Great for Kids - Horrible, Money-Grubbing Cruise Line

After my first cruise I figured it was a money grab. Never once fell for it. Not once. I pay cash up front for my bar bill and thats it. CC never gets a nickle more from me other than what I decide to pay for. NOT A NIckle. And I have plenty of fun.

Thank you for posting a review.  It is unfortunate that your cruise wasn't a positive experience.  As previously noted, the hard sell is a common tactic of all cruise lines. The only way they can keep the baseline cost of cruising down is to limit the inclusions and up-sell everything else a la carte.  Sad but true.

Your experience is emblematic of the issue I've raised multiple times. The current pricing structure and additional selling is going to bite the cruise lines in the backside. People will get so turned off by the hard sales approach that they will not cruise a second time. It will be one and done.  The cruise lines hurt themselves most in that case.

Bingo, regardless of the host, is geared for the house to win. Otherwise, why would they do it? Additionally, on all mainstream lines, the drinks from the minibar are always exclusive from (not included with) the drink package.

Although the ships I have sailed have always offered (or pushed?) extra-fee items, it was always my choice to participate/use those things.

If we get around your rant, your review is left with only one sentence: "The food was OK, the service was OK and we generally had a good time."

Sorry you felt scammed, but the line did not scam you.

What was good for the children?  You never explained the one positive in your title.

Sorry you felt that you were taken advantage of on this cruise.  We don't play BINGO, but often are in the "auditorium" for the next event when BINGO is played and we heard the announcement about the 49 numbers several times on our last 6 day cruise.  They also mentioned, that if there was no winner, there would be another game with $1,000 increase the next sea day with the same rules and if there was no winner one more game the last day for another $1,000 increase...same rules. One more announcement was if you were doing a back to back cruise the first BINGO on the next sailing would be... back down to $3,000.  So we knew the rules and we weren't even playing.  It pays to ask when you purchase the "cards" exactly what the rules of engagement are.

Drink package... when you purchase the drink package it specifically says that the min-frig contents and the water in the cabin are NOT part of the package.

Again sorry you were unhappy, but it appears you were not paying attention.

Well said the HOUSE always wins,  ALWAYS........

Not to rain on your parade and as someone else stated...Fine print.  Do not take everything at face value.

Perhaps, go and enjoy the pool areas and other fun things to do instead of Bingo and the Casino.  They are no different than the ones on land.  They do not like to give away money...The House always wins.

As a seasoned cruiser here one learns quickly at all the gimmicks on cruise ships.  The never ending art brochures that land in you mail box, and the spa treatments, are the two most annoying ones.  They are the biggest profit getters for the cruiseline - and the jewelry boutiques on board.  I hate the constant announcements of the art auction, or any announcement that will get you to open your wallet.  One has to become disciplined and ignore all the hype.  Bingo is another money grabbing "no one wins" scam.  The casino too.  Save your money and before you leave the ship put a deposit down on a future cruise.  At least you will have something to look forward to instead of a big CC debt.

Apparently a bad case of sticker shock when receiving the final bill.

By looking at the smiley rating system, it seems he had about a 3 star cruise, just upset at the money he spent.

If you don't want the scams and up charges, try the higher upscale cruises that cost 5000+ like the Paul Gauguin... and I bet you still will have some fees or charges. 

All lines will have the extra charges. I am going to Panama in 2018 and even with the perks that come with the cruise there will be daily gratuities and charges for other services. On the drink packages that they gave us, we have to pay the tips. So I will be watching my bill carefully.

If you think the sales pitches are bad on Carnival I guess you never went on NCL ?   What you states is true of all the regular cruise lines.    You want Mini bar items for free move up to a suite.  Carnival has a tag over the neck of the water stating the price.  On Carnival you can have a case of 12 bottles of water delivered to your cabin for about 3 or 4 dollars.   You go to the Carnival site and order them as a gift to yourself before the cruise.  

Paying attention to things can save you time and $.   Just as if you leave the beach towel from the cabin at the pool,   you will be charged for not returning it to you cabin.

Fine print will get you every time. I know about the mini bar, but my BF did not off the bat. I warned him they will charge an arm/leg for drinks and snacks. The list was not on or near the fridge but on a shelf above the TV with a few other bottles of water.. It is a matter of being careful. 

Bingo, I'm sure that is more than carnival. RCCL has win a cruise and big jackpots too, but I have not partaken in a while. If it is part of my crown and anchor, then maybe..

I can't comment on the bingo because in my past 12 cruises, I always found better things to do onboard than waste my time sitting in a room trying to win a magic jackpot but to each their own. As for the constant selling tactics, this is on ALL cruise lines, not just Carnival. In the 4 - 6 cruises you have been on, this is the first time you saw this? And again, in the 4-6 cruises you have been on, this is the first time you were charged for anything taken from the mini-fridge? There should have been a note on, in or near the fridge of what the costs were for the individual items costs are. When you bought the drink package, it also should have spelled out what was included in your specific package. Unless you got a top tier package, I can guarantee that bottled water is not included. How often over the five night cruise did you check your account? You would have seen the charges there. I always check my current cabin balance at least every other day to insure there are no radical charges.