I had heard that Carnival discontinued the placemats(picture of the ship and crew signatures) that you receive at the end of your cruise? Is that true? I loved the placemats!
I didn't get one on our last Carnival cruise, nor the one before. In fact, I can't remember the last time I got one. I have my hat from HAL and my tile from them as well, ship shape t-shirts from RCCL, Dive-in t-shirts from NCL, wine tasting glasses from Princess, nothing from Costa, and nothing from Carnival (recently). Maybe they're changing over to the itinerary pictures? I really like that idea, we've purchased them on our last 4 cruises.
On my last cruise (Sept. '08), everyone received a copy of a painting of the cruise ship. It was actually kind of nice. It's about the size of a placemat.
On some cruises they have been on the table as placemats the last night of the cruise. I don't have one with any crew signatures though. I hope I am talking about the same thing.
Dwayne
Posts: 5574 | Location: South Carolina | Registered: August 22, 2005
We received placemats on Carnival Victory in 2006, but only after asking for them. I had noticed other pax (but not all) leaving the dining room with placemats, and our waiter had already said goodnight to us without offering them.
Neither those, nor the ones we got on Carnival Destiny in 2000, were signed. They look lovely framed, though.
Our cruise on the Glory we had to ask and I think we only got them because our crew member family was with us. We did not get one, did not ask either, from the Destiny just several weeks ago. It is my impression they are being cut as a cost saving measure, but if they still have them on board you can get them if you ask. Those we did get were signed by our waiters. We liked them also.
I hope the returning guest pins are not next on the cut list. They tried cutting the cast down the dancers survived but the ship's band did not. You might notice the bands are getting smaller. 11 pieces on my first Carnival Cruise but just 6 on the Destiny. (trumpet, Sax, Keyboard, Drum set, Bass guitar and rythm guitar) The trombone player had just signed off and he was not to be replaced. Had I brought my "slushpump" perhaps I could have sat in.
Past Cruises: Carnival Imagination - October 2008 Carnival Fascination (2) - September 2008 Carnival Fascination (1) - September 2008 Carnival Fascination - July 2008 Carnival Liberty - May 2008 Carnival Imagination - February 2008 Carnival Freedom - December 2007 Imagination - September 2007 Fascination - July 2007 Carnival Triumph - May 2007 Fascination - March 2007 Fascination - January 2007 Carnival Legend - November 2006 Carnival Elation - May 2006 Carnival Valor - November 2005 Carnival Victory - May 2005 Paradise - June 2003
Thanks for all your replies. We received the placemats on our Fascination cruise, and we had our head and assistant waiters sign them. We also took our picture with them. I guess I will have to ask when we go on the Destiny and future cruises. I just thought they were a cool idea.
Past Cruises: Carnival Imagination - October 2008 Carnival Fascination (2) - September 2008 Carnival Fascination (1) - September 2008 Carnival Fascination - July 2008 Carnival Liberty - May 2008 Carnival Imagination - February 2008 Carnival Freedom - December 2007 Imagination - September 2007 Fascination - July 2007 Carnival Triumph - May 2007 Fascination - March 2007 Fascination - January 2007 Carnival Legend - November 2006 Carnival Elation - May 2006 Carnival Valor - November 2005 Carnival Victory - May 2005 Paradise - June 2003