We have been on over 30 cruises on different lines. This was my second Carnival cruise and my husband's first. It appears that Carnival is for people who are not able to spend much for a cruise. Other cruise lines I would choose over Carnival would be Celebrity and Royal Caribbean. Royal would be great if you were traveling with kids. Basically, you get what you pay for.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
We were allowed to board when we arrived due to the rain. Once inside the building, easy navigation to get checked in.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
Main dining room - no table cloths, food and service were good, they have a dress code - no shorts, baseball caps, or ripped jeans - but they didn't enforce it. If you're sitting at a shared table, you'll be served whenever you sit down so everyone is at a different place in their meal. Lido Marketplace Buffet breakfast- very tight buffet area and many people looking for a place to sit. Breakfast was definitely like a continental breakfast that you'd get at a hotel. Guys Burgers and Shaq's chicken was good.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
Rainy and cold so no outdoor activities. Did use the fitness center which was nice.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
Stage show and performers were good. Guitarist/singer was often off key. Duo was okay. Enjoyed comedian Doug Dougie.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Everyone was pleasant and efficient.
Ship Quality
1 out of 5
The ship is laid out so that sometimes you just can't get there from here. The decks are broken up so that you have to go up and down decks to get to some places. The main lounge in the center of the ship seats about 50 people - way too small.
Cabin / Stateroom
2 out of 5
The room had a good layout. The extended balcony was nice. The bathroom had a sewer smell when we boarded and the next day, sewage came out of the shower and toilet area. Was cleaned up and disinfected, but still had a slight sewage smell. The bathroom was worn - stains in the shower and the sink was chipped. There is no heat on the ship. The weather was rainy and cool. Our cabin's temperature was 65 degrees with no way to warm it up.
Ship tip
If you can only afford a Carnival Cruise - then go. But, if you can afford to go on another cruise line, I would suggest you do.
Only advantage to a table cloth is you do not have to disinfect the table (assuming they are trying to prevent norovirus and Covid). Clear the table, wrap the germs and food spills up and whisk away, toss a new cloth on, and set the table.
hate to break it to you, royal doesn't enforce the dress code either. btw.... why do people give a hoots about a table cloth? yeah it looks nice, but it just takes longer to turn the table and get others seated to eat, on top of it, doesn't make the food any better or worse
*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.
