Carnival has changed the tradition of cruising

[Cruisegoer]

Don’t get me wrong, all lines have “modernized” cruising but IMHO Carnival has integrated the most number of practices to change the tradition of cruising, their worst being once a day servicing of your stateroom.  I would never want to have to chose just once in such a small room on vacation.  I wonder how many people on Carnival ships know they can order multiple items off the MDR menu?   They’ve convinced the masses that Guy Fierri burgers are a proper meal plan.  Again, yes I know everyone has different tastes but the burger push is real on Carnival.  Selling access to board the ship, FTTF, is also a “new” concept that I really don’t understand but yet I’ve purchased it on my upcoming cruise.

Edited February 23, 2019 by Cruisegoer

[Purvis1231]

Once a day cleaning is not a big deal to me although we do like the nightly turn down service. 

[blarko]

As one who rarely uses the MDR, I do enjoy Guy’s Burgers 🤷‍♀️

[jimbo5544]

So, of all the changes (and there are many, in many different areas, on many different cruise lines) the worst one in your opinion is the OPTION to have once a day service?  How about nickel and dining NCL or Amusement park of the seas Royal?  I would wager the dining team informs the VAST majority of cruisers they can order multiple entries (unlike other cruise lines).

 

FTTF is probably one of the best ideas (at least from their perspective) to come to cruising.  People are willing to pay a pretty large amount per cabin to have the option to have access to the cabin early and a couple of trivial benefits that cost them virtually nothing.  Whoever the one that thought of it, should have been promoted.

[Dr. Zebra]

21 minutes ago, Cruisegoer said:

Don’t get me wrong, all lines have “modernized” cruising but IMHO Carnival has integrated the most number of practices to change the tradition of cruising, their worst being once a day servicing of your stateroom.  I would never want to have to chose just once in such a small room on vacation.  I wonder how many people on Carnival ships know they can order multiple items off the MDR menu?   They’ve convinced the masses that Guy Fierri burgers are a proper meal plan.  Again, yes I know everyone has different tastes but the burger push is real on Carnival.  Selling access to board the ship, FTTF, is also a “new” concept that I really don’t understand but yet I’ve purchased it on my upcoming cruise.

Translation:  "Get off my lawn, you kids!"

[Bookbug53]

27 minutes ago, Cruisegoer said:

Don’t get me wrong, all lines have “modernized” cruising but IMHO Carnival has integrated the most number of practices to change the tradition of cruising, their worst being once a day servicing of your stateroom.  I would never want to have to chose just once in such a small room on vacation.  I wonder how many people on Carnival ships know they can order multiple items off the MDR menu?   They’ve convinced the masses that Guy Fierri burgers are a proper meal plan.  Again, yes I know everyone has different tastes but the burger push is real on Carnival.  Selling access to board the ship, FTTF, is also a “new” concept that I really don’t understand but yet I’ve purchased it on my upcoming cruise.

I still get twice a day servicing. I ask for it.

Don't like FTTF? Don't buy it. Most people don't.

Don't want a burger? Don't eat it. And believe me it did not take a cruise line to convince the masses that a burger is a proper meal choice.

And yes, I know I can order what I want off a menu presented to me. 

Edited February 23, 2019 by Bookbug53

[Cruisegoer]

8 minutes ago, Dr. Zebra said:

Translation:  "Get off my lawn, you kids!"

Sorry if your idea of cruising is “Would you like fries with that?”

[Pyrate13]

It's pretty simple, don't like Carnivals ways, don't cruise on them.

[Cruisegoer]

7 minutes ago, Pyrate13 said:

It's pretty simple, don't like Carnivals ways, don't cruise on them.

Did I say I don’t like Carnival? I didn’t realize it was an all or nothing thing.  I have the ability to like and dislike many things and appreciate those that I think are good and dismiss those I dislike.  Perhaps if this country found this philosophy acceptable it wouldn’t be such a mess.

[Crusin Hogs]

We were on The Vista  last month  twice a day room service  without asking ,,No one made me eat at Guys , it about choice's    ,

[Knights on the Beach]

It's been several years since we've cruised but we're looking forward to our Hawaii cruise next year.  I considered NCL, Royal Caribbean, Princess and Celebrity but ultimately booked with Carnival.  I know there have been changes, but nothing that was a deal breaker for us.  There are still plenty of options available to keep us happy.

[Pyrate13]

Your opinion of a "proper meal plan" doesn't necessarily apply to others. Yes, you can still get twice a day service in your stateroom and by the way, give others credit, I believe most cruisers DO know they can order multiple items from the MDR menu. 

It's not necessarily all or nothing but you're the one that's complaining instead of just dismissing, as you say, the stuff you don't like.

 

 

 

[64funwhisper]

there has been many changes over the years and things i miss one being the adult only pool and no one saying anything about kids running everwhere at all times of day and nite -but i do love cruising and have learned to go with the flow if not I would choose another cruise line  I have to admit I went on the breeze for 7 days only had my room cleaned twice without me having to ask for towels and ice had several employees say when I let them know the juice machine not working I dont handle that and walked away and having to hunt down a casino person several times to get a drink-But then again my choice if I cruise or not just remember you are the one that makes it fun and go with the flow  

[Aplmac]

Play nicely, children..

[masterty]

I remember a day on a carnival ship when raw steaks were located in a glass refrigerator on the pool deck. You would walk up, pick out your choice of meat and they would prepare it on the grill for you. Those days are gone. How about the midnight buffet? gone! I do have an upcoming trip in May with Carnival. First trip since 2003. So while I am far from a loyalist. I am still unhappy about the changes over the last 16 years.  

[fabby50]

We have been cruising for 30-odd years now.  One of our first was on HAL when they still had the Dutch dinner, everything was very formal (my husband wore a tux and I brought two "ball gowns"), they had horse racing (which I miss) and countless other little things were included.  It was expensive to us at the time and definitely a splurge on our budget.  How I prefer to think about it is now they offer so many options and you pick-and-play which ones you want, for a fee.  This way, people on a small budget can take their family on a nice vacation for a reasonable price OR if we chose, we can eat in specialty restaurants every night and pay extra on a line with butler service.  

[mvaughn11]

Looking at the new Virgin Voyager cruise line, they really seem to have taken change to the extreme. Their cruising model seems very different from what we are used to.

[ray98]

LOL....strange topic.

 

The entire cruise industry has changed.  What was once an industry modeled after the stuffy ocean going voyages between continents of times past is now a family friendly floating Caribbean resort.

[13cheermom]

Honestly the older I get I realize you have 2 choices, either adapt to the change or not and be miserable.  Time moves on as well as life and the ways of the world.  I still enjoy all the amenities Carnival has to offer and am grateful for the free dining choices that are still available on their ships.  At least you don't have to pay for that hamburger (unlike other lines) whether you like them or not.  It's like someone else stated, it's your choice to pick the cruise line that fits yours needs and lifestyle, so just do it and be happy. 

[Aplmac]

15 minutes ago, 13cheermom said:

Honestly the older I get I realize you have 2 choices,

either adapt to the change -or not and be miserable.  

Time moves on as well as life and the ways of the world.  

 

It's like someone else stated,

it's your choice to pick the cruise line that fits yours needs and lifestyle,

so just do it and be happy. 

.

You have to rooooll with life's punches!

 

- or be miserable, like the lady said

[Nic6318]

Hi Cruisegoer

 

It is about choice. It's not about Carnival. It's the people that make the choices. If people like hamburgers, they will give them hamburgers. If they don't want to dress for dinner, they won't make them. 

 

Other cruise lines have been making these changes, even before Carnival, and making their customers pay for them (hamburgers). Even in the comments on this thread, people say they like hamburgers. At least Carnival isn't charging for them. You don't need early access to your cabin, and yet you did. It's about offering the customer choices, and if in doing so they can generate more revenue, so much the better.

 

Others have pointed out, you can still get twice a day cabin service. Yes, you can order multiple items from the MDR menu. Some cruise lines won't allow it. If there is something you don't know, you need to ask. That's why sites like this are here. Of course, if you don't know and you don't ask, you will never know. Companies don't always offer advice on how to best take advantage of the service they offer. I remember a number of years ago, on this site a person relating a story about taking with a couple after a number of days into their cruise, that hadn't been to the MDR because they didn't realize it was included. 

 

So, what is it specifically that Carnival has done that other comapnies haven't (remembering they are giving their customers what they want)? The one thing they all try to do is make more money. 

[jimbo5544]

For the most part, the changes they have made are a reflection of what their cruisers really want.  

[Joebucks]

The worst part about the complainers is that everything exists that they claim to want. Yet, they don't want to pay for it. You can still get the "old experience" on other lines, even ones under the Carnival umbrella. So really, the complaint is you can't get a cheaper cruise than 20 years ago (adjusted for inflation) with a bunch of things the mass market does not want. 

[ray98]

16 minutes ago, Joebucks said:

The worst part about the complainers is that everything exists that they claim to want. Yet, they don't want to pay for it. You can still get the "old experience" on other lines, even ones under the Carnival umbrella. So really, the complaint is you can't get a cheaper cruise than 20 years ago (adjusted for inflation) with a bunch of things the mass market does not want. 

 

 

Correct....they want the 5 star experience from old at a new bargain price.  Cruising in general is as affordable now as it has ever been.  My first cruises cost much more than I pay now dollar for dollar, I remember times when $1000pp for an inside on a 7 day was the going rate.  Factor in inflation and the cost of a mainstream cruise is probably down 50%.

 

That cruise that treated you like a king 25 years ago still exists, it is also priced accordingly.

[xDisconnections]

Carnival changed cruising when they made it available to the general public and those without higher disposable incomes.