Overall, we had a good time. The food, entertainment, and staff were great. The balcony cabin we had was fine for the three of us, and our room steward (Kadek) was great at his job. We enjoyed eating at Normandie restaurant and Guy's Grill the most. For my taste, there were too many people on board, causing difficulty finding a lounge chair by the pool and even a spot to get in the water. The buffet restaurants were very busy and loud, but ran smoothly and had good food. Overall, a good trip, with some "bumps in the road" that come with every journey.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Carnival handled this process seamlessly-took our suitcases away, got us on the boat, not a single problem. Luggage delivered to our cabin within an hour or two.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
The food is delicious, and if you eat at Normandie restaurant ask for Luis-he's an amazing waiter. We did not eat in any of the specialty restaurants due to the extra cost, but got great variety. Mermaid's Grill is great for breakfast (crowded and noisy but really good food on a buffet), and Guy's Grill is fabulous for a quick burger and fries!
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
We participated in trivia (variety of subjects, held at various times every day), a week long game of Clue, saw great comedians. The pools are very small and were often too crowded to even get into, which was frustrating. There are many pools, and they were ALL that way-no where to sit (all chairs taken very early) and no room to even get in the water.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
The stage shows were a bit cheesy, but the comedians were very good. The bingo host (Lord Bingo) was very nice, but one of the trivia hosts (John) was very rude and condescending to guests. We went to at least 3 of his (John's) trivia offerings, and he was the same in all of them-didn't seem to like people at all.
Children's Programs
No children with us
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
We loved Luis (waiter in Normandie), Andre' (brunch in Normandie), Kadek (room steward), and Kateryna (dinner line organizer) for their enthusiasm and dedication to going above and beyond.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Everything was clean and neat, Kadek brought us everything we needed each day.
Ship tip
This is a great ship for families with small kids or groups of young people. It was a bit louder, more crowded, and less personal than other lines we have sailed on. There were too many people for the pools and common areas, often leaving people standing when they wanted to sit. If you are traveling as a couple, or as a group of older adults, I would pick another cruise line.
Stormed again, shore excursion cancelled. Took a different one, again flawless transition regarding funds. We did Top 10 spots, got to see 9 due to storms, Warren G. was our driver and was funny and informative. Plenty of time to explore each stop.
Had to be out of our cabin by 9, then sat in a room for 2 hours waiting to disembark. Once we were allowed to leave, it went very smoothly. Maybe some entertainment (movie?) or people allowed to remain in cabins, something to pass the time.
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