We were first-time cruisers and so really knew very little going into the environment. Overall, the pros outweighed the cons and we would consider cruise travel in the future. It would be helpful to have some sort of live interactive process (other than the customer service desk w/long lines) where more specific guest questions could be answered not covered elsewhere. Either a Live Chat option, first-day information stations, or even a FAQ page where a question can be asked if not found.
Embarkation
3 out of 5
Initial contacts were friendly and helpful in providing directions and answering questions. However, we had no idea where to go and what to do upon entering onto the ship. We had to seek out the information rather than it being provided, once on board..
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
Food was great and staff was excellent, but "background music" volume was way too high... to the point that it was difficult to have a conversation depending upon your proximity to a speaker.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
We participated in some informational meetings (Deon was great!), watched an ice carver, and visited the casino. Serenity deck was really the only place to get away from the crowds. We preferred our cabin for relaxation.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
We didn't see most of them but could certainly hear them everywhere on the ship. The casino was entertaining.
Children's Programs
We did not have children with us but did explore the deck options geared toward children. It appeared that children were having a lot of fun with a variety of activities
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
We encountered some of the most amazing, helpful, and friendly staff. We would like to recognize our room steward: Herman, as well as one of the restaurant teams: Sherme, Artem, and Saptono.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
It seemed that someone was always cleaning in various areas on the ship. In some cases, tables at the buffet could have been cleared and cleaned a little more quickly, but staff was doing their best to stay on top of the situation.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Would give more than 5 stars if I could! We absolutely loved hanging out there. It was spacious, comfortable, had plenty of storage, and a wonderful deck.
Ship tip
Become VERY familiar with the Carnival Hub app, as well as the information channel on the TV. Familiarize yourself with the ship. . Listen to announcements and attend informational meetings. Familiarize yourself with different places on the ship, especially the ones you
We stayed at Pacific Inn in Seal Beach the night before, since we drove in. We were able to leave our car there (for a fee) and they provided a shuttle to and from the cruise terminal.
No complaints with Catalina. Avalon is a wonderful little town. We didn't do any specific excursions but there were plenty to choose from. The shuttle boats were efficient and helped to stagger the number of people coming and going at any given time.
We really enjoyed Ensenada very much as well as the friendly people we encountered there. We went on a Calafia Wine Country tour with a company called: Shore Excursions Group/Cali-Baja Tours (through Delta Sky Miles Cruises)
We did the early/express debarkation since we had to catch a shuttle. Having to pick up items that were kept for us was rather chaotic, so it's good to plan extra time for that if you have stored items.
*Cruiseline.com is not a booking agent or travel agency,
and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Our partners
(travel agencies and cruise lines) provide prices, which we list for our
users' convenience. Cruiseline.com does not guarantee any specific rates or
prices. While prices are updated daily, please check with the booking site
for the exact amount. Cruiseline.com is not responsible for content on
external web sites.
Contact us
Submitting...
Need help from a personal vacation planner?
Loading...
Find the perfect cruise with weekly tips and cruise deals for as little as $30/night!
Sign up for weekly cruise deals
Join other subscribers and get the best
cruise deals of the week in your inbox every Thursday.
