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Okay for the price by
Tom M from Nashville, TN Sailing date: May 2009Pros: Plentiful food, lots of activities on the ship, nice stateroom. Cons: Evening shows, kids program We were looking for a fairly cheap cruise. Did not want to fly to Puerto Rico We chose this cruise pretty much as it was the only line doing 7 day Western carribean cruises out of the continental US within driving distance from Nashville, and the price was fairly low. Did not want to spend a fortune on Disney.
The ship was overall in good condition. Stateroom was in good repair. The decorating was a little over the top, but that made it interesting.
The stateroom was kept clean and the beds were reasonably comfortable. Towel animals in the room each night. We had a balcony with two chairs. The chairs are very narrow, not comfortable to cram ones hips into. Made for very thin people at best.
The deck had more sunchairs than any other ship I have been on, but they were not comfortable. Many were broken. The pool decks had so many sun chairs around the pools it was almost impossible to walk between them.
The food was plentiful. During breakfast and lunch it could be very hard to find an open table in the buffet area. IT appears very few people eat in the dining rooms for those meals.
Service was friendly. Not quite as attentive as on other lines, but no real problems. The waiters were friendly and entertaining. They were willing to tell us places to visit on shore excursions without referring us to the excursion desk to purchase excursions. This worked out pretty well for us and saved us some $$$$. Ship QualityShip size was good. The layout tended to lead to some real traffic jams around dinner times in some passageways in the common areas. They had photography stations set up right in the walkways in the lunges or atrium and stairways roped off to take pictures on as well. With people waiting for dinner and to have pics taken, it made it very difficult to pass through the area.
Layout was bizzare in other ways. The casino was built around a common walkway. It was the only passage from the front to back of the ship on that deck, instead of a room off the passageway. I did not like that as there were other things on that deck that you would want to get to without going through the casino, especially as the casino is a smoking area and we had a kid in tow too. I know they want to attract you to the casino but you should not have to walk through it to get to other attractions, or be forced to go up or down a deck to avoid it. Dining/FoodFood was decent, plentiful and always available in some form. Very hard to find tables in the buffet area at breakfast and lunch peak hours and there were some very long lines to get food at buffet stations. Some of this was caused by lack of enough servers in areas where they had to put the food on your plate.
Food at dinner was pretty good. The desserts were not so great. Worst so called pumpkin pie I had ever had in my life. They need to send their chefs to New England at Thanksgiving to give them a lesson in that. One night there was cherries jubilee. It was a very small scoop of ice cream with three cherries. Other desserts were pretty good. Stateroom QualityStateroom was a balcony, 8E. Good size, very roomy bathroom compared to others I have used on other ships. That was nice. The beds were comfy. My daughter slept on a bed that has cushions on the back to use as a couch during day, she was comfortable on that. There was a 19 inch TV in the room that had a quirk. Every few minutes the volume would suddenly go up or down without us touching the TV or remote. We thought maybe it was picking up remote signals from another room, but either way it could be annoying.
Typical hotel/cruise ship decor. Nothing special.
Room steward did a good job. Ship Staff QualityNo complaints about staff. All were helpful, friendly and did their jobs well. Entertainment & ActivitiesEvening entertainment in the show room was nothing special. Performers were talented but the shows seemed like a tired rehash of things that had been done a million times before. IT was kind of like watching old reruns of the musical numbers on the Carol Burnett show or someting. In addition, the played the music WAY TOO LOUD. Speakers mounted on the ceiling of the show room and blasted music at volumes that were certainly at levels to be damaging to hearing. There was no place to escape it. Same thing on the pool deck. The stage bands and performers there had it way too loud. You could not carry on a conversation. There are other pools on board to escape the music, but if you want to hear some music at the pool deck you are going to have your ears ringing and not be able to talk to anyone. TURN IT DOWN. Again, at levels that can damage hearing. Other activities and games were well done and fun. Children's ProgramsWe had our 11 year old daughter with us. She tried the program the first day at sea and hated it. Groups are by two year age groups, she fell in the 9 to 11. When she went they lumped the 6 to 8 and 9 to 11 year olds all together for activities. They were geared toward the much younger children. My kid was bored to tears. We asked about moving her to 12 to 14 year old group but she had to be within 3 months of turning 12 and did not qualify. So, she refused to go back. You cannot mix 6 and 11 year olds and expect it to work. That was a real disappointment as we have been on other lines that did had a MUCH BETTER program. They need to work on that one. Maybe good for younger kids.  
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Belize City, BelizeTook the city tour. IT was interesting. Remember, this is a 3rd world country so you will see terrible poverty and a lot of garbage, but, the tour guide is an excellent ambassador for his country and people. Stops at a small cathedral and the national museum were interesting. The museum is small, about the floor space of a small church. The tour was interesting and educations. Small tourist area to shop. It is not recommended you stray out of that unless you are on a booked excursion.
George Town, Grand CaymanBeen there before so we just went ashore to shop. Previously did the turtle farm, Hell and Rum factory tour. Nothing special. Might book snorkling, though not the one right by the pier. Right by road, no beach and you walk down concrete steps to swim.
Don't Miss: If you want to buy jewelry, this is the place. Roatan (Isla Roatan), Bay Islands, HondurasAgain, a small island part of a 3rd world country, but it is has great beauty and potential. We booked a cab to take us to Tabyana beach. For 20$ per person you get the cab for the whole day. They stay at the beach so you can leave right when you are ready. The beach is beautiful. You can pay 10$ to enter through a club and have chairs to use and a restroom. The beach is public but there are no public facilities. IF you want a beach chair or restroom you will have to pay.
A guy came down the beach offering to boat people out to a reef to snorkel, equipment included. I took him up on it and when he got about 7 or 8 people he stopped back to collect me. 10 minute ride to a reef were we snorkled for an hour. It was incredible. He did not take payment until we got back so no problems there.
The water on the beach was clear and gorgeous.
The port has very little at this point, only a couple shops, but willl grow rapidl, as will the industry on the island as a whole.
Don't Miss: Hire a boat to take you to a reef to snorkel, much better than at shore. The fish are breathtaking 5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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  Trip of a lifetime - first cruise by
Will B. from Bradenton, FL Sailing date: Dec 2011Pros: Visiting new places Cons: Belize tender process (see below) We had never been on a cruise before so didn't really know what to expect. The food was awesome, all kinds of fun stuff to do on the ship (but I doubt if anyone ever really wins anything in the casino without spending 2-3 times what the prize is worth), and the ports were a lot of fun. Book shore excursions through Orbitz or local tour operators once you arrive (check tripadvisor for recommendations) because Carnival's excursions are 2-5 times the price. Ship was very clean, staff was very friendly and helpful, and the room stewards do a great job keeping your room clean - they deserve the gratuities that are added to your account. Oh, and they leave you a very cool towel animal every night :-) Would have liked it more if the ship didn't leave Roatan so early - they could have stayed another hour or two without delaying the return time to Tampa. My only gripe was the debarkation process in Belize - we got up early and went to the tender meeting place thinking we would be on one of the first tender boats, only to have to wait almost two hours while Carnival debarked people who had booked shore excursions through them first. We arrived an hour and a half before many of the people who were allowed to debark before us - could have used the extra sleep... Otherwise it was a good experience. I even put a deposit on our next cruise since they have a deal on the last day where you get an onboard credit up to $200 on your next cruise depending on duration. It's a $100 deposit, is good for up to 2-3 years, and can be refunded at any time if you decide not to use it. Ship QualityThe staff cleans and maintains the ship constantly - I never saw anything dirty or unkempt! If someone made a mess it was cleaned up within a few minutes. Dining/FoodThe food was delicious at both the buffet and the restaurant (Our dining was at Truffles). They offered a wide variety of foods from around the world that varied from day to day. Stateroom QualityRoom was well maintained and kept tidy by the steward on a daily basis. Ship Staff QualityAll staff did everything they could to help. Very friendly. Entertainment & ActivitiesShows were good, I just wish more happened before 11-11:30PM - if you want to get up early the next morning to maximize time in port it makes it hard to do these things. Casino looked like a complete ripoff - I didn't see anyone winning anything. 4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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A carribean cruise by
Experienced I. from Los Angeles CA Sailing date: Nov 2009Pros: Not as many people aboard as a larger ship and it left from Tampa FL not Miami. Cons: Food The staff were pleasant and most tried very hard but some fell short.
Food was mediocre compared to others, not always hot or fresh, fruit was unripe.
Staff left coffee and cream containers get empty and had to be reminded to refill them. Ship QualityA bit smaller ship, so easy to get around it. Dining/FoodFood was cold or unripe. Tasted plain most of the time. Stateroom Quality
Ship Staff QualitySome staff inexperienced or not paying attention to empty coffee urns etc. Entertainment & ActivitiesNot much happening of real interest on board, dumb trivia games, casino was too smokey!!! Couldn't stay in it. 4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Cruisin the high seas! by
A Traveler from st. louis, MO Sailing date: Jun 2009Pros: the activities and the food were fantastic!!! Cons: A slightly smaller boat than some. The waterslide did not go into a pool The ship is decked out with 3 pools. 1 adult pool was where we did most of our poolside activities. The only bad thing was some "children" (teenagers) were in this pool area at times and there was no enforcement of the "adult only" area. There were plenty of activities to be involved in, or you could do whatever you pleased. A piano bar was one highlight of the entertainment along with nightly comedy shows or dancing routines. Ship Quality
Dining/FoodThe food was overall really excellent. I don't know who gets on here and doesn't like the food. I only had 2 items the entire tme I was not crazy about. 1 was a cheesecake dessert and the other a caesar salad. The only negative I have is that the desserts sometimes were almost too fancy that I didnt enjoy them as much, but I am picky about food tastes and textures, so everyone may not feel the same. Stateroom QualityI got the cheapest room and was expecting the worst. I was pleasantly surprised with the room. It wasn't as tiny as I had expected and I was able to sleep very comfortably and soundly. We were right below some of the bar areas and I also expected to be noisy, but it was pretty quiet with the exception of an occasional sound here and there, but my sleep was not affected. Ship Staff QualityThe staff are there waiting on you hand and foot with tons of energy and enthusiasm! Entertainment & ActivitiesI enjoyed all of the shows I saw. There was always some sort of entertainment going on. One can be involved as they wanted to be.
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Belize City, BelizeWe snorkeled at the barrier reef and had a private island beach stop. There were many fish to see along with the coral. I had a little trouble with my mask fogging up and water getting in my mask, so i would recommend bringing your own custom mask if you can. I think it would work much better as the one I was provided with poorly adapted to my face. The rum punch provided was fantastic on our way to the private island. The island was pretty nice for just hanging out and relaxing. There is a little beach area to relax in and seashells and crabs to find. There was time afterwards to go into the port city and explore some of the shops and eateries, which was nice.
Don't Miss: the snorkeling was great! George Town, Grand CaymanWe did the turtle farm, hell, and snorkeling with the rays....I really enjoyed snorkeling with the rays. It was fantastic with the rays comign so close to you. The turtle farm was interesting with hundreds of turtles and lizards wandering around....hell was not what I expected adn was disappointing, though it was fun to send a postcard "from hell"........this excursion took the entire alotted time we were in port, so it was a little diassapointing not to get a chance to see some of the touristy sites right at port. However, travelling to and from each place gave you a chance to see a lot of the city.
Don't Miss: snorkeling with the rays at sandbar city was excellent Roatan (Isla Roatan), Bay Islands, Honduraswe went to tabayana beach resort. This beach was fantastic with very nice snorkeling right off the beach about 12-20 feet out, with tons of fish. It was a very nice resort with plenty of beach space to lay out on or swim. They have other things to rent like the snuba gear and kayaks, and snorkel gear, but they seemed a little pricey. Overall a very nice place to relax and hang out. There was plenty of time to get back to the port area to explore. However, it seemed to be a very poor area and not much to see in the port spot. We actually stayed a few minutes in this area and went back to the boat to eat lunch. We would have stayed longer at the beach had we known that area was not as impressive.
Don't Miss: The tabayana beach was a nice relaxing area. the port itself had some scenic views from the boat. 4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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User Friendly Cruise Company. by
Sally from Frankfort, MI Sailing date: Feb 2007Pros: Beautiful public areas. Well staffed with experienced, likeable and helpful crew across the board in all areas. Beds were very comfortable, cabins well maintained, public areas stunningly beautiful. Well organized to take the hassle out of embarking, etc. The downsides, and one was a big one, is that the kitchen does not live up to the standards upheld in all other areas of the ship. The food was mediocre at best in all areas that served food. The other failure was the entertainment, we saw four shows, walked out of two. Very second rate. Entertainment & Activities
Entertainment: Third rate entertainment. 4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Very relaxed , great service, very nice by
Marianela from Sunrise, Florida, USA Sailing date: Apr 2007Pros: ALL.
Entertainment & Activities
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Grand Turk IslandBeautifull beaches, very nice Carnival club in Grand Turk ... No the city. Very nice day in Grand Turk.
Don't Miss: Not, this island. 9 out of 15 people found this review helpful.
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Excellent Cruise by
TC from KC from Kansas City, MO Sailing date: Aug 2009Pros: Extremely courteous, friendly, helpful staff. Kids stayed busy all the time with activities and made great friends. Very relaxing for my husband and me. Cons: We had no complaints. We had a great vacation. Our time on the ship was relaxing and our excursions were absolutely amazing. Ship QualityVery nice, clean, roomy. Dining/FoodFood was good. Wouldn't say it was the best I have ever had, but there was something for everyone at all times of the day. Pizza was excellent. The wait staff in Truffles was super friendly. Props to our waiter Clive. SUPERIOR service!!! Stateroom QualityPlenty of room...more than I expected. We had a private balcony, which was a great place to sit and read a book. Loved the daily towel animals. Our room steward, Abdul, was great also. VERY friendly! Ship Staff QualityAmazing staff. Entertainment & ActivitiesWe didn't participate much, but our teenage kids stayed busy 24/7. We did play miniature golf and sing karaoke with the kids. Ship also has lots of bars, casino, 3 pools, basketball court, etc. Children's ProgramsKids had a great time.
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Belize City, BelizeWe took the Canopy Tour and zip-lined across the jungles of Belize. Lots of fun! But it was a 1 1/2 hour bus ride over some of the worst roads you can imagine. Still worth it!!!
Cozumel, MexicoWe rode the underwater scooters, which were fun, but wish they were in a more scenic part of the ocean. Still a fun experience!
George Town, Grand CaymanWe swam with the sting rays, which was such an amazing experience. Highly recommend this!!!!
Roatan (Isla Roatan), Bay Islands, HondurasWe went to Gumbalimba Park to play with the monkeys. Lots of fun! Very pretty scenery. Beautiful island in general.
7 out of 11 people found this review helpful.
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7 day Carnival Legend western Carribbean by
Tony K. from Charlotte, NC, USA Sailing date: Mar 2012Pros: Amazing staff - every single crew member was outstanding! Cons: Access to diet Coke (personal addiction) paid $52 but not easy to get (by the glass) Decor in public areas was dark, gosh and even a little silly (the "legend" theme), but balcony room was outstanding. Staff were all super! Saltwater pools were a bit of a surprise but pleasant. Great amenities everywhere. I paid $52 for an upfront diet Coke fee, it was difficult to get diet coke (I am a diet Coke-aholic) - at bars only and only by the glass. If you can take your own supply of soda on-board or pay $2/glass or the $52 fee with limited access. Many experienced fellow diet Coke-aholics told me they knew to bring their own supply. (And, being a staunch diet Coke drinker, we checked ahead of time to know that they served Coke products - which cinched our cruise line choice - no Pepsi - yeah!). Ship QualityExcept for decor everything was exceptional. Dining/FoodPosts like this one advised that food was often mediocre. While they are to be applauded for their heroics in serving great food, as with any buffet food often cold and/or in short supply. Steakhouse at $30/person was fun but no better than most land restaurants. Stateroom QualityAlthough our first overnight cruise we were very happy with our balcony room. We would not be happy without a balcony so other ships without them were not an option. Bathroom was more than adequate - a pleasant surprise. Ship Staff QualityEvery hospitality business out there should send their staff to Carnival for training!!! Unbelievable that EVERY crew member could be sooo fantastic. "Going above and beyond" is an understatement, but then I cannot think of any higher praise myself! Entertainment & Activities2 shore excursions and 2 shopping port trips were great. Cayman and Cozumel varied in their ambience for their tourist, but as seasoned Caribbean island hoppers we found our first visits to these and the Belize/Honduras ports to be very good. 5 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
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Great Time by
Jason R from Missouri Sailing date: Jun 2011Pros: All of the activities that you can do Cons: Price of the drinks It was a great time. It wa very organized and all staff were very helpful. There were a lot of activities to do. It was maintianed well and rooms were clean everyday. Ship QualityQuality was great Dining/FoodFood was good and available at all times. Stateroom Quality
Ship Staff QualityI thought the staff was great. They were very helpful and nice. I would like too mention that our waiter was awesome. We set at table 352 in truffles. His name was John. I thought he went above and beyond his duties. he was always pleasant and very efficient. I would also like to mention that Samson also did an outstanding job as well. Entertainment & ActivitiesIt was all very organized and we always got instructions for things going on to make everything very easy to get to. 4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Great Honeymoon cruise! by
Jason J from Atlanta, GA Sailing date: Apr 2012Pros: Roatan was great! Cons: Nothing We went on this cruise for our honeymoon. The staff were welcoming, the ship was nice and very well maintained. The ports at each stop were clean and safe. We just loved relaxing by the pool and the entertainment. Ship Quality
Dining/FoodEverything you could want. Stateroom QualityThe stateroom staff take care of everything you need. Ship Staff QualityGreat!! Entertainment & ActivitiesPlenty to do. A couple of the main shows were not that good. The comedy shows were excelent. 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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