This was our first cruise. If we do decide to do another, we are choosing a different cruise line.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Getting aboard the ship was very easy. Lots of people around to help direct you to where you needed to go.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
The buffet area reminded me of hospital food...not the worst but not the best, either. The main sit down dining room....the waiters were awesome. Very friendly and talkative. The food would arrive warm...at best. If you wanted anything to drink besides water, you had to pay for it. If you wanted a specialty item for dinner, (steaks, etc) it was an extra $20/person. Our first night dining there, it took over 2 hours from start to finish and we got there shortly after the restaurant opened. By the 4th night, things ran a lot more smoothly.
Onboard Activities
1 out of 5
We went to the casino a couple of times but didn’t really do any of the shows or comedy club. My husband and I like to retire early. Some of these shows didn’t start until 10:00. The activities were not accommodating for all age groups. We aren’t the type that want to stay up all night partying.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
We did manage to make one show and the singers were very talented. Okay
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
All of the staff were very friendly
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
For the most part, the ship was clean. They need to do a major facelift with Elation, though. Only one main elevator worked and from past reviews, the other has been down for quite a while. There were other areas where moulding and paneling was lifting. I don’t blame the staff though...they only do what they can. I do blame the cruise line for not keeping up with all ship maintenance.
Cabin / Stateroom
2 out of 5
The size of the cabin was nice. The extended balcony was also a plus. Our steward kept our cabin very clean and stocked. The reason for the 2 stars is because our bathroom smelled of raw sewage. Immediately I informed our steward. He came in and wiped everything back down with disinfectant. The cleanliness wasn’t the issue. It was down in the pipes somewhere. The smell was coming up through the bathtub and some drain in the bathroom floor. It was nasty and 3 out of 4 days, I complained about the odor. They sent the plumber once. I’m not sure what they did, but it didn’t help the sewage smell. Also, the sliding shower door had mold growing on it in areas that couldn’t be scrubbed. I never felt clean after taking a shower. Like I stated earlier, this entire ship needs major updating and a facelift.
Nassau is beautiful. Lots of little shops. The taxi drivers weren’t very friendly but everyone else was. We did the SUB-adventure as our excursion. Had a good time. The motor on my sub wasn’t very powerful so one of the guides had to literally pull mine along as he swam.
Freeport had many shops and in my opinion, the people were friendlier than Nassau. We did the dolphin encounter and it was the highlight of my trip. It was just my husband and I and the dolphin trainer (we went in off season). We didn’t have to share our time with Sandy (the dolphin) which made the experience that much better.
I agree with the sewage smell. I’ve been on several Carnival cruises and none smelled like that. It wasn’t just in the room (I had Cabin U101 as well when I sailed in September), it was in certain common areas of the ship also.....
I read a lot of comments about “sewage smell” from first time cruisers. I think a lot of these are from people who don’t spend much time around the ocean. When I lived in Florida I used to run near the water several times a week. It did not always smell like a fresh ocean breeze.
I started cruising in 2005, Royal Caribbean, then Carnival in 2006 and 2008, then Norwegian in 2009 just to compare...been cruising with Carnival practically every year since 2010...I say try other lines if you can...I hope you find the best fit for you and yours like I have found with Carnival.
as far as your dining review, every cruise line is that way. Buffett food is going to be hit and miss... keep in mind, they are cooking for THOUSANDS. beverages will work the same way on all lines... water, lemonade, free. sodas, alcohol etc cost $$$ this is mentioned on their sites. sewage smells a lot of the time come from others flushing things that shouldn't be. we had that smell on Norwegian pearl and freedom of the seas. I don't think cruising is for you
Sorry to hear the cruise didn't meet your expectations. You can have ice tea and/or lemonade in the main dining room at no additional cost. There are many activities earlier than 10:00PM. We also like to retire early and have found plenty to do on every Carnival ship so that we are in bed by 10:00PM. Hopefully, you will find a cruise line that fits your style. Cruising isn't for everyone and Carnival isn't always a good fit.
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