Is Carnival Corp losing it's mojo?

[Dave85]

Maybe it's just me. I think one thing that might actually be hurting Carnival Corp more than helping is the constant announcements of "we're changing this... and we're changing that." I can't speak for Princess or any of the other brands, but reading into things here, it seems like its a tone. I would like to see Carnival just deliver a consistently good product with occasional updates that aren't sensationalized. It seems when they make these announcements for the Carnival brand they give them a lot of hype and then when I experience it in person, I ask myself "what was all that about?". Particularly the Playlist/Hasbro shows. Sometimes I get the impression they have shot themselves in one of their feet in order to improve their product (Destiny-Sunshine). Some moves might be to bring some change into the mix and others may be to redistribute costs I suppose. Typical of any business. I just feel like Carnival could be a little better at it. Reading about some of the other lines, they haven't had an easy time rebounding from the recession either, but some appear more organized about it.

 

That said, I will still continue to cruise on Carnival ships and have a good time. I will also try to cruise other company's ships and have a good time on them as well. My cruise following the Victory will likely be a NCL or RCI, not ruling-out another on CCL.

 

That's an interesting observation, it does seem like Carnival has been in the process of "changing" for an unusually long time. They clearly did try to change a lot at once, with 2.0, VIFP, Destiny to Sunshine, now dining. Unfortunately I don't think all of their changes were successful. 2.0 introduced some good concepts but also some that have been widely regarded as cutbacks (e.g., reductions in live music, VIFP Platinum changes). They changed a lot and what Carnival deems unsuccessful from those changes will surely be changed some more until they hit the right recipe...

 

My personal theory is that Carnival is going through this seemly unusual multitude of product changes becuase the one thing that hasn't really changed much is their ship design. Through Breeze they were still building derivatives of a mid-1990s ship design with only modest increases in size, features, and amenities... As such, they seem to have focused on heavily redesigning the product within those minimally redesigned ships (compared to competitor lines like RCI and NCL that have really innovated with their hardware). We know Vista will only be superficially larger than Breeze (5K GRT), but I sincerely hope its a brand new ship design rather than just another Destiny Class derivative, which would be simply unacceptable for a company of Carnival's stature and deep pockets. Just my $.02.

Edited December 13, 2013 by Dave85

[Webb of Joy]

Really? If a car with no air conditioning or power steering was $100 less than one with air condition or power steering, would you buy it? I think people are looking at the whole picture and not seeing CCL a worthwhile buy.

CCL is desperate, tossing a cat in the hat into the mix. It will take more than employees stalking about in antiquated character costumes to keep this line from sinking.

They are stuck with horribly overcrowded, dated ship designs and with those snazzy modern RCL ships, they'll have to drop their rates much lower to sail full.

Oh wait, they stopped doing that last quarter:

http://news.investors.com/business/112013-679917-carnival-corp-and-royal-caribbean-and-norwegian.htm

 

Do you think by preaching this garbage that others will stop cruising with Carnival. It ain't working

[dclark]

Do you think by preaching this garbage that others will stop cruising with Carnival. It ain't working

 

Could you define your use of the word "garbage"? I have posted something called "facts" and even listed a link you can use to verify them.

Wow, fact! Imagine that!

I don't think that what I posted will deter anyone from cruising ccl, but that is not my intent.I am addressing the thread title- Has CCL lost its MOJO?".

I am sorry if the facts conflict with what you believe. Perhaps you can post some facts too!

It is curious that you finished with a statement "It ain't working".How would you define that and what evidence would you provide to support that conclusion?

If you can't answer that, then you really don't have a leg to stand on, do you?

[jimbo5544]

Could you define your use of the word "garbage"? I have posted something called "facts" and even listed a link you can use to verify them.

Wow, fact! Imagine that!

I don't think that what I posted will deter anyone from cruising ccl, but that is not my intent.I am addressing the thread title- Has CCL lost its MOJO?".

I am sorry if the facts conflict with what you believe. Perhaps you can post some facts too!

It is curious that you finished with a statement "It ain't working".How would you define that and what evidence would you provide to support that conclusion?

If you can't answer that, then you really don't have a leg to stand on, do you?

 

The reason people post this is that you throw garbage all the time against Carnival and Carnival cruisers.

[kansas kruiser]

Could you define your use of the word "garbage"? I have posted something called "facts" and even listed a link you can use to verify them.

Wow, fact! Imagine that!

I don't think that what I posted will deter anyone from cruising ccl, but that is not my intent.I am addressing the thread title- Has CCL lost its MOJO?".

I am sorry if the facts conflict with what you believe. Perhaps you can post some facts too!

It is curious that you finished with a statement "It ain't working".How would you define that and what evidence would you provide to support that conclusion?

If you can't answer that, then you really don't have a leg to stand on, do you?

 

:cool:So you say Carnival has to charge the lowest fares to get people to cruise because you say Carnival is losing all their loyal cruisers!!:rolleyes: But when some people come over here and claim they get lower fares on RCL or NCL why is that??:confused: Are those other lines having trouble filling their ships so they have to lower their fares??? Can't have it both ways!!!:D

Edited December 14, 2013 by kansas kruiser

[dclark]

:cool:So you say Carnival has to charge the lowest fares to get people to cruise because you say Carnival is losing all their loyal cruisers!!:rolleyes: But when some people come over here and claim they get lower fares on RCL or NCL why is that??:confused: Are those other lines having trouble filling their ships so they have to lower their fares??? Can't have it both ways!!!:D

 

I'm sorry, but were you able to graduate from high school and get a spiffy high school diploma?

I I never said that CCL has to charge people the lowest fares, I said that that CCL in the past would drop the fares as far as necessary to sail full. They have stopped that practice recently, they are now sailing sailing less than full, in an effort to firm up price.

I am sorry this concept is too difficult for you to grasp,, perhaps you can click the link I provided and reread it a few times for comprehension,

[Georgiagolfer]

Looking at the title of this thread, DW and I would have to answer, "Maybe CCL has lost its MoJo for us, but not everyone, obviously." People go on cruises for various reasons/activities, but all want and expect great service, at a "perceived good value."

 

For us, the present day CCL is far from what we used to enjoy on them. MDR food and service, theatre shows, Loyalty benefits (for the most part), live entertainment, etc. have all declined in recent years.

[Dave85]

Looking at the title of this thread, DW and I would have to answer, "Maybe CCL has lost its MoJo for us, but not everyone, obviously." People go on cruises for various reasons/activities, but all want and expect great service, at a "perceived good value."

 

For us, the present day CCL is far from what we used to enjoy on them. MDR food and service, theatre shows, Loyalty benefits (for the most part), live entertainment, etc. have all declined in recent years.

 

Thanks for bringing us back on topic! I largely agree with your observations, except for MDR food I guess. Service did slip a bit when they thinned out the waitstaff.

[crosscruiser]

As a newbie getting ready for our Virgin Voyage Jan.12,2014 on CCL and having just read the "19 Wave Memo" I am in the unique position of offering an unbiased opinion (for what that's worth:D) I am having a hard time understanding why there seems to be so much hatred for CCL? I can't tell if people have had a bad experience on one of their ships or if they just HATE the company?!? I have not ever cruised before but based on some opinions I am already making a huge mistake! I can understand being a fan of one thing or another ( Cruise Line, Sports Team, Video Game etc.) but I don't understand HATRED for CCL!?! Hopefully I won't realize what all the animosity is about once I board our ship in a few days:eek:! I will report back... I hope this experience won't force me to spend the rest of my time on Cruise Critic trying to keep everyone else off of a Carnival Ship:rolleyes:!

[jimbo5544]

As a newbie getting ready for our Virgin Voyage Jan.12,2014 on CCL and having just read the "19 Wave Memo" I am in the unique position of offering an unbiased opinion (for what that's worth:D) I am having a hard time understanding why there seems to be so much hatred for CCL? I can't tell if people have had a bad experience on one of their ships or if they just HATE the company?!? I have not ever cruised before but based on some opinions I am already making a huge mistake! I can understand being a fan of one thing or another ( Cruise Line, Sports Team, Video Game etc.) but I don't understand HATRED for CCL!?! Hopefully I won't realize what all the animosity is about once I board our ship in a few days:eek:! I will report back... I hope this experience won't force me to spend the rest of my time on Cruise Critic trying to keep everyone else off of a Carnival Ship:rolleyes:!

 

First of all, enjoy your cruise. First cruises set the bar for all that follow. Take what you find here with a grain of salt. There is much good information here, especially for Virgin cruisers. Explore the ship, do things you might otherwise not do. Have a vacation of a lifetime. Lastly, don't let the few really negative posters color your view. They have a distinct agenda. The vast majority here love cruising and are here to help. Which ship are you sailing on? Have you joined the roll call for your sailing? Roll calls offer lots of good information on the ship and excursions.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app from my IPhone

[Georgiagolfer]

As a newbie getting ready for our Virgin Voyage Jan.12,2014 on CCL and having just read the "19 Wave Memo" I am in the unique position of offering an unbiased opinion (for what that's worth:D) I am having a hard time understanding why there seems to be so much hatred for CCL? I can't tell if people have had a bad experience on one of their ships or if they just HATE the company?!? I have not ever cruised before but based on some opinions I am already making a huge mistake! I can understand being a fan of one thing or another ( Cruise Line, Sports Team, Video Game etc.) but I don't understand HATRED for CCL!?! Hopefully I won't realize what all the animosity is about once I board our ship in a few days:eek:! I will report back... I hope this experience won't force me to spend the rest of my time on Cruise Critic trying to keep everyone else off of a Carnival Ship:rolleyes:!

 

Welcome newbie. Forget all of the totally negative as well as the totally positive posts here. This is after all cruise critic. All negatives and/or all positives are usually not totally correct, just one persons perspective.

 

This thread was supposed to be about CCL and have they lost some of their mojo (I think.) As I posted, for DW and I, CCL has digressed in many areas, but we will sail on CCL, if itinerary and timing is right. However, they are not our only line. We also like RCI, especially double cruise points for JS and above. No hatred for CCL here, just that they (nor any cruise line) are perfect

 

Go and enjoy your cruise and vacation.:D

[crosscruiser]

First of all, enjoy your cruise. First cruises set the bar for all that follow. Take what you find here with a grain of salt. There is much good information here, especially for Virgin cruisers. Explore the ship, do things you might otherwise not do. Have a vacation of a lifetime. Lastly, don't let the few really negative posters color your view. They have a distinct agenda. The vast majority here love cruising and are here to help. Which ship are you sailing on? Have you joined the roll call for your sailing? Roll calls offer lots of good information on the ship and excursions.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app from my IPhone

 

I have joined the roll call for the Splendor and signed up for the meet & greet as well as a cabin crawl poker thing :confused: we have a couple of ship sponsored excursions and some booze from the shops being sent to our room. I just hope we don't end up wishing we had selected a different line once our cruise starts... I will certainly post a review when I return.

Thanks

[Big_G]

As a newbie getting ready for our Virgin Voyage Jan.12,2014 on CCL and having just read the "19 Wave Memo" I am in the unique position of offering an unbiased opinion (for what that's worth:D) I am having a hard time understanding why there seems to be so much hatred for CCL? I can't tell if people have had a bad experience on one of their ships or if they just HATE the company?!? I have not ever cruised before but based on some opinions I am already making a huge mistake! I can understand being a fan of one thing or another ( Cruise Line, Sports Team, Video Game etc.) but I don't understand HATRED for CCL!?! Hopefully I won't realize what all the animosity is about once I board our ship in a few days:eek:! I will report back... I hope this experience won't force me to spend the rest of my time on Cruise Critic trying to keep everyone else off of a Carnival Ship:rolleyes:!

 

You'll have a great time. The best thing for you to do on Cruise Critic is to ignore the extreme negatives as well as extreme positives. Some of what you call hatred is actually just disappointment from long time Carnival customers in Carnival's new direction. Lets just say some are just a lot more disappointed than others. :D

[cruzfitter]

I have joined the roll call for the Splendor and signed up for the meet & greet as well as a cabin crawl poker thing :confused: we have a couple of ship sponsored excursions and some booze from the shops being sent to our room. I just hope we don't end up wishing we had selected a different line once our cruise starts... I will certainly post a review when I return.

Thanks

 

You should have a great time on your cruise. The danger comes after, when you write that review. If you post a negative comment the haters will find you.

[bobmal99]

Just go on your cruise with an open mind.

Have fun, and come back and tell us how

much you really, really, liked it.

 

I have cruised on RCCL NCL & CCL,

as far as entertainment, food, and crew,

overall they are more similar than not.

 

Congratulation on your first cruise,

go enjoy, and have a blast!!!

 

 

As a newbie getting ready for our Virgin Voyage Jan.12,2014 on CCL and having just read the "19 Wave Memo" I am in the unique position of offering an unbiased opinion (for what that's worth:D) I am having a hard time understanding why there seems to be so much hatred for CCL? I can't tell if people have had a bad experience on one of their ships or if they just HATE the company?!? I have not ever cruised before but based on some opinions I am already making a huge mistake! I can understand being a fan of one thing or another ( Cruise Line, Sports Team, Video Game etc.) but I don't understand HATRED for CCL!?! Hopefully I won't realize what all the animosity is about once I board our ship in a few days:eek:! I will report back... I hope this experience won't force me to spend the rest of my time on Cruise Critic trying to keep everyone else off of a Carnival Ship:rolleyes:!

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

As a newbie getting ready for our Virgin Voyage Jan.12,2014 on CCL and having just read the "19 Wave Memo" I am in the unique position of offering an unbiased opinion (for what that's worth:D) I am having a hard time understanding why there seems to be so much hatred for CCL? I can't tell if people have had a bad experience on one of their ships or if they just HATE the company?!? I have not ever cruised before but based on some opinions I am already making a huge mistake! I can understand being a fan of one thing or another ( Cruise Line, Sports Team, Video Game etc.) but I don't understand HATRED for CCL!?! Hopefully I won't realize what all the animosity is about once I board our ship in a few days:eek:! I will report back... I hope this experience won't force me to spend the rest of my time on Cruise Critic trying to keep everyone else off of a Carnival Ship:rolleyes:!

 

I think the difference is those who have cruised CCL for years (our first one was in 2007, and it was outstanding, second in 2011 and it was wonderful again), have really seen them cut back some of the things we really enjoyed with them years ago. Kind of like seeing your favorite restaurant go further and further down hill. Maybe newer customers may not have realized just how great it used to be, but you stop recommending it because you know how much better it was before. I'm not really sure what is up with CCL this year. They are making ridiculous changes on the fly and even though it was my go-to cruise line for the past 4 cruises, after this year's, I had decided that I didn't care if I EVER WENT ON ANY MORE CRUISES AGAIN. I was just so bored and disappointed and couldn't get served at the table or communicate when I was ordering and it took a really long time to get a shrimp cocktail with 4 lil bitty shrimp... And this is comparing CCL to CCL. THey just have really cut back our experience. I don't know why they do it! People say 'cruise on a newer ship', but my newest CCL was my least favorite. I couldn't wait to pack and get off the ship. Normally, I'm fighting back the 'its over!' tears.

 

Here is my suggestion. You are going to some great ports, do some research and get some great tours lined up. Our port days are basically what make the trip. (And even on this last one, they were GREAT!) If you don't really care for the on-ship experience, than don't just conclude that cruising isn't for you (as I had concluded this year, after decades of cruising.) It may just be that CCL isn't the line for you.

 

But you should still get plenty to eat, plenty of sun, some great islands, hopefully some comedy, etc. And if you decide that bean bag tosses, smokey casinos, the dancers and few shows, constant drink and bingo and photo sales aren't your thing, feel free to check out other lines.

 

I mean this in a very practical way, not a nasty comment and not a hateful thing. CCL is pretty much a 'introduction' line to cruising for a lot of new cruisers. Kinda like dipping your toe into it.

 

Unfortunately for me, I will not step foot on another CCL. I have gold status and I wouldn't go on one for free now. (It would still cost me too much between boarding my dogs, taking time off work, driving 10 hrs to port, paying taxes and tips and then still being heckled and sold to like an infomercial while I was on board.) But then again, I am waiting for it to return to its hey-day. Maybe some day it will. Either way, you may love it or not care for it or think its just ok. You will still see some great islands. Just remember, there are many cruise lines in the sea for your next cruise! (There will very like BE a next cruise!) :)