Just Back from Paradise - Not Good for Diamonds

[Djptcp]

DH and I just returned from a 5-day Paradise cruise. While onboard, we received a letter that there would be no special Diamond event and no Platinum/Diamond cocktail party. Their reason was that while trying to get all the Carnival ships back sailing there is a shortage of crew members due to some Visa issues. They did give us $50 pp onboard credit so at least we received something for our disappointment.

 

The ship sailed at full capacity and no masks, although recommended. Crew was wonderful, food was okay not great, entertainment was so-so. There are no specialty restaurants on the Paradise, but we did have Steakhouse Selections in the Main Dining Room for 3 of the 5 nights on board and they were good. I had the Surf and Turf the 3 nights and DH had that 2 times, the 3rd time he had the NY Strip Steak and it was full of grizzle.

 

Probably our last Carnival cruise for a long while as we have 4 Holland America cruises booked, our favorite cruise line. Food is far superior, ships are elegant, fantastic crew, and we receive many perks for being 4 Star Mariners (same as Diamond level) - double sailing days for suites, extra days for every $300 spent onboard, 50% discount on specialty restaurant dining, 50% discount on wine packages.  Being Diamonds on Carnival pales in comparison.

[Guest BasicSailor]

Thanks for reporting this short, but fair review. NCL just updated their loyalty perks and I suspect Carnival will follow suit.

[tallnthensome]

There are plenty of staffing issues. If they  cant even staff their pay restaurants I doubt they care or are concerned about diamond parties for a 5 day cruise. Just one more reason to not worry about status/cruise levels and their importance or lack there of on Carnival. While newer Carnival  Cruisers are getting half off deals or free cruise cabins diamond and platinum members are getting a free extra 30 cent  bottle of water and a luggage tag. Laughable.....

[Don Kehote]

2 hours ago, Djptcp said:

DH and I just returned from a 5-day Paradise cruise. While onboard, we received a letter that there would be no special Diamond event and no Platinum/Diamond cocktail party. Their reason was that while trying to get all the Carnival ships back sailing there is a shortage of crew members due to some Visa issues. They did give us $50 pp onboard credit so at least we received something for our disappointment.

 

The ship sailed at full capacity and no masks, although recommended. Crew was wonderful, food was okay not great, entertainment was so-so. There are no specialty restaurants on the Paradise, but we did have Steakhouse Selections in the Main Dining Room for 3 of the 5 nights on board and they were good. I had the Surf and Turf the 3 nights and DH had that 2 times, the 3rd time he had the NY Strip Steak and it was full of grizzle.

 

Probably our last Carnival cruise for a long while as we have 4 Holland America cruises booked, our favorite cruise line. Food is far superior, ships are elegant, fantastic crew, and we receive many perks for being 4 Star Mariners (same as Diamond level) - double sailing days for suites, extra days for every $300 spent onboard, 50% discount on specialty restaurant dining, 50% discount on wine packages.  Being Diamonds on Carnival pales in comparison.

Thank you for this HAL promotion.

[Hoosierpop]

Holland America is definitely a higher service level. Not sure why if that’s your favorite you’d go on Carnival. I’ve never thought Carnival caters that much to frequent cruisers. 
 

While HA has a lot of positives, the two cruises I’ve done on it, the casino and night entertainment was dead. 
 

But yes, if that’s your favorite, I totally understand not wanting to go on Carnival.

[cruisingguy007]

44 minutes ago, tallnthensome said:

There are plenty of staffing issues. If they  cant even staff their pay restaurants I doubt they care or are concerned about diamond parties for a 5 day cruise. Just one more reason to not worry about status/cruise levels and their importance or lack there of on Carnival. While newer Carnival  Cruisers are getting half off deals or free cruise cabins diamond and platinum members are getting a free extra 30 cent  bottle of water and a luggage tag. Laughable.....

 

Hey now, I got suites booked for my next two cruises, I better have my two bottles of water and free laundry or I'm never sailing Carnival again, never mind that I got a great rate and saved enough to by tons of water bottles and do lots of laundry. I need to feel special dang-it. I guess I should call and speak to a manger about those luggage tags you mentioned also. 😁  

[tallnthensome]

57 minutes ago, cruisingguy007 said:

 

Hey now, I got suites booked for my next two cruises, I better have my two bottles of water and free laundry or I'm never sailing Carnival again, never mind that I got a great rate and saved enough to by tons of water bottles and do lots of laundry. I need to feel special dang-it. I guess I should call and speak to a manger about those luggage tags you mentioned also. 😁  

Sounds all too familiar..... Haha! 

[BlerkOne]

5 hours ago, Djptcp said:

 Being Diamonds on Carnival pales in comparison.

This is why Carnival Corp has a variety of cruise lines at different price points. They are not trying to compete with each other. That would be stupid.

[firefly333]

4 hours ago, cruisingguy007 said:

 

Hey now, I got suites booked for my next two cruises, I better have my two bottles of water and free laundry or I'm never sailing Carnival again, never mind that I got a great rate and saved enough to by tons of water bottles and do lots of laundry. I need to feel special dang-it. I guess I should call and speak to a manger about those luggage tags you mentioned also. 😁  

I saw OP got $50 obc for not having a loyalty party on a 5 day on a older ship. 

 

I would be thrilled to get $50 obc as I skip those parties. Sounded great to me. 

 

I only order the fillet from the steak house. I know it's always been to my liking. 

 

Heres a tidbit rcl now removed surf and turf from their chops menu. If I want lobster its 1.5 lbs and costs a extra $21 surcharge. That's on top of the price to get into chops. There is no longer lobster included in the rcl chops menu without the surcharge. 

 

I loved the surf and turf on vista .. I wouldnt book ecstasy and expect top pay restaurants. But I know carnival very well. Paradise same class. OP order the filet next time. Or choose a newer ship. Seriously the op went on paradise. Then says HAL is better. 

 

PS cant wait for my $50 obc. Please skip the loyalty party on my cruise too. 

[kona_wahine]

We finally went on NCL, first time on another line other then Carnival. Food was far superior, the ship was gorgeous. We also paid 4x as much…..

[djcass4199]

5 hours ago, Hoosierpop said:

 

While HA has a lot of positives, the two cruises I’ve done on it, the casino and night entertainment was dead.

Because all the senior citizens are in bed by 9:00.

[mowogo]

1 hour ago, djcass4199 said:

Because all the senior citizens are in bed by 9:00.

Already have that warning for my Alaska cruise next month.

[Roscoe13]

6 hours ago, cruisingguy007 said:

 

Hey now, I got suites booked for my next two cruises, I better have my two bottles of water and free laundry or I'm never sailing Carnival again, never mind that I got a great rate and saved enough to by tons of water bottles and do lots of laundry. I need to feel special dang-it. I guess I should call and speak to a manger about those luggage tags you mentioned also. 😁  

Karen? Is that you?😝😝😝

[icft]

2 hours ago, djcass4199 said:

Because all the senior citizens are in bed by 9:00.

Carnival folks really don't have any room to talk. Try sleeping past 9am through all the CD announcements. Try finding anything to do except drink or gamble after 11pm. Try finding food after 10 or 11pm.

 

Hey! I'm all over the Carnival deals and we really enjoy ourselves, but they keep nursing home hours.

[cruisingguy007]

3 hours ago, Roscoe13 said:

Karen? Is that you?😝😝😝

 

It's Ken!! Get it right! 😁

[cruisingguy007]

2 hours ago, icft said:

Carnival folks really don't have any room to talk. Try sleeping past 9am through all the CD announcements. Try finding anything to do except drink or gamble after 11pm. Try finding food after 10 or 11pm.

 

Hey! I'm all over the Carnival deals and we really enjoy ourselves, but they keep nursing home hours.

 

Not true, I've slept through plenty. Heck, I didn't even make it to sea day brunch for multiple trips lol. That's with the old hours. Lunch was breakfast. They also used to have a late night buffet, sure it's been cut but I see them bringing that back when staffing is back. I've stayed out until 4-5am on a Carnival ship, no sleepy line unless you opt in to that. I will concede that they have changed the product but hope it's temporary and I can cut them some slack in the meantime. Happy to have the opportunity to sail as free as I want to be and hope it's only looking up from here! People love to knock Carnival but I quite enjoy their normal product, their altered product isn't bad either, all things considered. Even AI's are limited right now, tons of folks complaining about limited dining and early closures. It can be mitigated on Carnival if you are willing to pay for it, plus the reduced fares allow wiggle room for just those exact expenses. #GoteamCarnival!  

[icft]

2 minutes ago, cruisingguy007 said:

 

Not true, I've slept through plenty. Heck, I didn't even make it to sea day brunch for multiple trips lol. That's with the old hours. Lunch was breakfast. They also used to have a late night buffet, sure it's been cut but I see them bringing that back when staffing is back. I've stayed out until 4-5am on a Carnival ship, no sleepy line unless you opt in to that. I will concede that they have changed the product but hope it's temporary and I can cut them some slack in the meantime. Happy to have the opportunity to sail as free as I want to be and hope it's only looking up from here! People love to knock Carnival but I quite enjoy their normal product, their altered product isn't bad either, all things considered. Even AI's are limited right now, tons of folks complaining about limited dining and early closures. It can be mitigated on Carnival if you are willing to pay for it, plus the reduced fares allow wiggle room for just those exact expenses. #GoteamCarnival!  

Oh! I often keep late hours and sleep through the CD announcements, but I did say "except drink or gamble." That's our thing and I did say we enjoy ourselves. But for those who just want to party?

 

You can have a poker game in your room in the assisted living facility with a few of the live guys, but it is still a nursing home. 😁

[cruisingguy007]

26 minutes ago, icft said:

Oh! I often keep late hours and sleep through the CD announcements, but I did say "except drink or gamble." That's our thing and I did say we enjoy ourselves. But for those who just want to party?

 

You can have a poker game in your room in the assisted living facility with a few of the live guys, but it is still a nursing home. 😁

 

LOL. Fair point. Though, the night club is open pretty late and they used to keep the casino bar open until super late also. I do think that was a major mistake to close/convert that on certain ships. I imagine it was a old head who decided to replace one of the most happening places on the ship late night, it makes zero sense in their efforts to attract the younger subset. Cruising can be so much more than a geriatric targeted market. The potential that they have is enormous but it goes ignored. I suspect that one day cruising will target a younger demographic, even if targeted to specific times or shorter cruises.

 

The potential and untapped market potential is huge, though not everyone wants to float around eating and playing bingo/trivia. 😆 There is a room for both and it behooves the lines to dig in to a market they have ignored. Once these folks figure out how awesome cruising can be? Forgetaboutit! It's the ultimate market for these very folks. A moving party that goes to awesome places and a one stop shop? Ding! Ding! Ding! Winner!

 

In fact, if they could manage two day cruises that depart on Fri evening/night from major ports and return Sunday evenings, it would be off the chains! They could potentially disrupt an entire market of huge spend. Trust me, I would have done exactly this in my time/prime. The stigma of "old people cruises" is hugely limiting. Some will spend in two days what others spend in 7. I've personally seen folks blow grands in just a night. If you only have two days, two days it is. 😄     

Edited May 27, 2022 by cruisingguy007

[Cigar City Nole]

On 5/26/2022 at 7:50 PM, djcass4199 said:

Because all the senior citizens are in bed by 9:00.

Yup … HA is PERFECT

 

for the newly wed and the nearly dead …. 

[cruizergal70]

I don't get why the Diamond/Platinum "party" is such a big deal. 

[Guest BasicSailor]

18 minutes ago, cruizergal70 said:

I don't get why the Diamond/Platinum "party" is such a big deal. 

D/P party really is not that big of a deal. I mean "clap for your ship" and fight the crowd for a few drinks is beyond absurd. Now when it was a smaller detailed party it was much better. The Diamond party however was actually very nice when it was in fact smaller groups. Actually, my wife and I did one Diamond party where there were only three people present, including us. I don't think is overly large now and it may perhaps come back. The brunch dining with the captain was the highlight of the event.

[icft]

1 hour ago, cruizergal70 said:

I don't get why the Diamond/Platinum "party" is such a big deal. 

It was never a big deal but used to be nice. Then several years before covid it went down hill.

 

Before that there was a very nice selection of finger foods and we went mainly for that, a place to sit and relax and to have a couple of drinks. Then they started serving almost nothing but sushi which we don't eat. So, with free drinks elsewhere we stopped going.

 

I think folks bring it up because it adds to the long list of things Carnival no longer provides.

 

[AtomicCruiser]

My wife and I will turn Diamond on our next Carnival cruise.  We have been on a couple lately (Breeze in March and Dream in April and May).  The ships are definitely understaffed.  We saw 1/2 hour wait in deli or coffee bar lines, slow service in restaurants, and minimal onboard activities.

The Platinum/Diamond parties used to be very nice (sliders, other snacks, and plenty of drinks).  Not lately." On the Breeze, the party was at 11am (drink time?), due to staffing.

Also due to staffing issues (supposedly at Carnival home office), we have been trying unsuccessfully for months to get our benefit for completing 25 cruises.  It used to mean 25% off an upcoming cruise.  They have now changed that to 25% in onboard credits (OBC).  So, on a $4,000 Journeys Cruise, would you rather have $1,000 off, or $1,000 in use it or lose it credits?

Also noticeable on these cruises was the high number of blue and red badges.  Carnival is definitely catering to the newer cruisers, as they are spending tons of money onboard.  This and many of the reductions are all feeding the bottom line.  Obviously, they are not as concerned about tried and true loyalty (Diamond and Platinum) as they used to be.

So, no more lounge for preboarding, no more special Diamond meeting, minimal (if any) Platinum/Diamond parties, hard time getting benefits.  The next thing they will say is no more free laundry.  My be time to rethink that RV, even with high gas prices.

[Badfinger]

On 5/26/2022 at 11:10 AM, Djptcp said:

DH and I just returned from a 5-day Paradise cruise. While onboard, we received a letter that there would be no special Diamond event and no Platinum/Diamond cocktail party. Their reason was that while trying to get all the Carnival ships back sailing there is a shortage of crew members due to some Visa issues. They did give us $50 pp onboard credit so at least we received something for our disappointment.

 

The ship sailed at full capacity and no masks, although recommended. Crew was wonderful, food was okay not great, entertainment was so-so. There are no specialty restaurants on the Paradise, but we did have Steakhouse Selections in the Main Dining Room for 3 of the 5 nights on board and they were good. I had the Surf and Turf the 3 nights and DH had that 2 times, the 3rd time he had the NY Strip Steak and it was full of grizzle.

 

Probably our last Carnival cruise for a long while as we have 4 Holland America cruises booked, our favorite cruise line. Food is far superior, ships are elegant, fantastic crew, and we receive many perks for being 4 Star Mariners (same as Diamond level) - double sailing days for suites, extra days for every $300 spent onboard, 50% discount on specialty restaurant dining, 50% discount on wine packages.  Being Diamonds on Carnival pales in comparison.

 

 

Your steak was full of hair (grizzle)?  Wow...never heard that complaint before.

[Badfinger]

9 hours ago, AtomicCruiser said:

My wife and I will turn Diamond on our next Carnival cruise.  We have been on a couple lately (Breeze in March and Dream in April and May).  The ships are definitely understaffed.  We saw 1/2 hour wait in deli or coffee bar lines, slow service in restaurants, and minimal onboard activities.

The Platinum/Diamond parties used to be very nice (sliders, other snacks, and plenty of drinks).  Not lately." On the Breeze, the party was at 11am (drink time?), due to staffing.

Also due to staffing issues (supposedly at Carnival home office), we have been trying unsuccessfully for months to get our benefit for completing 25 cruises.  It used to mean 25% off an upcoming cruise.  They have now changed that to 25% in onboard credits (OBC).  So, on a $4,000 Journeys Cruise, would you rather have $1,000 off, or $1,000 in use it or lose it credits?

Also noticeable on these cruises was the high number of blue and red badges.  Carnival is definitely catering to the newer cruisers, as they are spending tons of money onboard.  This and many of the reductions are all feeding the bottom line.  Obviously, they are not as concerned about tried and true loyalty (Diamond and Platinum) as they used to be.

So, no more lounge for preboarding, no more special Diamond meeting, minimal (if any) Platinum/Diamond parties, hard time getting benefits.  The next thing they will say is no more free laundry.  My be time to rethink that RV, even with high gas prices.

 

Carnival may not be specially catering to new cruisers, as much as new cruisers are there because the fares are/were much lower than a few years ago, along with seasoned cruisers staying away as they are aware of the current level of service on ships, not to mention the impacts of COVID on the overall experience (pre testing, masks in some ports, etc.).  As for laundry, never thought of doing laundry on a ship.  I can fit a lot of tee shirts and shorts in a  medium size suitcase!