Overall, we were very disappointed in our decision to take this cruise. It was our first one ever, and likely our last. DO NOT GET THE WI-FI! It was a complete waste of money, as it never worked and cost a fortune.
Embarkation
2 out of 5
Embarkation was stressful to say the least. We waited in line for nearly an hour to get into the parking garage. Even though we were scheduled for our boarding time, it seemed like everyone showed up at the same time. Everything was very rushed.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
1 out of 5
Food was so so, however we only ever ate in the buffet and the small specialty restaurants during our trip. We were never able to get into the main dining area due to the 60-70 minute wait every night. The lines in the buffet were ridiculously long. The dining area was good, with plenty of seating available even considering the amount of people dining at any given time.
Onboard Activities
1 out of 5
We enjoyed our visit to the spa, even though it was quite overpriced for the experience. The pool situation was a nightmare. We were only able to get loungers anywhere near the pool on the last day of the cruise. The only reason I was successful that day is because I set my alarm for 7am to go and secure chairs. We got up at lunchtime to eat in the shade and when we returned, there were stickers on our seats indicating if we didn't return within a specific (short) period of time, our belongings would be removed. The cruise "code of conduct" indicated loungers should not be saved, but everyone did it because it was every man for himself. We tried to use loungers on the top deck one day. After being there around 30 minutes, the staff came by and said we had to leave so they could put away all the chairs. This was in the middle of the day. The workers stood over us waiting for us to quickly gather our things and leave so they could immediately take it away. The casino was very smoky and the staff there was rude.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
The cruise director, Austin was incredible. So personable and enthusiastic. Every event/show was way overpacked with people to actually enjoy.
Children's Programs
1 out of 5
They were unable to enjoy any activities for their age range. The O2 club was the only teen activity available and it was overcrowded as a result.
Service and Staff
3 out of 5
Our room steward, Darma was great. Very attentive and did a great job keeping our room clean and our needs met. The bar staff not so much. They were very rushed and impersonal. They did not pay any attention to who was next to be waited on and sometimes it took 20 minutes or more to get a drink.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
The ship was kept very clean. It seemed a bit outdated compared to other cruise ships we considered.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Our cabin was perfect. Very spacious and clean. Great layout and the large balcony was wonderful. The only complaint I have about it would be the cleanliness of the windows and the glass railing outside. It was very difficult to enjoy the ocean view as it was obscured and hazy.
Ship tip
Either spring for a better cruise ship/line, or skip the cruise all together. The two pools onboard were very small and the kid friendly one was chaotic. The adult one was insanely small and dirty. Also, DO NOT PURCHASE WI-FI! Total ripoff considering it never worked, like ever.
The area we boarded was dirty, the parking was insanely overpriced and over capacity even though we were scheduled for the very first available timeslot for boarding. We spent every minute of daylight on the first day cruising the muddy Mississippi River with absolutely nothing to look at but run down properties and barges full of coal. We didn't reach the ocean until overnight.
We booked an excursion outside of the Carnival ones available in hopes of avoiding the crowds of everyone on the ship being there. The excursion we booked was cancelled without our knowledge and we had to make alternative arrangements on the fly. The all inclusive resort the cabbie recommended was fantastic though. We got the kind of treatment and service there that was lacking on the cruise ship.
First, the port of call visit was the very next day following Cozumel. Back to back stops was not ideal. The pier to get to Progresso was about 2 miles long and not worth the trip to the end. We ended up doing some shopping at the small market located on the pier directly after exiting the ship. We hoped getting back on the ship early would allow us to take advantage of some of the ship's amenities while other passengers were onshore. This was not the case.
The elevators were completely inaccessible due to the large crowds waiting on them. We ended up having to carry all our own luggage down 7 decks to exit. You were herded like cattle when exiting.
By not booking an excursion through the ship and thinking cruisers would not be on your excursion, who did you think would be with you in a cruise ship port. If you had booked through the ship you would have been notified in advance if your tour had been cancelled and a refund made
You absolutely did NOT have a boarding time. There is no such thing. You had a time to check in. First cruises can be overwhelming and short cruises do not give you time to take it all in. Short cruises also tend to be more party type cruises. So short cruise out of a party town during spring break....
Your experience is quite common.
I definitely sympathize.
There are options and workarounds that make things go more smoothly.
Carnival is not the same cruise line that it was before covid.
Cruising is not for everyone. It’s always important to research what is and is not included as part of your basic cruise fare. Using during spring break is never a good idea.
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