Why are there so many people in line at Guest Services?

I'm always surprised by the long lines of people at Guest Services, especially on the morning of disembarkment? I find that Carnival Kiosk has removed my most common need for GS which is change, although I usually try to stop by the bank and get smaller bill for porter tips, room service tips, etc. I am able to put money on my SS via the kiosk, get back any refund on the last morning and check SS charges. I can also check charges on the cabin TV, which I periodically do so if there are any issues I can go to GS when they aren't busy. The last thing I want to do...other than have to get off the ship, is to wait in a long line verse enjoying the last few moments of my vacation. I find most issues or requests I have are handled by the room steward.

So are the people waiting just unaware of the services the kiosk and in room TV channels can provide? Is Carnival making that many mistakes on SS charges?

Change, OBC refunds, information, debarkation tags and early deboarding requests, complaints, tip adjustments, credit disputes.....

The list can go on forever.

Change, OBC refunds, information, debarkation tags and early deboarding requests, complaints, tip adjustments, credit disputes.....

 

The list can go on forever.

Change and OBC refunds can be done at the Kiosk...morning of debark would be too late for luggage tags?

Guess I'll just consider myself lucky that I am informed and know of the other means to get the information I need or to stop by GS at less busy times.

I had to stand in line on debark day due to charge disputes.

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I'm always surprised by the long lines of people at Guest Services, especially on the morning of disembarkment? I find that Carnival Kiosk has removed my most common need for GS which is change, although I usually try to stop by the bank and get smaller bill for porter tips, room service tips, etc. I am able to put money on my SS via the kiosk, get back any refund on the last morning and check SS charges. I can also check charges on the cabin TV, which I periodically do so if there are any issues I can go to GS when they aren't busy. The last thing I want to do...other than have to get off the ship, is to wait in a long line verse enjoying the last few moments of my vacation. I find most issues or requests I have are handled by the room steward.

 

So are the people waiting just unaware of the services the kiosk and in room TV channels can provide? Is Carnival making that many mistakes on SS charges?

Main reason is that they are afraid of technology.

I always stand in the line at guest services the first day to get extra keys so I can get into my kid's room.

Sometimes people have to collect the $500 they won playing BINGO the night before!

That happened to me once and I had to go to GS the next morning before getting off the ship. But I was more than ok with standing in line for a few minutes to collect my $500!

Change and OBC refunds can be done at the Kiosk...morning of debark would be too late for luggage tags?

 

Guess I'll just consider myself lucky that I am informed and know of the other means to get the information I need or to stop by GS at less busy times.

Yet I must be missing why your standing there looking at the line.

Sometimes people have to collect the $500 they won playing BINGO the night before!

That happened to me once and I had to go to GS the next morning before getting off the ship. But I was more than ok with standing in line for a few minutes to collect my $500!

Oh I'd stand in line for that too! :D I'm sure we'd be the people smiling while waiting in line verses the grumpy looking people.

Yet I must be missing why your standing there looking at the line.

It's hard to miss seeing the line of people when I walk up to use the Kiosk that is located across from the GS desk.

I always stand in the line at guest services the first day to get extra keys so I can get into my kid's room.

I've needed to stop by GS the first day also, regarding medical request, but thankfully no line or just a few people. There have been other times during the cruise when I had a question and GS was very busy so I opted to stop by at a less busy time.

Change and OBC refunds can be done at the Kiosk...morning of debark would be too late for luggage tags?

 

Guess I'll just consider myself lucky that I am informed and know of the other means to get the information I need or to stop by GS at less busy times.

It is inevitable that there will be a line at guest services. I've been there in line before and consider myself very informed. Never the last day though. People have issues. lol. Always best to go in the middle of the night. My last cruise I had to go to guest services twice because my s&s card/room key wouldn't work. Things happen.

I'm always surprised by the long lines of people at Guest Services, especially on the morning of disembarkment? I find that Carnival Kiosk has removed my most common need for GS which is change, although I usually try to stop by the bank and get smaller bill for porter tips, room service tips, etc. I am able to put money on my SS via the kiosk, get back any refund on the last morning and check SS charges. I can also check charges on the cabin TV, which I periodically do so if there are any issues I can go to GS when they aren't busy. The last thing I want to do...other than have to get off the ship, is to wait in a long line verse enjoying the last few moments of my vacation. I find most issues or requests I have are handled by the room steward.

 

So are the people waiting just unaware of the services the kiosk and in room TV channels can provide? Is Carnival making that many mistakes on SS charges?

Not every ship has the interactive televisions. And some people don't like using kiosks. What's the big deal?

I always check to see if anyone lost a free cruise.

Not every ship has the interactive televisions. And some people don't like using kiosks. What's the big deal?

No big deal, just wondering...as I said I don't want to have to be waiting in line if at all possible but to each their own.

My first cruise that had the kiosk we had about a $25 credit left over, I went to the Kiosk and didn't know which option to select but I wasn't about to wait in line, let them send me a check, but as I headed to get in line to get off the ship I asked the crew member if in fact the Kiosks issued refunds he told me they did and actually walked over and showed me exactly which menu options to select.

Perhaps having a crew member periodically check in with the people in line to see if their needs can be met by the kiosk and show them how to use it, esp on debark would be a positive for both the passenger and GS staff. Similar to when I'm on hold for customer service for a business and they hold message will be information about which online services are available.

I have never even been to the Guest Services Desk in 4 cruises. Also never used a Kiosk onboard either. Guess I have been lucky so far or something.

Some people go to guest services to complain about a bad experience onboard, or to resolve an issue that didn't get taken care of right away. Lots of reasons people go there. Also to get refunds the last day or resolve charges. Personally, I hate going to guest services. Most of them act stuck up and snotty when you ask them anything. I don't know if it is because they deal with self entitled idiots so often and are jaded but it's their job to resolve issues, not create more problems. Any other opinions about guest services staff? That is one of the few areas where I usually give bad marks on post-cruise surveys, rude gift shop staff being the other.

Our last cruise we signed up for luggage express and there was a problem with mine. I had to go to GS 3 times last day. :eek: that is why I will always purchase FTTF!! I did notice most people were paying off their S&S cards. Doesn't make sense to me. Why not just let it go in a credit card and pay it off later? (And get FF miles!)

Our last cruise we signed up for luggage express and there was a problem with mine. I had to go to GS 3 times last day. :eek: that is why I will always purchase FTTF!! I did notice most people were paying off their S&S cards. Doesn't make sense to me. Why not just let it go in a credit card and pay it off later? (And get FF miles!)

I usually use BF credit card for cruises and since I went solo last time I did attach my bankcard to my account but I loaded cash to my SS with the kiosk. I've had to go to GS about towel charge on RCCL even though the towels were returned the night before and the crew swiped our cards, irritated by it as I wish RCCL would just leave the beach towels in the room like at Carnival. I guess if more people used the Kiosks for what they could, the line would be shorter for the issues that need a live person.

I was not able to use the Kiosks the first day of my last due to an issue with my SS card. I however, do go and watch the morning we debark to people watch. It is usally the first time cruisers that you see around the ship drinking it up heavily or with the kids running around without adults and they get the bar bill or the arcade bill that I find amusing. I feel bad they have a high bill but amused at the same time. Life is to short so sail on and enjoy.

I've used GS for change and to get a crew member to escort me off the ship for excursions, but I stand in the VIP line, usually only one or two cruisers there. I do notice the looks I get from those 20 people deep.

It's hard to miss seeing the line of people when I walk up to use the Kiosk that is located across from the GS desk.

Please educate me. what is Kiosk?

Please educate me. what is Kiosk?

http://www.zydecocruiser.net/CarnivalConquest2012/01NewOrleans/index2.html

scroll all the way almost on the bottom you will see one

I save by getting travellers cheques, I usually try and have close to a $0 balance on my credit card. I went three times to GS, all time were no one was in line and applied payments to my account. One strange thing though, on the third time I went they asked me for my ID to apply the travellers cheques to my sail and sign. Not sure why as they done it twice before on that cruise without it.

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I love self serve too. I had to wait in line because we remove our tips because we tip in cash. Once we discovered the kiosk we were hooked. I wonder if you can remove tips on the kiosk? That would be wonderful. We like the old fashioned way of placing the tips in envelopes. Once we discovered the kiosk we would go there at night and pay off our bill in cash. Very handy

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