No More Made to Order Omelette

[sparks1093]

13 minutes ago, RoperDK said:

Yes, very true.  We still cruise on Carnival but do venture out to other lines, too.  It seems like they all are making cuts and have some unhappy loyal customers.     

 

Lol, we have had bad luck with getting to sail on Celebrity.  All of our booked cruises were either cancelled or we had to cancel for various reasons.  They were all in Sky Suites.  The uproar on the Celebrity board about food in particular has been a sight to see.  Now the prices in The Retreat are too high for us.  Perhaps it was never meant to be.

 

We've been cruising on Carnival for over 20 years, but only on 26 cruises with them.  I do miss some things that have gone away.  Many other changes didn't bother us.  We will be cruising on Carnival in February, so we haven't given up yet.      

We tried a booking with Celebrity but it was cancelled due to a homeport and we subsequently booked CCL. We've cruised with them since 2012 and while there have been changes those changes haven't degraded the experience for us.

[thunderingherd11]

On 12/5/2023 at 4:10 PM, Gamecock_Cruiser said:

Breakfast is by far my favorite meal of the day. My favorite food is an omelet made my way.

=I am glad that hear they are still made to order on the Lido...

 

When we first started cruising in the mid 2000's, that was a distinct difference compared to land vacations... those things are slowly being taken away day by day. One of my favorite's was two times cabin service with the turn down service in the evening! But thing that might not bother some certainly hits others. 

They are made to order. But there are only three options.   

[ruready]

Every year, there are changes to every mass line and I hear the same “disappointed” comments.  Nothing in this industry stays the same.  They would have to increase prices a ton more for things to be added back, but folks already complain about the current prices.  Fortunately no one is forcing any of us to take a cruise vacation on these mass lines.  There are other choices out there that will cater to your respective wants, but you will have to “pay” for it and maybe not take as many cruises.  

[sparks1093]

9 minutes ago, aborgman said:

"Zero chance most could fly to Cancun for half the price of Orlando. "

 

You might be really surprised. I regularly see tickets to CUN for $250. I seldom see tickets to MCO for less than $200, and for the dates of our cruise the price was exactly what I quoted.

A lot of variables here, most importantly where one is flying from. For our upcoming trip we have to fly to Orlando and the difference between the major airports near us is in the hundreds, with the least expensive airport being in Canada. The difference is drastic enough that one family that is traveling with us will be getting passports just for that flight and they will still save a lot of money. (And even flying out of Montreal costs around $500 each round trip.) 

[Paelos]

16 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

That's what the past fans of Celebrity told me (and anyone who would listen) when we "discovered" the line. I thought it was great. Of course, from my perspective, it's not like it was 15 years ago - and it's changing quickly...

 

Sky Suites no longer have a butler, etc...

 

Tom

This is one of those things we all need to have a collective understanding about though. 15 years ago smart phones had just been invented. 20 years ago we were still feeling the effects of 9-11, 25 years ago the internet was barely functionally a thing yet. 

 

Comparing products and services in those contexts or even five years ago before covid doesn't work. Our society and expectations and workforce has shifted entirely about 4 times in that 25 year period which is frankly insane when you think about how fast things have moved technologically in that time as well. 

[jsglow]

17 hours ago, sparks1093 said:

Only some old timers feel there's been a degradation. Many don't feel there has been. Changes, sure, but not a degradation. Our cruise on Glory was fantastic and none of the changes had an adverse impact on that. (Same goes for our two Legend cruises as well.)

I generally agree with this comment. I've cruised Carnival for most of 20 years.  I can certainly remember things from the 2000s that were 'better' such as table-side Ceasar's salad and twice per day cabin service, among others, but for the most part the product is the same, and in some cases actually much better. I'll take live music as an example. Today's 'average' shipboard rock band playing in the wonderful Red Frog Pub venue beats the heck out of the music that would have been presented on the lobby stage back in the day. Not even close. I also remember the crappy hamburger/chicken fingers/ fries venue on Lido that has been replaced on all ships by signature casual dining. That's not even close. Nobody can honestly claim otherwise. Play areas for kids? Yeah that too, without question. Serenity? That wasn't around either. And I'm sorry. If I want elegance and nice tablecloths and that's important to me, than another line is a better fit.

 

I think 'degradation of the product' works psychologically a little like gambling. Folks only remember perceived slights, not enhancements, in the same way they think they actually win over the long haul in the casino. Um, nope.

 

Now about those omelet choices!!! 

[aborgman]

16 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

Can't run a cruise line without ships.

 

Don't need to - the ships go along with the debt to the purchaser in the forced sale.

[zipper1]

21 minutes ago, jsglow said:

I generally agree with this comment. I've cruised Carnival for most of 20 years.  I can certainly remember things from the 2000s that were 'better' such as table-side Ceasar's salad and twice per day cabin service, among others, but for the most part the product is the same, and in some cases actually much better. I'll take live music as an example. Today's 'average' shipboard rock band playing in the wonderful Red Frog Pub venue beats the heck out of the music that would have been presented on the lobby stage back in the day. Not even close. I also remember the crappy hamburger/chicken fingers/ fries venue on Lido that has been replaced on all ships by signature casual dining. That's not even close. Nobody can honestly claim otherwise. Play areas for kids? Yeah that too, without question. Serenity? That wasn't around either. And I'm sorry. If I want elegance and nice tablecloths and that's important to me, than another line is a better fit.

 

I think 'degradation of the product' works psychologically a little like gambling. Folks only remember perceived slights, not enhancements, in the same way they think they actually win over the long haul in the casino. Um, nope.

 

Now about those omelet choices!!! 

I disagree with one of your points. The thing we miss the most from the 2000's is the disappearance of the Filipino rock bands. They were second to none. We also miss actual steel drum bands on the lido.

[Bob NC]

27 minutes ago, jsglow said:

I generally agree with this comment. I've cruised Carnival for most of 20 years.  I can certainly remember things from the 2000s that were 'better' such as table-side Ceasar's salad and twice per day cabin service, among others, but for the most part the product is the same, and in some cases actually much better. I'll take live music as an example.

What I miss the most is debarking, walking out of my cabin, looking over my shoulder at 14 of those little minty chocolates on the bedside table.

[kirtihk]

On 12/6/2023 at 12:34 AM, TiredTrucker said:

 

No made to order omelets, no mushrooms, no homemade fries, limited bacon, no more free room service,  limited housekeeping, and on and on and on... at what point is it OK for a person to express disappointment? 🤔 

At a point after the diss, clearly...

[jsglow]

1 hour ago, zipper1 said:

I disagree with one of your points. The thing we miss the most from the 2000's is the disappearance of the Filipino rock bands. They were second to none. We also miss actual steel drum bands on the lido.

Steel drum bands were certainly awesome. DJs give greater flexibility I'm sure so therein lies the shift.

[hard_eight]

Can't believe this is still going. I for one miss the boobie deck.🤣

[mz-s]

Nothing like topless sunbathing with a fresh mushroom and ham omelette and a side order of bacon.

[StephPS79]

55 minutes ago, fyree39 said:

I don't mind the price increases. In fact, five years or so ago I was hoping Carnival would raise their prices enough that it would price out some of the rougher customers the line gets. Instead, the prices have been increasing while the quality of the cruise experience has decreased. I'm just moving on to booking other lines more and more often than I used to. I get the full experience and, yes, I do pay for that. Nothing is cheap anymore.

 

I do mind the price increases.  I like that there are price-points for everyone, me included.  I haven't experienced any "rougher customers," and I appreciate having an affordable option.  And if I'm being truthful, I find the crowd on Carnival to be much more fun than other lines I've sailed.  

 

I agree prices have increased, but this isn't specific to Carnival, or even cruising.  But, if you feel the value isn't appropriate to the cost, you did the logical thing and adapted by looking at other options.

[staceyglow]

10 hours ago, zipper1 said:

I disagree with one of your points. The thing we miss the most from the 2000's is the disappearance of the Filipino rock bands. They were second to none. We also miss actual steel drum bands on the lido.

I remember a Filipino rock band that did a Beatles tribute, complete with Sergeant Pepper-type costumes.  Ringo was a woman! I was more amused than entertained. 

 

For the most part now, they audition singers and musicians from all over the world and put together some amazing bands.  We discovered on one trip that the guitar player was someone we had seen perform several times in the US.  He was considered to be one of the best young guitarists in our state.

[jimbo5544]

17 hours ago, aborgman said:

 

In the USA.

 

Sometimes bankruptcies don't involve the sale of assets to pay creditors, but the FORCED sale of the entire operation to a third party who agrees to take on all assets and debts of the company in bankruptcy.

Nobody s going bankrupt

Edited December 8, 2023 by jimbo5544

[aborgman]

1 hour ago, jimbo5544 said:

Nobody s going bankrupt

 

A cruise line just went bankrupt in 2022.

[aborgman]

6 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

A splinter line that has been in trouble for YEARS.  Your post implied it might be one of the big boys.  Which is not in doubt unless the government oversteps again and shuts down the industry

 

My post implied nothing, it merely noted that bankruptcies don't always involve liquidation of assets.

 

That being said - last year financial analysts were forecasting a 45% chance of Carnival going bankrupt, and 2 years ago Norwegian publicly was saying it might have to go into bankruptcy.

[StephPS79]

1 hour ago, aborgman said:

That being said - last year financial analysts were forecasting a 45% chance of Carnival going bankrupt, and 2 years ago Norwegian publicly was saying it might have to go into bankruptcy.

 

Hence, the cost-saving measures, or "cutbacks" as everyone likes to say.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

3 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

Nobody s going bankrupt

 

Agreed. I'm pretty comfortable with that now. I wish I had felt (fully) this way back when CCL was dropping below $10 !! 

 

At least I'm out of the red now - and CCL is slowing crawling out of their deep hole.

 

Tom

[john91498]

that's sad, the only time I eat breakfast is on a cruise or other vacation...and I really enjoy the custom omelettes...

[MsTabbyKats]

7 minutes ago, john91498 said:

that's sad, the only time I eat breakfast is on a cruise or other vacation...and I really enjoy the custom omelettes...

My husband is a big fan of "everything omelet made with fresh eggs" in the buffet.  If it's not there next month on the Venezia, he's not gonna be happy.

[BlerkOne]

16 hours ago, staceyglow said:

I remember a Filipino rock band that did a Beatles tribute, complete with Sergeant Pepper-type costumes.  Ringo was a woman! I was more amused than entertained. 

 

There was a whole production Beatles show - Ticket to Ride and a few more

 

[BlerkOne]

5 hours ago, aborgman said:

 

My post implied nothing, it merely noted that bankruptcies don't always involve liquidation of assets.

 

You might hear thunder without seeing lightning, but don't bet against it being there.

[rellersi]

can we still get fried eggs?