Maybe you should not cruise in this current environment

[lyannea]

On 5/6/2022 at 8:38 PM, Badfinger said:

Why does it seem, actually why is it, that every forum dedicated to a particular topic or subject (such as this board, an investing forum or even a golf forum) has those that just feel the need to publish their personal manifesto as THEE definitive manifesto of all time for others to read, applaud and endorse?  I did not read beyond the first couple sentences as I know the where it was going.  SMH....

I've found one consistency in reading reviews on this board- those who take full advantage of the Cheers package tend to have a fantastic cruise which they boast about. Always fun to read those- rarely a complaint.

[Moonarino]

21 hours ago, Indiansbaseball said:

Just off Magic (May 1-7) all the ports were unaffected (Half Moon, Grand Turk and Amber Cove) great times at all. Mostly, redundant repetitive food ( dinner menu in MDR served the same day for lunch) rice rice and more rice.  Missing drinks ( both alcohol and non). We only ate in the MDR one time, it was the same experience as usual. Guys Pig and Anchor only open on embarkation day and on last sea day for 2 hours ! So eat there early if interested.  
Our steward was a really lovely man, but when he asked us if we wanted morning or evening and we chose evening ( he took notes) he serviced our cabin in the morning. Not cruise ruining, but I hate wet beach towels on the floor all night. He forgot a towel animal one day, again our cruise was not ruined. These guys are just overworked !!! 

Shows still went on… food still plentiful…fun was still had… just be aware that it’s just a bit different. 

Thanks, sounds like nothing earthshaking. I'm sure we'll manage to eak out a good time. 🤔

[Indiansbaseball]

3 hours ago, Moonarino said:

Thanks, sounds like nothing earthshaking. I'm sure we'll manage to eak out a good time. 🤔

I’m sure you will ! Have a great time !

[cruizergal70]

47 minutes ago, Indiansbaseball said:

I’m sure you will ! Have a great time !

If the cabin steward came at the wrong time, why didn't you say something?

[Abr155]

On 5/6/2022 at 1:57 PM, Top_of_the_Cube said:

With some of the complaints I have been reading recently, should everyone be booking with Carnival at this time?

 

I do have sympathy for those whose whole vacation experience, or even just a few situations or circumstances, is not up to their expectations, and I know that Carnival has the capacity to fail to bring its B-game.  Many of these are legitimate complaints.  And others would be legitimate, in a normal environment.

 

Things do happen that just can't be ignored and can't be overlooked, such as sewage backing up into your cabin.  But, many issues are just a temporary inconvenience reflecting a temporary state of affairs.  And for some, this should signal a temporary pause in personally booking a cruise.

 

Right now, some folks are very inflamed with their opinions of COVID protocols.  If you are one to get vocal and confrontational if someone wears a mask, or does not wear a mask (whether ship required, enforced, unenforced, or just contrary to "good common sense" in your opinion)   - and let's not get started on vaccinations and testing -    maybe you should not cruise in this current environment.

 

Right now, there are real supply chain challenges.  If it just wouldn't be worth cruising with the potential of rationed or no bacon, or if YOUR brand of liquor or soft drink should become out of stock, maybe you should not cruise in this current environment.

 

Right now, there are critical staff shortages.  If you can't afford to wait an hour or more for dining service, or have a fear of dysentery if room cleaning is occasionally not thorough, or you won't survive if you can't get pizza at 4:00 a.m., maybe you should not cruise in this current environment.

 

Right now, there is a greater chance than normal that you might be prevented from boarding a ship just days or even hours before sailing.  If the anxiety of getting tested or waiting for results causes you physical or mental damage, or an actual positive test or onset of symptoms would produce a critical financial or logistic nightmare, maybe you should not cruise in this current environment. 

 

Right now, cruise lines have to make tough decisions regarding ports of call due to each location's sometimes-changing restrictions and accessibility.  I think it is reasonable to let Carnival know of your displeasure of replacing a Bermuda stop with a Bahama port (and Carnival did listen and gave some compensation/options).  But, if you are prone to lead an uprising if the captain does not give in to your demands for OBC, maybe you should not cruise in this current environment.

 

Right now, cruise lines are navigating so many shifting regulations and authoritative opinions that what Carnival says today may not be true tomorrow, or even the reality once on board.  If a late-breaking policy change would completely wreck your vacation, maybe you should not cruise in this current environment.

 

I would guess the cruise lines cringe at not being able to provide their "normal" cruising experience, but couldn't afford to wait much longer before getting some cash flow to avoid bankruptcy.  Their crew were in desperate need of getting back to work.  And there were enough of us anxious to get our feet back on board in spite of the abnormal conditions.  For me and my house, it was worth every hurdle to regain my sea legs.

 

Some of us are more willing than others to pay the ticket price for "as-is" adventure.  I imagine we can keep things afloat until conditions normalize enough for others to join us.  Our affinity for Carnival (and cruising) shouldn't keep any of us from sharing both positive and negative reviews and observations that might help others determine when it is right for them to jump back in the water.  Just thinking it might be premature to banish Carnival to the scrap yard at this time.  Because, you know, the current environment and all.

 

Unless, of course, they don't take care of that backed-up sewer.

So well said.  I like to stay apprised of the things going awry, so we will be prepared if it happens to us BUT, we booked this cruise at an incredibly good rate knowing that things aren't 100% back to normal.

[RenoNanaOz]

On 5/6/2022 at 10:57 AM, Top_of_the_Cube said:

With some of the complaints I have been reading recently, should everyone be booking with Carnival at this time?

 

I do have sympathy for those whose whole vacation experience, or even just a few situations or circumstances, is not up to their expectations, and I know that Carnival has the capacity to fail to bring its B-game.  Many of these are legitimate complaints.  And others would be legitimate, in a normal environment.

 

Things do happen that just can't be ignored and can't be overlooked, such as sewage backing up into your cabin.  But, many issues are just a temporary inconvenience reflecting a temporary state of affairs.  And for some, this should signal a temporary pause in personally booking a cruise.

 

Right now, some folks are very inflamed with their opinions of COVID protocols.  If you are one to get vocal and confrontational if someone wears a mask, or does not wear a mask (whether ship required, enforced, unenforced, or just contrary to "good common sense" in your opinion)   - and let's not get started on vaccinations and testing -    maybe you should not cruise in this current environment.

 

Right now, there are real supply chain challenges.  If it just wouldn't be worth cruising with the potential of rationed or no bacon, or if YOUR brand of liquor or soft drink should become out of stock, maybe you should not cruise in this current environment.

 

Right now, there are critical staff shortages.  If you can't afford to wait an hour or more for dining service, or have a fear of dysentery if room cleaning is occasionally not thorough, or you won't survive if you can't get pizza at 4:00 a.m., maybe you should not cruise in this current environment.

 

Right now, there is a greater chance than normal that you might be prevented from boarding a ship just days or even hours before sailing.  If the anxiety of getting tested or waiting for results causes you physical or mental damage, or an actual positive test or onset of symptoms would produce a critical financial or logistic nightmare, maybe you should not cruise in this current environment. 

 

Right now, cruise lines have to make tough decisions regarding ports of call due to each location's sometimes-changing restrictions and accessibility.  I think it is reasonable to let Carnival know of your displeasure of replacing a Bermuda stop with a Bahama port (and Carnival did listen and gave some compensation/options).  But, if you are prone to lead an uprising if the captain does not give in to your demands for OBC, maybe you should not cruise in this current environment.

 

Right now, cruise lines are navigating so many shifting regulations and authoritative opinions that what Carnival says today may not be true tomorrow, or even the reality once on board.  If a late-breaking policy change would completely wreck your vacation, maybe you should not cruise in this current environment.

 

I would guess the cruise lines cringe at not being able to provide their "normal" cruising experience, but couldn't afford to wait much longer before getting some cash flow to avoid bankruptcy.  Their crew were in desperate need of getting back to work.  And there were enough of us anxious to get our feet back on board in spite of the abnormal conditions.  For me and my house, it was worth every hurdle to regain my sea legs.

 

Some of us are more willing than others to pay the ticket price for "as-is" adventure.  I imagine we can keep things afloat until conditions normalize enough for others to join us.  Our affinity for Carnival (and cruising) shouldn't keep any of us from sharing both positive and negative reviews and observations that might help others determine when it is right for them to jump back in the water.  Just thinking it might be premature to banish Carnival to the scrap yard at this time.  Because, you know, the current environment and all.

 

Unless, of course, they don't take care of that backed-up sewer.

This is why we have had many fun and relaxing land based vacations. We refuse to jump through hoops and follow protocols to vacation. If people choose to do so then they shouldn't complain.

[Top_of_the_Cube]

On 5/6/2022 at 10:38 PM, Badfinger said:

Why does it seem, actually why is it, that every forum dedicated to a particular topic or subject (such as this board, an investing forum or even a golf forum) has those that just feel the need to publish their personal manifesto as THEE definitive manifesto of all time for others to read, applaud and endorse?  I did not read beyond the first couple sentences as I know the where it was going.  SMH....

 

I'm kind of with you.  As soon as I notice a post is just a long-winded, self-gratifying tirade, such as this OP's post, I am likely to just move on.  But, I wouldn't give the OP the satisfaction of a comment or response.

[Cruisegirl1919]

10 hours ago, lyannea said:

I've found one consistency in reading reviews on this board- those who take full advantage of the Cheers package tend to have a fantastic cruise which they boast about. Always fun to read those- rarely a complaint.

That's because they can't remember what they had to complain about! 

[JandPB]

On 5/7/2022 at 1:17 PM, Moonarino said:

Wondering if you might elaborate as to which venues you recall were noticeably affected? We're on Magic in 2 weeks (May21) so of course I'm curious -- but only (or mostly) about dining venues, stateroom services, on-and-off ship at ports etc, the standard must-have activities. TIA...

We had days where it took more than 15 minutes after being seated to ever have the wait staff to acknowledge us in the YTD MDR. No water, nothing. Service in Cucina was non existent. Maybe we just had a string of bad luck. It’s what we experienced. The bars with the exception of the tides bar were staffed and putting out drinks perfectly. It seems like they left the guy at the tides bar to fend for himself when we were by there. At peak times in the buffet tables weren’t being cleared when people left. I cleared my own table to be able to sit down. No staff to see. Again, this was at peak lunch. I felt for the crew. 

[HarborHermit]

On 5/9/2022 at 2:49 AM, lyannea said:

I've found one consistency in reading reviews on this board- those who take full advantage of the Cheers package tend to have a fantastic cruise which they boast about. Always fun to read those- rarely a complaint.

 

LOL! I don't drink, but I still had a great time on my two pandemic cruises. Reading the Cruise Critic boards and subscribing to a couple of cruise channels on YouTube helped. I knew what to expect.

[Indiansbaseball]

On 5/9/2022 at 1:17 PM, cruizergal70 said:

If the cabin steward came at the wrong time, why didn't you say something?

In my post, I said that it wasn’t cruise ruining, so I didn’t say anything. He worked really hard in all other areas.