Can Carnival pull the drink program?

[kate59]

I suggest that all sailing on the Spirit under the Carnival Australia should email them to voice their dissatisfaction with what is going on.

 

I have emailed them to ask them what they are doing and why. Maybe if they get inundated they may change their minds or we should be asking when we are going to be officially notified of the changes since we booked our cruise with them under the carnival.com terms and conditions.

[6andy6]

The Liquor Laws in Australia are much more restrictive than in the States, so they don't want unlimited liquor flowing to any pax - they figure if you have to buy each drink they are less likely to run into trouble

 

My guess is they will also be hyper-vigilant about smuggling as well when the Spirit reaches OZ

 

Ummm. Actually about as wrong as you can be. celebrity who are basing Solstice in Australia over summer have all their drink packages in place.

 

And as for stricter liquor laws....we don't ban adults (18-21) from drinking either.

[Anthomaniac]

Actually Australia does have stricter liquor laws than the US - lets not get into the drinking age issue that is debated ad naseum in the US every year.

[jlk806]

I have a feeling that the bar program isnt going to last long. For instance, Ive already figured out how my group can share it on our next trip (not till June) so Im sure its not gonna last that long, but if it does we will certainly get it!

[misstopgun]

As far as the program being pulled. Yes of course it can, and I think Carnival has prepared for that possibility by saying it is currently a "trial".

 

I do feel sorry for those that have booked and are past final payment who had no information reguarding the changes. If that had been been me I would have been terribly upset to find I could not smoke on my balcony, I couldn't bring on a bottle of wine or purchase the wine package, or that the casino hours would be limited. I would also have assumed if the Spirit had the "trial Awesome Bar Package" up and going on that ship, it would have remained until the trial was complete an all of the ships. I would have been very dissapointed.

 

I had entertained a trip to Australia to take a cruise and see the sights on this ship. Not now. Unless they make it more the cruise I have become accustomed to I will stick to the ships from US ports. The difference is, I have that information before I decided to book. The cruisers on the first few trips out of Australia are probably locked in. They will probably feel like captive and unwilling participants. Not good for future PR in my opinion.

 

They started out right by announcing all the things that would be added such as the geographic specific foods and the upgrades in the water park. Then they pulled the rug righ out from under all that with all the things they discontinued. I hope the "improvements" were enough to continue encourage cruisers to book. sometimes I would love to be a fly on the wall and see what kind of resarch is done with some of the decisions that are made. A lot of it just doesn't make sense.

 

The consulation is it is a Carnival crew and cruisers can look forward to friendly and helpful service.

[6andy6]

Actually Australia does have stricter liquor laws than the US - lets not get into the drinking age issue that is debated ad naseum in the US every year.

 

Amazing you make that comment...but don't actually state what these strict laws are? The only one I can see is that alcohol can ( but in only some states) be bought at convenience stores ( in the US) whereas it is restricted to licensed premises or liquor outlets. We even have many restaurants where you can take our own wine and sometimes beer for a corkage charge. Otherwise I know our bars and nightclubs are open until 6am, most supermarkets sell liquor, we have huge liquor big box stores that are open late, and you will get a drink at most pokie venues2 4/7 except Good Friday and Christmas Day.

 

I am not being difficult but if someone makes a blanket statement then they need to substantiate it.

[diecastaussie]

Let's call a spade a spade!:mad:

 

Carnival (Aust) have announced that all of the rules relating to alcohol have been changed for its Australian cruises.

Unlike overseas Carnival departures, passengers will not be allowed to bring any personal alcohol on board at the point of embarkation.

 

 

Passengers on Australian cruises will not be permitted to purchase alcohol via the Bon Voyage gift program for delivery onboard.

 

 

The “all you can drink” awesome bar package currently being trialled on Carnival cruises will not be offered to passengers on Australian based cruises.

 

 

The soft drinks package currently offered on Carnival cruises will not be offered to passengers on Australian based cruises

 

Seems that Carnival has decided that Australians are all alcoholics and therefore need to be “ripped off” because we like to have a drink.:mad:

 

 

Sounds like just another cruise line discriminating against Australian passengers!

 

Unfortunately, the cruise market in Australia, although growing rapidly, is still in its infancy; almost 40% of all Australian cruise passengers are "first timers" as a result cruise lines think that they can charge more and reduce services and facilities when sailing out of Australian ports because the "first timers" won't know any better. Several companies have even instigated policies that prohibit Australian residents from booking any cruise (Australian based or otherwise) outside of Australia to take advantage of the much cheaper pricing being quoted overseas.

 

 

 

Are you listening Princess, Cunard, Holland America etc.. ?

 

 

 

It is a pity that cruise lines all seem to recognize that Australia is currently one of the few market places that is still lucrative, but if they continue to treat us as though we are all ignorant and naive regarding cruising then they will very quickly “kill the goose that is laying the Golden eggs” as Australians begin to realize that they are not “second Class” citizens when it comes to cruising.

[CWcruisers]

 

I cannot believe that you have to pay for room service and cannot bring on a bottle of wine. As you said....more money for them.

 

Royal Caribbean charges for room service during the wee hours of the morning, (can't remember exactly what they are) and you cannot bring anything on board, not a bottle of wine, not a bottle of water and not a bottle of soda.

[Mum81]

Royal Caribbean charges for room service during the wee hours of the morning, (can't remember exactly what they are) and you cannot bring anything on board, not a bottle of wine, not a bottle of water and not a bottle of soda.

 

But you can at least pre-purchase wine packages and soft drink packages when cruising from Sydney and there is certainly no "strictly no alcohol in stateroom policy", like Carnival in Australia has adapted.

[pwkmpjm]

Let's call a spade a spade!:mad:

 

Carnival (Aust) have announced that all of the rules relating to alcohol have been changed for its Australian cruises.

Unlike overseas Carnival departures, passengers will not be allowed to bring any personal alcohol on board at the point of embarkation.

 

 

Passengers on Australian cruises will not be permitted to purchase alcohol via the Bon Voyage gift program for delivery onboard.

 

 

The “all you can drink” awesome bar package currently being trialled on Carnival cruises will not be offered to passengers on Australian based cruises.

 

 

The soft drinks package currently offered on Carnival cruises will not be offered to passengers on Australian based cruises

 

Seems that Carnival has decided that Australians are all alcoholics and therefore need to be “ripped off” because we like to have a drink.:mad:

 

 

Sounds like just another cruise line discriminating against Australian passengers!

 

Unfortunately, the cruise market in Australia, although growing rapidly, is still in its infancy; almost 40% of all Australian cruise passengers are "first timers" as a result cruise lines think that they can charge more and reduce services and facilities when sailing out of Australian ports because the "first timers" won't know any better. Several companies have even instigated policies that prohibit Australian residents from booking any cruise (Australian based or otherwise) outside of Australia to take advantage of the much cheaper pricing being quoted overseas.

 

 

 

Are you listening Princess, Cunard, Holland America etc.. ?

 

 

 

It is a pity that cruise lines all seem to recognize that Australia is currently one of the few market places that is still lucrative, but if they continue to treat us as though we are all ignorant and naive regarding cruising then they will very quickly “kill the goose that is laying the Golden eggs” as Australians begin to realize that they are not “second Class” citizens when it comes to cruising.

 

Please get your facts straight before posting rubbish.

1. Bottomless Bubbles WILL be available onboard the Spirit in Australia.

2. You may remember a case on a P & O (read Carnival) ship where a lady died in the cabin of 'creeps'. Alcohol played a part in her death & as a result of recommendations made by the NSW Coroner, certain undertakings were made, about the controls to be implemented, where alcohol was involved. Our drinking age is 18 compared to 21 in the USA.

3. Carnival have never said that the 'all you can drink' package would be available in Australia.

4. Carnival have never said that the 'Bon Voyage' gift program would be available in Australia.

You have assumed these things would be available & you were wrong. That is not discrimination.

[GHDPeter]

The Australian Unlimited Alcohol restrictions may have something to do with our laws relating to promoting binge drinking. So no beer busts, no unlimited drinks packages, and no promotions that give drinks away such as ladies nights.

 

The legal drinking age in Australia is 18, the same age that you must enrol and start voting.

 

In relation to smoking, under most states in Australia it is illegal to smoke within a commercial venue, and licensed venues must have a Designated Outside Smoking Area (DOSA)

[diecastaussie]

Please get your facts straight before posting rubbish.

1. Bottomless Bubbles WILL be available onboard the Spirit in Australia.

2. You may remember a case on a P & O (read Carnival) ship where a lady died in the cabin of 'creeps'. Alcohol played a part in her death & as a result of recommendations made by the NSW Coroner, certain undertakings were made, about the controls to be implemented, where alcohol was involved. Our drinking age is 18 compared to 21 in the USA.

3. Carnival have never said that the 'all you can drink' package would be available in Australia.

4. Carnival have never said that the 'Bon Voyage' gift program would be available in Australia.

You have assumed these things would be available & you were wrong. That is not discrimination.

 

I suggest that you missed the point of my post; which was:

 

Why has Carnival decided to change it's rules relating to alcohol specifically for it's Australian cruises?

 

Also, why do Australians get such a "poor deal" when it comes to booking cruising holidays generally?

 

Incidentally, I don't believe that the incident aboard the P&O ship, deplorable as it was, is relevant to this discussion and I didn't mention "Bottomless Bubbles" because I had not heard of it before.

 

The information relating to alterations to Carnival's alcohol policies specifically for Australian cruises came from this weeks "Cruise Weekly" newsletter so perhaps I have got my facts straight after all.

[Mum81]

The Australian Unlimited Alcohol restrictions may have something to do with our laws relating to promoting binge drinking. So no beer busts, no unlimited drinks packages, and no promotions that give drinks away such as ladies nights.

 

The legal drinking age in Australia is 18, the same age that you must enrol and start voting.

 

In relation to smoking, under most states in Australia it is illegal to smoke within a commercial venue, and licensed venues must have a Designated Outside Smoking Area (DOSA)

 

I agree that our (Australian) regulations may prevent the "My Awesome Bar Program" or any other such unlimited drinking program.

 

Carnival Australia, though is blaming Australian laws for them removing mini-bars from all staterooms, and not selling bon voyage liquor, which are both legal here. If doing those things was illegal, Royal wouldn't be selling wine packages which are available for comsumption in your stateroom.

 

I think people just want fairness and transparency. Why isn't Carnival being honest about their reasons for removing these facilities, instead of blaming Australian laws?

 

And all the alcohol rules in the world don't explain why we cannot pre-purchase soft drink packages, bon voyage gifts (non-alcoholic) or funship dollars???

[Billy and Charlie's Mum]

Let's call a spade a spade!:mad:

 

Carnival (Aust) have announced that all of the rules relating to alcohol have been changed for its Australian cruises.

Unlike overseas Carnival departures, passengers will not be allowed to bring any personal alcohol on board at the point of embarkation.

 

 

Passengers on Australian cruises will not be permitted to purchase alcohol via the Bon Voyage gift program for delivery onboard.

 

 

The “all you can drink” awesome bar package currently being trialled on Carnival cruises will not be offered to passengers on Australian based cruises.

 

 

The soft drinks package currently offered on Carnival cruises will not be offered to passengers on Australian based cruises

 

Seems that Carnival has decided that Australians are all alcoholics and therefore need to be “ripped off” because we like to have a drink.:mad:

 

 

Sounds like just another cruise line discriminating against Australian passengers!

 

Unfortunately, the cruise market in Australia, although growing rapidly, is still in its infancy; almost 40% of all Australian cruise passengers are "first timers" as a result cruise lines think that they can charge more and reduce services and facilities when sailing out of Australian ports because the "first timers" won't know any better. Several companies have even instigated policies that prohibit Australian residents from booking any cruise (Australian based or otherwise) outside of Australia to take advantage of the much cheaper pricing being quoted overseas.

 

 

 

Are you listening Princess, Cunard, Holland America etc.. ?

 

 

 

It is a pity that cruise lines all seem to recognize that Australia is currently one of the few market places that is still lucrative, but if they continue to treat us as though we are all ignorant and naive regarding cruising then they will very quickly “kill the goose that is laying the Golden eggs” as Australians begin to realize that they are not “second Class” citizens when it comes to cruising.

 

Hahaha...... you did decide to try Carnival..... you could always cancel and come on the Diamond with us again. :p

[diecastaussie]

Hahaha...... you did decide to try Carnival..... you could always cancel and come on the Diamond with us again. :p

 

Would love to, but, we really like the New York to Los Angeles itinerary.

 

Besides, it's only the Australian Carnival cruises that are affected by these new policies.