How could Carnival Improve?

[Stateroom_Sailor]

I recently asked why some of you favored Carnival as one of your favorite cruise lines, and the answers were very engaging. While still keeping it's unique experience, in what ways could Carnival improve?

 

Having sailed Carnival myself and planning to do so again, these are my personal criticisms:

 

1. Park West Gallery forgeries (specifically Dali, Peter Max, Ali)

2. Shopping seminar misleading financial advice.

3. Response procedure in the event of ship malfunction.

 

How about you?

[kcwingwalker]

I recently asked why some of you favored Carnival as one of your favorite cruise lines, and the answers were very engaging. While still keeping it's unique experience, in what ways could Carnival improve?

 

Having sailed Carnival myself and planning to do so again, these are my personal criticisms:

 

1. Park West Gallery forgeries (specifically Dali, Peter Max, Ali)

2. Shopping seminar misleading financial advice.

3. Response procedure in the event of ship malfunction.

 

How about you?

 

Agree with most of the above. Forgery is a strong word, but do agree that Park West is less than reputable.

 

I would prefer that in some venues the volume of the music be lowered.

 

More space between the tables in the MDRs would be welcome.

 

Carnival can be a little too glitzy sometimes so toning it down might be nice.

 

The "Bacon Police" are annoying and usually grouchy.

 

JMO

[Stateroom_Sailor]

Agree with most of the above. Forgery is a strong word, but do agree that Park West is less than reputable.

 

I would prefer that in some venues the volume of the music be lowered.

 

More space between the tables in the MDRs would be welcome.

 

Carnival can be a little too glitzy sometimes so toning it down might be nice.

 

The "Bacon Police" are annoying and usually grouchy.

 

JMO

 

Park West has been caught selling blatant forgeries, mainly with their biggest ticket items. We purchased some Igor Medvedev paintings, and enjoy them, but I have to call a spade a spade:

 

Look up "Cruise Ship Art Auctions Stir Authenticity Controversy" on youtube, and there is even more on the 3 artists I've mentioned above.

 

Are the Bacon Police staff or passengers?

Edited November 10, 2013 by Stateroom_Sailor

[Aoumd]

Four big things and some smaller ones...

 

Four big things:

 

1) Modernize the decor by "Sunshining" more ships as they go through their next refurbishments, regardless of whether or not the ships' name changes.

 

2) Better diversity in itineraries (there's another great discussion going on right now about just that here on CC).

 

3) Very heavily publicize the very substantial changes Carnival has made since the Triumph incident. So many potential cruisers have this stigma against Carnival based solely on news sound bites, so take a bite out of that!

 

4) Merge Carnival Corporation's Frequent Cruiser/Status programs into an "alliance," not unlike an airline alliance. Some cruisers (including several I know) started with Carnival Cruise Lines, then went on to other lines that charge more for more amenities, etc. An alliance keeps those people on Carnival Corporation lines (Princess, HAL, etc.) rather than jumping to Celebrity, Azamara, etc.

 

And some smaller ones:

 

5) Make any MDR item available as a room service item.

 

6) Continue the great design improvements on Carnival Breeze to greatly improve the outdoor seating options, which takes pressure off the main Lido area.

 

6a) Enhance efforts to combat chair hogs, perhaps by printing the chair hog rule directly onto the chair, and dedicating an employee to do nothing but label and collect chair hog items for the 2-3 hours between 8-8:30am and 10:30-11am.

 

7) Based on my last cruise on Breeze, Punchliner is such a success perhaps it should be moved to the main lounge for select performances before (clean) or after (adult) the main evening shows?

Edited November 10, 2013 by Aoumd

[golfadj]

Better entertainment. Looks like the best piano bar people are gone and new ones not very good.

 

Welcome aboard show has not been changed in way to long.

 

Lately rock band has been put on promenade right by casino. Worst place to listen to music and dance.

 

Almost always there is an empty lounge.

 

Move comedy club to larger venue so that everyone who wants to see the show can.

[mikel24m]

I recently asked why some of you favored Carnival as one of your favorite cruise lines, and the answers were very engaging. While still keeping it's unique experience, in what ways could Carnival improve?

 

Having sailed Carnival myself and planning to do so again, these are my personal criticisms:

 

1. Park West Gallery forgeries (specifically Dali, Peter Max, Ali)

2. Shopping seminar misleading financial advice.

3. Response procedure in the event of ship malfunction.

 

How about you?

 

My few complaints are

 

1.They do not treat most gamblers well and has saved me some money the last few cruises

2.They do not recognize pax that spend money in general .Some can cruise for $499 pp for the week and some spend $4000 ,why not reward those that subsidize other peoples fare and keep advertised prices cheap and loyal cruisers happy

3.BE CONSISTENT on every ship every cruise and on the website. Well I can buy Captain Morgan today from BV for one price and tomorrow its more... then its gone from some ships.... then on some ships !!!!

[mikel24m]

Better entertainment. Looks like the best piano bar people are gone and new ones not very good.

 

Welcome aboard show has not been changed in way to long.

 

Lately rock band has been put on promenade right by casino. Worst place to listen to music and dance.

 

Almost always there is an empty lounge.

 

Move comedy club to larger venue so that everyone who wants to see the show can.

 

We aren't really into the production shows but I agree about the comedy shows.They are always packed ,why not do it in a bigger venue

[golfadj]

We aren't really into the production shows but I agree about the comedy shows.They are always packed ,why not do it in a bigger venue

 

The answer they give is they want a more intimate venue.

 

Sit in the back of the lounge and see how far away you are with lousy sight lines and see how wrong this is.

 

not to mention many people cannot get into shows they want to see.

[OCruisers]

Selfishly, I wish Carnival would bring in another ship to replace Fantasy in Charleston that was not a Fantasy Class. :o

 

LuLu

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[mikel24m]

The answer they give is they want a more intimate venue.

 

Sit in the back of the lounge and see how far away you are with lousy sight lines and see how wrong this is.

 

not to mention many people cannot get into shows they want to see.

 

A few times people never left and were not forced to !! Parked their butts and stayed for both shows saving seats .I remember one cruise their was a line at one door and the other door opened to let people out and it was like a riot

[Colorado Kat]

I would love to see more diversity in ports.

[kcwingwalker]

Park West has been caught selling blatant forgeries, mainly with their biggest ticket items. We purchased some Igor Medvedev paintings, and enjoy them, but I have to call a spade a spade:

 

Look up "Cruise Ship Art Auctions Stir Authenticity Controversy" on youtube, and there is even more on the 3 artists I've mentioned above.

 

Are the Bacon Police staff or passengers?

 

 

The "Bacon Police" are the crew members who dole out the bacon at the buffet. Carnival is the only cruise line that I'm aware of that has "Bacon Police".

[cruse2loose]

The volume of the music on Lido deck. It was so loud on the Triumph you couldn't speak to the person you were sitting with. The Magic and Conquest it was just right.

[mikel24m]

The "Bacon Police" are the crew members who dole out the bacon at the buffet. Carnival is the only cruise line that I'm aware of that has "Bacon Police".

 

And its funny they have a crew member giving out bacon and all one has to do is ask for more,some more ,some more and they fill a plate. Have seen it happen like people have never ate out before

[morganboys]

1. new ports

2. get rid of dj and bring back live music

3. fire some of the top dogs and hire people who know a thing or two about cruising.

4. shows - no more trivia, no more Hasbro game. I want to see a show at night. not other cruise passengers doing a game show or talent show.

5. fountain pop

6. no more bacon police

[DSJ28]

1. Add hot breakfast items to room service options.

2. Add specialty coffee to one of the drink packages, or create a package for it.

3. Add a free smoothie bar.

4. Improve the entertainment. How about a real concert, or a play, or a one man/woman show. I like show tunes as much as the next guy, but theater has more to offer than that.

 

A few years ago - I'd have said the bedding and the service needed to be improved - but I think they've made a lot of progress with both. :)

[Aoumd]

The "Bacon Police" are the crew members who dole out the bacon at the buffet. Carnival is the only cruise line that I'm aware of that has "Bacon Police".

 

Carnival's Brand Ambassador/Senior Cruise Director has pointed out in the past that the "Bacon Police" are there because when bacon was self-serve, people took many times more than they ever ate, leading to exorbitant waste. If it is more economical to hire an employee than live with that much waste, I can understand since that's a heckuva lot of waste!

 

I do, however, wonder if some sort of serving machine can be developed which dispenses a single bacon strip at a time. Those who want more bacon simply press the button or lever or whatever a few more times, just like you can ask the "Bacon Police" for more bacon and they'll give it to you. Might free up a crewmember in the morning to go after chair hogs...

[kcwingwalker]

Carnival's Brand Ambassador/Senior Cruise Director has pointed out in the past that the "Bacon Police" are there because when bacon was self-serve, people took many times more than they ever ate, leading to exorbitant waste. If it is more economical to hire an employee than live with that much waste, I can understand since that's a heckuva lot of waste!

 

I do, however, wonder if some sort of serving machine can be developed which dispenses a single bacon strip at a time. Those who want more bacon simply press the button or lever or whatever a few more times, just like you can ask the "Bacon Police" for more bacon and they'll give it to you. Might free up a crewmember in the morning to go after chair hogs...

 

Heaven help us if the "Bacon Machine" breaks down!

[Aoumd]

Heaven help us if the "Bacon Machine" breaks down!

 

Who says there can't be more than one? :)

 

Not trying to advocate making things overly complicated, just think this is an effective solution to the reason they implemented bacon police, and a cost-effective way to get someone out on Lido during breakfast hours to prevent chair hogging.

[mikel24m]

Carnival's Brand Ambassador/Senior Cruise Director has pointed out in the past that the "Bacon Police" are there because when bacon was self-serve, people took many times more than they ever ate, leading to exorbitant waste. If it is more economical to hire an employee than live with that much waste, I can understand since that's a heckuva lot of waste!

 

I do, however, wonder if some sort of serving machine can be developed which dispenses a single bacon strip at a time. Those who want more bacon simply press the button or lever or whatever a few more times, just like you can ask the "Bacon Police" for more bacon and they'll give it to you. Might free up a crewmember in the morning to go after chair hogs...

 

They have chair hog watchers now they put a little sticker. Its the towel person on the lido

[Aoumd]

They have chair hog watchers now they put a little sticker. Its the towel person on the lido

 

I've seen some of the stickers on my last cruise, but I've also seen lots of posts on here saying that they still haven't been able to keep up with all the chair hogging. If that's changed in the last few months, great! If not, my proposed "reassignment" of the bacon police is just one possible way to fix the situation.

[OCruisers]

The "Bacon Police" are the crew members who dole out the bacon at the buffet. Carnival is the only cruise line that I'm aware of that has "Bacon Police".

 

I actually appreciate the Bacon Police! All I want are two pieces and it's so stuck together it's hard to get just two on my own. :)

 

Note: If you want more, they'll give it to you. ;)

 

LuLu

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[mikel24m]

I actually appreciate the Bacon Police! All I want are two pieces and it's so stuck together it's hard to get just two on my own. :)

 

Note: If you want more, they'll give it to you. ;)

 

LuLu

~~~~

 

Going to get back on topic :)

 

The bacon on a cruise ship is not like bacon I make at home.Not even close

[mikel24m]

I've seen some of the stickers on my last cruise, but I've also seen lots of posts on here saying that they still haven't been able to keep up with all the chair hogging. If that's changed in the last few months, great! If not, my proposed "reassignment" of the bacon police is just one possible way to fix the situation.

 

We aren't really pool people but if we were I would have to complain and make a stink or my other suggestion is rearrange chairs and things on them :)

 

Then go up one deck and people watch ;)

[wobblypops]

Stay in Baltimore because I will not fly for a cruise