Does this disturbing new trend bother anyone else?

[mz-s]

41 minutes ago, MsTabbyKats said:

On our last cruise....DH loved the brunch.  That's probably the #1 reason for scheduling our upcoming cruise.  If they mess that up....there's no going back...especially if the entertainment is reduced to passenger game shows.

 

If you still love the brunch then you're probably okay, they've seriously cut back that menu and hours of operation so it is a shadow of its former self, like everything else onboard.

[kdr69]

8 hours ago, Jeafl said:

is leaning more towards passengers entertaining other passengers at night.  

Its called passenger participation not passengers entertaining other passengers otherwise television would be viewers entertaining viewers.  If passengers dont participate there wouldnt be alot of games or events onboard.  Can you imagine groove for st jude with just the fun squad doing the grooving?  Or watching the staff doing the deal or no deal game?  maybe they could use the Cruise Director and the Hotel Director for the newlywed game? They still have the variety acts, the bands and the Musical shows onboard but something had to take the place of the Hairy Chest contest and I happen to like Deal or No Deal and hope to be a contestant onboard someday.

[kdr69]

6 hours ago, MsTabbyKats said:

I really am not entertained by "passenger shows" at all

Havent watched the newlywed game? That is really entertaining.

[jimbo5544]

8 hours ago, Jeafl said:

Just for reference, we are Platinum on Carnival so we have been on many cruises over the year and have seen many changes, most not for the better.  We just returned from a 7-day on the Firenze.  We also did a 10-day on the Venezia and an 8-day on the Magic this year.  What is really standing out to me is that Carnival is moving away from from professional entertainers and is leaning more towards passengers entertaining other passengers at night.  

 

For example, it used to be on a 7-8 day cruise you would have at least 4-5 production shows in the theater.  Last week there were TWO. Plus a juggler who couldn't hold onto what he was juggling to save his soul.  I was embarrassed for him.  The other nights are now Family Feud, Deal or No Deal, Love and Marriage show, some other game show which was where a parent and a child went on stage and answered questions about each other like the Newlywed Game.  There was also a Guess the Lyrics game show, as well as Karaoke every night, and other passenger led entertainment as well.

 

Yesterday I saw a poll from John Heald asking if people would be interested in an "open mic night" in the comedy clubs.  I, for one, enjoy most of the professional comedians, but would not enjoy watching my fellow drunk passengers attempt comedy on stage. 

 

I understand that Carnival lost a lot of money during Covid and is trying to recoup their losses, but honestly, enough is enough with the passengers being your entertainment.

 

Am I the only one who is usually not entertained by the talents or non-talents of fellow passengers?  Or am I just getting old and cranky?

Couple of comments.  Cruising is evolving (as an industry).  Whether you or I like that, it is not going away. Things like family feud, deal or no deal and the newly wed game and hugely popular.  You may want production shows, but their clients as a rule do not.  IMHO it has little do with finances and WAY more fulfilling what their clients want.  
 

I think a move towards an open mike comedy night is a great idea.  Trivia contests not so much.  
 

For the record, we have seen and heard some pretty darn good vocal talent, but the real point is that what they do, their clients want.  Not sure why you mentioned your level or how many cruises you had done.  

[kdr69]

8 hours ago, Jeafl said:

Yesterday I saw a poll from John Heald asking if people would be interested in an "open mic night" in the comedy clubs.  I, for one, enjoy most of the professional comedians, but would not enjoy watching my fellow drunk passengers attempt comedy on stage. 

You do know that he does these polls because of peoples complaints demanding to know why Carnival DOESNT do what they think is a brilliant idea so that he can give the questioner the answer from all of us without giving him the answer he wants to give him?  

[jimbo5544]

6 hours ago, NYcruzzer said:

Fortunately MSC is bucking this trend. On my recent 7 night  cruise on MSC Meraviglia there was 3 full scale production shows. Two magician/illusionist and 2 comedy shows in the main showroom. All very good I might add.

We were on the Orchestra when they first came over.  By far, the moat boring entertainment we have ever seen on a ship. 

[jimbo5544]

5 hours ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

I suppose this is parallel to what has happened to major network Prime Time TV:  Reality TV shows have smothered a good chunk of what used to be original programming, because it is so much cheaper to make.  To get good shows you often have to go to streaming / Cable-only package sources (Amazon, HBO, etc).

 

I don't think it is a lack of available talent, but perhaps the lack of budget required to keep those shows going - or rather the realization that there isn't the need to spend the money, even if a drop in the bucket overall, if the pax prefer to self-entertain.

Or the”old way” was not cutting the mustard.  

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

On our last Horizon cruise they had a magician in the MDR doing table side tricks while waiting we were waiting for our food to arrive.  He was pretty good, and we enjoyed his daily visit.  

 

Much more enjoyable than the photographer who kept on trying to take pictures while we had food in our mouths.

 

The magician did not have his own show.  

 

The best performer I've ever seen on a cruise was Steve Cassel. Also, the ship's cruise director, so I guess a low-cost show for Carnival.  He was truly outstanding.  Great juggling, and great fiddle playing of The Devil Went Down to Georgia. We saw him 9 years ago now.  If they got more CD's and fun squad members with that kind of talent, they wouldn't need to pay for guest performers.

 

The only other performer's name I remember from any cruise (or landside vacation) is Tiny Plunger on a Disney Cruise.  (google it)

 

Tiny Plunger is also the only performer for whom we waited for an autograph

[stobe1]

Its funny to read about everyone that keep complaining about continual cutbacks at Carnival, and yet still continue to sail with them. 

 

If the cutbacks over the years bother you that much, book elsewhere. Why continue to put your hard earned money into a product that you are no longer satisfied with?

[ninjacat123]

32 minutes ago, PrincessArlena'sDad said:

On our last Horizon cruise they had a magician in the MDR doing table side tricks while waiting we were waiting for our food to arrive.  He was pretty good, and we enjoyed his daily visit.  

 

Much more enjoyable than the photographer who kept on trying to take pictures while we had food in our mouths.

 

The magician did not have his own show.  

 

The best performer I've ever seen on a cruise was Steve Cassel. Also, the ship's cruise director, so I guess a low-cost show for Carnival.  He was truly outstanding.  Great juggling, and great fiddle playing of The Devil Went Down to Georgia. We saw him 9 years ago now.  If they got more CD's and fun squad members with that kind of talent, they wouldn't need to pay for guest performers.

 

The only other performer's name I remember from any cruise (or landside vacation) is Tiny Plunger on a Disney Cruise.  (google it)

 

Tiny Plunger is also the only performer for whom we waited for an autograph

We had a wonderful magician come by our table every night (and even sea day brunch) and he made our cruise great! Unfortunately he was not continuing his contract. We wanted to take him home😄

[jimbo5544]

2 minutes ago, stobe1 said:

Its funny to read about everyone that keep complaining about continual cutbacks at Carnival, and yet still continue to sail with them. 

 

If the cutbacks over the years bother you that much, book elsewhere. Why continue to put your hard earned money into a product that you are no longer satisfied with?

You do not have to look to hard to see that you can read the same on other lines saying the same thing.  Seems obvious to me that, in least in their view, it is not black and white but shades of gray.  People can be unhappy with something but enjoy the product. If everyone cut bait on any perceived thing, nobody would sail any line.     

[jimbo5544]

6 minutes ago, ninjacat123 said:

We had a wonderful magician come by our table every night (and even sea day brunch) and he made our cruise great! Unfortunately he was not continuing his contract. We wanted to take him home😄

We enjoyed the magician as well.  He was good and funny.  

[RoperDK]

7 hours ago, firefly333 said:

I just got off baby sized adventure of the seas to Bermuda. I wanted to overnight in Bermuda so booked it. Not for the ship. The Two Tenors was a hit.

 

We were on Adventure the cruise before yours and I almost went to see The Two Tenors.  I thought it might be good, but we decided to do something else.  I've been bit by going to the featured entertainer shows before and with so many things to do, I chickened out.  Wish I had given it a go now.  

[LatinaInTexas]

All I know is if there isn't a production show on any given night we find ourselves at either the casino or a bar..... spending money.

[stobe1]

20 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

You do not have to look to hard to see that you can read the same on other lines saying the same thing.  Seems obvious to me that, in least in their view, it is not black and white but shades of gray.  People can be unhappy with something but enjoy the product. If everyone cut bait on any perceived thing, nobody would sail any line.     

 

That's true. Its the same across the board, or so it seems. 

 

Cruising is, and has always been, my preferred vacation of choice. When and if it gets to the point that Carnival cuts too close to the bone for me, I will put my money elsewhere. I have cruised Royal and Celebrity since the restart and keep finding that I "come home to mama".

 

I dont find anything appalling enough to complain. Pillow chocloates, table cloths, straws (I bring my own now), etc...all gone the way of the dodo bird and never thought too much of that anyway.  Never cared much for production shows, neither. If I want swanky I will go on Cunard. I know not to expect it on Carnival. I know I am getting what I am paying for. 

 

Plus I have had a bit of the firmament of the vine so if any of this seems incoherent, please blame that.

[jerseyjjs]

I remember the days when over 125 people would form a circle around 4 people participating in the "bean bag challenge".  I even commented on how the people were almost desperate for onboard entertainment.  At least now the passengers have ratcheted up the entertainment quality with rubber duck hunts.

[bg2310]

Maybe it's just a larger societal trend and people who do that not being able to make a living doing so? May not just be relevant to the cruising industry.

 

Also, maybe it's cruiser's preference and Carnival is simply giving the people what they want?

 

I for one don't mind so long as there's balance between the two. Love & Marriage and Family Feud are quite entertaining, arguably more entertaining than the professionals bar the live music and theater shows.

 

It's nice to have a mix and variety of entertainment, and most people enjoy both with professional and other passengers.

 

Different strokes for different folks, it's not all about you!

[aborgman]

3 hours ago, mz-s said:

 

Where does it end? 

 

When it starts to be more profitable for it to end than to continue it.

[Oletruckdude]

1 hour ago, stobe1 said:

Its funny to read about everyone that keep complaining about continual cutbacks at Carnival, and yet still continue to sail with them. 

 

If the cutbacks over the years bother you that much, book elsewhere. Why continue to put your hard earned money into a product that you are no longer satisfied with?

These are discussion boards. People are going to discuss the recent changes in the cruising environment. And the "critical" posts are expected because, after all, you are reading on a forum called Cruise "Critic". 

 

Edited 19 hours ago by Oletruckdude

[MsTabbyKats]

2 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

We were on the Orchestra when they first came over.  By far, the moat boring entertainment we have ever seen on a ship. 

And we were on the Davina....the best entertainment imho.  This included an opera matinee by a well known performer. 

[Linsuesue]

Perhaps this discussion ties in a bit to the feeling that Carnival doesn’t appreciate their loyal cruisers as much. There is an extent to how many times you are going to see Getaway Island, Heart of Soul, Color My World, Dear Future Husband, 80’s Pop to the Max, 88 Keys, Epic Rock… Frequent cruisers have been there an done that and those productions might be left in place for the Blues, Reds, and Golds. If we are not attending those shows, we will be at the casino, perhaps a leisurlely specialty meal, or focusing more on the other musical/comedic entertainment on the ship. On a behind the scene tour, a Playlist Production entertainer told us it costs 1 million to put on a new production. That sure must limit how man new shows will be coming. For us, it feels like the gap is closing between Carnival being the most cost effective cruise—compared to other cruise lines. 

[RogueMonk]

We rarely go to the production shows. We prefer the comedy club and the live music at the various venues. 

[stobe1]

48 minutes ago, Oletruckdude said:

These are discussion boards. People are going to discuss the recent changes in the cruising environment. And the "critical" posts are expected because, after all, you are reading on a forum called Cruise "Critic". 

 

Oh. Right. Complain and still spend money while complaining.

 

If i get crappy service from my preferred restaurant and I still go there and give them my money after years of going downhill and declining service that I am unhappy with that's on me. 

Edited 19 hours ago by stobe1

[Oletruckdude]

10 minutes ago, stobe1 said:

Oh. Right. Complain and still spend money while complaining.

 

If i get crappy service from my preferred restaurant and I still go there and give them my money after years of going downhill and declines that I am unhappy with that's on me. 

Yes, I am one of those people. I dislike many of Carnival's recent cutbacks, so I come here and discuss, or criticize, those cutbacks. But I continue to sail Carnival because there are many things I like about Carnival. Just not everything. There's always room for improvement.

Edited 18 hours ago by Oletruckdude

[tonit964]

8 hours ago, Roscoe13 said:

Passengers have always been my entertainment. 

This is so true! You can’t make some of the “stuff” up. 🤣