floating city not my cup of tea

Carnival Breeze Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western

moniqueguzman

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 6

Overall rating:

2 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Western Caribbean (Galveston Roundtrip)

Sail date: June 26, 2016

Ship: Carnival Breeze

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 8390

Traveled as: Family (older children)

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

Dear Carnival Cruise:

This was my 4th cruise, and I have to say sadly, I will never do this kind of cruise again. So many people, just a mass mess. I never used the pool or Jacuzzi. Ship not equipped to swim/water fun for such an immense amount of people. It was either just too many bodies or an infestation of kids and urine. It just wasn't my image of a cruise. Also when you have so many people, its hard to keep everything else at a higher standard. So many employees/crew looked disheveled with body order. I actually felt bad for them.... I can't even imagine how hard they have to work for such a large number of guests and the demographic of the average client for this kind of trip. I realize that I prefer smaller, more elegant cruise styles. Unfortunately my fiance (His first cruise) shared with me that this was his first and last cruise.

The worst part was our excursion to ChiChen Itza. Do you realize that we only had 13 minutes to roam on the ruins? I calculated this excursion, we spent 7 hrs 15 min just waiting. If you would allow me to break this down. 45 minutes waiting on Ferry to take us to the mainland, 45 minutes boat ride to mainland, 2 hrs bus ride, 45 min wait at entrance of site to get our tixs, 15 minutes our guide spoke to us, THEN 13 minutes on our own, GO! we ran to try to take photos and see what we could. THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. We ran, no, sprinted back to bus, otherwise it would have left us. Then the return trip all over, 2 hr bus, 45 minutes boat. Your description of excursion is misleading at best, it only mentions 4 hrs total bus ride. You need to rewrite your description, that you get 13 minutes at ChiChen Itza. I have to say our guide was wonderful, and I believe two things, that you need to be disclose exactly how much travel actually takes, and the tixs to enter the ruins need to be in the hands of our guide upon arrival. There is major bureaucratic problem, As I heard our guide say something to an employee from the ruins. There was definitely stress for him (our guide) to get our tixs to enter. If we would have had our tixs to enter, and not waited 45 min, but rather had those 45 minutes to enjoy the ruins, that would have been a saving grace. My fiance bought 5 tix, (my 3 kids, myself, and him) That was an enormous waste of money, and so truly sad to see one of the wonders of the world in that manner.

I did get to enjoy once, sushi, that was delicious. The tea party was very nice, and with the trio of violins was nice. I also enjoyed the art auction, and lastly the RedFrog. With those things, I gave cruise 2 stars instead of 1 star.

You'll notice that the things I enjoyed were a much smaller crowd or it was something you had to pay extra for and by doing so, yet again, smaller group of people.

The Indian food station was delicious, wish their hours were longer and also wished they were available on shore days in afternoons, like the hamburgers, and pizza were. That would have been a much healthier option. Both my fiance and I, could not eat anything gluten or dairy or beef.... our options were very limited. Wished your room service menu had more options. Wished there were more options during the afternoon hours right before dinner seating times. My fiance spent much of this time starving, and angry... he has more serious health issues than I. He needed healthy and solid food options that were just not available.

Our state room was nice, and the balcony as well.

The evening movies were nice.

We used the app.....the chatting didn't always work... app had some glitches, very annoying (fyi: I kept the app open)

The alcoholic drinks were very watered down. I had to order each drink with a floater, also very annoying.

I enjoyed the chess. Some of your chess pieces are broken.

We went to one show, comedy... unfortunately he was trite, and vulgar, not funny.

We were regulars at the coffee shop, and my usual place to escape were the yellow umbrellas right outside the coffee shop but on sea days, couldn't find any place to escape to. Very Sad.

I would have liked to enjoy the spa, but extremely too expensive, and there was no option to just enjoy a day, or just perhaps the sauna for an hour. That was a big bummer.

I got home very sad, wasted a lot of money getting there, and the thought of what I lost from work.... it was a hard pill to swallow. Very sad but moving on

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Entertainment

3 out of 5

Service and Staff

3 out of 5

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

it was nice

Ship tip

Be prepared for a herd of people and everything that that implies

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Galveston, Texas

1 out of 5

Cozumel, Mexico

3 out of 5

Belize City, Belize

5 out of 5

Mahogany Bay, Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras

5 out of 5

34 Comments

Gwbigdog 2 years ago

oops

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shelbym 8 years ago

Breeze only has adult only hot tubs..no pool. :(

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bonzo63366 8 years ago

She did no planning at all. If she would have gone online there are so many websites that explained everything she complained and whined about. Who to book excursions through, how long some excursions take to get to, how to get specific food for your highnass. You didn't plan a thing. Should have done more enjoyable excursions and saved the ruins until you could come back on a regular vacation not a cruise. As far as the pools and how clean they are I have even found a website that had when they clean them each night. Open your eyes and look things up. I am daily for the last year and will be until May next year. Pleeaasssse

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julzml1976 8 years ago

Where is the 21+ pool on the breeze. I was only aware of the li do and the pool at the aft of the ship. I know there is the serenity deck but I thought they only have hot tubs up there? I would definitely like to know on what part of the ship is the adult only pool is...

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denzelult 8 years ago

It sounds like a third of your review was about an excursion which has nothing to do w the cruise. Also the employees well being is not the customers concern. They are getting paid, there not slaves. Also if you don't enjoy kids there is a 21+ pool area.

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pwilm 8 years ago

Went on the Breeze a couple of years ago with our son and had a ball. When we travelled with kids we always had a good time. If there isn't anything on the menu to your liking, there is always Lido. however with the health issues you mentioned, a call to Carnival I'm your planning or even on board the first day would have alleviated alot of these issues.

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PaqTeq 8 years ago

Lol @ "infestation of kids and urine".

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PirateLibrarian 8 years ago

Wow. Was on the Breeze over spring break, talk about crowded! But I didn't have your experience at all! Family group ages 10-60 and a great time had by all!

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julzml1976 8 years ago

I'm still just wondering what you might have meant when referring to the demographic of the average client on this type of cruise??? Idk about anyone else but that was just a little tiny bit offensive. I think the average client (passenger) on this type of cruise if a laid back person just looking to have fun and enjoy themselves while on vacation. I personally would have no desire to go on whatever cruise it is that your demographic equivalent goes on. What a boring time. I like to let the pennies flow...Not keep them pinched in so tight that I'm miserable, but I guess it comes down to different strokes for different folks. I'm going Aug 14, 2016 with my 17 yr old and plans to have fun and make new great memories with her.

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kapamira 8 years ago

Good star, be positive and you will have a blast

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angfay 8 years ago

I am going on the Breeze in 36 days and I realize there will be lots of people and there will be food choices I don't like. Things won't always go my way and sometimes it will be my fault and sometimes my expectations will be too high. That is just me and I have learned that sometimes you find a lot of joy in looking for the good in situations. I am going to have a blast!

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PaqTeq 8 years ago

I was horrified after reading this review. I am truly sorry that you had such an awful time. The Breeze had so many family friendly shows that you could have attended. There are also adults only area. I don't see how you were starving on this cruise. There were loads of fruit and vegetables and seafood. I also noticed that if you told the staff what you want they would make it happen. Research!

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sbgarre 8 years ago

Wow

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sususuper 8 years ago

If you did not want to be on a cruise that involved children and families, then maybe you should have done your research first. To be ignorant and then complain because of your lack of planning should not be portrayed to people that know what they are doing and know how to have a good time. Not sure what you were expecting, but keep your negativity at home. I'll bet you've never enjoyed a vacation

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Parisjcruisetrv 8 years ago

When you know better you do better. Based on the comments I believe more planning will be done in the future. Hopefully we have enlightened this cruiser.

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crusin4gramma 8 years ago

I agree whitney1004! I have been on 30 cruises and never had a bad time- that's why I've been so many times. I guess some people just like to complain.

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whitney1004 8 years ago

Sounds to me that some people just can't be made happy

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wPIXWpnRTaP69sa9hKdMvsG9z 8 years ago

You must do your research before you spend all your money

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kapamira 8 years ago

Like your comment cabbott

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crusin4gramma 8 years ago

Never cruise in the summer-everyone knows that's the busiest time. Sounds like you did absolutely no research on excursions or anything else- most of your complaints are a direct result of your poor planning!

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flightmedic135 8 years ago

We sailed the Breeze in January and it never felt overly crowded. We loved the ship and had a great time!

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wPIXWpnRTaP69sa9hKdMvsG9z 8 years ago

Sorry you did not enjoy your cruise been on the Breeze two time will be back on July 17 2016 it will be different this time because it is summer time and the cruise will be crowned with more kids I been on 22 cruises and I don't let kids mess up my good time on the ship sorry you did not enjoy the cruise

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shelbym 8 years ago

Maybe helpful. ..when I book excursions I read reviews from many different sites. It sounds like this was just a bad day. Sorry.

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Dvpok2323 8 years ago

We cruise in April and May to avoid this!

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batch123 8 years ago

Maybe go to Orlando and Magic Kingdom next year. I bet there will be less kids there over summer vacation. But seriously, going just about anywhere over breaks is going to have alot of families and children. And yes, you should have picked one of the family comedy shows, not the 18 and up adult ones. They give you plenty of warning. Bummer about the excursion though. I'd have been bummed too. However, that's not Carnivals fault. As for dietary issues, let them know and they will accommodate. My daughter is vegan and lactose intolerant. They always had something prepared special for her. It's not a big deal.

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grantcruise2015 8 years ago

We sailed the Breeze last year. Nice time but way crowded. Just off the Glory and LOVE it.

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Parisjcruisetrv 8 years ago

I agree. Wrong time of the year.

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mrsneakysnake 8 years ago

Does Carnival do anything for you

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debbmike 8 years ago

You should have chose the family friendly comedy show. Sounds like you went to the adult show. Also, if someone has serious health issues I would have thought to check on the menu items before cruising.

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mslgrl2003 8 years ago

Surprised at the lack of gluten-free you experienced. My daughter is gluten-free and they had bread for her in the MDR and at the deli. GF options on the buffet and GF pizza crust as well. They even made her special desserts every night to include GF chocolate melting cake. We did notify Carnival of her limitations and talked to the wait staff as well.

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dlmccu 8 years ago

Unfortunate experiences but did you not see beforehand that this ship holds over 3500 passengers as does most cruise liners unless you take one of the smaller cruises- and then those still carry a huge number of people- si what do you expect..One question that I have is unless you actually saw someone anyone urinating in the pool how do you know that there was urine in the pool if you did not use

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TNTGreen 8 years ago

You definitely traveled the wrong time of year. Summer cruises you will definitely find children;actually they are on all cruises. Even if you go on a Princess cruise you may experience a crowded pool since their pools are small. Your kids especially if they were younger (teen and down) they may not have as much fun on the higher end cruises.

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kapamira 8 years ago

Wrong time to travel

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banaford 8 years ago

Carnival will not see this post. So direct complaints to them directly. If you cruise again, stay with the high end cost cruises. Most of your complaints about pool and kids galore will be on any ship in the summer.

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Other reviews of this sailing

Blast!!!

Amazing trip!