Great experience as a whole. As a first-time cruiser, this was a great start! 10/10 would go on this again. We enjoyed all of our excursions - none of them returned us to the ship late. Staff was incredibly friendly, courteous, and helpful.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
From the San Juan airport, my wife and I took a transfer to the ship dock. The shuttle bus driver was courteous and kind. Our check-in process was quick and painless, as was the security line (which was surprisingly short compared to airports). We found our room without any complications.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
We were enrolled in "Your Time Dining" at the Sensation Dining Room, which meant we could arrive for dinner anytime between 5:45 and 9:30. The dining staff was courteous and took very good care of us. The food was delicious! There was a huge variety of food "off the grill," local specialties, and seafood. My wife had a gluten intolerance and the staff managed this very well by letting her pre-order the next evening's dinner.
The Lido Buffet on deck 10 was pretty good as well. The buffet alternated between different "chef choices" of American, Italian, and Caribbean foods, all of which had great variety and was delicious. The soft-serve ice-cream bar, salad bar, desert bar, drink bar were all of good quality.
The bar staff at various locations on the boat were also courteous and made delicious cocktails, martinis, and other mixed drinks. I personally recommend the "Mocha Chocolate Getaway" and the "Pomegranate Lemonade."
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
There is a wide selection of on-board activities. The fitness center was clean and had a wide range of equipment (treadmills, bikes, ellipticals, weight machines, free weights, medicine balls...). The pools on Lido deck were generally full of people, so we didn't go in them. The mini-golf course was challenging to play because of the rocking of the ship and not because of the design. The jogging track always made for a delightful visit after a big meal.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
We attended 5-6 "Punchliner" comedy club events at Puttin' on the Ritz. These were generally of good quality and the PG shows were family friendly. The adult shows were equally entertaining.
The "Love and Marriage" show was a great treat as well!
Live music on the boat was always good and rotated between acoustic music and Caribbean sounds.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
All the waiters, room stewards, and ship personnel were exceptionally friendly and courteous.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
The ship was initially hard to navigate (simply because of size and complexity), but the maps posted throughout the ship were a huge help.
The ship and our cabin were kept clean for the entire duration of our cruise.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Very comfortable room. Not very large room but enough space for two people and our luggage. The bathroom was small but fulfilled it's function well. We were surprised by the amount of closet space (there was plenty!).
Ship tip
The $1 off the daily special drinks only applies to OPEN DECK BARS. Everywhere else they are the standard price.
Book excursions ahead of time. The popular ones go fast.
Kayaking on Pigeon Island. Shuttle connection was provided. Fun and physically challenging excursion. Friendly staff that provided refreshments and a sampling of local fruits at Pigeon Island.
The ship as a whole experienced some delays during disembarkation but everything else went smoothly. Transfer shuttle to the airport was easy to find and quick.
Great review, thanks for the insight! We leave in 42 days! Sounds like you're a future platinum member, too! We love Carnival and this will be #18 for us, all on Carnival except 1!
Glad you had fun. I think it everyone needs to go with an open mind and good disposition. I'm gonna cruise on the Fascination August 27th and this will be my 3rd cruise.
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