rerouted from Eastern Caribbean to Western Caribbean due to hurricanes

Item: Carnival Splendor
Rating: 2.9
Author: MaxnRose

Carnival Splendor Cruise Review to Caribbean - Eastern

MaxnRose

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 1 cruise (first)

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 66

Overall rating:

2.9 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Eastern Caribbean (Ft. Lauderdale Roundtrip)

Sail date: September 23, 2017

Ship: Carnival Splendor

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 1056

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 7 years ago

Review summary

This was our 1st and probably last cruise. We were ready to go home after 3 days. A lot of people seemed to get ill and we were ill on the 5th day. Started with a sore throat, then coughing, slight fever, and very loose stools. Not seasickness, caught a bug that was going around, probably from the buffet spoons and tongs shared with 1,400 other people

Embarkation

2 out of 5

long lines, disorganized mess, luggage showed up around 7 pm, overall dreadful experience

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

the food was bland and boring overall, only basic drinks provided such as coffee, tea, milk and juice. all other beverages were way over priced!

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

same ole stuff day after day

Entertainment

3 out of 5

not impressed, if you didn't see them you wouldn't have missed much

Service and Staff

2 out of 5

questionable personal hygiene, caught several leaving the restroom without washing their hands, wife witnessed same in the ladies room

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

the ship layout was good, easy to get around and they seemed OCD about cleaning everywhere

Cabin / Stateroom

4 out of 5

really glad we upgraded, the interior cabins were like walking into a small cave

Ship tip

we were walking over 14000 fitbit steps daily, but still sat around way too much. we don't drink alcohol, which seems to be a prerequisite for avid cruisers. everything is paid through your ship card so it's easy to loose track of additional expenses. check the kiosk daily if you need to watch the bottom line.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Ft. Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida

3 out of 5

we used the excursion transfer from the airpot $32 for the two of us while others went in groups of 6 for $25 using private shuttle service

Thumbs Up 1

Grand Turk Island Did not visit port

rerouted to Western Caribbean

Thumbs Up 0

San Juan, Puerto Rico Did not visit port

rerouted to Western Caribbean

Thumbs Up 0

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas Did not visit port

rerouted to Western Caribbean

Thumbs Up 0

Amber Cove (Puerto Plata), Dominican Republic Did not visit port

rerouted to Western Caribbean

Thumbs Up 0

Disembarkation

2 out of 5

longer, slower process due to customs

20 Comments

OceanSky 7 years ago

@ Kkennedy35... and I do hope you're feeling better. It sucks to get sick while on vacation.

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

OceanSky 7 years ago

Kkennedy35 ,actually people DO go on a cruise trip when sick. A lot of times it happens when the party in question doesn't purchase cruise insurance and they get sick right before the cruise. They can't get their money back and they don't want to cancel their family vacation so they basically cross their fingers and hope they'll be better in a day or two. This is one of the reasons passengers are required to sign a form before boarding the ship, that states they are not ill or running a fever. Crew members who show ANY sign of illness are confined to their quarters so as not to spread what ever it is they have. I personally think most bugs people pick up on a cruise are spread via the tongs in the buffet line or being in a packed elevator or comedy club. Any time you pack a lot of people in a closed space you have the potential for a bug to be spread.

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

kkennedy35 7 years ago

it's always good to wash and sanitize hands but that doesn't help when the virus or bacteria is in the air or your food, utensils or table is contaminated!

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

cruisefreak11 7 years ago

Wash you hands! Our 19th and no issues!

Thumbs Up 3

Flag

kkennedy35 7 years ago

I got sick too with this virus last week in the middle of the cruise trip and still struggling with the flu. The ship has a poor sanitation cleaning and poor housekeeping compared to 4 years ago with splendor. I have noticed a lot of people were sick last day of the cruise. I was even sorry to see a 70 years old lady coughing like crazy and this can kill people. Nobody goes to cruise trip when they are sick. This virus is certainly sourced from ship or the shipcrew.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

cruisingfam 7 years ago

Sorry to hear you got sick. Been there once on the Royal Caribbean freedom of the seas. Since then we make a quick trip to dollar tree and spend $15 on extra germex, Lysol and Clorox wipes and wipe down everything in the cabins a few times during the week especially the disgusting remote and spray everything before our luggage gets to the cabin. Germex we get the ones with the little holders and put them on purses and backpacks so we always have some. Knock on wood worked so far, including a trip on the splendor. 5 weeks from today on the breeze. Can't wait.

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

leslielovescruzin 7 years ago

After getting buffet food we wash our hands before eating or use hand sanitizer. That help prevent the spread of germs from serving utensils. More ships have hand washing stations right in buffet area too !

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

briceand4 7 years ago

Ctav try reading the review again. Maxnrose did not say all 1400 passengers got sick nor that carnival was to blame for the passengers that got sick on the cruise. They said that 1400 passengers used the serving utensils. A good way to pass germs. I agree with the use of airborne. My family has used it for years. I have four kids and once we started using airborne sickness in our home became very infrequent. Another thing I do on cruises is bring wet ones anti bacterial hand wipes. We take them to meals and use them before we eat. I also bring clorox wipes and disinfect the room first thing. Even with all these precautions you cannot always avoid sickness on land or sea.

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

briceand4 7 years ago

Thumbs Up 3

Flag

ctav 7 years ago

It's quite possible that this "bug" was brought on board by a passenger or passengers because for all my experiences with researching cruises, I haven't read where Carnival is recruiting a "bug and with that said, blaming Carnival for 1,400 passengers getting sick is far more than pushing an actual number. Think about it. Claiming 1,400 people is very news worthy and there isn't a news media out there that is likely to let a chance to bash Carnival get by them.

Thumbs Up 3

Flag

Castiel 7 years ago

Use the hand sanitizer?

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

ultragrl 7 years ago

sorry you got sick- hope you'll see it as an unfortunate incident & get back onboard in the future. I agree with all of the immune boosters tho, I always add something before, during and a few days after.

Thumbs Up 2

Flag

thetravelingq 7 years ago

done Splendor 3 times in 3 years. great everytime

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

trenstravels 7 years ago

Sorry you were sick and hope you are all recovered. I usually take airborne before and during most of my cruises to help ward off airborne germs. I am actually looking forward to my upcoming cruise on the Splendor with my sister. We are hoping to take in all the carnival colors, shapes and sounds of the ship. Hope you will give cruising another try

Thumbs Up 2

Flag

CrusinAl 7 years ago

Wife n I were on Splendor in June, wife was sick by Wed and me by Friday. In 8 cruises first time either of us got sick.

Thumbs Up 2

Flag

cruises17 7 years ago

want we do before and during cruise is we take airborne immune booster.

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

majmom96 7 years ago

Hope you recover quickly. Cruising is not fun when you’re sick. I usually avoid the buffet and eat most meals in the dining room. It limits exposure to sick people. Something to consider if you ever do another cruise.

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

GIL155 7 years ago

You were on a small ship. Sorry you were sick. Hope you have recovered. Better luck on your next vacation.

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

GospelCruiser 7 years ago

so sorry you had a bad experience,I hope you will change your mind and give cruising another chance!

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

OceanSky 7 years ago

So sorry to hear you got sick. Unfortunately a cruise ship is pretty tight quarters and even with sterilized spoons and tongs, bugs and viruses spread like wild fire.

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

Other reviews of this sailing

Pretty good

East goes West

POOR SUBSTITUTE!!!!!!!