We’ve been fans of Carnival for more than five years. The size of the ship without expanding amenities (more pools, more restaurants, more guest services) just made it feel crowded. We will stick to the smaller ships or choose a different cruise line for the mega ships.
Embarkation
3 out of 5
IT was not working properly, so we were held up at the desk. Once our arrival agents assisted us, we found the walk to be long and the line getting on the ship to be longer.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
1 out of 5
The food quality and options in the main dining room are not what we remember from years past. The food choices in the breakfast and lunch buffets lacked options, but were always fresh.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
We had a private pool on the Havana deck, but it was too cold to enjoy. We played a few games of foosball by Pig and Anchor, but there were people waiting. We tried to watch football in the Heroes area - it was crowded and no one from the crew was present to keep foul mouth children under control.
Entertainment
1 out of 5
There were too many people on a ship this size to have main shows that are first come. We saw several arguments and encountered a lot of rude people. We did enjoy several comedians, but after dedicating the time to go to the show, it was one performer and done in 30 minutes or less.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Glenn, Adhi, and Rodolpho were amazing. Our evening (late) dining experience was enjoyable night after night. From a food allergy to making us feel like family, they were A+.
Jonathan, our Room Attendant, always attended to our needs and made sure our room was clean and comfortable.
Mary, a Junior Hostess, greeted us with a smile and friendly conversation at Pig & Anchor within 30 minutes of embarkation, and then all over the ship throughout our cruise. Mary was personable and very helpful with questions and needs.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
The ship was too big to have a traditional layout. The elevators were too small, and while there were more elevators, we rarely used them because they were usually full and rude people would jump in front of you when an open one came. It took all week to learn the layout of the ship for the key areas - whereas, it normally takes a day or two. Everything was clean. There are sinks in restaurant areas for everyone’s use, but no one uses them.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
The bathroom layout was better and the size of the shower was good. The bottom of the shower door poses a laceration risk, as there isn’t much room to open and close the shower door if you are fully in the bathroom. The balcony area is great, but it seemed to take away a little bit of space in the cabin. Storage was good and the mattress was great!
We enjoyed the beach for a few hours. Not much to see or do on Grand Turk; the island has been hit by several hurricanes, only has 5,000 residents and doesn’t offer much value for excursions.
We found Amber Cove to be very clean and inviting. We stayed in the port area and walked through the resort area and shopping area. It looked like there were a lot of outdoor activities available.
The oldest city in the United States had a European feel. We did a 2.5 hour private excursion around the island. There was a good bit to see and do, but the beach in San Juan was not advised due to rip currents.
We roamed the port shopping area a bit (not much to see or do) and did a 2.5 hour open air bus excursion to Beacon Point, Top of the Mountain, and Meghan’s Bay Beach. This is an island I would come back to.
We carried our own bags. Short lines and a streamlined process to get off the ship. Once off the ship, the line formed because only one escalator was working. Elevator lines were long. Private transportation to the airport was cheaper than booking through Carnival.
There have been many reviews of the new ships on Carnival, Royal Caribbean and NCL feeling cramped and overcrowded. Hopefully they will make design changes on future builds.
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