So much FUN!!
Carnival Horizon Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western
Contributor Level:
Purser
Cruises: 7+ cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 36
6 Night Western Caribbean (Miami Roundtrip)
Sail date: March 13, 2022
Ship: Carnival Horizon
Cabin type: Balcony
Cabin number: 7291
Traveled as: Family (older children)
Reviewed: 2 years ago
Review summary
Friendly crew, clean ship. So good to be cruising again!Embarkation
Easy- a tad disorganized though, as spring break crowds seemed to overwhelm the folks checking us in. I don't think this is Carnival's fault, but maybe I started off on the wrong note, as parking was insane. I drove around in a big loop 4 times trying to get into the garage that was blocked off. On the final loop, a security guard stopped me because he saw me circling so much. He told me to go to the flat lot (#2). When we got there, the gate was up, and no tickets were coming out of the machine. There was no one there to tell us if that was ok. I parked in one of the only spots left, not sure if my car would still be there when I got back. Believe me, I was relieved when we got back to port at the end of the cruise and I could see from the ship that my car hadn't been towed.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
The main dining room experience was a bit disorganized as well. The app to check in was easy to use, but when our table came up, the folks taking us to our table didn't seem to know where it was on more than a couple occasions. One time someone was sitting at our assigned table and another time one couple was just standing in the dining room waiting for their host to return while he looked for their table. He hadn't returned by the time we got our first course, so a server seated them. Just awkward. Once we realized the buffet menu closely mirrored the main dining menu, we just started doing that instead. Portions in the main dining room were small (probably better for our waistlines anyways, and I saw people ordering multiple dishes to compensate), but if you want more food you should probably go to the buffet.
Onboard Activities
This ship is DECKED OUT (pun intended) for kids. My son LOVED the waterpark, and spent a good amount of his time there. The ship also has multiple quiet spots for adults to relax. Serenity area is specifically designated for adults, but there were quiet little corners and spaces everywhere. The ship didn't feel crowded at all. Fitness center is small and hot, but there is a variety of equipment to use.
Entertainment
We went to two comedians and magician shows. My son thought they were hilarious. The production (Celestial Strings) had us scratching our heads. I still have no idea what it was supposed to be about, and I heard the people next to us saying they didn't get it either. I loved the violinists when they played in the lobby by themselves, and I thought they would be the focus of this show, but they were really in the background of this show until the grand finale. The graphics on the screen were weird at times, and the costume changes were bizarre (I have no idea why they kept taking off layers except to be metaphorical? And we joked that by the end of the show they would be naked, but then they started putting back on the layers). It was overly dramatic at times that I thought it might be a parody. I don't know what it was, but it was the only musical production of the whole cruise, so we gave it a try.
Children's Programs
My son has high functioning autism, and Shannon in Circle C just gets it. She was on the ball in helping us to get registered and making him feel comfortable. I don't think Carnival advertises any autism offerings, but I was impressed. We were given a sensory bag with noise cancelling headphones, fidgets, and a phone for me to have in case they needed to contact me at any time. Shannon spent a great deal of time with us in discovering what my son's interests and triggers are. Really, GREAT JOB, Carnival! You knocked this one out of the park!
Service and Staff
I cannot express enough how kind, friendly, and enthusiastic the crew on this ship are. We felt welcome at all times. Our room attendant, I Made (yep, that's his name), learned our names on day 1 and greeted us by name every time he saw us. I know that happens on other cruises, too, but after Covid and not being around people much, it was refreshing to feel noticed again!
Ship Quality
This ship is spotless. Someone was cleaning at all times, almost everywhere we went. I didn't see people utilizing the hand-washing and hand-sanitizing stations that much, but the stations were plentiful and easy to find around all areas of the ship. We loved the auto-spin hand-washing stations the most.
Cabin / Stateroom
Cabin was spotless and the location is fantastic- a couple flights in either direction to dining or pools. What made it uncomfortable was the banging of the bifold door on the balcony between our cabin and the connecting one. I realize it can open when a family is sharing the connecting rooms. But when it's closed, it needs to be reinforced or it moves and bangs loudly every time the wind hits it. That made for a miserable first two nights sleep.
Ship tip
Be prepared for a bit of disorganization, but put yourself in vacation mode and relax. The crew is doing their best to make sure you feel welcome.
Thumbs up
0
Ports of call
Amber Cove (Puerto Plata), Dominican Republic
Since our itinerary had changed because Caymans wasn't accepting ships yet, all our ports were arranged last minute. I don't think the DR was prepared for the extra passengers at all. We did the Adrenaline Adventure waterfalls tour. We sat in the bus for an extra thirty minutes before we even left the port. Then when we got there, we had to wait in the bus more. Then they ran out of lockers, life vests, and helmets for us. It was chaos. But, our guides were doing their best to be enthusiastic and friendly despite the fact that some of our fellow cruisers were quite negative. The hike up the mountain was tough- I work out every day, but that hike had me breathless at times. Plus, there are loose rocks and exposed roots on the whole hike, so watch your step. Overall, be warned, it is not for the less-than-fit. It is also not for those who cannot swim (which is clearly stated in the excursion description), yet some people in our group couldn't swim. Our guides helped them out, but it probably wasn't the best choice for those people to have come. The description also said to bring close-toed shoes, but you have to put water shoes on before the hike even starts, so save yourself the trouble and just bring your own water shoes or rent from them ($8). The falls are beautiful and the scenery is breathtaking, but on a crowded day it's wall to wall people. Maybe it's not like that all the time, but it did distract from our experience this particular day.
We did the snorkeling/stingray excursion and were not disappointed we did. It was sold out, but on the morning of, the app directed us to see the excursion desk. We did, and they had some cancelations. Lucky us! The crew was fantastic, fun, and knowledgable. The water was clear and the fish were gorgeous. The stingray encounter was fun and educational.
I've been to Nassau several times, and didn't feel like getting off the ship. But, my son felt lucky getting a cancelation in Turks, so he wanted to try his luck again. We got one for the Blue Lagoon beach break. After a beautiful 30 minute ride to the island, we were offloaded to a tourist trap. My son loved the water inflatables ($22 extra) and played on those most the time while I read a book under a palm tree. I can't fault that at all, but eventually I wanted to see the island. Some areas were blocked off, and only certain cruise lines were allowed in different spaces. I get it, and a security guard was very friendly in directing me to where I could go. The beach on the surf side was tiny and rocky, but postcard perfect beautiful without another person in sight. The marine/aquarium section was open to anyone, even those without reservations for one of the animal encounters, so I got to spend time there. I took my son back after he tired of the water toys, and he loved watching the dolphins play. One of the staff stopped to talk to us (I'm assuming it was her lunch break since she was holding her food), but didn't seem rushed at all as my son bombarded her with a million questions. She was so cool to talk to. Lunch was included, and lines were long, but the plantains were amazing. Overall, a nice place to visit with plenty to do, but not an isolated tropical getaway.
Disembarkation
We had smaller bags, so just walked off the ship with them instead of checking them. It was a long wait in the lobby trying to get off the ship. But, once we finally exited, it was a quick walk through customs and to the car.