Does Carnival Cruise Line Color Your Image of Cruising as a Whole?

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Sat, 02/23/2013 - 15:01

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Kristen K.

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Does Carnival Cruise Line Color Your Image of Cruising as a Whole?

Let's face it, Carnival has had a very difficult past couple of years with it's cruise ships. There has been a string of fires, break downs, illness, and general misguidance that just doesn't seem to quit. Coupled with intense press cycles, I have to wonder if the poor conditions there are effecting the view of cruising on the general public. Though I love a cruise, there is no way I would travel with them. I'm not even sure that I would go on a Carnival cruise if it was free.

Has the (deserved) bad press that Carnival has been getting from it's sting of mishaps changed the way you view the cruise industry? If so, what is it that worries you most?

Sat, 02/23/2013 - 15:04

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It has colored my image of Carnival, but I'm still gung ho about booking a Disney cruise!

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Sat, 02/23/2013 - 15:17

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I would still like to go on a cruise. I would be leary of trying Carnival.

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Sat, 02/23/2013 - 18:12

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No amount of bad press for other cruise lines will affect my opinion of Disney's cruises. Disney is almost always a cut above. But I will absolutely never take a Carnival cruise.

Sun, 02/24/2013 - 15:22

nikamel

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When we bought into Disney Vacation Club our guide was really pushing the cruise angle and we told her right away NO!!We are just not people who enjoy being away from land. Too many things have happened on cruise ships lately to add to our discomfort. We like going to Disney World and that is where we will go for years to come!

Sun, 02/24/2013 - 17:31

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My fiance had an absolutely terrible experience on a Carnival cruise years ago, and because of that he would never go on another cruise with that line--but we've only heard wonderful things for the most part about the Disney Cruise Line and the Disney Difference and are so excited for our three-night Bahamas cruise in May!!

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Mon, 02/25/2013 - 15:21

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After reading many forums and talking with people about cruising I get the impression that quite a few people who do go on cruises don't read the documents that you have to sign before embarkation. In a nut shell they say "you might be in danger and we're not liable for anything." If you understand that and still want to cruise, have fun! LoL...

I'll totally continue to cruise with Disney, and I've got a down payment on a yet to be booked Norwegian Cruise. Carnival, however, gets a wide berth.

Mon, 02/25/2013 - 17:34

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I went on a Royal Caribbean cruise when I was around 12 with my dance team and loved it! Despite the negativity with Carnival recently, I'm still dying to get DH on a Disney cruise!

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Sat, 03/02/2013 - 06:23

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Kris1971 wrote:

It has colored my image of Carnival, but I'm still gung ho about booking a Disney cruise!

Carnival ships are old...they go all over and cheaply but you get what you pay for...Disney and other cruise lines are a cut above with Disney being the tiptop in my book and on several cruising polls.
The bad press from one company tells me that that company has issues. My sister and brother in law were on the Carnival Splendor that had to be tugged back a few years ago. They ended up with a free cruise to Alaska and had no problems with the second cruise.

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Sat, 03/02/2013 - 23:42

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I love cruising and wouldn't let all the Carnival incidents dissuade me from boarding another (and another and another and another and...) but I have never sailed Carnival and don't think I'll ever really consider it. Love Royal Caribbean and love Disney! I'll stick with the proven lines I love.

Sun, 03/03/2013 - 16:03

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We went on a Carnival cruise back in 2005 from Galveston, TX. It was the Carnival Conquest. Great ship! We didn't have any problems whatsoever, except for me spending waaaaay to much money in the spa!! Carnival has had quite a few things go wrong and personally, I wouldn't go on another cruise with them. As for cruising with Disney, you just know that they will go above and beyond to make sure everything runs smoothly! Disney cares abouts their guests and of course they have a wonderful reputation. We're going on a Disney Cruise this September and I just know it will be so much fun! Going Disney... you just can't go wrong!

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Thu, 03/14/2013 - 14:27

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Holy moly... The Carnival Dream is apparently sitting in Port in St. Maarten unable to move because the propulsion system is out. I understand that all ships have issues sometimes, but good grief! Carnival really needs to get a handle on what's happening amongst it's fleet.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/14/travel/cruise-ship-trouble/index.html

Thu, 03/14/2013 - 21:46

PirateGirl

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I'm afraid this may spell the beginning of the end for Carnival. Who would want to cruise with them after this latest debacle. Sheesh.

Thu, 03/14/2013 - 23:29

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I had an amazing time on the Disney Dream. The staff is phenomenal, the food is great, the drinks are about half the price of drinks in WDW, the beds are dreamy, the pillows are dreamy... It was an overall fantastic time!! I can't wait to go again!! I always feel safe with Disney. We loved the Dream.

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Fri, 03/15/2013 - 21:38

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I just saw on the news that third Carnival Cruise ship is having issues. I missed which ship it is. It was in Hondoras and is on it's way back (skipping a stop in Grand Cayman). I'm trying to find more information.

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Fri, 03/15/2013 - 21:44

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It was the Legend.

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/15/17321788-more-trouble-for-carnival-one-ship-stuck-as-a-second-limps-home?lite

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Fri, 03/15/2013 - 22:45

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Oh my goodness! I just saw this on the news, so crazy! Plus the Carnival Elation had a problem last week with it's steering. 3 in a week! Ya know, I know the prices are pretty cheap, but maybe there's a reason for that. I think that it may be the whole Carnival "budget cruise" business model that's falling apart here. It's all well and good when ships are new, but the sea is a cruel mistress and these things need upkeep!

Sat, 03/23/2013 - 22:29

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There is no comparison between a Carnival cruise and a Disney cruise ship/vacation. Disney was recently rated Top for family vacation! I have cruised with both Disney and Carnival cruises, and I can tell you that there are no comparisons. The Disney cruise cuisines, rooms, services, shows, and attention to detail are all fantastic! Could an unfortunate mechanical problem surface with any man-made-machine, yes. Two, three, or four times, in a short period, no. You get what you pay for and I always bank on Disney quality and services. Bon voyage!

Fri, 05/10/2013 - 00:06

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Carnival makes the news again.

http://news.yahoo.com/2-cruise-passengers-missing-off-055725257.html

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Fri, 05/10/2013 - 00:59

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If these kind of things keep happening, I'm never getting Peter on a cruise! Although it's a long shot, I hope they find them.

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Fri, 05/10/2013 - 01:17

PirateGirl

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Strike three you're out. Man oh man.

Fri, 05/10/2013 - 11:17

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I heard that on the news and just couldn't believe it.

Mon, 05/27/2013 - 13:12

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Another cruise incident in the news. This time it's not Carnival.

http://news.yahoo.com/fire-breaks-aboard-royal-caribbean-cruise-ship-121209870.html

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Mon, 05/27/2013 - 14:25

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Don't these cruise lines have regular checks on their equipment? This is getting out of hand and ridiculous.

Mon, 05/27/2013 - 15:17

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I'm happy to see that this incident wasn't a Carnival ship.

Fire is the biggest threat that a ship has, it always has been since man took to the sea. Crews have extensive firefighting training to handle a situation as swiftly as possible. But no matter how careful you are, sometimes it happens. It does sound like this small fire on the Royal Caribbean ship was dealt with very quickly, which means that the procedures they had in place to deal with emergency worked. They are still underway and have full power, no harm, no foul.

If it wasn't for the power of social media and RC knowing that they had to get out in front of any possible "leaks" (in light of the Carnival problems) we probably wouldn't have heard about this at all.

Mon, 05/27/2013 - 16:48

revral

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I've never cruised but would like to do an Alaska cruise. I'd willingly board any other cruise line & particularly Disney but there is no way you'll get me to voluntarily board a Carnival ship. I completely understand that things happen to new & even the most well maintained & cared for piece of equipment but with all the things that have happened to/on Carnival ships recently tells me that their ships are not only old but probably receiving the bare bones minimum when it comes to maintainence & repairs. I'm not going to voluntarily board an old poorly maintained ship for a cruise with a cruise line that has nothing but major problems recently.

Mon, 05/27/2013 - 22:15

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Wow! Okay... that wasn't a small fire. There's a picture in the below article.
I must say from this report, it sounds like the RCL staff was very professional.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/05/27/royal-caribbean-cruise-ship-catches-fire-on-way-to-bahamas/

Mon, 05/27/2013 - 22:36

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Wow. I hadn't seen any pictures until now. When I posted the link earlier today it only included a blurb about what the fire. It has more details now.

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Thu, 06/13/2013 - 21:38

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I was just watching on the news that the Carnival Triumph is returning to cruising. Was it wrong that I had the theme to Gilligan's Island going through my head while watching the story?

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Thu, 06/13/2013 - 22:46

revral

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JoAnn C wrote:

I was just watching on the news that the Carnival Triumph is returning to cruising. Was it wrong that I had the theme to Gilligan's Island going through my head while watching the story?

Given everything that has happened to/on Carnival's ships I say no. I would also be hearing the theme to The Twighlight Zone.

Sat, 06/15/2013 - 12:50

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JoAnn C wrote:

I was just watching on the news that the Carnival Triumph is returning to cruising. Was it wrong that I had the theme to Gilligan's Island going through my head while watching the story?