Alaska can’t be beat! It’s beautiful. We’re already looking to go back. However, it’s unlikely to be with Carnival.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
We took the shuttle from the airport and all went well. Process seemed well organized and all staff were extremely helpful and friendly.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
We ate in the dining room every night with Anytime Dining so we always had different waiters, most were good, none were exceptional. Food was okay, nothing to write home about. Only utilized the buffet during breakfast - average at best. Usually ate lunch at the deli which seemed to be our groups favorite. Ate one burger at Guy’s Burger which was delicious. Also ate several pizzas at the Pizzeria Del Capitano which were made to order so was always fresh and tasty. The BlueIguana Cantina is also a good place to eat fresh food. We were surprised at the limited availability of food during off hours.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
Our main activity was walking on the outside decks enjoying the beautiful Alaska scenery. We didn’t utilize the fitness center or the pools.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
As with everything, some were good, some weren’t. However there was enough variety to find someone you liked. The stage shows had a few technical difficulties but the finale made up for the prior issues. I wish I could remember his name but there was a gentleman in the piano bar that could play and sing with the best. He was definitely our favorite.
Service and Staff
3 out of 5
Our room steward was very friendly and thorough so she should get a 5 star rating. However, the air conditioner in our room didn’t work until the 5th or 6th day. We reported it at least four times before we ever saw anyone, then we were repeatedly questioned about our ability to work a thermostat! Really? Finally, a maintenance guy came and finally fixed it… for a few hours! Normally, one wouldn’t need an air conditioner on a Seattle to Alaska cruise but unfortunately the area was experiencing a heatwave. The service desk would call about it but that was all. They gave us a $50 credit for our trouble.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
The inside of ship appeared clean but the outside windows were dirty and cloudy. The ship is in need of paint, etc, - an update is definitely needed.
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
We’d give this room a 5 if it weren’t for the horrible air conditioner. We never reached a comfortable temperature in the room. Often had to go in the hallway or balcony to cool off and get away from the stale air. Will definitely pack a fan for next cruise.
Ship tip
Check out the time you’ll actually have on shore and how you’ll get from boat to land. Compare itinerary with other cruise lines to maximize your time actually spent onshore. Other cruise lines appeared to have better and longer port times. Even though we saved money going with Carnival, we feel we cheated ourselves out of quality time in Alaska.
We did the Fishing and Wilderness Dining excursion which was my favorite outing. We had a great guide with his two adorable dogs who took us and another couple out on a small skiff, then took us to a beautiful island where they cooked our catch for us while we warmed ourselves around the most beautiful campfire and campsite I’d ever experienced. I could have stayed there for days! Will definitely repeat this adventure some day!
Excursions filled very early so we didn’t get to experience the glacier. Seemed we spent time here that could have been better spent in Juneau or Ketchikan.
The final disembarkation was painless, much unlike disembarking for two of our excursions. Having to use the safety tenders to ferry passengers to and from the ship took valuable time away from our limited time in Juneau and Ketchikan. It was also a bit embarrassing standing in massively long lines to board our ship when other cruise lines were berthed at the piers.
If you do go to Alaska again try Celebrity Solstice which we were on in late August 2015. It was fabulous. Great food, great service everywhere. Great ports. Victoria is a must. We took an excursion through the ship to Butchart Gardens and it was one of the highlights of our trip. They had a beautiful aircondtioned bus for us and we had a 45 minute tour around Victoria before arriving at the Gardens. What a beautiful clean city. We only had about 2 hours at tne Gardens before returning to the bus but we did get to see everything. Even had time to explore the huge beautiful gift shop there. We did arrive during sunlight with beautiful weather and it turned dark while still there but all was lit up and gorgeous. On the way back to the ship we did have more sightseeingo. Great excursion
Glad you enjoyed most of it. The round-trip cruises from Seattle always have shorter times in Ports, and sometimes one less port or glacier day, than the one-way cruises between Vancouver & Alaska.
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