Worst Cruise Ever!

Carnival Inspiration Cruise Review to Mexico

Clskoszty

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 2-3 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 24

Overall rating:

2.1 out of 5

4 Night Catalina & Baja Mexico (Los Angeles Roundtrip)

Sail date: January 21, 2019

Ship: Carnival Inspiration

Cabin type: Oceanview

Traveled as: Large Group

Reviewed: 5 years ago

Review summary

This ship was filled with cigarette smoke, and there was almost no escaping it! Prior to our cruise, we contacted Carnival Cruise Lines and they assured us that there were designated smoking areas on the ship and that the ventilation system was more than adequate to keep the smoke free from the other passengers. Our AAA travel agent, Tracy Cartwright, also contacted Carnival Cruise lines to inquire about the cigarette smoking policies and ventilation system because I am sensitive to cigarette smoke and they told her the same thing. The information that Carnival Cruise Lines gave to both of us is NOT TRUE!!! We spoke with our Room Porter about the cigarette smoke and he told us that it was always like this He said that he wished they would do something about this because he had to work in these conditions continuously for 7 months. He kindly got us a portable fan for our room and contacted Guest Services Management for us. When Guest Services Management finally came to us the ship had already departed. The smoke was getting worse and the smoke was thick in the hallway. We asked the Guest Services Manager if they could put a larger fan in our hallway (we had seen one on another floor) in order to help blow some of the smoke out. His reply was, "The smoke is coming from the casino upstairs and since the ventilation system was one system, there was nothing he could do. No fan was brought to our floor. We also went to the guest services desk to complain about the smoke and to tell them that the smoke was flowing into our room through the vent in our room. They kindly apologized and said that there was nothing that they could do. We later received an envelope on our room door with a card from Betronel Koorts/Guest Services Associate apologizing for the smoke odor that was present in our stateroom, she included 2 free drink coupons for us to use in the bar or coffee shop. SERIOUSLY!!!??? If we had been aware of the unavoidable smoke on the ship, their useless ventilation system and disregard for the health and well being of all of their passengers and workers, we would not have booked this trip.

Embarkation

3 out of 5

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

Main dining room was great, desserts were delicious! Buffets were good, desserts were awful!

Onboard Activities

1 out of 5

Pre-arranged party for our group was moved (due to a water leak) to a room with terrible, undanceable music and a choice of 2 pre-poured drinks, beer and a sweet fruit rum drink.

Entertainment

1 out of 5

There was a DJ that was great in a common area of the ship, where the cigarette smoke was minimal. The musical was sub-par. Because of the unavoidable cigarette smoke, we were unable to go to the bar or to the casino.

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

The service and staff were great, however, they failed to address the cigarette smoke throughout the entire ship.

Ship Quality

1 out of 5

Too much cigarette smoke throughout the ship! The ventilation of this particular ship had cigarette smoke coming into our cabin through the vent of our room! Perhaps there could be a separate ventilation system for smoking and non-smoking areas.

Cabin / Stateroom

1 out of 5

Other than being so smoky we could barely breath, the bed was comfortable, the room size was adequate and the cabin was clean.

Ship tip

Don't go unless you enjoy breathing cigarette smoke 24/7.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Long Beach (Los Angeles), California

1 out of 5

We drove into Long Beach because we live close and chose to board the ship instead of touring.

Thumbs Up 0

Catalina Island, California

3 out of 5

We've been to Catalina numerous times and have always had a wonderful time! We've flown into Catalina on a seaplane, enjoyed scuba diving, kayaking, ziplining, snorkeling, shopping, bus tour (not recommended), we rent golf carts and drive around on our own when the weather is nice. I used to take me students here on Science field trips. Lots to do, enjoy! HOWEVER, I don't recommend traveling via Carnival Cruise Lines, unless you enjoy breathing cigarette smoke throughout the ship as well as in your room.

Thumbs Up 0

Ensenada, Mexico

1 out of 5

We went to the blowhole. It was somewhat disappointing, I guess it was low-tide. The blowhole consisted of a splash of ocean water coming up through a hole in some rocks. The store owner's were quite aggressive, understandable since this is probably their income. While walking out of one of the store's without buying anything, a man from this store said, "How are we going to build your wall if you don't buy anything?" A bit humorous to me, but uncalled for.

Thumbs Up 2

Disembarkation

3 out of 5

So happy to get off this ship!

6 Comments

LoveLoveLove 5 years ago

I rank the food on this ship 👎🏼 1 Star in the main dining room. Horrible

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onlysail 5 years ago

Try and find a non smoking cruise line or dont bother cruising

Thumbs Up 3

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Dutch3901 5 years ago

It seems that you anticipated a problem with smoke even prior to boarding. We were on the Inspiration a few months ago and had no problem and we are going again in 11days...

Thumbs Up 3

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astrosgirl05 5 years ago

I'm like you, I can't stand the smoke. For me, my eyes water and I start coughing. It sucks that you had to deal with it. My 1st cruise was like that. My next one is on The Norwegian Bliss. There are very few smoking areas on this ship. The casino has a glass enclosure for smoking and I think there's only 2 or 3 smoking areas. My suggestion for future cruises, find out how many smoking sections there are, where they are located and see if it works out better. Hopefully your next cruise is better.

Thumbs Up 1

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KJRobin 5 years ago

I’ve been on this ship over a dozen times and as a former smoker, you’d think I’d be the most sensitive to it, so I gotta tell you, (and I’m going again tomorrow) there ARE designated smoking areas and plenty of areas not inundated with smoke. There are also several bars nowhere near the designated smoking areas, so it’s too bad you were unable to enjoy your cruise. Sorry.

Thumbs Up 2

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chatwin 5 years ago

Not sure I understand but I’m thinking you don’t like smoke

Thumbs Up 3

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