Overall this is a very nice ship. There is a lot to like. My biggest issues were the shear amount of people on the ship, the service my room attendant gave us and what I feel is a downgrade in food quality. Maybe its the amount of people this staff had to attend too this cruise and the fact that its a bit more of a boisterous group of cruisers who are used to good quality service but in some cases I think the staff could have been better. All that said I would definitely cruise with this ship again if given the time and opportunity and see for myself if it was an aberration or an issue that management must address.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Very Smooth! No issues or concerns on this trip out of the Greatest City in the World!
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
DISCLAIMER: I never ate in the Marco Polo or the specialty restaurants so this is specific to the Lido Deck spots and the Canal Grande Restaurant. The lido deck buffet was okay especially if you wanted salads and fish. As I mentioned in my review title the ship was crowded and as a result the buffet lines reflected that. New York is known for its long lines and this cruise emulated that to a tee. The dining at the Canal Grande restaurant was hit or miss for dinner. The breakfast was great and I preferred their Breakfast to all the other options available to me. On the lido deck the Tomodoro, Guy's burger joints and the Pizzeria del Capitano all had excellent options and I must say the ones I preferred the most. Guy's Burgers are always a great spot on all the Vista Class ships I've been on and the first place I go to when I get on a ship. I guess the food could have been better but I think carnival is trying to maximize profits and going the way of cheap eats in the main dinning hall. They used to be so much better. We'll see in the future cruises how it goes.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
I enjoyed the activities immensely. The trivia games, bingo, shows, comedy. it was all what ive grown to expect from Carnival.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
The shows and DJs were great as was the Cruise Director, MarQ. The first show, 'Color my World' I was a bit disappointed with and I will say it sucked as far as I'm concerned. The two last numbers were good but the body of work as a whole just didn't bring that carnival feel. However the great crew at the Teatro Russo put on some great shows with 'Epic Rock' & 'Vintage Pop' . Those two shows, one of which I already saw really showcased the talented dancers, singers and stage hands that carnival employees. The Vintage Pop show was a new one to me and I really can't wait to see it again. The 80's show was good and a lot of people enjoyed themselves, did I mention the cruise was crowded.
Children's Programs
5 out of 5
We brought the grandkids on this cruise, their first, and they loved the activities available to them at Camp Ocean. I highly recommend this and encourage parents to tips the staff generously.
Service and Staff
3 out of 5
This could have been so much better and I think its where this ship can make progress. The staff have potential as many of the employees, the bartenders, the wait staff, the attendants all get the customers service theme however some need to get refreshed on the company goals.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
The staff was quick to clean most spills, wet floors and discarded items in the public areas. The shear size of the NYC cruise crowd may have overwhelmed them.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
It was comfortable for my needs, I wanted an interior so I could sleep in complete darkness and this suited my needs. The room attendant was not that good and I think he had his assistant doing most of the work.
Ship tip
If you want quiet get an interior room outside of the common areas as if the ships sails out of NYC the kids run rampant. Security was present but they were outnumbered by how many new cruisers with no clue on cruise etiquette.
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