So Disappointed

[NCTribeFan]

So, if you try to provide a rational explanation for something, you're just putting "spin" on it? And if you cruise regularly and do NOT come home and complain about cutbacks, you're a cheerleader?

 

:rolleyes:

 

I've been sailing 2-3 times a year for a while now, and I always write a full review when I return. I've been saying over and over that I personally haven't seen the horrible decline in food or service.

 

Yes, I'm paying the same - maybe less - in real dollars for a cruise that I did more than 10 years ago. Can anyone say that about anything else?

 

Food prices are way, way up in the past decade, just in case some of you haven't been paying attention. There is a tremendous amount of wasted food daily on a cruise. They have to keep costs down. It's been explained, but some people simply don't want to read a reasonable explanation. They just want to gripe about how awful things have gotten.

 

The food choices haven't changed in a few years, when they last changed the menu (and people went ballistic because Carnival dared to add mac-and-cheese to the menu, which is quite good). I'm not sure what OP is referring to about the menu choices being much fewer. There are still many appetizers, salads, and entrees.

 

So, take your vacation dollars elsewhere! If you're so disappointed in Carnival, go to another line! Go to an all-inclusive.

 

I just don't know how I'll survive going on a cruise and not getting a bucket-load of little paper receipts to throw away. What, you mean I can just walk up to a kiosk, or check my account on the tv, or ask for a printout of charges at the service desk?

 

But the food portions are smaller!!! What, you mean I can just request more? I can have as much as I like at every meal?

 

I'm not a cheerleader. I'll be moving on to other lines once I get my Milestone cruise. But Carnival continues to provide a very good product at a very good value.

 

Have things changed? Well, of course they've changed. I'm still upset that Beef Wellington was taken off the menu!! Did that make me bolt to another line? Nope. I've pretty much given up on beef dishes because the quality if so poor. Do I go hungry? Nope! There are many other items that I can select and have a delicious meal, every time

 

I'm not Suzy Sunshine but any means. But I absolutely am not going to be concerned because of the handful of people who continue to bemoan the demise of a once-great luxury cruiseline, because that never was Carnival's place in the industry. I think a whole of people here simply have a very selective memory. And just like to gripe.

 

I personally think many people come here, read the Negative Nelly comments and go on their cruise expecting things to be bad. Sure, they all say "oh, I wasn't LOOKING for things to complain about," but it sure sounds to me like they've let themselves be influenced by the comments here, whether they realize it or not.

 

I fully expect to enjoy my two upcoming cruises just as much as I've enjoyed the prior 19 Carnival cruises. I won't go hungry. I'll find plenty of ways to be entertained while on the ship. I'll get great food and service. I'll get a great value for my vacation dollars. Oh, and I'll get to visit beautiful Caribbean ports (3 new ones on Splendor, and 3 new ones on Freedom). After all, that's why I cruise - to get to the ports. The ship experience is just icing on the cake!

[soccersharon]

Well said, NCTribeFan. I know I'll have a great time on the Breeze :)

 

 

Sent from my phone. Typos are inevitable.

[kleibo]

A month ago I was on the Breeze and it was by far the best CCL cruise I have been on. Now I'm not a foodie, but the food was adequate. The service was excellent and my family had a fantastic time.

 

I price shop and everytime I compare the cruises that I can book (usually peak summer), I can't justify paying 300-400 more per person going on another cruise line. That 1200-1600 (my family of four) would easily pay for all of my expenses for the week - excursions, etc as we are not big drinkers or gamblers.

 

For me - CCL is just fine. In fact, tomorrow I'll be booking my next cruise on CCL - a short five day one. My two sisters and I are taking my Father, who loves cruising, but was recently diagnosed with Alzheimers. He's still very high functioning, but we don't know how long that will be so we want to take him again. We are all looking for to it. :)

[sweetsixteencruisers]

A month ago I was on the Breeze and it was by far the best CCL cruise I have been on. Now I'm not a foodie, but the food was adequate. The service was excellent and my family had a fantastic time.

 

I price shop and everytime I compare the cruises that I can book (usually peak summer), I can't justify paying 300-400 more per person going on another cruise line. That 1200-1600 (my family of four) would easily pay for all of my expenses for the week - excursions, etc as we are not big drinkers or gamblers.

 

For me - CCL is just fine. In fact, tomorrow I'll be booking my next cruise on CCL - a short five day one. My two sisters and I are taking my Father, who loves cruising, but was recently diagnosed with Alzheimers. He's still very high functioning, but we don't know how long that will be so we want to take him again. We are all looking for to it. :)

 

Have a great cruise!!

[Jamman54]

So, if you try to provide a rational explanation for something, you're just putting "spin" on it? And if you cruise regularly and do NOT come home and complain about cutbacks, you're a cheerleader?

 

:rolleyes:

 

I've been sailing 2-3 times a year for a while now, and I always write a full review when I return. I've been saying over and over that I personally haven't seen the horrible decline in food or service.

 

Yes, I'm paying the same - maybe less - in real dollars for a cruise that I did more than 10 years ago. Can anyone say that about anything else?

 

Food prices are way, way up in the past decade, just in case some of you haven't been paying attention. There is a tremendous amount of wasted food daily on a cruise. They have to keep costs down. It's been explained, but some people simply don't want to read a reasonable explanation. They just want to gripe about how awful things have gotten.

 

The food choices haven't changed in a few years, when they last changed the menu (and people went ballistic because Carnival dared to add mac-and-cheese to the menu, which is quite good). I'm not sure what OP is referring to about the menu choices being much fewer. There are still many appetizers, salads, and entrees.

 

So, take your vacation dollars elsewhere! If you're so disappointed in Carnival, go to another line! Go to an all-inclusive.

 

I just don't know how I'll survive going on a cruise and not getting a bucket-load of little paper receipts to throw away. What, you mean I can just walk up to a kiosk, or check my account on the tv, or ask for a printout of charges at the service desk?

 

But the food portions are smaller!!! What, you mean I can just request more? I can have as much as I like at every meal?

 

I'm not a cheerleader. I'll be moving on to other lines once I get my Milestone cruise. But Carnival continues to provide a very good product at a very good value.

 

Have things changed? Well, of course they've changed. I'm still upset that Beef Wellington was taken off the menu!! Did that make me bolt to another line? Nope. I've pretty much given up on beef dishes because the quality if so poor. Do I go hungry? Nope! There are many other items that I can select and have a delicious meal, every time

 

I'm not Suzy Sunshine but any means. But I absolutely am not going to be concerned because of the handful of people who continue to bemoan the demise of a once-great luxury cruiseline, because that never was Carnival's place in the industry. I think a whole of people here simply have a very selective memory. And just like to gripe.

 

I personally think many people come here, read the Negative Nelly comments and go on their cruise expecting things to be bad. Sure, they all say "oh, I wasn't LOOKING for things to complain about," but it sure sounds to me like they've let themselves be influenced by the comments here, whether they realize it or not.

 

I fully expect to enjoy my two upcoming cruises just as much as I've enjoyed the prior 19 Carnival cruises. I won't go hungry. I'll find plenty of ways to be entertained while on the ship. I'll get great food and service. I'll get a great value for my vacation dollars. Oh, and I'll get to visit beautiful Caribbean ports (3 new ones on Splendor, and 3 new ones on Freedom). After all, that's why I cruise - to get to the ports. The ship experience is just icing on the cake!

 

Well said!!!

[eos63]

Just took my first Royal cruise and to be honest did not see a lot of difference between them and Carnival. Food was the same, cabins were smaller, it was on one of their older ships not one of the cities at sea so that might make a difference, staff was not as friendly except in the casino, they do go above and beyond for their players there. I just didn't see what all the hype was about.

 

I have always sailed Carnival because of the kids programs but my babies are aging out this year. That will free me up to try different lines, and while I know this is not a smoking thread the new changes with that policy also allow me to try new lines. It's exciting to try new things but I will always come back to Carnival because they allowed me to spend almost 30 days this year at sea due to pricing.

 

Personally I cruise to get away from a very demanding and stressful job, if I'm on land they think they can call me. When I'm at sea they can't, or at least they think they can't :D I don't care if I have to eat crap on a cracker to fill up for the day, I'm not cooking it, and I'm not cleaning up the mess.

[ahoys]

NCTribeFan

 

Thank you. Your post echos my thoughts exactly---except I took my Milestone cruise and still come back every year.

 

At one point, around my milestone cruise, I decided that I would take a break from Carnival--same menus, same shows. But I went back "just one more" time because the rate was good and the sea was calling. Had a wonderful time, then booked two more cruises.

 

There are cutbacks in every restaurant I visit near my home. Just last night we went to a restaurant where I love their fish and chips. They used to serve so many fish filets and the filets were so big that I never could eat them all. Last night the filets were half the size and the portion was much smaller. It's happening everywhere.

 

I've been sailing Carnival since 1986. You can imagine the number of changes that have occurred since then. Some have been good, some I miss (like the Beef Wellington on the first night).

 

I'll be going on the Thanksgiving sailing on the Pride in a couple of months. I will not be looking for signs of cutbacks, or worn carpeting, or smaller portions, or anything else that I want to complain about. If something I am used to having or seeing or doing has been changed I'll go with the flow. I'll enjoy my vacation time and relax.

[sapphire_407]

The cost of the cruises are the same, but fuel has gone up. What must be really killing them is the cost of food. Just imagine! We all feel it when we go to the grocery store, so its understandable some items from the menu have disappeared. I feel that this is justifiable, considering. I think I would prefer the cuts then to have to stay home because I couldn't a more expensive cruise.

[Out to sea!]

I am in no way expecting a Ruth's Chris steak when I am paying for a Golden Corral Buffett (BTW, blecchhh! I avoid buffets like the plague:eek:). I am just constantly disappointed that every time I set foot inside "Golden Corral", the quality of the "Golden Corral" product has been degraded yet again. Let's assume for this analogy, that I once was very happy with the Golden Corral product.;)

 

So now, I'll only go to "Golden Corral" when my friends want me to go there with them. And because I'm out with my friends, I'll have a great time. I won't for a minute be miserable or sitting at the table complaining about the cutbacks. But I won't be able to avoid noticing them. And when my husband and I are cruising - errr, I mean "eating out" alone, we'll be going to "Ruth's Chris" (or more likely, "Outback Steakhouse":p).

 

I understand your point but I have to ask, do you go to the Golden Corral website after every meal to complain about the cutbacks noticed compared to the previous visits to Golden Corral? We all know that things change and usually not for the better. But if we decide to continue using a product that has declined, what is the point of pointing out those declines, over and over, when everyone already knows? I sail many lines and while price may not be the biggest factor for all, it usually is for me (and is the first thing I look at). Then I have to decide am I getting my monies worth and with Carnival, yes I am.

[sapphire_407]

I can deal the food cutbacks, but what really, really bugs me, is they took away the calypso and reggae bands. On the Dream the entertainment was terrible. Instead of a band they have one singer on a guitar. BORING. The bands are what I miss the most.

 

Being an ex-smoker I can tell you not smoking on my own balcony that I paid for could be a deal breaker for me. Big mistake.

[AtSeaWithChris]

Some of us would prefer to get the product that we expect and enjoyed and pay what is necessary to get it. It is understandable that the price has to go up sometimes. What really bothers me is the product constantly being degraded so I never know how much worse it's going to be than the last cruise.

 

 

 

Carnival is giving us a 5-oz can of tuna at the price of the old 6-oz can. And just like those new, stupid 5-oz cans of tuna on the grocery store shelves, the new, lesser product looks deceptively similar to the old. But we know it isn't the same.

 

 

 

OK, I realize I may have lost you on that tuna metaphor. No, I'm not drunk or crazy.:p Explanation: tuna used to be sold in 6-oz cans, now it's sold (all brands) in 5-oz cans that look alllllmost the same, so some people won't even notice this cutback. But the price of these 5-oz cans is actually higher than the old 6-oz cans. Recipes in my cookbooks are for 6-oz cans. I have been miffed about this and similar deceptive grocery cutbacks for a while now. Sorry to turn this post into a double rant.:o But I just think 5 Ounce Can of Tuna every time I think of Carnival, now.:(

 

 

Don't forget that ice cream used to be a half gallon. I want a half gallon, not less.

 

 

Fist-pumping gleeful rum runner!!!

[Shipbound]

We were on the Sensation in July and just got off of the Sunshine yesterday. We definitely agree that the food is not as good as it used to be. We've been cruising with Carnival since 2006 and have noticed the cutbacks. If you want better food you have to pay an up charge in the specialty restaurants. We ate at the Asian restaurant on the Sunshine, JiJi, and it was worth the $15 per person extra. We tried to get a reservation at the steakhouse but they were booked every night. We were willing to pay for better food. The food doesn't stop you from enjoying your cruise. But I will say that we are going to try a different cruise line on our next cruise so that we have something to compare it to since we've only ever cruised Carnival.

 

I think paying for food is going to the norm rather than the exception in the future with all the cruises lines ,right now NCL is heading the way and it will be a matter of time before other cruise lines will follow including carnival.

 

Gary

[IrishLover]

We just finish our 24th Carnival cruise. This time was on the Triumph. Our third on this ship. We have been cruising with Carnival since 2001. As a result we have had the "opportunity" to see and experience a lot of the what appears to be constant cuts.

 

I don't need to list all of them - frankly I probably couldn't. Some that just stood out a bit on this cruise were: Choices on the menu in main dining room have been severely cut. The food they did have was OK there was just far less choice. Wife insisted on hitting the buffet one night because there was nothing in the main dining room that excited either of us. Go ahead and flame away but the food on the buffet was no kidding in-eatable. It was cold and tasteless. This was not the first time we have experienced this on a Carnival buffet.

 

We are platinum so when we received our chocolate covered strawberries plate in the room - it was literally half of what they used to provide and they were stale!

 

Remember when they used to give you a copy of your receipt when you bought a beverage? Not on this trip. No that is not a big deal but a bunch of "not a big deal" issues add up after a while.

 

We have always enjoyed our Carnival cruises and I could very well have been called a Carnival cheer leader every once in a while so when I say we are disappointed in what's happening - that's exactly what I mean.

 

I truly hate to see what is happening here. New cruisers may not even notice a lot of these things because they don't know what used to be. They don't know we used to have live bands on deck, they don't know we used to have shows every nite in the theater, they don't know the platinum party used to provide free drinks and horse divers..for those of you who have been around a while you know this list could go on.

 

Add to that the fact that as of 1 Oct you can't smoke on your balcony and the fact that Carnival does not provide much in the way of accommodation for smokers - deck 10 starboard side outside in the rushing wind that apparently wasn't sufficient to keep smoke from bothering people on balconies (will never understand that). I know the non-smoker folks who pushed so hard for this change will not see this as an issue but so be it - this is not a thread for or against smoking.

 

No we did not go on the cruise looking for things to complain about - this is just an honest opinion of what we see as a steady decline in the quality of the product. We have been loyal Carnival cruisers for a long time and it is disheartening to see this.

 

Thank you for sharing your experiences and disappointment.

[dickinson]

ShakyBeef - I like your tuna analogy however you must be much younger than me. Tuna for years and years was 7 oz and then slowly was brought down to 6 oz before the big jump down to 5 oz. You can still get 7 oz cans at Costco and possibly BJ's.

[lido deck larry]

Been on countless cruises, and I love Carnival, cut backs and all. But it is what it is. Like a cheap wedding, lots of booze, mediocre food, and an awesome party! Party boat, yes. Vacation of a lifetime? Not exactly.

[ShakyBeef]

ShakyBeef - I like your tuna analogy however you must be much younger than me. Tuna for years and years was 7 oz and then slowly was brought down to 6 oz before the big jump down to 5 oz. You can still get 7 oz cans at Costco and possibly BJ's.

 

Thanks.:) I'm 39.:o I do remember them being 6.5 oz, maybe 15 years ago, but must have missed when they dropped from 7.:o I have bought the mega (66.5 oz:eek:) cans from Sam's Club occasionally, but haven't seen the 7 oz. Thanks, I'll look for them.:) Dang, I learn something everyday on CC.:p

[cruise_mojo]

by the early saver I didn't book penalty

 

Or rather, I booked a cabin on a courtesy hold with the early saver rate thru the website. Now I didn't actually pay for the room or deposit! Just booked a particular room I wanted. Later in the day I was able to get up with our PVP and finalize our booking at a different rate and rate structure that is available to us and not thru carnivals website. For whatever reason, the early saver crap carnival says, still applies to our non early saver rate! So now that I need to cancel our cruise which is still outside by three weeks the final payment date. They say we have to pay the cancellation fees and transfer 400 bucks of the deposit to a future cruise booking!!!!

 

Load of bull I say! Our rate we booked does not have any cancellation or change fees associated with it! I was assured of this at the time and even though I questioned my pvp about this then, and several times this year the pvp said not too worry about it!!! Well I worried an PISSED OFF! right now!!!

 

Anyone else have a similar screwed over story?

 

and yea, service, quality and selection of foods declining for years now, my next cruise is ROYAL CARRIBBEAN!

 

already booked next april, in stead of looking at feb on carnival, will be looking RCI or Celebrityfor feb!

[TPFKAH]

I have been cruising with Carnival since 1985, and I can see your points. But consider this. The cost of cruising now is LESS than it was in 1985. I paid $1400 dollars for an inside cabin on a 7 day cruise on the Holiday back then. Fuel, labor, and supply costs have gone way up since then. So you have to expect cutbacks if you want the prices to remain low. All the major mass market cruise lines are cutting back where ever they can. If you want a more upscale experience now, then you will have to pay more money to sail on a more upscale line.

 

You are right that they are not giving you a receipt at the bars anymore, but if you ask for one, they will give one to you.

 

Having sailed since the 80's as well, I don't agree with the logic. Since then, they have crammed twice as many people onto the ships, so automatically the fares should be halved.

 

Then take a look at a brochure from the 80's. Take a look at the what's included column, and what's not. And what you got was premium quality with premium service.

[sjn911]

By ShakeyBeef...

"But if we decide to continue using a product that has declined, what is the point of pointing out those declines, over and over, when everyone already knows?" One point is that now, by your admission at least "everyone knows". This wasn't the case just a year ago, when those of us discussing cutbacks were openly called liars and told there had been NO cutbacks on Carnival by several here. We were accused of being TAs with hidden agendas and axes to grind against Carnival.

 

Now, at least, I am seeing less of that. Now, the majority of the people concede that the cutbacks are happening. Who knows, maybe we can make further progress to the point that we get Carnival to put the brakes on the cutbacks. If nothing else, we're at least having more honest discussions about the cutbacks these days.

 

 

By sjn911....

Agree. I have loved the budget Carnival cruises I have had and just love a lot of the people here who love/like Carnival..and enjoy a broad variety of pros and cons mentioned here..most are generally happy..some very happy..or others sanely disappointed without seeing the end of the world..most are not at the far extremes..and those that are are less..RE the cheerleaders seeing the sad things..or those who see it all perfectly. Nonetheless..I am glad to go on Carnival again aware of situations and will be really glad to try other lines..all aiming for a slightly different niche and perks at many levels. I am just as thrilled to see the happy as the moderate or mixed reviews. Least happy when folks need to get steam off about something and the full attack,,,

 

Anyway...a long winded agree...sarah

Edited September 6, 2014 by sjn911

[TPFKAH]

Some of us would prefer to get the product that we expect and enjoyed and pay what is necessary to get it. It is understandable that the price has to go up sometimes. What really bothers me is the product constantly being degraded so I never know how much worse it's going to be than the last cruise.

 

Carnival is giving us a 5-oz can of tuna at the price of the old 6-oz can. And just like those new, stupid 5-oz cans of tuna on the grocery store shelves, the new, lesser product looks deceptively similar to the old. But we know it isn't the same.

 

OK, I realize I may have lost you on that tuna metaphor. No, I'm not drunk or crazy.:p Explanation: tuna used to be sold in 6-oz cans, now it's sold (all brands) in 5-oz cans that look alllllmost the same, so some people won't even notice this cutback. But the price of these 5-oz cans is actually higher than the old 6-oz cans. Recipes in my cookbooks are for 6-oz cans. I have been miffed about this and similar deceptive grocery cutbacks for a while now. Sorry to turn this post into a double rant.:o But I just think 5 Ounce Can of Tuna every time I think of Carnival, now.:(

 

Actually, tuna used to be 7.5oz, with one exception. Del Monte, when they made it, was an 8 oz can.

 

Bumble Bee must have just started making a 7oz can again, cause I saw one within the past couple of months. I was so shocked I took a picture of it.

[TPFKAH]

For all the people that hate the cutbacks and complain about them every time they cruise Carnival, why are y'all still cruising with Carnival? When a product I like changes in a way I don't care for, I don't buy it anymore.

 

Same reason some take a limo, a cab, or the subway. All get you there.

[pjhootch]

:D

 

It is so funny the way people feel the need to argue over a personal opinion. Just because we don't agree doesn't mean anyone is wrong. It is fun to discuss differences of opinion but to argue or put others down for their opinion is silly.

 

I have to say our next cruise is costing less than any cruise we've taken before. And I have NEVER felt like I paid too much for any cruise. But this one is bargain basement prices. Being extremely thrifty, this makes me happy. I'm not cheap. I just like to feel like I'm getting bang for the buck.

 

The Golden Corral comparison cracks me up. No, I haven't eaten there since my kids started eating real food. But when I DID, I did it because it was the best choice I could afford to feed a bunch of kids that all liked different things. ROFL. I would not eat there now if I was paid for it.

 

UNLESS- the Golden Corral was on the ocean and stopping at 4 different Caribbean ports this winter when we have a foot of snow on the ground.

 

Cruising on Carnival allows us to bring our adult kids along. I've checked out other cruise lines and I am unwilling to pay what it would cost for 5 of us. I do wish I could pay the price I am paying now, but have beef wellington for dinner, and a midnight buffet, and great live bands...

 

But I can't. What I do get is to take a trip with our whole family, visit 3/4/5 Caribbean islands in 7 days- all for about 65 a night inside and 92 a night balcony. That includes taxes and port fees.

 

Now, if I come back in November and something bothered me a lot or was really gross, I'm sure I'll complain about it. ;) Overall though- I try to keep my expectations reasonable.

[Orison]

What you're hearing are longtime cruisers who have loved Carnival for years and spent thousands of dollars cruising with them. They have watched as the product has devolved into a fraction of what they used to enjoy, and consequently have become disillusioned with Carnival. I see more and more of that with every passing month.

 

Even the hard core seem to be joining that bandwagon.

[Bgentles]

I agree the cutbacks are glaring! I continue to cruise Carnival because I prefer often, over quality, however, I have also seen many bad reviews coming from "elite" lines recently too, so I guess it's a trend since cruising is so popular. I live 5 minutes from Port Canaveral and love that I can decide on Saturday to jump on the crappy ole Sensation on Sunday for 4 days of relaxing for a couple hundred bucks and a bunch of fun if I choose it. Yes, I've had some meals I had to send back, and the replacement was worse, so I just go for a piece of pizza and an ice cream and call it good! The smoking thing is going to save me major $, because I will no longer love my balcony rooms and will just go inside lido so I can run up for a smoke! I think smoking in the casino is disgusting because the whole hallway stinks, but the outdoors...just wrong[emoji35]. I'll be on The Liberty in 2 weeks for a better ship experience (it was good in December anyways), and then continue the year with my quick cheap getaways. My beds continue to be awesome though, and if that changes...I guess I'll bring my own topper and continue on. All this being said...I think I'm part of the problem; I continue to cruise and feed their wallet. Oh well, I do just love to cruise!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Orison]

The only problem with the majority of the negative Carnival pablum you post is your basis and frame of reference is only supported by Cruise Critic posts. Cruise Critic posters and lurkers combined make up less than 1% of the universe of people who actually cruise. Last year approximately 3 million people cruised aboard Carnival. 1% of 3 million is 30,000. Do you honestly see 30,000 different screen names here when you surf the Carnival board? What about 3000 different screen names? That would be .1%. I seem to see maybe about 300 active posters.

 

Using Cruise Critic to quantify factual data about the majority of peoples cruise experiences would be like relying on Craigslist for an accurate picture of your local real estate market or depending on Yelp reviews to choose a restaurant.

 

98% of all cruisers never even heard of Cruise Critic.

 

Many more social media cruise board outlets have sprung up over the past few years, which has a LOT more activity than this site according to the stats. It seems the hits on this board have dramatically declined over the past couple of years, while the others have skyrocketed.

 

And yet the results and complaints are the same.