WIFI PRICES AND RECOMMENDED GRATUITIES ADJUSTMENTS

[xDisconnections]

6 hours ago, cruisingguy007 said:

That link shows $48 for me still. I'm not seeing $65. I wouldn't pay $48 so $65 would be nuts. 

It's competitively priced and I wouldn't object to going at the new price point.

 

Overall, I'm very pleased to see these price adjustments and revenue optimization strategies and look forward to them being expanded to other cruise lines within Carnival Corporation that I sail on.

Edited January 4, 2023 by xDisconnections

[xDisconnections]

58 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

I never prepay gratuities, especially if gratuities are going up. The staff deserves every penny of their gratuities.

Curious -- if gratuities are prepaid at the old price structure, is that what the crew receives? Or would they be reimbursed at the new recommended amounts and the cruise line eats the difference in cost? Seems one way could be easier for accounting purposes but obviously not as cost effective.

[xDisconnections]

2 hours ago, pinto18 said:

I remember the not too long ago when internet ( verrrry slooowwww) was per minute , then a page would take minutes to load and you were just counting the $$ in your head...So I am still thankful for the unlimited even with a hike up in price 

We have come a long way. I don't mind paying whatever the cost is to have an unlimited package as I remember what it was like back in the day as well.

[cruisingguy007]

1 hour ago, BlerkOne said:

I never prepay gratuities, especially if gratuities are going up. The staff deserves every penny of their gratuities.

 

My cruise is in a few weeks and I've already paid the increased rates so I guess I'm just as virtuous. 🙄

Edited January 4, 2023 by cruisingguy007

[cruisingguy007]

55 minutes ago, xDisconnections said:

It's competitively priced and I wouldn't object to going at the new price point.

 

Overall, I'm very pleased to see these price adjustments and revenue optimization strategies and look forward to them being expanded to other cruise lines within Carnival Corporation that I sail on.

 

Make it a $75 or better yet, $100! I thought is was overpriced at $38 so unless it drops to $25 or so they can revenue optimize all they want as long as other suckers are willing to pay. I suspect less people will be inclined to purchase it as the prices continue to climb higher but if the ultimate goal is simply higher prices vs higher sales through volume, it make work for a while before plateauing. Revenue optimization can lead to revenue losses and decline just as easily. Simply demanding higher prices doesn't always equate to demand, whereas lowering prices through increasing volume is usually a surefire bet.  

[xDisconnections]

2 minutes ago, cruisingguy007 said:

 

Make it a $75 or better yet, $100! I thought is was overpriced at $38 so unless it drops to $25 or so they can revenue optimize all they want as long as other suckers are willing to pay. I suspect less people will be inclined to purchase it as the prices continue to climb higher but if the ultimate goal is simply higher prices vs higher sales through volume, it make work for a while before plateauing. Revenue optimization can lead to revenue losses and decline just as easily. Simply demanding higher prices doesn't always equate to demand, whereas lowering prices through increasing volume is usually a surefire bet.  

Having the same (or greater) amount of revenue with a reduced throughput is not a bad thing…

[cruisingguy007]

18 minutes ago, xDisconnections said:

Having the same (or greater) amount of revenue with a reduced throughput is not a bad thing…

 

Theoretically true. One could also argue from a reduction in labor cost issue, less volume, less labor, same revenue. The problem with that thinking is lost volume opportunity (that may not add much more labor since it's not 1 x 1), increased waste potential (as seen in grocery stores all the time) and reduction in volume discounts from suppliers, customer retention loses and product immersion value; these folks are peeling away from your holistic product experience and that has value in or of itself that is hard to quantify but becomes an integral part of the overall experience you are trying to deliver. 

Edited January 4, 2023 by cruisingguy007

[DallasGuy75219]

5 hours ago, rolloman said:

They make money on your money when you give it to them. Even if you give it to them for 1 day...they draw interest on it...Not You....

Carnival needs that cash flow to fund its day-to-day operations and pay off its massive debt.  There's not a dime left over, relatively speaking, to earn interest on. 

 

In the current environment, every dollar in prepaid gratuities (or prepaid anything really) is a dollar less in debt they'll have to have to issue, or less stock they'll have to issue and dilute their current outstanding shares even more.

[bucfan2]

6 hours ago, cruisingguy007 said:

 

They do, it's part of the $577.50 I pre-paid in gratuities before even setting foot on the ship. 

Always helpful to have bjerk adding a useless comment.  Ever get the pullman answer?

Edited January 4, 2023 by bucfan2

[Joebucks]

12 hours ago, dallasdan said:

Didn't NCL announce a gratuity increase in the last month?  So is Carnival just following their competitor?

 

It's not even worth attempting to discuss. We rage over headlines. It's not like the entire industry is doing the same or similar things.

 

12 hours ago, ohioNCLcruiser said:

Especially now that cabin service is once a day a cabin of four is paying almost 40 bucks a day to their cabin steward as a tip. 

 

Incorrect

 

9 hours ago, MeganGC1983 said:

There are other cruise lines… I’m doing a live from Virgin in a week. They include the wifi price and with my status match, I get free premium. 
I’m sure at a later date, I’ll work out the math. I may even get one more in before the hike. I just think that’s a high price for what you get. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Resorts include wifi. Carnival prices aren’t that cheap these days. 

 

Sounds about right. This free thing is a no-brainer, but I don't even know what the math is. Free is obviously better.

 

Anywho, I agree some of these are quite high. I will have to rethink if I really need internet at those kinds of prices. I'm also not partaking in the steakhouse at those prices. 

[TeresaJ]

13 hours ago, dallasdan said:

Didn't NCL announce a gratuity increase in the last month?  So is Carnival just following their competitor?

Yes, they are increasing to $20 per person per day. More if you are in suites. I was recently looking at a Norwegian cruise and saw that cost and thought it was much more than Carnival.

[rolloman]

7 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

Nothing compared to the interest they lose by giving away cabins to gamblers 

You really seem to be hurt over the cabin perk for certain gamblers. I am pretty sure the bean counters have analyzed the data (of which you are not privy to) and the results are positive income. Looking at it from a somewhat different angle...would you rather sail with empty cabins or fill them with revenue generating passengers? I am sure there is a one off or two who may make out but in the end,  however, statistics prove the casino always wins. 

[sanmarcosman]

11 hours ago, cruisingguy007 said:

 

Good point, maybe it's time to get real and call it what it is. 

Be careful what you wish for. When Carnival has to start paying U.S. corporate payroll taxes our base fares will increase to cover it and MORE. 

[sanmarcosman]

13 minutes ago, rolloman said:

You really seem to be hurt over the cabin perk for certain gamblers. I am pretty sure the bean counters have analyzed the data (of which you are not privy to) and the results are positive income. 

True. When I'm walking to/from our cabin and see a server with a trolley stacked with plates filled with cookies from the casino to their gambling guests I think: those cookies wind up costing the gamblers $10 per cookie. That's the way the cookie crumbles on Carnival. 

[pe4all]

We always pre-pay our grats, internet, water, etc. as soon as we book, so these increases for our upcoming cruise really don't bother us.  I don't worry about the few cents in interest I will be losing by pre-paying and having CCL "hold" our money.  I have no problem with the gratuities increasing - the crew has always been more than wonderful on all our cruises.  Internet - I will just wait until in port to use my cell phone - no biggie.  If need be I will use our cabin phone for $1.99 a minute for a quickie call home while at sea.  We are at the point in our cruise lives where we spend very little on board -  no photos, extra restaurants, etc., so the cruise line only makes money on us if we gamble or play bingo. (biggest rip-off, but special needs dd loves bingo). I hear every line is basically doing what Carnival is doing one way or another.  

[mz-s]

8 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

They are gratuities and is how the industry operates. When gratuities are included you have totally eliminated any incentive for staff to go above and beyond. They already know what they are guaranteed to receive without killing themselves.

 

That's the biggest problem on Virgin Voyages right now isn't it, lazy crew? Nothing could be further from the truth.

[sanmarcosman]

10 hours ago, Honolulu Blue said:

I think a higher portion of those pulling their grats are the old salts that have been cruising since the Arisons were running things and think they know best about how much to tip everyone.

I disagree and we sailed Carnival when Ted, and to a lesser extent his wife Lin Arison, were on top @ Carnival. The people we see removing tips are those who are newbs to cruising.

 

I spoke with a family on the Panorama in April who were on their first cruise. They were quite surprised to learn the servers and cabin stewards don't earn a minimum wage and depend on the charged gratuities to earn their living. I think ignorance has a part to play about cruise culture and most old fogies have the wisdom to know to at least pay the suggested gratuities.

[DallasGuy75219]

14 hours ago, dallasdan said:

Didn't NCL announce a gratuity increase in the last month?  So is Carnival just following their competitor?

At least Carnival didn't increase gratuities 25% like NCL (more like 10% for Carnival). 

[ninjacat123]

So I have 4 cruises coming up (after my upcoming cruise in 10 days!😀) and I went to my Cruise Manager and added prepaid gratuities to my May 2023 cruise.  The lower rate amount was added to my final payment.  Since I won't be making my final payment till Feb 22, will I still get the lower rate?  Same for my Oct 2023 cruise and so on...  Thanks in advance!

[Eli_6]

Do we even know if the staff is getting more money in the end?  Or is Carnival just paying less "salary" to them and telling them they will get more "gratuity"? 

[Eli_6]

33 minutes ago, ninjacat123 said:

So I have 4 cruises coming up (after my upcoming cruise in 10 days!😀) and I went to my Cruise Manager and added prepaid gratuities to my May 2023 cruise.  The lower rate amount was added to my final payment.  Since I won't be making my final payment till Feb 22, will I still get the lower rate?  Same for my Oct 2023 cruise and so on...  Thanks in advance!

I wondered that, too. 

[mz-s]

35 minutes ago, ninjacat123 said:

So I have 4 cruises coming up (after my upcoming cruise in 10 days!😀) and I went to my Cruise Manager and added prepaid gratuities to my May 2023 cruise.  The lower rate amount was added to my final payment.  Since I won't be making my final payment till Feb 22, will I still get the lower rate?  Same for my Oct 2023 cruise and so on...  Thanks in advance!

 

Yes, if you add gratuities now then you are locking in the current rate. No matter what the recommended gratuities are when you sail (I'm sure they'll hike the rate a few more times until then) you will pay the rate agreed upon when you added the gratuities to your booking.

 

Same with pre-booking the steakhouse, or pre-buying Cheers, etc. You're paying today's rate for when you sail.

[ninjacat123]

3 minutes ago, mz-s said:

 

Yes, if you add gratuities now then you are locking in the current rate. No matter what the recommended gratuities are when you sail (I'm sure they'll hike the rate a few more times until then) you will pay the rate agreed upon when you added the gratuities to your booking.

 

Same with pre-booking the steakhouse, or pre-buying Cheers, etc. You're paying today's rate for when you sail.

Thanks!  I was curious because I can pay for Cheers, steakhouse, etc ahead of time but I'm just "saying" I'm going to do prepaid gratuities by clicking on it in my Cruise Manager billing, but not paying for it yet.  Not the end of the world, just curious. Good to know!

[ohioNCLcruiser]

28 minutes ago, Eli_6 said:

Do we even know if the staff is getting more money in the end?  Or is Carnival just paying less "salary" to them and telling them they will get more "gratuity"? 

I don't trust for a second this increase goes to the crew. I'd be shocked if they see anything extra on their pay. 

[urbanhawk]

10 hours ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

Tipping is not part of their culture because service industry employees are paid a living wage and don't have to rely on tips. 

Yes, I understand this, but I should have been more specific-ie: for a TP, from Brisbane to Seattle in April ?