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Very Noisy Carnival Victory
0 of 1 people found this review informative
 
Reviewed By: Sinfield, Banbury on 25th Feb 2010
Cruise Line: Carnival Cruises Times cruised before: 10+
Cruise Ship: Carnival Victory Sailed: February, 2010
Destination: Caribbean Age: 65+
Cabin: Balcony Occasion: Wedding anniversary
If you want peace and quiet do NOT go on a Carnival Cruise. We were in cabin 6431 (which was chosen for us by Carnival) and it was over the piano sing-a-long bar. A female was playing to an audience and she was singing/caterwauling through a microphone from 2100 to 0210 hours every night. All the music venues and casino are under deck six and so anywhere we went on deck six we had the music coming through the floor.
The main swimming pool had a large tv screen above it and very loud music and commentary all day. So they provide a quiet area and pool at the back for adults only. Trouble is everyone goes there and there are very few sun loungers left. People were putting towels on the sun loungers and not using the loungers at all. Also there was a constant throbbing noise from the funnel which could only be heard in the adult swimming pool area. Not so quiet hey!
The excursions were the only relief from the ship's noise but these either started too early, 0730, or were far too expensive - $35 to $150. It was a very poor cruise and a very poor anniversary for us. Bye bye Carnival. Never again.
Quality of Food1
Pacific Dining room and the self service area. Food was basic but always the same in the self service area. The Pacific Dining food was sort of 'cuisine' but not very high cuisine. Again basic and edible.
Entertainment1
His and Hers and magic shows were the least entertaining along with the Entertainment Staff trying their best to be better than Butlin's Redcoats. The best show was on one night only - Vroom Vroom was a dance and music show covering 60's music. Lot's of energy and songs I know well. The first two nights after San Juan there was no entertainment at 0830. Very poor show overall.
Shore Excursions1
All excursions were expensive - $35 to $150 - and were starting at 0730 in the morning. Far too early. This meant you had a limited choice for the afternoon excursions of 2 to 3 hours. We went on two guided tours for $35 and $49 each. Both were quite basic views of the bays and harbours plus a stay on Magens beach in St Thomas. This was only a two hour stay and I would have liked to stay longer.
Staff1
No-one impressed me at all. The Indonesian cabin Steward asked us if we were into 'drugs and drink' on first arriving in the cabin. I am teetotal and the only drugs I took were for a rotten cold. When I complained about the noise from the piano bar I was put off over and over by the Customer Services until the last day when the Manager agreed to compensate us for the noise. Too little too late.
Children's Facilitiesn/a
Onboard Activities1
Activities for the over 45's was nil as far as I could see.
Cabins1
Size of the cabin was good. We had a Balcony and a lounge area. There was no fridge and only a limited supply of soft drinks on the dressing table. These cost $2.24 each to replace.
Overall Rating1
0 of 1 people found this review informative
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Question by Ingram, Southampton (17 Mar 10 23:27) about this REVIEW
You have me worried. We are travelling on the 31/03/10 and are on deck 6. (6255 actually). This is the first ever cruise i have been on. Is the noise that bad. Also have you got any little tips that could help. Regards Mark
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Answer by Hunt, St.Micheal (13 Jan 12 23:54) to a QUESTION by Ingram (17 Mar 10 23:27)
Mark: quite coincidentally, my wife and I were also in 6431 (the cabin number popped off the page at me!). We are early sleepers and early risers, but had none of this persons long litany of problems! You have nothing to worry about...you'll love your cruise and all the islands. *Do not* take reviews too seriously. You'll learn this after you've done 2 or 3 cruises, that all the cruise-atrocities you read about are either not real -or wilfully exagerated.
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Comment by kendall, Newcastle on tyne (26 Feb 10 10:24) about this REVIEW
I understand cabin was "chosen" by Carnival. I assume this is code for "I chose cheapest option" i.e. a guarantee rather than pay for specific cabin. Do you really think Carnival would give away their best cabins at the cheapest price. With 10 cruises under your belt you surely knew the risks of "guarantees" and any half research would have shown this would NOT be a quiet cruise. I am all for blame where blame is due but NOT to carnival in this case. Caveat emptor
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Comment by Wilba, N (26 Feb 10 08:16) about this REVIEW
Well I missed out on this one. A pianobar still going at two o'clock in the morning, I would have been in my element, most cruiseships are 'dead' by midnight! I couldn't agree more with what's been said below, you chose the cruiseline, you chose the cabin, and with 10 cruises behind you a little more research would be expected. I too enjoy Celebrity, RCI etc. but when I book Carnival I don't expect the same experience, I book it for a change rather than a rest..........Wilba
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Comment by Kamat, London (25 Feb 10 17:34) about this REVIEW
I certainly agree with Mike. Who in the first place told you to take the carnival cruise? It is clearly advertised as a fun ship. We and several of our friends have been on it and had endless fun. If you simply want to relax, you need to go on a celebrity or princess cruise. Do not blame carnival for your unfortunate experience! It's your own lack of research and planning which lead to this! so please plan well the next time.
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Comment by Sinfield, Banbury (26 Feb 10 10:25) about a COMMENT by Kamat (25 Feb 10 17:34)
I did a lot of research before booking this cruise and what I saw and experienced was as expected. What I was not prepared to tolerate was 5 hours of a catewauling Canadian blonde Female singing at the top of her voice inside my cabin. Her singing was coming through the floor of our cabin from the piano bar, under our cabin, on deck 6 from 2100 to 0200 hours. I also noticed the same but louder problem if you had a cabin on deck 6 over the other bars and the Casino. This is to warn people not to book deck six. I achieved my objective to stay in Barbados a few days and show my Wife the Eastern Caribbean. 'Simples!!!'
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Comment by Mike Appleby, Durban, South Africa (25 Feb 10 14:30) about this REVIEW
So it did exactly what it did on the tin ! Carnival is not designed to be relaxing, quiet, luxury cruise experience etc etc. They don't try and advertise themselves like that and if that is what you were looking for you should have done a little research. Their logo is "Fun Ships" after all. Their fares are normally a lot lower than the competition. Carnival has improved their food over recent years (in the early days it was akin to Salvation Army rations) and is generally accepted to be about the same as other main stream lines. No finesse whatsoever but good "hotel" banquetting type food, much like RCL. Their speciality restaurants are very very good. The ships are clean, with much entertainment type architecture, reasonable food, reasonable service, lower prices, good entertainment and an overall value for money ALL AMERICAN experience. Not my favourite line but it does what it says on the tin. Not for Europhiles or little Englanders or those that enjoy tea with fresh milk instead of lemon. If you liek casinos, loud shows, martinis and some of the best steaks (at extra cost) anywhere then you will enjoy. If you are a wine lover and can put up or enjoy the rest they are known for having one of the best intelligently chosen cellars anywhere.
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Comment by Pushover, Warrington (26 Feb 10 23:43) about a COMMENT by Mike Appleby (25 Feb 10 14:30)
Little Englanders explain yourself! I am a Senior member on this forum!
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Question by Sinfield, Banbury (26 Feb 10 10:27) about a COMMENT by Mike Appleby (25 Feb 10 14:30)
Do you work for Carnival? You missed the point entirely!
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Answer by Appleby, Durban, South Africa (27 Feb 10 05:25) to a QUESTION by Sinfield (26 Feb 10 10:27)
No I do not work for Carnival. I have done 2 cruises with them and as said it is not my favourite cruise line and I am not likely to be going back. The point is that Carnival delivers (very successfully) a certain type of cruise experience, even the most simple research would have informed these people of that and they would have then probably booked a different cruise line. Dear Pushover. Little Englanders. Carnival (and indeed some other lines) provide an all American product in the same way MSC provide a very southern European product, my point is that if you expect entertainment, food etc that you might get on say P&O that appeals to mainly UK based people you are making a mistake booking with these lines. I love cruising and I am very proud to be South African but when cruising I cannot expect SA news, beorewors for lunch etc if I choose to cruise on an American ship, instead I enjoy a different type of experience than I am used to and enjoy it - one of the nicest things about travelling. You read over and over again on this and other boards people complaining about cruises they have done where the on board culture was different to what they are used to and not enjoying it. And I don't give a hoot if someone is a "senior" member or not - everyone is entitled to their view.
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