Mediocre at best

Item: Carnival Dream
Rating: 1
Author: MichaelDD

Carnival Dream Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western

MichaelDD

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 2-3 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 61

Overall rating:

1 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Western Caribbean (New Orleans Roundtrip)

Sail date: June 04, 2017

Ship: Carnival Dream

Cabin type: Oceanview

Cabin number: 1395

Traveled as: Family (older children)

Reviewed: 7 years ago

Review summary

We were very disappointed with this cruise.This was our third cruise on three different cruise lines and it couldn't hold a candle to the other two. Nothing about the cruise was outstanding, but our experience with the gift shop was absolutely awful! I purchased two inexpensive tee shirts from their sale table. They were $16.95 each or 2 for $20, so I didn't expect much. When I wore one of the shirts on our shore excursion the next day, the stitching began unraveling and coming apart almost immediately. When I took it back to exchange it, the sales clerk said they couldn't take it back because I had worn it. I tried to explain that it was obviously defective, but she said that it didn't matter, she couldn't take back anything that had been worn. When I asked to talk to the manager, he told me the same thing and that it was company policy. I asked to talk to his supervisor and he told me his supervisor was in Miami, so I asked him to call Miami. He asked me to come back in 30 minutes, after he had a chance to talk to his supervisor in Miami. When I returned, he told me that he was allowed to exchange this one shirt, but he was told not to accept any more returns from me. All of this over an obviously defective $10 shirt for a customer who had spent several thousands of dollars on a cruise for 5 people. Our previous cruises were on Norwegian and Holland-America and they were both far superior in every respect to Carnival. We will never cruise Carnival again.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

Very ordinary at best to below average.

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Very ordinary at best to below average.

Entertainment

3 out of 5

Very unspectacular.

Service and Staff

Good to average, but not outstanding.

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5

Cabin was ok, except the TV was temperamental.

Ship tip

Don't

Thumbs up

Ports of call

New Orleans, Louisiana

5 out of 5

Mahogany Bay, Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras

5 out of 5

Belize City, Belize

5 out of 5

Cozumel, Mexico

3 out of 5

14 Comments

moedjio 7 years ago

You didn't explain why the cruise itself wasn't great just the t-shirt in the gift shop.

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migrose 7 years ago

oh the inhumanity!! your whole vacation was ruined by a t-shirt. tsk tsk

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CTizzle 7 years ago

I'd just like to clarify: this user gave the cruise one star because they had poor judgment over t shirt quality and didn't read the fine print when they bought it. Give me a break.

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TheIceman 7 years ago

They say they have been on three different cruise lines I checked there profile and I think this is fake because I see no other cruises and and no reviews. Plus what do especially when you buy a cheap T-shirt like that I have been two other cruises and the first one was on royal Caribbean so i couldn't at time rate it with others until my second one and that was Carnival and it was night and day to me and going a third cruise and it is with Carnival again because the first one so great the staff and crew so much friendlier than on royal Caribbean but everyone is entitled to their own opinion but this person so annoying and a troll.

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cajun204 7 years ago

Fake or not fake, all this over a t shirt??? Give me a break. Waste of a review.

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torsette8605 7 years ago

Everyone may have a relatively bad experience, but that doesn't mean all of your cruises would be that way. I have been on many and Carnival is one of the more reasonable lines. However if you want to pay big bucks for the same cruise that is your perogative. I get more for my buck on Carnival. Happy cruising!

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sfcvan 7 years ago

First you have to understand, the shops don't belong to Carnival. They are just as disappointed with your displeasure, try not putting all or even none of the blame on Carnival. That's like me having a terrible time at the casino and saying I will never cruise carnival again. Lets not forget your cruise is only as good as you make.

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twangster 7 years ago

In fairness it doesn't sound like the shirt was the only issue they had. Not every cruise I've been on has been great. Had terrible food on Valor once but gave it another try and it was better the 2nd time. Some times the stars align and a cruise just isn't that great. But that can happen on any cruise line. In fact it does.

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travelingamigos 7 years ago

never cruising with Carnival again over a tshirt? that seems utterly ridiculous. Maybe they didn't make it right immediately because of protocol. But they made it right.

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Summerholiday 7 years ago

This is only a shirt !! How can u judge the hole ship on bad service ? Had u have gone to customer service they would of fixed the problem I understand what you mean it's the principle but please .... won't cruise because of a tee shirt is sorry but pathetic!!!!!

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carol56 7 years ago

i love Carnival!!. been on 5 and getting ready for our 6th. I gave gotten several of their sale tee shirts and still wear them with no problems! The world needs more love and much less negativity!!!

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sunshinel9ver 7 years ago

Hate Carnival because of a cheap t-shirt?? How about your cabin, room steward, entertainment, etc.?

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Castiel 7 years ago

Not saying it's fake but swearing off a cruise with Carnival over a cheap quality t shirt is kind of silly. I had my own issues with the shirts shrinking after one wash, so I know the quality isn't that great. Doesn't turn me off from cruising, I just won't be buying any more of the shirts.

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JusMe 7 years ago

I'd like to point out before all the Carnies call this a fake review that this review was verified by the web site that this person went on this cruise. Some of the people on the app can not see that and get rather rude if anyone does not love Carnival.

To the Poster of the review. All cruise lines are different and cater to different demographics, Carnival is an entry level budget friendly cruise line and you do get what you pay for. I have cruised the major lines and you can tell the cruise line by the food, service and the ship. Now in my opinion Carnival is better then the service I had on 2 NCL cruises and better MDR food. So I'd rather go Carnival then NCL but I'd rather go Celebrity then either. From your comments it sounds like you'd be happier in the future cruising a premium line like HAL or Celebrity. Celebrity is my favorite but I can also cruise Carnival, I just set expectations for the line that I'm cruising on.

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