seems carnival is doing things right.

[kybluecruiser]

Some on here like to complain about the decisions CCL makes. This article seems to prove that they are on the correct buisness plan. http://www.seatrade-insider.com/news/news-headlines/carnival-no-1-improver-in-yougovs-consumer-brand-research.html

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Some on here like to complain about the decisions CCL makes. This article seems to prove that they are on the correct buisness plan. http://www.seatrade-insider.com/news/news-headlines/carnival-no-1-improver-in-yougovs-consumer-brand-research.html

 

Good job Carnival. Keep it up!:)

 

Bill

[golfadj]

Very nice but what innovations are they talking about???

[Chileancruiser]

Very nice but what innovations are they talking about???

 

 

Obviously the American Feast. People just love it 😉!

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[winddawn]

Some on here like to complain about the decisions CCL makes. This article seems to prove that they are on the correct buisness plan. http://www.seatrade-insider.com/news/news-headlines/carnival-no-1-improver-in-yougovs-consumer-brand-research.html

This is good news. Thanks for sharing.

[bigdog1958]

Carnival does alot of things right and the Dr. Seuss and concerts have brought good PR to the line. However, one area I think Carnival needs to improve on is their customer service. They are bringing new people to the line to cruise, but if they get incorrect information from the customer service reps, they may not sail again. Everyone has different opinions about the menus and entertainment, but if you get poor customer service when you contact a company, this could and probably would turn off people to crusing with carnival. Hopefully, Carnival will spend sometime on improvement in this area for the long term growth of the company

[golfadj]

Obviously the American Feast. People just love it 😉!

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

 

Actually we have cruised with it twice and I was happy they made the changes.

 

One was with tablecloth and one without and no big deal to not have tablecloth.

 

However really have no clue as to these innovations.

[Cruzaholic41]

Some on here like to complain about the decisions CCL makes. This article seems to prove that they are on the correct buisness plan.

 

Carnival has always been good at business, but good business does not equate to good quality. They are perhaps the best at attracting the majority populous of budget minded cruisers. But like WalMart and Mcdonalds, they might always be full, but not because its a quality product.

 

Very nice but what innovations are they talking about???

 

My thoughts exactly. Carnival isn't exactly the first cruise line to come to mind when it comes to innovation.

[jimbo5544]

Some on here like to complain about the decisions CCL makes. This article seems to prove that they are on the correct buisness plan. http://www.seatrade-insider.com/news/news-headlines/carnival-no-1-improver-in-yougovs-consumer-brand-research.html

 

Good catch, checked that site this morning and don't remember seeing but may have been before they had updated the page. Glad they are getting some positive kudo's. I know they have worked hard to get things pointed in the right direction.

[jimbo5544]

Carnival has always been good at business, but good business does not equate to good quality. They are perhaps the best at attracting the majority populous of budget minded cruisers. But like WalMart and Mcdonalds, they might always be full, but not because its a quality product.

 

 

 

My thoughts exactly. Carnival isn't exactly the first cruise line to come to mind when it comes to innovation.

 

Interesting point, while they have not done things along the lines of the Quantum and no MDR or NCL in its different approach they have done innovative things. I will mention a few: Concert series, American Table, Dr Seuss, new entertainment company, Guys, Blue iguana, Red Frog Pub and have their multi talented award winning senior cruise director which has the highest read blog in the travel industry. Mud slingers will find fault here as usual. Only took 5 posts before a Walmart comment snuck in.;)

[Cruzaholic41]

I will mention a few: Concert series, American Table, Dr Seuss, new entertainment company, Guys, Blue iguana, Red Frog Pub and have their multi talented award winning senior cruise director which has the highest read blog in the travel industry. Mud slingers will find fault here as usual. Only took 5 posts before a Walmart comment snuck in.;)

 

Well, I won't comment on the CD thing because I have my own opinion on him, but all that other stuff you mentioned is very similar to things other cruise lines have already done. Copying is not innovation, even if the copy is an improvement over what the other lines have already thought up.

 

And yes, I did say WalMart, but if people cant comprehend the context for what it's intended, that's their own problem.

[golfadj]

Interesting point, while they have not done things along the lines of the Quantum and no MDR or NCL in its different approach they have done innovative things. I will mention a few: Concert series, American Table, Dr Seuss, new entertainment company, Guys, Blue iguana, Red Frog Pub and have their multi talented award winning senior cruise director which has the highest read blog in the travel industry. Mud slingers will find fault here as usual. Only took 5 posts before a Walmart comment snuck in.;)

 

As you may have noticed I have been known to criticize Carnival from time to time but almost never for the food or the service.

 

My problem is the entertainment.

 

From my perspective Dr Suess and using a DJ instead of live music is not an improvement.

 

During most of the year not even many young kids on a cruise anyway.

 

Once upon a time they had professional entertainment in main lounge every night. Now on our last 8 day cruise last month down to 4.

 

Used to be able to go to a lounge and here a good rock cover band. Now when they have them they put them right next to casino so you cannot hear all that well over the noise, the traffic walking by and than the smoke doesnt do anyone any good. Pointed this out to JH upon my return last month and he was going to look into that but never responded back to me or anywhere else as far as I can see.

 

Only positive they have added is comedy club.

 

Really hoping to see real improvement in entertainment.

[cjknox]

The cruise industry is a very resilient industry, and while it took Carnival a bit longer to recover its lost brand perception it was only a matter of time. From on board innovations to intensive sales efforts Carnival has been working diligently to regain what was lost. Bravo to them.

[guxu]

Ironically, I found this article while I was researching why CCL stock tumbled to year-to-date low today.:(

[cruizinisthebest]

In general I don't complain about Carnival and wouldn't continually give them my money if I had a lot of issues with their product.

 

I didn't get a chance to try the new menu, but it would have been nice to do so before they scrapped the whole thing.

 

The Dr. Seuss and Camp Ocean changes are exciting to me as a cruiser with a child slap in the middle of that age group, and I look forward to what they will do with Circle C and Club O2. It's all in what you want out of the cruise. I pay no mind to the entertainment and couldn't care less if they stopped offering stage shows all together. I've gone to them and like them enough, but this feature is not of importance to me. For others it is while the youth camps have no value.

 

It's good to see Carnival getting positive feedback. Perhaps they aren't as innovative in some areas as other lines. But to me, the variety is a good thing. I wouldn't be looking to sail other lines if I thought my experience was going to be exactly like Carnival's. And it doesn't mean they are inferior. I have several family members and friends that have done a lot more cruising than me on many different lines. NONE of them find major fault with one versus the other. I don't get the constant cruise line wars displayed here.

 

I do agree that Carnival should do some major training with their staff. Not that I've ever had a problem with them, but the consistency or lack thereof is not good. You can get 5 different answers from 5 different reps within the same day. Not good. And make the pricing more simplistic. A lot of the confusion could be cut back if they would simplify their pricing.

 

Thanks for posting the article.

[Jimmy Geegitz]

That is why they are numero UNO!!

[jimbo5544]

Well, I won't comment on the CD thing because I have my own opinion on him, but all that other stuff you mentioned is very similar to things other cruise lines have already done. Copying is not innovation, even if the copy is an improvement over what the other lines have already thought up.

 

And yes, I did say WalMart, but if people cant comprehend the context for what it's intended, that's their own problem.

 

Not sure how I misinterpreted Walmart, McDonalds and not confusing full ships with not having a good quality product in the same sentence.

 

Without going off on a tangent, Quantum adds computerized electronics to their shows and it is innovative, Carnival adds it to playlist productions and its being a copycat. I don't happen to be a big fan of playlist, but that does not mean it does not work.

 

When they added the concert series, they were ripped here. After good reviews started to come in, it became well it's not the original members opf the band. It goes on and on.

 

I guess the point is maybe the rest of the world (read that as the survey company here and we can take a step further to the booking public) might disagree with the few here that always belittle the Carnival product. They were, and still are the value proposition in the cruise industry.

 

Do they have issues? Every cruise line does. Are they in a much better place now that 18 months ago? You bet they are.

Edited July 17, 2014 by jimbo5544

[JohnSpo]

The additions of the sea day brunch in the MDR and the Taste Bar are 2 other additions that were a good move.:cool:

[jimbo5544]

As you may have noticed I have been known to criticize Carnival from time to time but almost never for the food or the service.

 

My problem is the entertainment.

 

From my perspective Dr Suess and using a DJ instead of live music is not an improvement.

 

During most of the year not even many young kids on a cruise anyway.

 

Once upon a time they had professional entertainment in main lounge every night. Now on our last 8 day cruise last month down to 4.

 

Used to be able to go to a lounge and here a good rock cover band. Now when they have them they put them right next to casino so you cannot hear all that well over the noise, the traffic walking by and than the smoke doesnt do anyone any good. Pointed this out to JH upon my return last month and he was going to look into that but never responded back to me or anywhere else as far as I can see.

 

Only positive they have added is comedy club.

 

Really hoping to see real improvement in entertainment.

Stu, there is a difference in whether you think something is an improvement and whether or not it is innovative. I do have to say I thought of your comments on playlist as soon as I read the article. I think they have begun to put better entertainment in the nightclubs (Breeze and Sunshine and expect to see more of the same expanded to other ships soon.

[kybluecruiser]

Not sure how I misinterpreted Walmart, McDonalds and not confusing full ships with not having a good quality product in the same sentence.

 

Without going off on a tangent, Quantum adds computerized electronics to their shows and it is innovative, Carnival adds it to playlist productions and its being a copycat. I don't happen to be a big fan of playlist, but that does not mean it does not work.

 

When they added the concert series, they were ripped here. After good reviews started to come in, it became well it's not the original members opf the band. It goes on and on.

 

I guess the point is maybe the rest of the world (read that as the survey company here and we can take a step further to the booking public) might disagree with the few here that always belittle the Carnival product. They were, and still are the value proposition in the cruise industry.

 

Do they have issues? Every cruise line does. Are they in a much better place now that 18 months ago? You bet they are.

Well said!!!!

Edited July 17, 2014 by kybluecruiser

[jimbo5544]

Well said!!!!

 

LOL, thanks but me thinks I hear incoming rounds whistling through the air as I type this.:confused:

[kybluecruiser]

LOL, thanks but me thinks I hear incoming rounds whistling through the air as I type this.:confused:

 

Lol

[Linerguy]

I think the word "innovative" gets tossed around pretty loosely these days. To some, rock climbing walls, boxing rings, sky-diving machines, etc., are innovative, while others could care less and see them more as novelties. True innovation is simply a new way to do something better; it's not necessarily something new. When cruise lines started installing interactive TVs in cabins, and people could check their account, order room service, shore excursions, etc., THAT was an innovative move. When conventional shafts were being abandoned over electric podded propulsion units, THAT was an innovative move (though not always entirely successful).

 

Guy's, Dr. Suess, BlueIguana, etc. are all wonderful additions – and I have no doubt that they've contributed to Carnival's upswing – but I'm not sure I find them ground-breaking or innovative. That being said, and semantics aside, it's pretty obvious that Carnival is doing something right. Three years ago, after a very bad experience on ELATION, I had written them off. Since last November, I've been on SPLENDOR, BREEZE and FREEDOM, and, while not perfect (nothing ever is), all three cruises were fantastic experiences. And while I'm not a fan of the DJs, or the hokey story lines of Playlist Productions, it's hard to find a better value in cruising.

[golfadj]

Stu, there is a difference in whether you think something is an improvement and whether or not it is innovative. I do have to say I thought of your comments on playlist as soon as I read the article. I think they have begun to put better entertainment in the nightclubs (Breeze and Sunshine and expect to see more of the same expanded to other ships soon.

 

You have a point, I saw innovative and my mind said improvement. oops.

 

I made a sugestion to JH the other day about adding Zumba to morning activities after seeing it on our Princess TA.

 

As it turns out it is on the Miracle and he will ask them to continue it on Miracle when it does longer cruises to Hawaii this fall. Lots of sea days on this one and will help me enjoy the days and not gain too much weight.

 

Doing the Pride relocation cruise next year after its drydock and hopefully they will have a better version of playlist.

[jimbo5544]

You have a point, I saw innovative and my mind said improvement. oops.

 

I made a sugestion to JH the other day about adding Zumba to morning activities after seeing it on our Princess TA.

 

As it turns out it is on the Miracle and he will ask them to continue it on Miracle when it does longer cruises to Hawaii this fall. Lots of sea days on this one and will help me enjoy the days and not gain too much weight.

 

Doing the Pride relocation cruise next year after its drydock and hopefully they will have a better version of playlist.

We looked at the Pride relocation but could not make it work for us scheduling wise. Nice Itinerary, and I can't wait to see a Red Frog pub on her. It is another via option from the Northeast without flying (Baltimore) although I would only to the eastern Caribbean sailing, not the port Canaveral one.