Got " the letter" today about Journey cruise.

[firefly333]

1 hour ago, Taters said:

I know that my shipboard cabins have not been cleaned properly in several years (dusty bathroom shelves, lack of vacuuming, etc.) and I've had to request that these things be done.  This level of service is not an anomaly, it is the current state of Carnival culture, I'm afraid.  

 

I meet our steward and asked for 6 to 8 pm once a day and came back the first night and all they had done was put the next fun times in our cabin.

 

I asked him the next day and he was offended like I got my asst to give you TWO fun times like you ased, whats your problem. I said he didnt do anything, the waste basket was overflowing, we thought since you said 6 to 8 pm we would get service.

 

he came back with "we dont start cleaning until Monday". getting the room ready for arrival is your once a day service the day you board.

 

Then we were like can we have a 2nd bar of soap, and he snapped all you had to do was ask. then we went to guest services for a laundry bag, then found out we didnt have the form, then it was the excursion desk to get a copy of the excursions.. and so it went the whole week, though after I complained we got more service, but i would have liked a better attitude, not more towel animals.

 

Our sink and shower didnt drain well and about backed up the shower to overflowing, but i decided to let the next people in that cabin deal with the problem, but both were stopped up. I wasnt about to deal with him about the draining issue in our cabin. Had other things id rather do. they clean right, so they had to have noticed the problem?

 

a friend had the electrcian in 3 times lol because her high watt curling iron wouldnt work on vista, they cut the power or wattage and they had to attach a transformer to her outlet for her curlng iron to work. I had loaned her mine, because she was going to pay the beauty shop onboard because she wouldnt wash the smoke from the casino out of her hair if she couldnt style it. Im not that picky but her hair was short.

 

I probably should have mentioned the drainage in the shower and sink but let the next people deal with it. The steward was already upset with me for complaining they walked past a overflowing waste basket and said we dont clean until monday. and i got the line at least 4 times, that we got the standard set up for that cabin (which for instance didnt included a 2nd luggage mat, which i also decided was their problem if they didnt care about protecting those covers).

 

id rate our cabin steward a 2 or 3 out of 10. Valor i had a great one last cruise, about the best ever, so they do exist, just didnt get along with this one. 

 

I had a lower deck level this time, so my theory is they give the worst rated ones to the cheapest cabins and the best to the more expensive or higher decks. I was on deck 7 i think last time when i had a great one

 

 

 

 

Edited November 27, 2018 by firefly333

[Doggielover68]

6 hours ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

I'll bet that in reality 99% of the folks who want early cabin access want it just for the latter, but many will claim they need an hour or two of cabin time prior to lunch "to freshen up" because, well, it is the perk they earned.

 

Almost every person who posts here about getting FTTF says the great thing about it is they can go to their cabins, dump their stuff, and head to Lido unburdened.  I do not recall seeing anyone say "nah, gonna skip going to the cabin when we board, I got FTTF so I could skip the line at Guest Services".

Yep. I will be turning platinum on my cruise next week and my plan is to dump my luggage in my room and then go to lunch. I don't care if I am tired from flying, packing, work, etc. I do not go on a cruise to nap right away lol. 

[bakersdozen12]

18 hours ago, firefly333 said:

 

Someone mentioned gold used to get invited to this welcome back party. (btw it was awesome). Now they had to drop gold from the party, and its only for diamonds and platinums.

 

Yes, and the complaints that were expressed due to Golds no longer being able to attend the party were vast.  I can only imagine the outcry from Platinums if they take away any of their benefits.

 

Personally, I don't care.  They took away the party benefit before I made Gold.  And if they take away a Platinum benefit before I make Platinum in 2020, oh well.  I don't cruise for the benefits.  I cruise because I love cruising. The money that I spend with Carnival is for the experience of being able to travel and the relaxation of being out at sea.  Not to be able to board 15 mins earlier than other people, or to be able to go to my room 2 hours earlier, or for the free laundry.  That would be a lot of money to spend just for these small things.  If I keep coming back to Carnival it's because I am happy with their product.  And because they are such a good value.  I wouldn't be able to do as many cruises on a more expensive cruise line.

Edited November 27, 2018 by bakersdozen12

[coevan]

1 hour ago, firefly333 said:

I meet our steward and asked for 6 to 8 pm once a day and came back the first night and all they had done was put the next fun times in our cabin.

 

 

I have never heard of this. They clean rooms by dining times of the guests. We were always the last cabin cleaned as we at around 8:30. I asked the steward about timing and he said we clean early dining guests first. We always get twice a day cleaning at their convenience. 

[Doggielover68]

2 hours ago, firefly333 said:

 

I meet our steward and asked for 6 to 8 pm once a day and came back the first night and all they had done was put the next fun times in our cabin.

 

I asked him the next day and he was offended like I got my asst to give you TWO fun times like you ased, whats your problem. I said he didnt do anything, the waste basket was overflowing, we thought since you said 6 to 8 pm we would get service.

 

he came back with "we dont start cleaning until Monday". getting the room ready for arrival is your once a day service the day you board.

 

Then we were like can we have a 2nd bar of soap, and he snapped all you had to do was ask. then we went to guest services for a laundry bag, then found out we didnt have the form, then it was the excursion desk to get a copy of the excursions.. and so it went the whole week, though after I complained we got more service, but i would have liked a better attitude, not more towel animals.

 

Our sink and shower didnt drain well and about backed up the shower to overflowing, but i decided to let the next people in that cabin deal with the problem, but both were stopped up. I wasnt about to deal with him about the draining issue in our cabin. Had other things id rather do. they clean right, so they had to have noticed the problem?

 

a friend had the electrcian in 3 times lol because her high watt curling iron wouldnt work on vista, they cut the power or wattage and they had to attach a transformer to her outlet for her curlng iron to work. I had loaned her mine, because she was going to pay the beauty shop onboard because she wouldnt wash the smoke from the casino out of her hair if she couldnt style it. Im not that picky but her hair was short.

 

I probably should have mentioned the drainage in the shower and sink but let the next people deal with it. The steward was already upset with me for complaining they walked past a overflowing waste basket and said we dont clean until monday. and i got the line at least 4 times, that we got the standard set up for that cabin (which for instance didnt included a 2nd luggage mat, which i also decided was their problem if they didnt care about protecting those covers).

 

id rate our cabin steward a 2 or 3 out of 10. Valor i had a great one last cruise, about the best ever, so they do exist, just didnt get along with this one. 

 

I had a lower deck level this time, so my theory is they give the worst rated ones to the cheapest cabins and the best to the more expensive or higher decks. I was on deck 7 i think last time when i had a great one

 

 

 

 

 

I'm sorry, but how do you manage to fill up the trash can a few hours after getting on the ship? In a million years I would never complain about my room not being cleaned on day 1. Maybe after a day of sand and wet towels piling up but not the first day. This post is just overflowing with first world problems. The only viable complain is the drain. I did have a stopped up sink drain one time and it was a pain. A little courtesy goes a long way with the ship's crew. I know, I know. It is their JOB to do these things...but there's no need to make things harder for them with a list of complaints. Life is too short to get stressed out over most of these things. 

Edited November 27, 2018 by Doggielover68

[Keys2Heaven]

You should expect that for Journey's cruises. No big deal really.

[firefly333]

1 hour ago, coevan said:

 

 

I have never heard of this. They clean rooms by dining times of the guests. We were always the last cabin cleaned as we at around 8:30. I asked the steward about timing and he said we clean early dining guests first. We always get twice a day cleaning at their convenience. 

 

Boy i sure started something. I just didnt care for our cabin steward and mentioned some reasons why, nothing that would make me cruise or not cruise again, though I am cruising less and less. There was a time I was crusing up to 8 times a year and now its been once a year.

 

As far as the post about 3rd world countries and the time set. ... I dont come from a 3rd world country and we did agree to once a day. But I was cruising with a cruise newbie who I really wanted to love cruising .... she didnt.

 

Actually it was her who said when we came back the first night saying she thought we would have had our cabin serviced and we hadnt, so I asked the next day. First time I have been told that getting my cabin ready for arrival was our one time the day of arrival is what surprised me and the little things like why only bed got a luggage mat etc and he kept saying standard set up.

 

I hoped she would love Vista and the cruise and be ready to commit again, but she said well ask her in a year and see how she feels, not sure its for her, and didnt help she put out her knee walking up and down stairs and now has to see a doctor. 

 

As far as what time was set to clean, the cabin steward suggested the time, because we got any time. I think Im at 174 days and asked for early and got anytime. I too dont cruise for the perks, for sure not on Carnival no offense. At least on RCL I get 3 free drinks a day, on Carnival I get one up to $9 which turns out to pay for no drink Id order. Sure priority boarding is great, but i get it on other lines too, i dont cruise becauses of it. In a way id like to get to diamond on Carnival and in a way I dont care. Which is probably why im not cruising as much. Plus Im usually solo and paying double. NCL has had a few no solo supplements out of New Orleans I can drive to, but not sure i want to get higher in their loyalty either but certainly the prices are better for solos. 

 

I was just stating my observations and dont care to cruise nearly as often. Sorry if this offends some that Im not that up with cruising the last few years. Once a year is now enough. 

 

But because I was assigned anytime dining, i didnt have early or late for the cabin steward to work around and he suggested the 6 o 8 pm time frame and i said ok. Boy Im feeling beat up .... 3rd world countries hahahahhahahaha. btw it wasntn me who filled up the trash can, she flew in early and i guess decided to dump all the paper stuff she didnt need any more. I might have added a few things like inserts for sales in the fun times. ..it wasnt life or death, but a observation on how things have changed. 10 years ao i cruised a lot ... back then a 1A was 150% too. now its 200%. thats a biggie to me. paying double. I can certainly afford it, just dont have to like it.

 

Oh i got it wrong, my observations and reasons why i cruise less, the above says are 1st world complaints. lol. Im just not as into cruising I guess. each to his own.

 

enjoy. I have no future cruises booked and the girl i meet onboard we are waiting to figure out a booking, but it might be another year before I get the itch. Everyone doesnt have to love cruisiing 100%. My roomie just didnt. I wish she had. 

Edited November 27, 2018 by firefly333

[firefly333]

Maybe there is a way to change the settings so i dont have to read people beating up on me and everytime Im quoted.

 

Excuse me for being of the older generation. If a cabin steward tells me at 2 pm he is going to do my cabin daily from 6 to 8 pm, naturally i dont think he means ....starting tomorrow, i assumed he meant the day he said it. Us oldies think your word is your bond and your word means something. I always try to do what I promise. he should have said starting tomorrow.

 

and i did a journey from dallas to cleveland to visit my old high school a month earlier than we booked and every single hotel gave me 2 bars of soap. sorry if my expectations were too high for todays carnival.

 

I still want to do the carnival cruise that is a partial panama, but i dont want to pay double, so i probably will wait for someone else who wants to go with me. jouney cruises are a tad more a day and I dont like paying double. The paying double is a reason im not cruising much ... the rest is nothing I agree, just observations. 

 

let me go see if there is a new setting where i dont have to get a email every time someone wants to beat me up like for thinking my cabin would be done daily including the first day. Ive cruised a long time.... and im sure it shows.

[repo-cruiser]

Rumor has it they are go to eliminate Platinum's back down to Gold. So you would go from Gold to Diamond.

[ProgRockCruiser]

I must admit I just amused myself thinking that I long for the day when I can gripe about not getting D/P perks - because that would imply I had actually cruised that much in my life!

 

Not trying to belittle the annoyance this might bring to some folks.  Just looking forward to actually cruising that much...

[CdrescherRBL152]

Ok reading the letter. It seams to me that you can go to your cabin when you board. They just won't guarantee that it will be cleaned. If it has not been you can still leave your carry on. But then they would like you to go an enjoy the rest of the ship till it is cleaned. But if it is cleaned then feel free to enjoy as normal. However they can not guarantee that it will be cleaned till 1:30

[pacruise804]

19 hours ago, Doggielover68 said:

 

I'm sorry, but how do you manage to fill up the trash can a few hours after getting on the ship? In a million years I would never complain about my room not being cleaned on day 1. Maybe after a day of sand and wet towels piling up but not the first day. This post is just overflowing with first world problems. The only viable complain is the drain. I did have a stopped up sink drain one time and it was a pain. A little courtesy goes a long way with the ship's crew. I know, I know. It is their JOB to do these things...but there's no need to make things harder for them with a list of complaints. Life is too short to get stressed out over most of these things. 

The trash can is small - if I ordered water for the cabin then the can would be near full just from the packaging.  It doesn't sound like the case for this poster, but if I was traveling with small children still in diapers (or a special needs adult with incontinence issues) I could see the trash filling very quickly.  I would definitely want the garbage emptied in that case.

 

The crew are not mind readers.  If the passenger doesn't state what they want or express their concerns, then how will the crew know how to best serve?  I've seen other posts where people complain about poor service and then get chastised for not complaining.  Being courteous is key, but it is good to bring attention when needed so concerns can be addressed in a timely manner.

 

Firefly - I'm sorry your friend didn't have the experience she hoped for.

[Hogladyrider]

firefly333 I remember following your postings leading up to this Vista cruise and the situation with cruising with your friend. 

I am sorry so many have twisted your words around.  I for one understand what you went thru completely.

We too used to cruise 4 times a year and now only once in a while, it just isn't the same as it used to be.  I think for us it is a combination of things, changes within Carnival, we've changed now that we are older, we don't enjoy the crowds and rudeness anymore.  The overall sense of entitlement that many people have in today's society is a big turnoff for me.  

We just did our 1st 14 day cruise on Breeze and several times I had to leave notes for our cabin steward for things that in the past I never would have had to even think of pointing out to him.  However, with the notes he did take care of all the items a) light bulb out in the bathroom, maintenance came and replaced b) change the sheets on the bed (you'd think housekeeping would see that is needed for whatever reason) c)clean the shelf on the balcony (we had a cove balcony and daily the shelf would get covered with black stuff from maintenance working on the lifeboats overhead).  One afternoon while in our cabin with the sun shining in I noticed how bad the dust was on the tv and the front of all the cabinets.  I took it upon myself to take care of that.  We did find items left behind from previous cruisers behind the TV on the shelf - you'd think housekeeping would check there when doing a turnover.

We sailed Magic January 2018 and that was the first cruise ever in over 20+ Carnival cruises that I did not tip our cabin steward extra, he was horrible.  I did not report him because I opted to let it go knowing he needs his job and we all have off weeks, but I understand your point, an attitude is never acceptable.  Ours didn't have an attitude he just didn't do a good job.

 

There have definitely been cutbacks everywhere as well as cruisers behavior is out of control IMO.  While waiting in the buffet line one evening I had a woman cut in line in front of several of us and she never even said excuse me, then the same woman opted to fill up her gallon drink cup at the water dispenser while she had a long line behind her.......I could go on and on but I won't.

 

Stick to your guns you paid for your cruise, try and ignore all the Debbie downers on your posts, some people just don't get us adults who were raised with values!

[crusing48/51]

11 hours ago, CdrescherRBL152 said:

Ok reading the letter. It seams to me that you can go to your cabin when you board. They just won't guarantee that it will be cleaned. If it has not been you can still leave your carry on. But then they would like you to go an enjoy the rest of the ship till it is cleaned. But if it is cleaned then feel free to enjoy as normal. However they can not guarantee that it will be cleaned till 1:30

Hi, no the cabin won't be ready until after 1:30. We won't get early access because we won't drop off carry on without being able to lock the room. Since it won't be ready early, we will carry around our luggage until 1:30 just like everyone else, and will grab something to eat, just like everyone else. That's my point all together. We will be doing everything just like everyone else. There is no distinction between blue, red, gold, platinum, or diamond. No supposed perk to enjoy. We are just like everyone else.

[crusing48/51]

On 11/27/2018 at 6:51 AM, Treyatl2006 said:

You can go to your cabin to drop off your luggage. You just cant go to your cabin to lounge around. 

 

It may not be that big of a deal if you think about it? Were you planning on taking a nap in your cabin soon after you board? Or were you planning on dropping your luggage off and hitting the lido for some lunch? 

11 hours ago, CdrescherRBL152 said:

Ok reading the letter. It seams to me that you can go to your cabin when you board. They just won't guarantee that it will be cleaned. If it has not been you can still leave your carry on. But then they would like you to go an enjoy the rest of the ship till it is cleaned. But if it is cleaned then feel free to enjoy as normal. However they can not guarantee that it will be cleaned till 1:30

Hi, no the cabin won't be ready until after 1:30. We won't get early access because we won't drop off carry on without being able to lock the room. Since it won't be ready early, we will carry around our luggage until 1:30 just like everyone else, and will grab something to eat, just like everyone else. That's my point all together. We will be doing everything just like everyone else. There is no distinction between blue, red, gold, platinum, or diamond. No supposed perk to enjoy. We are just like everyone else.

[coevan]

I don't read anywhere that they are NOT boarding Diamonds and Plats first, just it starts later. 

[NavarreCruiser]

5 hours ago, Hogladyrider said:

firefly333 I remember following your postings leading up to this Vista cruise and the situation with cruising with your friend. 

I am sorry so many have twisted your words around.  I for one understand what you went thru completely.

We too used to cruise 4 times a year and now only once in a while, it just isn't the same as it used to be.  I think for us it is a combination of things, changes within Carnival, we've changed now that we are older, we don't enjoy the crowds and rudeness anymore.  The overall sense of entitlement that many people have in today's society is a big turnoff for me.  

We just did our 1st 14 day cruise on Breeze and several times I had to leave notes for our cabin steward for things that in the past I never would have had to even think of pointing out to him.  However, with the notes he did take care of all the items a) light bulb out in the bathroom, maintenance came and replaced b) change the sheets on the bed (you'd think housekeeping would see that is needed for whatever reason) c)clean the shelf on the balcony (we had a cove balcony and daily the shelf would get covered with black stuff from maintenance working on the lifeboats overhead).  One afternoon while in our cabin with the sun shining in I noticed how bad the dust was on the tv and the front of all the cabinets.  I took it upon myself to take care of that.  We did find items left behind from previous cruisers behind the TV on the shelf - you'd think housekeeping would check there when doing a turnover.

We sailed Magic January 2018 and that was the first cruise ever in over 20+ Carnival cruises that I did not tip our cabin steward extra, he was horrible.  I did not report him because I opted to let it go knowing he needs his job and we all have off weeks, but I understand your point, an attitude is never acceptable.  Ours didn't have an attitude he just didn't do a good job.

 

There have definitely been cutbacks everywhere as well as cruisers behavior is out of control IMO.  While waiting in the buffet line one evening I had a woman cut in line in front of several of us and she never even said excuse me, then the same woman opted to fill up her gallon drink cup at the water dispenser while she had a long line behind her.......I could go on and on but I won't.

 

Stick to your guns you paid for your cruise, try and ignore all the Debbie downers on your posts, some people just don't get us adults who were raised with values!

 

I can really identify with your position.  Since May of 2005 (my first Carnival cruise), I have averaged over 7 Carnival cruises per year.  I am taking my 94th cruise with them this coming Saturday.  I have no more scheduled.at this time.

[CdrescherRBL152]

15 hours ago, crusing48/51 said:

Hi, no the cabin won't be ready until after 1:30. We won't get early access because we won't drop off carry on without being able to lock the room. Since it won't be ready early, we will carry around our luggage until 1:30 just like everyone else, and will grab something to eat, just like everyone else. That's my point all together. We will be doing everything just like everyone else. There is no distinction between blue, red, gold, platinum, or diamond. No supposed perk to enjoy. We are just like everyone else.

I have checked with John Herald as I thought. Platinum and Diamond members have full access to their Cabins ad soon as they are ready. Be 10 am 11 am or whenever. However Carnival will not guarantee that the cabin will be ready prior to 1:30.

[crusing48/51]

8 hours ago, CdrescherRBL152 said:

 

 

8 hours ago, CdrescherRBL152 said:

I have checked with John Herald as I thought. Platinum and Diamond members have full access to their Cabins ad soon as they are ready. Be 10 am 11 am or whenever. However Carnival will not guarantee that the cabin will be ready prior to 1:30.

The letter states that the cabin will not be ready before 1:30, therefore we cannot access the cabin until then. We will not leave our luggage in the room without being able to lock the door. The sign and sail will not be available until the cabin is ready, so we will have to wait until 1:30, with all the other passengers, so no perk. I don't think you're seeing my point of view. I understand that we should get early access, but as per the letter, we will not. 

 

I am done beating this dead horse. I was passing along information, and my disappointment with said information. I will say no more.