Carnival does it right! I very much enjoyed my first cruise and look forward to cruising again sometime soon. Everything went well and was very professionally handled. Rough seas on the second night changed the show and rain moved the 80's glow party but everything went on as scheduled with very little change. Thanks for a great family vacation!
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Smooth embarkation ran ahead of schedule. Staff was very helpful and understanding.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
The Lido Marketplace buffets were, well, buffets... Nothing too special (although the made to order omelettes were fantastic) but the Blush Dining Room was excellent as were Guy's Burger Joint, the Pizzeria, and Fat Jimmy's BBQ. Really good food and lots of variety.
Blush Dining Room
5 out of 5
Our wait staff did a great job. Ryan, our head waiter was nice and kept things moving, but Ferdinand and Mykola were outstanding! These young men were so attentive, learned our names the first night and even remembered our preferences. For instance, I like a cup of coffee with dessert. I requested it the first night and never had to again. Ferdinand brought a cup each night just prior to dessert being served and kept it warm until I got up. Both Ferdinand and Mykola always greeted me warmly and were so very helpful. As I left each evening, I would receive a warm handshake from at least 1 if not all 3. Much appreciation Ferdinand and Mykola! Thank you to Ryan as well.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
There was always something happening on the ship. Mike, our Cruise Director did an outstanding job. Not sure when that guys sleeps, but he was always full of energy and enthusiasm. He embodies the old saying that 'a person who does what they love will never work a day in their life'. His love for his job seems apparent and he obviously works hard, but it doesn't seem to be a job for him. A person in charge of overseeing activities along with all of the other responsibilities of hosting 4100 passengers would be busy to say the least, but the several times my path crossed Mike's, he was always warm and friendly. He actually took time to converse and was very genuine. So happy he was our director and his enthusiasm and energy flowed to all in his charge. The experience was amazing.
I would be remiss if I didn't also mention Stephanie, the young lady who was in charge of Karaoke all week. She did a great job in spite of technical difficulties over which she had no control and some rowdiness that seems to be prevalent in Karaoke events. I'm convinced that the crew members who are placed in charge of Karaoke have "drawn the short stick" so to speak or are paying their dues for one reason or another. Stepahanie was fun, happy and patient even when people were impatient or demanding. Great job and even though not all of the sounds of karaoke were enjoyable, the events were and the young lady making it happen did a great job to make it so.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
The stage shows were top notch. I love the multimedia incorporated with the live action. I was sad that we didn't get to see the Motown show in full due to the rough seas Monday night but the paired down show was still good. The cast were all outstanding vocalists. Much better quality than I was expecting. The cheesy 70's cruise ship lounge singer stereotype was (thankfully) nowhere to be found on this cruise. All was very well done and if there is a way I could view the Motown Stage Show, I would love to see it.
Children's Programs
Did not participate in children's programs
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Ferdinand - Waiter in the Blush Dining Room - very attentive! Called me by name from the first night on, brought me coffee to go with dessert before I had to ask after the first night, kept it warm until I left each evening. Always smiling, friendly and helpful. Gave a warm handshake each night on the way out. Great man and should be promoted.
Mykola - waiter in Blush Dining Room - Always smiling and friendly. Very helpful and available whenever needed. I appreciated his kind demeanor and willingness to do whatever was required.
Stephanie - Part of the Fun Crew and ran Karaoke - Very patient and pleasant even in the face of impatient (possibly rude) people, and adverse circumstances outside her control (technical difficulties, etc.). She did a great job.
Chito - our room steward - greeted us by name often when seeing him in passing, made some GREAT towel animals and even helped me locate some people I was attempting to connect with without me even asking him to. He let them know I was looking for them and told them where I mentioned I would be looking next. Thank you Chito for going above and beyond!
Mike - The Cruise Director - Thanks for making this cruise entertaining and enjoyable. Funny, energetic, friendly and genuine are probably the top words I would use to describe him. He went out of his way on a few occasions to come over and shake hands, ask how things were going on the cruise and make friendly conversation. I don't know where he finds time to do everything and sleep, but he does it, always with a smile.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Loved the design of the ship and appreciated that it seemed well maintained and clean.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Great cabin. Surprisingly comfortable for such a cozy space. The beds were great and super comfortable. We shoved a family of four in our room and it worked just fine. Pleasantly surprised.
Ship tip
The walls are metal in the rooms. Magnetic hooks or clips really help to maximize and organize the space. Also, pack half of what you think you need. I was shocked at how much I brought that I never really used.
Star Fish Island snorkeling and beach was great. Loads of fun and the reef was gorgeous. The captain and crew of our tender boat were fantastic. Line dancing on the top deck was entertaining as we returned to the ship. The crew were so friendly and funny. They seemed to really enjoy what they did.
Boss Tours did a great job. The trip to Flowers Bay from the port was an adventure but our driver was very safe and alert. I sat in the front passenger's seat and felt safe and at ease for both bus rides, to and from. The captain and crew of our boat were all helpful and friendly. The photographer did a great job and the money spent for her email file was well worth the price paid. Not only are there pics of all of the tourists, but there are many of the reef and sea creatures who live there. The pics I received are much better quality than I could have achieved with my disposable underwater camera or even my camera in a bag. So glad we decided to get the pro pics. The underwater scooters would have been a blast if not for my claustrophobia. I thought it would be okay with the nearly 180 degree field of view provided, but although I was able to complete the guided tour, I was distracted for most of it and ready to get out as soon as they brought me back to the surface. I will say that the scooters provided a unique perspective and I can now say that I've done something that very few have. That's pretty cool.
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