Big Carnival Announcement on the Way

[golfadj]

[quote name='Tapi']It's still better than the usual "I heard from my mother in law's second cousin's hairdresser who once worked on a cruise ship back in 1994 and went to elementary school with Gerry Cahill's kids' nanny" that some people cite on this website as a reliable source of information. :rolleyes:[/quote]

Well my butcher heard from his brother in law who heard it from a crewmember who _______.

[richstowe]

[quote name='AdGuyMG']I was hoping you had something more substantial than a 2nd hand account of a 3rd party conversation.[/quote]Nope. Sorry.

[cowboygene]

Wirh illustrated instructions

[cruzeluver]

You gotta give Carnival credit. Every time they state that something big is coming, it generates pages and pages of speculation and discussion and usually ends up being no big deal.

[Georgiagolfer]

[quote name='cruzeluver']You gotta give Carnival credit. Every time they state that something big is coming, it generates pages and pages of speculation and discussion and usually ends up being no big deal.[/QUOTE]

Like:D

[golfadj]

[quote name='cruzeluver']You gotta give Carnival credit. Every time they state that something big is coming, it generates pages and pages of speculation and discussion and usually ends up being no big deal.[/quote]

Not sure giving credit is what it is. Disappointing when the news finally surfaces is more like it.

[halos]

[quote name='golfadj'] and when we found we could rebook price was way up.

[/quote]

Yes...this is true of most all NCL sailings and why we always book well in advance. Rarely is there a price drop because the cruises sell very well.

The feb 2014 Sun cruise I booked cost us about $200 more than it would have the WEEK before. I didn't think to book that week because I happened to be ON that very ship. When I got home, the price had gone up....Supply/demand. The cabins were selling.
So, I immediately booked it anyway and was happy I did because the fare went up steadily after I booked.
I then took the reigns and booked (the Pearl) for Feb 2015 so I wouldn't run into the same issue.

Our Aug 2014 RCI cruise cost us quite a bit more because I hesitated.:rolleyes: Unlike CCL where prices often drop, you don't have this 'luxury' with other lines.

[AdGuyMG]

[quote name='halos']Unlike CCL where prices often drop, you don't have this 'luxury' with other lines.[/quote]

I sail multiple lines myself and regularly surf the CC boards for RCI, Holland and NCL. I see plenty of threads started by pissed off people because their cruise prices dropped after final payment and the cruiseline will do nothing for them. Carnival has no exclusive on dynamic supply and demand pricing and price drops. Time of year (Off Season October / November vs Peak February) also plays a very big part on the demand side.

[halos]

[quote name='AdGuyMG']I sail multiple lines myself and regularly surf the CC boards for RCI, Holland and NCL. I see plenty of threads started by pissed off people because their cruise prices dropped after final payment and the cruiseline will do nothing for them. Carnival has no exclusive on dynamic supply and demand pricing and price drops. Time of year (Off Season October / November vs Peak February) also plays a very big part on the demand side.[/quote]

Define plenty....they are few and far between compared to carnival.

[AdGuyMG]

[quote name='halos']Define plenty....they are few and far between compared to carnival.[/quote]

Put this into your browser, go at least thru the first 10 pages and tell me how few and far between they really are:

[URL]http://boards.cruisecritic.com/search.php?searchid=43204644[/URL]

[Tapi]

[quote name='AdGuyMG']I regularly surf the CC boards for RCI, Holland and NCL. I see plenty of threads started by pissed off people because their cruise prices dropped after final payment and the cruiseline will do nothing for them.[/QUOTE]

Since you mention Holland, let me share my experience.

We just sailed on Holland 2 months ago, and I have to say that one thing that impressed me about them was the way they handled price drops.

For our sailing, there was a price drop shortly after final payment. Even though I knew that I wasn't entitled to it, I still called too see if they'd give me some OBC. 5 minutes later, I received a confirmation showing $400 OBC. :)

Then, 3 days before departure, some balconies became available for what I was paying for an Oceanview. I once again called, and I ended up with a balcony cabin PLUS the OBC! :D

So no complaints from me. HAL's customer service was phenomenal. They truly went the extra mile to make an already great experience even better.

[ragen]

I'm hoping For:

An announcement that they're bringing the return of the old cruise experience,....aka:
Midnight Buffets, Full Live Bands, Full "Broadway" style shows, Live Professional guest entertainers (instead of passenger talent/karioki), More Free dining options (Guy's Burgers/Iquana Cantina on ALL Ships, including Fantasy Class.), and at least give me a free drink at the "Captains Reception." again.

Youknow,...the way it used to be.;)

[Tapi]

[quote name='ragen']I'm hoping For:

An announcement that they're bringing the return of the old cruise experience,....aka:
Midnight Buffets, Full Live Bands, Full "Broadway" style shows, Live Professional guest entertainers (instead of passenger talent/karioki), More Free dining options (Guy's Burgers/Iquana Cantina on ALL Ships, including Fantasy Class.), and at least give me a free drink at the "Captains Reception." again.

You know,...the way it used to be.;)[/QUOTE]

Are you willing to pay the prices to have things "they way it used to be? Adjusted for inflation, you would be paying more than $1200 for a cabin on the Riviera deck today if Carnival charged you what they used to charge 20 years ago.

[ragen]

[quote name='Tapi']Are you willing to pay the prices to have things "they way it used to be? Adjusted for inflation, you would be paying more than $1200 for a cabin on the Riviera deck today if Carnival charged you what they used to charge 20 years ago.[/quote]

Well actually, Carnival still had all these things when I first started cruising, and that was 8 (Yes, Eight) years ago,...and even most of them (except midnight buffet.) up untill 3 or mabie 4 years ago at the very most,......and the prices then were only about $60-90 bucks more per person/ per cruise than I pay now for a 3 or 4 day cruise,.....so, yes for my extra $50 or so bucks, I'd like these things back rather than a $50 "Faster to the fun" scam, Anyday!:eek:

(By the way, I still Love Carnival Cruises, just now, now quite as much as I used to.)

[AmberTeka]

We went on two NCL Cruises in the mid Seventies. They had the midnight buffet. but. The casino was a slot machine. One. entertainment was some singing and dancing..comedy..magicians. bad ones. Horseback racing.

We had a wonderful time. We were young and in love. We were skinny and could eat like pigs. Or I was. He had played football to go to college and was very hunky. So we had a grand time.

But...we ate at the buffet once. there was not a lot to do. We found our own entertainment. But today....I want some Bingo. A theater production. To donate to the Casino. Use the Internet. check out the library. Play Trivia. Eat three meals a day....

I kept a Menu from the Starward. The food was delicious. wonderful. They had a lunch buffet that was dazzling too.

But.......cruising is better today. More varied. better ports. More entertainment. Casinos. Specially restaurants. Balconies are more affordable. back then a balcony was like a suite.

We sail with a lot of cruise lines too...like them all. Always come home to Carnival. Price. Clean ships. food not bad. Nice casinos.

Carnival needs bigger pools. That is their only flaw I think. And we are not pool people. It can not be safe to have that many people and kids in those pools.

On Holland America........sometimes only a few people are in the pool. Never a crowd.

[jimbo5544]

Well actually, Carnival still had all these things when I first started cruising, and that was 8 (Yes, Eight) years ago,...and even most of them (except midnight buffet.) up untill 3 or mabie 4 years ago at the very most,......and the prices then were only about $60-90 bucks more per person/ per cruise than I pay now for a 3 or 4 day cruise,.....so, yes for my extra $50 or so bucks, I'd like these things back rather than a $50 "Faster to the fun" scam, Anyday!:eek:

 

(By the way, I still Love Carnival Cruises, just now, now quite as much as I used to.)

 

The $50 "scam" you describe sells out every cruise...... Maybe your wearing the rose colored glasses.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app on my iPad

[jonbgd]

We went on two NCL Cruises in the mid Seventies. They had the midnight buffet. but. The casino was a slot machine. One. entertainment was some singing and dancing..comedy..magicians. bad ones. Horseback racing.

 

So we had a grand time.there was not a lot to do. We found our own entertainment.

But today....I want some Bingo. A theater production. To donate to the Casino. Use the Internet. check out the library. Play Trivia. Eat three meals a day....

 

.

And that is what is the problem today

We all use to be happy just doing a cruise

now alot of cruisers don't know how to relax and that is what a cruise is to me

A way to relax and not go to work. I don't need to be doing anything and still enjoy it

[cruzn buckeye]

I'm hoping For:

 

An announcement that they're bringing the return of the old cruise experience,....aka:

Midnight Buffets, Full Live Bands, Full "Broadway" style shows, Live Professional guest entertainers (instead of passenger talent/karioki), More Free dining options (Guy's Burgers/Iquana Cantina on ALL Ships, including Fantasy Class.), and at least give me a free drink at the "Captains Reception." again.

 

Youknow,...the way it used to be.;)

I so agree!!!! Now this is what I call a perfect post. I wish Carnival would read it and do exactly what you said! :D

[cruzn buckeye]

Are you willing to pay the prices to have things "they way it used to be? Adjusted for inflation, you would be paying more than $1200 for a cabin on the Riviera deck today if Carnival charged you what they used to charge 20 years ago.

I would be willing to pay... and these things were around alot less than 20 years ago with prices much less than you just said.

[Nurse 3D]

Am I the only one who saw the segment on CBS morning show about Carnival and the new CEO? He spoke of the monies spend with upgrades to the ships. He also spoke about the guest experience, any thoughts? They spoke of Carnival as though it was one brand across instead of multi-lines that it represents. Part of segment was regarding the Costa disaster. We rebooked with Carnival because of our past experiences and prices this spring for past guests. I just wished we were able to go Europe with Carnival this year.

[cjknox]

Are you willing to pay the prices to have things "they way it used to be? Adjusted for inflation, you would be paying more than $1200 for a cabin on the Riviera deck today if Carnival charged you what they used to charge 20 years ago.

 

The price would be a lot less than you just mentioned, and the adjusted rates would affect all cruise lines.

[roxy13]

Even though most issue are all about the $$$'s, in this case I'm thinking it's about allowing a very important brand

in the CCL stable,Princess, to keep the island for themselves. They would wish it to remain exclusive.

I also believe that HAL ,Cunard and Princess management would be strongly against the transfer of loyalty benefits across brands.

There would be the issue of too many rif-raf from Carnival booking and swamping their perks.

These premium brands have tried their bests to not be tarred with the same brush.

I'm sure their preference would be that nobody knew of their Carnival connection.

Who could blame them given Carnivals currect reputational woes.

WOW really RIF-RAF

[Tapi]

The price would be a lot less than you just mentioned...

 

I have my cruise tickets for our 1994 cruise on the Tropicale. $799 for a 7 night, July sailing out of San Juan on a 6A cabin. If you enter that amount in an inflation calculator, you come up with $1259.

 

Looking at July 2014, 7 night cruises from San Juan are starting at $699.

 

In my opinion, cruise lines is a lot cheaper these days. If you are still willing to pay $1200pp for a cruise to get more, there are cruise lines out there that will be happy to take your money to give you a better experience.

[Joeychgo]

I have my cruise tickets for our 1994 cruise on the Tropicale. $799 for a 7 night, July sailing out of San Juan on a 6A cabin. If you enter that amount in an inflation calculator, you come up with $1259.

 

Try that with a TV too and see what you come up with compared to today. Try Gasoline too. Airline tickets.

 

My point being, inflation calculators aren't accurate because different things price out differently over time.

[Sparky2]

You are most likely right about new places...new ports......Like how many times are people on this board, me included, posting about wanting to go to Martinique again? Barbados..and from Florida NOT P.R. Trinidad. Bonaire..(My favorite port) Skipping Mexico..Honduras..Belize..going futher down..COSTA RICA again............a new route to the Panama Canal..I would book that the day they came out with it....Betchya it is along those lines.

 

I like your ideas. Hope that they add some new ports.