This was to be our last trip, one trip to take my wife back to her homeland, Puerto Rico. While I understand caution, we had friends who were at Puerto Rico the day after we were supposed to be there and there was no sign of the storm - just beautiful weather. Making it worse, you substituted three terrible ports. The trip we paid for was not the one you delivered.
Embarkation
2 out of 5
We didn't know what we were walking into since our travel agent didn't offer much direction about getting me a wheelchair. The woman at the front who handled it was unpleasant and curt.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
1 out of 5
Way too many "extra" charges - too many specialty restaurants. The cafeteria-like buffet was unattractive, had the same offerings for breakfast, had overcooked food and half the time stations were closed so we had to wander around trying to find beverage stations or which buffet was open. It all felt very disorganized. The restaurant was not any better... extra charges, rude waitstaff, overcooked or cold food. The drinks were overly sweet from the premixes.
And the drinks package? My poor daughter was talked into the drinks package. She was charged for eight days. Only, when she got on the ship they told her she couldn't use it the first or last day (so that right there is like $140). They claimed it was because they weren't allowed to give out free drinks? But she paid in advance, so they weren't free. This applied to both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, by the way. Then on the second island, *your* private island I might note, you also forbade use of the package, bilking her out of pretty much a third day of drinks. The drinks packages are a scam.
Onboard Activities
1 out of 5
The two pools were tiny - much too small for the amount of people. I thought they were kiddie pools and it took me a second to realize that is all that there way. And I guess this is supposed to also mean the games? Because I didn't see a fitness center or rock-climbing wall. I couldn't even find a pool table.
Entertainment
2 out of 5
The main show was ok, but the stage was kind of small. There wasn't enough live music around the ship - just way too much loud DJ.
Service and Staff
1 out of 5
This is by far the grumpiest, rudest, arrogant staff I have seen on a cruise ship. The were condescending, seldom smiled and clearly viewed their work as drudgery. I was made to feel like we were beneath them and they resented having to help us.
Ship Quality
1 out of 5
This is the most poorly designed ship I have been on. Half the time was spent trying to get to places, which was no fun for me since I can barely walk. The elevator system was the worst I have encountered, causing me to wait for up to 10 minutes to go down one floor for an elevator that never came.
Having the dining room on two floors also caused extra pain for me since half the time we didn't find out what floor we were on until we were there and half the time I would have to go down or up to get to it. I finally gave up going to the dining room.
Splitting the pools the way you did was also not a great idea. It would have been better to have one big pool. And the fact the roof was closed 3/4ths of the time made the one area with the pool super stuff and humid.
Having to walk through the smokey casino to get to dinner was a horrible appetizer! I do not smoke, but the entire casino was a cloud of smoke. There should have been a designated, enclosed casino area for those who did smoke and then an open non-smoking one. Your ventilation system certainly wasn't working in the casino area.
Throughout the trip, I kept smelling smoke in the hallways, meaning people were puffing away in their staterooms. What is the use of having a non-smoking policy if it isn't enforced!
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
It was adequate.
Ship tip
Do NOT sail on this ship! Get your money back ASAP!
The storm. Instead we went to your private island, which was so rocky I nearly fell. On top of that you didn't allow my daughter to use her drinks package, which is ludicrous since you own the island. So not only did you save money on port fees here, you also made a ton of cash on beverages, even off those who paid your outrageous drink package rates. There should be a refund to all passengers from all that extra profit, especially to those who purchased a drinks package they weren't allowed to use.
The storm. Instead we went to Nassau, a shopping port. I can't walk far, so I didn't even get to see the beach, which I heard was super crowded and tiny. A second disappointing port.
The storm. Instead we went to Freeport. I did not even bother getting off the ship. My daughter said it was not worth it because it was nothing but overpriced shops, no nearby beach and that it was right down dangerous and crime ridden. Yet another horrible port to end our trip.
This was so incredibly disorganized. Being handicapped, we should have been the first ones off but instead were the last. There were hardly any wheelchairs, only one elevator in service, they weren't clear on directions on how to get the wheelchair. I am just glad my daughter and her friend were able to help me because your staff certainly was nonchalant about the whole scenario.
I’m going in January on the Venezia and have cruised before with different lines. I have never had trouble with embankment issues and I am handicapped. I also rented a scooter from scoot a round and had no issue with them. I also know that leaving New York port the alcohol package can’t be used the first day, was explained that when I purchased it so wasn’t charged for the whole cruise. Do your research and ask questions before during and after you sail. Also a cruise is what you make of it, if your miserable you make everyone and thing around you miserable too.
Sorry you where unhappy but as many have said- a little research goes a long way. And sounds like you need a better travel agent. Special needs at sea or scoot around is who you need to talk to to get a wheelchair for cruise usage.
I found most of your concerns to be valid. The food, smoking and especially lack of wheelchair accomodations is terrible. The weather however unfortunately cannot be helped and you sometimes have to miss ports due to diversions. Try contacting Carnival directly with your other concerns. Good luck.
Another person who did absolutely no research into cruising, cruise line, or the ship. Never bothered to read their contract or bothered to look at the deck plan of the ship. All the information you need is easy to obtain just by looking or even asking.
Always use a reputable travel agent who not only deals with cruises but is a cruiser! Always read the fine print! Always research a vacation before booking, whether it's a cruise or any other type. Being handicap on a cruise does not get you special privileges unless you request and pay for them. Your sail card gives you your dining information like which dining room to go to. This is so important when you're on a ship with multiple dining rooms that take up many floors on the ship.
The private island is not owned by Carnival but by their sister company, Holland America. Carnival has access to as a sister company, but there are no computers and internet access to the ships because it is a tender port, so the drink packages can not be used. As mentioned, a little reading on the website would have explained everything you needed to know!
Sorry to say the inconsistencies mention in this review in light of other reviews of the same cruise here and at other sites leads me to believe this is a troll, regardless of the Verified Review icon.
I don't see any other cruises under this profile. I would suggest doing some research about a ship, it's company and fine print before you ever cruise again. Maybe cruising isn't for you.
Noticed he also complained about the so called travel agent….which is a phone booker, most likely with World Travel Holdings. The last one I used admitted he had never been on a cruise or to the Mexican Rivera (booking Panorama), yet was a so called travel agent by the advertising for the service. While there are some good ones (had two out of four), most just operate from their apartment or home using VoIP phones that emulate several named companies like Marriott, American, cheap cruises, etc. and are only trained to get your money and maybe a correct booking.
Wow. Where do I start ...
First I was on the same cruise....
As far as missing ports .... remember how rocky the ship was last few days? At that time the storm was 380 miles to to east of us. At the time we would have been at San Juan, the storm was less than half that distance.
The decision was made for safety, as storms can change directions easily.
Also, in your contract for the cruise, it said itineraries can change without notice. In this case we had notice before we left.
On the elevators, they would work better .... If people read the instructions. You were to press the button for each person riding the elevator. Also, there was a special button for handicap which will limit the number of people on the lift.
As far as, what floor your reservation in the MDR. It states it in the app when you got your table number. It was right under it.
The drink package in NY and Tx always started on the 2nd day at 6 am. It was also stated when you purchased that package.
You only paid for 7 days not 8. The drink package ended at 6 am the Saturday morning we pulled in.
The rock wall? Well I have been on several Carnival ships, none of them have one. You sure you were on the right ship?
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