Carnival Live cruise, but not tickets to LIVE

[reerun25]

Just curious about hearing from people that have been on a Carnival LIVE cruise, but did not go to the concert. I assume they use the main show stage for the concert, so I assume if you don't go to the concert, there is no main show to see, as the venue is being used for the concert? Are the comedy clubs open? Just curious what is open/available to do on the ship if you choose not to go to the concert...

[xeroxme]

Yes show is in theatre. We went to Gavin Degraw concert on Paradise. Cruise is the same and Comedy Show is still happening. It was fun experience but of course not everyone on the ship went to concert. It won't effect your cruise if you don't go to concert. No worries enjoy. It was fun taking DW to a concert out of the country.

[RuthlessBoss]

Just to clarify. The concerts are while a ship is at port, not while at sea. The performers come aboard and leave. So you can spend as much time in port, you are not trapped on the ship.

[reerun25]

Just to clarify. The concerts are while a ship is at port, not while at sea. The performers come aboard and leave. So you can spend as much time in port, you are not trapped on the ship.

 

Yeah, I did already know that.. We will be in Nassau, so not sure I want to be out on the town after dark...

[rschramm]

We just got off the Splendor and saw Journey. We purchased the VIP tickets ($500) for the two of us. Being a photographer, I was really looking forward to photographing the show, asked my PVP about cameras during the show, and he said YES no problem at all. Then, to make sure, on the morning of the show, I asked the Tours desk and they said absolutely no problem. The "meet & greet" which was not exactly a Meet and greet, was a long line of VIP ticket holders being escorted up to the band, snapped a picture and then escorted out, no real interaction with the band. once we arrived in the showroom, a swarm of Carnival people were standing in the aisles, once the show started the crowd started taking pics with their phones, Immediately the carnival staff started pushing cameras down or blocking them with their hands shouting NO PICTURES! I WAS FURIOUS. I can assure you, I will never spend that kind of money for a show on Carnival again.

After the show, I literally ran into the Director of Carnival Live Bernie Dillon, and made it very clear of my disappointment. When I started explaining to him that I was told cameras were allowed, he instantly went into defensive mode stating that no where in the tickets does it say that cameras would be allowed and the "MEET & GREET" was a photo op, not a meet and greet, and he made sure that all data or printed materials said as such, which it does not, it says Meet & Greet. I told him I could find on the Carnival website where it stated that video and Flash photos would not be allowed, but that would leave regular NON-FLASH photography to be ok, and that it actually said Meet & greet. I plan on sending him screen shots of the website where all of this is stated and hopefully something will come of it. He blamed the band and said they didn't want photos taken, but being around Professional bands I know that this would have been stated in the Contract between the band and Carnival, and if so, the Cruise line should have made that clear to their staff and guests purchasing the tickets.

 

I know it sounds like I am complaining, and I am. I will say this, the band put on a great show, we were literally 10 feet from them and it was intense. I don't think it was worth the money spent, because honestly there isn't a bad seat in a carnival showroom. Had I known that we would be restricted from taking photos, had such a limited "meet & greet" we probably would have purchased the $60 tickets and been happy just to enjoy the show.... If it was the band who was restricting photos, it's unfortunate that Carnival didn't disclose all of this ahead of time. If it was Carnival, SHAME on them....

[Peg_S]

Sorry to hear about this. It's so frustrating when you go to the extra effort to make sure of something, then it falls apart anyway. Especially when you paid so much for the one thing you were assured of.

 

I appreciate your sharing-so the rest of us know what you really get for the extra money.

 

Peg

[Seattle2]

It isn't Journey, they do allow non-professional photography at all their other concerts...I was on this cruise as well, and LOVED the concert but was a bit frustrated by the misinformation and lack of information from Carnival. For me, the VIP tickets were well worth the price, I got to be in the front row which was important to me, and I knew the M&G would be what it was - 100 people herded through a quick photo op (and as expected, Neal didn't show up for that).

[ETinCA]

Saw Little Big Town this week and photos weren't a problem at the show. Just no video or flash.

[jason534]

We just got off the Splendor and saw Journey. We purchased the VIP tickets ($500) for the two of us. Being a photographer, I was really looking forward to photographing the show, asked my PVP about cameras during the show, and he said YES no problem at all. Then, to make sure, on the morning of the show, I asked the Tours desk and they said absolutely no problem. The "meet & greet" which was not exactly a Meet and greet, was a long line of VIP ticket holders being escorted up to the band, snapped a picture and then escorted out, no real interaction with the band. once we arrived in the showroom, a swarm of Carnival people were standing in the aisles, once the show started the crowd started taking pics with their phones, Immediately the carnival staff started pushing cameras down or blocking them with their hands shouting NO PICTURES! I WAS FURIOUS. I can assure you, I will never spend that kind of money for a show on Carnival again.

After the show, I literally ran into the Director of Carnival Live Bernie Dillon, and made it very clear of my disappointment. When I started explaining to him that I was told cameras were allowed, he instantly went into defensive mode stating that no where in the tickets does it say that cameras would be allowed and the "MEET & GREET" was a photo op, not a meet and greet, and he made sure that all data or printed materials said as such, which it does not, it says Meet & Greet. I told him I could find on the Carnival website where it stated that video and Flash photos would not be allowed, but that would leave regular NON-FLASH photography to be ok, and that it actually said Meet & greet. I plan on sending him screen shots of the website where all of this is stated and hopefully something will come of it. He blamed the band and said they didn't want photos taken, but being around Professional bands I know that this would have been stated in the Contract between the band and Carnival, and if so, the Cruise line should have made that clear to their staff and guests purchasing the tickets.

 

I know it sounds like I am complaining, and I am. I will say this, the band put on a great show, we were literally 10 feet from them and it was intense. I don't think it was worth the money spent, because honestly there isn't a bad seat in a carnival showroom. Had I known that we would be restricted from taking photos, had such a limited "meet & greet" we probably would have purchased the $60 tickets and been happy just to enjoy the show.... If it was the band who was restricting photos, it's unfortunate that Carnival didn't disclose all of this ahead of time. If it was Carnival, SHAME on them....

 

We had VIP to the Styx show last year and still have not received our signed band photos that were part of the package then. I went to guest services and the associate gave me a business card with his name on it and wrote that we will receive two signed styx band photos from Carnival Live. We never received them, I waited over two months and then sent a letter to Carnival. no response yet...the cruise departed late September 2014. Our package also said Meet n greet but was just a photo line.

 

Carnival Live seems to like to make promises they don't intend to keep.

 

Forgot to add, we did get the photos we took with the band, but last year when we booked the package also included a signed photo of the band...basically a stock photo signed by the band.

Edited April 6, 2015 by jason534
forgot something

[djacobson]

We just got off the Splendor and saw Journey. We purchased the VIP tickets ($500) for the two of us. Being a photographer, I was really looking forward to photographing the show, asked my PVP about cameras during the show, and he said YES no problem at all. Then, to make sure, on the morning of the show, I asked the Tours desk and they said absolutely no problem. The "meet & greet" which was not exactly a Meet and greet, was a long line of VIP ticket holders being escorted up to the band, snapped a picture and then escorted out, no real interaction with the band. once we arrived in the showroom, a swarm of Carnival people were standing in the aisles, once the show started the crowd started taking pics with their phones, Immediately the carnival staff started pushing cameras down or blocking them with their hands shouting NO PICTURES! I WAS FURIOUS. I can assure you, I will never spend that kind of money for a show on Carnival again.

After the show, I literally ran into the Director of Carnival Live Bernie Dillon, and made it very clear of my disappointment. When I started explaining to him that I was told cameras were allowed, he instantly went into defensive mode stating that no where in the tickets does it say that cameras would be allowed and the "MEET & GREET" was a photo op, not a meet and greet, and he made sure that all data or printed materials said as such, which it does not, it says Meet & Greet. I told him I could find on the Carnival website where it stated that video and Flash photos would not be allowed, but that would leave regular NON-FLASH photography to be ok, and that it actually said Meet & greet. I plan on sending him screen shots of the website where all of this is stated and hopefully something will come of it. He blamed the band and said they didn't want photos taken, but being around Professional bands I know that this would have been stated in the Contract between the band and Carnival, and if so, the Cruise line should have made that clear to their staff and guests purchasing the tickets.

 

I know it sounds like I am complaining, and I am. I will say this, the band put on a great show, we were literally 10 feet from them and it was intense. I don't think it was worth the money spent, because honestly there isn't a bad seat in a carnival showroom. Had I known that we would be restricted from taking photos, had such a limited "meet & greet" we probably would have purchased the $60 tickets and been happy just to enjoy the show.... If it was the band who was restricting photos, it's unfortunate that Carnival didn't disclose all of this ahead of time. If it was Carnival, SHAME on them....

 

When REO Speedwagon performed on the Fascination, non-flash photography was allowed. Apparently CCL is not applying the same policies throughout the fleet. And to contend that "no where on the ticket does it say cameras are allowed" is ridiculous in this age of smart phones. CCL needs to clearly state on the tickets that video or photography of any kind is prohibited, if that is the policy. Otherwise, non-flash photography is ok.

Edited April 6, 2015 by djacobson