Never again on Carnival

Carnival Glory Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western

kazvet2000

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 54

Overall rating:

2 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Western Caribbean (Miami Roundtrip)

Sail date: August 13, 2016

Ship: Carnival Glory

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 6363

Traveled as: Family (older children)

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

First of all, in my opinion, the food was terrible. The buffets were boring and the lines were much too long. I could NEVER find a bagel or piece of bread that was not ice cold at the breakfast brunch. There were not enough tables. By the time you found one the rest of your food was ice cold and you had to start all over again and leave a family member alone at the table to save it! We were 3 people, in the dinning room, they put us at a table for two and added a chair. Why would you do that...even a table of many would have been better! When I spoke to someone at the desk I got an attitude when they had to find us different accommodations. I got a huff "wait here".

I took my 10 yr old granddaughter with us with the impression there would be a lot of things for her to do...WRONG....not even the pool slide was working!!

The pool was much to crowded, one could not even turn around once you got in!

The lines at the "customer services" took too long also. There were two people working and 15 people on the line, but there were PLENTY of photographers to take your picture though!

I do have to say that the waiting staff and the cabin stewards where terrific. They made it a little easier to take the bad along with the good.

I was told by a few people before we booked the cruise that I should not do Carnival....now I understand why!!!!

NO I will not recommend Carnival to a friend...I want to keep them as friends!!

OHHHHH!!! one very important thing....MOST of the crew that were serving or making food did NOT wear gloves...especially the ones making the pizzas. They put on the cheese and toppings with their bare fingers. That should not be allowed at all. But I did notice the ones who WERE wearing gloves were the people cleaning the tables. I guess the cruisers have more germs than the crew!!

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

1 out of 5

The dinning room food was subpar, how can you ruin prime ribs??!! The buffets were much too crowded and people were fighting when people cut in line just to get some toast. It is laid out all wrong too!!! Bread in one place, butter and cream cheese in different locations...it was not a pleasant eating experience. I enjoy sitting down to a quiet meal...not hustle bustle that was very Unpleasant!

Onboard Activities

1 out of 5

Entertainment

1 out of 5

The shows were OK...nothing to write home about when you hear other ships have "Broadway" like shows.

Children's Programs

1 out of 5

Where there any?????????????????????

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

All the crew members were terrific. The dinning room and room service was great. The customer services lines were much too long with not enough people to help.

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

Our steward was terrific. My granddaughter loved the towels made into animals. He kept the room spotless and respected our privacy when necessary.

Ship tip

If you want decent food I think you will have to pay for it in the extra restaurants. We did not do it...refused to pay more money!

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Miami, Florida

5 out of 5

We live in FL...

Thumbs Up 0

George Town, Grand Cayman

5 out of 5

We did the "swim with the stingrays" It was a lot of fun. Other excursions are much too expensive

Thumbs Up 2

Mahogany Bay, Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras

3 out of 5

Not much to do there after we were told not to travel by yourself....the crime rate is very high! Sounded to dangerous to me! Excursions much too expensive!

Thumbs Up 0

Belize City, Belize

5 out of 5

Nothing much to do in Belize, the excursions are much too expensive

Thumbs Up 2

Cozumel, Mexico

5 out of 5

We did a last minute shopping and beach trip...the bus ride was nice, we got a great host who told us about the history of Cozumel. The beach they took us to was terrible!!! The shore was so rocky you could not walk into the water without almost breaking a leg. They never bothered to make a path. All the passengers were helping each other in and out of the water so not to fall and injure yourself.

Thumbs Up 6

35 Comments

catdiva 8 years ago

My husband and I booked our 2nd cruise on the Glory. I'm a bit of a food snob and had to get my expectations in check. The food was not bad in terms of flavor. My only gripe was not hot enough lol! Then it dawned on me that they serve so many people and it's a logistical nightmare at times I'm sure. So....that being said. In my opinion, the happiest cruiser is one who can power past the small things and just enjoy themselves.

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

Seaskypeace 8 years ago

We went on the Glory last year & had a blast. Everything was good. Going back next month. It's like everything, you can't please everyone. There are so many choices of both food & activities. Don't compare it to the newer, bigger ships though. We've done the Breeze & even though it's bigger, we enjoyed the Glory better.

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

edmia 8 years ago

I hear you! I mean in the end three has happened on all my cruises (all with Carnival)............1) they are always fun and memorable 2) definitely enjoyed the meals 3) can't find anything to complain of, other than this past cruise where the embarkation was delayed due to a festival on the sea! Looking forward to the Vista.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

banaford 8 years ago

So true drliz

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

drliz 8 years ago

Um sometimes it's that you've experienced better and have something to compare to 😳 I PAY $ $$ for the cruises i go to not looking for freebies! But if you only cruise on one line you really can't have an informed opinion. It's apples vs oranges. Also everyone has their own unique preferences. And yes, what I think is amazing someone else can think I'm delusional and vice versa.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

aprilt27 8 years ago

The food WASN'T good. I would know

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

terry115 8 years ago

Amen

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

edmia 8 years ago

Seriously..........horrible food??? You probably need to see a doctor to cure your loss of taste! Maybe you can be refurbished to the 2.0 "fun" upgrade. People complain and criticize of nothing, looking for something FREE or they simply don't know how to enjoy life.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

drliz 8 years ago

Funny. Last time I was on a Carnival was 2002 first time cruiser. Since then been on Disney, Celebrity and at least twice yearly on Royal. I won a 7 day cruise thus the reason I'm on Carnival again. I just bored and totally agree that the food "so far" is horrible. The ship is so tiny, smells and is showing signs of age (feb 2017 will be refurbished). But will try to make best of it.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

sherbear13 8 years ago

What a whiny pessimist you are! I bet those who travel with you just enjoy your company immensely! You wouldn't know where or how to find fun if it bit you on the butt!

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

bunnehhime 8 years ago

O.o me? I was saying I like carnival I was just saying had one bad experience not with the ship but with someone else who put their hands in the food that someone might else want to eat too. Me and everyone else whoever you referring too is not going to miss out on a good trip just because you told them to stay home. I like carnival so far and I'm not going miss out on it because of one person or two. -.-

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

bunnehhime 8 years ago

O.o to me really? Lol I was just saying that someone was putting their hands in the food that everyone else may wanted to eat. I'm not missing out on a good trip with carnival because of one person so...yeah.. If it wasn't to me no one or anyone else is not going to miss out on a good trip because you told them too stay home.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

bretttdean3 8 years ago

Wow mcdonald1978 show a little respect.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

aprilt27 8 years ago

That was uncalled for

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

bunnehhime 8 years ago

The only bad thing I remember that happened to me through Carnival was from a passenger sticking their hands in the buffet food instead of using the utensil provided by Carnival. Other than that I had fun, especially with the staff who were really friendly and easy to talk too.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

sunshine220 8 years ago

The glory was one of our favorite ships and the camp for kids is awesome and so much to do my kids couldn't even do it all some days

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

edmia 8 years ago

Kazvet, through my cruises (all with Carnival), I've never had experienced anything that you mentioned. Even with the cruise being full, never waited long in lines for the buffet or water slides. The food temperature was always hot and found plenty of tables for us. Pizza......are meant to be done by hand. I can't recall seeing anyone make a pizza with a glove (good luck with that).

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

Dana0606 8 years ago

Glad to hear you liked the wait staff and cabin stewards.

Thumbs Up 2

Flag

terry115 8 years ago

What ever make people happy. Will always love Carnival but they do have there problems

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

terry115 8 years ago

Thank God we live in a free country and have more than one cruise line.

Thumbs Up 2

Flag

aprilt27 8 years ago

And as many are saying, we DID read the Daily "Fun" Times and there was nothing fun on the Glory. At least Norwegian Gem had much to offer.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

aprilt27 8 years ago

We had the same bad experience on the Glory last year. We've had 4 other cruises with Carnival and they weren't that bad. We cruised on Norwegian Gem this year and everything from the food to the entertainment and service AND concern for everyones health was far better than Carnival. They forced hand sanitizer on you at every food entrance with Norwegian and all wore gloves, plus there was sanitizer stations all over the place.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

swrightco 8 years ago

WOW kazvet2000 almost has me convinced to switch my cruise to a less expensive cruise line with better service and cheaper excursions. I'll see if I can find that? My suggestion is to do a little research before you cruise again. The Glory has other options to the buffet and Red Sail seating. If everything is too expensive with Carnival and the service isn't up to your standards, most likely you won't find a better fit for your budget through any cruise line. .

Thumbs Up 4

Flag

danlor5456 8 years ago

Another Happy Camper !

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

TNTGreen 8 years ago

Agree with dctopscop: people complain about how awful their experience was from the moment they stepped foot so go to guest services and go home.

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

debbmike 8 years ago

dctopscop, I've wondered about that myself.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

SargeF 8 years ago

Do remember Carnival does have a 24 hr guarantee. If you are not 100% satisfied within that first 24 hr period, would include first dinner and cold breakfast Carnival will fly you to home port free. I find it strange no one takes advantage of this but will use this forum to say how lousy there entire cruise is.

Thumbs Up 7

Flag

425olds 8 years ago

Wow they serve breakfast on lido deck for over 4hours a day, dining room has two choices anytime or fixed, either way all you needed to is ask for a booth. Carnival goes out of there way to accommodate its guests. Yes guest services lines can be long at sometimes, but there open 24/7 you could always come back at a slower time.

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

terry115 8 years ago

They do have room service for bagels and toast. No need to save table and pools are always crowded. If you stay on ship port day's no crowds and it's free

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

JusMe 8 years ago

It sounds like you did not read or look at the daily "Fun Times" left in your cabin each night, It gives the hours or the kids programs and location. The lack of tables in the buffet, got up the stairs and lots of open tables at the fish and chips place (have to get that tip off of reading reviews of the ship) Before your next cruise I'd suggest some research here and on the cruise lines web site. Oh yes, Guys Burgers, the Fish and Chips, the Deli and the Blue Iguana were very good on the Glory.

Thumbs Up 4

Flag

TNTGreen 8 years ago

There is a place for your granddaughter Camp Ocean. There is also something called a Dining Room you could have eaten in.

Thumbs Up 4

Flag

TNTGreen 8 years ago

Geez you're a complainer. Didn't just complain about the ship itself but ever place you visited. Debbie Downer!!

Thumbs Up 9

Flag

debbmike 8 years ago

I was wondering too why you didn't eat in the dining room if you didn't like the buffet. If you hated all the food I sure would like to know what you eat at home every day.

Thumbs Up 7

Flag

debbmike 8 years ago

A whole review about how bad the food was. Nothing else that you enjoyed? Did your granddaughter try Camp Ocean?

Thumbs Up 6

Flag

banaford 8 years ago

Should have gone to MDR for brkfst. I have never ever not seen pizza guys or buffet servers without gloves. Sorry it was too expensive for excursions, too unsafe for you to walk. Please look at other cruise lines. On them you will find expensive excursions, pools that are too small, etc. Hope your next one is better.

Thumbs Up 6

Flag

Other reviews of this sailing

First Cruise

First time Cruisers Lovin Every Minute

Shows