Not happy with cruise nor change of its Course!

Carnival Magic Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western

kentglo

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 50

Overall rating:

3 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Western Caribbean (Port Canaveral Roundtrip)

Sail date: July 09, 2016

Ship: Carnival Magic

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 6408

Traveled as: Family (young children)

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

The cruise line should definitely not be allowed to automatically charge your credit card per person per night for gratuities...nor to automatically charge you 15% on drinks that are ordered. This is absurd!! How is this allowed? A person should be allowed to tip what they want, not be told what to tip. I am sure many people are not aware that the charge is automatic. It is the same charge for children per day, if there are 2 adults and 2 children in a cabin - this adds up to $48. per day per cabin.

On the first day, the ship turned around for an emergency; we never went to the designated island but to Key West instead which I thought there should have been a compensation. We have been to Key West twice before but never to the island on the itinerary.

One day the on our end of the boat smelled like sewer all afternoon and into the evening and the odor was very strong in our room.

We were not happy with this cruise and it was expensive!!

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Entertainment

5 out of 5

Children's Programs

3 out of 5

Service and Staff

3 out of 5

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5

Never met our Steward although the room was made up quickly.

Ship tip

There was music mostly all of the time. I have been on ships that were "dead"

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Port Canaveral, Florida

3 out of 5

Costa Maya (Mahahual), Mexico

5 out of 5

Mahogany Bay, Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras Did not visit port

Never went on this scheduled itinerary - went to Key West instead due to an emergency this was extremely disappointing!

Thumbs Up 0

Belize City, Belize

5 out of 5

Cozumel, Mexico

5 out of 5

41 Comments

tristang129 8 years ago

I agree

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thegem 8 years ago

Were disappointed...stupid smartphone

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thegem 8 years ago

I understand you we're disappointed about your port choice especially when your cruise plans revolved around it. However, when someone's life is in jeopardy inconvenience cannot be a priority. I'm glad Carnival handled the situation. As for tipping, I prepay mine and then I bring little white envelopes just to show some appreciation for the workers who go above and beyond. It's not easy Manning a ship of that magnitude. So, let's all do our part.

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usd2bmd 8 years ago

You agree to the gratuities ahead of time. You don't HAVE to prepay them.

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ctblake 8 years ago

We always tip our waiter, steward and favorite bar tender extra at end of trip.they work hard for little money. I'm sure if they had a forum it would be full of complaints about entitled dickhead passangers such as your self...

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donteenac 8 years ago

First of all, All Cruiselines do this. Second of all, these gratuities go to so many other crew members who get a % of the gratuities that you don't even see. You are allowed to remove gratuities but only tacky people will do so. You also must understand that when you book a cruise with ANY cruiseline that Ports are not guaranteed. You pd for a cruise not the ports...a cruise is what you received.

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tricia1947 8 years ago

We did tip everyone but on our next cruise we will be leaving the tip on and still tip everyone. I used to be a waitress so am a very good tipper and yes everyone works very hard to make sure we all have a great time.

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Lass1959 8 years ago

First of all be glad they care for their customers and doing the right thing. No compensation is needed...think if was your child that was hurt...you would make Carnival move heaven and earth to fix/move/help your child.

Now on to tipping...who booked your cruise? YOU? I'd so you didn't do a good job in reading your documents. Travel agent book your cruise? If so you didn't listen to them and you didn't read your cruise documents. Carnival cruise PVP? If so you didn't listen to them and didn't read your cruise documents. I have been on 15 cruises...my travel agent still reminds me of gratuities (tips) and read my documents. Also she asks me if I want travel insurance (another topic).

So if and when you cruise again...READ YOUR CRUISE DOCUMENTS

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MrsOneal 8 years ago

@tricia1947, by removing the tips the people behind the scenes that helped make your cruise amazing didn't get their share.

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dadams1133 8 years ago

Ya know we all take a cruise to simply be pampered to be waited on hand and foot and that most definitely is what these amazing people do they go above and beyond for us all so to not want to tip is just SO NOT FAIR!! Try staying at the red roof inn next vacation and see what kind of service ya get.. And indulge in taco bell for dinner!

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tricia1947 8 years ago

You can have that taken off and tip yourself. We did that on our cruise.

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reynoldssandy 8 years ago

Wow 12 day

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debbmike 8 years ago

cruisercal, Carnival cruises aren't necessarily cheap. Carnival and RC are comparable depending on dates, etc.

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eddiemac1 8 years ago

Not all RC cruises are 5,000. I have a 12 day booked on RC in a junior suite at the solo rate for 2500.

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reynoldssandy 8 years ago

Carnival cruise we are talking about

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cruisercal 8 years ago

Next time you call Carnival expensive, feel free to book a 5,000 Royal Caribbean cruise.

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19yvonne52 8 years ago

Years ago Carnival did not automatically take the tips. They would issue envelopes for the cruiser to leave tips on the last night of the cruise. Tips would be left for the waiters and servers in the dinning room but what about the servers and waiters in all the other areas. In addition, it should be noted that the dinning room would be empty on that final night because cruisers want to ditch paying tips. They are quick to complain but don't want to tip for the service. These people work really hard. I definitely don't mind paying the tips.

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Rwp5245 8 years ago

I agree man has heart attack and all you can do is complain! I can't believe people who have nothing better to do then complain about nonsense! I suggest if you don't want to pay tips and you want to go to where you want with no emergencies! My advice don't CRUISE!!!

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jbucha 8 years ago

I don't think cruising is for you. Try a land based vacation they won't change your destination even for a hurricane.

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hockeyguy2 8 years ago

Changes happen on cruises it's stated in your contract that this may happen. I was on the Caribbean Princess when the captain changed the entire cruise from a Western Caribbean to Eastern the only thing we were told was it was due to weather. Later we found out it was due to Katrina. As for the gratuities your daily charge is split between like 5 or 6 people and the big 15% on drinks is split between all the bartenders at that bar.

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Xena22 8 years ago

Jeez this is so disheartening how many people are complaining about this cruise! The guy might have died! What if that was you? Oh don't worry I might die but don't worry?? Captain made right decision and honestly you still got a port! Some would even say key west is way better than Roatan ! And don't even get me started on the tip issue as a server... That's how we live we don't get paychecks.

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miltonf447 8 years ago

Cheep for the service you get if money is that tight take a different vacation. Go to a nice hotel on land eat anytime you want and a cruise with the tips is still a bargain. Unless you go to fleas are us motel and eat cheap cold cut sandwiches every day.

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monicascott 8 years ago

I give them extra cash and you can see it to their faces how they appreciate it. I splurged when I cruise, I'm on vacation! :)

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twangster 8 years ago

That medical diversion cost Carnival tens of thousands. They have crew, entertainers, cargo getting on & off, and others things like port contracts at every port and all that got messed for them. They still did the right thing and the person may be alive today because they did so. Why does Carnival owe YOU compensation? As far as gratuities did you not read that before? It's super easy to see at so many points in the process. There are hundreds maybe thousand + crew on board, it's not just the waiter and cabin steward getting a tip.

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reynoldssandy 8 years ago

Yes they do

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cesheldon 8 years ago

Not only do we pay the daily tips without question, but also tip above that to crew members during the cruise based upon service. Our last cruise had a minor issue with our cabin in which we tipped the maintenance tech that was sent to take care of it. These folks bust their ass the see that you have a great vacation.

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reynoldssandy 8 years ago

I paid my gratuities, plus tipped!! Seriously they clean your room twice a day, for that I am tipping!! I love having my bed turned down!! I tip for that...I even tip the porters that bring me room service!!! I would be a shame not to do it. As far as port of call, I can make it happy situation, or I can be miserable. I choose to be hsppy.

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robandalyssa 8 years ago

It's clearly stated all over their website about gratuity. You can even prepay gratuity online when you book. Also, when do you ever see service like you get on a cruise boat. These people work their ass off. As far as missing a port, yeah, it stinks you miss seeing something you planned on, but thank God Carnival looks after their own! They also refund port fees if that happens. We just got off a cruise when 2 hours into the trip, we had to return to port due to a worker being injured. We were back to sea in no time and the captain made up the time and we arrived at our first port on time. Again, thank goodness they put people first! Pay your gratuities!

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gatoraugustine 8 years ago

Exactly kentglo! So much information at your finger tips and no one seems to do their homework. The Magic is a great ship and the workers deserve to be paid. People don't seem to know how to find all this info but sure can find the complaining keys.

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eddiemac1 8 years ago

Ok. Have only done one carnival and didn't really pay much attention to it. And damn, I was hoping he'd blow another gasket over 3% more lol

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debbmike 8 years ago

Carnival is 15% on drinks

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eddiemac1 8 years ago

I don't know about carnival, but don't tell him it was probably 18% Hehehe

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babygirlbowtie 8 years ago

Seriously it's reasonable and customary and to prevent cheap skates from preventing the staff from making a living. 15% is not that much and for the service you typically get the gratuities are online or a bit low. The cruise line owes you no ppo logic for changing Ports in an emergency, it was an emergency for God sakes!! ALL cruise lines do this, of you don't like ot don't cruise, easy fix.

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debbmike 8 years ago

Oh wow!! Another complainer about missing a port due to the man who had a heart attack? I missed that part. So sad.

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psblacey 8 years ago

#1. Read that thing called a cruise contract, it tells you all of that. #2. People have emergencies, show some compassion! How would you feel if it were your loved one?

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Steven112 8 years ago

Lol you are the reason they do it. Because you wouldn't have tipped. It's no different from a restaurant charging gratuities for large parties. $12 per day pp is not that much for 3 meals. Save your money next time and go on a different vacation.

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debbmike 8 years ago

Should have read your paperwork, policies, you know all that legal stuff before you sign and agree. Yep, kids make the biggest messes and also in agreement that you will find few sympathizers on here. Most of us realize how hard the crew works. If it wasn't automatic, there would the tightwads who never leave a dime.

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karbear7 8 years ago

Thank goodness he made it!!

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shelbym 8 years ago

Drinks..this is listed in writing on Carnival website. Carnival also states in writing they can change the itinerary at any time. A man had a heart attack! ! If it was your family you would not be complaining. Carnival should not compensate. They issued an apology but did the right thing for the passenger. And by the way..the man did survive. Be thankful.

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smorgan341 8 years ago

I can understand why the gratuity is the same for children, they cause more of a mess than adults (seriously-I'm surprised it's not more). Also, they do state it in the fine print somewhere. You can also have it removed while you are on the ship. As for the emergency-you won't find many sympathizers on here....they would turn that boat around for you as well-be greatful.

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eddiemac1 8 years ago

Wow. It's to ensure the bartenders make some money. And you can have them remove the per day charge and pay as you see fit.

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