Carnival Cut backs I noticed, that I had expected. Thought I'd share.

[ctkathchick]

When we started cruising in 2006 they used to put out Andes Candies for the turn down service we loved them and always finished them. Then a few years later they switched to the cheap no name candy that was tasteless. I love chocolate but even I find that crap to be in edible in comparison. Oh well that's life

[christyran1228]

Rofl @ no more chocolate at night on your *rack*

 

I never realized that was a service Carnival provided. lol

Edited February 18, 2016 by christyran1228

[bakersdozen12]

#2 is not a cutback. Companies were giving Carnival those free samples, and they stopped giving them. Not Carnival's fault.

[JLee1973]

 

Look close at what was paid a decade ago for a 7 night cruise versus 2016 prices. It looks like you'd be surprised to see the costs are not much more or actually less.

 

I took my family on the Celebration in 2001 and we just returned from the Magic last Sunday. My ocean view cabin was less this year than on the older, less feature laden ship.

 

Even further, the two cruises I went on the Mardi Gras were more expensive than today.

 

.

Try two decades ago. Did a RCCL three day in 1993. Paid virtually the same price this year for a four day.

 

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[nednrom]

Are these constant "cutbacks", industry wide?

Or a Carnival trend only? I haven't taken a cruise in the last three years, so wondering if this is occurring on all the cruise lines?

 

All the cruise lines are making cutbacks, I've been on NCL and RCCL and the choc at night disappeared completely a while back and toiletries are only for suite guests. I'm not sure that the maitre'd visiting tables is a cutback but has disappeared with anytime dining. Actually on the Conquest, we had the section head waiter stop by a number of times so that may just be an change in workflow and reorganization.

[Dora the Ex]

My husband loves all the freebie stuff that used to come in the bathroom basket and was really bummed when they took it away. So now I secretly pack a bunch of travel-sized items from Target (deodorant, lip balm, mouthwash) and sneak into the bathroom as soon as we get to the room to place it. Each cruise I add more stuff.. even his favorite gum and candies. He gets so excited when he sees the stuff and still has no idea it's me. :D:D:D

[summersigh]

Are these constant "cutbacks", industry wide?

Or a Carnival trend only? I haven't taken a cruise in the last three years, so wondering if this is occurring on all the cruise lines?

 

You can see what we've sailed from my signature. CCL, HAL, and RCCL have all made cuts. Just skim their threads here on CC - they all have the same lament.

[Rosefloater]

The chocolate was terrible, don't need nasal strips, hate sushi, have no desire to speak with the maitre d, don't care about table cloths, the past guest party was a big old carnival advertisement. Only good part was the free drinks. It wasn't worth the hour or so from my cruise.

 

 

I'm good. :)

 

Like.:)

 

I could care less about the tablecloths. Most restaurants don't use them anymore. Saves on laundry costs.

[ready2cruzagain]

Many of the chocolates were being left or thrown away. The items in the bathrooms were from outside companies hoping to get someone onboard to buy their products. They stopped giving them to Carnival. The Sushi has been replaced with the Taste Bar with different items every night.

 

How long has it been since your last cruise? Most of these things have been gone for at least a year.

 

The sushi bars were replaced by the Taste bar a few years ago. I like both, I just wish Taste served something every night.

 

 

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The thing with the Sushi bar was that it was open every night. The Taste Bar is not open every night. On our 10 day and 11 cruises it was open only 5 times.

[funinthesun1964]

Taste bar is only open on sea days

[cruzn buckeye]

Many of the chocolates were being left or thrown away. The items in the bathrooms were from outside companies hoping to get someone onboard to buy their products. They stopped giving them to Carnival. The Sushi has been replaced with the Taste Bar with different items every night.

 

How long has it been since your last cruise? Most of these things have been gone for at least a year.

 

The chocolates were thrown away because they switched from Andes to their own. The Andes choclates are loved. And a nice little touch...

[ready2cruzagain]

Taste bar is only open on sea days

 

 

well that explains it...we only had 5 sea days out of 21 so it was only open 5 days total lol.

[beachbum53]

Is the chocolate thing real? Because if so I'm going to have to launch a campaign to get them back! Say it ain't so!!!

 

Seriously? Well, if you're starting a campaign, leave me out. I'm not so sure those crappy little squares were even real chocolate. No big loss to me.

[ShakyBeef]

Seriously? Well, if you're starting a campaign, leave me out. I'm not so sure those crappy little squares were even real chocolate. No big loss to me.

 

 

They were not real chocolate. Don't you remember my very important, very scientific study for the sake of all CC kind?:cool:

[winddawn]

My husband loves all the freebie stuff that used to come in the bathroom basket and was really bummed when they took it away. So now I secretly pack a bunch of travel-sized items from Target (deodorant, lip balm, mouthwash) and sneak into the bathroom as soon as we get to the room to place it. Each cruise I add more stuff.. even his favorite gum and candies. He gets so excited when he sees the stuff and still has no idea it's me. :D:D:D

You're a hoot, Dora!! Funny stuff indeed. Now we know who the clam shell fairy is! The secret's out!

[The4Cruisers]

Rofl @ no more chocolate at night on your *rack*

 

I never realized that was a service Carnival provided. lol

 

That one took me a minute! LOL :D

[winddawn]

I have been cruising long enough to tell you Carnival has been changing things for years. This is not necessarily just a cutback thing, but changes that occur as Carnival continues to evolve. For example, years ago I can remember when Carnival would give you a souvenir placemat in the dining room at dinner. Those have been gone for years. I can also remember when the waiter would scrape the crumbs off the tablecloth in between meal courses. I haven't seen that in years either. I agree some of the changes are not so good--like the switch from live Calypso music on Lido to annoying DJs. A lot of the changes don't really matter to me though. I never ate the chocolates when they did have them because they tasted so bad. It would be nice to hear more about how Carnival plans to enhance my cruise experience rather than just how they can improve the bottom line. Many of the new things they have introduced do not interest me at all--like American Table, Dr. Seuss, Carnival Live, and confining smokers to the casino.

[Havingfun2010]

Are these constant "cutbacks", industry wide?

Or a Carnival trend only? I haven't taken a cruise in the last three years, so wondering if this is occurring on all the cruise lines?

 

They are mostly a Carnival cutback. Other cruise lines have been taking advantage of this, but increasing what they offer while keeping prices the same.

[MaiTaiMary]

My husband loves all the freebie stuff that used to come in the bathroom basket and was really bummed when they took it away. So now I secretly pack a bunch of travel-sized items from Target (deodorant, lip balm, mouthwash) and sneak into the bathroom as soon as we get to the room to place it. Each cruise I add more stuff.. even his favorite gum and candies. He gets so excited when he sees the stuff and still has no idea it's me. :D:D:D

 

OMG, how cute is this?? :D

[TORQ]

Prior to our sailing Liberty 7-Feb. we cruise April 2015 with Carnival, and these items were present as they always had been! So the (6) items I noticed were all new to me. Just thought I'd share my findings, never implied not to cruise with carnival or to stop cruising with Carnival. Honestly of what I discovered, are minor to my wife and I, we really never used the bathroom items we come prepared as far as toiletries. And my wife really hates chocolate, so no love loss there! And as far as the sushi, I had actually brought my own Wasabi from home, so I was looking forward to that but no biggie really. By eliminating the past guest party too just platinum members, and no table cloths for, 5 days out of the seven day cruise must saved them tens of thousands! In a course of a year, on all there ships. I will admit my wife and I miss the table cloths, and the past guess get together's. We had been to (7) past guess prior, and as silly as it maybe, it made you feel like part of the Carnival family if you will, and you were apart of something special. Yet we will be platinum on our next cruise, so that issue will pass for us anyway.

Another thing I noticed, the staff at dinner don't help you push your chair in at the table, nor do they place your napkin on your lap. I'm not implying that we are better than anyone else however, it was those little things when it comes to customer service that is also history that was a classy touch. Like the maître d' that would come to your table at least once, during your seven day cruise, yet expects a envelope with money in it at the end of the cruise! For the record he didn't, get one from us do to hiding in the shadows. With that we're not sure who it was that said, Show Time at dinner, perhaps it was a pre-recorded recording?!

Carnival is still the best bang for the money, and these cut backs really are minor in the scope of the big picture to my wife and I. We however hope, there Customer Service DON'T FOLLOW SUIT!

 

 

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[amyh13]

Even on our Disney cruise where they put out super-special Mickey Mouse chocolate, the novelty wore off after a couple of days for the kids and they began to pile up or get thrown away.

 

If it was a money saver, I say smart move.

[Warm Breezes]

Just sailed the Liberty 7-Feb-16 for the 3rd. time, and noticed these things that are now History.

 

1) No more chocolate at night on your rack.They were gross and thrown away anyway.

2) No more items in your bathroom, just bar soap and the 2 liquids in the shower.These were samples left by other companies not Carnival.

3) Promenade deck Sushi at 5pm. is history.Hate Sushi. Prefer Taste Bar.

4) Maitre' D no longer comes to any table on your cruise.We really don't care if they stop or not

5) No more table cloths, or neatly folded napkins at diner. Table cloths are only formal nights now.Also a non-issue for us.

6) Pass guest get together's, with drinks and hors d'oeuvres History! Was told only for Carnival Platinum members now.

While we enjoyed these the last one we attended on the Splendor left DH sick for the rest of the night and with a hang over the next day. He would have probably enjoyed the cruise more with out it:D.

 

Ch...ch....ch...changes. I prefer to think of these things as changes not cut backs. You pay for what they are offering you today not yesterday. Things are added (Guys Burgers, Movies under the Stars, Brunch, Taste Bar, etc) and dropped (Sushi, chocolates, Past Guest Party, etc) all the time, not just on Carnival but on all cruise lines. It is up to you the purchaser to do your research in order to decide what best suits your needs and wants today. Carnival still suits us. Those changes you listed mean very little to us when deciding which ship to cruise.

[TORQ]

I have been cruising long enough to tell you Carnival has been changing things for years. This is not necessarily just a cutback thing, but changes that occur as Carnival continues to evolve. For example, years ago I can remember when Carnival would give you a souvenir placemat in the dining room at dinner. Those have been gone for years. I can also remember when the waiter would scrape the crumbs off the tablecloth in between meal courses. I haven't seen that in years either. I agree some of the changes are not so good--like the switch from live Calypso music on Lido to annoying DJs. A lot of the changes don't really matter to me though. I never ate the chocolates when they did have them because they tasted so bad. It would be nice to hear more about how Carnival plans to enhance my cruise experience rather than just how they can improve the bottom line. Many of the new things they have introduced do not interest me at all--like American Table, Dr. Seuss, Carnival Live, and confining smokers to the casino.

 

 

It's always all about the buck, that's for sure! You got me on the place matts, that was before my time. Yet we remember midnight buffets, and chocolate buffets, along with ice carvings, and fruit carved beautifully! That's a once,, upon a time story that I remember. Yet honestly don't miss them but it was nice. And I see you like Chocolate, as my wife. LOL

 

 

 

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[thinfool]

There was a time when the theater was packed for the evening entertainment. No longer...and the rules now seem to be "if you play bad recorded music LOUDER, it gets better and everyone will like it".

 

Except that more and more bail out and find somewhere else to go.

 

OTOH, the comedy club is a total hit, often SRO with a huge line out the door waiting for the next seating.

 

Back to music...isn't it wonderful to listen to someone sing off-key to recorded music in the central lobby? Going to karaoke is far more entertaining.

[Crusin Karen]

My husband loves all the freebie stuff that used to come in the bathroom basket and was really bummed when they took it away. So now I secretly pack a bunch of travel-sized items from Target (deodorant, lip balm, mouthwash) and sneak into the bathroom as soon as we get to the room to place it. Each cruise I add more stuff.. even his favorite gum and candies. He gets so excited when he sees the stuff and still has no idea it's me. :D:D

You must be on the cruises that the tooth fairy, Easter bunny and Santa Claus are on! This is SO DARN CUTE. What a thoughtful wife you are. :):)

We have done ATD/YTD whatever it's called the past few cruises and darned if every single waiter hasn't taken my napkin and put it on my lap JUST as I'm sitting down and it really annoys me. That is one thing I would not miss. I am like, my mother taught me my manners! :o:cool: We were just talking last night about the waiters swiping the crumbs from the table with a knife in between courses. I always loved that. Not sure if it's a cut back, but I miss the bread sticks they used to have in the bread basket too.