REVIEW - 5nt CANADA - Carnival GLORY 8/24/13 from NYC

[chiapet]

CARNIVAL GLORY

8/24/13

5-night Canada

NYC - Sea - St. John NB - Halifax NS - Sea - NYC

 

Dismal weathered vacation from NYC to Canada on a traditionally older ship with nondescript food but excellent service.

 

BACKGROUND

* DW, DH, 2 DS (15 & 10) from South Jersey

* lots of previous cruise experience on many cruise lines

 

EMBARKATION

Pier 90 at Manhattan Cruise Terminal (55th St & 12th Ave entrance)

+ drove 2 hrs from South Jersey arrived ~11am

+ parked @ Pier 90 rooftop for $35/day (Visa & MC accepted)

+ easy luggage drop off with porters at roof top parking lot

+ NO wait at x-rays or check-in

+ boarding started ~11:30am and walked onboard with NO wait

~ be prepared to complete Canadian immigration form at check-in area

 

CABIN

Oceanview 2355 (cat. 6C) – Main Deck (2) midship starboard

+ cabin ready @ 1:30pm but can drop off bags upon embarkation

+ luggage was in our cabin ~4pm after lifeboat drill (NO need to bring life jackets)

+ great cabin location midship with easy access to all 3 elevators

+ lots of storage with 4 drawers and 3 large closets

+ 2 night stands with space also

+ 2 twin beds, 1 sofa bed, and 1 trundle bunk above sofa bed (kept down entire cruise)

+ large stool at desk for additional seating

+ oval table with large top

+ nice sized cabin with plenty of space around beds

+ oversized round picture window with large ledge to put things on

+ bath amenities incl. 3 round bars of soap, 2 ice tea powder packets, and Breathe Right strips

+ shower gel and shampoo dispensers in shower

+ emptied refrigerator on our own to use for other beverages (cabin steward would not do)

+ AC worked fine but had to adjust often

+ flat screen TV with access to DR menus, onboard acct, and lots of stations (real time)

~ no coffee maker in cabin but we don’t usually use it anyway

~ curtain and short rim in small shower allowed water to get out

~ in-cabin compact hair dryer in top desk drawer difficult to use (hold down small button to keep on)

~ cosmetic mirror with hinged arm pull-out was on bathroom wall (location hard to maneuver)

~ (2) pillows per person but were very mushy and uncomfortable

~ only 1 electrical outlet at desk

~ (3) continuous running movies in cabin had very long delays before restarting

[chiapet]

RESTAURANTS

 

PLATINUM DINING ROOM – deck 3 & 4 aft

GOLDEN MAIN DINING ROOM – deck 4 fwd

* DINNER 6:00pm & 8:15pm (Assigned Seating)

GOLDEN MAIN DINING ROOM – deck 3 fwd

* DINNER 5:45pm-9:30pm (Open Seating)

PLATINUM DINING ROOM – deck 3 aft

* BRUNCH 8:30am-1:00pm (Sea Days)

+ dined early with no waits

+ offered to be seated with same wait staff each night

+ fixed menu and rotating menu choices available

+ request non-vegetarian Indian meals 1 day in advance

+ small food portions but no limit on how much you can order

+ (1) formal night on 1st sea day with lobster & shrimp in MDR

+ cruise casual other nights allows shorts & jeans but no gym wear or cut-offs

+ team of 3 waiters were very attentive and efficient

+ excellent chocolate melting cake on menu every night, but crème brulee only once

+ nice brunch menu with huevos rancheros, steak & eggs, and all the usual items

+ brunch bloody mary bar (may use free drink coupon >$9 for repeat passengers)

~ open seating walk-in lines between 6:30-8pm

~ most food was bland and flavorless (with exception of spicy Indian meals … excellent)

~ access Golden MDR from forward elevators ONLY

~ Punchliners brunch comedy only 5 min. long @ 10am, 11am, 12:15pm

 

RED SAIL LIDO BUFFET – deck 9 aft

* BREAKFAST ~7:00am-10:30am and 10:30-12:00pm (late risers)

* LUNCH 12:00pm-2:30pm

* DINNER 6:00pm-9:30pm

* DELI 11:00am-11:00pm

* LATE NIGHT SNACKS 11:30pm-1:00am

+ (2) comfort foods lines in front differed from (2) chef’s choice lines in back

+ soft-serve machines abundant

+ ice tea and lemonade available … great mixed together

+ coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and water always available

+ eggs benedict available at breakfast

+ limited late night snacks included only a few sandwiches (i.e. ham/cheese, buffalo chicken)

~ small deli window on port side always crowded

~ traditional buffet lines were very long

~ hot food selections limited but salad bar items plentiful

 

FISH & CHIPS – deck 10 aft

* LUNCH 12:00pm-2:30pm

+ hidden gem on 2nd floor above aft buffet

+ limited seating but was always available

+ cold octopus salad, ceviche and watermelon ahi tuna

+ fried seafood fritters, oysters, fish and chips

+ fresh bouillabaisse with fish, clams, mussels and shrimp

+ fried items were very greasy but were very tasty

~ sometimes long lines waiting for items to be made

 

PIZZA PIRATE – deck 9 aft

* OPEN 24 hours

+ various options made to order (i.e. plain, pepperoni, mushroom, prosciutto salad, etc.)

+ very good individual size pizza

~ very crowded late at night

 

GUY’S BURGER JOINT – deck 9 mid

* LUNCH 12:00pm-6:00pm

+ awesome burgers with various options made to order (i.e. bacon, chili, onion ring, etc.)

+ great toppings bar with lots of additional condiments

+ served with hand cut fries

+ limited outdoor seating with wooden booths, chairs and even high tops near bar

+ near pool area for easy access even in bathing suit

~ sometimes long lines waiting for items to be made

~ wished burgers were available late night!

 

BLUE IGUANA CANTINA – deck 9 mid

* BREAKFAST ~7:00am-10:30am

* LUNCH 12:00pm-2:30pm

+ fast lines with made to order burritos and other items

+ breakfast burritos, arepas and even huevos rancheros

+ tacos with chicken, fish or pork

+ burritos with chicken, beef or shrimp

+ salsa bar with lots of items with varying levels of spiciness

+ also near pool area for easy access even in bathing suit

~ closes too early in the afternoon

 

ROOM SERVICE

* OPEN 24 hours

+ cold sandwiches (i.e. tuna, ham/cheese, turkey, PB&J, BLT, shrimp salad, mozzarella/mushroom)

+ hot sandwiches (i.e. grilled cheese, reuben, chicken fajita, pastrami)

+ sandwiches come with potato salad, cole slaw, chips or pretzels

+ choice of white, wheat or rye bread sandwiches

+ salads (i.e. mixed greens, caesar, veggies/dip)

+ desserts (i.e. cheesecake, cookies, chocolate cake, fruit salad, strawberry yogurt)

+ juices (i.e. orange, tomato, apple or grapefruit)

+ drinks (i.e. reg/decaf coffee, hot/iced tea, hot chocolate, reg/skim/chocolate milk)

+ breakfast (i.e. smoked salmon, fruits, breads, cereals, yogurts, juices, coffee, tea and milk)

~ bottled water, sodas, and beer available at bar service prices

~ continental breakfast may be ordered up to 5am by hanging card outside door

[chiapet]

ENTERTAINMENT

 

AMBER PALACE

+ Saturday - Welcome Aboard Show (10:15pm) … intro of shows and comedy

+ Sunday - Motor City (8:15pm and 10:15pm) … entertaining classic R&B songs and dancing

+ Monday - Hasbro Game Show (8:45pm) … family fun with audience participation

+ Monday - Game of Love Show (8:45pm) … audience participating marriage game show

+ Tuesday - Divas (8:15pm and 10:15pm) … pop songs and dancing (didn’t attend)

+ Wednesday - Hasbro Game Show #2 (4:15pm) … family fun with audience participation

+ Wednesday - Latin Nights (8:15pm and 10:15pm) … Latin music (didn’t attend)

~ very crowded so get there early for good seats on main floor

~ balcony seating available but many with limited views

~ front row reserved during Hasbro Game for contestants

 

EBONY CABERET

+ Punchliner comedy shows every night except Monday (St. John)

+ (2) comedians rotating shows

+ family shows (Sunday & Wednesday – 7:30pm & 8:30pm)

+ adult shows (Sunday – 10:30pm) (Wednesday – 10:00 & 11:00pm)

+ adult shows (Saturday, Sunday & Tuesday – 11:30pm)

~ unaccommodating seating configuration with booths for 10 people

~ required to leave lounge after shows even if staying for another one

~ some stool seating at bar in the back of the lounge with attentive bartender

 

CINN-A-BAR

+ piano sing-along fun almost every night starting at 9:00pm

 

CAMEL CLUB CASINO STAGE

+ over abundance of trivia and games almost every ½ hour … winners get a plastic ship-on-a-stick

~ poor venue with limited seating along the windows … sometimes difficult to hear

~ very crowded area with congestion from casino and people walking by

 

OTHER

+ usual BINGO games almost every day

+ seaside theatre every day … look in FunTimes for movies & times

+ martini tastings in Alchemy Bar

+ food and wine pairing (fee)

+ karaoke every day

+ guitarist and party band in various venues were both very entertaining

[chiapet]

ACTIVITIES

 

MAIN LIDO POOL

+ leveled seating from decks 9-11 midship

+ shaded tables around perimeter with easy access to 2 bars and food

~ limited lounge seating near pool

~ always crowded

 

AFT LIDO POOL (adult only)

+ shaded tables around perimeter with easy access to bar and pizza

+ sunroof may be opened or closed depending on weather

~ limited lounge seating near pool

~ all age access to area but only adults permitted in small pool

 

SERENITY (adult only)

+ plenty of comfortable padded loungers in the sun on decks 12-13 forward

+ shaded couches on deck 12 starboard

+ shaded clam shells all the forward on deck 12

+ hammocks and hot tubs on deck 13 forward

+ sign-out plush yellow Serenity beach towels on deck 12

~ limited shade so get there early

 

CAMP CARNIVAL

+ easy sign-up on embarkation day

+ kids given lifeboat wrist bands during muster drill

+ sectioned area (deck 12 fwd) for younger kids(2-11)

+ Circle C lounge (deck 4 mid) for young teens (12-14)

+ Club O2 (deck 5 mid) for older teens

+ late night babysitting (additional fee) for young kids after 10pm

~ looked crazy busy when we tried to get a copy of the kids daily activities … but failed

~ no activities to entice the kids to go … so they opted to stay with us the entire cruise

 

FITNESS CENTER

+ small but had various types of equipment

+ daily FREE stretch (30 min.) @ 7am & 5pm

+ daily FREE abs class (30 min.) @ 7:30am

+ spinning (8am SMW), Yoga (10am SMW) & Pilates (4pm SW, 8am T) $12/class

~ spinning bikes were old and limited to 10 participants

~ need to walk through male/female locker rooms to get to the gym

 

SPORTS COURTS

+ 9-hole miniature golf

+ sign-out sports equipment at lido towel hut near pool

~ small-sized not-quite-half basketball court with only 1 net

~ very small-sized volleyball court with net too low

~ only access via stairs

 

OTHER ACTIVITIES

+ daily brain teasers and sudoku in Cremes Café

+ 2 ping pong tables deck 12 fwd portside (equipment available at deck 9 towel hut)

[chiapet]

PORTS

 

SAINT JOHN (8:00am-4:00pm)

+ docked downtown

+ craft/souvenir tent located at the pier

+ local souvenir gift shop right across the street from ship

+ local restaurant with lobster pots across the street from ship

+ book shore excursions from inside terminal at pier

+ easy and safe to walk around the small town

+ indoor walkway shopping from Brunswick Square to Market Square … even in rain

+ good food and great craft beer at Saint John Alehouse in Market Square with outdoor patio and water views

~ not much to do walking around town … highly recommend booking a shore excursion

 

HALIFAX (9:00am-6:00pm)

+ docked downtown

+ some craft/souvenir shops located inside terminal

+ book shore excursions from inside terminal at pier

+ easy walk on path along water with more to see, eat, buy and do

+ nice representation of craft beer on our own walking beer tour:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1877808

~ book shore excursion or rent a car to see other wonderful sights nearby (i.e. Peggy’s Cove – Titantic)

~ required by law to order food at restaurants if children are present while alcohol is served

 

 

DEBARKATION

 

Self Assist Walk-Off

+ watch cruise director’s debarkation talk on tv … running continuously the day before

+ packed and kept all luggage with us

+ breakfast available in buffet (6:30am-9:30am) and MDR (6:30am-8:30am)

+ final statement delivered overnight and was fine

+ docked at pier 88 shortly ~7am

+ self assist walk-off began immediately ~7:30am by deck (starting with deck 1)

+ deck 3 forward portside gangway

+ lines disembarking ship moved quickly

+ key card scanned upon leaving ship

+ have customs declaration and passports ready for agents at the far side of terminal

~ elevator up from ground floor 1 to 3 for parking level

~ walk over from pier 88 to pier 90 where cars were parked

 

 

TIPS

* daily program FunTimes was delivered by cabin steward during turn down service while we were at dinner

* bring (1) 750ml bottle of wine & champagne per adult onboard for in-cabin consumption at embarkation

* no thru-access on deck 3 & 4 forward to midship

* shaded deck loungers available on deck 10 aft port & starboard outside fish & chips buffet

* more sun loungers available on deck 10 aft for wake watchers

* self-laundry facilities available on decks 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, & 9 for $3 wash & $3 dry

* Taste Bar outside nightclub with some finger foods available daily 5:30pm-8:30pm

* limited Chef’s Table ($75pp) on Wednesday or Thursday includes private galley tour and dinner

* heard good things about the Steakhouse ($35pp) but did not go

* EA Sports Bar has (2) Xbox 360s with numerous EA games available from the bartender

* pool table in between casino and EA Sports Bar

* ship time was 1 hour behind local time in port

[hotlipss]

Can you tell me if the was any place to eat up at the serenity deck?Also do you know if any of the hot tubs were hot?

[chiapet]

Can you tell me if the was any place to eat up at the serenity deck?Also do you know if any of the hot tubs were hot?

 

No ... there was no food available at Serenity. But you could walk straight down the leveled stairs to deck 9 midship (near pool) to get food at Guy's Burger Joint or BlueIguana Cantina and bring it back up. It wasn't really that bad.

 

And we're not sure about the temperatures in the hot tubs ... as we never went in them. But there were plenty of people who were ;)

[hotlipss]

Ok thanks!

[hotlipss]

Would u happen to have the Funtimes?If so can you post them?Thanks!...oh and I love your detailed review!

[bdette4]

No ... there was no food available at Serenity. But you could walk straight down the leveled stairs to deck 9 midship (near pool) to get food at Guy's Burger Joint or BlueIguana Cantina and bring it back up. It wasn't really that bad.

 

And we're not sure about the temperatures in the hot tubs ... as we never went in them. But there were plenty of people who were ;)

 

Actually when we were on the ship out of Boston this past June there was a limited menu of items available at the bar that is located on the 1st level of the serenity deck . Caesar salad and some wrap type sandwiches.

[chiapet]

Actually when we were on the ship out of Boston this past June there was a limited menu of items available at the bar that is located on the 1st level of the serenity deck . Caesar salad and some wrap type sandwiches.

 

Thanks for the info ... as we totally missed that :(

 

Guess we should have went to the bar there ... and ordered more drinks :p

 

P.S. The Serenity bar is next to the shaded couches on deck 12 fwd starboard ... and on the other side of the couches is where you can get the Serenity towels ;)

[chiapet]

Would u happen to have the Funtimes?If so can you post them?Thanks!...oh and I love your detailed review!

 

I have them ... but they're not scanned in yet :o

 

However ... I believe someone else on our sailing posted pictures of theirs on another thread :)

[nodogkisses]

I was wondering if the Blue Iguana and/or the Red Frog Rum Bar had the tervis tumblers for sale. Would you happen to know if they did? I heard they've not had them from several people the past few months. Thanks in advance. By the way, I love the format for your review.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[Coopie]

I am sure I know the answer but will ask anyway. Could you get grilled chicken sandwich anywhere on the ship during the day. (Not asking about dinner time in dining room).

 

Thanks

[chiapet]

I was wondering if the Blue Iguana and/or the Red Frog Rum Bar had the tervis tumblers for sale. Would you happen to know if they did? I heard they've not had them from several people the past few months. Thanks in advance. By the way, I love the format for your review.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

 

I don't recall seeing them ... but we didn't go to those bars ... as we pre-ordered wine and alcohol from the Fun Shops bon voyage dept :p

 

Sorry we couldn't be more help ...

[chiapet]

I am sure I know the answer but will ask anyway. Could you get grilled chicken sandwich anywhere on the ship during the day. (Not asking about dinner time in dining room).

 

Thanks

 

Don't recall seeing grilled chicken sandwiches ... only buffalo chicken sandwiches and chicken tacos/burritos/fajitas ... but maybe in the buffet ...

[hotlipss]

I have them ... but they're not scanned in yet :o

 

However ... I believe someone else on our sailing posted pictures of theirs on another thread :)

 

Someone did post them but they were bleary when I tried to make them big enough to read:(

[chiapet]

Someone did post them but they were bleary when I tried to make them big enough to read:(

 

No problem ... I'll try to get them scanned it soon ;)

[cruiseclues]

Can you tell me if the was any place to eat up at the serenity deck?Also do you know if any of the hot tubs were hot?

 

thanks for the review...when we were on the Carnival Glory in February 2013, there was a bar and a brief food menu in the Serenity Area...which was different from the food served elsewhere on the ship. :):):):)