Comments on: Thinking Of The Future……A Blog Survey Thingy

By: honeywell enviracaire

honeywell enviracaire — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 12:41:01 +0000

you’ve got great ideas from previous posters, i’ll also add that you should frame the mirrors get some molding at the hardware store and use some construction glue to attach the molding to the mirror, this will save you a lot as opposed to buying a new one and get a new light fixture

By: Keli Rhoton

Keli Rhoton — Fri, 14 May 2010 02:48:52 +0000

I have only just read your blog, but I can already say that I love it! Keep up the work!

By: meredith

meredith — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 03:31:40 +0000

I have never cruised Carnival, only other lines, so I hope you will forgive me for answering in general cruising terms rather than about CCL.

LOVE: (1) The experience of walking on board after checking in. Champagne and escorts to your cabin are great here. But mostly I love just getting out of the “real world” and onto the ship! (2) The Broadway revue style shows. My spouse doesn’t like them but I love them, please never have a cruise without at least one! (3) Carving! Ice carving, watermelon carving, all of it. I’ve been on three different cruise lines and they all had this and it’s great.

HATE: (1) Never being sure what’s on TV, what the channels are, etc. Would a simple channel listing secured to the TV or remote be so difficult? (2) Uncovered pools in cool climates. I’ve been to Alaska in May and September, and the pools just go unused. Either build a roof over it, install heaters, or cover it so we don’t have to look at it – maybe it could be used for something else? (3) Lack of seating on the lido deck. Always seems to be hard to find a seat when I’ve got a tray full of food!

HOPE FOR: (1) More cruises out of Baltimore now that they have their new terminal open! (2) Improved quality of internet services. If I’m going to pay so much, it would be nice if it was fast and didn’t break all the time. (3) A shift back toward traditional dining – I’m only 26 but my first cruise (Celebrity) had traditional dining and I liked it. I did Freestyle on NCL and hated it! I wish more cruise lines would offer traditional dining, they all seem to be going open seating or multi-restaurant now.

By: ccarr

ccarr — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 20:13:55 +0000

My husband and I cruised the Inspiration after it was put back into service, and was also very disapointed. If the ship was refurbished or cleaned or whatever, it didn’t show. We have cruised with you 4 times now and I have to say I was completely amazed that Carnival didn’t do a better job. Nonetheless, it hasn’t changed our thoughts on cruising with you all, as we are set to sail the Feedom in December. We are looking so forward to seeing what you and so many have blogged about. Shame we aren’t going to get to meet you. Love your blogs. Keep them coming.

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 19:21:51 +0000

LIKE:
1. value
2. Food – good with a good variety but always room for continuous improvement
3. TRADITIONAL DINING and getting to know and talk with the staff such as waiters and waitresses

IMPROVE:
1. SIZE of the POOLS
2. PRICE of drinks and PICTURES (pictures should be cheaper so more people buy them isntead of them being thrown away)
3. Variety of entertainment (late night shows/comedians, magicians, vantriloquists, etc.)

DREAM:
-A mall/promonade like other lines have – a center to congregate, walk, people watch, and relax
-A PRIVATE ISLAND just for Carnival ships – a relaxing, secluded island with jetskiing, parasailing, and more… and areas just to lay down and listen to the band.
-more entertainment facilities… waterpark (slides, pools, bumber boats…), ice skating, bowling…

personal note:
the caribbean poolside bands by the pool all day is great! also, maybe Carnival can sail year-round from NY with a new ship to other places than just Florida/Bahamas/St. Thomas…

By: Kersplott

Kersplott — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 17:04:59 +0000

John here are my survey answers:

Top 3 Reasons to come back to Carnival:
1 – Onboard staff
2 – Dollar value
3 – Size and comfort of cabins

Areas to improve:
1 – Better cruise rates for singles especially after attaining Platinum status.
2 – Meal allowances/vouchers for guests purchasing Fly Aweigh and booked on all night flights west to east across United States. Domestic airlines do not have meals – International flights do.
3 – Easier across to VIP checkin at all embarkation facilities.
Dreams
1 – More rocking deck chairs in covered or shady areas on deck for guests who must limit sun exposure.
2 – Designated cell phone area.
3 – Free bottled water in cabins especially for Platinum level

Thank you Roberto and John for gathering our suggestions to be presented to the Carnival powers that be.
Kersplott

By: "BIG" Ed

"BIG" Ed — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 15:20:51 +0000

Julie Gantt,

I’ve never booked a flight and I’ve always picked my cabin. But if you do the guarentee price you get what you get.

“BIG” ED

By: Carol Schoenberger

Carol Schoenberger — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 14:20:49 +0000

Hi John,

I still haven’t gotten through reading the past few blogs & comments, but I thought I would answer your homework assignment first.

But 2 things first – how are your poor fingers? I know how hard it is to use the keyboard with bandaged fingers, and I’m a professional, so I say bravo to you for what you do. And, second, give my best to Alan – he is in my thoughts.

Now here’s my list:

Top 3 reasons: Value, Fun & Relaxation, Friendliness of staff.

Could use improvement: More “Extra-Medium” clothes in the shops, Big Screen on Lido Deck on all ships, Better pricing for single cruisers (actually this would be #1) & better co-ordinated debarkation/bus transfers to airport so flights are not missed.

Dreams: Easier stair entry into pools and larger pools, year-round cruising from New York, free sodas (soda machine on Lido Deck?).

But I do have a response to Julie Gantt who mentioned not being able to pick her room unless Carnival arranged the flight. I have been able to do so on-line and then confirmed with my PVP. And my flight in December will be in Miami before 11:00 a.m. This was through Carnival. Maybe leaving out of the NY area has its advantages of more flight choices.

Now I’ll get back to the other blogs.

Take care John and if I don’t get any response from you until after your meetings, no problem. Just have a wonderful vacation. Are you going to catch any Heat games while you’re in Miami?

Hugs,
Carol

By: MaryKay

MaryKay — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:20:48 +0000

BTW…I think doing away with the past cruisers party is a BAD BAD BAD idea…I don’t need an extra shirt, pant pressing, or a free bottle of wine…I do enjoy meeting past cruisers all in one spot and have found people I’ve cruised with before at these parties – I may have never stumbled across these folks without the past cruisers party…just one past cruisers opinion.
mk

By: MaryKay

MaryKay — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:13:43 +0000

Hi John….your poor fingers!:) I applaud you for taking a breath from replying to all of us…we know you’ll be back sending amusing and snappy replys as soon as you can, and good luck to a smooth turnover of your duties to Todd…I’ll be sailing with him on Dec.8th!
The top three things I love about Carnival:
1.) The way I’m always greeted like a long lost friend – no one has better customer service – from your booking agents, bon voyage dept., to the staff on the ship you guys are a special lot!
2.) No one is forced into a schedule – I love this! Activities are there for you to participate in but if you just want to kick back you can and still have a fabulous time!
3.) The professional way all of the staff conducts themselves ( even when the cruisers are obnoxious and abusive to them) – I will be taking my first cruise as a married couple – before I was always single and I have never had any inappropriate behavior from the staff as I’ve had on other lines and I feel VERY safe with Carnival – without feeling safe a vacation is really no fun.

Things I would like to see changed:
1.) More muted colors – especially in the cabins and in common areas – the bold bright and most times clashing colors can cause quite the headache.
2.) Revolving dinner table seating on longer cruises- just because not everyone gets to see the entertainment or the better views – this would really enhance the dining experience – I realize that our servers are the same all week but I’m sure that each server has a section and that there will always be a better table for “sightseeing” in each section – don’t revolve us around the entire dining room but just in the section.
3.) Ship board activities while in port – there is absolutely zero to do for a guest not able – or wanting – to go onshore. This doesn’t have to be elaborate – card tournaments, movies, discussion groups, etc.(they can even be led by a guest freeing up the staff to go onshore) And I would love to see a pool table onboard!!! I have never seen billiards or a pool table on any of the ships I have been on – what about an adult gaming center? It’s not just kids and teens that like to play games – The Wii would be a great addition for adults to play while in port and many others times.

Inclosing let me just say that I enjoy all the many aspects of The Carnival experience…from the cabins to the foods…I really love it when there is a new soup everyday…nothing like a warm bowl of soup when you had one martini to many the night before.
So if none of the changes us bloggers submit come into play I don’t know that it matters….the things we want changed are somewhat trivial….so tell them in Miami that you all deserve a pat on the back and an ‘atta boy for the great job you all do!

Have fun in Miami and totally enjoy your vacation with the wonderful Miss Heidi and I hope to meet you on a later cruise…God Speed.

Ta ta for now,
MK