A
Al
Guest
... all the paranoia over Carnival's acquisition of Princess. As with HAL and Costa, any changes are imperceptible. New ships continue to be delivered, prices remain low (if there's a trend toward increased fares, it's industry-wide) and customers continue to book at pre-9/11 levels - and greater! One can argue the pros and cons; but the fact remains that we live in an era of "corporate consolidation," and nothing will reverse the trend. We still buy the same brands of mayonnaise, appliances, furniture polish ... with nary a thought of who owns what (go to the corporate websites and notice the number of familiar brands now under the same umbrellas). How many of you even think of such matters when booking a cruise? I know I don't. In fact, I'm looking at both Carnival and Princess sailings, and will be governed by the usual criteria (ship, date, itinerary and price). Next time a similar issue arises, just book your cruise as always, and enjoy the greatest vacation values on the face of the earth!!
