Horrible customer service. Packed like sardines, cigarette smell was horrible

Item: Carnival Valor
Rating: 1
Author: pejoe

Carnival Valor Cruise Review to Caribbean

pejoe

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 6

Overall rating:

1 out of 5

8 Night Caribbean Holiday (Miami Roundtrip)

Sail date: August 27, 2016

Ship: Carnival Valor

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: Not assigned

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

We took this cruise as an anniversary package with all the trimmings. We went through security then through boarding which took us 2 hours. When on the ship the smell was horrible from people not being able to go to their rooms right before departure. The cigarette smell was so bad I had to go to the bathroom as I was getting sick to My stomach. My wife said She was not going to stay on this cruise one more minute so We continually asked the crew how to get off the ship. Everyone directed Us to another crew member and finally to the customer service desk. After another hour in line We asked to get off the ship as We were getting ill from the smell of the cigarettes and body odor from thousands of people crammed into a small section waiting for their cabins to be open. We were also suddenly asked to get out of the only available seats because of a safety concern of broken glass above Out seats which no one was working to correct. The only thing they did was rope off a section which the security officer took down because people were tripping over the rope. We finally made it to the customer service (??) and were treated like terrorists and continually interrogated as to why We wanted off the ship before departure. Finally someone with common sense said She would get our luggage which took another hour. We asked if We could get transferred to another ship or a credit and they said they had to refer Me to customer service (Funny I thought THEY were customer service??) We travel a lot but Carnival has lost Our loyalty and that of My business and partners!. .

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

Onboard Activities

5 out of 5

Entertainment

5 out of 5

Children's Programs

5 out of 5

Service and Staff

1 out of 5

Ship Quality

1 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

Carnival cabins are some of the best however the customer service, after a problem arises is terrible. You CAN'T find anyone the last day of the cruise.

Ship tip

People are packed in like sardines and the cigarette smell is terrible. People actually don't get challenged about smoking in non smoking sections.

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Ports of call

Port Canaveral, Florida

1 out of 5

Come VERY early

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33 Comments

valorier17 8 years ago

Exactly Mandan :)

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mandab 8 years ago

But fttf doesn't help smoking sections or crowds on board that's pre board help

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valorier17 8 years ago

rdcabc123 - Although I think this is a rediculous post, you can't say "to bad you didn't purchase FTTF so you wouldn't have this problem." Some of us have tried to get the all to elusive FTTF since the moment we booked (almost a full year prior to our cruise) which has been absolutely impossible. So although it would be nice, it's an impossible thing to obtain!!

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lenq1012 8 years ago

Haha hilarious..I could just imagine these 2 clowns running around trying to get off the boat

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dwayneshope 8 years ago

It sounds very much like your winning! If you didn't have a good time ,you're fault!!

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rdcabc123 8 years ago

You didn't get all the trimmings if you would have purchased faster to the fun and been on board and on your cabin in less than an hour. Also a dedicated line at customer service. Hope you find a perfect cruise in your perfect world. Maybe you can solve world hunger too.

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george727 8 years ago

Sounds like you wine like baby a lot if you need to escape the crowds go up the outside decks

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uteruskilla 8 years ago

And trust me Carnival will gain many more guests.

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cindyhoog 8 years ago

25 cruises with Carnival, 1 w Princess, 3 Big Red Boat and never ever had that type of nightmare experience. We know Carnival is not perfect but it is a reasonably priced all inclusive Vaca. We love Carnival!

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awesomerobot 8 years ago

This the funniest cruise review I've seen in a long time... or the saddest in terms of dumb reasons.

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taacman 8 years ago

Amen. It means nothing. Only a dumb dumb would not stand up and walk out on deck for fresh air. Have not heard of a guarantee but will check as information in passengers contract states that After a set number of days prior to cruise date that there is zero refund even if one person in a two person cabin does not go.

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adftaf2004 8 years ago

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valorier17 8 years ago

I'm confused. Now I have not yet cruised Carnival (my first is this Christmas) but......I have cruised many others and not one of those makes everyone cram into one area waiting for their rooms. You can go anywhere on the ship you please until your room is ready. So this makes no sense to me. Please specify in a bit more detail what the heck this post really means.

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mandab 8 years ago

What?????? That's insane

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tmylar 8 years ago

I loved the ship!!!!!

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Rwp5245 8 years ago

I never cease to be amazed how so many people enjoyed the cruise and one had a horrible time! I think you would be better to not cruise at all. I have been on Carnival ships for 35 cruised and the conditions you describe have never happened to me. Just stating a fact. So I don't know what to say!!

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AgM59 8 years ago

Some people are so FOS 😜

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terry115 8 years ago

These are big ships and you could not get away from the smoke and body odor? Where you in one of the life boats?

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johnpwilson92 8 years ago

ohhhh come on there is plenty of room on a ship..go elsewhere more room for us that enjoy carnival

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sassysandy 8 years ago

I love you and your posts...a great sense of humor!

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jmutt24 8 years ago

Enough with silly post like this. All ships have cig smoke issues, with all ships you go through a process to board. And it is just unbelievable that this person was stuck in a little area while onboard waiting for the rooms to be ready. It is a 100k ship, plenty of areas to go for the first hr or two until she their room is ready.

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tinawhateva 8 years ago

I've only cruised once but I find this whole post to be total nonsense. Who would get off the ship cause of b.o. and smoke. I hate smoke too but to get off the ship is just dumb. Maybe if you would have given it a few hrs you would have been able to go into your cabin away from the smoke. I don't believe you gave your cruise a chance. I'm sure losing you as a customer is good for carnival cause now you can complain about another cruise line. Imo!!!

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debbmike 8 years ago

Hard to believe everyone was just sitting around waiting in one little area. I'm not one of those who thinks that Carnival is perfect but some things people leave in their reviews are far fetched. Or people who are just never happy with anything.

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judyclark 8 years ago

I guess I am just lucky never had a problem with the smoke I have sail several cruises with Carnival I have 3 more booked all with Carnival last one booked for March 4th 2017 I love Carnival

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aleisha151 8 years ago

What time did u guys board?! I've never had to wait more than an hour for our room and time fly by as we had lunch before hand. Ppl smoking was never an issue either as I didn't go into those areas where they allow smoking!

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galaxy5 8 years ago

I have cruised on the valor and never had a problem with any thing you describe. Smoking is very restricted on the ship.so I guessing you were on the lido deck starboard one of the few places smoking is allowed.

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kiki120743 8 years ago

Which ship were you on.? And which port did you leave from?

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beyondblessed7 8 years ago

You say you travel alot but looks like you've only been on carnival one previous time. One bad apple doesn't spoil the whole bunch. Even cruise ships can have a bad day.

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kodak7 8 years ago

Wow. What a story. What was so different from your other cruise? What did you do years ago when everyone smoked. Lol, remember most of the offices being filled with smoke and as a nonsmoker just put up with it. Time to find a nonsmoking cruise ship. But oh, You also need a non BO ship. Maybe a winter cruise to Greenland.........

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debbmike 8 years ago

You beat me banaford. 🙂

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debbmike 8 years ago

Carnival Great vacation guarantee. Let them know within 24 hours of departure and you'll get a refund and they will pay to get you home. No questions asked.

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banaford 8 years ago

Please contact Carnival. They do have a guarantee. If you disembark within 24 hrs.

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barbnyy 8 years ago

Did you actually get off the ship and leave the cruise? Seems unlikely that they would give you a refund for those reasons

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