We enjoyed the cruise overall but it didn’t stack up well with our earlier experiences on other cruise lines. This was our first experience with Carnival and unless we are offered a significant price break over the other cruise lines and see some significant improvements in the future we will probably go elsewhere.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
We were held up for a while and they never really explained why. I got the impression it had to do with our CPAP arrangements, which I had alerted them to when I signed up.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
The Black Pearl (our evening dining room) was wonderful. The food was outstanding as was the wait staff. The buffet was adequate but less satisfying than the other dining venues. We enjoyed the grill, the barbecue, the pizza and the Mongolian Buffet. We never tried the Tandoor (Indian food) but it seemed popular. I purchased the bottomless bubbles beverage service and was disappointed by how cumbersome it was to get waited on. The vending fountains found on other cruise lines were far more convenient and allowed the bartenders to focus on their other clientele. It also would have been nice to have other options than soda. We loved the virgin pina coladas on Princess.
The Black Pearl Restaurant
5 out of 5
Great food and superior service. The only disappointment was the lack of attention to beverages other than water or alcohol.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
Trivia, arts and crafts, miniature golf .
Entertainment
2 out of 5
We enjoyed one of the comedians (out of four) but couldn’t get through even one of the song and dance performances. The people in charge of the trivia games seemed poorly prepared and under enthusiastic about the subject matter.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
The waiters, bartenders and room stewards worked very hard and did so cheerfully.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
The ship was well kept in terms of cleanliness. We did not enjoy the pink (salmon?) dominated decor and toward the end of the cruise the odor of sewage pervaded some parts of the ship. There were also several dining rooms (the Golden Pearl and the BBQ) that we’re far too difficult to find and mappage and signage was not helpful enough. You shouldn’t have to ask directions from the crew to find a dining room.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
We were pleasantly surprised by the spaciousness of the room and our steward was very attentive. Our only complaint was the limited options on the television. The Winter Olympics were under way and it was nearly impossible to find updates. The only news option was CNN. There should be at least one sports channel and several news outlets to provide balanced reporting.
Ship tip
If you like to sail with children and younger families Carnival fits the bill. Temper your expectations regarding entertainment.
We didn’t find much of interest in Mazatlan. The best part of our experience there was the WiFi cafe that allowed us to catch up on messages. The aggressive sales pitches by the cab drivers was annoying and overwhelming. It turned us off as soon as we got off the ship. I will say that the volunteer guides that were stationed around town were wonderful.
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