We weren't sure if we'd like a cruise as we are pretty quiet people and do not like to just sit, drink, or gamble. We were also traveling with two 14-yr olds. During this 7day cruise we really enjoyed the port days and are looking forward to another cruise. Crowds did occasionally get on our nerves but were manageable. Looking forward to cruising again with Carnival!
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Getting thousands of people through security and on a boat (while managing thousands more coming off) is no easy task. The entire process was smooth for our family. We had our documents as instructed so it was smooth sailing for us!
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
The Lido buffet was ok, just ok. It was great for food when you were in a hurry but nothing was to write home about. The dining room had a brunch for the mornings which was amazing. Dinner was usually good (desserts were out of this world good). Otherwise we tended to hit up the 24hr pizza joint if we were hungry.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
Whirlpools were great - look for the ones out of the way as some can be busy at times. Be forewarned that people let their kids run loose so you may be treated to having a child jump on you or splash you. I learned to have no hesitation to let the child know that they weren't allowed in the whirlpool without parent supervision and not to splash or jump (pointing to the sign with rules on it). - 90% of the time they'd settle down or leave. (Note I have kids and had them with me so I'm not a kid-hater...just cannonballs should be done in the pool, not on me!).
Onboard activities were ok. Not much to do that isn't sale-related, gambling, or drinking during sea days. Some activities were offered during the day but were way too crowded to be remotely engaging or fun.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
The shows at night were good. The family loved the shows and comedians.
Children's Programs
5 out of 5
We brought the twins who were 14. They had a club for them (ages 12-14yrs) but only went once. My kids are a little too quiet and reserved for the crowd there when we were onboard. One comedian described that bunch best "A horde of flops"...You'd hear a noise behind you and see a group of 8-10 teenagers running towards you all with flip-flops on. My kids promptly stated - "They act as bad as kids at school." and never went back. :)
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Staff was excellent. Only encountered 1-2 people who acted like they didn't want to be there. All others were cheerful and helpful. No issues at all!
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Ship was well-maintained. You could see people cleaning all day trying to keep it clean which was a hard job because we noted some very lazy people who would walk with their drinks then set them down on any available surface when done (versus bringing it with them to their destination or dropping it off in a food area).
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
We booked 9274 and 9276 which were both balcony rooms. Really close to the elevator and one floor below the buffet. Best. rooms. ever. The rooms were quiet and conveniently located. We had the room steward take down the partition between the rooms on the balcony so we could walk back and forth between the rooms at will. Great for our family!
Port was nice. Typical American tourist destination. We didn't do too much - half of us went snorkeling, the other half parasailing. Both were conducted through Fury which pretty much does almost everything down there. Excellent service and the kids had fun.
Poor area which was really devastated by the hurricane but we enjoyed it immensely. We paid for a taxi to bring us to a nice beach (went to Pirate's Cove). We had a blast. Husband went snorkeling again. Me and the kids stayed at the beach and saw coral and fish ourselves. Did a little shopping before heading back to the ship. Everything was reasonably priced and the experience was much, much better than others have described!
Beautiful area. It was obvious this area has more money than Freeport. We enjoyed it slightly less than Freeport because of the crowding. We walked to the beach and rented a chair/umbrella. Spent the day snorkeling at the beach and overall had a very nice day. Did a little shopping on the way back to the ship but did not like the crowds and traffic much.
Sounds like my family....tip we book when the kids have at least 3 days out of school but not a full week,just enough kids for our teens and not to many for us lol
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