I bought the $800 Cheers package only to learn that after the second day at sea my wife and I both qualified for free drinks in the casino. We did get cookies and dinner in the Chinese restaurant. Not quite the even trade but nice none the less.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Faster than any embarkation ever with expecption to the one time we had priority boarding. Carnival has made great improvements here.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
For the first time in a very long time I and my companions were disappointed in the dining room food. We attended the first two nights and the last night so we could tip our wait staff. (they were great) We tried two of the restaurants that you pay extra for. These dining experiences were much better. We didn't try the Steakhouse but did earn a casino coupon for Steak upgrades in the main dining room on the final night. The Chinese restaurant was very good with a lot of family sharing dishes. The Italian restaurant was by far the best. we had a birthday party for my niece and they took care of all 14 of us. Not one of us was disappointed.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
We took advantage of the spa, the pools, the waterslides, the iMax movies, the extreme movies, casino (too much) and some of the shows.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
I wasn't impressed with any of the entertainment. Sorry, but it was boring or in a lot of cases too much. I mean too much in terms of cussing, sexual innuendos and such.
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
My wife and I discussed this with several guests that we met along the way of our cruise. Service is always good, rarely did we find any negative service. When we did, it was always with the casino staff (dealers who really didn't act like they wanted to be there). One thing we all agreed on is that service seemed best when mandatory tips were not the norm. I understand completely why this practice was instituted. But we all seem to work a little harder and smarter when the opportunity to be rewarded is directly associated with our actions.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
Very clean ship, oddly six of us, my wife and I included, left the ship with a respiratory infection. I'm not blaming the ship but it seems odd that we all fell ill with the same condition?
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
Comfortable and well appointed. One reason I didn't give 5 stars is that there are no electrical outlets by the beds. I have to sleep with a medical device that requires power and had to call the desk for assistance. To the ships credit, they sent a very long extension cord that i have to run from one end of the cabin to the bed. Problem solved but very inconvenient.
Ship tip
You will have fun. Know this one thing, this is not an "all inclusive" vacation. Be prepared to spend for drinks, and some extras dining.
we just spent time at the dock and ate at one of our favorites, Pancho's Backyard. The guacamole is amazing and the service is impeccable. Fresh, homemade margaritas from scratch!
Great please to visit, can be expensive, people are nice and beaches are beautiful. Great place to purchase a good hand rolled cigar if you are into that.
My wife and I could bypass this port and not miss anything. The panhandling is ridiculous. I have pictures of a man walking the beach with huge bags of marijuana for sale. I will say he was the most polite when you said no thanks. Many of my family when to Mystic Mountain and loved it.
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