What is the 1 thing you would like to see Carnival improve?

[Wheels87]

Quite simply...they need more staff! The cuts have been way too deep and when it is sometimes impossible to get a drink at any one of the many bars on board, it's time for a change. I have walked away more than one time from a crowded bar.

[xDisconnections]

Preventative maintenance.

[SkyMaster]

I'd like to see more ships without the SINGLE SUPPLEMENT.

 

 

 

"SKY"

[Cinders411]

By sailing Royal Caribbean. ;p

 

:'):'):'):'):')

[pacruise804]

But there is no cost savings doing it this way, like there is with Bubbles and Cheers. That’s the whole point.

 

 

 

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There often isn't any savings with Cheers, at best a break even (hence why people want a Cheers lite). Some people know they don't want the price of Cheers, but won't order what they want if they are "paying" for it. You can still do the cost savings of buckets, pitchers, or drink of the day for savings without Cheers.

[A&Jfamily]

I read about another line (NCL, I think) having "Escape Room" experiences included as an activity at no additional cost.

 

I am curious and mean this without any snark/attitude: do we need a full program for different (adult) age groups? Does a group also need formed for single seniors? Not everyone over 21 drinks or uses the casino. There are multiple entertainment options during the day: trivia, karaoke, pools, basketball/sports deck. What happens when the young adults turn 25, I'd imagine some of them are still cruising single.

 

I do think a general meet and greet for like minded travelers, at a reasonable time of day (we probably all have our own definition, but certainly after muster) sounds good, but between CC M&M, FB M&M, and Friends of ... meetings - how many times/spaces are still available?

 

I hope those adult children are struggling finding their place can find something about cruising to make it an enjoyable experience with their families again.:):halo:

 

:confused:

 

To answer your question, these 18-21 (and maybe up to 25 year olds) are stuck in that gap between being kids, and really being adults. They are of an age where they really enjoy the company of kids in similar rolls that may be in college or graduate school and not yet out in the world completely on their own. Their brains are still maturing and in part, they are still kids, even though they have graduated high school - its a transition time. It is a common theme among this group that they have a hard time meeting others because there is no place to gather at set times. If you gave them a space (doesn't have to be huge) like club O2 where they have some video games, board games and can meet up, with some staff or two to help break the ice, I am pretty confident it would be used.

 

Once you have reached your mid-20's you are in the working world and used to meeting and talking with others of all age. And if at 25, you are choosing to cruise alone - it is just that, a choice. Those of us that are families with kids still in high school or younger are taking family vacations and it leaves the college age kids out of the loop when the 14 year or 16 year old sibling can go to camp and the 18 or 19 year old is left going solo or hanging with mom and dad. That is why so many on here have reported that there young adult children no longer wish to cruise.

 

I will say that I am very fortunate because my college age son is Platinum, so knows what he likes to do on the ship, is independent and often exhausted from his studies and is happy for the down time, and has a younger brother who will spend time with him....but even he laments the fact that once you age out of camp, there is nothing provided for them. We spend much time as a family between meals, shore excursions and some shows - but there is still plenty of time where we are just on our balcony or in bed and he would enjoy being out with other young adults.

[A&Jfamily]

The one thing I'd like to see Carnival improve is their loyalty program. There is too large a gap between levels to the point it isn't an incentive to book again, and the loyalty rewards need to offer options where customers can choose their preference of rewards from a menu to reduce waste. Probably 75% of the rewards I receive are meaningless....as in I leave them behind or never use them (and they create waste) so they're not the incentive they're intended to be and they're wasted. The fact that Carnival spends money and resources to offer these meaningless things is not beneficial to corporate profits nor are they beneficial to me as a customer. This isn't an issue of "gratefulness," but it is an issue of meaningful use of corporate resources that result in corporate profits. Why should a publicly-traded company waste money on something that doesn't result in a reasonable expected return? For years, I've placed the strawberries and other free "treats" left for me in my cabin outside my cabin for pickup because I do not want them. What a waste. It's not that I'm not grateful. They're just not something I want or value, and honestly I hate to waste them, but Carnival doesn't give me an option of choosing something I'll use or eat.

 

The problem with loyalty programs is you are not going to please everyone. I hear people say that Princess is better - and I totally disagree. I have to have 15+ cruises or 151 sea day on Princess to get free laundry - that is Diamond on Carnival. I have zero interest in the internet credit that they offer at their Platinum level. Nor do you get priority tendering or debarkation until you are the equivalent of diamond. We will sale Princess because they sail the world - but I will miss my laundry!

[A&Jfamily]

Counting days, as opposed to $ spent, provides equality in gaining loyalty levels to those who are not as wealthy, yet sail just as frequently.

 

Carnival is a brand for the masses.

 

But it is $ that talks...not frequency. I am one of the one that hated the change in the program. We did not live near a port and travel with our kids - usually for a week at a time. I had 8 cruises and about 50 sea days under my belt when they changed. All those people that made platinum with 10 3 days cruises is a joke, IMHO.

 

$ spent is the most fair way to do things - at least on cost of cruise. People who book suites should get more credit than balcony etc.

[Dmgabe]

Counting days, as opposed to $ spent, provides equality in gaining loyalty levels to those who are not as wealthy, yet sail just as frequently.

 

Carnival is a brand for the masses.

 

It’s a rewards program, not a charity. Those that generate more profit for the company should be better rewarded. The dollars spent system would also make it much easier to create a fair system across the many brands if Carnival. Would be great to be able to get the benefits of being a loyal corporate customer across the board instead of being tied to one particular line.

[Lottacruises]

I am thinking more clarification as to what the drink package does and does not include.

 

Perhaps even a thorough analysis of the return of investment of both cheers and FTTF.

[Darwal]

It’s a rewards program, not a charity. Those that generate more profit for the company should be better rewarded. The dollars spent system would also make it much easier to create a fair system across the many brands if Carnival. Would be great to be able to get the benefits of being a loyal corporate customer across the board instead of being tied to one particular line.

 

Isn't that same as saying: I have a new BMW, you have a used KIA. My excise taxes are higher so I should have a priority lane at the toll plaza or my road should be repaved first. OR My grocery cart has more items than yours so I should have my own check-out line or they should wave me ahead of you.

 

Some people like spending more or less money on a cruise than others, some don't have a choice to spend less, that doesn't make them any more or less loyal to Carnival. Money does not equal loyalty, that's why # of days or # of cruises makes the most sense. Throwing around money does not make you more entitled than the next.

Edited June 29, 2018 by Darwal

[TEXSUN46]

Off the top of my head I was not thinking of anything, we just go with the flow and when on vacation I just don't notice much negative. But after reading some of the things mentioned I would have to agree I would like to see chair hogging rules enforced, I usually manage to find a place to park myself but it is annoying to see areas that would be desirable to sit being empty save for a pair of flip flops and a towel for hours. I would also agree that I would like comedians in main theatre at least once to avoid the hassles of waiting longer in line than the show lasts.

A lot of other suggestions are subjective like non specific better food quality comments. That means different things to different people. What I keep in mind is I expect some variance in food quality, after all you have people from countries preparing American style dishes according to their interpretation of it, when they probably never have had things like that in their home land, so they are probably guessing on how it should taste.

[meatloafsfan]

Isn't that same as saying: I have a new BMW, you have a used KIA. My excise taxes are higher so I should have a priority lane at the toll plaza or my road should be repaved first. OR My grocery cart has more items than yours so I should have my own check-out line or they should wave me ahead of you.

 

Some people like spending more or less money on a cruise than others, some don't have a choice to spend less, that doesn't make them any more or less loyal Carnival. Money does not equal loyalty, that's why # of days or # of cruises makes the most sense. Throwing around money does not make you more entitled than the next.

 

To use your grocery story analogy -

 

Previously the grocery store (Carnival Fine Foods :D) gave loyalty points based on the number of times you visited the store - no matter how much you purchased (number of cruises) - whether you bought a loaf of bread (3 day cruise) or two whole carts full of food (14 night cruise) you still got a loyalty credit of 1;

 

Then they changed to loyalty points based on the number of items you purchased (nights sailed) - no matter how much a an item costs - it's 1 point per item (night). A 33 cent can of soup (interior guarantee) gets you the same loyalty credit as a $35 Christmas Turkey (holiday sailing in a suite);

 

What's being recommended is that Carnival offers loyalty points based on the total amount you spend with the store - the total of all of your Carnival Fine Foods receipts. So if one person in a year, stops by the store twice and buys a loaf of bread one trip and then a can of soup on a second trip, they are getting fewer loyalty points than someone who stops by the store once a year and buys a Ham, a case of beer, and a birthday cake.

 

They call it a "Loyalty program"; it's really a "Customer Retention" program - and which customer would you want to reward?

[mom2tcdx2]

I would disagree with the $ reward system too, that really isn't a way to reward those who are wealthier and can spend more and it be fair. MSC does this with their point system. But then when you cruise as a couple, who gets the credit for the money spent, each personally equally or the main person who booked over the other. If I paid for my kids shouldn't I then get their credit? Money spent just isn't a great system.

 

Though I do understand the idea of maybe a second credit for booking a suite, or perhaps a loyalty level based on cabin type. Say 1 credit for interior, 2 for oceanview, 3 for balcony and so on. Though personally I think number of days cruised seems to be the most fair - unlike Princess or Disney that gives 1 credit for a cruise - regardless of length.

 

With Disney I have taken a 14 day and an 11 day cruise, both of which got me the same credit as a 3 day cruise. So on Carnival someone taking 10 3 day cruises only has 30 credits, and if I take 4 7 day cruises I have 28, that is more fair and leaves us more equal.

 

Overall I wouldn't really change too much - though I would like to see more sales or offers on the drink packages, I would like longer hours for Guys Burgers and the Blue Iguana (later hours for late night snacks). I wouldn't mind a menu change at this point as the menus have been the same across all ships for quite a few years now. I am ready for something new. A reservation system put into place for the comedy shows.

[Dmgabe]

I would disagree with the $ reward system too, that really isn't a way to reward those who are wealthier and can spend more and it be fair. MSC does this with their point system. But then when you cruise as a couple, who gets the credit for the money spent, each personally equally or the main person who booked over the other. If I paid for my kids shouldn't I then get their credit? Money spent just isn't a great system.

 

Though I do understand the idea of maybe a second credit for booking a suite, or perhaps a loyalty level based on cabin type. Say 1 credit for interior, 2 for oceanview, 3 for balcony and so on. Though personally I think number of days cruised seems to be the most fair - unlike Princess or Disney that gives 1 credit for a cruise - regardless of length.

 

With Disney I have taken a 14 day and an 11 day cruise, both of which got me the same credit as a 3 day cruise. So on Carnival someone taking 10 3 day cruises only has 30 credits, and if I take 4 7 day cruises I have 28, that is more fair and leaves us more equal.

 

Overall I wouldn't really change too much - though I would like to see more sales or offers on the drink packages, I would like longer hours for Guys Burgers and the Blue Iguana (later hours for late night snacks). I wouldn't mind a menu change at this point as the menus have been the same across all ships for quite a few years now. I am ready for something new. A reservation system put into place for the comedy shows.

 

The current system is certainly better than the previous system the original comment that started this debate wanted to return to. The dollar system to me is a better option because it better rewards those that spend more and are therefore more valuable to the company. Points awarded based on the per person price of the cruise fare. That also makes it possible to create a single program across brands as a dollar spent is a dollar spent regardless of line while nights at sea vary drastically in value among the lines. Rewards systems aren’t about leveling the playing field amongst income groups they are about encouraging your best and most profitable customers to continue pumping money into the company. It’s the same reason those that spend big money in the casino get all the comps and free cruises.

 

No system is perfect and the current system could certainly use some improvement in the area of points awarded to guests that are spending significantly more on their cruise fares (if I’m paying double to cruise alone why shouldn’t I receive double the fun points?). It is still much better than the 1 point per cruise system though.

Edited June 29, 2018 by Dmgabe
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[LostPuppy]

I'd like to see the rewards program based on dollars spent (e.g. we've always have a balcony cabin, gamble & drink a lot, why should those non-gambling, teetotalers with interiors get the same benefits?, IT's NOT FAIR!....).

 

The reality is once I hit Platinum with the free laundry, I felt I had "arrived" and lost interest in rewards and how they're calculated.....

[Dmgabe]

I'd like to see the rewards program based on dollars spent (e.g. we've always have a balcony cabin, gamble & drink a lot, why should those non-gambling, teetotalers with interiors get the same benefits?, IT's NOT FAIR!....).

 

The reality is once I hit Platinum with the free laundry, I felt I had "arrived" and lost interest in rewards and how they're calculated.....

 

Would you not like a system that get you the same or similar benefits on the other lines in the Carnival stable? That will never happen with a system based on nights at sea when the value of a night at sea varies drastically between the brands. Perhaps rewards perks that offer more value like upgrades or free drink packages or bigger discounts? that won’t happen with a system that doesn’t make its upper levels more exclusive.

 

It isn’t about it being fair really, it’s about the impact it has on the value of the benefits offered. The old system that basically allowed someone to hit platinum or diamond for 3 or 4 grand spent on a large number of short weekend sailings created a huge number of people to offer those perks to. That huge number means the value of those perks stays low to limit the cost to the company.

[ia81hawks]

I still think they need to at the very least give single occupancy cruisers 1.5 to 2 days credit. Almost all my cruises I have paid double occupancy. Royal Caribbean does and I will be Emerald after my next cruise in December. I want to stay loyal to Carnival, but after 8 cruises I am still Just Gold. The have taken away my past guest party several times.

 

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[A&Jfamily]

I still think they need to at the very least give single occupancy cruisers 1.5 to 2 days credit. Almost all my cruises I have paid double occupancy. Royal Caribbean does and I will be Emerald after my next cruise in December. I want to stay loyal to Carnival, but after 8 cruises I am still Just Gold. The have taken away my past guest party several times.

 

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They don't give me double credit for the room I pay for that my kids stay in either...those little suckers got it and are both Platinum now.:loudcry:

 

As I said in another post, perks are a very personal thing and what matters to you (from how you earn them to what you get) is going to vary from line to line. People rave about Princess - but I get more bang for my buck with free laundry after 75 sea days than having to wait for 151 on Princess. And not matter how you cut it, it is going to be a personal cost benefit analysis as to what is most important from size of ship to bells and whistles to itinerary to loyalty programs. Everyone is going to set a level of importance and let their money do the talking.

[BlerkOne]

I'd like to see the rewards program based on dollars spent (e.g. we've always have a balcony cabin, gamble & drink a lot, why should those non-gambling, teetotalers with interiors get the same benefits?, IT's NOT FAIR!....).

 

The reality is once I hit Platinum with the free laundry, I felt I had "arrived" and lost interest in rewards and how they're calculated.....

 

Gamblers already have their own rewards system which many non-gamblers think is unfair. No double dipping.

[BlerkOne]

There often isn't any savings with Cheers, at best a break even (hence why people want a Cheers lite). Some people know they don't want the price of Cheers, but won't order what they want if they are "paying" for it. You can still do the cost savings of buckets, pitchers, or drink of the day for savings without Cheers.

 

No doubt built into the price which would be adjusted if a Cheers light were offered. And a Cheers Light would have a higher price because more people would be breaking even or better.

[BlerkOne]

I still think they need to at the very least give single occupancy cruisers 1.5 to 2 days credit. Almost all my cruises I have paid double occupancy. Royal Caribbean does and I will be Emerald after my next cruise in December. I want to stay loyal to Carnival, but after 8 cruises I am still Just Gold. The have taken away my past guest party several times.

 

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Try Princess. They give double credit AND their program is either days sailed OR number of cruises.

[Computer Nerd]

The problem with loyalty programs is you are not going to please everyone. I hear people say that Princess is better - and I totally disagree. I have to have 15+ cruises or 151 sea day on Princess to get free laundry - that is Diamond on Carnival. I have zero interest in the internet credit that they offer at their Platinum level. Nor do you get priority tendering or debarkation until you are the equivalent of diamond. We will sale Princess because they sail the world - but I will miss my laundry!

 

Diamond on Carnival is 200 days. Not 151.

[Computer Nerd]

$ spent is the most fair way to do things - at least on cost of cruise. People who book suites should get more credit than balcony etc.

 

I and just about every main stream cruise line disagrees with your though process. They want people who are loyal with the number of days they spent on board, no how much they spent on their cabin. You don't have to go crazy spending thousands per person on a cabin when hundreds will do.

[Computer Nerd]

It’s a rewards program, not a charity. Those that generate more profit for the company should be better rewarded. The dollars spent system would also make it much easier to create a fair system across the many brands if Carnival. Would be great to be able to get the benefits of being a loyal corporate customer across the board instead of being tied to one particular line.

 

Most rich folk I know are tightwads (in a good way) so just because someone books a more expensive cabin does not mean they will be more profitable for the cruise line. Usually it's the other way around.