Good Cruise

This was our 5th time cruising with Carnival and our first time leaving from Miami.

 The Miami Port is much too congested with passenger embarkations and debarkations happening at the same time, in the same place.  Additionally, if you park in the deck, expect to pay $20 per day. Yes, $140.00 for a 7-day cruise.  While this is not a Carnival charge, they and the other cruise lines should help to defray some of this cost for their customers.

Embarkation wasn't bad, but I don't understand why Carnival wants guest to choose a check in time when anyone is allowed to check in whenever they choose.  Staggered check-in is a great idea, but it wasn't enforced.

We stayed in Cabin 1104 on the Spa deck.  I enjoy that deck because it has far less cabins than the other decks.  Our Cabin Stewardess was awesome and quite attentive.  The Cabin was clean; however, the glass in the door leading to the balcony had two large cracks and the mattress was obviously lumpy, so much so, that you could see the indentions where previous guests had slept.  There were also a few stains in the carpet.  I notified the Cabin Stewardess and she said that the problems would be corrected when the ship enters dry dock.  That was of little assistance to me since I was in the Cabin then.  She did try to add some extra padding to the mattress, but that really didn't help. Carnival should not have booked this Cabin or at least they should have notified us of these issues and discounted the fare.

I found the ship to be clean, but the windows on the Lido deck were extremely dirty.  The public restrooms were well maintained.

The food was very good and the variety was excellent.  The Lido deck, which holds the buffet and several other restaurants, was never unbearably overcrowded and we were almost always able to get a window table.

I do wish Carnival would enforce the rule to make the guest dry themselves off and cover themselves before coming into the dining areas.  Several times, guests were standing in the food lines dripping wet after getting out of the pool. There are posted signs, but some folk just overlook the rules.

I found the crew to be exceptionally friendly and helpful, and I did not encounter one crew member that did not speak and ask if we were enjoying our cruise experience.

I am already looking to book our cruise for next year, but I will do everything possible to choose a port other than Miami.  

By the way, I hear that the Glory will be dry docked sometimes in February, so hopefully refurbishments should make the ship even better.