As mentioned previously, this was our 4th cruise on this ship in the last 10 months, so we know what to expect. People need to understand that cruises from the Florida east coast on this class of ship (Conquest class) have become somewhat of a commodity cruise, running the same itineraries and attracting a wide customer base due to relatively low pricing. With that said, it's always a nice 4 day getaway and change of scenery, for not a lot of money.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
We arrived about 30 minutes past our assigned arrival time (10:00-10:30) due to traffic, so our boarding group had already been called. Check-in was fast and efficient, and we were able to board immediately without having to wait in the huge waiting area which tends to be over-crowded.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
Understandably, MDR and Lido food has been scaled back in terms of quantity and quality due to the increasing cost of food over the past year. Food is still good, but not quite up to the standard of previous years. I was somewhat disappointed by my "steakhouse selections" entree of lamb chops ($23 + 18% surcharge), which consisted of 4 tiny rib-style chops instead of the expected double-cut loin chops, and they were over-done. As always, service in the MDR was on point.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
We generally don't take part in any of the organized activities. We're happy to spend time relaxing in the Serenity area.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
Having been on this ship 4 times in the past 10 months, we had already seen the shows and most of the entertainment. The violin trio continues to be excellent as does the Liberty Rock Band. Of major concern was the guitar soloist in the Atrium lobby who made it clear that she didn't like playing in that venue, solicited tips, and generally displayed a very poor attitude toward the audience. I'd give her zero or 1 star, while giving the violinists and rock band 5 stars.
Children's Programs
No kids.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Customer-facing staff on Carnival ships continue to provide excellent service. Waiters, our steward and Guest Services personnel were both pleasant and efficient. Our cabin steward was the same person as our cruise 7 weeks prior, and went out of his way to provide a great experience and help resolve an issue.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
Being a Conquest-class ship, it's beginning to show it's age at 18 years. The ship, however, is kept in good working order and very clean.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
We stayed in this same cabin about 7 weeks prior to this cruise, and the cabin seemed a bit worse for the wear this time. Everything was in working order, and the steward did a good job of keeping everything clean, but some of the furniture in the cabin has begun to de-laminate and is in need of repair or refurbishment.
We've been here so many times we usually don't disembark in Nassau. This time, we decided to seek out the public beach that's closest to the pier. It's about a 20-30 minute walk, past the Margaritaville hotel. There's a group of bar/restaurants facing the road, with the beach behind. I'm not sure, but I think some of these businesses might have a few beach loungers for rent. If all you want to do is take a dip in the water and maybe partake in some local food and drink, you don't need to buy an expensive beach excursion - just take a towel and walk to this public beach.
While not as nice as Half Moon Cay, Princess Cays provides a decent, free beach experience. Lots of beach loungers - some in the sun, and some under cover for some shade. The shallow portions of the beach have a lot of rocks and sudden drop-offs, so be careful when going into the water. If you want a lounger in the first couple of rows, or under one of the shaded structures, you need to disembark in one of the first 5-6 water shuttles, as these areas fill up quickly.
We always do self-assist, so it was quick and easy. We had time to eat breakfast in the MDR, and then return to our cabin to collect our luggage before our muster station was called for disembarkation.
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