Stormy cruise with Hurrican Beryl raging, but nonetheless an enjoyable cruise! We were bummed to miss Costa Maya but understand the decision. The staff is commendable. Ship has a great layout. Embarkation and Disembarkation can be way smoother like in other Cruise Lines (Celebrity and Royal Carribean)
Embarkation
1 out of 5
Getting into the ship was about the worst part of the experience. It was so disorganized compared to other Cruise Lines we've experienced. No signs or directions, it's as if you're dumped there and you figure it out. The line's incredibly long outside, with everybody waiting in 100 degree weather. Finally when you get inside to the AC, you're greeted with even more lines to get to the check in. By the time we finally went into the ship, we were so exhausted and drained, we just decided to chill in the room rather than join the Sail Away party which we've always joined in other cruises.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
The food itself, I would say, was not as good as I remembered from previous cruises at Carnival. The duck, for example, was rubbery... the short rib was dry... and the fried chicken was not so good. I was expecting at least better than fast food or restaurant quality. The deserts we all excellent though. All in all, I regretted my food choices 3 out of those 5 nights.
The buffets were always kept clean and stocked. The Pizza place had a never-ending line, but the pizza itself was above average, so is the Guy's burger joint. At one point at the burger place, they ran out of ketchup and nobody was replacing it so we left.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
Spa, Pool, fitness center, mini-golf course, rope course
Entertainment
5 out of 5
We loved karaoke nights, watched the stage shows, comedy, etc. No complaints here.
Children's Programs
3 out of 5
My 11 year old daughter couldn't wait to get out of it, after trying it for the first time. She said some of the other kids were so obnoxious and rude. That's not the ship's fault though, as I understand the staff can do little to nothing to discipline unruly kids.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
All of the staff we've come across at the ship, especially in the dining rooms, work extremely hard and yet still have the best attitudes. They always greeted with a smile which is a breath of fresh hair. Joel, our room steward, also went above and beyond. He was so responsive, every time I call him, he is there. He gives us fresh beach towels, cleans our room fast and efficient, and helped my husband find the laundry rooms.
At the main dining room, our servers also went above and beyond. They even sang Happy Birthday to my husband.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Yes
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Comfortably fit all five of us and loved that it had two showers!
Ship tip
Bring your own floaties for the kids! There's not nearly enough life jackets, the only ones left are for adults.
Cozumel was beautiful. We did the dolphin encounter/swimming. They also let us snorkel, which was awesome. Our lunch at Dolphinaris was the best I've had in the entire cruise. The fish was so fresh, cooked with minimal ingredients, yet it made the main dish standout!
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