I really enjoyed this cruise. Ship, food, entertainment and service were top notch!
Embarkation
2 out of 5
Embarkation was long. Our check in time was 12:30-1:00 and we got to the port at 12:30. The line to check in was extremely long and not well organized. No one was checking anyone’s boarding papers for their checking times. I know that we are cruising in trying times so try to pack your patience because it took us 2 hours to get through the line.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
I thought the food on this ship was great! There are so many options and the quality is very good. Rudy’s Sea Grill was awesome, best lobster Mac and cheese I have ever had. We also really enjoyed Cucina del Capitano and Bonsai sushi. Emerils Bistro has the best sweet potato waffles for breakfast. I was glad that Carnival added Cucina del Capitano, Shaq’s Big Chicken, street eats and Chibang as free venues. The buffet area is so nice an airy, better than the dark cave like setting on other ships.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
Always something to do on this ship! Bolt the roller coaster is so much fun but a bit expensive. Instead of $15 a person maybe it should be $15 a ride vehicle so 2 people can ride for $15. Just a thought. There is an abundance of trivia on this ship as well as bingo, Deal or No Deal and deck parties. The water play area and the mini golf course was really nice as well.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
The added Grand Central entertainment area on this ship is awesome! There is always something going on there. The only downfall is there is not always enough seating even with 3 floors of seating. Bingo was a challenge in that area due to lack of seating. The theater is surprisingly small for such a large ship but the shows were good and the singers were excellent. The Family Feud Show is so much fun!! The comedy is the best of any cruise line and the Mardi Gras is especially great! There were many different comedians and showtimes through the cruise. Andy the comedy host was allowed a time slot at the end of the cruise to do his own show because everyone loves him so much and he was awesome!! The Punchliner was packed and he received a standing ovation! I hope he becomes a regular comedian instead of just the host.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
The service on this ship was excellent! Everyone we encountered was always friendly and eager to help in anyway. I especially thought the cruise director Mike Pack was really personable and did a great job! Our room steward NI was so nice and she really did a great job keeping our cabin tidy all week.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
I can’t say enough about the new design of this ship, I love it!! I love how modern it is but still has so much character. The colors they used keep the ship feeling fun light and airy. No more drab burnt orange! The ship is kept spotless and you always see someone cleaning. My only complaint is that the cabin bathrooms are extremely small! I like the decor but they did make them too small.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
I love the new decor of the Mardi Gras cabins. The colors are very pretty and relaxing. The lighting options and the extra plugs and usb charging areas are definitely an upgrade! I do find the over all size of the balcony cabins to be smaller than on other Carnival ships and the bathrooms are much too small! Also we had and extended balcony cabin and normally would have a lounge chair with that size balcony (there was plenty of room for it) but they opted for 3 regular chairs instead which was disappointing.
Ship tip
Bring some water with you to the port on embarkation day. The wait can be long and the weather can be hot!
I like this port because it is very convenient to go to the beach, do water sports, go to an open air restaurant and do a little souvenir shopping. It also has a chairlift to save you some walking if your tired after a long day.
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