Paging ***Reneei***

[jimbug]

Reneei,

 

I read your recent review of the Pride. I am curious to know if you have been on any other cruises (of any line). Trust me, I'm not trying to flame you or start anything, I am just curious. The reason I ask is because my DH and I went on our first cruise with Princess (also owned by Carnival Corp.) this past summer, and though we realized the cruise director was throwing a hard sell for something or rather at each and every announcement, we didn't let it bother us and never gave it a second thought. Additionally, there were tons of "Princess recommended" shopping venues in port, as well as numerous port shopping talks and attempts to get more of our money....

 

However, we absolutely did not let that ruin our cruise, and we just chalked it up as just a part of cruising, no big deal. I didn't even find it annoying.

 

Anyway, I was just curious if you had been on other cruises and had different (or similar) experiences? ....or if the Pride was just particularly bad in this aspect?

[basketsiam]

I had similar thoughts when reading this review of the Pride. My husband and I have been on so many cruises that we honestly pay no attention to the sales pitches and announcements regarding the spa, gift shops, etc. It's all part of the "hype" of cruising.

 

I also had some thoughts regarding the cruise director. Greg Kneal (I believe this is who Reneei referrs to as Mr. Knear) is by far one of the best cruise directors that I've ever sailed with. He is visible on the ship, interacts with the customers, and keeps a close eye on the social and entertainment staff. His high expectations result in a very professional staff, and I would welcome the opportunity to cruise with him again. :D

[Reneei]

Well, Thank you for the page...

 

This was my very 1st Cruise and my hubbys' 4th(but not on Carnival)---To each his own, I am not offended at all-just stating my opinion. Forgive me for the mis-spelled name but I was tired---my husband talked to a great deal of people and I am sorry but the facts stand--it was a below par experience.

[dbcruzin]

I copied this from your review.....

 

Did I mention the constant attention given to all the passengers in regards to money they spend on the ship? No matter where you go, you will notice everything begins and ends with an extra added price. The Auction for the paintings--What a joke! Does anyone out here realize these pictures that are being bid on and sold and/or given away are photos that have been transferred to canvas? Not worth a plugged nickle----.

 

I'm sorry, but you don't have a clue what you are talking about....the art is certified and the values are good......I spoke to a collector who buys on the ship due to the buyers fee being much less than on land.....if they are pictures, he paid $14K of a "picture" of a Picasso.........

 

Normally, totally negative reviews mean nothing to me.......however, it is uncalled for to mislead people with information you obviously know nothing about.....

[ciship]

Reneei,

 

I also took my 1st cruise last year on the Carnival Conquest and was disappointed with the whole experience....but, not for the same reasons you had. I got blasted by writing my honest review. I really thought people would appreciate the information. I was VERY wrong.

 

So anyway......you may have a stronger back than I did back then. I had to stay away from the message boards for a few months after "my beating".

 

Good luck,

cq

[jimbug]

Hey, I just wanted to clarify my original post by stating that I really am not flaming Reneei for writing her candid review. I was just trying to get a comparison to see if she had been on other cruises and that her Pride cruise was so much worse than the others, etc.

 

I call 'em like I see 'em, as well. No flames to anyone for being candid, even if it is just their opinion.

[brn2crz]

Jimbug...Not a flame at you either...

 

But I don't see this as a "candid" review at all.True,maybe candid that she did not care for the sales pitch.But in my opinion,it should not even qualify as a review.There was no discussion or real info shared.Just some off handed comments about shopping discussions.It was a 7 day cruise for goodness sakes.Give people some valid info to go on.

I am not Carnivals biggest fan...Although I have only been on Jubilee,Holiday & Celebration...not their best.....But it seems to me as this reviewer had no idea what to expect from a cruise,much less how to review one.

 

Embarkation was graded "2" but was stated no problems at embarkation(lady fainting)

Fitness rated 1 but no comments given

Dining recieved highest marks...but comments were "great to worse"

Cabin recieved "2" only comments were "room stew was great"

I am all for posting the truth ,good and bad in reviews...Please...I want to hear it...But it needs some validity.Not just ranting about the "shopping push"

[MrPete]

Where is this review? Was it pulled? I only found a quick "disaster" thread about sales pitches, unrewarded talent shows, and swollen legs.

Anyone have a link?

[basketsiam]

Where is this review? Was it pulled? I only found a quick "disaster" thread about sales pitches, unrewarded talent shows, and swollen legs.

Anyone have a link?

 

The review is posted under the "New Member Reviews" on the Community page of this board..... :)

[wwakla]

I just got done reading the review. Wow that is to bad you had such a bad experience. Maybe the crew was tired from giving us a fabulous time the week before. :D

Was there anything you did like? Everyone has the right to their OWN opinions but maybe if you had had a good nites sleep and then wrote the review it would not have been so hateful.

[MrPete]

OK Thanks. Found it. More of the same drivel. Sounds more like a review of a slave ship where both the pax and workers are forced upon.

[ciship]

JimBug,

 

I knew you werent flaming her. I felt kindness through your entire post.

 

I was just referring to what happened to me last year after my review went out.....whew!! It was NOT pretty!

 

cq

[pungo3]

This is so sad. The Pride was our first cruise and it's still our favorite. The crew was wonderful. It is very disappointing to hear that someone had such a horrible experience on a ship that you love.:(

[Di's going to cruise again]

Don't get me wrong, I love sailing on Carnival, but Reneei DOES have a point.

 

Carnival has low cruise fares, but then tries to 'recover' money by charging high prices for photos, excursions, Bingo, and other add-ons.

 

A person on their first cruise wants to 'experience' the cruise, and will want to do all the things and will spend the money and then feel 'shafted'.

 

Perhaps experienced cruisers should be more assertive in pointing out the real values and explaining how to avoid the rip-offs.

 

JMHO.

[ciship]

Pungo3,

 

We are going on the Pride in March and I have to tell you that the Pride reviews are the most consistently GOOD reviews that I have ever read...Carnival or otherwise. I am excited to take her and I am really hoping that she is a better experience for us than the Carnival Conquest was last year. eeeekkkkk!! We wanted to give Carnival a second chance.

 

Glad to hear you liked her...

 

cq

[pungo3]

ciship, having sailed both the Pride and the Conquest, I can tell you, IMHO, the Pride is much better. Truly, we loved the layout of the ship, the staff, the food, the entertainment, everything! I hope you enjoy your cruise.:)

[ciship]

Pungo3,

 

We loved the ship (Conquest) itself, but we must have been on her at a time that the crew was due for a shift change (or break) because at that particular time there were NO happy faces on board and very little customer service. I felt sorry for the crew. They were exhausted (I would be too if I had their job!!)

 

cq

[babs275]

Carnival has low cruise fares, but then tries to 'recover' money by charging high prices for photos, excursions, Bingo, and other add-ons.

This is pretty universal across the board with all the cruiselines, that is just the nature of the beast - in fact RCCL seems even higher in this regard. I've often felt that they would probably sell more pictures if they dropped the price and made it up in volume - but obviously their marketing studies show differently. Whether we like it or not - we are walking revenue streams whenever we vacation - on land or sea.

[noodle]

I think the OP is entitled to her opinion, and us CCrs are entitled to take it for what we think her opinion is worth and how applicable it is to our personality types.

 

I read her review, and I have also been on the Pride. The things that bothered her, didn't bother me, but she is entitled to her opinions and to post them here for others that can judge and see if cruising on Carnival is right for them. Possibly, cruising on the larger mass market cruises is not right for OP, and she needs to seek out a truely all inclusive, albiet more expensive, cruiseline. That may be more enjoyable for her.

 

Her review is not going to stop me from cruising Carnival, because I like Bingo, and I just ignore the enticements to purchase things I don't want. Commercials, advertisements, infomercials, Shopping network, all these things in everyday life don't bother me, I merely don't watch or look if I am not interested. That is how I view the selling on the ships.

 

As for the art in the art auctions: I went once and did not purchase anything. But, as for just being a picture of the art transferred to canvas, I do not believe this is true. Many of the pieces were Lithographs which are prints (some special process that I am not sure about with high quality inks that don't fade as easily), but usually authorized by the artist or their estate and usually done in limited amounts and numbered. Thus, if demand is high, the value can appreciate. So on this issue, like any other issue, educate yourself and make your own conclusions on whether that is where you want to place your money.

[DFD1]

It's a well known fact that one can spend a fortune on a cruise whose base price is no more than $60 or $70 per day. We have been cruising for years, having a great time all the way, and often leaving the ship having spent no more than $l00 or so on the ship during a 7 day cruise.

 

Spending money on board ship is just like spending it anyplace else. One can buy everything in sight or pick and chose carefully.

 

As to there being someone on board selling something all the time, I'd rather have it that way than have nothing extra offered at all.

 

I did not have a problem with Renell's review. I just could not understand why she let some of the things get under her skin so badly. IMO

[youngtraveladdict]

I happened along the original review today.

I was just wondering what happened to this lady's leg? I am in the medical profession and I can tell you that low potassium does not cause swelling like what she described. I really don't know what kind of clinic she went to. If I was the doctor on the ship I would have been suspecious of a blood clot as well. Pain, uneaual swelling, reddness, and long travel to get to the ship...its a blodd clot until you have an ultrasound of your leg proving otherwise. Its really dangenrous if not diagnosed baecause that clot could break off and travel to your lungs which could be fatal.

[KruznKel]

I happened along the original review today.

I was just wondering what happened to this lady's leg? I am in the medical profession and I can tell you that low potassium does not cause swelling like what she described. I really don't know what kind of clinic she went to. If I was the doctor on the ship I would have been suspecious of a blood clot as well. Pain, uneaual swelling, reddness, and long travel to get to the ship...its a blodd clot until you have an ultrasound of your leg proving otherwise. Its really dangenrous if not diagnosed baecause that clot could break off and travel to your lungs which could be fatal.

 

I have not been able to find the original post.. but.. as for the blood clots.. superficial clots are not dangerous.. they do cause pain, swelling and redness along the vien that has the clot..

 

IF in fact her leg turned PURPLE that would be a cause for concern that would be a DVT.. superficial clots do not move to vital organs.. Since I have had DVT and have had 7 superficial clots in the same leg.. and been to upteem doctors.. they are just a pain in the a$$ more than a danger!!!

[Bramcruiser]

Reneei,

 

I got blasted by writing my honest review. I really thought people would appreciate the information. I was VERY wrong.

 

 

Yeah I noticed that bad reviews get attacked voraciously while only good reviews seem to be appreciated for the most part. I realize that I am just generalizing here so don't want to make a blanket statement over everyone on the cruise critic boards.

 

Not everyone will have the same experience and I know a lot of non-board members who have tried cruising and not found it to their liking. I say to each his own. I never had a bad experience that turned me off cruising but realize its not the life style for everyone.

 

Now I realize there are those who come across as selfish or at least complain about the dumbest little things out there but there are also reviews just based on really horrific experiences or just the fact that it wasn't an experience that was for the writer. I actually think the flaming and name calling being returned in some cases to be a far worse thing and makes us cruisers look bad. I remember recently one post I sent to a person on one of the boards here - I was viciously attacked. Apparently the number of times one posts has something to do with IQs and relevance in responses according to this person. And that was the good part of the response. Sad day indeed. However, lets just remember this happens on ALL message boards as I've seen it happen on many non-cruise ones as well. You get all types in every crowd.

 

Nothing wrong with bad reviews as long as they are sane and nothing wrong with disagreeing with them as long as they are civil.

[Bramcruiser]

As for Reneei's cruise experience. Oh well! Its like everything in life. You notice on some flights the captain or main flight attendant will announce that airline's credit card so that you can gain valuable points for your flights? I suppose in our marketing oriented universe its natural to have all the extras pounced on us all the time while cruising. Most of it is just background noise. I tend to avoid the casinos and the bingo games myself so I simply ignore any announcement having to do with them or anything else I am not interested in. Call it selective hearing I guess! HA HA HA!

 

But realistically I can see how it drives some people nuts. I know when I am in a mall I sometimes feel like mowing down those people in the middle of the place who try to stop you with subscriptions to this or that and offer you a free gift. Just do what I do. Keep on walking and say "Oh boy! Free crap!". Okay, a little ignorant but if it doesn't appeal to you just move on.

 

Reneei is just going to have to decide how much she allows things to bother her if its worth it to her to try another cruise or not. Overall I appreciate her input.

[caprcorn28]

The reviews that I personally find credible and helpful are the ones that are balanced and level-headed. Not rants and raves and not all "fluff" as some people call it. Give me the good and the bad but be clear and concise and with reasons that don't make it sound like you are stomping your patent leather shoes. Every vacation is going to be left to the interpretation of the person experiencing it first hand. You don't know what kind of person they are: easy to please - easy going, picky to down right anal.

I will say that Reneei will probably not be happy on other lines - cuz that is about it. People want to sell you stuff. People want to sell you stuff on board and god knows on the islands. Big deal. Either you can handle it or choose not to, so don't go.

There is this particular stand in several of our malls in the area that EVERY TIME you walk by..."Would you like lotion?" which you usually respond with a polite "No Thank You" and then they start to follow you with "May I see your nails" to "Can I just ask you a question...?" EVERY TIME. Depending on the day, I either "go the other way" around so I don't have to go on that corner, or I don't make eye contact or like on the day after Thanksgiving "NO!" before they even start. Doesn't ruin my day, doesn't ruin me from going back to those malls. But that's me.

If you would look at the ratings of the "Overall Member Ratings" ribbon things (is that what those blue things are?) on the Carnival Pride, it is an average of 4...sounds good to me.

 

(I am surprised that she wasn't annoyed by Mexico itself and how they sell stuff there...good grief...you can't walk down the sidewalk without people nearly trying to wrangle you inside their store. And as far as the workers being "overworked" - I would also venture to guess that this beats the alternative of what they have in their home countries...hence why they work around the world from their families! I have talked to many of our servers on various ships...they say that it IS hard work, but it is a world of difference in life quality to their family!! Maybe she should have taken the time to talk to some of the workers and find out if they liked their jobs or felt like slaves...)