We've already talked about the lack of brand differentiation, and this is just one more example. If I can get stainless steel ice buckets and luxury bedding on Carnival, then why pay more to sail a so-called "premium" line?

Sometimes it seems like Carnival Corp. is shooting itself in the foot by making all the brands more and more alike.

I have to admit, if these beds are anything like those on HAL they will be fabulous! Royal Caribbean and Celebrity take note .... as much as I love those two lines they have the worst beds. All they are is a foam pad. I expect they will be announcing "luxury bedding" sometime soon.

Ernie

==========================

New Carnival Comfort Bed Sleep System Highlights Stateroom Amenities Upgrades

MIAMI, May 31
A new stateroom sleep system manufactured exclusively for Carnival Cruise Lines is the latest in a series of cabin amenity upgrades that are part of the "Today's Carnival" fleetwide product enhancement program.

The Carnival Comfort Bed ensemble, including custom pillows, duvet and cover, pillowcases and mattress set, provides an unsurpassed level of
lavishness in shipboard sleep accommodations. Introduction of the new bedding system, already on several ships, is ongoing and is expected to be implemented fleetwide by the end of the year.

Manufactured in Europe, the Carnival Comfort Bed features an eight-inch spring mattress designed exclusively for Carnival Cruise Lines. Completing the custom sleep system is a duvet made from 100
percent hypoallergenic down and sheets made of a high-quality cotton blend. The duvet covers and pillowcases are of an ultra-fine, ring-spun, satin-striped cotton blend, creating a luxurious and
comfortable sleep environment. The material is also highly durable for long-lasting use and attractiveness.

New Generation Pillows, made of non-allergenic micro fiber to create a fluffy, down-like consistency, will be featured in all staterooms. In
suite accommodations, a special "suite pillow menu" will offer guests the choice of a variety of different pillow types for their sleeping comfort, including a luxury goose down and a firm latex pillow.

"A restful, luxurious sleep is an important component of the vacation experience and we are extremely excited about this opportunity to
brand a high-quality sleep system with the Carnival name," said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president and CEO.

Among other stateroom upgrades that have been incorporated on Carnival's ships are high-quality fluffy bath and hand towels, plush terrycloth bathrobes in all ocean view staterooms, in-shower soap and shampoo dispensers, and in- cabin amenities baskets containing a variety of name-brand product samples. Stainless steel ice buckets and attractively bound directories round out the new high-end feel of each stateroom.

"Over the past decade, we have enhanced nearly every aspect of the shipboard experience," noted Dickinson. "As our guests have become
more discerning, we have implemented these upgrades in our ongoing commitment to continue to exceed their expectations."

Carnival, a unit of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE: CCL; LSE) (NYSE CUK) is the largest and most popular cruise line in the world, with 20
"Fun Ships" operating voyages of three to 16 days in length to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, NewEngland and Europe.

The line currently has two 110,000-ton SuperLiners -- Carnival Liberty and Carnival Freedom -- scheduled to enter service between now and February 2007.

Yes, I loved the beds on HAL, and those on QM2, but any bed will do me fine, and in no way would the type or style of bed influence any decision I make regarding whether to sail a ship or not.

Ice buckets? I couldn't care what they looked like. Stainless steel ones get dents and look worse then than plastic ones. I suppose ice is very much an American thing anyway... I prefer a cube in my drink, not a drink in my cubes

I never wear those bathrobes either.. not quite sure what they're for even? I've only seen a handful of people wear them to the pool.

quote:

---

Originally posted by PamM:
I'm afraid I cannot get "excited" in the least about "a high-quality sleep system", especially one manufactured in Europe [what difference does that make, or is it the *in* thing to have bedding from Europe?]

Yes, I loved the beds on HAL, and those on QM2, but any bed will do me fine, and in no way would the type or style of bed influence any decision I make regarding whether to sail a ship or not.

Ice buckets? I couldn't care what they looked like. Stainless steel ones get dents and look worse then than plastic ones. I suppose ice is very much an American thing anyway... I prefer a cube in my drink, not a drink in my cubes

I never wear those bathrobes either.. not quite sure what they're for even? I've only seen a handful of people wear them to the pool.

Pam

---

Hi Pam,
The beds make a big difference to me. I LOVED the beds on HAL and QM2. It's not just the mattress but the whole package. I loved the upgraded towels too. Basically I want a bed on vacation that is equal or better to what I have at home .... and I have a fairly decent bed at home.

I have to admit, as much as I like Royal Caribbean and Celebrity they have the worst beds at sea. They are actually a slab of foam on a platform, nothing more. After a few years they really sag where people have slept on them and look terrible. Royal Caribbean and especially Celebrity could really use an upgrade on their bedding. I have a feeling they will do just that. Have to keep up with the Jone's you know!

I also notice things like stainless steel ice buckets. Celebrity had these for years and they add a touch of class. HAL has also upgraded these. On QE2 and MAASDAM they were cheap plastic, belonging in a Holiday Inn. I thought they looked tacky and dirty too. Nothing less attractive than old beige plastic.

I know most people probably don't care about these small details, but I do. In fact the small details are basically the only way I can tell cruise lines apart anymore. They are all so much alike these days.

Same here. No bed feels as good as my one at home.

Does the Carnival 'Sleep System' make the cabin walls thicker and stop passengers walking the corridors late at night, noisy and drunk?

Ice buckets? I couldn't care what they looked like.

Most Brits are not into ice, maybe it's a 'Titanic' thing? I have tried asking the cabin steward not to bother bringing ice each day, as I never use it, but they tell me it is the rules that they HAVE too.

[ 06-01-2005: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

quote:

---

Originally posted by sunviking82:

Celebrity already has fantasic beds and the pillow menu so RCI just need to add it to their RCCL fleet.

---

Celebrity has fantastic beds? They are the same as Royal Caribbean (at least on the M-Class ships). A single foam pad on a platform. They are horrible. Celebrity NEEDS new beds!

I don't know if Princess will get luxury bedding. They are pretty much a mass-market line these days, but of course that didn't stop Carnival from upgrading.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
[QUOTE]

Does the Carnival 'Sleep System' make the cabin walls thicker and stop passengers walking the corridors late at night, noisy and drunk?

[ 06-01-2005: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

---

Now Malcolm, the walls on Carnival are the same thickness as any other line. I never heard a peep from neighbors on my last Carnival cruise (CARNIVAL SPIRIT).

You seem to really buy into the old stereotype that everyone that cruises Carnival gets drunk and is obnoxious. It's simply no longer true (frankly I've never found it to be true, and I've been cruising Carnival since the 80's). The people that cruise on 7-day Carnival cruises are the EXACT same people that cruise on 7-day NCL, Princess, and Royal Caribbean cruises.

The difference between Carnival and the rest of the lines I mentioned is that Carnival probably offers the superior product.

quote:

---

Originally posted by eroller:
You seem to really buy into the old stereotype that everyone that cruises Carnival gets drunk and is obnoxious.

---

Not really, I was just making a 'cheap joke'!

Although I was making the serious point that there are many factors that affect ones sleep, not just beds.

quote:

---

Originally posted by eroller:

I have to admit, as much as I like Royal Caribbean and Celebrity they have the worst beds at sea. They are actually a slab of foam on a platform, nothing more. Ernie

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Bill (OH):

After spending $3000 of my wife's money on a Sleep number bed, I sure hate reading this! Does it matter the cabin size? Do they put better beds in higher priced cabins?

---

I'm not sure about Royal Caribbean, but apparently they do on Celebrity. sunviking82 loved the bed in the Sky Suite. Something tells me it was different than the beds in the standard cabins.

I have sailed in a Junior Suite on Royal Caribbean (RADIANCE and VOYAGER), and the bed was still just a foam pad on a metal platform. I might add when these are new they are not so bad, but after a few years of use they get thin and start to sag ... just like any foam pad would.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:

Although I was making the serious point that there are many factors that affect ones sleep, not just beds.

---

True, but a good bed is a very good start. Don't you know we are "bed crazy" here in the US? Beds are all the rage these days. We have also been called "clean freaks" ... especially by the French!

Don't even get me started on showers! Oh how I love a strong and powerful shower. The best I've ever had onboard ship was the REMBRANDT. It was an old fashioned chrome showerhead that was huge. It just poured out piping hot and powerful water. A "water saver" it was not! Westin Hotels not only have "Heavenly Beds", but "Heavenly Showers" as well. Dual Speakman shower heads that are just fabulous. In fact I installed Speakman's in my house as well. They are great! It won't be long before cruise lines copy those as well. HAL has new massaging shower heads, but they were pretty sad .... certainly not an upgrade as far as I was concerned.

Ernie

[ 06-01-2005: Message edited by: eroller ]

This is from one of our readers reviews:

We asked for some plywood for under our mattress, to cure the ‘dip’. When we returned we found six pillows had been placed under the mattress and cardboard from fruit cartons were laid on top of them.

(Sorry, I can't remember which line/ship?)

Oh how I love a strong and powerful shower.

Most modern ships seem to have pretty tame showers, these days.

[ 06-01-2005: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
Most modern ships seem to have pretty tame showers, these days.

---

The average mattress a home will last 8 to 10 years - so the experts say.. though I must admit mine have been changed more often than that. Your own bed gets slept in just as often as one on a ship Malcolm Except perhaps wear and tear may be greater on a holiday, though who knows, perhaps not!
The review is from Carousel.. perhaps to be expected! I would be a bit annoyed I think.

I do love a shower that attempts to pummel you into the ground. That's what the HAL one looked like, but as soon as any water was put through the head, it fell out the holder. Each time the steward cleaned the room he gently propped it back in position. We asked him twice to please arranged for it to be fixed, but eventually Dave got out his screwdriver and did it himself. Sadly the water pressure was not too great, but the temp was fine. Arcadia had brilliant water pressure, and great showers, room for 3 [if wanted], but the temp levels changed every second and it was a jump in/out/in/out effort Don't seem to be able to win MSC have good water temp & pressure, but cubicles are too tiny with sticky curtains....Melody was good with a 1/2 tub and shower over, QE2 is fine, but such a stupid narrow & long bathroom we had, you could not dry yourself in it. QM2 was fine... best overall was Norwegian Dawn. Polarlys has a heated floor, that was nice. Perhaps I should write a book on the pros/cons of cruise ship bathrooms a far cry from mattresses!

quote:

---

I never wear those bathrobes either.. not quite sure what they're for even? I've only seen a handful of people wear them to the pool.

---

Pam - you never wore the bathrobes on the Westerdam?? We wore them all the time. We'd come back from the pool, shower, wrap ourselves in a robe and sit on the verandah having a drink.

One thing I frown upon is all the people who wander around the ship and pool areas wearing them. People that's not what they are for -
they are for use in your cabin. Wish HAL would put a big sign on the robes - FOR CABIN USE ONLY. Those wearing them outside their cabin looked ridiculous.

At one time when HAL had the terry robes only in the Suites, I always felt that those wearing them at the pool were saying "look at me - I'm in a Suite".

I loved those beds too Sympatico... just I would not specifically book any cruise on the type of beds/mattresses/sheets/duvets they had, or even put it into the for/against 'chart'.

quote:

---

Originally posted by sympatico:

One thing I frown upon is all the people who wander around the ship and pool areas wearing them. People that's not what they are for -
they are for use in your cabin.

---

I TOTALLY agree! I like the robes but I couldn't believe how many people were walking around the OOSTERDAM in them! Did they think they were at a giant spa??? We all started making jokes about it. Believe it or not, two ladies even went to a cooking demonstration in the showlounge, wearing guess what?? ..... ROBES! Ridiculous!

I know you are on vacation ... but come on people, no one wants to see you in your robe! Spare us all!

quote:

---

Originally posted by eroller:

I TOTALLY agree! I like the robes but I couldn't believe how many people were walking around the OOSTERDAM in them! Did they think they were at a giant spa??? We all started making jokes about it. Believe it or not, two ladies even went to a cooking demonstration in the showlounge, wearing guess what?? ..... ROBES! Ridiculous!

I know you are on vacation ... but come on people, no one wants to see you in your robe! Spare us all!

Ernie

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by eroller:

I TOTALLY agree! I like the robes but I couldn't believe how many people were walking around the OOSTERDAM in them! Did they think they were at a giant spa??? We all started making jokes about it. Believe it or not, two ladies even went to a cooking demonstration in the showlounge, wearing guess what?? ..... ROBES! Ridiculous!

I know you are on vacation ... but come on people, no one wants to see you in your robe! Spare us all!

Ernie

---

Ernie i would wear one on the official evenings

I think it's very good that cruise lines and hotels give attention to the sleeping comfort of there passengers and guest. It's importened to have an good night rest and fore the overal product you offer. The beds a/b the Costa Romantica where bad after 2 days i remember that one off my traveling partners made an remark about the beds. that they where not that best. The one we slept on was not stable. And we where afraid whene in a romantic spirit we would ended upside down, with bed and all It's good that lines have attention to there beds.

Greetings Ben.

[ 06-01-2005: Message edited by: Maasdam ]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ernst:

You point at a weak link of many ships: It is sometimes impossible (or complicated) to get to the pool area without walking trough parts of the ship, where the atirement for the pool is very inadequate. (.

---

The changing accomodation on QE2's indoor swimming pool was totally inadequate : you had to change in the toiletroom, not even one changing booth...

The best shower, and bath installation i ever had was in an older hotel in Berlin - the jet was massive !!

On ships, they perhaps want to save the water. IT is after all more limited than on land with a waterconduitsystem

"

quote:

---

I loved those beds too Sympatico... just I would not specifically book any cruise on the type of beds/mattresses/sheets/duvets they had, or even put it into the for/against 'chart'

---

Oh, I wouldn't either, but it was nice to have them on the Westerdam, especially after sleeping on some of the "boards" on other HAL ships.