It is good to see the Carnival is getting back to business as it used to be. They seem to have a grasp on keeping the whole ship safe as they have no reported covid cases. That being said, the Carnival experience is younger, drinking and partying ship. We tried it again after 10 years and were reminded why we do not choose Carnival for our cruises.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Fairly smooth but still a push and shove when boarding
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
Dining in the MDR was a very rushed experience. Food was mediocre. Meat was better than I remember, tasted good but not "hot" The buffet was a total fiasco. Mask police were stationed at each entry door enforcing that requirement. No one was pushing hand washing or sanitization. You even have to touch a sensor to open the door! No controls at all at the buffet. Everyone serves themselves. So big on masks but no sanitization regimen at all.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
Pools are crowded and chair hogs are alive and well.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
We went to one production show and the dancers and performers were excellent. It appeared it was a Halloween style show.
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
Room stewards will service your room once per day. When you meet your steward they will ask if you want AM or PM service each day. As we walked around the ship, we encountered staff and officers but got nothing more than an occasional head node as a greeting. Nothing is personal.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
The age of ship overall shows. I would say that Carnival did what it needed to do in order to get back up and running. Lots of visible rust.
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
The cabin needs updating. The cabin was quiet so we did get good sleep. Location of the cabin was just forward of the forward elevators, one floor up to the food and pools.
Ship tip
We had not sailed on Carnival for over 10 years. We are Platinum and that did not mean much to anyone. We did get priority tendering and disembarkation. If you like crowds and a real party atmosphere, go to Carnival. It is not the cruise experience we want for our cruise dollars.
You have to walk past all of the huts and chairs that you have to pay for to get down to the unspoiled beach to get some solitude. Otherwise, the party continued by the bar and huts.
I don't care what 4 day cruise you take, on any given line, they are "booze cruises". And no, your platinum status don't mean squat for boarding during covid, so get over yourself! Im platinum as well, and i hide my card because i don't want people to think im like you.
Really appreciated your review, wished you had a better experience. After 10 years, probably should've tried a more modern Carnival ship, but I understand that not everyone likes the larger ships. I was on the Sunrise last month and witnessed a lot of what you described, especially the lack of emphasis on the handwashing and sanitizing protocols. Still enjoyed the cruise, though. Carnival does have the reputation of being a party ship for the younger crowd, but as a member of the "older crowd" I find that I'm able to get what I want from any cruise, depending on my mood. I've managed to have very relaxing cruises, even on Carnival ships. If I feel like having a more active cruise I can do that as well. If I feel like a party cruise most cruiselines offer clubs and bars for that, too. Every cruiseline has its own personality, and some people find one that appeals to them and stick with it. Personally I'd try them all if I could since I don't have a favorite. Hopefully you find your best cruiseline fit.
Glad I was on Panorama, only had one entree that was not hot, and our server took care of it fast and then checked with us the next day when we had a different area to make sure it was done right there. Plus we got a lot of acknowledgments from the officer types we walked by.
We shall see in March if they stay good or backslide to the old Carnival.
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