jameswd

The ship and service were OK. but the dining experience not.

I feel like the food in the MDR has gone downhill. I traveled with six others and their assessment was as mine. Just FYI - I am not picky and I'm not a "Platinum"!! (for you John Heald) The specialty rest. were incredible but they come with an up charge fee as we all know. Just an example - Steak dinners? full of grizzle and extremely well done instead of medium. The hot lava cake that I love? Cold. Ice cream melted. Sure they can bring another but it was disappointing. Coffee after dinner? Warm. That's the way it was...that's why we tried specialty rest. a couple of times. I could go on but......

The small food areas like Guy's and the taco place were very good.

The ship is getting to the point that the three year upgrade done in 2013 is wearing off. The ship was built in 1996 and really needs a complete remodel.

If you don't book a year out - forget about getting 615 dining or even my time dining - we were stuck at 830 dining even after being promised 615 or my time dining.

Finally - no one monitors the 40 minute rule of reserving chairs - so we never were able to take advantage of the pool area when we wanted because they chairs were full of towels and books!! Seems like most people go out at 8a and reserve their chairs for the day.

That is all.......

We (four of us) are loyal Royal Carribean Platinum Members. We decided to give Carnival a chance even though rumors should have kept us away. Well...we we suprised to find that Carnival surpassed RCL in many categories and we will sail Carnival again.

We sailed on the Legend - employees told us they were full and that they never sail with an empty stateroom - we never experienced any cattle shuffling. Unless we were lied to, the ship handled the 2145 guests extremely well.

The only two disappointing categories that RCL far exceded were the entertainment in the main auditorium and the quality and type of choices for main dining.

Entertainment was aweful with no shows that rivaled RCL.

The dining experience was just medium - no WOW factor.

But like I said...we will sail Carnival again.

One last point - management take note - whoever puts Grenada, Barbados, Costa Rico & Domincan Republic together or some assemblance of that will get out business for our next cruise and we do two a year. If all four can't be done then Grand Cayman will work!

Overall, the cruise was excellent.

The itinerary is incredible.

The crew and staff were incredible.

Yes - we would go on this ship again but pick a different stateroom on 7- 9 floors.

I recommend the ship if you can tolerate the two following issues.

We stayed in stateroom 6425 which is starboard towards aft - but not all the way to the rear.

The room is in an excellent location for getting anywhere around the ship BUT it is a noising stateroom. It is located directly across from the kitchen for the dining rooms and etc. The door to that work area is non-stop. We delt with it by wearing ear plugs. On top of that, the area we were in was directly over several nightclubs and there was a constant drone of drums and people yelling. 

The room also has smoke drifting in from the fifth floor nightclubs and casino. Speaking of casino and other areas - smoke filled and unbearable.We tried to spend $$ several times in the casino but the smoke was intolerable.

We mainly cruise RCCL because we thought they were a touch better than Carnival - but honestly they are about the same except RCCL dining & buffet are better by 25% and RCCL does not have the intense cigarette smoking that Carnival allows in more areas than necessary. This is our second Carnival and we will cruise with them again.

I rate the cruise lines as follows (and we have sailed with each):

RCCL, Norwegian, Disney, Carnival & Princess (Princess is last only because it is set up for the older generation - my wife is 48 and I am 53 but I mean "older".) There is very little difference in the lines but this is my rating.

What a beautiful Ship!

Wonderfully decorated and well laid out.

Way to much smoke emanating from the casino - they need to stop the smoking in the casino - please!!

Never a moment when we felt crowded or herded like cattle!!

Our balcony pod was practically brand new (Rm. 6211). Did not expect that on a ship that was built in 2000'.!! (even though it was refurbished a couple of year ago.) Balcony Rm. 6211 was extremely quiet for those looking for no noise. You will walk a lot though because its as far forward as you can go - just about  - but the workout is needed.

We try to cruise twice a year. So I apologize if this hits some people wrong but I was disappointed in the food in Dining Room (Atlantic Dining Room) - we had My Time Dining (we wanted 6p but couldn't get it) The wait staff runs around like hamsters to try to please everyone but it doesn't work. Our Head Waiter (Natalia) actually ran from table to table like a spastic child - no joke!! Several of us "tables" just looked at each in bewilderment. They wait for several (a lot) tables to sit, then send the orders down so you end up with a 90 minute dinner and semi warm food. There was no personal experience with the wait staff like there is when you have 6p or 8p dining.

I actually lost weight - which was needed - but who loses weight on a cruise!!

I also missed the 3.0 experience on the other ships - this ship is 2.0.

Gotta put Guy's Burgers on this ship.

Yes I would cruise on this ship again.

But never My Time Dining Again!!

Other than my rant above - I cant say enough good things about the ship.