In review...slow customer service, comforatable beds, good food, smaller portions but they will bring seconds. I have a real problem with talking politics in the comedy show. Casino was nice. I won $400 my first pull. Felt bad about all the medical emergencies.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
We arrived around 2:30 and used Park and Cruise. Very friendly and efficient. When we got to the terminal very few people were there. No lines...but no embarkation photos either. Not a huge deal.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
Fortunately we went to the dining room early to check our seating arrangements. We had been seated at a long table with other passengers. I was surprised as we booked this cruise back in february for two cabins together on the spa deck. Considering the expense of our cabins and early planning i would have thought we would have beed given a private table for four. Fortunately the maitre'd accommodated our request and we were given a nice booth on the upper level. Wait staff was friendly and mostly efficient. Bar service somewhat sluggish. Food was mostly good with only a couple disappointing meals. We noticed portions were much smaller this year.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
Evening shows were fair to good. Mixed reviews from our party of 4. Choreography seemed less professional this particular cruise. Went to a Happy Cole family comedy show which was fairly entertaining until he started in with politics which didnt go well with the crowd. Come on now people...we're all on vacation. Can't we have a break from the haters for the week?
One person in our party was disappointed there was no hairy chest contest. ...usually a staple on the lido deck. I don't recall festive music out on the lido deck regularly...like the steel drum music you usually hear. A Christmas show in the atrium was so short we missed it by arriving 10 minutes late.
Also...this is the first time we've had our safety briefing so early..3:30?. We were disappointed we couldnt have a cocktail at 3-ish when we boarded the ship because they had closed the bars for the briefing. Anyway, we were in the showtime theatre for the briefing. It took way too long i thought. The captain woyld say something and then the cruise director would get on the mic and say the exact same thing. But I was more than grateful not to be standing out on the deck in the freezing cold wind for over an hour.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
Review above
Children's Programs
No children
Service and Staff
3 out of 5
Wait staff and bar staff were friendly and generally efficient. Our room steward was less so. Had to ask for more lotion at one point and we needed to continually ask for more water...not sure we even saw him every day. Had customer service needs several times. Lines were always painfully long and slow moving. Gal on last night was not freindly..but then i watched how passengers can be so she had probably had it with her happy face. But im wondering if more personnel would be possible or maybe another C. S. desk on another level.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
Layout mostly like all other carnival ships we've been on for the most part. We seemed turned around a lit for some reason though ..not sure why. Ship seemed clean and updated.
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
Room just like regular balcony rooms but had nicer artwork on the walls. Our beds were not as requested and we had to keave our room upon arrival so he could change them around. The bedding and pillows are top notch though. All of us found them to be very comfortable. We had hoped we would feel a bit pampered being on the spa deck but it didnt feel special at all. I would have appreciated more amenities..perhaps a fresh robe at mid week, more products without having to ask. I feel for the upgrade in price for a spa room there wasnt a noticeable upgrade in services or amenities. I would not do it again. There were children screaming up and down the hall one night at 1 am which was surprising...although not the fault of the cruise line. The spa itself is not laid out for relaxation. To get to the various steam rooms one must go through the the relaxation room. Doors opening and closing constantly, people talking. ...All very distracting. And the towel bins are wood which make a loud bang as people drop in their used towels and drop the lid. Those could be buffered easily. I didnt uses the spa as much as i thought i would, in part because of these things. Also..moderate pressure sales tactics were used to buy products following my massage..which i did actually, but didn't appreciate the expectation that i would spend additionally. Daughter in law pressured as well.
Ship tip
Check your table assignment as soon as the dining room opens to avoid disappointment. This is the second year in a row we were placed in a group seating environment. Last year we did not know in time and could not be accommodated. We are gold cruisers which surely isnt royalty but it does indicate some degree of loyalty to carnival which i believe should be reciprocated with good table assignments. Unfortunately, one cannot make seating requests at the time of booking.
Fantastic port! One of the best ports in the Caribbean! It was finally warm that day too which helped. The only negative was having to leave at 1:30. Thats way too early.
A nightmare...everyone seemes to carry their own luggage off now in an effort to streamline their departure which causes huge gridlocks on every floor and mass confusion at the lobby level. Very few people ..if any.. were organizing this fiasco. It was a free for all trying to decide where the end of the lines were and people wete cutting in lines all over the place. It took forever to get off the ship then another half hour to get inside the main part of the terminal. Once in the terminal it flowed rather nicely. Customs was a breeze.
shillman52
God bless anyone who is unlucky enough to live with you. I bet you review the morning coffee. You sound like a very unhappy person. Try looking for the positive instead of the negative in everything.😎😎
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