icft

Pictures or it didn't happen...

On the Glory you have plenty of room to walk between the table behind and your table, but often your table and one other, to your left or right, will be one or two inches apart. You can literally reach over with your fork and eat off the plate of the guy next to you. But since they are two separate tables they call it a private table. That's my minor irritation. But it still beats those tables for ten with everyone yelling to be heard across the table.

One of my minor irritations with Carnival is that in the MDR if you don't want to share a table they put you at a small table with other folks at another small table an inch or two from yours. How about Princess?

Would I ever consider wearing PJs (if I had any) in public? NO. Does it bother me if others do? No, it is the kind of thing that makes people watching fun. I also can't understand people who are offended by obese people in tiny bathing suits. They make me laugh. The world is a dull place when everyone is the same; in lockstep. I won't make a fool of myself, but I enjoy those who do.

Princess is sounding better and better...

My wife and one of my sons are adamant about not having their pictures taken. When we cruise what always works with the photographers when I am with my wife is saying, "No, I can't chance my wife seeing us."

I'm not a Carnival fan these days; used to be, but less and less since covid. But I don't think you should be questioning you decision to book the cruise. The vast majority of Carnival cruises are a good time and the odds are in your favor that you will have a great trip. Now, I would not advise becoming a Carnival regular. In my opinion Carnival doesn't enforce its rules and as a result has gained a reputation for anything goes and therefore attracts some less than desirable clientele. Again in my opinion, sail often enough and you will have a very unpleasant encounter.

What hard_eight said.

The cruise line that first offers muffalettas will hit a home run.

What hard_eight said. No one knows. (checked in last night for our free Journeys cruise)

You really need a telephoto lens...

You sure it's not the style? Kind of looks like the feet of the high fashion ladies with those pointy-toed high heels... Crammed together toes with the little toe threatening to escape is high fashion these days!

I could be completely wrong, but I don't think it is anything like a vendetta against Carnival. I rather suspect that, like us, they have seen Carnival become a mere shadow of its former self, know Carnival can do better and are frustrated that Carnival won't, or can't, pick itself up. That frustration is probably not helped by the numerous threads (though not on display in this thread) in which folks respond by expressing pride in how poorly they can be treated without it bothering them. We decided the answer is to go to other cruise lines. Why am I still following the Carnival forum? When you sail six times a year and book a year ahead there is a transition period, plus Carnival's Journey cruises are much better due to older, experienced cruisers. We still book and feel safe on Journey cruises (unlike the shorter cruises - my wife was assaulted on a seven day earlier this year - if you followed MeganGC1983's LIVE… Carnival Celebration 9/3/23-9/9/23 thread you know she was assaulted on that cruise).

Having passingly kept up with this thread I'm a bit flummoxed with talk about government searches and overreach. This has nothing to do with government. Carnival decided to do screening for those taking drugs aboard. You have consented by agreeing to the cruise contract. See the following from the cruise contract: 4(g) Marijuana, marijuana derivatives, and all illegal controlled substances are strictly prohibited and may not be brought on board any Carnival vessel. Marijuana and all marijuana derivatives are strictly prohibited from Carnival’s vessels, even if they are legal in some states or jurisdictions. Guest hereby expressly agrees that Carnival has, at all times with or without notice, the right to search Guest’s cabin and baggage and/or personal effects for any prohibited items including but not limited to drugs, weapons, and other contraband, at any location, to ensure compliance with these and other restrictions. Guests and their luggage will be routinely and randomly screened by security personnel and screening tools and equipment, including narcotics and contraband sniffing dogs during embarkation, at ports of call and on board. Any Guest who refuses any such search or screening, or any Guest traveling with such items and/or attempting to board the Vessel with any such items, may be denied boarding or reboarding and/or disembarked and no refund of the cruise fare will be issued. Guest will be solely responsible for any and all damage and/or loss caused by his violation of this policy. I've seen discussion as to who is doing the screening. Well, Carnival doesn't spend money unless it has to. If the local port authority or other agency is willing to do the screening cheaper than a private contractor Carnival will have them do it. If not they will hire private contractors. The who is whoever is cheapest.

Are we talking feet or inches here?

Just as a data point: We sail out of New Orleans often. The dogs are after the security point. If you have carry-on luggage or bags they sometimes (as you approach) ask you to carry them low so the dog can sniff, and sometimes don't. We have never even had to break stride and we have never seen anyone pulled aside. The dog just sniffs the bags as they pass. So no fuss, no bother and no time taken. We also haven't smelled pot on the ship since that started.

The cruisers on them are generally older and experienced cruisers. The vast majority can speak three sentences in a row without the "F" word. We've never seen anyone falling down drunk on a Journey cruise. So, totally different than most Carnival cruises. We love them.

Yeah! On one cruise we were on they pretty much cancelled lunch ship wide so they could get everything just right for that afternoon's "unannounced inspection." 😆

Nothing like a world class exhibition of thread hijacking. Why don't you guys start your own thread?

So they can just put sandwich vending machines on the ship and call it a day? I think even folks whose primary focus is fun want to eat something a little better.

Enjoying gambling as a form of entertainment it the key. If one is going to gamble regardless of how they paid for the cruise then the casino offers make doing what you were going to do anyhow much less expensive. But I think the idea of those who don't care to gamble marching themselves to the casino to earn perks is not very wise. They are working while on vacation. We, on the other hand, are just doing what we do for fun so it makes sense.

I agree that overworked is a subjective perspective and even if they are I don't think that is the underlying cause of the decline in service in the MDR. I think the underlying cause is reduced staff. That may well cause some of the staff to overwork themselves out of pride of doing a good job though. So the two are not mutually exclusive. But whatever the underlying cause, they are taking waiters away from their primary function at a time they are providing substandard table service, in order to put on their performance. I would rather they devote their resources to providing table service. If they ever get to the point they are again providing excellent table service and still have folks standing around then, and only then, should they put the idle folks to work as performers. Just my opinion.

It's not a bad thing, but it is Carnival's problem and they make it mine.

Our experience also.

Same here. Pre-covid I would occasionally come out ahead. In 12 since covid, zero times. They gotta pay off that debt...