184 people decided they were too important to do the self service muster drill. This is how you get everyone standing out on the weather deck again.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
All right, but I wonder why they give people arrival times at the terminal that are 45 minutes before anyone is let onto the ship.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
2 out of 5
The food itself was better than 2 stars, even if not as good as it used to be. But there is nowhere else to put these comments. No Maitre’d personalized service anymore, use your phone to get a table. No menus anymore, use your phone to look it up. No bread basket anymore, order your portions of bread when you order your meal. No tablecloths, not even on elegant nights. If you have Your Time dining, you get different wait staff all the time, that means they never get a chance to learn your names, your preferences … they don’t have the opportunity anymore to use that knowledge to go the extra mile. I’m sure that affects tips as well. Add all this up and it’s a dramatic, unfortunate decrease in dining “culture.” Mix in the fact that elegant night participation was about 10%. So get dressed up, but you’ll be seated next to someone who didn’t even manage to put on a clean T-shirt. Standards are being set lower and lower all the time, and still not achieved.
As I said, the food was better than 2 stars, at least 3, maybe 4 for certain genres. We did notice the cuts of beef are nowhere near as tender or free of gristle as they used to be, and any pasta dishes are consistently overcooked.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
All right, good variety, something for everyone. Gym equipment was in fairly good nick. Pools small, hot tubs not hot.
Unfortunately, the Military Appreciation event has been totally ruined. It’s now turned into Participation Trophies For Everyone. This started out years ago as military and veterans. Then, the slippery slope: First came spouses. Then other family members. Then acquaintances. Then firemen, police, and EMTs. Now we are recognizing all of that plus doctors, nurses, scientists, teachers, and pets (yes, pets). Throw in some misspelled slides, a 5+ year old video of Christine Duffy, a host with no knowledge of the military, and you have what this “event” has become.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
Comedians were hit or miss.
Live musicians generally good.
Stage shows? Hmmm… well…
The first “production show” was changed to concert format owing to “technical difficulties.” So no sets, no costumes, no dancing.
The second show (Amor Cubano) was almost entirely in Spanish so unless you were a Spanish speaker, it was hard to follow the thread. I generally like Cuban music and rhythms but didn’t really hear much of that in this show.
Service and Staff
3 out of 5
The ship was full, and it could be that they are still understaffed. We saw a lot of people working hard but many things are just not like they used to be. Getting bar service is an exercise in patience.
The wait staff was generally good and attentive.
The biggest disappointment was housekeeping. No more evening service. Moreover, it seems we are supposed to plan our day around the housekeeper’s schedule instead of the other way around. Special requests were forgotten by day 3.
The laundry service was good and speedy.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
It’s older but still decent. People were always cleaning. Some of the public areas look a little worn and tired. Some annoyances in the stateroom, sticky / malfunctioning drawers and wardrobe doors, crack in the floor of the tub, dripping fire extinguisher, etc.
On our last cruise in Oct., they suspended the sail and sign cards of all who didn't do muster. No drinks, cant get in room, etc. Then they had to sit thru whole muster drill before ship would leave port.
Cruising is definitely not what it was prior to Covid. It seems the staffing levels are what they have decided to stick with going forward. Carnival changed to cabin service once per day prior to Covid.
These entitled people that think they are too important to go do a Muster Drill will be the reason Carnival will do what Disney did! Going BACK TO INPERSON DRILLS.
And they will SCREAM the loudest.
Thank you for your review and opinions. I went to my first and last appreciation meeting in 2016 and never went to another. Certainly did not feel appreciated any more than I did when I got home in 1971.
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