The giant mainstream cruise lines have to balance longstanding customers who want cruises to be a certain way and newer, younger cruisers hoping for a more modern experience.
Some older cruisers, of course, embrace change, but many wish that Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, and Norwegian Cruise Line would go back to the way things were. In many cases, people who have cruised for decades lament that people no longer dress up for dinner.
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Many of these cruisers wish people would return to the days of men wearing tuxedos, ladies wearing evening gowns, and kids in prim and proper outfits. Some long-time passengers don't take it that far but do lament that people wear shorts in the main dining room (MDR) or dare to wear a hat while eating.
It's a big challenge for cruise lines to give customers who have sailed for many years and experience they want while loosening up and modernizing for younger customers. Many of the challenges seem to revolve around the MDR.
In addition to being angry about loosened (really much loosened) dressing standards, some older passengers have another major issue a decision Carnival has made in its main dining rooms and specialty restaurants.
Image source: Carnival
Carnival embraces technology
One of the age-old debates between cruisers is using technology while onboard. Some people want to put their phones away once they board, so they can disconnect.
Others, of course, use their phones not just for entertainment, or to keep in touch with people on land but to enhance their cruise. Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald recently responded to an angry passenger who believes the cruise line has made a major mistake.
He shared a message from that passenger. The angry customer makes two distinct points.
"Carnival seems to have forgotten that most older people do not have a smartphone and many diamond cruisers over a certain age refuse to support these QR codes. I am on the Magic and everyone is on their smartphones in the main dining hall and all because Carnival makes them bring their phones to dinner so they can see the menu," they wrote.
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Heald pointed out that phones are not required in his response.
"I understand what this lady is saying, of course I do. I for one prefer a paper menu and remember that these are available for every meal and all you need to do is ask your waiter for one," he answered.
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Pictures are a big part of cruising
For the angry passenger, it was not simply a question of having to scan a QR code.
"Phones have no place in any restaurant and Carnival is at fault here. Given a choice I know most passengers would want to leave their phones turned off. Carnival has taken away that choice. Phones should be banned from the main dining hall. If not then a paper menu should be put on every single table again. I hope you will take note that your most loyal passengers are sick of this," the person wrote.
Many people who write to Heald try to speak for other people and suggest that their opinion is some sort of mandate. Heald pushed back on the idea that most cruisers want phones banned in the MDR and other restaurants.
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"Let’s not forget that phones are also cameras so many will bring their phones to the dinning room to take photos of their Beef Wellington, their chocolate melting cake, or to take a photo to send to me to of a military veteran who has dared to wear a baseball cap on an elegant night," Heald added.
"Dinning room," is not a spelling error or a typo, it's one of Heald's recurring bits where he refers to many things as not quite what they are.
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