Great First time Cruise
Carnival Triumph Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western
Contributor Level:
Purser
Cruises: 1 cruise (first)
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 35
5 Night Western Caribbean (New Orleans Roundtrip)
Sail date: February 26, 2018
Ship: Carnival Triumph
Cabin number: 1006
Traveled as: Couple
Reviewed: 6 years ago
Review summary
Overall, this was a great experience. Again, not being someone who thrills in group activities, there were plenty of places on the ship were I could be alone (Something I was afraid I would not be able to do before going on the cruise). Plus, at night, the view of the stars from the promenade deck were AMAZING! I think I spent a couple hours out there just gazing at the planets and constellations. I would absolutely do this cruise again.Embarkation
I had no idea how bad an embarkation could go, but my friend who accompanied me was pleasantly shocked at how smooth the embarkation went. From the moment we pulled into the port to the moment we were secure on the ship probably lasted less than 30 minutes!
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
The food was decent--plenty of it, maybe too much. The first two days I grazed the entire day, but after that, I started to skip meals because the food was just too abundant.
Onboard Activities
I took advantage of a free acupuncture consult, but was really disappointed. I was expecting at the very least a cursory examination (i.e. pulse, tongue coat, etc.) in order to determine particular imbalances, but was instead just given a checklist to note any issues I was currently having. The provider then looked over the checklist and said the service would be nearly 200.00 for what, I'm not sure, because nothing was explained. I politely declined, but was continually pressured to proceed with the treatment. I felt like I was at a car lot, or even worse at a jewelry store at one of the ports--this guy would not take no for an answer. Eventually I stood up and grabbed my belongings and made for the door. It was only then that I was allowed to leave. Because I felt so pressured to purchase a service that I clearly did not want, I didn't return to the spa, although one of my original intentions was to splurge on a massage.
Entertainment
I'm not a huge fan of group activities, so these wouldn't have appealed to me anyway. We did go to one of the comedy shows--it was more of a cringe-ful experience rather than being funny, and the magician was, sad to say, awful. I actually had the most fun just being a spectator at the karaoke bar...
Children's Programs
No children accompanied me.
Service and Staff
The staff was perfect--always attentive to any needs and willing to help out. I observed several occasions where customers were not behaving in the best manner towards staff, but in every occasion, the staff handled the issues calmly and curteously
Ship Quality
This ship had a perfect blend of common and out of the way areas where cruisers could go. I spend most of my time either on the less common decks or my balcony, but no matter where I went, the place was always clean and well maintained. The only complaint I have regarding cleanliness was a pretty constant sewer gas smell on the lower decks. Thankfully I was on a top deck, but if I were sleeping in a lower deck, I think I may have been a bit annoyed.
Cabin / Stateroom
The cabin was comfortable and clean. The fixtures were not in pristine shape, but it's an older ship and to be expected. Overall it was a good experience.
Ports of call
One of my favorite cities. We did a ghost tour the night before departure, and it was a great way to learn about local history we otherwise would not have learned.
Thumbs Up
4
We did not book an excursion for this port, but rather walked around the local area and had a small lunch. Other than the aggressive salespeople, it was enjoyable getting off the ship and just relaxing.
We did book an excursion at this port--the cooking class with a local. Sofia picked us up at Autoprogresso and drove us to her home while telling us about the local history and culture. The next few hours were spent in her kitchen learning to to prepare Yucatan specialties like Sikil Pak and Sopa di Lima. This was the absolute best experience of the entire cruise. Its been two weeks since we've come back, and I'm still constantly talking about it. I thoroughly recommend anyone who's considering taking this excursion to do so. You will not be disappointed, and in fact you may find yourself wanting to return.
Disembarkation
Just as embarkation, Disembarkation was smooth and without hiccup. In addition, there was a service that would hold and transport your luggage to the airport while we could spend the rest of the morning and afternoon exploring New Orleans.