Carnival Loyaly Program will adress this. Already, OBC for stackholders does apply over all CCL brands.

 

I was not aware until recently that they do extend a "past guest" booking rate among their lines. Of course, that rate is not always available, but it is - at least - something.

 

Tom

[simplylife0010]

I still think that Celebrity and Royal Caribbean have the best past guest perks out there. This is one area that Carnival really needs to work on.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

I still think that Celebrity and Royal Caribbean have the best past guest perks out there. This is one area that Carnival really needs to work on.

 

They have been "hard at work" on that very subject for just over 1000 days now (REALLY)! :eek:

 

Tom

[simplylife0010]

They have been "hard at work" on that very subject for just over 1000 days now (REALLY)! :eek:

 

Tom

 

Maybe the bean counters at Carnival feel that what they have in place is good enough. I don't know. I guess they feel they can generate enough new cruisers to take care of the ones that venture out and try other cruise lines. What I wonder is how many of those new cruisers will spend the money that many of the long time Carnival fans once spent?

[H82seaUgo]

CCL Corporation gives you that option. Pay an additional 10% to 15% and sail on Holland America. They have most of the same itineraries as the Carnival Brand. Have the shrimp, beef wellington, veal cordon blue, osso bucco, king crab legs and a somewhat more upscale dining experiences. ( Just be careful: they have meatloaf on their menu as well; don't let it scare you off.) :)

 

as a double platinum, why would i do that when they offer nothing for me, not even vip?

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Maybe the bean counters at Carnival feel that what they have in place is good enough. I don't know. I guess they feel they can generate enough new cruisers to take care of the ones that venture out and try other cruise lines. What I wonder is how many of those new cruisers will spend the money that many of the long time Carnival fans once spent?

 

That itself is a debated topic. On one hand, the new cruiser is more likely to buy lots of photos, play bingo, buy a few inches of gold, and purchase shore excursions through the cruise line. That was the case with us - though we replaced those expenditures with a significant increase of fine wine/champagne and specialty meals (more than offsetting the reduction in the prior categories). I won't EVEN get into casino spending, as that's another creature entirely! :eek:

 

Tom

[lake_wannabees]

Already, OBC for stackholders does apply over all CCL brands.

 

How do they know if you are a stockholder? We recently bought some CCL stock because we wanted to jokingly tell our friends that we "own the ship".

Joyce

[S.S.Oceanlover]

CCL Corporation gives you that option. Pay an additional 10% to 15% and sail on Holland America. They have most of the same itineraries as the Carnival Brand. Have the shrimp, beef wellington, veal cordon blue, osso bucco, king crab legs and a somewhat more upscale dining experiences. ( Just be careful: they have meatloaf on their menu as well; don't let it scare you off.) :)

 

OH cool . Nice to have options.

 

Hey I just looked for a Caribbean cruise on HAL in the summer months and there aren't any???

 

Bill

[Pasco08]

Don't take this wrong...If you eat at the same place all the time it is hard to determine good or bad...

You live in the same area where you now can cruise on 4 different cruise lines 30 minutes from home.....Try them you"ll like them....;):cool:

 

Why are you hell bent on trying to change her or others that sail CCL? I live 45mins from the port of Tampa like an hour or so from Port Canaveral to 2-4 hours from Miami but i still will stick with CCL they haven't disappointed me and until they do i have no reason to change.

[abisha]

I really don't have anything to compare it to except RCL. We just got off the Destiny and LOVED all of the food. The MDR food was great. Of the four of us, we didn't have one bad meal..everything was cooked perfectly and very very tasty. We tried more than one of each sometimes and all good..we were stuffed. We even liked the food in the buffet, and I do think there should have been more options, but it was still very good, but the MDR was much better. We also tried the grill (just your basic dogs and burgers) and found it to be good too. I had the pizza twice and had no complaints.

 

The buffet did use trays, not large plates.

 

Overall...I rate the food a 10 on a scale from 1-10. If there were cutbacks, I wouldn't have known.

[slotguy777]

:confused:

there are many if us that would pay the increasing cost to keep what we once expected. it was carnival that decided to downgrade their prices, and then downgrade their product.

 

and little by little, they are attracting a crowd of price concious cruiser.

 

cheap cruises attract cheap cruisers.

 

Wow thanks for calling me a cheap cruiser!! I've been around cruise ships since the 80's and will be retiring soon, so yes I do watch my money! With the stock market and all going on people have to! Maybe you have money to through away but some of us don't. We also have to right to cruise and to our opinions. Not just you you pompous ass!

[H82seaUgo]

:confused:

 

Wow thanks for calling me a cheap cruiser!! I've been around cruise ships since the 80's and will be retiring soon, so yes I do watch my money! With the stock market and all going on people have to! Maybe you have money to through away but some of us don't. We also have to right to cruise and to our opinions. Not just you you pompous ass!

 

sorry, but i don't have the power to call you anything.

 

seems you put yourself there yourself.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

:confused:

 

Wow thanks for calling me a cheap cruiser!! I've been around cruise ships since the 80's and will be retiring soon, so yes I do watch my money! With the stock market and all going on people have to! Maybe you have money to through away but some of us don't. We also have to right to cruise and to our opinions. Not just you you pompous ass!

 

In his defense, I don't think that any one individual was called cheap - but rather a "cheap" cruise is going to attract more cheap cruisers... not at all implying that everyone (or even a majority) are them are actually "cheap".

 

In fact, Carnival has the reputation of being cheaper (let's just use the word "less expensive" here) - but there are glaring exceptions. We were able to book our son and 3 friends on the Solstice in a balcony cabin for the same that we could have booked them in an INTERIOR on the Dream (same week) last year. It was a NO-BRAINER for us! :)

 

Tom

[JPH814]

How do they know if you are a stockholder? We recently bought some CCL stock because we wanted to jokingly tell our friends that we "own the ship".

Joyce

 

When you book a cruise, you send them a copy of a recent broker statement showing your holding of at least 100 shares. You then get an OBC which varies based on the length of your cruise.

[Pasco08]

In his defense, I don't think that any one individual was called cheap - but rather a "cheap" cruise is going to attract more cheap cruisers... not at all implying that everyone (or even a majority) are them are actually "cheap".

 

In fact, Carnival has the reputation of being cheaper (let's just use the word "less expensive" here) - but there are glaring exceptions. We were able to book our son and 3 friends on the Solstice in a balcony cabin for the same that we could have booked them in an INTERIOR on the Dream (same week) last year. It was a NO-BRAINER for us! :)

 

Tom

 

When my dad and i were planning this cruise we tried booking a balcony for 800 a pop on other cruise lines with basically the same itenery and it wasn't even close to what we got for our money on Carnival legend.

[H82seaUgo]

In his defense, I don't think that any one individual was called cheap - but rather a "cheap" cruise is going to attract more cheap cruisers... not at all implying that everyone (or even a majority) are them are actually "cheap".

 

thanks tom. always find it seems to be a comprehension issue.

[Pasco08]

Now on the same token i just booked my 4 year old son myself and my girlfriend on our holiday cruise And booked the Epic because it was less expensive then others and so this will be our first time on Norwhegien and on the Epic at that.