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buck_i_chic
Guest
I am reading the Carnival reviews on this site and several others and have found that there are many unahppy Carnival cruisers. Dirty cabins, long lines and on and on.....what seems to be the problem?
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CherieS
Guest
You get what you pay for. The Sensation was the pits (but was clean). I paid big bucks for Princess, had better food. The cruise lines suck you dry,,,,,,,, MHO I don't fly, this was my way of seeing Mexico, I loved the whole 2 stops out of 7 days.... I need to learn to fly & spend 5 days sitting on the beaches not sitting bored on a ship in the middle of the ocean
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LHP
Guest
[quote buck_i_chic]I am reading the Carnival reviews on this site and several others and have found that there are many unahppy Carnival cruisers. Dirty cabins, long lines and on and on.....what seems to be the problem?[/quote]
A lot of the complaints are from Carnival's error with the Holiday and Sensation. Carnival was dealing with an unknown. They have never had ships sit for 6 months. Huge pieces of complicated machinery that was out of its routine for 6 months will generate an unusual drydock and Carnival should have added 2 weeks onto their drydock schedule to compensate.
Long lines are to be expected on these cruise ships with over 2,000 folks on them. Oddly enough, we have never had a problem with lines. But perhaps that is because we ate at odd times.
As for other minor complaints, you can't ever tell if they are legit or just someone with a starfish up their fanny. There is always going to be a percentage of people who nitpick about the cabin or the food or something. Seasoned mature cruisers know how to roll with the flow.
I can only go on our family's experiences, (which as you can see) has been many. We have cruised on all size ships during all different times of the year. Some have been better than others, but not a bad one in the bunch.
A lot of the complaints are from Carnival's error with the Holiday and Sensation. Carnival was dealing with an unknown. They have never had ships sit for 6 months. Huge pieces of complicated machinery that was out of its routine for 6 months will generate an unusual drydock and Carnival should have added 2 weeks onto their drydock schedule to compensate.
Long lines are to be expected on these cruise ships with over 2,000 folks on them. Oddly enough, we have never had a problem with lines. But perhaps that is because we ate at odd times.
As for other minor complaints, you can't ever tell if they are legit or just someone with a starfish up their fanny. There is always going to be a percentage of people who nitpick about the cabin or the food or something. Seasoned mature cruisers know how to roll with the flow.
I can only go on our family's experiences, (which as you can see) has been many. We have cruised on all size ships during all different times of the year. Some have been better than others, but not a bad one in the bunch.
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coachbuilder
Guest
You just can't please everybody all of the time. And if you look hard enough, anyone can find something to complain about. For instance it was cold and raining when our cruise departed in Dec. How dare Carnival schedule departure on a day like that. Seriously, as you will read over and over on this and most other boards, a cruise is what you make of it.
We had an excellent time on our cruise in December. We stood on the top deck in the rain with a drink in our hand, just happy to be somewhere besides home or work. The dolphins were playing beside the ship on the way out of port, we wouldn't have missed that for anything, and wouldn't have seen it from our cabin. It's the little things. Don't let others negativity keep you from trying a cruise.
Better a rainy day on a cruise than a sunny day at work.=COOL
Jess
We had an excellent time on our cruise in December. We stood on the top deck in the rain with a drink in our hand, just happy to be somewhere besides home or work. The dolphins were playing beside the ship on the way out of port, we wouldn't have missed that for anything, and wouldn't have seen it from our cabin. It's the little things. Don't let others negativity keep you from trying a cruise.
Better a rainy day on a cruise than a sunny day at work.=COOL
Jess
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serene56
Guest
Before we left on the Liberty in February majority of reviews were coming back with no so good reports. Most talked about bad food and service. Unhappy crew etc. We boarded worried about what we will find. We found nothing that these people were complaining about. I will say it goes with what your expectations are for your cruise.
If you expect 5 star quality food in the dining room--you will be quite upset. If you expect your cabin steward to be your new found best friend again you will be disappointed. (these people have 20-30 cabins to clean twice a day and if they stopped and chatted with everyone the cabins will not get cleaned-- fi they do their job and you get fresh towels..then you sould be happy.
Also- cabin stewards are off from noon til 5-- if you need ice-call room service.
If you expect 5 star quality food in the dining room--you will be quite upset. If you expect your cabin steward to be your new found best friend again you will be disappointed. (these people have 20-30 cabins to clean twice a day and if they stopped and chatted with everyone the cabins will not get cleaned-- fi they do their job and you get fresh towels..then you sould be happy.
Also- cabin stewards are off from noon til 5-- if you need ice-call room service.
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dollydish
Guest
I have never found the problems people talk about. Maybe I am just lucky. The rooms are always spotless...the food is always great. The lines sure they are long sometimes. Have you never had to wait on a buffet line at a wedding or any kind of party........with that many people there are bound to be lines. People that complain about lines should go on a small ship where they cater to the individual. As far as the staff we have always had pleasant and very accomodating staff but then again we are very laid back and treat the staff with the respect they deserve and we always get it back........You get more with honey than vinegar....very old saying but it really works so smile and enjoy
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viet630
Guest
We just returned from the Legend 8 day southern and I cannot say enough good about the quality of the food and the service was excellent. This was one of the friendliest crew's we have ever sailed with. evryone of them seemed to enjoy thier job's.I will definately go with carnival again and probably on the legend. We have sailed with Celebrity the last 4 years and I can tell you this Carnival's ship's are much cleaner, the food quality was much better and the service was just as good. And this was for about half the price of Celebrity.You just can't make some people happy so I would take the bad review's with a grain of salt. Viet
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dollydish
Guest
We will be sailing the Legend in 17 days and we can't wait. I hear she is beautiful and the food was excellent.
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buck_i_chic
Guest
Thanks! I was just looking at the Valors reviews here lately and am kinda scared...lol
I have friends that play in a band on that ship so I am awaiting there response as well. My last cruise was awesome although we did not get to stop anywhere I stayed out til 3am and just enjoyed myself, along with my sister.
Thanks again~
I have friends that play in a band on that ship so I am awaiting there response as well. My last cruise was awesome although we did not get to stop anywhere I stayed out til 3am and just enjoyed myself, along with my sister.
Thanks again~
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CherieS
Guest
"seasoned mature cruisers" that is such bull. I am not a kid, I am not the person that is "going to find something to complain about". The Grand Princess was very nice. awesome buffets. The Sensation, had ONE side of the buffet open... the other side was for the crew. They didn't fill the pool till the next day at sea. They closed it the day before we got back so they could clean it. So the pool was open 2 out of 5 days. Yes, I agree, cruise on the newer bigger ships, that way you can also brag about how much you spent for the penthouse suite. People complained about the purple neon on the Sensation, I enjoyed it. Yes the ship was clean. But if you want good food, don't go on the Sensation. The Grand Princess had its moments of rocking, the Sensation was horrible for motion! Well duh, 'the cruise lines don't control the weather"......... why do you all 'seasoned MATURE cruisers' love talking down to people? It shows what some of the people are like on the newer big ships. We were on the bottom deck, we loved it, right on the water! Sit in the window & watch the water 
Some snobby b_ch in the elevator says 'oh you're in the basement'. I would rather be in the 'basement' with the 'real down to earth people' than with people like her in the penthouse.
Some snobby b_ch in the elevator says 'oh you're in the basement'. I would rather be in the 'basement' with the 'real down to earth people' than with people like her in the penthouse.
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buck_i_chic
Guest
CherieS,
What cruise did you go on and when?? The one that was bad?
BTW, the love the basement too! We were a decks from the bottom last year and had no problem being there. When I booked my cruise for August I said cheapest floor, interior. I am not in my room long enough to worry about what floor I am on. Thats why they have elevators!
What cruise did you go on and when?? The one that was bad?
BTW, the love the basement too! We were a decks from the bottom last year and had no problem being there. When I booked my cruise for August I said cheapest floor, interior. I am not in my room long enough to worry about what floor I am on. Thats why they have elevators!
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LHP
Guest
If some people will take 10 minutes to actually read the posts that are written, they will see that I started my post with " A lot of the complaints are with Carnival's error...." To the normal person that would acknowledge that there were problems with the Sensation and the Holiday. So the first thing I did was call Carnival on their error of rushing these ships back into service. In other posts, on other boards, I have repeatedly said that these folks deserve a 50% discount on a future cruise. (or a 50% refund on the one they took).
"Seasoned mature people" know when someone has a starfish up their fanny and when folks are making the best of a bad situation (which again, we have already acknowledge). Just because the food on ONE cruise on the Sensation was not up to your "personal" taste...does not mean that the food on the Sensation is always going to be bad. Saying "if you want good food, don't go on the Sensation" is immature and childish (ie of the starfish variety).
Seasoned mature cruisers know that the kitchen may have been having an off week. The staff in the kitchen could be new with it just coming out of drydock. Things happen. The difference between "seasoned mature cruisers" and "those who are packing a starfish" is how you handle when things are not perfect.
"Seasoned mature people" know when someone has a starfish up their fanny and when folks are making the best of a bad situation (which again, we have already acknowledge). Just because the food on ONE cruise on the Sensation was not up to your "personal" taste...does not mean that the food on the Sensation is always going to be bad. Saying "if you want good food, don't go on the Sensation" is immature and childish (ie of the starfish variety).
Seasoned mature cruisers know that the kitchen may have been having an off week. The staff in the kitchen could be new with it just coming out of drydock. Things happen. The difference between "seasoned mature cruisers" and "those who are packing a starfish" is how you handle when things are not perfect.
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Cruizer
Guest
[quote LHP]"Seasoned mature people" know when someone has a starfish up their fanny and when folks are making the best of a bad situation (which again, we have already acknowledge). Just because the food on ONE cruise on the Sensation was not up to your "personal" taste...does not mean that the food on the Sensation is always going to be bad. Saying "if you want good food, don't go on the Sensation" is immature and childish (ie of the starfish variety). [/quote]
Most people do not have the time or money to try every ship three times to see if they get it right two times out of three. If someone was on the Sensation and had what they consider to be sub par food and service, then that is what they had.
I have never seen a professional review note that (s)he received bad food or bad service, but the reader should give whatever the reviewer is reviewing a chance because the reviewer might have been there on an "off" day/night/week.
When someone goes on a cruise, they do not care how great the food and service was the week before or the week after their cruise. They only care about how the food and service was the week of their cruise. How would you react if an airline pilot said after crashing the jet you were on, "Sorry folks, just having a bad day. Looking forward to seeing you on the return trip."
A cruise line has one chance to make the grade, and that is the week that passenger is on board. Then the next week they have one chance again, with a new set of passengers. The cruise lines that get this right the most often will earn more repeat customers. Those that earn a reputation for having "off" weeks will soon be off - permanently.
Perhaps if after 20+ cruises you find yourself on a cruise that is sub par, you can shrug it off to an off week. However, someone who is on their first cruise and finds the food and service sub par will never get to his/her 20th cruise.
If someone believes that they did not receive all that they paid for, then it is their right to state it that way. I had four computers, three printers and two scanners all from the same company. Their customer service, in my opinion, was sub par. So, I stopped buying their product. I have since replaced two of the computers with computers from other companies and I have replaced one of the printers. When I run out of toner on a second printer, I will replace it with a different brand. Mean while, this company is winning awards for its customer service. Okay, but they are not winning any awards with me.
A cruise and any review of that cruise should be based on how that cruise was, not how it was the week before or the week after. Some people will enjoy it and will want to come back. Others will not enjoy it and will never come back. As one other poster noted (who did not enjoy their cruise) cruising is not for everyone. That is true. We need to remember this.
Most people do not have the time or money to try every ship three times to see if they get it right two times out of three. If someone was on the Sensation and had what they consider to be sub par food and service, then that is what they had.
I have never seen a professional review note that (s)he received bad food or bad service, but the reader should give whatever the reviewer is reviewing a chance because the reviewer might have been there on an "off" day/night/week.
When someone goes on a cruise, they do not care how great the food and service was the week before or the week after their cruise. They only care about how the food and service was the week of their cruise. How would you react if an airline pilot said after crashing the jet you were on, "Sorry folks, just having a bad day. Looking forward to seeing you on the return trip."
A cruise line has one chance to make the grade, and that is the week that passenger is on board. Then the next week they have one chance again, with a new set of passengers. The cruise lines that get this right the most often will earn more repeat customers. Those that earn a reputation for having "off" weeks will soon be off - permanently.
Perhaps if after 20+ cruises you find yourself on a cruise that is sub par, you can shrug it off to an off week. However, someone who is on their first cruise and finds the food and service sub par will never get to his/her 20th cruise.
If someone believes that they did not receive all that they paid for, then it is their right to state it that way. I had four computers, three printers and two scanners all from the same company. Their customer service, in my opinion, was sub par. So, I stopped buying their product. I have since replaced two of the computers with computers from other companies and I have replaced one of the printers. When I run out of toner on a second printer, I will replace it with a different brand. Mean while, this company is winning awards for its customer service. Okay, but they are not winning any awards with me.
A cruise and any review of that cruise should be based on how that cruise was, not how it was the week before or the week after. Some people will enjoy it and will want to come back. Others will not enjoy it and will never come back. As one other poster noted (who did not enjoy their cruise) cruising is not for everyone. That is true. We need to remember this.
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LHP
Guest
Sorry, but when someone writes "if you want good food, don't go on the Sensation" they are exaggerating and reckless with their generalizations. It doesn't take 20+ cruises to write a review that is fair, balanced and filled with an honest mature evaluation. Not all the food on any cruise ship is going to be bad, if the person eating is a mature and responsilbe person. The whole idea of writing a review is to help people make an honest informed decision is that ship is the product for them.
Exaggerations and generalizations are not being respectful of those truly trying to find correct information.
If cruising is not for them, I have no problem with that. I do however have a huge problem with people trying to influence others with misrepresentations....just because "cruising is not for them". Honesty is all I have ever asked from anyone. There is a proper way to express an opinion. There is no place for someone who just has a starfish up their fanny.
Exaggerations and generalizations are not being respectful of those truly trying to find correct information.
If cruising is not for them, I have no problem with that. I do however have a huge problem with people trying to influence others with misrepresentations....just because "cruising is not for them". Honesty is all I have ever asked from anyone. There is a proper way to express an opinion. There is no place for someone who just has a starfish up their fanny.
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Cruizer
Guest
[quote LHP]Sorry, but when someone writes "if you want good food, don't go on the Sensation" they are exaggerating and reckless with their generalizations. It doesn't take 20+ cruises to write a review that is fair, balanced and filled with an honest mature evaluation. Not all the food on any cruise ship is going to be bad, if the person eating is a mature and responsilbe person. The whole idea of writing a review is to help people make an honest informed decision is that ship is the product for them.
Exaggerations and generalizations are not being respectful of those truly trying to find correct information.
If cruising is not for them, I have no problem with that. I do however have a huge problem with people trying to influence others with misrepresentations....just because "cruising is not for them". Honesty is all I have ever asked from anyone. There is a proper way to express an opinion. There is no place for someone who just has a starfish up their fanny.[/quote]
You are right. However, it only took me a few cruise reviews to realize I had to read between the lines. I would hope that anyone smart enough to earn the kind of money it takes to go on a cruise would also be smart enough to know how to read a non-professional review.
Exaggerations and generalizations are not being respectful of those truly trying to find correct information.
If cruising is not for them, I have no problem with that. I do however have a huge problem with people trying to influence others with misrepresentations....just because "cruising is not for them". Honesty is all I have ever asked from anyone. There is a proper way to express an opinion. There is no place for someone who just has a starfish up their fanny.[/quote]
You are right. However, it only took me a few cruise reviews to realize I had to read between the lines. I would hope that anyone smart enough to earn the kind of money it takes to go on a cruise would also be smart enough to know how to read a non-professional review.
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CherieS
Guest
OH back on the high an mighty seasoned cruisers....... When you come back from a day on land, hadn't eating all day, starving, the buffet people are making ALL these people wait so they can take a picture of a piece of meat, get real. I don't give a crap what you all think, if cruisers like food, forget the Sensation. Omg they will slice you a piece of 1x1" piece of cake, you ask for more, they look at you like you are a pig. Sensation sucks............ OK Sensation sucks big time compared to the Grand Princess I cruised the Sensation out of NO in 5/05.
I cruised the Sensation out of NO in 5/05.
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CherieS
Guest
Starfish up her fanny is back.......... omg lmaoooooooooooo hey buck -i .......... I am a buck -I also........ omg to to sit in the window of the ship right down on the water was awesome. On Princess we had a deck on like the 10th floor, the trashy basement was so much better!!!!!!! we took our 23 yr old daughter & bf (they were bored too) but had fun. &&&&&&&& pssssssst the food in the buffet on the Sensation SUCKED lol have a good one
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gwen05
Guest
LHP,
Very well stated. When you wrote "Exaggerations and generalizations are not being respectful of people that are trying to find CORRECT information" says it all. I believe some of these complaints may be justified...but what I have read on this page is just MEAN. This person repeats the same post over and over again. I hope this does not influence people planning their "First Time Cruise". Sure things do happen, but a mature person knows this and does not let little things spoil their cruise. From what I am reading, these are not major things. As far as thinking people on a higher deck are "not the real people", hey they chose the cabin to stay in so why complain about someone that chose a different one than them? Also, saying something about people that cruise on the bigger ships being different than them...once again they chose the smaller ship to sail on so why complain about someone liking a bigger ship? This sounds like a case of jealousy. Then the complaint about standing in line to eat at the buffet. I have cruised on ships that had 3100 passengers as well as 1100 crew. The buffet line moves quite well for having a large number of people to feed. What do they expect...to be put at the beginning of the line so they do not have to wait? All of this just sounds like nit picking and a case of jealousy. I do, understand major things happen from time to time on the ships that is cause for major complaint. Like being disappointed about not stopping at a port that was on the itinery or going to another port than the one promised. Problems with the toilet not working in the cabin. Rudeness from the staff or maybe the cabin not being taken care of as it should be. But to complain about slow lines, people chosing a cabin on a higher deck or the food not being to your liking just seems like somethings that should not spoil the cruise. Either consider a land vacation next time or if cruising, chose a cabin on a higher deck and a larger ship so you can see we are not all what you think we are
Very well stated. When you wrote "Exaggerations and generalizations are not being respectful of people that are trying to find CORRECT information" says it all. I believe some of these complaints may be justified...but what I have read on this page is just MEAN. This person repeats the same post over and over again. I hope this does not influence people planning their "First Time Cruise". Sure things do happen, but a mature person knows this and does not let little things spoil their cruise. From what I am reading, these are not major things. As far as thinking people on a higher deck are "not the real people", hey they chose the cabin to stay in so why complain about someone that chose a different one than them? Also, saying something about people that cruise on the bigger ships being different than them...once again they chose the smaller ship to sail on so why complain about someone liking a bigger ship? This sounds like a case of jealousy. Then the complaint about standing in line to eat at the buffet. I have cruised on ships that had 3100 passengers as well as 1100 crew. The buffet line moves quite well for having a large number of people to feed. What do they expect...to be put at the beginning of the line so they do not have to wait? All of this just sounds like nit picking and a case of jealousy. I do, understand major things happen from time to time on the ships that is cause for major complaint. Like being disappointed about not stopping at a port that was on the itinery or going to another port than the one promised. Problems with the toilet not working in the cabin. Rudeness from the staff or maybe the cabin not being taken care of as it should be. But to complain about slow lines, people chosing a cabin on a higher deck or the food not being to your liking just seems like somethings that should not spoil the cruise. Either consider a land vacation next time or if cruising, chose a cabin on a higher deck and a larger ship so you can see we are not all what you think we are
K
Katycaneb
Guest
I 100% agree.
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LHP
Guest
Dear "the Sensation sucks".... (boy does that lanuage tell alot about the intelligence of a person)
Well, maybe when you have been on more than 2 cruises and mature a little more (no make that a lot more) you will understand. Hopefully, your lack of self-respect is just immaturity and not a character flaw.
It is clear that it would not matter if they put you on the QE2 Royal Suite, class can not be bought.
Well, maybe when you have been on more than 2 cruises and mature a little more (no make that a lot more) you will understand. Hopefully, your lack of self-respect is just immaturity and not a character flaw.
It is clear that it would not matter if they put you on the QE2 Royal Suite, class can not be bought.
