Cruise ships, at least Carnival and Royal Caribbean ships, seem to offer a lot of merchandise about which you wonder: Who buys it?
Yes, you can get your face on a crystal cube, but who actually does that? In addition, incredibly high-end watches and jewelry are available, and the vendors likely need to make only limited sales to be successful.
While most people buy things like lanyards, T-shirts and beverage containers, a ton of other things are available for purchase. You can buy a replica of the ship, beachwear, liquor, cigarettes and all sorts of beauty products.
In addition, both cruise lines have photo stores that sell all sorts of photography services. Carnival offers the Pixels Photo Gallery and Dreams Studio.
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"Our ship photographers take both candid and posed shots during the cruise with professional digital cameras and Portrait Studios Equipment by Nikon, Canon, and Profoto," the cruise line website says.
"Portrait studios are set up around the ship every evening and a wide variety of formal and casual backdrops are offered. In addition, the friendly photographers can be found on the gangway, in the dining room, and on the deck for those fun memorable shots."
Guests have the option to buy their images, but one seemingly popular picture option has been removed.
Image source: Carnival Corp.
Carnival drops a picture option
Cruise ships, as you might imagine, sell a lot of nautically themed items. That extends into Carnival's photo offerings, or at least it used to.
One passenger wrote to Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald and his colleague, Jacinta, about a missing item.
"Good morning John and Jacinta! John, please have a safe flight. I asked a question a few days ago and never heard back. Perhaps you’re still investigating. Has Carnival discontinued the sale of the portholes in the Pixels Gallery?" asked Sheila R. Gibbs.
Heald, apologized to the passenger and answered her question.
"Thank you, I promise I did write back to you. In fact, I just checked and I can see my answer right here. I just don’t think Facebook sends notifications but I promise I did answer," he wrote.
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Heald answers pretty much every question and comment directed at him. That's often hundreds a day.
"I did check and yes, unfortunately, you’re right, we have stopped selling them around the ships. And sadly due to the fact that not too many people purchase them, there are no immediate plans to return them," he answered.
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Gibbs had shared a picture with multiple porthole-style images purchased on ships.
"I have to say again how wonderful your wall looks with all those memories. If I can help with anything else instead, please let me know," he added.
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