Dear Carnival, You're Photo Process Stinks...

[OhioJeff]

I appreciate your response. I'm sure the same topic existed for many years. But there is no reason why it can't be brought up again in current times, just my opinion.

 

There are always newbies, or newbies for a particular idea. Please just let us enjoy our discussion. Obviously this was not a typical "can I bring beer onboard" or "should I tip more/less" or "why do people hog chairs with a book/towel/piece of paper?" type thread because this thread resulted in many intelligent and informative responses in a matter of an hour or so. I'm personally just bored because my tv has been stolen away by the better half for the Stanley Cup... otherwise I wouldn't be online.

 

Again, thank you for your thoughts. I think the OP started a conversation that obviously drew up some interest. Otherwise, 20+ people would not have responded within an hour.

 

Again, just my thoughts, and take care! :)

I think you misunderstood, I wasnt saying the OP shouldnt have brought it up. Just pointing out that many have felt that way, but it appears that Carnival is slow to listen to the complaints. So it seems that they and the other cruiselines are cool with the current system.

[deej696]

That's a very very good point. The whole "you touch it, you're more likely to buy it" theory. Now, as far as the grands (I'm assuming you mean grandparents?), how cool would it be for family members not on board the ship be able to log in (you, as a passenger, give them a password to access your photos) and purchase photos of their family members while you're on board (or afterward). Just a thought.

 

I think the OP's discussion is a brilliant one with so many different ideas and tangents. A truly great thread idea!

 

This is a great point. Having the actual photo in your hands is likely to get more to purchase than a digital picture on a screen. Granted, nearly all of my photos today are digital, so it makes no sense that I would react that way, but I know I do;)

[PoofyTheCat]

I think you misunderstood, I wasnt saying the OP shouldnt have brought it up. Just pointing out that many have felt that way, but it appears that Carnival is slow to listen to the complaints. So it seems that they and the other cruiselines are cool with the current system.

 

Excellent post! And I am glad we just had a very short misunderstanding. Happy cruising to you, my new friend. Take care! :)

[PoofyTheCat]

This is a great point. Having the actual photo in your hands is likely to get more to purchase than a digital picture on a screen. Granted, nearly all of my photos today are digital, so it makes no sense that I would react that way, but I know I do;)

 

Aww, thank you! I pondered the idea while posting this thought about the "veteran" cruisers and how they enjoy things the way they were "back in the day"... meaning: how nice it is to go to a photo gallery and browse the photos for purchase. I am sure the younger crowd would love the ease of going to a kiosk/tv screen to see only THEIR pics... but the experienced crowd likes to browse the pavilion of photos before purchasing a picture. It's truly such a personal preference. I wish I had the magic answer. Thank you for responding to my thoughts! :)

[ryoku]

After dealing with the horror of trying to find all our pictures on our last dream cruise I would welcome a functioning kiosk. I like looking at the actual picture however when you get as many people as on these new ships, the pictures take over. It wasn't nearly this bad on the glory. I spent about 1 hour on the last sea day digging through stacks of pictures to find us. They didn't even have space to put them up. This had never been an issue for us in the past.

 

Oh well live and learn....and hope for improvements.

[AdrenalineRush]

Aww, thank you! I pondered the idea while posting this thought about the "veteran" cruisers and how they enjoy things the way they were "back in the day"... meaning: how nice it is to go to a photo gallery and browse the photos for purchase. I am sure the younger crowd would love the ease of going to a kiosk/tv screen to see only THEIR pics... but the experienced crowd likes to browse the pavilion of photos before purchasing a picture. It's truly such a personal preference. I wish I had the magic answer. Thank you for responding to my thoughts! :)

I guess it depends on the younger crowd. I always see teens and college age kids laughing and excited to find pics and run over to show their friends. Not sure that can be replicated with a kiosk.

 

I know I have done the kiosk thing before at other venues and the actual picture didnt look as nice as what I was seeing on the screen.

[glrounds]

I find the picture taking itself very intrusive. Getting on the ship, getting off the ship in ports, at dinner and on and on.

With the possible exception of formal pics with ones loves ones where composition is so important, I can't see any reason to even have a pic crew.

The digital camera has just eliminated the need for most of the pics taken by ship's photographers, IMHO.:rolleyes:

[SouthernCaribbean]

 

The digital camera has just eliminated the need for most of the pics taken by ship's photographers, IMHO.:rolleyes:

Yet, people line up to take and buy pics. After liquor,casino and possibly excursions..Im sure pictures a#4 revenue stream.

[deej696]

Yet, people line up to take and buy pics. After liquor,casino and possibly excursions..Im sure pictures a#4 revenue stream.

 

And this is probably the biggest reason why they use such an antiquated system. If people are gonna line up to buy them under this system, why spend all the money to upgrade to digital. Many could say it ain't broke, so why fix it.

 

On the other hand, think of all the other junk they could try to sell you in the newly found space that's created...:D

[Rankbronc]

As far as the waste goes, It does not seem to bother Carnival, and I could care less if they recycle thousands of photos each cruise. Do you really think they would lower the prices to pass on the cost savings? They already stick you for an extra $9.95 if you want a digital copy of a print you are buying, so I would not look for cheaper prices, just bigger profits. A digital copy of all your images for a reasonable fee would be the way I wish they would head.

[usafchick1980]

Would it really be that difficult to be able to access your pictures from your tv screen in your cabin? If you can access your S&S bill, I don't see how technically different it would be to see your pictures of yourself from the cabin's tv. Then there would be no lines at kiosks and a freed up space in a public spot on the ship for another bar or shop (more profit for Carnival).

 

That is what I was thinking. I am sure that they can figure out some way for us to view them from the TV in the cabin.

[Cruisin'Allie]

Are they still using FILM cameras?? (If so, can't imagine the waste that's going into the ocean! I worked for 10 years in (film) photo labs and they produce a LOT of nasty wastes!)

 

I didn't really pay attention on our cruise back in '07. If they are already using digital cameras, it's an easy step (relatively) to going to kiosks/online.

 

The one thing I like about the Disney photopass is the chance to look over all of your photos at your leisure AFTER your vacation... when you can view ALL of them and purchase at a time when you've had a few more paychecks in the bank since the vacation. I think you'd be more likely to buy them if you were able to view them on your own time... and share with friends/family like others suggested. On our last cruise, we had a photo budget and tried to wait til the end so we could compare them and get the absolute best, but that was hard to do when they were all over the place... and undoubtedly, we probably missed some.

[happy cruzer]

I believe they contract photo services out. The contractor then does what they need to make money with the least capital expended.

 

Carnival just gets a set fee most likely supplementing your cruise fee.

 

so if the process makes you angry get angry at the contractor for not copying Disney.

Or maybe at Carnival for not telling the contractor how to run their business which would probably be less revenue for Carnival and higher fares. Just my two cents.

[shwabob]

I know they have the kiosks on the Dream, but they still print the pictures.

 

According to our photographer friend on the Legend, it's a pretty automated process and that's why they print the pictures. The photographer on the ship just hands their camera off to whomever is working on one of the processing computers, and that person just downloads the images into an automated cleanup/processing program that crops/softens the picture, inserts the border graphics, and then prints the result automatically to one of the photo printers.The images are stored as well, but are auto-deleted a few days after the conclusion of the sailing.

[Cruisin thru life]

The Dream is currently trying out a process where your S&S card is scanned before the picture is taken.

 

Several issues with the process - not all of the photographers had the scanner to read the cards - some of the photographers did have scanners but they weren't working properly - all of the photots whether scanned or not are still printed and put up on the walls - if you want to just look at the scanned photos and not search - your S&S card may or may not bring up your photos - some of ours showed up on the viewers but many were of other people or were missing totally (a staff member was able to bring more of the scanned photos of us up onto the viewer - but even he was unable to get the photos that he himself took of us to appear on our screen)

 

We were also told there are currently no plans to put all of the photos onto a CD for purchase. The prices will not be changing anytime in the near future.

 

Maybe once all of the bugs are worked out it may be a great process - but right now its no better than the old system.

 

 

This is an option I would really like to see. Maybe charge a per picture price for the CD, all or nothing. Some people run to every back drop, pose for all the port stops, etc. Others may only have a few pics taken throughout the sailing. I would definately buy a CD, but I generally don't even print the few pics I take myself on a vacation. Heck last year I didn't even bother to take my camera with me.

[crewsweeper]

The Dream has the new photo kiosks. BOOOO!!! What a royal pain in the backside. Yes, you swipe your card and up pops your photos so you can see them. But you still have to go searching for them. Not a time saver or a cost saver because they STILL printed every blasted picture taken by the photographers, even though they scanned your sign and sail cards when taking pictures.

 

The system does not tell you where the photos are displayed. Also, whomever the primary person is in the cabin, all the photos are linked to them. So, even though my friend who was traveling with me, swiped her sign and sail card (we had our own individual accounts)... up popped my pics because we shared the cabin and I was considered the "Primary" person ie: first person and she was secondary ie: second. We asked and this is how it was explained. It is a known glitch. Her pic never showed up unless I was in the photo with her. People tried them initially on our sailing but by the 2nd day, gave up and went back to the "Hunt and Seek" method of going through the panels and panels of pictures.

 

Mirrors my experience last week. On top of that it never showed any pictures of they took in the dining room. SIL/BIL had one picture up, didn't matter which S&S card they used. And they actually bought 6 pictures found on the wall, including the one in the kiosk. Never saw a line at these machines, if in use at all, even on elegant night with everyone milling around.

[GlendaleCruiser]

Personally, I am never going to stand at a kiosk trying to get my sail and sign card to show me my pictures. I hate those things at work even to look up benefits. And as others have reported, the other people in your picture may NEVER find a pic of them because they are all linked to you. I actually love going to the photo gallery and looking for our pictures. I usually buy the best of the bunch during the cruise and leave the rest. I hope Magic doesn't make me do that to buy a picture--if so, I'll pass.

 

If you think their pictures are too expensive, you've never had a family portrait taken at Dillard's or Olan Mills. You are forced to buy a "package" of pics.

 

The photographers actually work for Carnival. There was a blog and thread on here from a girl who got hired and worked as a photog for about 3 months.