Great vacation. Way too much to see. But it gives you a taste of Italy. It definitely shows you where you would like to visit in the future. The Carnival Horizon was a nice ship with great staff. The Mediterranean Cruise should be one day longer with a sea day somewhere in the middle.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Embarkation was very smooth. I think the cruise ships finally have a great formula with having embarkation time slots. We were thru the hole process in about 10 - 15 minutes.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
Main dining food was ok at best. The only thing that WOWed me was the escargot and the Wait service. The breakfast buffets were like Groundhogs Day. It was the same thing everyday! As for the specialty Restaurants: The Steakhouse and Bonsai Sushi were great. The Bonsai Teppanyaki left me wanting more. The food was good but I expected more of a show. Guy's BBQ at lunch time was very good (included), but when we paid for dinner service I though the ribs and brisket were dry.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
We had an unusual amount of port days so we weren't able to enjoy all of the activities, but we did enjoy the spa and serenity deck. We were in a spa balcony room so most amenities were included. We also had a mini cornhole tournament. Went down the waterslide once to head to the bar. Hold on because its super fast. We missed the sky ride which was a bummer.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
Lip Sync battle was cool. The guys (Eden & Jeff) in the Piano Bar made for some great evenings. We sang with Eden until late in the night. Emma was also great in the Lobby and at Guy's BBQ. The two stage shows were also very good. All of the comedians were funny and left me in stitches.
Children's Programs
No children on this trip - Unless you count my Buddy which is in his 40's
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Dennis , Dusan and Eduard made our main Dining room experience. Mark our room steward made our room experience great. There was anything they we would want for.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
The Horizon is a brand new ship so it was very clean. The layout was different from other ships we have been on. Not having the lobby atrium go all the way up with no glass elevators was different. But all in all it was fine. The new elevator system seemed to work well.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Room was very clean and spacious. The additional spa amenities like the robe and slippers were a nice added touch. We always love the balcony to be able to go out and enjoy the fresh air.
Ship tip
Look at the maps in the elevator areas. It is a very big ship and a couple times I got caught headed to the wrong end of the ship. My fit bit was going crazy. Wear comfortable shoes.
Nice. We flew in the day before and were able to go to La Segrada Familia ( church) Amazing! We also got there at the right time where locals were doing a parade and Dancing. So cool. Food at the local shops were very good.
We got off the ship and did a 10 Eu bus ride to the top of the city and walked around a little. Then we went back to the bottom of town and walked around. We went to an open air restaurant and had a pizza and some wine. Molto Bello.
Sorrento, Positano and the Amalfi coast was Great. We had a little time in each. The views were very amazing. The switchback roads were crazy. Hold on to your seats.
The Coliseum, Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica architecturally were unbelievable!! The only problem is that the whole world wants to see them. There were so many people that we couldn't stop to even take a picture. You had to do it on the run. I doubt there is an off season, but that would be the time to go.
San Gimignano & Volterra - Wine Tasting!!! Our best excursion by far. We are looking at going here to spend some time in the future. When I think of Italy - this is the place. Amazing countryside filled with vineyards, olive trees and amazing views. The small towns with old world charm. Narrow Cobblestone streets that don't look like there going anywhere, but BAM the beauty hits you in the face.
We were so tired out from the (4) long port days prior we needed a break. They should make this itinerary one day longer with a sea day to break it up.
*Cruiseline.com is not a booking agent or travel agency,
and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Our partners
(travel agencies and cruise lines) provide prices, which we list for our
users' convenience. Cruiseline.com does not guarantee any specific rates or
prices. While prices are updated daily, please check with the booking site
for the exact amount. Cruiseline.com is not responsible for content on
external web sites.
Contact us
Submitting...
Need help from a personal vacation planner?
Loading...
Find the perfect cruise with weekly tips and cruise deals for as little as $30/night!
Sign up for weekly cruise deals
Join other subscribers and get the best
cruise deals of the week in your inbox every Thursday.
