Skywench

Aft facing and aft wraps are my favorites. I just did an 8 day Alaska on Legend back in May. When I first booked, none of those cabins were available. I was disappointed, but an aft facing balcony on 8 came open and I jumped on it. It was fantastic. Would do it again. Quiet, peaceful and scenic.

I also love the Spirit class ships. I've been on the Miracle a few years ago and have two more booked on her. One is a 15 day Hawaii in October and the 7 day out of Tampa next year. My favorite cabins are the vista suites on Spirit class ships.

We sailed on the Splendor in late October - here is my take on her:

 

Food, décor, service, shows, entertainment - all very good to excellent. No complaints or issues with any of these.

 

BUT - while we had an awesome aft wrap cabin, the hot water never worked. They had to send a plumber/engineer 4 times in 5 days before they got it fixed correctly. Getting ready for dinner, never able to take a hot shower, always had to wait for someone to fix it!

 

BUT - the layout of the Lido deck left much to be desired just in my opinion. One of our favorite things is the evening Dive In Movies. We were never able to find a seat, except one evening directly in front of the doors that opened and closed every few seconds blasting us with frigid air conditioning.

 

BUT - the crowd on our particular sailing...:eek:...large, loud, and very rambunctious. In fact three physical altercations during the week - 2 of them with women. Pushy, rude and very self-entitled people.

 

Sadly, these three things did indeed make us feel as though our vacation was less than stellar. Normally, nothing bothers me and I enjoy the heck out of each day of our cruises. But this one had just enough negatives to keep me from sailing on the Splendor again.

 

Please note - this is just my opinion and experience (though my husband, brother and sister-in-law feel the same). You and many others will have and have had wonderful times!

LOL, we were on the same cruise as you. (had a great aft wrap too). We had no complaints about our cruise at all. Didn't notice anything bad about the other passengers or bad behavior. That was my second cruise on SPlendor and wouldn't hesitate to go again.

We've sailed with him a few times and have always liked him. He was very friendly and took time to talk. His Silent Movie show was good too. I'd love to cruise with him again as he's one of my favorites.

I was on the Splendor a month ago and we had no issues getting our cards this way.

I've done a southern Caribbean cruise several years ago that was seven days out of San Juan with no sea days. Loved it so much, that I did it a few times. I wish there were more like that. I travel and cruise to see different places. Love to wake up somewhere new each morning.

We were just on an eight day on the Splendor Oct 22-30. We have no complaints about the ship or the service we received. Lol, the only "complaint" would be the weather. Some rain almost every day. The only day it rained enough to disappoint was Grand Turk. Rained the whole time we were there. Don't care too much for La Romana. Done this itinerary before, so knew what to expect. We enjoyed Curacao, although Aruba has always been one of my favorite places and was my favorite port for this cruise.

Port days for me. I travel/cruise for the destinations. On cruises I love to wake up somewhere new each day. The least amount of sea days the better for me. One of my favorite cruises was a seven day with no sea days. Loved it so much that I did it a few times. Having said that, I am doing a 15 day Hawaii next year with lots of sea days, but don't think that it's going to change my opinion of preferring port days.

I guess I lucked out . . . cruised her once before the fire and twice after the fire ;). . . LOL. My favorite Carnival ship. Sure hope she's going to do the weekly run to the Mexican Riviera and not the spotty trade-off runs to the Riviera, Hawaii-to-Vancouver, Vancouver-to-Hawaii, Alaska destinations.

 

Will sure be nice to get a 7-dayer that doesn't require air travel.:D Currently pulling my hair out over a cruise on the Breeze out of Galveston . . . hate airlines.:(

I cruised on Splendor two weeks before the fire. LOL, I'm cruising on her again next month. Coincidence... it's the same week as before, although this one is going to be for eight days.

Agree, think 6 is the best as well for the balcony and the couch

We had an aft wrap on deck 6 on Conquest back in October. No couch in the cabin, which was fine with us.

Neither for me. I prefer aft facing.

I just got mine back last week. Took less than two weeks.

I've sailed on the Splendor before and done this itinerary before on a different ship. I have this cruise booked on Splendor later in the year. Nice itinerary and longer cruise.

That's certainly not something I'd be interested in at all. I prefer port days and look for cruises with the least amount of sea days. I've done one cruise a few times that had no sea days, because I liked it so much. Some will say that is too tiring etc, but I didn't find it to be. I'm not into all sorts of excursions and having something planned all the time. I just like to take my time, play it by ear and do what I feel at the time. We all look for different things with our cruises/vacations. I like to wake up somewhere new each morning and sit on my balcony as we pull into port. It's something I don't tire of.

They actually killed a table for 2 on a single?

 

That is amazing

 

Usually they use singles to fill tables.

I don't see what's wrong with a single having a table for two for themselves. Solo cruisers should have the choice of dining with others or not, just like everyone else. Not everyone enjoys dining with strangers or is looking for other people to spend time with.

There as a Guy's on my last cruise, but to be honest, they didn't look appealing to me, so I didn't eat there. Blue Iguana, on the other hand, was really good.

He's one of my favorites. I've cruised with him three times.

We were on this cruise as well. This was my 16th cruise with Carnival. Had a great time. We always do anytime dining. I always ask for a table for two, as I hate sitting at a big table with strangers. We ate in the MDR the first three nights. Had no problems with the food or service. Only thing I didn't care for was that the tables for two are so close together that you feel like you're at a table for four. I have always enjoyed the Mexican midnight buffet and was looking forward to that, but was a bit disappointed that there wasn't one. I really liked the Blue Iguana. Had lunch and breakfast there a few times. Went in the MDR for the 3 sea day brunches and one other morning. Didn't eat at Guy's. I'm sure they tasted good, but sure didn't look good to me lol. Loved Wee Jimmy. Have sailed with him before a few years ago on the Legend. I prefer the aft wraparound cabins and we had one on deck 6. Was very happy with it.

As far as the entertainment goes, I thought the hypnotist was a joke. We were sitting quite close to the stage and it was kind of obvious how fake it was with the people on stage. The juggler's show was better. I liked the Epic Rock show and the Brits was ok as well. We always go to the Punchliner for the comedy shows. I didn't care too much for the first set of comedians on board, but the two that came on at the end were pretty good. We had a great time and I'd most certainly sail on the Conquest again.

I would only give up an aft facing balcony for an aft wraparound, which on the Legend are Vista Suites (and I would only pick certain cabins then). Don't care for cabins on the side anymore, not even if they are suites. I go for location.

I wouldn't even consider not having a balcony. In fact, I only book certain balconies - either an aft facing or aft wraparound. If I can't have either of those, I'll keep looking for a cruise where one is available. I love sitting on my balcony when arriving and leaving port and also for just having a peaceful relaxing place of my own to go to.

I am right there with you. I cruise and vacation solo 90% of the time. I tried larger tables on a suggestion from a friend and did not enjoy them. Too much inane small talk, the sounds of pity from the other people when they know I'm solo, the boors who wanted everyone else at the table to know how superior they were to the rest of us, the family who seemed annoyed that I was assigned to their table, etc. I do not go a vacation to meet people; I go on a vacation to relax and explore and unwind. I work daily with the public; I have no desire to keep forcing conversations with more strangers. I'm NOT a loner, but when I travel alone, I like to keep it that way. I would rather get in, eat my dinner, get out and do other things, NOT have to wait for the rest of the table to order, eat (as slowly as they want), order another entree, another dessert, etc… If a spontaneous conversation starts up with someone next to me in one of the lounges, or at the pool, I'll be more than happy to talk. But, don't place me in a situation where I can't walk away.

I could have written those same words. You summed up my feelings exactly!

You can also get a table for two at Traditional dining.

I prefer the flexibility of anytime dining as I don't care for set dining times.

Same here. I'm not an outgoing person, and DW talks to the public all day at work, so the last thing we want to do on a cruise is be with others while eating. Mealtime is private time. Elsewhere is fine for making new friends, but not then.

I couldn't agree more. I don't enjoy forced small talk and sitting with a bunch of strangers at a large table for dinner. I'm a friendly, but quiet person and haven't enjoyed being at the large dinner tables in the past. Best thing for me has been the Anytime Dining option where I can ask for a table for just me and the person(s) I'm on the cruise with. LOL, Like your DW, I also work with the public and just want to enjoy my vacation with the person or people I'm on vacation with.

The more port days the better for me. Like my other travel, I cruise to see something new. Love waking up somewhere new each morning. In fact, one of the best cruises I've done was when the Southern Caribbean itinerary had no sea days. Loved it so much I did it a few times. I certainly wouldn't want more than one or two sea days at the most.

Another airline person here. Been a flight attendant for almost 30 years and when I cruise I always travel the day before. Chances are that nothing will happen and you'll get there on time, but I've seen too many things happen and then that $93 dollar ticket is going to cost you a lot more. Not worth the worrying and stress the days before and the day of your holiday that you've planned and looked forward to for so long.