HAL=Carnival???

[mariner]

Have been noticing a commercial in the Northeast in which Carnival shows a clearly senior couple dressed up and having the time of their lives on one of the fun ships. The music is age compatible.

Yet, they keep marketing HAL as a younger product.

I feel as if I'm behind the looking glass. Any comments?

[jhannah]

Strange. Maybe they're trying to bust the stereotypes!

[luvs2beachit]

We were on Carnival last Sept out of NY. I swore I would NEVER go on Carnival because it was a "booze cruise" etc. However, sailing out of NY because we live there combined with the price of the cruise and some positive comments from some friends we decided to give it a chance.
Surprise, surprise, we did have a very nice time. The service was good, not great. The food was good, not great. There were only a few crazy folks but they didn't interfere with our cruise experience. I cannot make the comparison to HAL because I haven't sailed on HAL since 91 and I won't be sailing on HAL again til Jan 27. But my experiences in 90 and 91 were fabulous!
I can compare Carnival to Celebrity, Princess and RCCL and Celebrity was the best hands down with RCCl and Princess running second.
Bottom line........we would give Carnival another shot. Hope this helps

[mariner]

I would agree they're trying to shift stereotype. But I don't understand why they would go to such extremes by equating Carnival's Fun Ships with what many have considered HAL, while HAL comes off just shy of Vegas. Seems to me they're trying to upgrade one brand while discount a more established perception.

[Grumpy1]

I'm looking forward to booking my 2010 cruise on one of the new CarniHAL Fun ships. :) By changing the age mix, there will be lots of young people to help carry the wheelchairs of us old geezers up and down the stairs when the elevetors quit working.:eek:

Grumpy

[shipcafe]

I'm looking forward to booking my 2010 cruise on one of the new CarniHAL Fun ships. :) By changing the age mix, there will be lots of young people to help carry the wheelchairs of us old geezers up and down the stairs when the elevetors quit working.:eek:

Grumpy

2010 !?!

[Grumpy1]

2010 !?!

sure! Don't you plan your cruises that far in advance?:rolleyes:

[slineberry528]

I cruise HAL last NOv. and will cruise Carnival in July on the new ship Valor. The shows are a little better on Carnival and I did miss the steel drum music on the last HAL ship. I like them both and so does my mother (age 75) who I will be cruising with in July.
Susan

[florida_mom]

Our family has cruised on Carnival, Disney, and Holland America. My expectations for Carnival were low, but the price, timing, and itinerary were right. Wow, was I surprised! My expectations were exceeded, the service in the dining room and the cabin were outstanding, the spa was constantly running specials, and the staff was extremely professional and nice. We were on the Paradise which at the time was a non-smoking ship, so I'm sure we had much fewer partiers, but nonetheless Carnival in our eyes was a very good, relaxing time.

[DFD1]

Have cruised both HAL and Carnival within the last two years. (Just returned from the Volendam and will sail Carnival again on the Conquest January 30.)

In my opinion, Carnival has vastly improved some parts of their cruise experience. Embarkation and disembarkation are still terrible, but the on-board experience is much more civilized than it was 8 or l0 years ago. The food and service are better, but the ships are still noisey. Too many PA system announcements all day long.

I believe the new commercials are Carnival's first serious targeted effort to move up the "socio-economic" ladder and appeal to an older, more affluent passenger.

[robsvacation]

Carnival has always attracted many older sailors, they just tended to be more active and young-at-heart types.

Carnival continues to try and shake the "frat party at sea" image, just as HAL needs to rid itself of the "retirement home that floats" image. If you look at the ads you see it. Yes, that's an older couple on the Carnival ship, but they're standing at the rail laughing with a glass of wine in hand. Watch any Carnival ad, young couple or grandparents, and it's still just "a million ways to have fun."

And yes, that's an older couple on the HAL ship in the ad, but they're on padded wood loungers in classy attire being served by a tux wearing waiter. Yes, it's an older couple, but an entirely different image: Class and service, tradition and refinement.