"Carnival Live" Concert Cruises? Cool.

[jimbo5544]

The rates are going up, and they are charging admission on top of that?

 

 

Good, I hope they do go up. It would be the best thing for the company. Why does spending a couple of bucks for good entertainment bother you? People do it on excursions all the time.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app from my IPhone

[TDinPA]

I think this is great news! I'll spend $40 for a concert and some people will go spend $40 and get drunk all night. I have been wanting to plan a cruise out of Pt Canaveral for Sept but now I am going to book the late Oct cruise with LeeAnn Rhimes. I checked earlier and the inside price for this cruise is $199 so if that's a jacked-up price I'm gonna be cruising A LOT more often.

[Pine Bluff]

These are optional, you are not being forced to pay for anything. And the time in port has been extended to 1 am.

 

Optional? What is the optional production entertainment that is already included in the fare?

[jimbo5544]

Optional? What is the optional production entertainment that is already included in the fare?

This replaces nothing else. They also said they are upgrading the on board entertainment. I am sure you will find issue with that also. Webster defines optional for you. By the way, there are many sailings and ships that don't have these concerts (which seem to be widely praised by many here) you can always sail on those......

[rlkubi]

I think these concerts are great too but it won't make me book those cruises. I noticed that they are all on 5 or under cruises. :( We have to fly and I never book anything less than 7 days.

[bitemyfly]

Ok , so what happened ? for a first time in a while I think carnival did something very positive . They upgraded their entertainment . looking at the booked acts they got a, b and c list entertainers. They did it in a way not to cause a giant riff with their target audience ( budget cruisers), while giving something to people who wanted something different .

I for one stopped going to see any shows ( except comedy ) since perhaps 2008 0r so...always thought with the exception of the main one they were week and grade z entertainers .

also I see they really started with the smaller/ older ships .. again a smart decision .. perhaps pay a bit more for a ship that normally commands a cheaper price, getting a look from more first time cruisers who would normally look at the latest and greatest in ships..

pretty cool ... who ever made this suggestion in ccl should be promoted

[PAPERBKWRITER]

I like the program. If the admission was free with your cruise you'd have a tough time getting a seat.Most of the performers are from an era that many pax grew up in. $20-$40 a ticket is not out of line. Tickets to most of the shows in Branson Missouri are at least that and many are more. Don't like it, don't go.

[lrr1998]

Here is the link for the tour dates , performers and the ships they will be on

http://www.carnival.com/live-entertainment/tour-dates.aspx

[jimbo5544]

Ok , so what happened ? for a first time in a while I think carnival did something very positive . They upgraded their entertainment . looking at the booked acts they got a, b and c list entertainers. They did it in a way not to cause a giant riff with their target audience ( budget cruisers), while giving something to people who wanted something different .

I for one stopped going to see any shows ( except comedy ) since perhaps 2008 0r so...always thought with the exception of the main one they were week and grade z entertainers .

also I see they really started with the smaller/ older ships .. again a smart decision .. perhaps pay a bit more for a ship that normally commands a cheaper price, getting a look from more first time cruisers who would normally look at the latest and greatest in ships..

pretty cool ... who ever made this suggestion in ccl should be promoted

They are actually on a bit of a role with good things happening. I believe there are more surprises in the wings as well.

[Georgiagolfer]

Just finished reading all the posts/comments on this. For those who like the idea, great. For those who don't like it, also great.

 

As for me and DW, we don't cruise to go to a concert. We are not for or against this change, it just does not appeal to us. We only hope the announced changes in other areas of entertainment are indeed improvements.

 

I see nothing wrong with CCL trying this, it just is not for us. However, it will not keep us from sailing CCL, when date/price/itinerary are what we want.

Edited January 23, 2014 by Georgiagolfer
spelling

[bguppies]

The rates are going up, and they are charging admission on top of that?

 

Where is everybody getting this erroneous information that the cruise cost is going up, on top of the added fees for the shows??????

(I'm sure one of the haters said it at the start, as if their inference was fact, and everybody keeps reading it as gospel.)

 

DW got home last night.

She books a Fantasy cruise every December for her and her best friend each year.

She keeps a log of the Fantasy cruise prices in a notebook, that she checks at least once a week and checks the changes in price.

 

She checked the Daughtry Fantasy cruise (which was the one they were already leaning towards) when she got home and the price was still the same as the previous two weeks and had gone down from her initial pricings.

 

I just got done reading 4 or 5 others on the previous two pages, who had been watching cruises on other ships adding these new shows and they ALL reported, the cruise fare had NOT gone up at all.

 

Carnival is not raising the price of the cruise to pay for these acts.

 

They are just basically, offering an on ship excursion, for those who are interested. (and it actually costs less than the on ship, ship tours they give on the last sea day. :eek: Which is more entertaining?)

 

Also for those discussing the seating in the main theater for these shows...

 

If you read the info, for the VIP packages, with the meet and greets, backstage aspect, it states that they also get VIP seating for the show.

 

Which means the front rows will be blocked off for the folks paying the $100-$150.

 

DW is checking with her friend today, but with the Daughtry addition, has them probably 95% ready to book that for sure, because of the Daughtry addition.

 

I am now trying to check the Cozumel offerings, as I love the Western itineraries and Cozumel.

 

If a band that I am interested is on a cruise, I will definitely book that cruise because of the band.

A day at Nachi Cocum and a night of rocking out back on the ship, in a small intimate theater, sounds like the PERFECT day on a cruise.

 

Bill

Edited January 23, 2014 by bguppies

[Rena921]

They are actually on a bit of a role with good things happening. I believe there are more surprises in the wings as well.

 

I agree. Change is a good and positive thing. Businesses have to adapt and change with the times to be successful. I think this is one of the biggest steps in the right direction For CCL.

[sunny4jj]

I love this! I can't wait for the 2015 schedule.

[jimbo5544]

I agree. Change is a good and positive thing. Businesses have to adapt and change with the times to be successful. I think this is one of the biggest steps in the right direction For CCL.

We were on the naming ceremony for the Sunshine in the Big Easy in November. We had the occassion to talk to some VP's we have met over the years. When I asked about some of the rumors mentioned here aoung other places, a big smile came across his face, he winked and said, "we are back, lots of good things coming down the track in 2014". It was good to see and hear. They most certaily had a rough 18 months.

[bigdog1958]

This is a good business move by carnival, they get the headlines for this, and by adding concerts to the ships and sailing dates they have found hard to fill, they may now be able to fill them without lowering the prices to rock bottom. I think alot of people are complaining, because carnival had this big build up and this major event, to announce something that will really only affect about 2% of all their customers. Most will not go to these concerts, so I think people are disappointed that there is nothing for them, except, the fact that Carnival is now adding back the House bands that they took away a few years ago

[madthumper]

I like the idea, but the first come first serve seating plan? How many hours before the doors open do you think the line is going to be to get one of the non reserved V.I.P. seats. I see lines stretching through the ship. One person getting a seat and the arguing over not being able to save a seat and getting people to slide across to the center to make more room. I forsee a seating nightmare on Carnival's horizon if they don't change that.

[Phlybice]

Paid entertainment after all the cutbacks? Who didn't see that one coming. :rolleyes:

 

Open seating? Disaster waiting to happen. Iceberg! Right ahead!

[TheCaveman]

The only problem I have with this is….

 

So, the night of the “Concert”, I assume they will perform in the main lounge; we will have to pay to see it

 

As, nobody is forcing us to pay, so, if you don’t want to, don’t pay, and don’t go

 

This still means, 1 less night of included entertainment that will be free on other lines.

 

(and by entertainment I mean – any show I can just go to on any given night on any cruise)

 

So, not sure how I feel about this. I don’t cruise for the shows, but like the option of having them available to me…

[Georgiagolfer]

Oh I bet Lady A will be awesome. Have a great time. I think there will be probably be others who were on the fence on booking a cruise and the artists playing will help them decide. Extra port time for those that are not into the concerts is a great plus too!

 

I agree about Lady Antebellum. They are from my hometown, Evans, Ga. DW and I have seen them several times here, but the prices were lower. We have a Town Center with an outdoor amphitheatre that is named after them.

 

Extra Port time can be good and bad. Good for those wanting to stay longer, bad for those wanting time in the casino. Wonder what CCL will do about the casino on those dates?

[PortSideCruzan]

Hi :)

 

I welcome the new positive Carnival announcement concerning pay concert

entertainment with open arms, along with the secondary announcement

that ship show bands will be enhanced.

 

The negative & snarky replies from the same Cruise Critic members that

appear in post after post on this website are so very typical & predictable..

 

:)

 

 

[cruizinisthebest]

I like the idea, but the first come first serve seating plan? How many hours before the doors open do you think the line is going to be to get one of the non reserved V.I.P. seats. I see lines stretching through the ship. One person getting a seat and the arguing over not being able to save a seat and getting people to slide across to the center to make more room. I forsee a seating nightmare on Carnival's horizon if they don't change that.

 

This is one issue I have with this idea. I think for a paid-for concert, you should have assigned seating. It's not like the included shows where you can go later or go the next evening. This is a one-time concert. One of the reasons I don't bother too much with the shows is because I don't like having to get there early just to get a good seat. It's like a waste of time. And I can only imagine having to get there 60/90 minutes early just to have a decent seat. I think Carnival should rethink that. And also rethink the kids part. I know on their FAQ section it says kids are allowed. But I'm sorry, don't agree. I love this idea even though there's only a couple of acts as of now I would pay to see and it's on mostly short cruises, but I disagree with those two aspects. Can't see why anyone would blanket hate the idea.

Edited January 23, 2014 by cruizinisthebest

[Phlybice]

I can only deduce that these concerts can not be held on the Sunshine being the show lounge is now too small.

[Aplmac]

Basically, Carnival is now charging for entertainment. Yippee!

Well...y'all don't want to pay the fuel surcharge

so they gonna nickel & dime it out of you somehow to pay the running expenses! :)

 

.

[ibcnusoon]

We booked the Destiny a few years ago when I later found out it was a Rick Springfield cruise.

 

I talked to some people who had been on other concert cruises, KISS, New Kids on the Block and I can guarantee you, if you are NOT interested in a concert cruise RUN FAR AWAY! Rebook! The cruise will be overloaded with fans and kick you out of venues and other areas of the ship.

[sweetsixteencruisers]

...The vast majority would agree that Carnival is not going downhill. Just just a few, very vocal critics. It's the same handful of people who criticize Carnival every chance they get. Make the same negative comments on every thread they can find. It's the same ones who make one line comments just to get their post counts up... as if a higher post count lends any kind of credibility to their comment. And then, if we agree with Carnival, we're cheerleaders.

 

...Anyway, I think the new Carnival Live is a great option. I would certainly pay to see a few of those performers. Concerts in a small venue are much different than shows at a stadium or arena. Like every other program, Carnival is going to need to "tweek" their procedures, such as first come, first serve seating. That may be a problem, but they'll figure it out. Hopefully, they'll be able to get more acts "on board" in the future.

 

 

Totally agree!