Of all the cruises we have been on, and all the ships we have been on, this was the best by far. The ship is awesome, waitstaff and stewards went above and beyond. But there is one person who made this particular cruise the best, and her name is Kyndall. Her energy is beyond compare. She is friendly, fun, and knowledgeable. However much Carnival pays her, it is not enough.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
With only 2300 of a possible 4000 passengers, this was VERY smooth process. Quick and orderly, with all passengers following directions. From the time we entered the embarkation area until we were entering ship took about 35 minutes. We were early for our "appointment time" by about an hour.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
Some have said that food quality had diminished, but we would disagree. Meat was fresh tasting, and green (salads) were green with no browning on edges. And not just the first day, but EVERY day. In fact, if I were to compare food quality this cruise over most recent cruise, I would say it was on par/better than past cruise.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
Thermal suite in spa: $99 for week. As expected/ on par with past. Comedy clubs were good. Comedians were approachable/friendly when meeting them offstage/dining area. Saving the BEST for last: The main entertainment venue/ Liquid Lounge. We cannot say enough or praise these performers enough. The singing/dancing was WAY above anything we have encountered on any cruise. I am not one who normally gives a "standing ovation", but these folks made me rise to my feet. "Flick" and " America Rocks" were 2 of the best shows I have EVER seen.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
All performances were WAY above what we have experienced/expected. See "onboard activities" for our thoughts on these.
Children's Programs
No children on this cruise.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Room steward went above and beyond, and ensured if he saw us anywhere in the corridor, he said hello to us, by name. Our wait staff in the main dining room( Reflections) was phenomenal. I tend to drink a lot of water, and my glass was kept full. All food was delivered as ordered. Two nights, I ordered 2 appetizers, and Dennis brought the second one just as I finished the first. We ate breakfast in the Lido Marketplace, and everything was as expected. By day 4, the cook at the "eggs to order" section knew what I would order, and had it started before I got up to order it. The "bussers" were courteous and friendly, even getting water/juice for us if needed.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
We LOVED all of the "lounging areas, including the Serenity deck and even the Lanai. With only 2300 passengers, there were plenty of deck chairs/loungers, but I believe that even at capacity, there would always be a place outside to sit and relax. Now, I am a bit picky, so I will say that there were some paint splatters/paint on glass issues that could be corrected, but that in no way changes my view of the the ship. She is a fine vessel.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
The cabin was in line with the one other interior cabin we have stayed in. It was clean and fresh, with no lingering odors common on the interior of ships. I did, however, only give the room a 4 because of the noise from the Lido deck in the later hours. We were awakened more than once by the moving/stacking of deck chairs/loungers. In no way is this a reflection of our room or the steward but only a lesson to us to notice the location of our room.
Ship tip
She is a large vessel. Familiarize yourself with the layout prior to sailing. And, ENJOY.
Having had surgery 7 days before this port, we scheduled no excursions. We walked to the "Belize" sign and the Bliss "light house". We then perused the shops, picking up a few items for our hot tub/patio area. The smaller shops will haggle with you on price, if you are so inclined. Belize is not one of our favorite stops, as the crime rate is a bit high. On a previous visit, we did the "Altun-Ha" Mayan ruin tour. It was great, but all of the other excursions seemed a bit strenuous for 7 days post-surgical. So, we just kinda "hung out".
Beach escape excursion. Edgar was the greatest. Waited on us, called us by name. Although it rained for about an hour while we were there, we still have a great time and would recommend this for anyone just wanting to relax. For $60.00, you can get unlimited drinks for 2 for 4 hours and one entre each from the menu. We both had the chicken tacos. They were quite tasty. Shopping in the "tourist area" is a bit pricey, and again, some of the smaller retailers will haggle on price.
Quickest I have ever gotten of a ship. We had nothing to declare, and purchased no alcohol. From the time our number was called until we were waiting for Uber was about 15 minutes. That includes retrieving our luggage.
Thanks for info. going on Vista in a week, our third time on the ship. was wondering how full, etc it was. Kyndall is one of my favorite cruise directors
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