Absolutely loved this as a first time cruise. Definitely learned a lot. We went into it knowing that it was pretty much the cheapest cruise one can find in the Caribbean. Therefore, our expectations were low. Fortunately, the low expectations were exceeded and we enjoyed it very much. Despite some of the caveats from the rest of my review, it was a great value for the price. We are considering doing the exact same cruise on the exact same ship again with the whole family. We feel we are better prepared with what to expect and can better navigate the quirks.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
The "legitimate" on board activities were enjoyable (i.e. trivia games, love and marriage show, etc). But at least half of the activities listed in the Carnival Fun Times pamphlet each day ended up being some kind of a marketing sales pitch. Such as the "pampered ladies" party and the "Cozumel Highlights" show. I always felt like I was being suckered into a time share presentation.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
This is difficult to rate overall. Much of the staff was absolutely above the top excellent and deserve a solid 5 stars (room steward, assigned dining room waiter, cruise director, and chefs). On the other hand some of the staff was horrible and not at all interested in being helpful (guest services, fun shops, and shore excursions).
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Excellent ship, clean, decorative, and fun!
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Ship tip
This ship runs some of the cheapest cruises to the Caribbean to be found. Don't have unerealistic expectation and you will enjoy it very much. Try to take advantage of some of the smaller, quieter decks like the ones at the front of the ship below the bridge, it's very quiet and serene up there.
Miami was dirty, with horrible traffic and rude cab drivers. Don't spend any more time in Miami than you have to. If you have some spare time, go to Hollywood Beach in Fort Lauderdale, but stay away from Miami if you have a choice.
I want to give the port a 5, but this particular cruise (the Carnival Victory) has a horrible port time. Our port time was from 7am till 1pm. However, most of the tourist attractions (Hemingway house, etc) don't open until 9am. You want to try and get back on the ship an hour or so early. So you really only get about 3 hours of usable port time, unless of course you book an excursion somewhere off of the Key. We did not do any excursion, just walked around town a little bit.
I wish I could give this port a 4. We thought it was a cool stop, but you REALLY have to keep on your toes to avoid getting taken advantage of. Cab driver took us to the wrong place (trying to get commissions from one of his friend's businesses). Both our activities tried to change prices from the brochures we had in hand, citing outdated brochures. The Dolphin Discovery did not honor the "free transportation" back to our ship after the excursion and we had to pay for a cab out of pocket. Also, the Dolphin Discovery price included a buffet, access to their beach, and unlimited drinks. However, the buffet was closed before we even got there and they would not refund any portion of the prepaid voucher. We went to the Kakao Factory and the Dolphin Discovery and enjoyed both very much. Even after the pricing battles, both were still a good deal. Best to book and pay in advance. Also, the Carnival Victory's port time is horrible, noon till 10pm. I have to drop the rating down to a 3 because the Carnival Victory has a horrible port time, noon till 10pm. Most of the attractions on the island close at 3pm or 4pm, so you really only have about 3 or 4 hours of usable port time. So we would not try to do more than one activity in the future.
Agree with the staffing in the Fun Shops, Guest Services, Shore Excursions and add Medical. I think they put the most miserable staff they can find in those areas.
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