Carnival is taking away everything that was special about cruising

Item: Carnival Freedom
Rating: 1
Author: elizwiz

Carnival Freedom Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western

elizwiz

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 47

Overall rating:

1 out of 5

5 Night Western Caribbean (Galveston Roundtrip)

Sail date: January 30, 2016

Ship: Carnival Freedom

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

We are long term cruisers. We have been on most of the popular lines and are ranking priority members on a few. We take Carnival out of Galveston because it is close and a great little get away to Mexico. The problem...Carnival (as all the others) has cut at least 90% of what made cruising special and is now 100% commercialism and nickle and diming you for everything. Even down to the lack of tablecloths in the dining rooms. It started with cutting shows back from every night to once per five day cruise. The addition of the comedy club was good, but the comedians are not the best. Guy's Burger- that is what makes the trip- period. Drunks in the halls shouting and laughing in the wee hours- no security to prevent it. (all due to push the drinks push the drinks) We never met our cabin steward this past time. We could over look the "party/drunk" atmosphere that Carnival possesses because of the nuances that cruising brought to us....but I tell you it is going to take a lot of cruise withdrawal time for us to get back on a Carnival Ship. It's permeating over to Princess now. Our last Transatlantic was a ship full of rude people...not the staff, the passengers. They were so rude, we couldn't wait to get off the ship! It's a shame...gas prices are down....people cruising has gone up....they are making their money. Stop building more ships and bring back what is special about cruising!!

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

1 out of 5

Onboard Activities

1 out of 5

Entertainment

1 out of 5

Service and Staff

3 out of 5

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5

Ship tip

bring your tablet device filled with movies....

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Galveston, Texas

3 out of 5

Progreso (Merida), Mexico

5 out of 5

Cozumel, Mexico

5 out of 5

don't do excursions go to Mr. Sanchos. Take a taxi from the ship terminal. It has snorkling, all you can eat and drink, paddle boards, water toys...it's where all the ship excursions go to snorkle! Look for it online and make reservations....great place. Tell Roman Ron and Elizabeth sent you!

Thumbs Up 5

7 Comments

davethesailor 8 years ago

Sometimes it does get a little routy and some people are just rude. But that's true just about anywhere. I HAVE traveled with some well heeled people who made everyone miserable with their uppity rudeness. So it works both ways. So, if carnival is not your cup of tea, great, pay more and take a higher price company that can suit your needs better.

Thumbs Up 1

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sassi 8 years ago

I feel u @ ajont this will be my first time on carnival and I just keep trying to find different reviews on what people are saying about the carnival freedom I get mixed reviews I do like Your because you said it was a lot of partying and everybody was having a good time and that's what me and my family are looking to do on our vacation is turn up turn down for what we are thirsty bunch of rowdy people

Thumbs Up 0

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taylorcarranza 8 years ago

I agree ! I liked my past cruise, but the neighbors we loud and Cursed at their top of their lungs. I wish carnival had security!

Thumbs Up 1

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scbradley76 8 years ago

I went to shows every night. I don't know what the problem is it was skit of fun...lots to di

Thumbs Up 4

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ajont 8 years ago

I think you should stick to the the ships that draw the older crowds. Carnival is a party ship, fun is their motto. if you are too old, stay off of Carnival it's not for you!

Thumbs Up 3

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CrusinTim 8 years ago

Good review. And I agree with your thoughts of how cruising has changed over the years. When we first started cruising in 1990 (and it was a Carnival ship), the experience was much different than it is now. We also sailed a T/A last April on Princess (Caribbean Princess) yet our experience differs from yours it seems. We had a great time. Staff were attentive and always smiling except for the customer service crew. It was our 2nd sailing with Princess. We had such a better time on the Caribbean Princess we will try to stick with Princess for future cruises.

Thumbs Up 0

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rendezvoussam 8 years ago

Totally agreed with all the points. For the last decades majority of cruise liners change their business strategy. Instead of providing elegant quality services, they keep the headliner price low to attract passenger quantities over quality, they claw their profits from expensive tour and drinks packages and also down graded staff/crew training and entrainments, what were free are now incurred extra charges or non-existent.

Thumbs Up 1

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