(This post goes after Grand Turk) Happy Earth Day from the Deck of the Sunshine!

This post is out of order--but because of when I posted, I can't change the order.. Oh well.

Today is the last day of the cruise and a Sea Day. I think that is a good way to end a cruise—it gives you a chance to mentally prepare for the end of the vacation. More practically, it gives you a chance to pack and organize things for the trip back to reality.

I am using my last day to pack up the cabin and get the luggage ready to go out in the hallway tonight so it can be taken off the ship for me and ready for pick-up tomorrow morning. Another perk of being platinum is that my luggage will be ready first and I can be one of the first off the ship tomorrow, if I choose. I will choose that tomorrow as we have a car rental for the day.

I’m sitting in a sunny window taking advantage of the faster Wi-Fi in this location. The water is that deep, dark blue indicative of the ship being in very deep water. God, I will miss this.

I am also using this last sea day, which by the way is very calm, not windy and just partly cloudy, to gather my thoughts about the cruise and this ship.

While there were many things I loved about the ship there were other things I did not care for. In no way did any of the things I didn’t like have an impact on the great time I had. Instead, it will make me carefully consider choosing this ship for another vacation. Just consider this “first world ramblings”.

We are so privileged to be able to have a vacation like this on a regular basis and I am very aware of how blessed I am.

First, the things I loved:

·         The Crew – these people are the friendliest, most hardworking people you will ever meet. From my Cabin Steward, Ryan, our wait staff in the dining room, Mario, Rocky and Slav, and just generally any staff member on the ship had a smile for you and behaved as if your happiness was their purpose in life.

·         Mongolian Wok – I am going to have severe withdrawal when I leave the ship!

·         The variety of areas to have a meal or a snack was incredible. Guy’s Burgers, Blue Iguana Cantina, Mongolian Wok, the Deli, and the Pizza place, the lido buffet-with too many selections to name, the Main dining room, the Taste Station and ALL included in the price of your cruise. There are also several up-charge restaurants you can choose to dine at—Bonsai Sushi, a steakhouse, Japanese restaurant, Cuban food at the Havana Bar and an Italian restaurant.

·         The cabins were somewhat updated from standard Carnival décor, which was a nice change.

·         The port selections on this cruise were wonderful and the main reason I chose this cruise.

·         The Comedy Club was great and something I attend multiple times during a cruise.

·         The Serenity area on this ship was beautiful and spacious.

·         Increasing the number of outlets in the cabin from 1 to 2.

·         The décor and seating areas on the Lido deck were updated and very cheery and inviting.

·         The Havana Bar was my favorite area to sit and eat lunch. It was in the aft of the ship with large, aft-facing window to watch the wake. The décor is also Cuban-like right down to fake palm trees that look like they are growing up and out of the room. It also usually features an acoustic guitar player, which was very nice.

·         The Soups and desserts in the main dining room.

·         The overall cleanliness of the ship. That has been a constant on every ship I’ve sailed on.

·         How the wait staff dances for us a couple of times during the cruise. It’s pure Carnival and it looks like the staff really enjoys it too.

Now, the things I did not care for:

·         The persistent sewage smell that was present in several areas of the ship for the entire cruise. One place it was very noticeable was in the lobby on Deck 3—which is a heavily used area. It caused us to relocate more than once.

·         Items that should have been repaired or replaced. There were several in my cabin: the caulking in the shower was pulled loose in an area about 8 inches long, there was black mold specks in the caulking and a screw sticking out of the shower plate that I caught my toe on. An outlet plate that was on the verge of pulling out of the wall.

·         The biggest thing for me was the American Table dining experience in the Main Dining Areas. I did not like it at all. I prefer (and expect) the same level of service in the dining room as I’ve had all the other times I cruised with Carnival. I missed the white table cloths, charger plates, the large assortment of silverware at your place setting, having your chair pulled out and your waiter placing your napkin in your lap, waiters coming around with warm bread and allowing you to choose a piece, having your water glass filled almost the moment it was empty. Just the whole decadent, pampering experience. Instead, we had a water bottle on the table, a bread basket placed on the table, less silverware, etc. Even the wait staff was attired more casually.

·         The more casual attire allowed into the Main dining room. I don’t want a formal atmosphere but just people decently dressed. Make people take off the baseball hats, turn them away when they look like they are dressed in their pajamas, things like that. I guess ENFORCE the dress code they state in the Carriage of Contract. Resort Casual is not specific enough for some people. UGH

·         This was one of my biggest complaints—but not with Carnival, with the azzhole parents that allowed their children to go stomping down the halls at all hours of the night—just generally letting them run amok. And adults, clomping past the staterooms at 1-2 in the morning, not bothering to lower their voices and carrying on like no one was sleeping a few feet away from them. WTH is wrong with people? I find myself asking myself that more and more. I think that may be a true sign of getting old. LOL! I need to remind myself of the time of year of the cruise and not pick a Spring Break cruise or any time when the possibility of lots of children are aboard.

·         The American Table menus. I think I can honestly say there was no night in the main dining room where I was ‘wowed’. Don’t get me wrong, the food was edible and you certainly wouldn’t starve but the entrée selections were not that great. One night I had an appetizer of soup, a salad and a chicken entrée that was really gross—tough and tasteless. I ordered another soup and called it dinner.

·         Along that same vein—the fact that they moved the salads to the appetizer section and honestly if you didn’t know you would probably limit yourself to an appetizer or salad, when, in fact, they are different courses.

In summary, I will look for ships not using the American Table Menus and if Carnival decided to move this across the whole line, I will look for a different line—platinum status here or not. I will choose to cruise at times when schools are in session unless the itinerary is one in a million.  

In closing, I will tell you that the vacation was fabulous. I had wonderful traveling companions and would not hesitate to cruise with them in the future.  And as stated, the dislikes were relatively minor but when spending my money, I like to have the vacation meet the expectations I have and this one missed on a few items.

Oh and the cabin I choose—be warned, it was 9177, on the Lido deck forward. It was convenient obviously to the Lido deck and Serenity—the reason I chose it. And it is directly below the spa. I thought there would be little noise in this location. HA! Every day, early morning, afternoon and evening, they drag stuff around up there and it’s a bit annoying. If you are a light sleeper, reconsider.

Until next time,

Gypsy Jilly