We've been on only two cruises, both with Carnival, one last year and one this year, and other than very minor annoyances have had the time of our lives.  I was already dreaming of and therefore planning our next cruise.  There's one I just crossed off my list and you ought to know why, because that means you just lost fares for 4-5 people.  Not a lot by itself, but I am sure I'm not alone.

Initially I was excited at the possibility of going on a Southern Caribbean through Puerto Rico with an extra day or two in port.  An island a day with no sea days, what could be better?  THEN I went to CruiseCritic.com to start researching others' experiences with the same cruise.

Over and over I saw postings that, in summary, said that Carnival loads up all their ships at the last minute with locals at deep discounts, and in this case that means tons of Puerto Ricans who are rude and obnoxious 24/7 -- if it were just a couple posts I'd write it off, but there's a whole trail out there saying the same thing.  Unsupervised rude kids running around all night LOUDLY, parents who don't care what their kids are doing right in front of them, throwing water balloons, monopolizing public areas, yelling "PUERTO RICO" through the whole cruise, pushing and shoving others out of the way to be first in line, pushing people out of the way to get on elevators, stealing everything that isn't nailed down and will fit into a beach bag.  I missed a few examples there but you get the idea.  Does this mean that all Puerto Ricans behave this way?  Of course not, but there are an awful lot of people who DO behave this way who happen to live in and get on your ships in Puerto Rico.  Honestly, saw a few folks like this on our last cruise out of Miami and you have to wonder if there's a connection (last minute, cheap, let's take the whole family...).

Now -- Carnival's website has a lot of information on it that answers questions people may have about rules, etiquette, and what to expect other than a wonderful fun week.

Might I suggest when you sell passage to folks in local ports, especially ones where you know their behavior once they get on board is a problem, that you include a prominent flyer or some other documentation outlining expectations of behavior and if you have the legal ability to do so inform these folks that they run the risk of being ejected from the boat with no refund if they can't behave themselves. Then follow through on it.

If the posts on CruiseCritic are honest, you're probably losing more money than you're making on these folks anyway between the people who don't book a cruise with you because of the feedback, the money you lose through thefts, and the people who won't go BACK to Carnival because they had a bad experience.

So why don't I pick another Carnival Cruise with better feedback?  Because we did Western Caribbean twice, we're not interested in Bahamas or Eastern Caribbean, and we WANTED this Southern Caribbean cruise because of all the different islands you can see.  

As a result, this year --  We're going to Orlando, booking a 3 bedroom condo (since there'll be at least 5 of us), hitting Universal/Sea World/Busch Gardens instead of doing a cruise.

Just thought you ought to know -- I'm sure for every person who posts there are several others in identical situations.

Tony:

We've been on only two cruises, both with Carnival, one last year and one this year, and other than very minor annoyances have had the time of our lives.  I was already dreaming of and therefore planning our next cruise.  There's one I just crossed off my list and you ought to know why, because that means you just lost fares for 4-5 people.  Not a lot by itself, but I am sure I'm not alone.

Initially I was excited at the possibility of going on a Southern Caribbean through Puerto Rico with an extra day or two in port.  An island a day with no sea days, what could be better?  THEN I went to CruiseCritic.com to start researching others' experiences with the same cruise.

Over and over I saw postings that, in summary, said that Carnival loads up all their ships at the last minute with locals at deep discounts, and in this case that means tons of Puerto Ricans who are rude and obnoxious 24/7 -- if it were just a couple posts I'd write it off, but there's a whole trail out there saying the same thing.  Unsupervised rude kids running around all night LOUDLY, parents who don't care what their kids are doing right in front of them, throwing water balloons, monopolizing public areas, yelling "PUERTO RICO" through the whole cruise, pushing and shoving others out of the way to be first in line, pushing people out of the way to get on elevators, stealing everything that isn't nailed down and will fit into a beach bag.  I missed a few examples there but you get the idea.  Does this mean that all Puerto Ricans behave this way?  Of course not, but there are an awful lot of people who DO behave this way who happen to live in and get on your ships in Puerto Rico.  Honestly, saw a few folks like this on our last cruise out of Miami and you have to wonder if there's a connection (last minute, cheap, let's take the whole family...).

Now -- Carnival's website has a lot of information on it that answers questions people may have about rules, etiquette, and what to expect other than a wonderful fun week.

Might I suggest when you sell passage to folks in local ports, especially ones where you know their behavior once they get on board is a problem, that you include a prominent flyer or some other documentation outlining expectations of behavior and if you have the legal ability to do so inform these folks that they run the risk of being ejected from the boat with no refund if they can't behave themselves. Then follow through on it.

If the posts on CruiseCritic are honest, you're probably losing more money than you're making on these folks anyway between the people who don't book a cruise with you because of the feedback, the money you lose through thefts, and the people who won't go BACK to Carnival because they had a bad experience.

So why don't I pick another Carnival Cruise with better feedback?  Because we did Western Caribbean twice, we're not interested in Bahamas or Eastern Caribbean, and we WANTED this Southern Caribbean cruise because of all the different islands you can see.  

As a result, this year --  We're going to Orlando, booking a 3 bedroom condo (since there'll be at least 5 of us), hitting Universal/Sea World/Busch Gardens instead of doing a cruise.

Just thought you ought to know -- I'm sure for every person who posts there are several others in identical situations.

 

it sounds like you got a racial problem going on inside you...first of all i'm puerto rican and proud of it,,,tony- rude people come in all colors shape and sizes,,,what do you think your going to see in disney!!!!--lots of latinos period--so run for the hills or hide in a cave...florida is full of the different latin races....and don't you know your name is latin???

that you think of puerto ricans or any race in that manner is a shame,,,i hope you don't teach your bad thoughts to others....i treat people with respect no matter who they are,,white black,etc,etc,,as long they show the respect back----your just a sample of how long we still have to go as a country with the racist things in life....

yes stay away from puerto rico or any island that's different in your eyes ,,,i'm pretty sure they wouldn't want people like you there anyway......

Well...bully for you!

i won't write on this post again--but this person is sick in the head,,,LOSER

i won't write on this post again--but this person is sick in the head,,,LOSER

Folks, you are misunderstanding.  I was afraid people would have this reaction if I used the words "Puerto Rico" in the same paragraph as referring to local people (and this is off the CruiseCritic posts) who are getting deep discounts on cruises and then being so obnoxious others on the cruise can't enjoy themselves.  Don't turn this into a race thing because it's NOT.  Doesn't MATTER if it's Puerto Rico, do you think I would be wanting to be spending extra days IN Puerto Rico if I had anything against Latino people?  Or cruising to other countries if I didn't respect and want to experience other cultures? 

That hurts.  If this cruise were leaving New York, LA, ANYWHERE and was getting the same kind of feedback I'd have the same questions.

BEHAVIOR of the local people getting on at whatever port the ship is leaving from, not the RACE of the people getting on.

Sorry if I offended anybody, that was not my intention. 

Tony,

I think you have to go by the 2 cruises you have been on with Carnival,  and not worry about what other people have to say.... There are people who do nothing but complain about everything... and can never be pleased..... it might also be the time of year some people cruise.... during the summer you are going to be getting more familys with kids....  and going by they way you word things.... I guess people are going to have to worry about all those unruly over 60 crowds they have in FL

And I have said it before.... I know the 20 and 30 year olds worry about having to be on a cruise with older people.... but  one thing about us is.... we have 30 years more experience on knowing how to have fun.

Tony, I understand what you are saying, I have read the same and I sailed out of Puerto Rico and not sure I will ever do so again, it would have to really be my dream itineray.  I can tell you though, I am pretty sure they do not discount the locals.  You see more of them on this sailing as they don't have the expense of the airfare.  (Just like we like to cruise out of NY, Philly or Baltimore as that saves us on airfare)  The cruises out of PR are actually not that expensive, usually it is the cost of getting there and back that makes it a little pricier to cruise from there. 

I did notice it was a bit louder and I did notice people were a bit ruder but there is a different culture down there than we have.  Not to say any one is better than one else but put a bunch of people in a room that were raised differently and you will see problems.  NOT TO OFFEND ANYONE, but I have been in the same situation at All Inclusives with the French and the Canadians...not that they all act that way but at times everyone has their moments....we americans have our moments too, which you see on alot of the cruises out of NY...Actually the only things that bothered me were the fact I couldn't understand what a lot of people were saying as I don't speak spanish and it did make it harder to meet people as we did seem like the oddballs.  The MAJOR issue I had was actually with the service with the people at the terminal.  I think it is VERY unprofessional to speak in another language that people do not speak when you are supposed to be doing your job.  The woman that was supposed to be checking us in was speaking in spanish to the people all around her and when we would say anything or ask her a question she would say something to the lady next to her and laugh...I can't guarantee that they were talking about us but I am pretty sure they were laughing about us.  Anyway, a process that normally takes about 5 minutes took about 20 because her socializing was more important.  I can tell you that they were definately more racist toward us than we were to them...but I am sure that I just opened up a whole new can of worms.

I don't think you are being a racist for asking a questions, but I would not stop from cruising again because of other cultures.  Why not try a Hawaiin or Alaskan cruise, or Bermuda or Panama Canal?  Carnival also has a great Southern itinerary out of Barbados...

I can assure you this is not a Carnival issue but this happens on any ship on any line in any area where any concentration of people get on...power in numbers.  Have fun in Orlando, we really enjoy universal...it is sad to say but at 9 my daughter has outgrown Disney...I don't think I have even outgrown Disney. 

tracyanns:

Tony, I understand what you are saying, I have read the same and I sailed out of Puerto Rico and not sure I will ever do so again, it would have to really be my dream itineray.  I can tell you though, I am pretty sure they do not discount the locals.  You see more of them on this sailing as they don't have the expense of the airfare.  (Just like we like to cruise out of NY, Philly or Baltimore as that saves us on airfare)  The cruises out of PR are actually not that expensive, usually it is the cost of getting there and back that makes it a little pricier to cruise from there. 

I did notice it was a bit louder and I did notice people were a bit ruder but there is a different culture down there than we have.  Not to say any one is better than one else but put a bunch of people in a room that were raised differently and you will see problems.  NOT TO OFFEND ANYONE, but I have been in the same situation at All Inclusives with the French and the Canadians...not that they all act that way but at times everyone has their moments....we americans have our moments too, which you see on alot of the cruises out of NY...Actually the only things that bothered me were the fact I couldn't understand what a lot of people were saying as I don't speak spanish and it did make it harder to meet people as we did seem like the oddballs.  The MAJOR issue I had was actually with the service with the people at the terminal.  I think it is VERY unprofessional to speak in another language that people do not speak when you are supposed to be doing your job.  The woman that was supposed to be checking us in was speaking in spanish to the people all around her and when we would say anything or ask her a question she would say something to the lady next to her and laugh...I can't guarantee that they were talking about us but I am pretty sure they were laughing about us.  Anyway, a process that normally takes about 5 minutes took about 20 because her socializing was more important.  I can tell you that they were definately more racist toward us than we were to them...but I am sure that I just opened up a whole new can of worms.

I don't think you are being a racist for asking a questions, but I would not stop from cruising again because of other cultures.  Why not try a Hawaiin or Alaskan cruise, or Bermuda or Panama Canal?  Carnival also has a great Southern itinerary out of Barbados...

I can assure you this is not a Carnival issue but this happens on any ship on any line in any area where any concentration of people get on...power in numbers.  Have fun in Orlando, we really enjoy universal...it is sad to say but at 9 my daughter has outgrown Disney...I don't think I have even outgrown Disney. 

the way you worded this was just fine and you didn't hurt my feelings at all -you hit some good points---i said i wasn't going to write back on this post--but after reading your post i had to--and i do believe what you said about how you asked  questions and they turned heads and spoke in spanish,,you would think in a vacation island like puerto rico they would have more english speaking people working the ports and airports or speak both languages...tony said he was sorry which is fine with me--but we all know that when you write on a board or e-mails-sometimes things don't come out like the way your thinking of....

thanks,

philly1

I was just wondering, if PR is a US territory, and PR's are US citizens, than why are they locals?  I left once from NYC, and they are different that say a cruise leaving in CA, or one leaving just about anywhere.  In PR, the official language is Spanish, but yes, they do all know English to some extent, because English is the official language of the US.

You can't exactly warn people in this country to watch out for rude NYC people, or loud PR's, because, you will have some pretty extreme back lash from it. 

I might also point out that PR is not a vacation island.

HavingFun2009,

Just a little correction, English is not the official language of the USA,  what it is , is the language most people speak in the USA.   but to date it has not been made the official one.

Most people working at US air ports speak only English and some don't even speak that very well.  When in another country I am always grateful to find people who speak English.  When I was in P V Mexico I needed to go to Walmart to pick up some medication and was very lucky to have a cab driver offer to go in with me.  Packaging is different so I could not recognize any of the simple things.  Ibuprofen was kept behind the counter at the pharmacy.  So his help was needed.

Worded it a little wrong.  English is the only language taught in school to US citizens as a primary language, although it has never been officially recognized as the official language.  It is also the language of government etc. 

But in PR, Spanish is the common language with English as being secondary.  Therefore, it should be expected that anyone in PR would speak Spanish.