Bye, Bye Carnival...........

[EastTex]

Here is a link to that article. I remember reading it in '06 when we were charged the $10 per day fuel surcharge. Like I said it is from '06, but the gas costs remain high.

 

http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news-articles/67-articles/62-winter-05-06--marine-operations--a-full-plate.html

 

 

OK, I ask for something better than a rumor about Carnival cutting back on the use of stabilizers and your proof positive is a 2005 article from a cruise industry publication that quotes a Captain of Marine Operations for AIDA cruises.

 

So we're all on the same page, AIDA is 1 of 11 companies owned by Carnival Group. It was bought by Princess and then Princess was later acquired by Carnival. AIDA has its own executive team and caters to mostly Germans. Anyway the AIDA Captain said, "We also monitor stabilizer usage. Our captains are instructed not to use the stabilizers more than necessary."

 

All this says to me is use them if you need them but if you don't need em, don't use em. And at that, this quote coming from a subsidiary company manager speaking for AIDA Cruises and not from Carnival Cruise Lines itself.

 

Thanks, but I'd like something more concrete if you want me to believe there is a conscious practice on the part of CCL to reduce costs by not using stabilizers even at the expense of passenger comfort.

[firefly333]

We all know this or is that your opinion? If it's fact, please provide some kind of reference. I'm booked on the Magic and, if it truly is a cheaply made ship, I'd want to know the facts behind such an allegation.:confused:

 

Seriously you dont know that RCL spends a lot more to build their ships? You should be able to easily verify this (and Celebrity, Azamara ships they also build).

 

Several who cruise on Carnival have bragged that because RCL spends so much their stock isnt a good buy, so its not all good news to spend more on ships. I own a lot more Carnival stock than RCL for this reason.

 

Im booked on Magic too and looking forward to it. I just like cruising and dont care about the ship to be honest. If you think I would make up something like that you can go look for the facts. Many people say RCL was stupid to spend so much building their ships because of their debt load they now carry.

 

Look at my signature, I too have Magic booked and cannot wait.

 

Celebrity Soltice came out and people were like oh so innovative, so unique, I love this ship. Epic and Oasis/Allure came out. My friends who did Epic were wow'd.

 

People came back from Dream and said .. just more of the same, not innovative, just a extension of Conquest class. hey I dont care if they spend less .. its still a cruise to me. But soltice, epic, and soon Breakaway and Oasis and Allure have tongues wagging. Dream did not.

[firefly333]

This is not true. We had a balcony on RCL-Freedom of the Seas and the balcony door made a horrible whistling like sound, it was not air tight. RCL decor also is not for us, it would be fine for my grandmother, boring and old(the decor not my grandmother). Please try to give correct information because I know for a fact our balcony was not air tight.:(

 

My balcony on Oasis and the JS I had on Liberty OTS was airtight and made that whooshing sound. I admit to not having one on older ships. I have not been on Freedom OTS.

 

I loved Voyager decor the most of any ship I have been on. Maybe I am old enough to be your grandmother?? I have no idea your age.

 

I do admit to being wrong .. they did have grilled chicken sandwiches on Ecstasy back in 2006 probably .. I just have been on so many cruises since then, I had forgotten. Thats the bad thing about cruising so much, the cruises tend to run together. OK?

[larkz]

Carnival could be worse, could be better, but I have enjoyed three very good cruises, the most recent two at an unbelievably good price (with added advantage thanks to my being very frugal). I'll be going back for another in December, and yet another November 2012.

 

Few of the negatives in this review stands out as issues to me, although I agree the buffets are rather poorly designed with regard to efficiency. I think the Op is making a good decision based on their own measure of the cruise line, and their experiences with other lines.

[golfb4cruzing]

Hand "sanitizer" is absolutely worthless and should be avoided at all costs. If anyone on our upcoming cruise offers me a squirt of the stuff, I will decline - politely.

 

It is alcohol - nothing more, and all it does is kill every living thing on your hands. GOOD and BAD bacteria - it doesn't discriminate. SO - what you end up with is a bunch of people with alcohol-scoured hands, just waiting for the first opportunistic bad bacterium to cause problems because it CAN because the good bacteria and antibodies to combat it are all gone. From Norovirus to antibiotic-resistant diseases, hand sanitizer helps them all gain a foothold.

 

Go to the restroom - wash with soap and warm water for 30 seconds, dry with paper towel, turn faucet off with paper towel, open door with paper towel, leave. Those who are too lazy to do it are probably the ones who get sick. Sanitizer is NOT a viable alternative!!!

 

Oh - and keep your fingers out of your mouth, mose, eyes and ears. Simple. ;)

 

..Trin..

 

You forgot about scratching certain areas too.:eek:

[thormx64]

Bye, dont let the door hit you on the way out !!! Its amazing you blame rough seas on Carnival. So many nit picking complaints. Home is your best option.

 

Very funny. Could not agree with you more.. I should mention that I am not here to "defend" carnival, but rather laugh at those who allow such nonsense to tarnish an othewise "wonderful vacation". Who gives a rats tail when you order dessert? Honestly some people make me sick.

[danech]

Hand sanitizers only kill bacteria, not viruses. Viruses cause Norovirus and other gastrointestinal illnesses. Hand sanitizers are only a supplement to hand washing and are often DISCOURAGED in the foodservice industry.

[hubofhockey]

The Magic is certainly an upgrade over Liberty/Freedom and OP should not have expected much more. If you sign up for a Carnival cruise, you get a Carnival cruise. You are not going to get the same US network stations on your tv that you get in the Caribbean on a Med cruise. Princess will give you ESPN and ESPN2. But if you don't like sports, channels are the same. As far as smoked salmon for breakfast goes, why should OP expect any different from any previous Carnival cruise. It's available with room service. We ordered breakfast in with smoked salmon, bagels, and cream cheese and this was breakfast on the early port days. Nothing new here.

 

I could understand complaints about Carnival cutting back on entertainment and the entertainment on the Magic was disappointing. We did enjoy the Red Frog and the guitar/singer as well as the bar food and atmosphere there. Spa cabin area is also nice. But we took that cruise for the ports and Carnival's 9-day Med cruises were very affordable and much cheaper than you will find on other mass market cruise lines. We had a great itinerary with only one sea day on a 9-day cruise at a great price. It made the Med somewhat affordable for my family of four. If you want more and can afford it, the Grand Med on the Ruby Princess is a better take and much more expensive too.

[The4Cruisers]

Adios, OP!!! Don't let the gangway hit ya! :cool:

[lillian marie]

I hope the op enjoys his/her next cruise.

[GlendaleCruiser]

We have been on both the Dream and the Magic and have to agree with those who say the decor is dated (looks like the early 90's) and cheesy.

Actually, the Dream is Art Deco, so I would say 30's not 90's.

 

But the ship itself was a disappointment. The layout of the food in the Lido is the worst I've seen in all of our 20+ cruises. You had to search out pancakes, french toast and waffles by the pool, while if you wanted yogurt or hot and cold cerial you had to wait on a separtate line and of course a 3rd line for omelets.

I just had a fan of Princess tell me that was why they like Princess better--there are different stations depending upon what you want and no one has to stand in line behind everyone to get what they want:confused:

This may work in the Caribbean but in Europe when you are eating a quick breakfast at 7 AM and going out on 10 hour tours; day after day, it was a major frustration. The selections on the buffet line for breakfast, lunch and dinner were either limited or repetitive as compared to other cruises from both Carnival and other lines.

I went on both the Dream to the Med and then the Magic to the Med and I thought the food on the Magic was much better than the Dream.

 

What's with the passengers not using the hand sanitizer before entering the dining venues?? Other lines have a staff member stationed at the entrance to the Lido encouraging everyone to use it, one line even sprays it into your hands as you enter. I would guess 80% of the passengers never bothered to use it.

Hand sanitizers give people a false sense of security and I don't like having the alcohol on my hands. It is also sticky. I wash my hands directly before eating and don't touch any public surfaces. I haven't had a cold in 7 years.

 

Also, talk about unhygienic, passengers filling up personal water bottles, jugs and thermos bottles with water, tea, coffee and other beverages, placing them right up to the lip of the spouts. Never once did a staff member say a word or was there a sign posted prohibiting the practice as we've seen on other ships. Now I know the second meaning of OBC, On-Board-Cold, which I'm still nursing here at home.

Totally agree with this. Should have signs and someone should be enforcing it.

 

Something new in the dining room, dessert orders are taken up front with appetizer and entree. Heck that isn't even done in a diner. The service in the dining room was robotic and uneven, some nights making recommendations, offering a drink from the bar waiter, offering ice tea, others not.

Taking the whole order was done on the Dream, too in 2009. We were disappointed in the bar service. You just never knew if someone would come around for a drink order. The Dream was worse. Magic was better because the bar waiter knew we would be ordering and usually came around but it might be later in the meal.:(

 

 

The T.V. feed in the room was limited and repetitive

They don't get very good TV there and it is limited. We just avoided it altogether. Only looked at TV to see how much our S&S bill was.

 

Two nights we had rough seas, the ship shook in such a way as to keep you awake all night, strange. We're used to the rocking of a ship in rough seas but not the actually shaking of the bed as if it had a vibrator in it.

Sometimes if the waves are coming on a diagonal or crosswise, those are the stabilizers trying to keep the ship from pitching and rolling. We were Blessed with calm seas so didn't experience that. I would have hated that, too. A month before we went another Med cruise hit a rogue wave and people were hurt, so I was happy we didn't have any of the weather issues.

 

We are going on Princess to Hawaii and our friends wanted to go with Princess. I guess I'll have to see if I come back and say it's better, too. If it is, I will.:D

[treasure4two]

Hand sanitizers only kill bacteria, not viruses. Viruses cause Norovirus and other gastrointestinal illnesses. Hand sanitizers are only a supplement to hand washing and are often DISCOURAGED in the foodservice industry.

 

I believe that is correct plus the virus killer liquid, I believe, can not be purchased in USA. I bought some in Europe when I was on a cruise, but have still not opened it. When we did a Chef Table sytle dinner on Princess, they showed us how their people in the kitchen wash up their hands and they do not use the sanitizers, just good ole handwashing.

I use the sanitizers when available but do not get crazy when others do not-I just don't shake hands with them. Everyone to their own.

[gelo7]

As you can see from my signature, we have been Carnival cruisers for over 20 years and have completed 8 cruises with Carnival. Sad to say that our cruise on the Magic will probably be our last for a long time to come. We have been on both the Dream and the Magic and have to agree with those who say the decor is dated (looks like the early 90's) and cheesy. In my opinion the ships are nothing special, just larger versions of what came before, essentially passenger haulers.

 

We took the 9 day European cruise and must say that the ports and the weather were both about as good as you can get. As such, if we just considered the Magic a floating hotel it surely served it's purpose. Everything on the ship is new and clean as you would expect from a new ship. I will give Carnival kudos for the tours, which we took in every port, and organization of getting us on and off the ship each day. Also the transfers from the airport to the hotel and on to the ship and back to the airport were well handled. Our cabin stewardess was about the best we've encountered.

 

But the ship itself was a disappointment. The layout of the food in the Lido is the worst I've seen in all of our 20+ cruises. You had to search out pancakes, french toast and waffles by the pool, while if you wanted yogurt or hot and cold cerial you had to wait on a separtate line and of course a 3rd line for omelets. The scrambled eggs are about as gross as you can get. Smoked Salmon wasn't served untile 11AM at the deli or from room service. This may work in the Caribbean but in Europe when you are eating a quick breakfast at 7 AM and going out on 10 hour tours; day after day, it was a major frustration. The selections on the buffet line for breakfast, lunch and dinner were either limited or repetitive as compared to other cruises from both Carnival and other lines.

 

What's with the passengers not using the hand sanitizer before entering the dining venues?? Other lines have a staff member stationed at the entrance to the Lido encouraging everyone to use it, one line even sprays it into your hands as you enter. I would guess 80% of the passengers never bothered to use it.

 

Also, talk about unhygienic, passengers filling up personal water bottles, jugs and thermos bottles with water, tea, coffee and other beverages, placing them right up to the lip of the spouts. Never once did a staff member say a word or was there a sign posted prohibiting the practice as we've seen on other ships. Now I know the second meaning of OBC, On-Board-Cold, which I'm still nursing here at home.

 

Something new in the dining room, dessert orders are taken up front with appetizer and entree. Heck that isn't even done in a diner. The service in the dining room was robotic and uneven, some nights making recommendations, offering a drink from the bar waiter, offering ice tea, others not. I guess it goes along with the passenger's "casual dress", blue jeans, sneakers, t-shirts, shorts, flip-flops, etc. "Elegant" now means slacks and an open shirt for men with jeans being acceptable, how standards have sunk.

 

The food in all non-paying venues was acceptable but nothing more, you didn't look forward to eating as you do on most cruises. The one exception was Cucina Del Capitano, which we had for lunch on 2 separate occasions and thought it was top notch. The pizza is never ready and you have to wait no matter what time of day. Try getting a slice at 5:30AM, like I did, no one was manning the area, thought it was supposed to be 24 hours. Never had grilled chicken ready at the grill, only dogs and burgers, it's difficult to eat healthy on Carnival.

 

The T.V. feed in the room was limited and repetitive, showing the same programs over and over for the entire 9 days. How many times can I watch a show on the virtures of Macedonia??

 

The cruise director was nothing special.

 

Never heard an announcement from the bridge the entire cruise.

 

Two nights we had rough seas, the ship shook in such a way as to keep you awake all night, strange. We're used to the rocking of a ship in rough seas but not the actually shaking of the bed as if it had a vibrator in it.

 

Lot's of other issues but I won't bore you with them.

 

We thought Carnival reached it's peak for us in 2008 on the Freedom in Europe. It was a top notch product exceeding our expectations. The Dream in 2009 was a bit disappointing but the food was still as good as or better than other lines. But in 2011, when compared to Princess and Celebrity, which we took earlier this year, there was no comparison or I should say Carnival suffered by comparison.

 

Won't say we would never take Carnival again but it would have to be on a special itinerary, not one that other lines are sailing. I think it's worth the extra $$ for a better experience.

 

Just my opinion of course.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[AmberTeka]

My DH and I cruise a lot.

CARNIVAL..hands down has the best MDR food. Best Pizza. Best Steak House. Ship is spotless. Serivce..is great. Best production shows. Nice casions. Good Music. PASSENGERS..rowdy sometimes. Too many unsuperivised kids. Too many family reunion groups with teenagers..who become ship bullies. Not big enough pools.

PRINCESS...activities.lots of trivia. mind games..more than belly flops but a little of that. Passengers...laid back. Not so much kids...well behaved at that. Ditto the Family Reunions running around in Silver pants or something. MY FAVORITE..because of Trivia. Production Shows..bad. Food..good. Service..excellent.

Celebrity..Just once. Pricey. Food was terrible. Awful. Activities...good.

NCL..had to eat in spec. restaurants..Good. MDR...awful. Productions..The Best. Casinos..The Best and loosest....Lots of Brits...Europeans. Nice people. Not a lot of kids.

HAL....Old. Food..next to Carnval. Good. Quiet. Never a crowd. Productions shows..O.K. Not a lot of night life. Laid back. Very restful. Nice. Great STaff. Dinky casinos.

 

ALMOST EVERY ONE ON THESE BOARDS...CRUISE A LOT. THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE GETTING WHEN THEY BOOK. CARNIVAL...BEST VALUE FOR THE MONEY...HANDS DOWN.

[sloepoke]

on the hand sanitiser issue ... i'm another one of those who can't/shouldn't/won't use it, because i spend a good portion of my days with my hands in various compounds at work or in latex gloves. in short, they easily get dry and cracked. so my hands get moisturised, not alcohol-bathed, when i'm not at work.

 

aside from good ole handwashing, the first and best preventative measure is to simply think about what you're touching, and not touch things that thousands of other people's hands touch. so, for instance, if you do not need to hold on to a railing on the stairs, don't. then you won't pick up their germs from surfaces you touch. use a paper towel to hold the serving spoons at the buffet. those two things alone will eliminate 95% of the germs you'd touch.

[Yvonne]

:rolleyes: Maybe because the OP has sailed CCL 8 times and finds it disappointing now??????

I love all these wanna-be moderators :rolleyes:

 

 

I would like to know if you think these boards are meant for praise only. If so, YOU need to find a new message board.

 

 

 

 

OP, I totally understand your comments and agree. It just is not the same anymore. The issues don't have to be MAJOR ones in order to feel that your cruise experience with Carnival isn't matching up to previous ones, and it makes it all the worse when you experience disappointments on a brand new ship. I hope you enjoy future cruises on whatever line you find suits you. :)

 

Of course the boards are not meant for praise only. And I understand that anyone is going to have a thing or two they don't like on a cruise, and I welcome their input on that. But the OP complained about every little thing. The OP even said there were MORE issues but didn't get into them. I don't put any faith in a "review" of that nature. And I just don't see the need to announce to everyone on the Carnival board that they are no longer going to be cruising with Carnival. Do they think anyone really cares? It's just another YAGE (yet another grand exit).

[nycruise]

I still don't think the majority of the passengers are washing their hands before entering the Lido. People come directly from the pool, casino, etc and go directly to the buffet, it's that kind of crowd. :rolleyes: The only way to assure hands are at least given a squirt is to encourage use of the hand sanitizer.

 

 

sloepoke: "use a paper towel to hold the serving spoons at the buffet."

 

Great idea but have never seen it done in all the years we've been cruising, seems it would be cumbersome. I do believe serving spoons are where you pick up the most critters.

 

Amberteka: "CARNIVAL..hands down has the best MDR food."

 

We used to think that also, but for those who haven't cruised Carnival in the past 2 years, I think you are in for a shock.

 

thormx64: "Honestly some people make me sick. "

 

And what are you adding to the sum total of the conversation. Go back under your rock.:p

[happy cruzer]

On the hand washing thing, what really matters is do you wash your hands and then not touch anything. You will not get sick if you wash your hands and do not touch your food or your face with your hands.

 

wanting others to behave will not keep you healthy.

[halos]

Of course the boards are not meant for praise only. And I understand that anyone is going to have a thing or two they don't like on a cruise, and I welcome their input on that. But the OP complained about every little thing. The OP even said there were MORE issues but didn't get into them. I don't put any faith in a "review" of that nature. And I just don't see the need to announce to everyone on the Carnival board that they are no longer going to be cruising with Carnival. Do they think anyone really cares? It's just another YAGE (yet another grand exit).

I understand that the things may be small...the problem lies when the small things start to add up. I do disagree with the opinion that the OP should not post his 'farewell'.

 

In reading the posts here over the years it seems to me that members would be far more content if reviews were all glowy. I think some would love it if the people who had bad experiences just lied and said their cruise was great.

No one here wants to read anything negative

 

It doesn't matter if the issue is big or small, if someone posts anything that isn't all flowers and sunshine, they get blasted.

 

I think that food and service on the ship is pretty major. When I post comments about the last couple of my cruises lacking in that area, people tell me to leave CCL....this guy is saying goodbye and gets blasted for that.

Ya'll need to make up your minds...

 

It seems to me, the petty complaint is complaining that the OP posted his goodbye....

 

 

fwiw, since this has become a 'hand sanitizer' thread...I also agree that hand sanitizers are next to useless. I do use them if someone is there 'squirting', but soap and water is the only thing that works well. I also agree with the person who said hand sanitizers give a false sense of security.

[Yvonne]

I still don't think the majority of the passengers are washing their hands before entering the Lido. People come directly from the pool, casino, etc and go directly to the buffet, it's that kind of crowd. :rolleyes: The only way to assure hands are at least given a squirt is to encourage use of the hand sanitizer.

 

Please tell us how you KNOW where "the majority of the passengers" are coming from when they go to the Lido for the buffet? I've been on several cruises and have absolutely no idea where people have come from when they enter the Lido doors.

[Cushing985]

I crack up when I read about people complaining about ship movement!:DIt's a ship and it floats on water. What don't you get? If you don't want to experience movement take a land vacation!

 

Otherwise, I don't have anything else to say about the review other than the OP's remark its hard to eat healthy on a Carnival ship right after he/she stated pizza wasn't available at 5:30 in the morning. Sounds like a healthy diet to me.

[nycruise]

Please tell us how you KNOW where "the majority of the passengers" are coming from when they go to the Lido for the buffet? I've been on several cruises and have absolutely no idea where people have come from when they enter the Lido doors.

 

It's called Common Sense! ;)

[Yvonne]

It's called Common Sense! ;)

 

Oh really?! Good grief! :rolleyes:

 

There is no way in heck that you can know where "the majority of people" are coming from! I don't believe that for a second! I really have to laugh at your silly reasoning!! :)

[nycruise]

I crack up when I read about people complaining about ship movement!:DIt's a ship and it floats on water. What don't you get? If you don't want to experience movement take a land vacation!

 

We've been on over 20 cruises, we know what "normal" ship movement is!

 

Otherwise, I don't have anything else to say about the review other than the OP's remark its hard to eat healthy on a Carnival ship right after he/she stated pizza wasn't available at 5:30 in the morning. Sounds like a healthy diet to me.

 

We had an early morning tour and nothing else was open, includng the "24 hour Pizza! "

[nycruise]

Oh really?! Good grief! :rolleyes:

 

There is no way in heck that you can know where "the majority of people" are coming from! I don't believe that for a second! I really have to laugh at your silly reasoning!! :)

 

I really have to laugh at your naivete.;)