DO NOT SAIL OUT OF MIAMI PORT

Item: Carnival Breeze
Rating: 3
Author: Lacendra

Carnival Breeze Cruise Review to Caribbean - Eastern

Lacendra

Contributor Level: Third Mate

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 47

Overall rating:

3 out of 5

Verified Review

8 Night Eastern Caribbean (Miami Roundtrip)

Sail date: October 10, 2015

Ship: Carnival Breeze

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 10264

Traveled as: Family (young children)

Reviewed: 9 years ago

Review summary

Carnival Breeze is an awesome ship, however, the embarkation process in Miami is nothing less than disgraceful. If you are traveling with anyone who has a disability or a small child in a stroller expect to be treated like dirt!!! The so-called "guest reps" are RUDE beyond imagination and not very knowledgeable about procedure. We were sent to 5 areas before we FINALLY got to board. We didn't even have the opportunity to get an embark group picture due to the employees that did not have a clue what they were doing. With a passenger on oxygen ( which got low during all this mess) and a screaming 4 year old and a wet baby who was hungry while we were shuffled around again and again - it pretty much RUINED our first day and part of the second. Everyone was stressed, mad, irritated and had a big headache. GET IT TOGETHER MIAMI - your employees are awful!!!! We were even yelled at by an "old man" calling himself a "guest rep" to MOVE IT!!!!!! We basically told him to GO TO------! NEVER again will we sail out of Miami and we will think twice before even booking Carnival again. By the way - getting a shuttle after the cruise was a night-mare too - just saying!!! Good luck if you sail out of Miami.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

Onboard Activities

5 out of 5

Entertainment

3 out of 5

shows were fair - not as good as we had hoped for with a 4.0 ship

Children's Programs

5 out of 5

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

service on the ship was great - service at the terminal was disgusting!!!

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

Cabin was awesome Nice size nice balcony

Ship tip

Balcony was on Lido deck not far from the awesome food!!!! we always pick this deck. Do not get near the launderette as there is much activity towards the end of the cruise with passengers waiting and talking in the hall by the washer and dryers. Laundry is located by cabin 10264

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Miami, Florida

5 out of 5

Philipsburg, St. Maarten

5 out of 5

be prepared to pay $7.00 each for a water taxi to the "free" beach. DON'T hold the monkeys the street people offer a "free" picture with - they are TRAINED pick-pockets.

Thumbs Up 7

Basseterre, St. Kitts

5 out of 5

San Juan, Puerto Rico

5 out of 5

we took the $10 person bus ride to see the area as you do not have much time in port to really do anything.

Thumbs Up 2

Grand Turk Island

5 out of 5

Take the semi-sub - it was fantastic. The public beach right off the ship is total rocks!

Thumbs Up 3

23 Comments

Gwbigdog 2 years ago

Thanks for sharing.

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isasprings 8 years ago

Carnival employees at the port of Miami are great,courteous, this is my experiences with them.

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isasprings 8 years ago

Good for you next time take a cruise with MCS cruise line! I was 6 hours at the terminal with my 80 old Mom she have a disability. But I don't blame the employees they do their job and try to help. I been on 18 cruises out of Miami and that was the first time I got a problem.But guess what I did had a great cruise.

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Babygirl94 9 years ago

One person should have found out what was going on before you started moving to all these different locations. They also have a handicap line where you can board fast. They have tons of pictures that you can take as a group thru out the cruise so that first pic isnt a big deal. Alot of people dont take that pic anyway cause their tired and dont have on make up or their hair is a mess from the airplane ride so dont feel bad.

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Babygirl94 9 years ago

I always travel from Miami and never had a problem. You should get to the port early and avoid the crowds. I always get there about 10AM and breeze right thru.

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Sar13 9 years ago

Didn't have fttf and boarding was slow but good atmosphere in boarding lounge music and happy people .. My first time and didn't have any issues taxi to port from hotel was easy

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grantcruise2015 9 years ago

I would pay for it again!

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nile6000 9 years ago

Faster to the fun was excellent for us when we left in August. I do agree the staff was not friendly in port or helpful. It was our 1st cruise and they were very impatient and annoyed that we didn't know what to do or where to go. We did however get on board quick and once on the ship had no issues. We are going out of miami in December on the breeze and I am checking daily for Faster to the fun.

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Lacendra 9 years ago

I am so glad that some of the posters here had no trouble boarding at Miami, however, if you have a disabled person and small children in strollers - this is NOT the case. And it is NOT the port employees who are the problem - it is the Carnival employees. They are for the most part - untrained and un-caring and RUDE!!! We have taken 14 cruises and NEVER had the treatment we received in Miami. As far as the FTTF - it's a rip-off!!

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Weber7 9 years ago

ID /passport card/ passport FTTF easy peezy !!!!

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Cory27 9 years ago

I have been out of Miami for all but one of my 5 trips. One was with my kids and my parents. Ere first cruise and we all got on easy and fast. Just have your paper work out and in order. And it will be easy.

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aliro 9 years ago

oh my gosh, you are do right. I sailed with my Mom and husband. my mom used a wheelchair this time to get on board due to her bad knees and the long walk. i had paid for fttf - big mistake. it took more thab an hour to get on board - worse yet, i booked a suite someone should hace told me fttf was not necessary. the staff there to deal with persons with disabilities is the worst. almost did not get to the area to take the boarding pictures. my mom plans to take her time and walk to get on board next time

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TeresaC1963 9 years ago

So glad I have FTTF for my cruise in May from Miami. The last time I cruised from Miami was 1979 and I don't remember much about the port but I do know cruising has become a whole new world since then. Lol

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Dirtdobber2 9 years ago

Been out of Miami 4 times getting ready for our 5th time in December never had any problems. We drive 14 hours to go out if Miami. Guess someone was having a bad day

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revgeorge 9 years ago

the tunnel is exit 2a off 95. It will bring you right to the ships

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grantcruise2015 9 years ago

FTTF worth it!

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RobGreen1116 9 years ago

Faster to the fun next time

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Weber7 9 years ago

I always buy FTTF and ping pang pow I'm onboard, no issues .

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RFracing3 9 years ago

Been out of Miami 6 times in the last 3 years never had an issue. Yes The Port of Miami can be nuts during Embarkation but with 4000 people showing up between 10:30am and noon I think they do a nice job and with the new staggered boarding it should be better, as for driving to the port with the new Tunnel to the port off the interstate and not having to go through downtown makes for an easy drive

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revgeorge 9 years ago

That is strange because we have been out miami 3 times and never had a problem. Going on the Breeze tomorrow

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CrusinTim 9 years ago

I agree with you Lacendra!!! Miami is the WORST port I have ever sailed from. I have sailed twice from Miami over the 12 cruises I have been on. Just GETTING to the port with the poor signage on the road to the pier is enough to drive you nuts. But with all that happened at the embarkation process, keep in mind that the people you dealt with were port employees, not Carnival employees until you get past the TOTAL embarkation process. It is the employees that work for the Port of Miami that are to blame. We have been on 5 Carnival cruises and have had great times so don't be turned off from Carnival because of the port employees. Just expect the boarding process to be complicated at any port you board the ship from. Some will be more organized, some less. But, try to keep in mind your still going on a cruise ;) Bon Voyage.....

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perrywalden3 9 years ago

Darleen, while Miami is not my favorite port to sail out of, I have never encountered the types of issues mentioned by the original poster. It is very busy and it can be crowded. So, take your patience and realize that once you board, it will be great. By the way, I am on the same cruise as in the 7th! Can't wait!

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darleenkrawiec 9 years ago

we are going on the Breeze November 7.also my motherinlaw who is 89 will be joining us .my hubby got her a wheelchair so it will be easy for her to get around we where told that it will be a easy when we get yo the ship now I wondering?

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