Not our usual Carnival experience, but we will still cruise with them again.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Having times to board is helpful. Lines moved quickly.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
One thing we've always loved about Carnival is the food. Sad to say the menu options in the main dining room are not as good as they have been. The last day nothing looked that appealing so we paid for specialty dining. Jambalya, Lasagna, Southern Fried Chicken, are main entrée selections - none that special. Side portions are itty bitty (2 pieces of broccoli), mac-n-cheese in a tiny ramekin that typically holds ketchup. I understand waste is an issue but maybe they should have sides as an option and people who don't want it don't get it. Wait times were longer once sitting, "show time" is now just one to three people.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
The two pools on the vista are overcrowded and full of kids (of course!). It would be so nice to have a pool in the adult only area instead of the Havana area, where it seemed no one ever was. (maybe that's the reason people pay double to be there.) Casino was SOOOO filled with smoke. We could not wear our clothes again after being in the casino for an hour. We love to play the table games but after an hour of the second hand smoke I had a horrible headache. They really should stop allowing smoking indoors altogether.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
Did not enjoy the comedian, did not go back. Went to two shows which were good but not great - pretty typical for cruise entertainment. Our daughter enjoyed them.
Children's Programs
4 out of 5
Our older teens really enjoyed hanging out in O2
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
The staff was really friendly - this is one thing we love about Carnival is the warmth of their staff. Sal (Casino dealer), Raini (cabin steward) remembered us and called us by name.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
We could hear thumping music at night, our sink only had scalding water (very difficult to brush teeth with such hot water), no bathrobes are provided anymore, and there is only one cabin cleaning each day. This is the most regretted change. I have always loved the turn down service and towel refresh each night. We are early risers so our cabin was cleaned before lunch, but after being at port or outside we would shower again before dinner. If our pool towels were wet or sandy, it was up to us to get new ones. I didn't like this aspect at all, especially since cruise prices have gone up in recent years and now services are cut.
Ship tip
Go for higher than the 6th floor. We could feel the engine / sea movement, it was loud - we could totally hear our neighbors. We were on the Vista in '21 and on the 11th floor and found it much quieter.
We used to be able to just get up and get off the ship with self carry. Now they call by muster station and we had to wait two hours to get off the ship. There was no where to sit - other passengers put their bags on seats and took up all the seating. This is a very difficult and crappy process with children. It also delays your ability to get home in a timely manner. I cannot imagine having to fly out of Houston with the way they disembark now.
Yes! I agree about the dining room options! We only ate in there one day. Just nothing looked great or worth the try. We just ate in Buffett area each night.
They have Billions in losses to recoup from the 2 year closure so sadly I think the food quality and service is going to be crappy for quite a while. It won't stop me from sailing though. As long as I have my balcony and they keep the feeding trough filled I'm happy.
Glad you enjoyed the cruise minus a few hiccups. One thing to look forward to when the Jubilee arrives in December is the expanded Adults Only Serenity area with its own pool and 2 large hot tubs! I hope your next cruise is better and closer to what you’ve been accustomed to in the past. Happy Sails 🛳️🏝️
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