We too have sailed on Carvival on three different ships. The first two were years ago and not what I would call "great" but just alright. After years of sailing other lines we again went back to Carnival because we needed to get away and the itinerary looked interesting. It was awful! We have to agree with Judy, the food and service was so terrible that we quit going to the dining room and tried to make do at the buffet. It was the only cruise that we have ever taken where we couldn't wait to get off the ship. <BR>We found the staff to be "RUDE" in every sence of the word. <BR>Now, you can bash ME all you want to, but..........if Carnival was the only line left, we would definitely quit cruising. <BR>No matter how cheap they sell their cruises, it is not worth the frustration of being treated like second class trash ! <BR>It was so bad that the horrible memories will last forever and that is not what we cruise for. Bill

Beware Bill & Lisa, the cruise pack is gonna get you. Maybe someday they can get together with Dr. Sun. And form a new religon which can brain wash people while they cruise. Then everybody will love cruise lines no matter what they do. This way you'll see nothing but happy thoughts on this web site.

I was wondering about that "one pool" remark. I have been on some of the older ships and they even had two pools. I thought that maybe there was a ship with one pool that I didn't know about? <BR> <BR>Bon Voyage, <BR> <BR>Sharon

<BR>Sorry all you negative posters. I do not bash anyone. <BR> <BR>I say the food is excellent because I have sailed on all Carnival ships, but do not take my word for this, I am just a low class person that wishes to save a few bucks and step over all the drunks. <BR> <BR>I read all my trade papers and when great chefs call the food excellent they are on my side. When the majority state the food is good, it is good. When awards are given by cruise travel magazines, I tend to believe them. But I was told it was advertising hype. Maybe the chefs were paid off too. <BR> <BR>Keep in mind the food is not gourmet. And if you get mad at the waiter and decide to eat in the buffet all week and you can't get over your bad experience you will eat just about the same food every day and it will make you more irritable. These are general statements now, I am not addressing any one poster. <BR> <BR>You should all remember that when you have a complaint to be soft spoken and if you do not see results from the purser's desk, talk to the purser. Talk to the hotel manager. I can not see one having problems with every crew member. This is why I can not believe the stories I am reading. <BR>Common sense will tell you they have to be ficticious. <BR> <BR>Carnival is one great line for handling complaints. Do as I say and you will be rewarded in one way or another. <BR> <BR>Have a wonderful day and happy cruising. <BR> <BR>Paul <BR> <BR>

Paul Paul Paul, <BR> <BR>You're telling me that all these people decided to group together on one web site and lie (fictitious). Give me a friggin' break. Saying someone or some people are speaking ficticiously is calling them liars. I would call that bashing someones character. I think you are looking through rose colored glasses. You have been involved with the industry so long that you're starting to believe the hype. Any good marketing or PR spin doctor could make the Andrea Doria sound like a good idea. I am just using that as an extremist point, to make a point. <BR> <BR>Why in blanks name would all these people get together and tell others about their experiences with a cruise line that has treated them poorly? I know it's a conspiracy created by web based agencies trying to get the travel agent, and drive him out of business. Yes, yes that's it. Will defame the character of a cruise line which will in turn snowball and wipe out the regular travel agent. <BR> <BR>Almost sounds as ridiculous as the yarns you've been spinning about a company that just plain out has bad service. And the people that don't know it, either never will or don't care, because they're part of the problem. <BR> <BR>Please get a grip on reality. If you understand the complaints it will probably help you better serve future customers. <BR> <BR>Haven't you ever wtched a movie review and all the critics said it was great. You go to the movie, and as far as your concerned it just plain sucks! Well!!! <BR> <BR>Same thing or close enough. If any more than 5 % of people complain about something then there is problem. <BR> <BR>So in the future try not to contradict yourself so much. NCL is horrible CCL is great. All cruise lines are great. Your crediblity is waning.

I've also read movie reviews that said the movie sucks, and I thought it was great. Go figure.

Is something wrong with us? Four years ago we took a weekend cruise 'to no where' out of Florida on the Sensation(my husband was working there at the time amd we'd never been on a cruise and thought it would be a good way to see if we liked it..we did!). So last spring we went on the Celebration out of NO..we had a great time. Then last summer we decided our teenage grand-daughter who'd had a bad year (knee surgery and no basketball AND had been a God-send to her Mom who had been sick) needed some kind of vacation before heading back to school and so I called out travel agent to see if there was any real good short-notice cruise deals out of NO or Houston. (We live in Arkansas and wanted to drive to the port). Well, our choices were the Celebration (again) or the Norwegian Sea (then out of Houston) and she thought of the 2 that NCL had the best teen-age program. Plus she found us a great fare. Guess what! we liked it, too. And our grand-daughter had what she claims was the best vacation ever. She still is in touch with friends she made on board and the 2 group leaders were just great keeping them busy with fun activities. <BR>To sum it up, I can't say anything bad about the 2 cruise lines that get all the bashing on this site. And if the other cruise lines are really so much better, I just don't see how. We are waiting for some other lines to start sailing out of NO or Houston so that we can try another and compare for ourselves. <BR>Our travel agent called last week and had just gotten a fax about a great cruise in the Orient in October which included the following..A flight to Beijing(?), 3 nights in a hotel (with 2 meals and tours) and 11 day cruise on the Norweigian Wind (I think)with best outside stateroom available at booking and then your flight back from Hong Kong. All for $1499. (And since Sundays paper posted about $1800 as the cheapest air-fare they found for RT to Hong Kong, it does sound like a deal!) If we hadn't already made other vacation plans, we would would have jumped at it. A lot of people she contacted were going so I'm sure it booked up fast. If anything like that comes along next year, I would go in a heart-beat. Hopefully there will be some feedback on this site later this year on that trip. Evidently there are some very good cruise deals out there.

Hhhmmmm, yes that is true, but a movie only last a couple of hours, doesn't cost more than 10 bucks, and if it is poor you can easily leave.

If 50 people hate something and 50 people love it, who is right?

HHHHmmmm, ask Bush!

<BR>Elaine - there is nothing wrong with you. You had a great time and got great service. I am glad you enjoyed Carnival. <BR> <BR>Paul - I was stuck with a pot smoking roommate (as a single share) and was told not only by the purser's staff that there were no rooms available, but also by the purser and the hotel manager; but when I asked the cabin stewards they said there were several empty staterooms on this cruise. Also, I called my TA from Freeport and told her what was going on - she checked with Carnival and THERE WERE empty cabins on that cruise. I was denied a cabin change because "it was only three days and it's not that much of a problem that you can't put up with it for a couple of days" - those are the words of the purser and his staff. Maybe you are willing to put up with something that makes you physically ill, I am not. Therefore Carnival will NEVER get my business again. <BR> <BR>Also - you say you don't bash anyone who doesn't agree with you - you just did in your reply to me and all the others who have had problems with Carnival. I respect your opinion and your right to have it - why can't you do us the same courtesy?

<BR>Dear Lisa, <BR> <BR>This is the reason why some cruise lines are not offering single shares anymore. <BR> <BR>This is not the fault of Carnival. You had the luck-of-the-draw and got stuck with a terrible roommate. <BR> <BR>Carnival, or any line does not have the obligation to find you another cabin. <BR> <BR>This happens on every cruise you know. There are so many unhappy passengers that have problems with their roommates the cruise lines would have to spend spend many days matching-up roommates. They are not a dating service. <BR> <BR>Sorry about your misfortune but you wished to purchase the single share at the reduced price rather than a single only cabin. Some play the odds and hope the ship does not fill and they end up in a cabin by themselves. I have never had a single that shared repeat. there are too many negatives. <BR> <BR>Men seem to do better with the single share but I would not do it even if the line paid me. I had enough of that in college. <BR> <BR>Paul

When I listen to the complainers, it is obvious that they enjoy repeating their negatives. Some people are Happy just being Unhappy. <BR> <BR>I was talking to a woman on the Destiny back in 1997 who had been on 5 cruises. 3 Carnival and 2 Celebrity. I told her about the bashing of Carnival on the net, and asked her why did she come back to Carnival after sailing on the premium line. She said all cruise ships offer the same basic amenities: pools, spas, casinos, entertainment, etc. Other than that, they just have certain small differences. When she wants a lively cruise, she chooses Carnival.

I keep seeing the phrase, "luck of the draw" in these threads. A lot of people who defend these cruise lines use it to justify their (the cruise lines) incompetence. Since when was going on a vacation supposed to be a crap shoot. <BR> <BR>Most people work very hard all year. A vacation is supposed to relieve stress, not incure it. <BR> <BR>I have enjoyed several cruises and one I have not. That cruise line was RCCL, I will never cruise that again. I don't gamble with my money. Greg was exactly right about their habits. <BR> <BR>These people that post negative things about their vacation are trying to get read of the tension that the offending cruise line (in this case CCL) has caused. In reading these posts, in almost every case the person tried all the logical methods to correct the problem while on the ship. Obviously these cruise lines don't give a snot. So let them post their posts. By reacting the way you do you are only reinforcing their beliefs of negativity <BR>against the cruise lines.

<BR>Paul - going single share was the only way I could cruise - and I saved up a year and a half for it. Maybe Carnival didn't have to accomodate me, but they could have, especially since there were cabins available. And for that reason, Carnival will never get my business again - it is my (and any other consumer's) way of saying "I'm sorry - you didn't take care of me, so I will not give you my vacation dollars again." This is also the only way consumers have a lot of the time to protest shabby and subpar service.

<BR>Dear Lisa, you are going to find the same thing will occur on any ship that offers single shares. Too many passengers wish to change their staterooms. It's tough living with a stranger all week. <BR> <BR>You see, if the cruise lines were in the business of changing passengers cabins at a whim they would be doing it for many passengers .... some more than once. You must understand this. <BR>It is not just Carnival. <BR> <BR>I have been in this business a long time. You should hear some of the horror stories. Yours was mild in comparision. I have even been blamed, including a court case and I explain the pitfalls before one sails. <BR> <BR>Paul <BR> <BR>

Lisa, I have been reading this Paul's comments for a while on just about every topic concerning these cruise lines. Don't waste your breath honey. I am starting to believe that he is employed by most of these cruise lines. He always seems to have some smug self-rightious answer to defend them. "I" this and "I" that. <BR> <BR>You say whatever you want. If you pay good money you deserve good service from first class to coach. <BR> <BR>By the way if your roomie was doing illegal drugs they definitely should have moved you. Next time inform the local authorities so the cruise line can be cited for aiding and abetting a criminal by the transport of illicit materials. Or at least threaten the pursar with that. It may cost a little but you can always inform the authorities ahead. That would give me satisfaction!

<BR>Thank you Sam for your response. All I was trying to point out is that Carnival could have helped me if they had wanted to. They chose not to, therefore I choose not to give them my money again. Would any of us tolerate rude and uncaring treatment from your doctor, a car dealer, your grocery store, etc. Why should we tolerate it on a cruise ship?

To Lisa, <BR> <BR>I have been saying the same thing. Greg tried to tell these people the same thing. They don't listen. They think it's perfectly aceptable to get that kind of service. The use catchy phrases like, "luck of the draw" and that sort of thing. <BR> <BR>God forbid if you say something bad about their beloved cruise line. I have seen jackals more forgiving.

Thank you all - I have been planning our first cruise (21/30day)for about 6 months and found this site and your emails by accident. I did not really know one line from another - but - I will be sure to investigate and ask questions before booking. Have decided that before we spend our money (we just retired) on a 21/30 day cruise as planned I'm going to start with a 5/7 day fall foliage cruise then a 10/12 day Alaska cruise next spring using 2 different lines so as to compare. If anyone has any suggestions pls advise - and - having been in business for myself for 40 yrs I always told my employees that they had to do EVERYTHING to satisfy the customer-the customer may not be right-BUT- they are the customer and the customer(generally)has more important things to do than complain for no reason. I guess the logic was correct -we were successful for 40+ years.