Looking for feedback on Carnival cruises...?

Question

We will be going in Feb on a 5 day cruise that leaves from Tampa and has stops in the Grand Cayman Islands and Cozumel. I was just wondering what we can anticipate. Thanks so much!

Answer 1

Having been on several cruises and on several cruise lines - I believe I'm in the best position (so far - as compared to the other answers) to respond.  Carnival cruise line?  By far the "FUN SHIP".  It really depends on what you are looking for in a cruise!  If you want "fun" - Carnival is your ticket!  If you want to "be alone" (with someone special) your best choice might be NCL.  If you want "upscale" - try Celebrity.  For me?  My fleet of choice is Carnival!  You will love the ports of call.  You can do what you want - when you want.  There is nothing bad about a cruise.  ENJOY!  You will love it!

Answer 2

We took a Carnival Cruise and had a great time. The staff was wonderful and the food was great. At meal time you can order anything you want and they had snacks (pizza and such) available all the time. Drinks that are included in the cruise are limited and you can really rack up some bills on drinks. All alcohol is not included and neither are sodas. However there was juice and coffee available all day long.

   We didn't participate in any shore trips--just did our own thing. I did find that the cruise staff didn't always give us the best info about our shore time. For example, we wanted to visit a beach in Cozumel and were told that there would be taxis as we came off the ship and the price would be about $20. Sounded expensive for Mexico so we bypassed the waiting taxis and found one a block away. He took us to the beach for $2. Not sure if the staff has an "agreement" with certain taxis or if they haven't traveled in Mexico and therefore didn't know what things should cost. Overall it was a great time!

Answer 3

Its pretty nice ive been on two cruises myself the Valor and the Pride. Cozumel is really hot though so be careful

Answer 4

Clean your own room!  

They are not the tidiest places in the world!  The turnover between cruises is so short that they load and unload and herd people on and off like cattle...  

Watch your stuff, use the safe provided and seriously, if you are a germaphobe...  Bring a bottle of bleach and some extra wash cloths to clean with before you use anything.

We were lucky enough to get to sit with some people from Amsterdam ( I speak Dutch) at our fancy dress dinner but unless you know who you're getting, I don't suggest it,  because unless you go VIP, it is a VERY mixed crowd!

Buy some cigars!  They are wonderful  outside the US.  

Only use the pool and the hot tub on the first day...  After that, their isn't enough chlorine in the WORLD!

The on deck poolside drinks are STUPID expensive!  It was lsomething like $8 or $9 dollars for a Corona!

Answer 5

I've been on 3 cruises and would NEVER go on Carnival again!

The food was good and the service personnel were good.  Enjoyed the other passengers.  But the cruise director could be downright nasty and the entertainment sucked.  There were shows every night, but most of them consisted of the passengers providing the entertainment -- games, talent shows, etc.  The info they provided about the ports of call and things to do were limited to the excursions sold by Carnival.  They were of no help if you wanted to do something on your own.  The prices for the drinks, including sodas, were extremely high.  Also, not enough seating on the decks for the days spent at sea.

Answer 6

Carnival is great. The beds could be a bit better, but the service is excellent. You can experience great dining and play numerous of the on-board games. There's also pools and mini hot tubs there which can be enjoying.

Answer 7

There's a great website, crusiecritic.com, that is also a forum to share cruise info.  You can mine down to your ship/date and share info/Q&A with others booked on the cruise.  You can also look for things to do, ship info, port info, etc.  Be careful if you want to swim with the 'rays in GC.  For Cozumel, try the web site, cozumelmycozumel.com

Answer 8

Carnival is great!  Diffenently the FUN SHIP.  Things to do 24 hours a day.  

There is so much going on and so many shows, programs, movies, seminars . . . that they slip an newspaper like itenerary under your door to help you plan each day.

Food & Dining are excellent!  Order anything off the menu and as much as you want.  One night I couldn't decide on desert so they brought me one of each!

The sundecks are SO crowded.  Go up early (7-8am) and find a chair to claim with your towel & book.  Otherwise you can send an hour looking for an empty chair.  The Funnel Deck is usually much less crowded but it is Top Optional.  But its ok if you don't do topless - Its OPTIONAL.  

Night life is busy  & crazy.  A very young crown in the clubs which is elbow to elbow people and an older crowd hang out in the casino.  

There are also free shows at night.  Vegas style shows with the singing and dancing.  

Drinks are EXPENSIVE.  $8-10 each for any regular beer or mixed umberella drink.  They also sell a card you can buy the first day you go onboard for free POP.  If you'd rather go this way its like $30 a card and you just flash it at the bartender or waiter & Pop is free.

My room was SO clean and every little thing I asked of my cabin attendant was handled immediately.  I'd go to my room for a change of clothes and to freshen-up & come back 10 minutes later and he had already picked up my clothes on the floor and straighten the bathroom!  

Caymen was great.  You stand in line for 20 minutes to get off the boat to get on a small boat (tender) which takes you 100 yards to the dock.  You gotta go ship with the Sting Ray and visit 7 mile beach while you're there.  Clean Island and no crime!

Watch yourself & belongings in Cozumel.  It is your typical Mexician tourist trap.  

My recommendation for excursions is to talk to other people on the ship and see what they recommend - and there is a help desk on the ship that you can ask questions and then book your trip with them.  They were very helpful to us since they have done all the trips and can recommend what they think you would personally enjoy.

We love Carnival and won't travel on anything else - Plus sign up for emails from Carnival and they will send you special deals for return customers.  We just booked a trip for the price of Riviera Deck Interior but got upgraded to Empress Deck Ocean view.  GREAT DEALS for returning customers!

Hope that helps.

Answer 9

I was on the carnival pride and it was absolutely amazing. It was my first cruise so I didn't know what to expect. So i am not going to spill anymore beans.... Have an amazing vacation and don't spoil your trip.... just know you are going to have a blast the shows are phenomenal, the food, Delicious

Answer 10

Friends have told me that they were a blast.

Have fun!