lack of "HOLIDAY"

[j4047]

Just got in from Mobile Alabama debarked from the H/s Holiday. Be glad this tug is retiring. There is a vast lack of public restrooms, when you do get to use one, the are often dirty and smell really bad(we found we could walk to our room, use the restrooma and go back to what we were doing) and the lines were really long. There was a odor of raw sewage in our room, the a/c was not working properly, and we had problems with our lights. We realized after reporting this a time or two, nothing would be doe about it. There was a distinct odor of trash throughout the hallways. The pool area was extremely crowded, usually without enough seating or longe chairs for all. The photo staff seemed very rude to me, most of the time. they did not have time to answer any questions, could have cared less about your pictures. The food at the Wharf was better that was expected. The high light of the cruise was our dining expeerience. The maitre'de was excellent. The dining room staff was the best.

This poor boat is wore out and so seems the crew. I hope the ship taking its place, is in better shape and has a staff that is more exuberant.

The port at Cozumel was not that great, there was way to much construction going on. The venders were very pushy. It was not the experience we were looking for.

We we saw were we were ported at Calica, we just stayed on the boat. It was a docking area for cargo ships!!! You would have had to take a cab for $13.00 about a mile or so to do anything. there was a few tents set up for souveniers. THere are a lot of deceptive advertising practices used to entice you to take their cruises. All in all on a scale from 1 to 10, I would have rated this about a 4.5 to 5 at most.

[southern cruising couple]

The Holiday is definitely an old ship, but that is also why there are such god deals offered for it's sailings. But the port of Cozumel is fabulous- lots to do! I have been about 5 times and have never repeated an activity except fot the wonderful Nachi Cocom!!!! Also you must remember that you are in another country, where their way of living is quit different from ours. It is very typical for the locals in most ports to be somewhat "pushy." And Calica has some beautiful beaches to enjoy.

 

I am sorry to hear you had a bad time, but maybe you will give it another shot on a newer, larger ship next time. The Fantasy will be in Mobile and Triumph in New Orleans- both are wonderful ships:)

[Beth]

We were on the Holiday in July and had a good time. No vacation is perfect its all in your attitude. If I don't have to cook, make my bed or clean the bathroom I am happy. My son and his wife booked for the Holidays last cruise after all the good we had to say about our cruise.

[Essiesmom]

Most reviews here for Holiday are good. I take yours with a grain of salt...You have been a member for 19 months, made three posts, all of them mildly critical/complaining. Perhaps you need a more positive attitude. EM

[myangel]

I have been on the bigger ships, and the smaller ships, and the Holiday 3 times. I never had a problem each time I was on the Holiday. Were you "looking" for faults? :rolleyes:

[Cruzman]

The OP thought the ship was lousy; Cozumel sucks; and Calica is a terrible place to even look at. To some, the glass will always be half empty! And no, the Fantasy will be no better; at least from the point of view of the OP.

[JRock59]

Since you posted on here you should have been aware that she has a few problems. You should have known exactly what your ports were going to be like. Did you do your research before going? Or before booking? If you had you might have had a better Cruise. We were on her in August for a B2B had a great time. Did we have ship problems yep you bet we did. Most of the ship including the cabins were with out water for about 8 hours one day. Due to a broken pipe they had to make the part to fix it. Half the public restrooms were closed. But we all made due and laughed about it. As for Calica we sail out of Mobile to go there. If you had taken a taxi into Playa you would have found one of the best beaches! And it's a public beach so no charge to spend the day. Or for around $10 you could have rented 2 chairs w/umbrella. It would have been worth the taxi fee to and from. Plus it's a nice tourist town. It's pretty, interesting and full of shopping. As for Cozumel we've never been there when the shop vendors have not been a bit aggressive. If you had gone in to the main shopping strip it would have been a bit better as the Police do keep an eye out and get after anyone who seems to be aggressive towards tourists. It was bad in August but we were reminded that it's not really "tourist season" there are not that many ships in on a daily basis and since that's how the shop owners at the port make all their money.....it's a bit more intense. I am glad to hear you enjoyed the diningroom so you were able to take some good memories home with you. Hopefully your next Cruise will be better but warning if you didn't enjoy Cozumel or Calica you'll not like Progresso. But I do think you'd like the Fantasy or Elation. Or maybe you should look into the Triumph out of NOLA once she is Homeported there. Research, research,research and ask questions there's plenty of info out there and on here. Gook luck and Happy Cruising! :)

[LHP]

You can tell from our signature that we have sailed the Holiday a time or two...LOL

 

But on our last sailing December 2007 ( I think).... it was obvious to me that it was time for her to retire. Carnival got 2 more years out of her....but it is time for her to go.

 

An earlier poster made a good point. If someone is posting on Cruise Critic....then they should have known her condition before they booked.

 

The brown water...odor and shimmey have been talked about ad nausem.

 

That is why her fare is so cheap.

 

That is like someone paying for a Yugo and then complaining it isn't a Lexus.

 

Regardless of the condition...people are still getting their money's worth.... and if the Holiday is all someone can afford...then they should go and have a great time...at least until November 2rd!!

[jetskier]

Apparently you have not done any research. The majority of folks know that Calica is a rock quarry. You have to take a taxi to get to Playa del Carmen about 10 miles away. That is why the cab is priced where it is. PDC is a resort town that a lot of Europeans fly to for vacation. Or you could have booked any of a dozen of shore excursions that would have taken to some nice areas of the Riveria.

 

The same with Cozumel. Not sure what you were expecting there. But if you would have gotten on the boards with a question on what you want to do, I am sure you would have gotten plenty of answers.

 

As far as restrooms.

There is one set on deck 8 by the shops

There are three sets on deck 9

There are two sets on deck 10

 

If you are trying to use the ones upfront, then yes there is sometimes a wait especially before or after a show. Find the ones right past the casino midship and there is rarely a wait.

 

Dave

[futaba951]

 

That is like someone paying for a Yugo and then complaining it isn't a Lexus.

 

 

Not to be nit picky, but, I believe they used up the last existing Yugo while filming the movie "Drowning Mona". And, my DW's Lexus has a shimmy in the front end that needs to be repaired. Can I complain about that? :p:D

[salty dingo]

I wonder what the OP, who now shows a whopping 3 posts here, paid for the cruise? I'll bet it was not very much, compared to prices on the newer ships.

 

What sort of questions does one ask of the photo staff? How much does this cost, perhaps? The photo is what it is, buy it or trash it.

 

Based on the comment about preferring to stay on the ship rather than pay $13 to see the town, I surmise this was a person with limited means and probably unusually high expectations. Probably also was a person who found Cruise Critic only after the cruise, and wanted to voice a complaint.

 

What do you want to bet the OP has written to Carnival and has asked for some compensation for the issues they experienced? At least the food was excellent to them - so many people find the food an easy target.

 

It does bring up a possibility that the restrooms are not being maintained enough... it would take more reviews before I could tell if this was a problem or just one person's observation.

[djacobson]

Just got in from Mobile Alabama debarked from the H/s Holiday. Be glad this tug is retiring. There is a vast lack of public restrooms, when you do get to use one, the are often dirty and smell really bad(we found we could walk to our room, use the restrooma and go back to what we were doing) and the lines were really long. There was a odor of raw sewage in our room, the a/c was not working properly, and we had problems with our lights. We realized after reporting this a time or two, nothing would be doe about it. There was a distinct odor of trash throughout the hallways. The pool area was extremely crowded, usually without enough seating or longe chairs for all. The photo staff seemed very rude to me, most of the time. they did not have time to answer any questions, could have cared less about your pictures. The food at the Wharf was better that was expected. The high light of the cruise was our dining expeerience. The maitre'de was excellent. The dining room staff was the best.

This poor boat is wore out and so seems the crew. I hope the ship taking its place, is in better shape and has a staff that is more exuberant.

The port at Cozumel was not that great, there was way to much construction going on. The venders were very pushy. It was not the experience we were looking for.

We we saw were we were ported at Calica, we just stayed on the boat. It was a docking area for cargo ships!!! You would have had to take a cab for $13.00 about a mile or so to do anything. there was a few tents set up for souveniers. THere are a lot of deceptive advertising practices used to entice you to take their cruises. All in all on a scale from 1 to 10, I would have rated this about a 4.5 to 5 at most.

 

Sorry your overall experience on the Holiday was not to your liking. Was this your first cruise with Carnival? I have been twice on the ship and am returning for one last time in two and half weeks.

 

The ship docks in Calica because it is the closest pier to PDC. I would have gotten off the ship and gone to Xcaret or to one of the beaches in PDC. Both are great places to visit.

 

The ships go to Cozumel because there is a win-win for both the cruise lines and the people on the island. People want to go there and the vendors want to sell stuff. There are so many options there - beaches, shopping, food, snorkeling, Jeeps and ATV's, the list can go on and on.

 

Many people on CC love the Holiday (not all) and between now and the November 2, I would imagine there will be a good number of CC members who will on the ship one last time before she heads overseas.

[Yazoo cruiser]

We all know the Holiday is small and old, having been on the Holiday 7 times out of our 40+ cruises, there are definitely minor inconveniences , but we have enjoyed every trip. Sounds like the OP had more problems than usual and I am sorry she had such a bad vacation. However, we have been on several cruise lines and many different size ships, and NEVER had a better, friendlier crew and staff than on the Holiday.

[firefly333]

OP dont give up. Folks dislike their ships being told they arent the best. Fantasy will move to Mobile for a while and Fantasy should be in better repair, though it too is a older ship, almost 20 years old. Then next year Elation will replace Fantasy, and Fantasy moves to SC.

 

Holiday is being sold, so maybe Carnival doesnt want to put money into repairs at this point, a month from being removed from the Carnival fleet.

[jetskier]

Holiday is being sold, so maybe Carnival doesnt want to put money into repairs at this point, a month from being removed from the Carnival fleet.

 

Carnival is still putting money into the ship as it is not leaving the Carnival Corporation's fleet. It is being transferred to another company within the Corporation. If they were not, then the ship would not have went through drydock in March.

 

It sounds more like a couple of minor maintenance issues. We all know about the A/C systems on the ships dont work like people are expecting them to as they are air based systems. Reduce the flow to reduce the temp. Will it ever get cold enough to satisfy everyone.......no.

 

A phone call to the Guest Services desk probably would have resolved the lighting issue. They may not be aware that there is a problem. The OP does not say if they reported it.

 

As far as the sewer smell, if you leave the toilet seat up, there is a tendency for the odor to enter the bathroom.

 

Dave

[firefly333]

As far as the sewer smell, if you leave the toilet seat up, there is a tendency for the odor to enter the bathroom.

 

Dave

 

I guess Iv been lucky on my Carnival cruises, never smelled that sewer smell.

[martinchem]

Not all cruises and vacations are perfect, but they all beat the best days at work and snow. Average it out, cruises are awesome.

[jetskier]

I guess Iv been lucky on my Carnival cruises, never smelled that sewer smell.

 

I usually get a small whiff which is why I learned to leave the seat down. Even on the Conquest. The worst time was on the Fantasy after drydock but that was a problem with the system not putting the vapors overboard. It was like hitting a wall when you exited the elevator.

 

Dave

[itchin2cruz]

I've only sailed on the Holiday once and it was last year. I had no bad experiences! I am sailing again in 2 weeks... Any vacation can have it's problems.

[jnjcruiser]

We've sailed on the Holiday about 5 or 6 times. Enjoyed every minute! Sure, it's smaller, but hey, you don't have to walk as far get to things! LOL It's all about attitude dude! ANY cruise is only as fun as YOU make it!

 

As far as Calica goes, hey, thats our favorite port of call! $10-$15 bucks gets you to the best topless beaches in the Caribbean!

 

And if you can't find anything to do in Cozumel, then there's no help for ya! Look around any city in the good old USA, there is always some type of construction going on somewhere! :cool:

[BARBARA J.W.]

I'll chime in.........

I am looking forward being on the

little ole sweet HOLIDAY........

I know she is old & small..........

I myself like the small Ships.....

 

I am doing a BTB.........

Halloween & the last Cruise from Mobile....

These two Cruises are going to be fun

and alittle sad......................

 

I Cruise for the Ship.......

I don't care where the Ship is going...

I enjoy Cruising on a Cruise Ship....

I am happy to be going on the

Holiday............

[Traveler353]

OP: I agree the food and service in the MDR in second to none. Other than that I respectfully disagree with the rest of your "review". I was on the Holiday last weekend (4 day cruise) and had a wonderful experience. No smells or brown water. What has got to be one of the friendliest and outgoing crews of any ship. The ships merchant crew was constantly cleaning and touching up the paint. Cozumel has for all practical purposes been destroyed twice in the last 5 years. The recovery is nothing short of amazing. The locals are very proud of their home and realize that tourism is their life blood and are working very hard to make it even better. A short ride or a long walk from Calica are some beautiful beaches and a fine little town to spend the day at. Calica is one of the best ports to visit the Maya ruins from. The Holiday is going to around for many more years at its new home. I for one am sorry to see her leaving us. 4 cruises on her so far and I wish I had the time do at least one more.

[jonesbk]

We have been on the Holiday 3 times and have never had as many issues as you had. Granted we do not have a basis for comparison (as we haven't been on any larger ships (yet!). Sure, she is old. Sure old things tend to function a bit less.

 

But all in all, she is a bargain for the buck! Wish I had time to squeeze one more in on her before she goes......

[KY Transplant]

The OP just made an accurate and truthful post about the Holiday and immediately the natives run to her rescue. The Holiday is a sorry excuse for a cruise ship and finally we can say good riddance in November.

An interesting read is "Cheap: The High Cost Of Discount Culture." The Holiday does offer cheap cruises but the result is a subpar cruise experience. For your cheap fare you often end up disappointed and longing for a real cruise.

I wouldn't sail on the Holiday again if the cruise was free. That tug is truly not even worth a dime. Never have I felt like steerage class than the Holiday.

I am "elated" however that the Elation is coming to Mobile. Its about time Mobile got a ship worthy to be homeported in that fine city. Bringing the Holiday to Mobile showed what Carnival thought of Mobile in the beggining and that dilapidated old scow was both an insult and embarrasement to the city of Mobile.

[cruisetobeaches]

The OP just made an accurate and truthful post about the Holiday and immediately the natives run to her rescue. The Holiday is a sorry excuse for a cruise ship and finally we can say good riddance in November.

 

An interesting read is "Cheap: The High Cost Of Discount Culture." The Holiday does offer cheap cruises but the result is a subpar cruise experience. For your cheap fare you often end up disappointed and longing for a real cruise.

 

I wouldn't sail on the Holiday again if the cruise was free. That tug is truly not even worth a dime. Never have I felt like steerage class than the Holiday.

 

I am "elated" however that the Elation is coming to Mobile. Its about time Mobile got a ship worthy to be homeported in that fine city. Bringing the Holiday to Mobile showed what Carnival thought of Mobile in the beggining and that dilapidated old scow was both an insult and embarrasement to the city of Mobile.

 

What took you so long to reply.............:confused::p:rolleyes: