It was fun, but Irma crashed it

Item: Carnival Victory
Rating: 3
Author: ferg333

Carnival Victory Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western

ferg333

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Reviews: 3

Helpful Votes: 61

Overall rating:

3 out of 5

4 Night Western Caribbean (Miami Roundtrip)

Sail date: September 04, 2017

Ship: Carnival Victory

Cabin type: Suite

Cabin number: 7295

Traveled as: Family (older children)

Reviewed: 7 years ago

Review summary

Overall it as an "okay" trip. We splurged for the Suite and ended up really enjoying that aspect of the trip. The rest of the trip was not so much. Port times were HORRIBLE and then on top of the regular port times, we were cut shorter because of Irma. But was told we can stay the night on the ship in port (I guess to get that last day in). Just a shame to spend so much money for a family vacation and this one was not a good one. Sad because we are Gold Members and can say the Ship, Staff, Room, Service, and Food were impeccable. The downs were the port times, our couch in our suite being left open all day and making it hard to walk by to get to the balcony, the typical casino smoke smell all over the photo areas, and the debarking was a not pleasant. Other than that, it was okay...

Embarkation

3 out of 5

We went on as VIP's, so the line was only long waiting for people to get their pictures to get on the boat. Which was a damn nightmare. They should make a separate line that states "NO PICTURES"

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

The ship is like everything else in Carnivals fleet, it was just "Okay". Lines are always long as expected.

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Activities were spread out, which sounds good... But you were running from one end to the other to do things.

Entertainment

2 out of 5

Show was just okay, nothing that makes you say "WOW".

Service and Staff

4 out of 5

Service was good. The only thing I did not like was that our Steward came in and made up our beds everyday. He never put the couch back up so we can watch TV in the living room. We were in a suite and this made it very difficult to walk out on the large balcony.

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Ship seemed to stay pretty clean. Even for an older ship. I was impressed.

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

Cabin was off the chain! Really liked it. The only thing we did not like was the steward left the couch out the entire trip and made it difficult to walk out to the balcony. If you want to splurge, get a Suite, you will not be regret it...

Ship tip

The ship was very nice. I just do not like the way the casino's are set up. You go to do pictures and end up smelling like smoke as that is where the photos are taken. We are not smokers and the smell will drive you out of there. Would be really nice when the ship was in dry dock to have a wall put up to hold the smoke and smells into the casino and not come out into the hallway where people are walking. We had our kids with us for photos and both were sneezing and wanted to leave.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Miami, Florida

2 out of 5

Getting to the ship with all the one way streets made it very difficult to get in. There are no gas stations around, so we had to drive 10 miles to fill up before we left port.

Thumbs Up 0

Key West, Florida

1 out of 5

Get off the ship at 8 AM, not a lot is open and get back on the ship at 1 PM???? Worst port times ever!!!

Thumbs Up 0

Cozumel, Mexico

2 out of 5

Irma had us cut our time short. We got off at 12 PM and had to be back NLT 6 PM. Total waste.

Thumbs Up 1

Disembarkation

4 out of 5

With Irma bearing down on us, we thought we would get priority to get off the ship as we purchased the VIP, not so much. We were herded out like the rest of the cattle. Customs was a little testy, but no paperwork needed to be done as we were getting off fast.

18 Comments

tpj2011 7 years ago

This joker has nothing positive to say about anything!

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Summerholiday 7 years ago

Sorry another that needs to have a bit of reflection ......😞of what was happening around you while you were being so inconvenienced were platinum what's that got to do with anything.. Irma would not care for heavens sake you were some of lucky ones ... shame !!!!self self and more self.

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lalligood 7 years ago

I sailed that same cruise in May this year. It's unfortunate that the time in Key West is that short, but it's always that short for that particular cruise! So this person knew that at the time of booking!!! Shortening the time in Cozumel due to one of the most powerful hurricanes of all time is nothing but complaining so you can complain. That's the risk you run with sailing during hurricane season...

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faithman43 7 years ago

It's very sobering to see when a natural disaster hits! I visited some friends in Joplin,Mo. in 2012 when that devastating tornado ripped through there. The news couldn't do justice to how bad it was. Complete neiborhoods just piles of rubble. The Main Street there (Rangeline Ave.) destroyed! Sometimes if we just sit back and count out blessings they far outweigh our challenges! My prayers go out to the people of Texas and Florida. I have relatives in both and seems like they are all ok. Have a great day all.

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Lovescruisin 7 years ago

😊 yeah we cruises once in June and now we LOVE cruising in December!!! Just the right temps and atmosphere 😊

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sopha 7 years ago

I cruise in January 😘😘

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Lovescruisin 7 years ago

So sorry @rksara....sending you my prayers also!!! It kills me to see ppl complain about hurricanes when they chose to cruise at this time knowing that it can happen and then have absolutely no sympathy for those that lived through it and lost so much!!!! Me..I try and make the best out of a not so good situation and my heart goes out to everyone that lost during these horrible Hurricanes😇

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sopha 7 years ago

lovescruisin, I just got mine back yesterday too. also had to throw out everything. some spoiled/entitled people on here.

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majmom96 7 years ago

@Lovescruisin - excellent point! Not much weight should be given to those who only post negative reviews.

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Lovescruisin 7 years ago

agree tink...im in SC we wasn't hit anywhere like y'all were.. (sending you prayers) but my husband and I just got our power back yesterday...had to throw away all food in fridge and my deep freezer!!!

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tinkerbella1986 7 years ago

do u not care that people lost everything due to the hurricane i live in fl and it has been bad no gas no water and food is hard to come by we have not had power for a week and ur bitching about this u really need to be thankful for what u got

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rooty 7 years ago

It's hurricane season....itineraries will change. Was the couch broken?

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Lovescruisin 7 years ago

Read his other reviews.. nothing is going to satisfy him!!!

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sopha 7 years ago

I've used the couch in a suite. All I had to do was ask my room steward to close it each day. Done.

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majmom96 7 years ago

@IkeDeb, good point on someone's job dictating the time of year someone can cruise. Ah, the joys of being retired. I have forgotten that there are real life constraints for most. However, then maybe the itinerary would be a better consideration to avoid hurricane season, like Mexico, Alaska, CA Coastal, or Hawaii? The west coast is usually calm when the east is suffering through hurricanes. Just a thought for future considerations.

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IkeDeb 7 years ago

May the next cruise be much better...majmom96 has a point. Sometime one's job might give no choice on when you cruise. Hope to see you on one in there future.

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Lovescruisin 7 years ago

I am surprised you that you took another Carnival cruise after reading your past reviews!!! Maybe cruising is not for you you never give a good review and all you do is complain about every little thing!!!

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majmom96 7 years ago

Interesting. Seems you are rating based on things that you either chose yourself (itinerary and port times) or the cruiseline had no control over (Irma). You may want to reconsider the timing of your next cruise and avoid hurricane season. As far as the couch being left down, I'm sure a request to your cabin steward the first time it happened would have been sufficient to remedy that situation.

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