when did the crass commercialism start??

[surfrider]

Just got off Fantasy, and wondering when did the pushing of cookbooks at the buffet start, and when did they start making the waiters try and push the Carnival Souvenir wine on you in the dining room ???

 

I for one, am not particularly fond of having someone try to sell me something while I am sitting at the dinner table.

 

***ALMOST**** enough to make me defect to another cruise line.

 

That on top of tried to give the dining room maitre'd a jump on our way in, he waved us down, and asked if we would give his car (BMW) a jump. Hey, being the former girl scout I am, said sure.

 

Say him later on the trip, he asked for table number, and I thought gee, my kindness will be rewarded.....NOT. His friend with him when we gave him the jump was the maitre'd in our restaurant......

[MERVYN BREMMER]

I'm sure like any other business they are trying to find a way to make an extra buck....don't really take a lot of time to say no in my experiance.

[bjboothman]

 

***ALMOST**** enough to make me defect to another cruise line.

 

QUOTE]

 

Well, don't defect to Princess - I hear a lot of the same complaints there. I'm a huge Princess fan but have noticed it seems (at least on some ships) they are starting the same marketing infomercial you are describing.

 

I don't mind saying "no thanks" once, but after I bought the cookbook in the dining room (which I really wanted, but have not opened since I brought it home), it did get a little old when the waiters approach you in the casino and start the arm twisting and cajoling to buy a book. When I said "thanks, but I already bought mine", he tried to convince me they'd make a great gift and I should buy another.

 

Again, I don't mind saying "no thanks" once or maybe twice, but it seems on certain ships/lines, they are starting to really "get in your face" with their marketing ploys.

[Cruising89143]

I'm sure like any other business they are trying to find a way to make an extra buck....don't really take a lot of time to say no in my experiance.

 

 

Doesn't make it right. That is one reason that Carnival is now off of my list of cruise lines. I did not experience the nickle and dime crap on RCI in December. It was a nice change. On Carnival I started to feel like I was at Wal Mart. If they need the extra revenue that bad then raise the prices to cover it.

[GoinCruisin]

We didn't have anyone try to sell us anything on the Miracle in Feb, nor the Sensation in October... Nor did I see anyone walking around to the tables trying to sell anything. I did see the cookbooks at a table set up on the way out of the dining room, but many people were there buying them... I have them all :D

[Wennfred]

Our Waiter mentioned the Cookbook once, and then moved on, They have always mentioned the cookbook, its also good for the new Cruisers that want to try the same menus at home, its something that Carnival and other Cruiselines do, its not the Waiters fault, so please dont get bent out of shape over cook book, we prefer to know the real reason why you wont go on carnival.

[selucrey]

Doesn't make it right. That is one reason that Carnival is now off of my list of cruise lines. I did not experience the nickle and dime crap on RCI in December. It was a nice change. On Carnival I started to feel like I was at Wal Mart. If they need the extra revenue that bad then raise the prices to cover it.

Seems they all have their problems.:D

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=102258&highlight=extra+charges

[Littlegoo75]

Hey, I was a former Girl Scout as well! Age 6 - 18! As far as cars go though...I don't know squat...didn't earn that badge! I just call AAA!

[Cruising89143]

Seems they all have their problems.:D

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=102258&highlight=extra+charges

 

Yes they do but as least on RCI I knew about the surcharges for the extra fee dining areas. That is a choice that one can make to eat or not. At least there was not the hourly announcements for inch of gold, bingo and art auctions that one gets on Carnival. Also not one time was there a game of bingo prior to one of the evening shows. That is the problem that I have with Carnival. They are now over the top with this kind of stuff. It gets old quick.

[selucrey]

They don't announce it but....

Just returned a couple of weeks ago from the Serenade of the Seas.

One thing I did notice>>>Cruise Lines (Ships once you're onboard) have always been very good at trying to separate the Pax from their money. I noticed those attempts to be more often, more varied, and at times more intrusive -- i.e., I don't mind them setting up their "an inch of gold" stand, for the formally one-day-of-the-week-sale. But every day, and right outside the elevators?? A little tooooooooo intrusive if you ask me.........!!

[wigginout66]

Ever been to Disney World? I've never been with young kid's, but I can't imagine how much you'd spend there on stuff. I'm surprised they don't have a ride that turns you over before you leave so any left over cash falls out. ;)

 

I still love Disney World and crusing, you just gotta say no.

[surfrider]

I have been on PLENTY o cruises folks, many of them Carnival, and sure it just takes a minute to say no, but over and over and over again ????? And I am sorry, hit me on the way out, on the way in, but for PETES SAKE, leave me alone at the dinner table.

 

I am starting to feel like I am sitting on a beach in Mexico or something when I get on Carnival. Btw.....wave your finger at the vendors in Mexico, I think the finger wave is akin to the evil eye :)

 

Just booked **another** Carnival for April, Victory, with that big wrap around balcony in back. I am starting to brush up on my polite no's already.

 

The commercialism happens EVERY where, but I was just wondering when Carnival started. Did not happen to me a year ago.

[selucrey]

Yes they do but as least on RCI I knew about the surcharges for the extra fee dining areas. That is a choice that one can make to eat or not. At least there was not the hourly announcements for inch of gold, bingo and art auctions that one gets on Carnival. It gets old quick.

 

Gator, This person agrees with you about the announcements...From the RCI board...;)

And honestly I really hate when the cruise director staff is continually getting on the intercom and reminding me of some towel folding class that I just need to get to.

 

I like this person's attitude though....this is what we all need to keep in mind.

I try not to compare one cruise line to another as they are all different which I like. I know that it can be hard not to but that is why we have different lines.

 

posted by cruisingator2 8/16/04

 

[JenX]

Goin' Cruisin', you might be the most eternally optimistic person I have ever seen on a message board! Makes me :)

 

The one experience I've had with Carnival made me feel the same way--gimmicks everywhere. They need to tone it way down.

 

ETA: my favorite was the guy on Lido the morning of Calica pushing $4 bottled water: "you need some water for today? you don't want this water? don't say I don't warn you!" :D

[surfrider]

the commercialism this time was only face to face....I did not hear one announcement for inch of gold, etc.

 

maybe just one for art auction.....and I SWEAR I did not drink hardly at all this cruise...hic......

[Ericknow32]

Seems they all have their problems.:D

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=102258&highlight=extra+charges

I started that thread. No way is RCCL bad enough to shove their products in my face as other people claim Carnival does. I have been on Carnival one time. I do not remember them selling things that way. But it doesn't shock me that they have started. Royal Caribbean does not put things in my face. They will set up a station but in no way am I pressured to buy. Yes there are some things that RCCL has started to do that I don't like but honestly I can avoid them.

 

Now the best cruise line for not having all the annoyances is Celebrity.

[selucrey]

Now the best cruise line for not having all the annoyances is Celebrity.

 

Maybe not.:D

I am troubled by reports of being annoyed by sales people at dinner - heck, anywhere on the ship. I'm with bharper, if I want to purchase anything on the ship, I have the brainpower to figure out where it is or to inquire. It's bad enough they hawk their regular drinks, but water? People who drink bottled water, will ask for bottled water at dinner. Those of us who don't, won't change our minds because bottled water is annoyingly hawked at the table.

 

Richsea Quote:

How about just responding, "No thank you"? :D

That's not really the point, is it? The point - in case you didn't get the drift of these postings - is that we are all competent adults and we know to ask for bottled water, another drink, a spa treatment, etc. etc. etc. We don't need to be bothered by sales people while on our cruise. I thought Celebrity was the "classy" ship?

 

I do understand increasing revenue in order to keep costs down, but at what point does this cross the line? For me - hawking water at the dinner table or hawking anything while I'm trying to read at poolside is the "line."

[Girlsnightout]

Annoying announcements and commercialism is my pet peeve. I've never sailed Carnival before, but I am leaving for my first cruise with them next month.

 

If I find this type of intrusiveness, this first cruise with them will also be my last. I simply can't tolerate being bothered on my vacation (you know, the one I PAID for). Now, I can certainly say "no thanks", but that's beside the point. I shouldn't have to.

 

Plenty of other cruiselines out there, and if they all start with this nonsense, there's plenty of resorts that would never, ever bother their guests in this manner.

[CrazyMums]

We were on the Valor last month and were not pressured to buy anything. We did see a cookbook in the dining room, but were NOT asked if we wanted to buy it. We spent many hours in the casino and were never approached by anyone. I think the bottled water mentioned was on the way off the ship in port. On all my cruises, they have sold water, cameras, etc. on the way off the ship - just in case you forgot yours. There were definitely more ads in the daily Capers, but it's easy to throw them out if you're not interested.

[Girlsnightout]

..that threads like these are great.

 

We have to let the cruiselines know what we will and will not tolerate. In the quest for extra revenue, they could be shooting themselves in the foot by driving away customers.

[BBiles]

The cruise isn't about one individual person. There are 2499 other people on that ship that all have 2500 different likes, dislikes, wants, needs, etc...The cruise line can't cater to all. Announcements could actually benefit people. Those at the pool, casino, napping.....who just lose track of time, it is a friendly reminder. Especially if they had intentions of going to said event. Lots of first time cruisers might find it beneficial to them as well. As far as seasoned cruisers, I could understand that they might not like the announcements as they have heard them all before. But remember, it's not about YOU ONLY.

 

I personally would rather hear those announcements instead of kids screaming on deck or the couple talking about the guy from France who shows off his "Frank and beans" in his speedo. Headphones are always an option.

[morganboys]

I think we are getting off key here. It is one thing to make an anouncement here. Most of us tune it out and hear little of it. To stand at my table and try to sell it over and over again. My advice it to put up with it and give less of a tip at the end. Before anyone jumps me about decreasing their tip. A tip is a reward for good service, being helpful and polite.

[canderson]

I personally would rather hear those announcements instead of kids screaming on deck or the couple talking about the guy from France who shows off his "Frank and beans" in his speedo. Headphones are always an option.

Not going to bite on that "false dilemma" argument.

 

Unless you've had the opportunity to try it both ways, you can't imagine what a difference the lack of constant announcements makes to the overall tone of a cruise. I suppose for those that like a frenetic pace on a vacation, the frequent sound of the CD's voice gives the sensation of "things happening" that reassures them. For a large number of us, it does just the opposite. If the objective is to have fun AND relax, I'll be happy to make a point of occasionally paying attention to my watch instead.

[derf5585]

when did the crass commercialism start??

 

I think it all started when the snake tried to sell the apple to Eve WHO then sold it to Adam.

 

Who is the Who I am referring to in that sentance?

[BBiles]

Lets come up with a character named Bob....Bob is president of...Lets say...Carnival Cruise Lines. Mickey owns Carnival. Mickey pays Bob. Mickey pays Bob a salary of "xxx,xxx.00" per year. Mickey also pays Bob a bonus (which could lead to millions more of "xxx's". Mickey isn't just going to give Bob that bonus just because he's a nice guy. Bob has to meet certain incentives to make said "xxx" bonus. Also by making said incentives, Carnival, Mickey and it's shareholders are very happy..Bob is happy because he gets to keep his job a little bit longer. One of those incentives is for Bob to increase sales of cookbooks on cruise ships by "x%".

After the first month, Bobs numbers aren't up to par. Mickey not happy. And when Mickey not happy, Bob not happy. Bob has to think "outside of the box" and come up with ideas to sell more of the books. Bob comes up with the idea to have the waiters at dinner suggestive sell books. Bob also comes up with an incentive for whoever sells the most books gets (insert whatever here).

That makes the waiters very happy to know that they might get something out of the deal. Maybe to make up for people who stiff the crew on tips because they were too drunk to know that their bar bill was $1500.00 and have to come up with the money somewhere.....I'm getting off track here.

So the waiters now are trying to sell these books....Do you think they really want to do it because you might be interested??? Who knows...They don't know you from Adam and the only way to find out is to ask...Afterall, the person with the highest sales gets (insert whatever here) as a commision for selling. The sales start rolling in...

Bob exceeds his goal. Mickey and shareholders eyes light up. Mickey pays Bob his bonus of (insert a couple of million here) and he gets to keep his job a bit longer. Whats that??? Because of the money Carnival is making we get a brand new, state of the art cruise ship??? WOWEEEEEEEE!!! And it starts all over again on the brand new ship. etc......

It's easy to criticize people when you haven't been in their shoes. I, for one, would do whatever is neccesary to make that bonus. I don't think Carnival is suffering because of it....Look at the bookings going on.