Overall this was a great cruise, the crew were wonderful and we visited some nice ports. The cruise director's parties were very fun and it was a brilliant way to bring in 2023. I appreciate the extensive refurbishment of the ship, it's now been brought up to the modern standard and the addition of Shaq's chicken is excellent! However, at peak times some parts of the ship can get a bit crowded.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Embarkation was quick and easy - bags were taken straight away, the check in process was efficient and we walked straight on the ship.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
The menu variety in the main dining room was good, and the food was good but not exceptional. I do love the signature chocolate melting cake though! The buffet selection was fine but not as extensive as on other cruise lines. The buffet also got very crowded at peak times. The food on this ship stands out in the form of Guy's Burgers, Shaq's Big Chicken, Blue Iguana Cantina and the pizza. These are all fantastic and really tasty options.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
Since the refit, there are more fun activities such as the ropes course, extensive waterpark and outdoor gym which was good. The main gym had all brand new machines and was excellent. There were also plenty of pools that were never too busy.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
Entertainment was great overall. There were loads of parties hosted by the cruise director and these were always a lot of fun. Due to the bad weather on new year's eve a massive party was held in the Liquid Lounge rather than the lido deck, but it was just as fun! There was plenty of live music options around the ship to. I also went to Quest for the first time, which was certainly an *interesting* experience; not for everyone, but I found it entertaining. The main theatre shows were ok, but not the same standard as on NCL, Royal Caribbean, or even the bigger Carnival ships.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
All the staff were fantastic, so friendly, attentive and helpful. Our waiters every night in the main dining room were especially wonderful, always asking about our day and learning our names. Particular mention must also go to Herry (cabin steward), Edwin (fun squad) and Deon (cruise director).
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
Having cruised on this ship as Carnival Victory, I can really appreciate what has changed (and what hasn't). Overall the ship has a much more modern feel, some great new facilities and better accessibility. However, more cabins were also added, but without expansion of public spaces and this is noticeable - some areas got quite crowded at peak times - especially the buffet is far too small. Nevertheless, all the public areas were kept meticulously clean and well-maintained by the hard working crew.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
This is a good sized balcony cabin with loads of storage space. The beds are comfortable and the bathroom fine. Our cabin steward was brilliant at keeping it clean, always working quickly and at a time convenient for us.
We were pleasantly surprised by Catalina. We chose to just walk around the town and up to the view point. It was very pretty, had some nice shops and the multi-coloured houses were cool. There were plenty of other options available, such as renting a golf cart or going on the submarine.
In Ensenada I took an excursion to La Bufadora - the second largest blowhole in the world. If you're interested in geography (as I am) this is amazing to see, however note it is an hour drive each way from the port. There is an extensive market as you walk through the tourist area, with people eager to sell you everything from magnets to antibiotics, but a firm "no thank you" and you'll be left alone.
Disembarkation was very easy. We walked straight off the ship when our group was called and collected our baggage in the terminal. We then easily got an Uber to the airport.
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