Hoping Carnival gets with the program

[AdmiralQ]

Would love to do celebrity but their pricing for 12 days in Europe is liable to give this 30 yo a heart attack.

 

It depends what dates you are looking at. October or November (granted not the absolute best months to visit Europe, but it's not bad at all), Celebrity has some very, very reasonable prices on their Europe cruises. June, July, August - yeah not so much.

[cyntil8ing]

The best thing about Celebrity's beverage package over Carnival's is that it covers ALL drinks, not just alcohol. And it's $1 cheaper per day. I can grab a bottle of water as I'm leaving the ship in port. I can have a cappuccino with my dessert at dinner. Fresh-squeezed orange juice or a bloody mary (or both!) at breakfast.

 

We've done three Celebrity cruises with the package and have another two booked. I'm not tempted by Carnival's package because I don't drink enough alcoholic beverages per day to get my $50 plus tips worth.

[evandbob]

Since I don't drink alcohol, I purchased a non alcoholic package on my Celebrity Summit cruise this past January. It included smoothies, red bull, pellagrino, sodas, etc. I was quite happy with the deal.

In addition the Celebrity ships simply are classier than Carnival, the service is first rate, and the food puts Carnival to shame. At the time I booked the Summit, Celebrity's price was lower than the comparable cruise ports on Carnival's Valor.

Whenever I see a similar deal, I will choose Celebrity hands down over Carnival.

[andy.capitan]

I am surprised that anyone who cruises Celebrity would be concerned with a $1/day difference????? But it does drive home that price is an important consideration when choosing a cruise.

 

Food is subjective, but many cruisers actually prefer normal food and a comfortable dress code.

 

There is certainly a market for Celebrity, but the more restrictive a cruise line is, the smaller the potential market. Carnival is absolutely mass market, Celebrity, not so much. In my experience, cruisers who have (or more likely just think they have) more class, complain as much, if not more, and are likely to preface complaints with, "Do you know how much I paid for this cruise?" Now that's class! :D

Edited April 23, 2014 by andy.capitan

[mg33626]

I am surprised that anyone who cruises Celebrity would be concerned with a $1/day difference????? But it does drive home that price is an important consideration when choosing a cruise.

 

Food is subjective, but many cruisers actually prefer normal food and a comfortable dress code.

 

There is certainly a market for Celebrity, but the more restrictive a cruise line is, the smaller the potential market. Carnival is absolutely mass market, Celebrity, not so much. In my experience, cruisers who have (or more likely just think they have) more class, complain as much, if not more, and are likely to preface complaints with, "Do you know how much I paid for this cruise?" Now that's class! :D

 

Which Celebrity ship were you on that led you to feel this way?

[Mysticks1]

Ive never seen a Celebrity price anywhere near the carnival pricing

 

The Celebrity Cruise that we took was booked about 18 months in advance and at that time was almost exactly the same price as Carnival and cheaper than RCI and Princess. I will always sail Celebrity if the price and itinerary are good.

 

I always look at which cruise offers the ports that we want at a price we are willing to pay.

[ibcnusoon]

Now if only Celebrity could meet or beat Carnival's prices. Even if they did, I have no interest in Celebrity ships or prices.

 

You'd be surprised. We are paying less than Carnival and getting more for our Celebrity cruise this Thanksgiving. The offer is unbelievable. My oldest DD and I have the drink package and my husband and underaged DD chose the $200 OBC (we always get a separate cabin for the girls).

 

No way could Carnival even come close to that - ok, well, yes, because they gave me a free cruise. :)

Edited April 23, 2014 by ibcnusoon

[RuthlessBoss]

You'd be surprised. We are paying less than Carnival and getting more for our Celebrity cruise this Thanksgiving. The offer is unbelievable. My oldest DD and I have the drink package and my husband and underaged DD chose the $200 OBC (we always get a separate cabin for the girls).

 

No way could Carnival even come close to that - ok, well, yes, because they gave me a free cruise. :)

 

To me, this means a cruiseline is struggling to lure cruisers.

[AmberTeka]

We're just off the Celebrity Eclipse -- we had the drink package -- it was fantastic. The Solstice Class ships are amazing.

 

On the 1-2-3 promo -- the drink package is just one of the three options. DW is in finance and she drove her self crazy trying to figure out how they can afford to offer it.

 

(we would like to see Carnival match Celebrity's smoking policy, but that's another thread) ;)

 

My husband used to work for Seagram. that was many years ago. he loved it. he only quit when an older employee told him to get out before he was an alcoholic. He took the advice. Still loves Scotch. Loved the job. Loved the company. he just liked to drink too much.

 

He says it costs pennies to the cruise lines which they charge you dollars to sip. The mark up on liquor is huge.

 

We are booked on the Infinity for October. He refused to let me get the drink freebie. he said he would drink himself to death if it was free. So I took the $200 OBC.

 

The fare for that cruise..OV..(which is what we have )has gone up.....$550 dollars since I booked it. A balcony is now unreachable. Over $2,000. I had hoped to upgrade...should have booked the balcony when I booked. Kicking my behind now.

[AmberTeka]

no more Free Cabins, which caused great resentment among those who got and those who did not get.

 

Offer Free Drink Cards to Ocean view or above. Like Celebrity. You get your choice of three perks........OBC. Free Drink card ( coffee,sodas, milkshakes and smoothies, wine below $8, Liquor below $10,beer below $6) or your gratuities are paid for you. Offer applies to first two people booked in a cabin.

 

Their ships are filling up..and they are raising prices while everyone else is lowering them.

 

EVERYONE would love that promotion. The Drink Card offer, which would not cost Carnival as much lost revenue as free cabins, and loss of irritated long Carnival fans would be a big hit with fans of The Drink of the Day, as they could mix all sorts of specialty drinks. Lattes. Milkshakes. Wine. I think the limit is 15 a day, but that would need checking. It is quite a few drinks. More than I can imagae. It is valued at $88 a day to buy for two..but would cost pennies to dollars in discounted , untaxed liquor and wine.

 

while in the sun............That would get people booking, I bet. That is the best promotion I have ever heard of.

Edited April 23, 2014 by AmberTeka

[Jenna1983]

It depends what dates you are looking at. October or November (granted not the absolute best months to visit Europe, but it's not bad at all), Celebrity has some very, very reasonable prices on their Europe cruises. June, July, August - yeah not so much.

 

 

Yeah. need to go around Labor Day and for an itinerary that includes Venice/Livorno/Rome/Naples/Greece. They don't have any that offer that. So I'm still crossing my fingers another line offers something. It's more about just getting there than the actually cruise at this point. Didn't really do that much on sunshine bc I was so tired from up at 5:30-6 lol

[TPFKAH]

I was just reading they were giving out the $100 VIP passes to the Kansas concert. I wonder what that's all about.

[Warm Breezes]

After just returning from a 7 day Eastern Caribbean on Celebrity, I'm sure hoping their "1,2,3" promo makes it way to Carnival. The offer of either onboard credit, pre paid gratuities, or classic alcohol package included is simply the best! My estimation is most chose the free unlimited drinks on all drinks under $10 which easily gets you choices like Grey Goose.

 

This is revolutionary in my experience on a mainstream line, and believe me Celebrity does not = "old & boring" these days. The public areas were alive and fun. That said, I do like Carnival when traveling with the family and so wish cruising would become more like an all inclusive. I know I can buy the cheers package, and I do but when it's part of the cost it makes for a very fun ship.

 

I would rather they don't increase the price and make it all inclusive. I'm not a big drinker and would rather enjoy my fun ship without paying the higher price associated with all-inclusive. Pay for your cheers package sepearately and we are all happy campers enjoying our fun ship:D.

[Cruising Golfer]

Why would you want Carnival to do something to raise prices???:confused:

[AmberTeka]

I was just reading they were giving out the $100 VIP passes to the Kansas concert. I wonder what that's all about.

 

We booked Celebrity back when the fuss was going on about the free cabins giveaway. I was not one of the winners. I have over a 100 days on Carnival, and I felt and feel slighted. We sailed on the Dream in March, a cruise booked and beyond cancellation, and had a very good time..as always. So.............things pass. And there are not 48 posts from people cheering over getting free cruises on this board, and they don't like Carnival, way too low class for them , but hey it is free! That stung!

 

When I was highly irritated, I cancelled a cruise with Carnival Corp. Booked On the Infinity. It was going to St.Croix and St.Barts. Never been to either. 8 day cruise for two..oceanview cabin. We paid $749 each..for 8 days. It was a total of $1700 + a little, and I was very pleased with that. Very comparable with Carnival for an Eight day cruise.

 

Today..that same cabin would cost over $1200. And seems to rise every day. it can only be that drink card offer.

 

it can be nothing but the Free Drink Officer. The OBC of $200 or Free Gratuities . I took the OBC but wanted to take the Drink Offer. My Husband told me he would drink himself to death with that many free drinks a day. So we did not. The card is valued at $88 or $98 per day for 2 passengers. It probably costs them a tenth of that in the cost of alcoholic beverages. I think it is sheer genius. I still want that card..I like lattes. wine sometimes. Smoothies. but I like the $200 OBC. I think you can sort of figure that is a $100 reduction on both of us. in addition to the excellent fares. I look forward to sailing on the Infinity.

 

But I like the two new ships at Port Canerval. which is .a three hour drive for us.

I hope the morans they have in Marketing now..get put tthrough passenger promotion 101...don't hack off half of your customers!! and come up with something like this.

 

It has to be a win win. Something for everyone. Very Fair.Very Profitable to Carnival. The 1-2-3 Offer could pack their ships I think.

Edited April 23, 2014 by AmberTeka

[joshd33]

Pretty sure Carnival doesn't really care too much about how much a cabin costs... I think I saw on a cruise special that most cruise companies don't make hardly anything on the cost of a fare. Where they make the most money is onboard spending, so I don't really see Carnival handing out freebies without signifcantly raising fare prices.

 

No thanks.

[dd2355]

the Free Drink Officer

 

Now THAT would be a ship's officer I'd like to meet! :D

 

I think it is sheer genius. [...] I hope the morans they have in Marketing now..get put tthrough passenger promotion 101...

 

As you seem to feel you are an expert in marketing an promotions, I'm sure you must have stellar credentials and a vast background in the field.

 

If you're serious about this, then you should apply for a position with Carnival or at least offer to provide a couple of seminars to their personnel.

[grumpyjr88]

I have no resentment towards people who did not get the free cruise...

 

Time to move on already!

[AmberTeka]

Pretty sure Carnival doesn't really care too much about how much a cabin costs... I think I saw on a cruise special that most cruise companies don't make hardly anything on the cost of a fare. Where they make the most money is onboard spending, so I don't really see Carnival handing out freebies without signifcantly raising fare prices.

 

No thanks.

 

My husband worked for Seagrims. I assure you. .the cost of a shot of whiskey for them is pennies. Ditto a glass of wine. Ditto sodas. they can buy a can of Coke for a dime. Sell it for almost $2.

and nothing wrong. with that.

 

The cost of giving free cards,,,,with a limit on them no more than 15 a day......would be pennies compared to the hundreds a cabin costs.

It is silly to even compare them.

[AmberTeka]

I have no resentment towards people who did not get the free cruise...

 

Time to move on already!

 

A suggestion on how to fill the ships...which insults no one ( and makes them move to other lines..is hidden resentment? And I think the beards know that a lot have moved. To RCI. Celebrity and NCR. That is a fact. They just walked. they are not here posting on how Carnival could get new passengers. They are on Those boards.....getting to know new things about new ships they will be sailing. Looking at new menus. New Dailies. they moved on. Don't worry .

 

Now is Carnival filling their ships this summer? Seen the rates lately? Compared to usual summer rates?

 

think the fall will be better?

Maybe try something else?

Port Canaveral is close to my home. I would love to see those ships sailing full every week. maybe we will get a Princess or a Celebrity there if the passenger volume is big enough.

 

Supposedly a dredging on the St. Johns is going to make it possible to put a big ship here in Jax. if the grip Real Estate Developers have on the Florida GOP can be broken. ( they control the House and Senate and GOV.)

 

The money has been sent by the Feds. They want the port to be able to handle the big new ships that will be crossing the enlarged Panama Canal. That means a big ship at Jacksonville. I would love that. The Fascination is a little money maker for Carnival. It has legions of loyal fans from the SE states.

 

I love to cruise. I want to see them all prosper. For real.

Edited April 23, 2014 by AmberTeka

[Linerguy]

My husband worked for Seagrims. I assure you. .the cost of a shot of whiskey for them is pennies. Ditto a glass of wine. Ditto sodas. they can buy a can of Coke for a dime. Sell it for almost $2.

and nothing wrong. with that.

 

The cost of giving free cards,,,,with a limit on them no more than 15 a day......would be pennies compared to the hundreds a cabin costs.

It is silly to even compare them.

 

Not to be disrespectful, but I think you've just shot yourself in the foot. Since Carnival spend so little on liquor, wine, soda, etc., it stands to reason that they make a hefty profit off it. Why would they give that away?

 

Carnival entices people to cruise by offering lower prices -or, in the case of a few lucky people, a free cruise – but they make a bulk of their money off on board revenue: drinks, the casino, on board shops, bingo, photos, specialty dining, etc. That's their bread and butter, not the cabin fare.

 

Celebrity, on the other hand, chooses to charge more for the cabin and give away something (OBC, a drinks package or gratuities). I just priced Celebrity's INFINITY for an 8nt Caribbean on 10/26/14, and the least expensive outside is $2607 for two. An 8nt Caribbean on 10/25/14 on the CARNIVAL LIBERTY is $1673 for the least expensive outside. That's a difference of $934 to go on Celebrity and get free drinks (if they are in fact offering free drinks on that sailing). The Cheers! package on Carnival would come to $784 for two – so, it's still less expensive to go on Carnival and buy the drinks.

 

Sorry, but I'm afraid your thought process doesn't hold water (or booze).

[hbrote]

Ive never seen a Celebrity price anywhere near the carnival pricing

 

I just returned from a five day Celebrity cruise and paid $319 pp for a Concierge level balcony. Carnival prices for an ocean view were more. I would look around more and you can find great deals on all lines.

[SUSIEK]

To me, this means a cruiseline is struggling to lure cruisers.

 

We sailed on The Reflection last month. Personally I was not that impressed. It was OK. The ship was a nice layout.... artwork soooo weird. Celebrity is trying to lure a younger crowd. This is no secret. It was said bluntly by the cruise director. Their moto is "Modern Luxury". We are in our early 40's.

 

I think we sailed in the "we are trying to change" phase. Passengers were complaining about the "loud" music everywhere. Two guys who looked like they came from a hip-hop concert were by the pool acting as D.J.'s. It was just an odd atmosphere. They have a loyal following who don't seem to be very happy about the changes taking place. Zumba EVERYDAY by the pool got boring. Maybe we will try them again in a few year after they get over their identity crisis.

 

The Captain actually was plugging shore excursions when he would make his daily announcement.... I have NEVER heard the Captain pushing purchases on any of our cruises!

 

Point is Celebrity is trying to change it's reputation. The 1-2-3 package is helping to get new younger cruisers who will spend onboard. They need to fill ships with spenders.

[Linerguy]

I just returned from a five day Celebrity cruise and paid $319 pp for a Concierge level balcony. Carnival prices for an ocean view were more. I would look around more and you can find great deals on all lines.

 

Were they offering free drinks? Just curious.

[andy.capitan]

Judging by increasing attendance at whatever the PG party is called, I think Carnival already knows most cruisers aren't moving to other cruise lines.

 

Liquor sales are a primary source of revenue for Carnival and they aren't about to give it away. Carnival has occasionally run promotions where there might be a $50 bar tab OBC but I haven't seen once of those in a while. Clearly it didn't achieve the desired results.

 

Some analysts are projecting a leveling off for the next few years in the number of cruise passengers. Carnival's decision to hold off on new builds is going to look absolutely brilliant if those analysts are correct.

 

Meanwhile the cruise lines still building enormous ships are going to be the ones left scrambling trying to fill them.

 

Does anyone really think Quantum was being built for China?