First time on a Cruise - have lots of questions
in [Cruise Ship]
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From: Tom K on 7 Jun 2010 16:57 On 6/7/10 2:38 PM, John Sisker wrote: > "Tom K" <tkanitra(a)optonline.net> wrote in message > news:4c0b1dc6$0$21968$607ed4bc(a)cv.net... >> If you like Carnival fine. If you like recommending it to your >> clients... that's your decision. But my experience on Carnival was >> below my minimal acceptable level. Carnival is not something that I >> can honestly recommend. Not with so many better alternatives, many of >> which they own. >> >> --Tom > > > > Tom, > > Fair assumption, but like any recommendation, if we feel Carnival best > fits the bill for the clients needs, wants and budget, then that will be > one of our suggestions - unless of course, they purposely request > otherwise for some reason. But even then, we will find out why. We also > try not to let our individual bias influence our research, but will take > into consideration our personal experience. Yet, as someone said, your > experience with Carnival was years ago, on a 3 or 4 day cruise, and on > one of their older ships Actually, NO. It was on one of their NEWEST ships at the time. Destiny (or as Warren likes to call it, Carnival Density). When it was only a few years old. And a class of ship that they continue to build, with minor variations... with even more people, to this day. > no wonder you tend to look elsewhere. Yet, the > Carnival of yesteryear if not the Carnival of today. They continue to make ships on that same design today. I didn't experience the Carnival of yesterday. Destiny is still used. And they still build new ships with that same design (though bigger with even more people). > We were initially > cruising on Carnival when beer drinking contests were the "in" thing. > Yet, today, it's a whole different ballpark with them, still fun, but > not so much the party atmosphere that some tend to think it is. You may > be pleasantly surprised with today's Carnival Cruise Line. My sailing on Destiny wasn't so much the party atmosphere. It was more the: guys standing in the hallway outside their cabin door, in an undershirt, with cigarettes rolled up in the undershirt sleeve, smoking a cigarette, with a long neck beer in their hand, type of atmosphere. It was the guy wearing a "SUCK THIS" T-shirt type atmosphere. It was the atmosphere of being stuck in a booth (instead of a table) in the dining room where the waiter had to lean over me (with smelly arm pits near my nose) to serve the person next to me. > In addition, we are well aware that Carnival is more of a mass-market > cruise line, hence their popularity. Likewise, there are other cruise > lines, such as Holland American Line (HAL), for example, which tends to > cater to a more experience, upscale audience. Even though HAL is owned > by Carnival itself, they also know the need to appeal to different > market segments. In fact, we have not only sailed on both cruise lines a > number of times ourselves, but many others as well. I hear what you're saying... but I"ll add to that... there were a number of people who came to this newsgroup a few years back. Many came from the AOL boards, who had never experienced anything other than Carnival. Eventually a few of them were brave enough, after enough convincing, to try something different. I could even throw a few names out, but wont' since it's their business... but after they tried Celebrity and Princess... they pretty much stick with Celebrity and Princess. A few of them still e-mail me on occasion. I'm not going to say people around here don't have a good time if they go on Carnival... but what I will say: if you offered a free set of tickets for either Carnival or Princess, or either Carnival or Celebrity; for the exact same week, the exact same itinerary, for free, on a new class ship for either line... I'm going to guess that almost everybody around here who has been on all the lines, will pick Princess or Celebrity over Carnival. Anybody disagree with that? Would anybody pick Carnival over both Princess or Celebrity if offered free tickets for the same itinerary? --Tom
From: Surfer E2468 on 7 Jun 2010 17:00 Alaska would be a nice cruise,we did it once for 10 days the end of may into june,weather perfect,no need for heavy clothes at all,mostly in the 60-70 degree temps. Had one foggy day,but not bad enough to fret over. cruise lover(~~~~~) ..
From: John Sisker on 7 Jun 2010 18:16 "Tom K" <tkanitra(a)optonline.net> wrote in message news:4c0d5d1d$0$22509$607ed4bc(a)cv.net... > It was on one of their NEWEST ships at the time. Destiny (or as Warren > likes to call it, Carnival Density). When it was only a few years old. > And a class of ship that they continue to build, with minor variations... > with even more people, to this day. > > They continue to make ships on that same design today. I didn't > experience the Carnival of yesterday. Destiny is still used. And they > still build new ships with that same design (though bigger with even more > people). > > My sailing on Destiny wasn't so much the party atmosphere. It was more > the: guys standing in the hallway outside their cabin door, in an > undershirt, with cigarettes rolled up in the undershirt sleeve, smoking a > cigarette, with a long neck beer in their hand, type of atmosphere. It was > the guy wearing a "SUCK THIS" T-shirt type atmosphere. It was the > atmosphere of being stuck in a booth (instead of a table) in the dining > room where the waiter had to lean over me (with smelly arm pits near my > nose) to serve the person next to me. > I hear what you're saying... but I"ll add to that... there were a number > of people who came to this newsgroup a few years back. Many came from the > AOL boards, who had never experienced anything other than Carnival. > Eventually a few of them were brave enough, after enough convincing, to > try something different. I could even throw a few names out, but wont' > since it's their business... but after they tried Celebrity and > Princess... they pretty much stick with Celebrity and Princess. A few of > them still e-mail me on occasion. > > I'm not going to say people around here don't have a good time if they go > on Carnival... but what I will say: if you offered a free set of tickets > for either Carnival or Princess, or either Carnival or Celebrity; for the > exact same week, the exact same itinerary, for free, on a new class ship > for either line... I'm going to guess that almost everybody around here > who has been on all the lines, will pick Princess or Celebrity over > Carnival. Anybody disagree with that? Would anybody pick Carnival over > both Princess or Celebrity if offered free tickets for the same itinerary? > > --Tom Tom, Apparently the thread that painted a different picture of your Carnival experience as wrong. Yet, with all the cruises we have been on, we can find similar negative experiences if we dig deep enough, and not just on Carnival. Yet, in a situation such as yours, now that we know the actual details, we would indeed recommend that you not sail with Carnival Cruise Line. While fitting the bill for many people, if one is doubtful and may be looking for something to go wrong anyway, they will surly find it. Yet, look at the threads from others in this reference; some simply trying to stir the pot once again while trying to re-bait their hook. But responding to such useless dialogue and their nonsense and unrelated connection of wording, is useless. Yet, as a quick reference, we have been on at least 5 Carnival Ships and 3 HAL ships. Most were all for 7 days each. Also, in reference somewhat, yesterday, Deborah and I spent the day at Disneyland. At least to me, Carnival in more like the Disneyland experience, or even Vegas if you will. Certainly, not the most upscale experience, but does fit the bill (and price) for many people. Basically, it's fun! The bottom line is, while the things that you did mention were indeed unfortunate, what did you do about them? I just got off the phone with Princess Cruises, who called us personally to detail some of the negative things we experience during our recent Northern Europe & Baltic's cruise aboard the Star Princess. Cruise lines do listen, that is if you do speak up. Actually, another reason why they called was to tell me that my suggestion of electric wall heaters, with a timer, on the balconies for cool weather cruises, was being transferred up to the next level for evaluation. John Sisker - SHIP-TO-SHORE CRUISE AGENCY� (714) 536-3850 or toll-free at (800) 724-6644 & (Agency ID: 714.536.3850) www.shiptoshorecruise.com / www.tinplatedesign.com > Facebook/Twitter/Blog/Flickr/MyPage
From: Sue Mullen on 7 Jun 2010 18:37 John Sisker wrote: > Just for reference, since the OP did mention Alaska, and that now seems > more like a possibility to him than it was before (because of more > flexibility with dates), Alaska may indeed fit the bill on many levels. > As an example, we will soon be on the Island Princess for a 7-day Inside > Passage cruise, in addition to 4 more days thought the interior > (train/coach) to Fairbanks. If the OP did some research in this respect, > he may find many opportunity for hiking the wilderness and great > outdoors, in addition to the finer things available for his wife. As much as Alaska might be a great fit for the OP, from what he said it will not fit into his budget. > I'm particular looking forward to Delany National Park. Never heard of Delany National Park, guess you meant Denali National Park? If you are going to use "spell check" you should check what it is changing.lol sue
From: John Sisker on 7 Jun 2010 18:52
"Sue Mullen" <kjmullen(a)comcast.net> wrote in message news:875aksFierU1(a)mid.individual.net... > > > John Sisker wrote: > >> Just for reference, since the OP did mention Alaska, and that now seems >> more like a possibility to him than it was before (because of more >> flexibility with dates), Alaska may indeed fit the bill on many levels. >> As an example, we will soon be on the Island Princess for a 7-day Inside >> Passage cruise, in addition to 4 more days thought the interior >> (train/coach) to Fairbanks. If the OP did some research in this respect, >> he may find many opportunity for hiking the wilderness and great >> outdoors, in addition to the finer things available for his wife. > > As much as Alaska might be a great fit for the OP, from what he said it > will not fit into his budget. > >> I'm particular looking forward to Delani National Park. > > Never heard of Delany National Park, guess you meant Denali National Park? > If you are going to use "spell check" you should check what it is > changing.lol > > sue There are some pretty good specials right now for Alaska, as mentioned in another thread in this regard. The OP probably did not mentioned Alaska without reason. There seems to be an interest there. Obviously, an Alaska Cruise without the optional tour, is a lot cheaper. It sill may be worth at least a look by the OP. Likewise, I too have never heard of Delany National Park, but I have Denali National Park. Yet, no matter how it's spelled, my photos will probably turn out the same anyway. John Sisker - SHIP-TO-SHORE CRUISE AGENCY� (714) 536-3850 or toll-free at (800) 724-6644 & (Agency ID: 714.536.3850) www.shiptoshorecruise.com / www.tinplatedesign.com > Facebook/Twitter/Blog/Flickr/MyPage |