New Era in Cruising

[dlphn501]

1 hour ago, jamie717 said:

We started cruising in 1993 and a lot has changed in our 30 years of cruising.  The excitement I feel when we are close to the port and looking every which way to get the first glimpse of the cruise ship is the same today as it was the very first time! If I ever lose that feeling, that excitement, then I know it's time to look elsewhere! Many changes in cruising but, thankfully, no changes to the way it makes me feel every single time!

I don't live far from the Jacksonville, FL port, and I always get so excited when I see the ship in port as I'm driving over the bridge.  There was one time I saw it on my way to the mall, and it had started sailing away omw back, so I drove to the port to watch it, then drove over the bridge a few more times so it would go under me.  LOL

Edited December 13, 2023 by dlphn501

[Butterbean1000]

8 hours ago, cynt said:

Simple, supply and demand. Every vacation destination has increased. Check out Disney World. Crazy insane ticket and hotel prices. But crazy me booked a quick trip the weekend leading to Christmas. Why? Well my twisted rational, we're off two weeks for Christmas and we're driving to Jacksonville FL from TX to see family. We'll be sooo close (2.5 hrs) to Orlando plus our niece will be with us, who has never been to WDW. So we have to go, right? SMH! NO! 

 

The money we're saving by driving, we're using to purchase WDW tickets. So we swapped transportation expenses for entertainment expenses. But we are also sacrificing a total of 28 hours round trip by driving. It sucks but it will be worth it when we surprise her. 

 

So everyone spends their money how they choose to based on their wants. I always say, People will spend their money on what they want to spend it on and you can't tell them what to spend it on.

When my kids were growing up, we never went to Disney.  They never really voice a great desire to go.  There are plenty of big theme parks locally.  They took their children Disney and they were one and done.  They have virtually priced the average family out.  Things are super expensive everywhere, but affordable family vacations is still available.   We're cruising with my son and family for the first time.  They are successful people and are struggling with the price for a family of 4. 

Edited December 13, 2023 by Butterbean1000

[jimbo5544]

4 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

 

I think the strategy now is give away a bunch of rooms for free to people they think will lose a lot in the casino. Then the rest of the ship is supply/demand. 

You might be right, not a gambler here, so I can only judge by what people post here

[jamie717]

1 hour ago, dlphn501 said:

I don't live far from the Jacksonville, FL port, and I always get so excited when I see the ship in port as I'm driving over the bridge.  There was one time I saw it on my way to the mall, and it had started sailing away omw back, so I drove to the port to watch it, then drove over the bridge a few more times so it would go under me.  LOL

Oh my goodness, this would be me!!

[jimbo5544]

3 hours ago, mz-s said:

 

That was certainly the strategy before COVID and during the restart, but I and many others have seen the free room offers slowly dry up over the past year. My gambling habit hasn't changed so my guess is Carnival has throttled that lever back down a bit.

Or they can sell the room as opposed to give it away

[White123]

I have cruised a lot by myself or with friends.  I used to pay 1.25 x for a single. Now I am quoted  3 times the price.   Absolutely nuts. Yes there are single cabins. But they are all small  or at the very front of the ship.   The ones in good locations are at least double or more than double the price.

i miss the relaxing element of cruising.  Everything is rush rush rush. It doesn’t seem relaxing anymore.    I absolutely love cruising though. 

[StephPS79]

14 hours ago, White123 said:

i miss the relaxing element of cruising.  Everything is rush rush rush. It doesn’t seem relaxing anymore.    I absolutely love cruising though. 

 

Rush rush rush seems by choice.  You could opt to sit an a lounger all day long if you chose to do so.

[jimbo5544]

Cruising is evolving and there are many factors that affect that.  New mega ships vs older smaller ships, COVID, clientele, entertainment, food and beverage changes, embark and debark changes, service changes and it goes on.  All that said, one can decide, busy full packed cruise, or laid back and lounging, pretty darn cool.