Just back from Carnival Liberty May 10-13th

[tony_g51181]

So I just got back off the Liberty and I can honestly say this is my first cruise out of many that I can start to tell Carnival cutbacks are starting to be noticed!!  Overall I enjoy the ship and the cruise but their were times with you could tell they did not have many employees around to help you as compared in the past.  Any questions please feel free to ask!!

[PhillyFan33579]

Could you give an example?  In the last three months I have cruised on Victory, Horizon and Sunshine and I haven’t noticed any recent changes or cutbacks, especially when it comes to needing help. Of course my main concern is not having to wait very long at any bar, so my expectations may be different than yours. I will be on Liberty next week. Will follow this thread and pay attention next week on the cruise. 

[NauticalNeophyte]

I’m interested in what cutbacks you witnessed too since we sail on the Liberty Monday. Will you be on that sailing @PhillyFan33579?

[PhillyFan33579]

8 hours ago, NauticalNeophyte said:

I’m interested in what cutbacks you witnessed too since we sail on the Liberty Monday. Will you be on that sailing @PhillyFan33579?

 

We are on the cruise after you over Memorial Day weekend.  We have been going on short 3 day cruises over Memorial Day for the last several years. We live in Florida and it’s an easy 2 hour drive to Port Canaveral (we live in the Tampa area). 

[tony_g51181]

So I have cruised so many times I usually like to get to know the hard workers that are making my vacation great. And between speaking with the workers and visually seeing that these workers in the main dinning rooms are having to take care of more tables than ever before. The bars are overcrowded, I can tell you once night I waited over 15 mins for a poweraid!  At the casino bar where there were only two workers and it was roughly 1:30am The only other option was to go to the club or up to pizza pirate as they sell drinks but that lines as anyone knows is crazy long.  As others have mentioned no more pens are being delivered to the room which sucks because I needed one really bad to fill out my customs form and had to go running around the ship.  Now for entertainment, one night they advertised a show called FLICK, described as "Sit back and watch in amazement as our cast of singers and dancers bring the silver screen to life through the power of motion pictures in a magical and mystical cinematic adventure.  I was excited so I rushed to get seat only to find out it was 4 people sitting in chairs on stage singing songs from various movies that was it no dancing no other type of show!! I was so so sad!  So then comes the Love and Marriage show which is always a favorite and this was the first time ever I have been to one where it was in the same place as comedy and it was so packed ppl standing everywhere which made those who had seats ask them to move out of our way. 

[Nevada Jen]

There as definitely something wrong with your Flick show compared to when we saw it on Liberty 18 months ago. It was more than 4 people and lots of effects and stuff.  What you are describing sounds like the maybe sat on state and sang through the script.

[dlphn501]

2 hours ago, tony_g51181 said:

So then comes the Love and Marriage show which is always a favorite and this was the first time ever I have been to one where it was in the same place as comedy and it was so packed ppl standing everywhere which made those who had seats ask them to move out of our way. 

I was just on Liberty end of April and the L&M show was in the big theater/lounge where they also did Bingo. 

[waterwatcher]

Carnival is not the only company doing cutbacks.  To keep prices low/steady most retail stores are cutting down on staff also.  It's just sign of the times.  I still enjoy everything about my Carnival Cruises.

[tony_g51181]

Don't get me wrong I still enjoy Carnival Cruises it was just so apparent on this ship!!  Maybe this cruise was just a one off as it seems like they tried some new things and will possibly not do them this way again. I did have fun but with cruising its all about what ya make of it!!

[Cruisegirl6]

Yes, I know they cut back on workers....and friends of mine two months ago went on the Liberty and said the very same thing, there were too many cutbacks plus the selection at the bar is alot less, which I noticed myself when I was on the Elation this past February.  

 

 

[PhillyFan33579]

8 minutes ago, Cruisegirl6 said:

Yes, I know they cut back on workers....and friends of mine two months ago went on the Liberty and said the very same thing, there were too many cutbacks plus the selection at the bar is alot less, which I noticed myself when I was on the Elation this past February.  

 

 

 

Carnival is clearly marketing themselves to the new cruiser.  The best way to attract new cruisers is to offer, or at least attempt to offer, the lowest cruise fares in the industry. All the cuts Carnival has made allows them to consistently offer very competitive fares.  For people who have noticed the cutbacks and don’t like them, it’s probably time to move on to another cruise line. 

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

Hard to tell. We see different days and time of day with more or less help on the ship. Have not cruised lately noticing less drink takers or table cleaners during an entire cruise. Sometimes only one bartender. That has occurred while in port or just opening the bar. 

[Joebucks]

I can't remember the last time I went to a bar anywhere at a peak time, and it wasn't busy. That's how they are staffed. When you staff too many bartenders, and they are standing around doing nothing, you lose big money.

 

I was on the Liberty two weeks ago and never had a problem

[Cruisegirl6]

I am sure I won't have a problem getting a drink, we get the Cheers package but always tip an additional dollar per drink, sometimes secretly hand some cash to them too, money talks, we will see.  

 

Phillyfan- Most  of my cruises the past three years were on Royal Caribbean, mainly the Oasis class ships, but we tend to come back to Carnival just to have a change of pace, something different.  When we cruise Carnival we know the food is ok, but we always make sure to dine at the steakhouse each evening if the ship has one, and Carivals steakhouse is our most favorite specialty restaurant out of all the cruise lines.