I remember the midnight buffet - it had everything you mentioned plus the desserts were a cut above the standard buffet and there were also chocolate sculptures, petit fours and more. Of course that was 40 years ago. Mexico is shooting themselves in the foot. You’ll now see more cruises going to Belize, Honduras, Costa Rica and Columbia. If they want to initiate a fee, try $21 for 1 port, $42 for more than one.
All the nickel and dimming by Carnival has changed my perspective. We have cruised with carnival for over 25 years, we are now looking into other cruise lines as well as other vacation options. Is Carnival becoming the Walmart of the cruise industry?
It has been rumored that this is all a security issue with Carnival. They don't have enough security to take care of loudspeaker playing. They don't have enough security to watch the late night pizza place. And good luck finding any security if you do actually have a problem.
Melissa, I saw some of the videos of the brawl and it’s very disturbing. My suggestion is to stay away from the brawl and notify a crew member immediately who will contact security.
Yeah, I know people are looky lous, but it's best to steer clear. I've seen two cruise ship physical altercations firsthand and they both shook me up a bit. I despise physical violence.
Alaska has been charging a $34.50 state passenger fee (reduced from the original $50 imposed by citizen initiative in 2007), plus local port fees. The cruise industry claimed this would be a disaster and even pulled some ships, blaming the fee but actually part of over capacity deployment colliding with the 2008-09 recession). The proposed $42 fee is for entry to Mexico, not per port. Visitors arriving by air or car have been paying a tourist tax for years. The cruise industry was somehow exempted up to now.The money will go to pay for infrastructure like railways and refineries, some of which is being constructed by the military. Why should people who visit not help to support infrastructure? They are using infrastructure paid by others all of the time (roads to attractions, hospitals, etc.).
But here's the difference (IMO).... Alaska is an entire itinerary with little competition, but Mexico is just a Caribbean port destination (or a handful of them) with a LOT of competition that's very similar. But we'll see how it all shakes out! Thanks for the correction on per port v/s entry. And I don't have any qualms about supporting infrastructure, but isn't that what port fees and taxes are already supposed to cover? And 2/3 of this new proposed fee is going to the Mexican Army.
Also, apparently the Alaska tax DID result in a similar uproar, and subsequent lowering: Historically, when destinations have introduced outsized fees, cruise lines have responded by redeploying their fleets elsewhere. For example, after an Alaska state ballot in 2006 raised the cruise passenger excise tax to $46, multiple cruise ships pulled out of the market, resulting in losses of $165 million in economic stimulus per year, according to data from Cruise Lines International Association. In 2010, Alaska’s state legislature passed SB 312, lowering the tax from $46 to $34.50 per person.
@@ProfMelissaI'm in total support of Mexico's proposed port fee. Many European countries are jaded by all of the tourists...hello Spain. At least the Mexicans haven't started to squirt us with water bottles.
@@ProfMelissa Your source (CLIA) is not at all impartial. The recession and overcapacity in Alaska resulted in really weak Alaska cruise pricing. In order to boost pricing, capacity needed to be cut. Conveniently for the cruise lines, Alaska voters had just enacted a tax and laws about cruise that they could use as an excuse to pull ships from Alaska. The recession eased, the cruise lines were eager to get back to Alaska, needed to score a win and Alaska had a governor very open to big industry. They invited him down to Florida, he cut a deal to cut the head tax a bit, and the cruise lines announced their ships were returning the same year. Clearly, they already had those deployments planned.
So, not so fun facts that explain a few things. We started cruising back in 1998 on the Carnival Fascination & Inspiration out of Puerto Rico. Cruising back then on Carnival and Royal Caribbean (Monarch of the Seas) was vastly different than today. What is not different is the price point, back in 1998 we paid $750 for a 7 day cruise per person or approximately $100 PP per day. That is relatively unchanged, someone do the math to account for inflation and tell us what that cruise cost then VS now?
The early closing of late night pizza is too much. We visit it almost every night around 1:00AM. I hope they reverse their decision by our next cruise in March.🤞🤞
Don't hold your breath. I don't think they will reverse the decision to allow me to bring my portable Bluetooth speaker and sleep sound machine in my room. I have had enough with carnival. Goodbye.
I think Cruise security as a whole to hands off. what mean they just do not put people in check fast enough. they do not have QRT (quick Reaction Team), show of force. They also need to have higher fines $2,500 or more and a ban for life. Please let me know what you think. thanks.
Regarding the Mexico immigration fee, is it per port or per cruise? If per port, it would definitely make me look at other itineraries. I’m in Texas so I usually cruise out of Galveston. It’s pretty hard to get a cruise out of Galveston that doesn’t stop at 2 ports in Mexico. Being a family of 3, that would add quite a bit to our cost.
i was just on the Mardi Gras for Thanksgiving, when i was going to my cabin, i did notice some pineapples, not judging, but make like funny comment to my wife, and go about my cruise. But i did notice that the pineapples were gone later in cruise. i think its lame to police it, i think its clever way for those people to identify each other without being vulgar. i do not see the harm in it.
Well, apparently there are lots of other symbols and signs, too anyway (like loofahs?! what the heck), so there's no way they'll ever be able to police them all.
I travel a lot for work and pleasure, and I always travel with a bluetooth speaker because I need music at night to sleep, but I would absolutely never use it in public. I've tried every type of sleeping headphones that exist. Honestly, this will prevent me from ever sailing with Carnival.
I'm with you. I don't love The Cutting of costs and services. Nor do I like extra costs and fees, which I'm seeing lots of in the cruise industry. Since I've already cruised to Mexico recently, that extra charge will determine my family for going back to Mexican ports. There are plenty of other places to go. Leave the pineapple people alone, I say. And it gets to be a slippery slope with decorations. You are right about that In my opinion there needs to be food 24/7. We recently went on a Norwegian cruise and that was one of my kids' favorite parts. There was one restaurant open 24/7. The buffet was open till midnight.
I'm gluten free too and I'm a huge fan of Royal Caribbean's Sorrento's late night gluten free pizza. I'll probably stick to RCCL for that reason alone.
I do love Sorrento's! I like how it's an actual sit-down restaurant, too, inside the ship. I think RCCL has the edge on Carnival when it comes to pizza.
Hi Melissa like you I am a carnival girl. I am strongly considering Royal but have heard it’s overwhelming for someone who generally cruises carnival,ie Central Park and the mall vibe. Would you agree?
There are some differences, but Carnival is my favorite line overall so I think you'll like it! If it's an older, smaller ship, though, your experience will likely be much different than if it's one of their XL class ships.
First Carnival takes away my small portable Bluetooth speaker, my small radio, and my sleep sound machine. Now they are wanting to pry into what people do in their own State Room. What is next? Putting cameras in your stateroom to make sure you are obeying all their rules? I'm done with carnival. Our last cruise is in january. I canceled our other three and rebooked two with msc.
I think the cruise companies should publically display the names of the people who get involved in fights and ALL cruise lines should ban them for LIFE. There is NO excuse for this behavior.
Its not the cruise lines business if they cruisers do it behind THEIR closed doors. Who are they bothering? Closing the pizza at midnight, HELL NO! Im 71 and if I want to stay in the Casino late late and then want pizza, HELL NO DONT CLOSE!! at midnight. Miss Mexico President is a DooDoo disturber. She saud the extra money is NOT going for extra security for the ports, oh no, she said it would go towards building HER ARMY. Uh NO!!! Well thats my old lady ideas. Lol
Alot to unpack, regarding security and law enforcement in general they have been slow to act in putting hands on a subject due to the Agency this case the cruise company not backing their actions to intervene. May result in their own discipline or termination. In the day of cell phone cameras everywhere and viral videos, enforcement has not been a priority. It is very difficult to reason with an intoxicated person, when that person should be separated and relocated to deescalate. Stop over-serving, stricter fines, suspensions and disembarkation should be instituted. Bluetooth speaker or any other device, when it impacts or interferes with another passenger's vacation, needs to be regulated or controlled. If Mexico wants to add additional fees to cruise passengers, the Market will take care of that. The consumer has a choice and will navigate their cruise experience with their hard-earned dollars. Nice Job Professor!
Yeah, I get that the security enforcement is an issue, an there are probably even maritime laws or regulations, too, that we all aren't really privvy to, so I understand that they can't come in full bore, tackling offenders. But man, I think they need to REALLY crack down on POST fight punishments like fines, bans, and being booted off the ship.
$42 per person...for Mexico? ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!!! I've done the Mexican Riviera three times and I'm sorry, that's just not worth it! This crazy move is going to slash their tourism and incoming dollars tremendously. Mexico is shooting themselves in the foot on this one.
Yeah, I strongly suspect this will either get voted down, or if enacted it will subsequently get lowered, which is apparently similar to what happened in Alaska with their big tax hike for cruisers in 2006.
@ There were two fights, women at the buffet with no cover up and it wasn’t a pleasant site, also kept getting cold uneatable food in the dining room and women were wearing lingerie in the club. I know that Carnival is known as a Fun Ship, but have some respect at the same time!
@@ms.naturalize6168 Was it an older, smaller ship? I do tend to find these sorts of things on those with Carnival and while the new, big ships aren't immune (like with this Icon incident), it's a VERY different experience.
The upside-down pineapple on the wrong door could result in mono couples getting knock on the door late at night, but that is pretty funny. I wish cruises would have polyamory and swinger meet-ups. I wouldn't be surprised if those port fees wind up in a politician's pocket.
i've told people that Royal isn't that much better than Carnival. an online brawl ensued....lol maybe the threat of a brawl is one of the reasons you can't even get into the Royal buffet area after is shuts down for the evening??
The cruise lines are already warning Mexico that they'll be changing itineraries, so I don't expect this to pass. They'd really be shooting themselves in their own foot if they do this.
I remember the midnight buffet - it had everything you mentioned plus the desserts were a cut above the standard buffet and there were also chocolate sculptures, petit fours and more. Of course that was 40 years ago.
Mexico is shooting themselves in the foot. You’ll now see more cruises going to Belize, Honduras, Costa Rica and Columbia. If they want to initiate a fee, try $21 for 1 port, $42 for more than one.
All the nickel and dimming by Carnival has changed my perspective. We have cruised with carnival for over 25 years, we are now looking into other cruise lines as well as other vacation options. Is Carnival becoming the Walmart of the cruise industry?
It has been rumored that this is all a security issue with Carnival. They don't have enough security to take care of loudspeaker playing. They don't have enough security to watch the late night pizza place. And good luck finding any security if you do actually have a problem.
Melissa,
I saw some of the videos of the brawl and it’s very disturbing. My suggestion is to stay away from the brawl and notify a crew member immediately who will contact security.
Yeah, I know people are looky lous, but it's best to steer clear. I've seen two cruise ship physical altercations firsthand and they both shook me up a bit. I despise physical violence.
We were on the Carnival Dream a couple of weeks ago and our cruise director joked about the pineapple symbol several times.
Which CD?
@@ProfMelissa Lawrence
Alaska has been charging a $34.50 state passenger fee (reduced from the original $50 imposed by citizen initiative in 2007), plus local port fees. The cruise industry claimed this would be a disaster and even pulled some ships, blaming the fee but actually part of over capacity deployment colliding with the 2008-09 recession).
The proposed $42 fee is for entry to Mexico, not per port. Visitors arriving by air or car have been paying a tourist tax for years. The cruise industry was somehow exempted up to now.The money will go to pay for infrastructure like railways and refineries, some of which is being constructed by the military. Why should people who visit not help to support infrastructure? They are using infrastructure paid by others all of the time (roads to attractions, hospitals, etc.).
But here's the difference (IMO).... Alaska is an entire itinerary with little competition, but Mexico is just a Caribbean port destination (or a handful of them) with a LOT of competition that's very similar. But we'll see how it all shakes out!
Thanks for the correction on per port v/s entry. And I don't have any qualms about supporting infrastructure, but isn't that what port fees and taxes are already supposed to cover? And 2/3 of this new proposed fee is going to the Mexican Army.
Also, apparently the Alaska tax DID result in a similar uproar, and subsequent lowering:
Historically, when destinations have introduced outsized fees, cruise lines have responded by redeploying their fleets elsewhere. For example, after an Alaska state ballot in 2006 raised the cruise passenger excise tax to $46, multiple cruise ships pulled out of the market, resulting in losses of $165 million in economic stimulus per year, according to data from Cruise Lines International Association. In 2010, Alaska’s state legislature passed SB 312, lowering the tax from $46 to $34.50 per person.
@@ProfMelissaI'm in total support of Mexico's proposed port fee. Many European countries are jaded by all of the tourists...hello Spain. At least the Mexicans haven't started to squirt us with water bottles.
@@ProfMelissa Your source (CLIA) is not at all impartial. The recession and overcapacity in Alaska resulted in really weak Alaska cruise pricing. In order to boost pricing, capacity needed to be cut. Conveniently for the cruise lines, Alaska voters had just enacted a tax and laws about cruise that they could use as an excuse to pull ships from Alaska. The recession eased, the cruise lines were eager to get back to Alaska, needed to score a win and Alaska had a governor very open to big industry. They invited him down to Florida, he cut a deal to cut the head tax a bit, and the cruise lines announced their ships were returning the same year. Clearly, they already had those deployments planned.
It would change my itinerary concerning Mexico, too expensive.
So, not so fun facts that explain a few things. We started cruising back in 1998 on the Carnival Fascination & Inspiration out of Puerto Rico. Cruising back then on Carnival and Royal Caribbean (Monarch of the Seas) was vastly different than today. What is not different is the price point, back in 1998 we paid $750 for a 7 day cruise per person or approximately $100 PP per day. That is relatively unchanged, someone do the math to account for inflation and tell us what that cruise cost then VS now?
I found a calculator: $1452.44 adjusted for inflation.
The early closing of late night pizza is too much. We visit it almost every night around 1:00AM. I hope they reverse their decision by our next cruise in March.🤞🤞
I hope so too. There's been quite an uproar about it, so hopefully they're listening.
Don't hold your breath. I don't think they will reverse the decision to allow me to bring my portable Bluetooth speaker and sleep sound machine in my room. I have had enough with carnival. Goodbye.
I think Cruise security as a whole to hands off. what mean they just do not put people in check fast enough. they do not have QRT (quick Reaction Team), show of force. They also need to have higher fines $2,500 or more and a ban for life. Please let me know what you think. thanks.
Regarding the Mexico immigration fee, is it per port or per cruise? If per port, it would definitely make me look at other itineraries.
I’m in Texas so I usually cruise out of Galveston. It’s pretty hard to get a cruise out of Galveston that doesn’t stop at 2 ports in Mexico. Being a family of 3, that would add quite a bit to our cost.
I've dug and dug and ready 20 different articles, but can't find a definitive answer on this.
i was just on the Mardi Gras for Thanksgiving, when i was going to my cabin, i did notice some pineapples, not judging, but make like funny comment to my wife, and go about my cruise. But i did notice that the pineapples were gone later in cruise. i think its lame to police it, i think its clever way for those people to identify each other without being vulgar. i do not see the harm in it.
Well, apparently there are lots of other symbols and signs, too anyway (like loofahs?! what the heck), so there's no way they'll ever be able to police them all.
I travel a lot for work and pleasure, and I always travel with a bluetooth speaker because I need music at night to sleep, but I would absolutely never use it in public. I've tried every type of sleeping headphones that exist. Honestly, this will prevent me from ever sailing with Carnival.
I can see that side too.
I'm with you. I don't love The Cutting of costs and services. Nor do I like extra costs and fees, which I'm seeing lots of in the cruise industry. Since I've already cruised to Mexico recently, that extra charge will determine my family for going back to Mexican ports. There are plenty of other places to go.
Leave the pineapple people alone, I say. And it gets to be a slippery slope with decorations. You are right about that
In my opinion there needs to be food 24/7. We recently went on a Norwegian cruise and that was one of my kids' favorite parts. There was one restaurant open 24/7. The buffet was open till midnight.
I'm gluten free too and I'm a huge fan of Royal Caribbean's Sorrento's late night gluten free pizza. I'll probably stick to RCCL for that reason alone.
I do love Sorrento's! I like how it's an actual sit-down restaurant, too, inside the ship. I think RCCL has the edge on Carnival when it comes to pizza.
Hi Melissa like you I am a carnival girl. I am strongly considering Royal but have heard it’s overwhelming for someone who generally cruises carnival,ie Central Park and the mall vibe. Would you agree?
I can see that but generally find them to be similar
I’m about to go on my first carnival cruise. I’ve only been on celebrity so I hope it compares.
There are some differences, but Carnival is my favorite line overall so I think you'll like it! If it's an older, smaller ship, though, your experience will likely be much different than if it's one of their XL class ships.
@@ProfMelissa we’re going on the Carnival Spirit! Stopping at Cozumel and Belize City.
I think i would change my itinerary if they start charging this extra charge
First Carnival takes away my small portable Bluetooth speaker, my small radio, and my sleep sound machine. Now they are wanting to pry into what people do in their own State Room. What is next? Putting cameras in your stateroom to make sure you are obeying all their rules? I'm done with carnival. Our last cruise is in january. I canceled our other three and rebooked two with msc.
No matter the Cruise is the people
Yup
I think the cruise companies should publically display the names of the people who get involved in fights and ALL cruise lines should ban them for LIFE. There is NO excuse for this behavior.
That's an interesting punishment.
Its not the cruise lines business if they cruisers do it behind THEIR closed doors. Who are they bothering? Closing the pizza at midnight, HELL NO! Im 71 and if I want to stay in the Casino late late and then want pizza, HELL NO DONT CLOSE!! at midnight. Miss Mexico President is a DooDoo disturber. She saud the extra money is NOT going for extra security for the ports, oh no, she said it would go towards building HER ARMY. Uh NO!!! Well thats my old lady ideas. Lol
But you have "late night snacks"! lol. Which are pretty terrible.
Alot to unpack, regarding security and law enforcement in general they have been slow to act in putting hands on a subject due to the Agency this case the cruise company not backing their actions to intervene. May result in their own discipline or termination. In the day of cell phone cameras everywhere and viral videos, enforcement has not been a priority. It is very difficult to reason with an intoxicated person, when that person should be separated and relocated to deescalate. Stop over-serving, stricter fines, suspensions and disembarkation should be instituted.
Bluetooth speaker or any other device, when it impacts or interferes with another passenger's vacation, needs to be regulated or controlled.
If Mexico wants to add additional fees to cruise passengers, the Market will take care of that. The consumer has a choice and will navigate their cruise experience with their hard-earned dollars.
Nice Job Professor!
Yeah, I get that the security enforcement is an issue, an there are probably even maritime laws or regulations, too, that we all aren't really privvy to, so I understand that they can't come in full bore, tackling offenders. But man, I think they need to REALLY crack down on POST fight punishments like fines, bans, and being booted off the ship.
Too much control. Carnival is turning me off to them.
$42 per person...for Mexico? ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!!! I've done the Mexican Riviera three times and I'm sorry, that's just not worth it! This crazy move is going to slash their tourism and incoming dollars tremendously. Mexico is shooting themselves in the foot on this one.
Yeah, I strongly suspect this will either get voted down, or if enacted it will subsequently get lowered, which is apparently similar to what happened in Alaska with their big tax hike for cruisers in 2006.
@@ProfMelissa At least there is much beauty to see in Alaska!
The Mexican tax fee wil change my itinerary.
I will NEVER sail Carnival again after my sailing in Sept.
What happened?
@
There were two fights, women at the buffet with no cover up and it wasn’t a pleasant site, also kept getting cold uneatable food in the dining room and women were wearing lingerie in the club.
I know that Carnival is known as a Fun Ship, but have some respect at the same time!
@@ms.naturalize6168 Was it an older, smaller ship? I do tend to find these sorts of things on those with Carnival and while the new, big ships aren't immune (like with this Icon incident), it's a VERY different experience.
I think there's gluten in pizza. I'll gladly skip the Mexican itineraries from now on.
The upside-down pineapple on the wrong door could result in mono couples getting knock on the door late at night, but that is pretty funny. I wish cruises would have polyamory and swinger meet-ups. I wouldn't be surprised if those port fees wind up in a politician's pocket.
i've told people that Royal isn't that much better than Carnival. an online brawl ensued....lol maybe the threat of a brawl is one of the reasons you can't even get into the Royal buffet area after is shuts down for the evening??
I definitely wouldn’t travel to Mexico if there os a fee…
It will back fire and Mexico will start to lose money…
The cruise lines are already warning Mexico that they'll be changing itineraries, so I don't expect this to pass. They'd really be shooting themselves in their own foot if they do this.
glad they're getting rid of the pineapples.. they are trashy.