Holiday Sold?

[Chef Ken]

Originally posted by TrvlPro:
You know, we get these reports back from every passenger that sails after they return. All this time I thought the system was pretty accurate. Turns out it's rubbish. Coming here I get good reports on ships I'd written off as old tubs from people I know shoot me straight.

Time for a new system! Thanks for the insight, I'm going to be more skeptical of what I get from the masses of the general public from here forward.

Cheers, Neil

Neil, I recently found that GE has their customer service reports asking questions for a third party. For example, "would you recommend to a friend", "would anyone you know benefit from our services" etc. Somehow it takes the responsibility of a first hand report off the responder and they tend to be more honest. Maybe that would get your answers but of course you can always find out here, as you mentioned. You simply have to sift through the wonderful endless posts about food and the good old days etc.

[blacfly]

let me ask this, if i was to book a cruise on Carnival Holiday for early next year and the ship is re-assigned, would Carnival just cancel my trip, apply the money towards the new ship (higher fees may apply) or just swap the name of the ship and call it an even trade even though the ship has been "upgraded"? anybody know how it has been handled in the past?

[PC GUY]

blacfly - Something similar happend with the Sensation and Fantasy after the FEMA Charters. The Sensation was supposed to return to New Orleans, but it had trouble with its engines and couldn't keep up with a 4/5 day itinerary - So they swapped itineraries with the Fantasy on its 3/4 day Bahamas itineraries. The ships are identical so everyone with a reservation on either ship was moved into an itentical room on the other ship.

Here is the original press release in the archives

http://www.carnival.com/CMS/Articles/SEFA_switch.aspx

[Cruise Specialist]

Steve and Penny, oh yeah the old classic ships, they are a sight to behold. My first cruise was on an old classic...The Dolphin Ocean Breeze. Now talk about a beauty...she was actually commissioned in the 50's. My heart will always belong to the older ships. I even enjoy the Norwegian Majesty..just the right size and very close to home.

[tncruiseman]

Right now, we have 11 cabins booked for Holiday over Halloween, this will be my second cruise on her. Neil, I second everything Dave said! For the money, Mobile and Holiday cannot be beat. I did speak with our PVP and nothing other than rumors on Holiday being transferred. If they do, it will be a larger ship and all existing reservations will transfer to the newer ship. Hopefully the crew will also! Time will tell. Dave-there's still room for Halloween...

[Dave]

Thanks tn, I'd love to be there in October but it just isn't possible.

[LisaP]

Carol, your above post sounds as if it could have been written by me. Our cruise on OceanBreeze was among our favorites. When she was headed for the scrap yard, I poured my thoughts into somewhat of a eulogy for her, and it was published. Hardest column I ever wrote, but took little time.

I am sorry to have missed Carnival Holiday. I also enjoy smaller ships, and had hoped to sail as many as I could before they were retired. I'll just have to live through others' reviews.

[richjester]

I too will miss the Holiday. We cruised her in October 2006 and had a terrific time. The smaller ship was just as comfortable and didn't lack any of the amenities we appreciate most (good food and great ports of call). The crew is terrific top to bottom. I was planning to do that cruise again in a year or two, but now we may have to do it on a bigger ship. Mobile is a great port, so we still won't hesitate.

[PA Steve Rocky Mount]

Just to let you all know. The rumors were confirmed to me by Brad the CD this weekend. HOLIDAY is been sold to Carnival's line in Australia and will be moved. She's a grand old ship. We had a blast! Proud to be one of her last voyagers.

[tncruiseman]

Steve, thanks for the info. I just called our CVP. They are still taking reservations on the Holiday (not surprising since its replacement will be larger anyway) but the vacation planners still have not been told anything. They did say the cruise directors are usually the first to know so more info should be forthcoming soon as to its final cruise date.