Carnival Cruise Line Shuts Down Reserved Seating Idea for Shows
With cruise ships getting larger and larger, the struggle to get the best seats for extravagant production shows can be fierce. Carnival Cruise Line, however, is unlikely to implement any type of reservation-based system to ensure seating at different performances.
The discussion began when an irritated guest contacted John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s Brand Ambassador, about their experiences on a competing cruise line (shall we say, Competitor of the Seas?).
“Why is it that Carnival does not require any reservations for shows or comedy like what you need on other cruise lines who charge money to watch shows but give first choice to their elite members?” the guest asked.
“This is what Carnival should be doing for the big shows and comedy shows, but … you are not, why?”
Okay, that’s a fair question. Carnival Cruise Line’s largest ships, for example – the Excel-class Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee – each have a guest capacity of approximately 5,300 at double occupancy, or more than 6,600 if fully booked with all third, fourth, and fifth berths filled.
The main theater capacity of these ships, however, is just about 1,100 – only about 20% of the guests onboard.
Granted, many guests may not care to see different production shows, especially if they are frequent cruisers who may have already seen the same stage shows multiple times.
It is exactly the most frequent cruisers, however, that the original poster thinks should have the most access to theater seating.
“It is not fair that platinum people cannot get guaranteed seating for shows,” they concluded.
Heald did respond to the guest’s concerns, first noting what Carnival Cruise Line has done to give more travelers the opportunity to see any show they wish.
“I do understand that on some ships the shows do get very full which is why we have increased the number of performances,” he began.
He went on, however, to open a discussion on reserved seating, tickets, and even charging for shows.
“However, tickets may be something that would help?” he questioned. “It is very challenging to operate this and manage this. We tried this back on the Carnival Dream when the ship first started sailing. The main problem was that people would line up for tickets and then not show up.”
Carnival Dream entered service in September 2009. At that time, technology wasn’t nearly as ubiquitous in our lives, and there weren’t as many potential solutions to different organizational problems.
Heald notes that the Carnival Hub app might be able to be used for seating reservations, but for the moment, it does not have that functionality.
Meanwhile, the idea of “guaranteed seating” for “platinum people” rubs this “platinum person” the wrong way. Yes, I have been fortunate to cruise frequently, but no, I do not deserve extra privileges for doing so.
Guest Responses Support Current Policies
Responses from hundreds of other loyal Carnival guests agree that the current first-come, first-served policies for show seating are vastly preferred.
Read Also: Royal Caribbean vs. Carnival Cruise Line – Which One Does It Better?
While it is true that the best seats may fill up quickly, the “best” view can vary from traveler to traveler. For example, I prefer seats in the upper deck where I may be further from the energy, but also have a better chance for an unobstructed view (I’m a bit on the shorter side, even in heels).
Experienced travelers note that showtimes are advertised well in advance, and arriving 30-45 minutes before a show can virtually guarantee guests any seat they might like.
Many guests also note that choosing a show reservation time can be a bother, especially if they may not be sure what other activities could be happening each evening or when they may be finished with dinner.
“I don’t know if I want to go to comedy on Tuesday at 8 p.m. two months from now on vacation. HUGE turn off for me,” one guest explained.
The flexibility to come and go can make cruising much more relaxing, and of course, plans do often change at the last minute, making any possible reservation system even more complicated.
What about charging for tickets or reserved seats? Carnival Cruise Line has no intention of doing so outside of the soon-to-be-expanded Carnival LIVE! entertainment series, which are add-on concerts and performances by top artists available only on select sailings.
Carnival Cruise Line Shuts Down Reserved Seating Idea for Shows