I hope Carnival really reads this. I have suggestion for the photos. The price is sooo high on the pictures, especially the ones taken on formal night that you can't you buy as many as you would like to buy. Instead of printing so many photos ahead of time, is there some way you could offer a package deal? You could sell the package ahead of time for x amount of pictures. Have the pictures uploaded to a channel on the TV or kiosk's and let everyone pick the ones they want then print them. I would like to see lower prices on the pictures and less wasted paper. My daughter and I just got back from a cruise on the Ecstacy and I wanted a lot more of the pictures than I was able to purchase. If you can come up with anyway to make this more affordable I would really appreciate it. To me, that is the worst part of the cruise. Wanting so many more of the beautiful pictures and not being able to get them all. Thanks, Lisa

We once got very angry--and the guy just stood there and stared at us--because he refused to make 5x7s of our formal night 8x10 just because it had more than 8 people in the shot. Had we known--and we should have--that all we had to do was buy the one 8x10 onboard, take it WalMart or Walgreens at home, and have as many inexpensive copies as we wanted of any size made. All you do is obtain a release from Carnival after the cruise. Don't ruin a fun vacation on a fun ship over something like overpriced pictures.

You can actually download the copyright release online.

http://www.seauonboard.com/Photo%20Release.htm

http://www.seauonboard.com/Photo%20Release.htm

A release is NOT needed if you scan and upload to someplace like Shutterfly, snapfish, etc.  and have them print your copies.  That is what I have I have been doing that since I first started cruising in 2003 and never even heard of the release "issue" until I started reading posts here.

I spent enough on photos last week to pay for another cruise.  Thanks Karen for the release info.

agreed! I was on Disney a couple of times a few years back and they do have a package. I don't recall the actual prices but it did amount to a small savings. I also wish they had better hours or were open "off-peak" a bit more. I tried to go a few times when I thought it would be less crowded but it was either closed or shoulder to shoulder with people.

I was on Mariner of the Seas (RCCL) last October and they also sell a package, not much of a savings but some.  They do have the kiosks so you can go in and print what you want, but they also already have some printed out.  I have to tell you that I LOVE the way they have their pics...they must have some sort of facial recognition software because instead of having pics everywhere and trying to hunt them down, they were all in the folder with your cabin number on it so no hunting.

By the way...every time I used the kiosk it had an error and the pics didn't print so not sure that is the best idea either. 

 

I also hate to see the waste of paper - they print all those pictures and I imagine at least 50% or more just get thrown away. 

I think they should definately go with an electronic way of viewing the pictures instead of printing them all.  This would have to save Carnival money, which would allow them to reduce the price of the photos some, which in turn would allow people to actually buy more.  I would think it would be a win-win for everyone. 

Disney World uses a "Photo-pass" system, where you hand the photographer your card, they scan it, then you can log onto the internet and view your photos and order your prints.   This same system on Carnival would allow you to view the photos in your room or perhaps at a kiosk somewhere on deck, then place your order and maybe even have the pictures delivered to your room.   It would also allow you to order those photos for weeks after the cruise.  I know looking back I wish we would have purchased some that we passed up because we thought the price was too high - but in hindsight they were such good pictures we wish we had them!  If I could order them now, I would!

travelgal:

I also hate to see the waste of paper - they print all those pictures and I imagine at least 50% or more just get thrown away. 

Oddly enough on my last cruise I was in the ship's Photo Lab, and I asked why they don't go to an electronic system.  They said it was more expensive to get the IT support and computers, and personnel???

travelgal:

I also hate to see the waste of paper - they print all those pictures and I imagine at least 50% or more just get thrown away. 

Oddly enough on my last cruise I was in the ship's Photo Lab, and I asked why they don't go to an electronic system.  They said it was more expensive to get the IT support and computers, and personnel???

yes the pictures are very high in price,,how about if you buy a couple of pics --like if you buy 3 8x10 you get a discount on the 4th pic...it is a waste of paper to see all those pic in the trash bin....

the photos are recycled by local companies set up by Miami headquarters. The photo lab generates approximately 45 gallons of photo waste fluid a month.

I just wish they would stop taking so many.  It's an overkill, annoying, and the photographers take up so much space, that should be used for the enjoyment of the guest.  Most of the pictures are fake backdrops, so what is the point?

Except maybe for formal night, they should be removed.

I wish they would continue to offer the pictures after the cruise! I think they would make more money that way! Alot of people have spent out at cruises end but if they would offer them for a week or two later they would make more money!