S
SMASHROX`
Guest
OK everyone. I have posted my review in the review section, and also here for your entertainment!
I've been on 2 previous Carnival cruises, and this past one was the absolute best in many ways. I'll break down my review into various sections. Beware, this is a lengthy (but thorough) review.
Arrival at the port....We arrived by car at Pt. Canaveral around 11:15. My parents were dropping my aunt, grandma, and myself off, so we were not leaving a car at the port. We arrived just after the ship had been cleared to take passengers. Until the ship clears customs, they will not allow any cars to the drop off area. Instead, they direct you to a parking lot to wait. We timed our arrival perfectly because we were about to pull into the parking lot to wait, when we were waived on through to the drop off area. We were dropped off at the terminal where the porters took our luggage.
Embarkation...We finally found out our cabin number when we checked our luggage (we had a GUAR 4F). We ended up with a one category upgrade to the Panarama deck. Carnival really outdid themselves after we checked our luggage. My grandma has very bad knees and cannot stand or walk far distances. We requested a wheelchair for her immediately. From that point on, we received the absolute best treatment. Carnival had a special wheelchair access entrance. We even had our own special attendant who came to us in the wheelchair line to process our paperwork. What surprised us after that was that the young man who was assisting us escorted us onto the ship, all the way to our cabin! He was extremely polite and courteous. We could not have been more appreciative. We were on the Lido deck having lunch by noon.
The ship....The ship is massive. Although it is very similar to the Triumph and Victory as far as the layout goes. There are two dining rooms, all the action (bars, casino, shops) were on the Promenade deck (deck 5). Some people have found the colors to be offensive. I thought the exact opposite. Sure they were bold and loud, but I think it was done tastefully for the most part. I also noticed a lot of great artwork all over that complemented the theme of the ship. Our cabin was an inside stateroom, equipped with a mini fridge, hairdryer, and to my surprise, terrycloth ROBES! I had never been on a cruise that had these in every cabin before. The gym was equipped with cardio and weight lifting machines, as well as free weights. FYI-the best hot tubs on the ship are in the Bronze Spa.
Ports...We have all been to Key West, so my grandma and aunt chose to stay on board the ship, while I ventured out with some friends I met on board. We did not book a shore excursion in this port. We simply shopped and did a little bar hopping at the famous places in Key West (Sloppy Joes, Hogs Breath, Ricks). The first day at sea and the day in Belize were ridden with rain (but hey, you can't control mother nature). We still participated in the shore excursion we booked through the ship in Belize. We decided on the Catamaran Sail and Snorkel. In Belize, they tender you to the shore due to the shallow waters. Our tour picked us up right from the ship, so we did not have to tender into the city looking for our guide. One of the guides I spoke with told me all about the history of Belize while we headed to our snorkel destination. Our snorkel destination was around a tiny island with about 10 palm trees, probably no larger than an acre. The catamaran docked offshore. They split the group into experienced and beginner snorkelers, and each group had a guide that took them snorkeling around the quaint island. I would rate the actual snorkeling experience as average. It's not bad, but not extraordinary either. When we were done with the snorkeling, we could swim to the island for some complimentary rum punch. They had floats and kayaks free to use. On the way back to the ship, the rum punch continued to flow, with caribbean music blasting. There was also Belizean beer available for $2, which I found was pretty good. I also want to mention that the cave tubing excursions were cancelled on our trip because the water level in the caves were too high due to the rain. I'm a veteran traveller when it comes to Cozumel, so I was in charge of the fun for our group that day. We all took a taxi (cost $14) to Playa Sol (beach resort). It's a great place and has something for everyone, from kids to adults. For the basic package, it costs $8 to get in. That provided access to beach chairs, floating mats, pool, games, hammocks. For an additional charge you can go parasailing, rent waverunners, book a snorkel tour, almost anything you can think of. They also have massage tables out on the beach. I paid $33 for a 30 minute massage, which was wonderful on the beach with the breeze. You could also get an hour for $60. There were other beach packages available for sale. You could get entry and unlimited alcoholic beverages for $30 and if you want to add the buffet to that, it was $38. They have cabana boys running around the beach taking orders for drinks and food, and they bring everything right to you. This was my favorite day overall, and it was not too pricey. Finally, for our day in Progreso, we booked an excursion to Dzibilchaltan (sp?) ruins. We chose that one over the Chichen Itza because we thought it would not be too strenous on my grandma's knees. Once we got there (by bus that picked us up from the pier), we realized that there was a lot of walking to be done so my grandma did not get to see much of the ruins because of her condition. My first complaint about Carnival is that the shore excursion attendant on board did not seem to know much about any of the excursions (except for what was in the pamphlet they give you on board-which I had already read myself). We had specific questions about how strenous certain activities were, and we did not get too much helpful information. So we booked based on the description and the activity level icon (FYI-Carnival rates its activies on a scale of 1-3...easy to strenuous). But grandma did get to see the main buildings of the ruins. The ruins themselves stretch over 10 acres. We walked and climbed up a few of the buildings. They had a museum there also with artifacts found in the ruins. Our guides were very knowledgable and friendly. At the end of the tour, we were able to go for a swim in a cenote. A cenote is a naturally occurring watering hole (kind of like a spring). It was refreshing after walking around all morning in the heat. And speaking of the heat, it was hot, but not nearly as humid as I thought it would be (and I'm from Florida). What I found interesting about Progreso is that it is not overly commercialized like the other ports, since it is a relatively new stop for many ships. It was sad to see how poor some of the people are in that town. All in all, I really enjoyed the itinerary of this trip, although I wouldn't mind dropping the Key West stop, and adding Grand Cayman or Jamaica instead.
Food...I very rarely found the buffet food in the Red Sail to be anything less than good. The food was always hot and plentiful. Although, keep in mind that it's still a buffet with 3000 people to feed, so it will not be the 5 star cuisine some expect. Go to the dining room for that! I also tried the Fish & Chips place. I don't like fish, and even I thought it was great. The Deli, Grille, and Pizzeria were comparable to the other Carnival ships. All tasty, and certainly a favorite for parents with children who were picky eaters. Food in the formal dining room was fantastic. I did not have anything that I did not like. My favorites were the Chateaubriand, Grand Marnier souffle, and prime rib. If you like lobster and prime rib (both offerings at the first formal night), go for the lobster. They offer prime rib again later in the week.
Service...We had the BEST service I have ever had on this cruise. I honestly cannot complain about anything. Our room steward, Ana was fantastic. When I first saw her, I asked her where the ice machine was so that I could ice down the "contraband" (aka beer) I had brought on board. She practically yelled at me for requesting. She said "You paid a lot of money for this trip, call room service and have them get it for you!" Now that's what I like to hear! She always kept our messy room spotless, with plenty of extra towels. She even kept my "contraband" iced down. Our dining room waiters, Daniel and Claudio, were so entertaining and personable. They spent lots of time talking to us, and getting to know each of us. It was so sad to say goodbye to them the last night because they made our trip so memorable. I was invited to dine with some folks I met on board one night, and I missed having Claudio and Daniel serve me. The waitstaff we had that night were efficient, but they were not as sociable as the waiters at my table.
Entertainment....The entertainment was average to good onboard the Glory. The Vegas style shows were definitely entertaining, and the lead female vocalist, Katrina Wright, had an amazing voice. Justin Illusion performed a magic show. He had us scratching our heads wondering, how did he do that? I saw all 4 of the adult comedy shows. The best one was Mike Macy. The ventriloquist we had the last night was marginally funny (nothing spectacular). And the other two did have us laughing, although Mike Macy had us practically rolling on the floor. The Talent Show had talent, but unfortunately, all but one performer sang, so there was not much variety. The bedtime story was hiliarious, even though I've seen it before on the Triumph. If you like kareoke, hit Bar Blue. It goes on almost every night there. And if you don't want to become an unwilling participant, you better clap for every singer! The biggest surprise for me was the Cinn-A-Bar piano bar. The piano player in there was quite a character. He really got the crowd going every night. I was very disappointed with the White Heat disco. Most nights it did not have too many people in there, and the music selection left something to be desired. I suppose it would be hard to cater to the likes of everyone, but I like to dance, and like to hear good music when doing so. The cruise director, Sarah Walker, put together all kinds of fun games by the pool for the days at sea. She had everyone entertained.
Disembarkation...Carnival allows guests who can carry ALL of their luggage off the ship first. For the rest of us, we wait until our color tag is called. We were called first, just past 9 a.m. We were off the ship and on our way back to Orlando within 45 minutes.
All in all, this was an excellent cruise experience. I had a wonderful time, and cannot wait to do it again. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at smashrox@aol.com.
I've been on 2 previous Carnival cruises, and this past one was the absolute best in many ways. I'll break down my review into various sections. Beware, this is a lengthy (but thorough) review.
Arrival at the port....We arrived by car at Pt. Canaveral around 11:15. My parents were dropping my aunt, grandma, and myself off, so we were not leaving a car at the port. We arrived just after the ship had been cleared to take passengers. Until the ship clears customs, they will not allow any cars to the drop off area. Instead, they direct you to a parking lot to wait. We timed our arrival perfectly because we were about to pull into the parking lot to wait, when we were waived on through to the drop off area. We were dropped off at the terminal where the porters took our luggage.
Embarkation...We finally found out our cabin number when we checked our luggage (we had a GUAR 4F). We ended up with a one category upgrade to the Panarama deck. Carnival really outdid themselves after we checked our luggage. My grandma has very bad knees and cannot stand or walk far distances. We requested a wheelchair for her immediately. From that point on, we received the absolute best treatment. Carnival had a special wheelchair access entrance. We even had our own special attendant who came to us in the wheelchair line to process our paperwork. What surprised us after that was that the young man who was assisting us escorted us onto the ship, all the way to our cabin! He was extremely polite and courteous. We could not have been more appreciative. We were on the Lido deck having lunch by noon.
The ship....The ship is massive. Although it is very similar to the Triumph and Victory as far as the layout goes. There are two dining rooms, all the action (bars, casino, shops) were on the Promenade deck (deck 5). Some people have found the colors to be offensive. I thought the exact opposite. Sure they were bold and loud, but I think it was done tastefully for the most part. I also noticed a lot of great artwork all over that complemented the theme of the ship. Our cabin was an inside stateroom, equipped with a mini fridge, hairdryer, and to my surprise, terrycloth ROBES! I had never been on a cruise that had these in every cabin before. The gym was equipped with cardio and weight lifting machines, as well as free weights. FYI-the best hot tubs on the ship are in the Bronze Spa.
Ports...We have all been to Key West, so my grandma and aunt chose to stay on board the ship, while I ventured out with some friends I met on board. We did not book a shore excursion in this port. We simply shopped and did a little bar hopping at the famous places in Key West (Sloppy Joes, Hogs Breath, Ricks). The first day at sea and the day in Belize were ridden with rain (but hey, you can't control mother nature). We still participated in the shore excursion we booked through the ship in Belize. We decided on the Catamaran Sail and Snorkel. In Belize, they tender you to the shore due to the shallow waters. Our tour picked us up right from the ship, so we did not have to tender into the city looking for our guide. One of the guides I spoke with told me all about the history of Belize while we headed to our snorkel destination. Our snorkel destination was around a tiny island with about 10 palm trees, probably no larger than an acre. The catamaran docked offshore. They split the group into experienced and beginner snorkelers, and each group had a guide that took them snorkeling around the quaint island. I would rate the actual snorkeling experience as average. It's not bad, but not extraordinary either. When we were done with the snorkeling, we could swim to the island for some complimentary rum punch. They had floats and kayaks free to use. On the way back to the ship, the rum punch continued to flow, with caribbean music blasting. There was also Belizean beer available for $2, which I found was pretty good. I also want to mention that the cave tubing excursions were cancelled on our trip because the water level in the caves were too high due to the rain. I'm a veteran traveller when it comes to Cozumel, so I was in charge of the fun for our group that day. We all took a taxi (cost $14) to Playa Sol (beach resort). It's a great place and has something for everyone, from kids to adults. For the basic package, it costs $8 to get in. That provided access to beach chairs, floating mats, pool, games, hammocks. For an additional charge you can go parasailing, rent waverunners, book a snorkel tour, almost anything you can think of. They also have massage tables out on the beach. I paid $33 for a 30 minute massage, which was wonderful on the beach with the breeze. You could also get an hour for $60. There were other beach packages available for sale. You could get entry and unlimited alcoholic beverages for $30 and if you want to add the buffet to that, it was $38. They have cabana boys running around the beach taking orders for drinks and food, and they bring everything right to you. This was my favorite day overall, and it was not too pricey. Finally, for our day in Progreso, we booked an excursion to Dzibilchaltan (sp?) ruins. We chose that one over the Chichen Itza because we thought it would not be too strenous on my grandma's knees. Once we got there (by bus that picked us up from the pier), we realized that there was a lot of walking to be done so my grandma did not get to see much of the ruins because of her condition. My first complaint about Carnival is that the shore excursion attendant on board did not seem to know much about any of the excursions (except for what was in the pamphlet they give you on board-which I had already read myself). We had specific questions about how strenous certain activities were, and we did not get too much helpful information. So we booked based on the description and the activity level icon (FYI-Carnival rates its activies on a scale of 1-3...easy to strenuous). But grandma did get to see the main buildings of the ruins. The ruins themselves stretch over 10 acres. We walked and climbed up a few of the buildings. They had a museum there also with artifacts found in the ruins. Our guides were very knowledgable and friendly. At the end of the tour, we were able to go for a swim in a cenote. A cenote is a naturally occurring watering hole (kind of like a spring). It was refreshing after walking around all morning in the heat. And speaking of the heat, it was hot, but not nearly as humid as I thought it would be (and I'm from Florida). What I found interesting about Progreso is that it is not overly commercialized like the other ports, since it is a relatively new stop for many ships. It was sad to see how poor some of the people are in that town. All in all, I really enjoyed the itinerary of this trip, although I wouldn't mind dropping the Key West stop, and adding Grand Cayman or Jamaica instead.
Food...I very rarely found the buffet food in the Red Sail to be anything less than good. The food was always hot and plentiful. Although, keep in mind that it's still a buffet with 3000 people to feed, so it will not be the 5 star cuisine some expect. Go to the dining room for that! I also tried the Fish & Chips place. I don't like fish, and even I thought it was great. The Deli, Grille, and Pizzeria were comparable to the other Carnival ships. All tasty, and certainly a favorite for parents with children who were picky eaters. Food in the formal dining room was fantastic. I did not have anything that I did not like. My favorites were the Chateaubriand, Grand Marnier souffle, and prime rib. If you like lobster and prime rib (both offerings at the first formal night), go for the lobster. They offer prime rib again later in the week.
Service...We had the BEST service I have ever had on this cruise. I honestly cannot complain about anything. Our room steward, Ana was fantastic. When I first saw her, I asked her where the ice machine was so that I could ice down the "contraband" (aka beer) I had brought on board. She practically yelled at me for requesting. She said "You paid a lot of money for this trip, call room service and have them get it for you!" Now that's what I like to hear! She always kept our messy room spotless, with plenty of extra towels. She even kept my "contraband" iced down. Our dining room waiters, Daniel and Claudio, were so entertaining and personable. They spent lots of time talking to us, and getting to know each of us. It was so sad to say goodbye to them the last night because they made our trip so memorable. I was invited to dine with some folks I met on board one night, and I missed having Claudio and Daniel serve me. The waitstaff we had that night were efficient, but they were not as sociable as the waiters at my table.
Entertainment....The entertainment was average to good onboard the Glory. The Vegas style shows were definitely entertaining, and the lead female vocalist, Katrina Wright, had an amazing voice. Justin Illusion performed a magic show. He had us scratching our heads wondering, how did he do that? I saw all 4 of the adult comedy shows. The best one was Mike Macy. The ventriloquist we had the last night was marginally funny (nothing spectacular). And the other two did have us laughing, although Mike Macy had us practically rolling on the floor. The Talent Show had talent, but unfortunately, all but one performer sang, so there was not much variety. The bedtime story was hiliarious, even though I've seen it before on the Triumph. If you like kareoke, hit Bar Blue. It goes on almost every night there. And if you don't want to become an unwilling participant, you better clap for every singer! The biggest surprise for me was the Cinn-A-Bar piano bar. The piano player in there was quite a character. He really got the crowd going every night. I was very disappointed with the White Heat disco. Most nights it did not have too many people in there, and the music selection left something to be desired. I suppose it would be hard to cater to the likes of everyone, but I like to dance, and like to hear good music when doing so. The cruise director, Sarah Walker, put together all kinds of fun games by the pool for the days at sea. She had everyone entertained.
Disembarkation...Carnival allows guests who can carry ALL of their luggage off the ship first. For the rest of us, we wait until our color tag is called. We were called first, just past 9 a.m. We were off the ship and on our way back to Orlando within 45 minutes.
All in all, this was an excellent cruise experience. I had a wonderful time, and cannot wait to do it again. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at smashrox@aol.com.
