Great family fun
Carnival Breeze Cruise Review to Caribbean - Eastern
Contributor Level:
Purser
Cruises: 4-6 cruises
Reviews: 2
Helpful Votes: 66
7 Night Eastern Caribbean (Port Canaveral Roundtrip)
Sail date: October 05, 2019
Ship: Carnival Breeze
Cabin type: Balcony
Cabin number: 8228
Traveled as: Family (older children)
Reviewed: 5 years ago
Review summary
This was our 4th cruise, but first Carnival. I loved it. The food, the entertainment, the ports all were spot on and loaded for family fun! I would definitely recommend Carnival Breeze for your next family vacation!Embarkation
Research before you go! Have an idea of what terminal your ship will be at Carnival uses specific terminals and it’s a little tricky getting to parking but there are folks directing you. Once inside the process is a breeze!
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
I loved the food. The hard part was deciding where to eat! So many great choices. Guy Burgers was our usual go to for lunch... just to good to pass up. We had dinner every night in the main dining room. Salmon, sea bass, chicken, pork, lobster, steak just to give you an idea of choices available. Be ready to eat good y’all.
Onboard Activities
There is so much to do, you can stay as relaxed and lazy as you want or pack your daily agenda with activities all day long! Carnival aqua works was great. The slides were big fun even for us moms and dads! The pools are always a big hit and very crowded on ship days, but there are plenty of other areas available to hang out like deck 5 whirlpools. Fitness center was great, but the outdoor equipment and track is available if you prefer the salty breeze! I was happy either way. Putt-Putt, ropes course, sports court, ping pong, outdoor movies, bean bag toss, shuffle board, foosball are some activities available
Entertainment
One word-Schwartz! He is awesome. High energy, funny, and wherever he is I promise you will be smiling and having a great time! On a side note the stage shows were good, but I think the dance moves and stage clothes were to provocative at times for family time. I still recommend the stage shows! The comedians are amazing, however there are family fun comedy shows and adult only shows. For myself the family centered comedy was preferred and quality entertainment. I went to one adult comedy show and decided that was not for me, vulgar is an understatement!
Children's Programs
My daughter decided not to participate
Service and Staff
Our room steward #Rubi.... 5 stars Rubi, love him! He is wonderful. Our servers at Blush were very sweet always friendly, however there seems to be a disconnect somewhere along the way the food is amazing though and the servers were always friendly, but seemed hurried without being in a hurry to serve us or overwhelmed at times maybe one or more had to many tables not really sure. If you want outstanding bartender service show them some love and you will see a difference! We had the drink package so our gratuities were already paid- somehow this seems to be an irritant to bartenders I’m not sure how it works for them to receive their portion of pre-paid tips but I have feeling carnival doesn’t treat their employees like Royal does. Again this is my opinion and no way factual. The drinks were always delicious. And I wish I remembered the names of a couple of bartenders that deserve a shout out for outstanding service. All staff work really hard to accommodate all the people on board and you see it day in and day out.
Ship Quality
The lay out is a bit tricky at first but it starts to make since by day 2 lol. Everywhere inside including bathrooms was clean. The glass in some areas outside from the sea spray always looked filmy/dirty but when your at sea expect it. There were instances walking the stairs where you might smell something weird/foul but it wasn’t constant and I could not pinpoint to any one specific area other than randomly I would smell something foul on occasion. Again it was not constant
Cabin / Stateroom
Clean, comfortable, no weird smells, had trouble with our shower not draining right and it was fixed right away! Again Rubi, our steward, so good! Love him!
Ship tip
Enjoy it! People are people and nothing is perfect but for me this cruise was just that a perfect getaway! Go to the shows get involved become your cruise week celebrity!
Thumbs up
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Ports of call
Amber Cove (Puerto Plata), Dominican Republic
The port is beautiful! The lay out, the pool, zip line, slides, the shopping all wonderful BUT no beach access unless you take an excursion and With everything that occurred earlier in the year in the Dominican we chose not to leave port it’s safeguarded and no one comes in unless sanctioned by carnival so we elected to stay at the pool but it was nice being spread out unlike on the ship so tightly packed around the pools. Another tip- your on board drink package does not work here and bring cash if you want to eat or drink while here.
Beautiful island. Went out on our own hired a taxi 25$/person island tour including Mountain Point and Magens Bay where he dropped us off for 2 1/2 hours and picked us up. Highly recommend going to both places. Also he dropped us off at the outdoor market downtown St Amalie to shop which is where you will find the locals selling souvenirs. I loved this port!
This was our 2nd time visiting San Juan... does not disappoint! Old San Juan is perfect to explore on your own they have free trolley if you don’t want to walk. If you plan to do your own excursion do not fall prey to the folks right of the ship trying to sell you over priced cab rides or tours the trolley again free just print a map before you go and have general idea of trolly stops. walking is easy to do and costs you nothing! We did hire a taxi to go to Isle Verde Beach - 20$ One way per cab NOT per person!!!!! Remember that because the people hanging out like vultures right outside the ship are ripping you off.. walk up The side of Walgreens unto the next street over you will find cabbies that will not price gouge and their prices are set by zone and not per person. Ps Isle Verde beach.....beautiful, the waves are strong though be cautious if swimming.
My favorite island this trip.... sigh.... so wonderful! The beach is breath taking I wanted so much to venture into town but could not be pulled away from the beach. We chose to rent 2 chairs and umbrella 20$ further down the beach but carnival has complimentary chairs and umbrellas it’s just they are located in heavy congested area and toward the back of the beach.... jacks shack is further down the beach drinks and food are expensive but very good.
Disembarkation
Everyone wants to get off the ship as soon as possible. People who have a faster to fun pass get off first period! Good for them it took us an hour of standing with our luggage to get off the ship they have directions in place for less mayhem.... it’s still mayhem mouth semi organized mayhem you will find all the rudest on the ship that day be prepared! My advice to carnival would be a time slot for passengers to sign up for to get off you sign up the time you plan to board it should be the same for departure!
Traveler Photos
