I'd never cruised before. I brought my mother (her 3rd cruise) for a belated Mother's Day gift, and my kindergarten son on this 4 night cruise from Boston to Canada and back. I chose this departure because it left from our home city (no airfare!), it fit in with our family's school-year-end schedule (no missed school), it was very inexpensive, and I wanted to take a "test cruise" to see if my little guy would get seasick, like his father does. (No seasickness! Yay!) I thought Carnival would be too "party oriented" for us, but it was a very pleasant and family-friendly atmosphere. It was the perfect length cruise to "test the waters", and we had a really nice time.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
All of our meals were served at correct temperature, and every dish was cooked properly. I did choose one meal that I didn't like, but that was due to the ingredients (lots of olives) being something I don't care for. It was easy to make healthy--but delicious--choices in the dining room. Portions were smaller than restaurant portions on land, but you could always ask for more, so this was great, in my opinion. I felt free to order starter, entree and sometimes dessert, because I knew each item would be of a reasonable size for my appetite.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
There were lots of things to do, but not (mostly) the kinds of things I like to do--but I'm an introvert who likes lectures, not party games. I didn't expect Carnival to cater to my tastes, honestly. My experience with activities was BETTER THAN I EXPECTED, because my expectations were low on this point. I found it easy to be engaged, even though I would usually not participate in these events.
Children's Programs
3 out of 5
We signed up for Camp Carnival, but my son was too shy to go. The staff was encouraging, but I didn't push him into going so we spent our vacation time together. I wish they had some times (other than activities that charge a fee) where a parent could participate with their child in the Camp area so shy kids could get comfortable before participating alone.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
I never experienced a moment of tepid service. Everyone was friendly, helpful, and worked hard to give us a great experience. I was very impressed. From the staff at the port who helped families with small children find the elevator to the cleaners and maintenance men who kindly entertained questions from a little boy, everyone was fantastic.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
This is a complicated ship to navigate! I read maps well and I studied the layout before we left. It took me two days to readily remember to go to a low (or high) deck to get across the ship to the Colors Atrium/Lobby. I heard other people complaining about how confusing the ship was right up until the final day of our trip. Otherwise, the ship was fine. I prefer more muted decor, but the condition of the ship was very good. My young son loved the colorful carpets and took many photos of different rug designs in different rooms!
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Our oceanview room was of a comfortable size for a party of three using the sofa-bed. I liked that it was a daybed, not a pull-out, so the floor space remained available. We had plenty of storage for our things, including an umbrella stroller. The beds were very comfortable. Everything seemed to be in good condition, and the room was very clean.
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