I booked this cruise because I wanted to go to Havana. I am a history teacher and I had never been to Havana before. We had a full day and an overnight in Havana. If you did not book a ship tour in Havana then you had to obtain a special sticker to get off the ship. We had to get the sticker at 6:30am. That was kind of annoying. Passport control in Havana was painless and it only took 10 minutes to get into Cuba. I'm not sure why we had to get stickers! I liked my cabin a lot the location was good and the steward was terrific. The only clean the cabins once a day on Carnival.
Embarkation
3 out of 5
I got on the ship fairly quickly. However, the muster process was chaotic and took a long time. Several passengers did not know where there muster station was located. People were talking while announcements were being made.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
The food quality really varied on this ship. I had dinner most nights in the main dining room (Elation). There the food and service was top notch. I did not like the buffet at all. I thought the food quality was poor for breakfast with many cold items. There were piles of dishes and cups on the tables. It was really unappealing.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
I only went to the poor and that it was crowded.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
The performers were excellent.
Children's Programs
I did have any children with me.
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
I had wonder service in the Main Dining Room. The head waiter knew my name after the first night and anticipated my needs for the rest of the week. The room steward was excellent and friendly.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
The pool deck and buffet area often had food on the floor. The rest of the ship was immaculate
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Book these rooms because of the location and size - not for the balcony. The balcony is very small and uncomfortable (really unusable). I liked the location of the room. It was close to the main stage, the casino, the Elation Dining Room (MDR), and the buffet. The AC worked great and the cabin has ample room for 2-4 people.
We only had 6 hours in this port. This wasn't really enough time to see what I wanted to see. I booked the Conch Train Ride for my shore excursion. The ride is only 75 minutes with constant narration. I would not call this a HOHO experience. There are only 3 stops on the ride and one of the stops is a block from where the train started. There is lots to see in Key West. I would love to go back.
I booked a 7 hour group tour through Locally Sourced Havana Tours. The tour consisted of a four hour walking tour of Old Havana, lunch, and a one hour car ride in a classic car with belching fumes. I had a wonderful time on the tour and highly recommend it. I booked the Tropicana Show at night. I bought my ticket directly from the website and hailed a taxi on the street to get to the show. The show was a lot of fun!
Avoid self-disembarkation if you can. There were lots of people trying to get off the ship who could not handle their luggage. There were arguments in the terminal from people who wanted to take the escalator but were told they could not go on it because they did not have a free hand.
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