Just back of Carnival Dream and the alcohol confiscating IS WAY UP!!!

[dan40]

[quote name='timh111'][B][I]We did the Dream 4/17 - 4/24. I brought on a bottle of Jack Daniels via my check in baggage and my brother brought on a bottle of Rum in his check in baggage. NO PROBLEM!! We even bought Tequila in Cozumel and brought that back onboard and still not problem. I agree SOMEWHAT with those that are glad that Carnival is cracking down. I and so many others would be MUCH happier if they didn't charge $4.50 for 1 beer not to include the 15% gratuity or $9.50 for the DOD in a cheap plastic glass (that used to be REAL GLASS years ago) and the $15.00 for a bucket of beer (that comes to $3.00 per beer) when you consider they are buying these items in BULK and probably spend .50 cents per beer and .03 cents for those cheap plastic glasses for the DOD's!!! And what's with the $49.95 for the unlimited beverage card for the week??? OK, I regress. I'm NOT happy they are. If they charged a FAIR price where then could make a decent profit, people would NOT try to smuggle alcohol onboard!!! Times are tough for most cruisers and making an allowance of $2000.00 in their budgets for JUST the cruise not including excursions, shopping or the bar bill you will incurr EVEN if you smuggle alcohol onboard brings that up to around $3000.00 for a couple!! Price fairly, people will buy and they will make a profit!![/I][/B][/quote]


Would you be so kind as to list ALL or any place of equal ambiance, service, quality, cleanliness, and overall enjoyment that sells booze for less. I can give you a list of THOUSANDS of places that charge MORE. A cruise ship is not your corner bar with $1.00 draft happy hour. A cruise ship is an upscale bar and upscale bars are always at a par with cruiseline prices and often higher.
If you can't pay the fare, don't book the trip.

[Kurbanfan]

[quote name='ava_girl_123']Then why bash my original post that said EXACTLY that?? My original post says that for one to basically figure that alcohol sales should not be the only thing considered in Carnivals bottom line is naive, that there are a TON of other factors regarding profits in a company as there are a TON of other factors regarding losses in a company.

We own a petroleum company in the greater Baltimore area. Our primary source of profit is gas stations breaking down, computers, tanks, monitors, credit card machines, drive off's. We also service car washes. If we lost even a quarter of our car wash services that we provide to our vendors, we could be in trouble. If we have an employee that decided to drive around in our trucks while not working that can hurt our bottom line for that month. Waste management, complaints, gas prices, etc..:cool:[/quote]

Because alcohol and the casino is where Carnival makes their biggest profit.......

After your first cruise come back and let me know how much Carnival pushes their drinks.....okey dokey:D

[dan40]

[quote name='ava_girl_123']Then why bash my original post that said EXACTLY that?? My original post says that for one to basically figure that alcohol sales should not be the only thing considered in Carnivals bottom line is naive, that there are a TON of other factors regarding profits in a company as there are a TON of other factors regarding losses in a company.

We own a petroleum company in the greater Baltimore area. Our primary source of profit is gas stations breaking down, computers, tanks, monitors, credit card machines, drive off's. We also service car washes. If we lost even a quarter of our car wash services that we provide to our vendors, we could be in trouble. If we have an employee that decided to drive around in our trucks while not working that can hurt our bottom line for that month. Waste management, complaints, gas prices, etc..:cool:

My statement is simple: People need to spend money on all that these lines offer if they want to see prices continue to be good.. Do not bash [I]only[/I] the smugglers if you see a price hike in alcohol drinks, but those who decide not to drop a penny more on a cruise or all inclusive vacation.. Companies will increase prices on one item to off set a loss on another item..[/quote]


And one of Carnival Corporation's ships uses ONE GALLON OF FUEL OIL FOR EVERY 6 INCHES IT MOVES! All businesses have expenses, and all businesses maximize profits anywhere they can. Same as you do!

[ava_girl_123]

[quote name='Kurbanfan']Because alcohol and the casino is where Carnival makes their biggest profit.......

After your first cruise come back and let me know how much Carnival pushes their drinks.....okey dokey:D[/quote]



Like I said, it may be the primary source but a whole lot more goes into the bottom line. Our biggest profits come from one part of our company and we push a ton of other services too.. Can't afford to lose any of them.

[ava_girl_123]

[quote name='dan40']And one of Carnival Corporation's ships uses ONE GALLON OF FUEL OIL FOR EVERY 6 INCHES IT MOVES! All businesses have expenses, and all businesses maximize profits anywhere they can. Same as you do![/quote]


So you agree that there are a ton of factors in the bottom line? Not just alcohol sales, even if it is the largest factor... ?

[FanofFlorida]

[quote name='PirateGal']I had to do the walk of shame to get my luggage because they took my flat iron for my hair! I knew that clothes irons and steamers were forbidden but have never had any issues with bringing a flat iron. We were just on Princess in October and no issues there. Goodbye expensive hair cut. Hello ponytail for the week.[/quote]

The FLAT IRON- please! I think I will just put it through on carry on... wth?

[kyrisong1]

Truthfully the alcohol thing doesn't bother me much, we can order a bottle for the room from BV and do that often but truthfully we never drink it, it's much better to order from the bar and have it made for you.
I'll stop bringing my small bottle of Baileys for my morning coffee and do without it until they start offering Baileys, I don't like the other brand of Irish Cream they sell. I'm not a huge drinker and I am fine to go without.
BUT if they start taking my curling iron away then I'll switch lines!!! I have naturally wavy hair but it waves where I don't want it to!!! I need my blow dryer and curling iron, or I'll go elsewhere!!

[Kurbanfan]

[quote name='ava_girl_123']Like I said, it may be the[B] primary source[/B] but a whole lot more goes into the bottom line. Our biggest profits come from one part of our company and we push a ton of other services too.. Can't afford to lose any of them.[/quote]

If you would have read any of my posts........I said this;)

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

[quote name='FanofFlorida']The FLAT IRON- please! I think I will just put it through on carry on... wth?[/quote]

Pretty soon we will have to bring everything in our carry on, because it's "at risk" otherwise. That is an odd twist from airport screening!

Tom

[ava_girl_123]

[quote name='Kurbanfan']If you would have read any of my posts........I said this;)[/quote]



No, your first post was after my post that said this was the case.. Under that post you wrote "Sure...Lol"

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

I have noticed an oddity in this thread -- when I receive an email indicating a new post, it takes me to the same place on the first page... over and over. Whereas notification emails on every other thread to which I have subscribed, typically take me to (or somewhere near) the last post.

OK... back to the regularly scheduled ping-pong match...

Tom

[Kurbanfan]

[quote name='ava_girl_123']No, your first post was after my post that said this was the case.. Under that post you wrote "Sure...Lol"[/quote]

Because I was laughing at this which you posted:

alternative restaurants and bars, satellite telephone services, cybercafés, and diverse revenue-generating schemes in passengers’ cabins (interactive multimedia and TV, minibars, etc.)

other then [B]one alternate restaurant[/B] (steak house) [B]on some ships.[/B].......I have never seen any of this revenue generating schemes on Carnival:D

[ava_girl_123]

[quote name='Kurbanfan']Because I was laughing at this which you posted:

alternative restaurants and bars, satellite telephone services, cybercafés, and diverse revenue-generating schemes in passengers’ cabins (interactive multimedia and TV, minibars, etc.)

other then [B]one alternate restaurant[/B] (steak house) [B]on some ships.[/B].......I have never seen any of this revenue generating schemes on Carnival:D[/quote]


They are services that people utilize on a ship, are they not? Even the laundry services..Shoot, they make a killing on the internet fee's.. What is it? $2.99 a minute? That is greater or about the same as a DOD price after 5 minutes.. :D Satelite telephone services is cell phone usage..cybercafe's is the use of your computer on the ship, interactive multimedia TV is the ability to rent paid for movies in your room, mini-bars.. Is this ALL not offered on Carnival ships??? I mean, you are the "Vetran" cruiser and I am but the "Newbie" who has never cruised before.. :(

[evergladesgator]

Yeah, sometimes i just lay awake at nights thinking about all that money they are losing. Especially when they just ordered two new ships at about a BILLION dollars each. I guess POOR Micky might have to be taken off the Forbes list of millionaires. :p:p:p:p And he might even have to give up SOLE ownership of the Miami Heat. Ain't NO way anyone can justify the prices they charge for beer or drinks except GREED.:D

[Hyuaul]

[quote name='dan40']Would you be so kind as to list ALL or any place of equal ambiance, service, quality, cleanliness, and overall enjoyment that sells booze for less. I can give you a list of THOUSANDS of places that charge MORE. A cruise ship is not your corner bar with $1.00 draft happy hour. A cruise ship is an upscale bar and upscale bars are always at a par with cruiseline prices and often higher.
If you can't pay the fare, don't book the trip.[/quote]


IMHO then the cruise lines shouldn't be targeting their marketing efforts to the working class, families and making a BIG deal out of their "discount" prices.
They should instead be working on strengthening their band of loyal guests (who usually live close to port) who can afford multiple trips a year from the same port.
debie

[vandalayceo]

[quote name='Tapi']I know that many will disagree with me, but I'm actually happy that Carnival (and other cruise lines) are finally enforcing this rule.

Smuggling alcohol onboard means less revenue for the cruise line. Less revenue means spreading the cost among all passengers. So the passengers that DO follow the rules end up indirectly paying the tab of those trying to save a buck.[/quote]

Just this year 3 cruises,usually 14 days each, total cost approx. $16,000 for basic bookings. In addition onboard charges approx. $5000. Large amount of on board charges related to liquor, martinis before dinner, bottle of wine with dinner etc. Always "smuggle " aboard alcohol because one of our favorite things is to be able to sit and have a drink on our balcony anytime we want-the amount that the ship foregoes by us having these drinks in our room doesn't exceed $200 or $300 at their prices, and I'm probably stretching it.

Only cruise Princess, because while they also have no alcohol to be brought on board policy, they ignore as long as you are not too obvious.There are some other reasons, but Carnival's strict enforcement of this policy guarantees I will never book Carnival.

Not sure how Carnival losing out on at least some portion of my $20,000 a year cruise habit helps their financial picture?

[Kurbanfan]

[quote name='ava_girl_123']They are services that people utilize on a ship, are they not? Even the laundry services..Shoot, they make a killing on the internet fee's.. What is it? $2.99 a minute? That is greater or about the same as a DOD price after 5 minutes.. :D[/quote]

Yes there are other services on a ship.......I NEVER said there wasn't.........my point was that Carnival's[I] biggest[/I] revenue is drinks and casino....nothing more nothing less........
This is the type of passenger Carnival markets to......

[Warm Breezes]

[quote name='ava_girl_123']They are services that people utilize on a ship, are they not? Even the laundry services..Shoot, they make a killing on the internet fee's.. What is it? $2.99 a minute? That is greater or about the same as a DOD price after 5 minutes.. :D[/quote]

I'm not a big drinker, but I can tell you that I have never used the internet nor the laundry service on a cruise. I've never sailed with anyone who used them. We do, however, all have a few, some more than others, drinks. You will see a ton more people with drinks in their hand or in the casino then utilizing internet or laundry. Sorry, but I agree with Kurbanfan on this one. Liquor and gambling makes a cruise profitable for Carnival. In cracking down on the smuggling they are trying to maximize their alcohol sales.

[dan40]

[quote name='Tom-n-Cheryl']I have noticed an oddity in this thread -- when I receive an email indicating a new post, it takes me to the same place on the first page... over and over. Whereas notification emails on every other thread to which I have subscribed, typically take me to (or somewhere near) the last post.

OK... back to the regularly scheduled ping-pong match...

Tom[/quote]

Turn off 'notification.'
Nothing can go wrong!
Turn off 'notification.'
Nothing can go wrong!
Turn off 'notification.'
Nothing can go wrong!
Turn off 'notification.'
Nothing can go wrong!
Turn off 'notification.'
Nothing can go wrong!
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[ava_girl_123]

[quote name='Warm Breezes']I'm not a big drinker, but I can tell you that I have never used the internet nor the laundry service on a cruise. I've never sailed with anyone who used them. We do, however, all have a few, some more than others, drinks. You will see a ton more people with drinks in their hand or in the casino then utilizing internet or laundry. Sorry, but I agree with Kurbanfan on this one. Liquor and gambling makes a cruise profitable for Carnival. In cracking down on the smuggling they are trying to maximize their alcohol sales.[/quote]



I agree 150%.. There is just more to the bottom line then liquor.. That is all.. ;)

[Frank12]

[quote name='ava_girl_123']No, your first post was after my post that said this was the case.. Under that post you wrote "Sure...Lol"[/quote]
Ava girl, you're new here so... a little advice. Sometimes you just gotta let it go. :o

[cupcake26]

I dont bother smuggling, its just not worth it to me. But, what i do is every time i get paid i go onto the gifts and services and buy 1 pack of drink coupons... this small 25 dollar every 2 weeks saves me a ton on the ship and it doesnt really break the bank.

[ava_girl_123]

[quote name='Frank12']Ava girl, you're new here so... a little advice. Sometimes you just gotta let it go. :o[/quote]



No Frank... I like it... A good disagreement is fun..Besides that is what public boards are for, different views and such.. It is all good :D Lol..

[dan40]

[quote name='Hyuaul']IMHO then the cruise lines shouldn't be targeting their marketing efforts to the working class, families and making a BIG deal out of their "discount" prices.
They should instead be working on strengthening their band of loyal guests (who usually live close to port) who can afford multiple trips a year from the same port.
debie[/quote]

Carnival IS the youngest major cruise line. They started in the 70's with one old ship bought with borrowed money. Today they own old, old line cruiselines like Cunard, Holland America, and Princess. They also own a number of European cruiselines, and a luxury cruiseline. They are now the largest cruiseline that has ever existed. Their quarterly PROFIT often exceeds Royal Caribbean CORPORATION total receipts. And RCL is their closest competitor.

And Carnival ships sail at over 100% capacity.

It would seem their business plan is superior to yours. Theirs is predicated on eliminating waste and maximizing profits. Yours is emotional.

[Russell in MD]

Smuggling beer isnt worth the trouble IMHO. Too bulky for the cost savings.

Liquor for me is purely for consumption in-cabin. Too much trouble going back and forth to the cabin to refresh. I view my cabin the same as I would any type of hotel room.

A ship has a captive audiance you have no choice but to buy on board if you choose to consume, unlike on land where you can vote with your feet where there is competition.

If you go by what was discussed on the CNBC show where passengers needed to spend like $7.50 per day for them to make money I think its safe to say even avid smuggleres manage to meet this threshold.

The argument that smugglers somehow dont pull their own weight when it comes to on board spending I think is completely invalid.

Ive always managed to contribute my share pretty well over the years.

R