The good the bad and the ugly from my adventures on the Carnival Splendor

[Vitamin_Sea]

One would think, but Carnival is a leader in the industry for muster drill routine and safety, so don't dare question it :rolleyes:! Bundle up is my advice!

 

I have heard that some other lines hold the Muster inside. Hhhmm

 

 

 

Hopefully it is a quick and painless muster! :rolleyes:

Edited December 30, 2013 by limoguy1

[Vitamin_Sea]

I have read that the Muster drill gets performed in different areas of the ship "depending on the class and age of the vessel". As approved/directed by the USCG.

 

So, that is why its outside!!

 

That means we cannot blame CCL on this one!!

Edited December 30, 2013 by limoguy1

[lovelearnteach]

Dec. 18th, 2013

 

It's finally here, today is the day we fly to NYC to start our Christmas vacation. We are scheduled to arrive in LGA at 12:20p.m., and arrive a little early with no complaints. Here we are after all the reading of review after review of hotels researching, and researching.

 

We grab a taxi and head to the hotel I eventually picked The Radio City Apartments and Hotel. I planned for this day to be all about the Times Square area and had 4:00p.m. tickets to Top of the Rock. The location of our hotel for the price could not have been better, it's not fancy, but it was comfortable and super convenient to everything in the area.

 

When we arrived at about 1:45p.m. we weren't sure if we would be able to check-in early, but planned to at least drop off our luggage, so we could go exploring. Well, when we went to the front desk, they said; we are sorry for any inconvenience but we are overbooked and we had to upgrade you to a 1 bedroom suite, at no extra charge. Okay, well if we were staying longer than 1 night it would have been a real score as it was palatial, way more room and space than we needed, but you ain't going to hear any complaints from me about the room or hotel or bonus upgrade :).

 

[NYcruzzer]

The font and lack of spacing is throwing me off.

Also the poll doesn't make sense.

Sorry you had a crummy time op.

 

lol.. I need to grab a Bonine out of my travel bag so I can read the rest of the review

[karinvt]

When i first went on the Splendor the pink decor throw me for a loop but after a day i just got used to it and it never annoyed me

 

I am looking forward to sailing on the Splendor again in 2 weeks..woohoo!!

 

 

 

Me too, cannot wait two weeks woot woot!

[lovelearnteach]

The dinning choices are endless for NYC and I knew some choices would have to be random, but I narrowed down our 3 dinner choices. I wanted Thai (I chose Pure Thai Cookhouse), "fancy" (I chose Colicchio & Sons) and Italian (I chose Cafe Buon Gusto).

 

In my research I came across a place called Empanada Mama, so that's where we headed for lunch after getting everything settled in our room. Everyone raves about the guacamole and plantain chips on tripadvisor and I see why, they were so delicious, loved both the guac and chips :). The empanadas are Colombian, which are slightly different form the Mexican ones we are used to here at home. Terry got tamales and beans and rice and liked them, I got the chorizo empanada and they were very yummy. I also got their drink of the week or day and it was a pear and thyme martini, very good.

 

 

 

[PortSideCruzan]

 

I have heard that some other lines hold the Muster inside. Hhhmm

 

Yes... During my last two voyages on Princess (Caribbean Princess) the

muster drill was held in the theater, the casino and in a club...

 

On the Splendor, deck four, lifeboat deck, outside..

 

:)

Edited December 30, 2013 by PortSideCruzan

[Blk_Amish]

I have heard that some other lines hold the Muster inside. Hhhmm

 

 

 

Hopefully it is a quick and painless muster! :rolleyes:

 

 

 

On Carnival Magic the drill was held in a lounge. On Princess the drill was held in the theater. Outside in the sun or cold must suck :rolleyes: . I am adding the rolleyes because you used it but not sure why.

Edited December 30, 2013 by Blk_Amish

[jks336]

man you gotta laugh. the poll states. AFTER you read the review to do it. I was curious and looked at results and yep. there were some done already.

[lovelearnteach]

I'm looking forward to your review and reading about your experiences. I have not been on any other line but Carnival so I don't have a source of comparison.

 

I am always disappointed though that a person will leave any cruise line based on just one experience. I've been on 14 different Carnival ships, out of 5 different embarkation ports and each of them has had a different vibe.

 

Décor is unimportant to me. As long as it's clean and in an acceptable level of functionality I'm good.

Well technically this is not my 1st Carnival cruise :p:D. Actually I loved my 1st Carnival cruise but that was a different cruising era, and I was a different cruiser then, cruising for different reasons.

 

Hey different strokes for different folks :).

 

I tend to be a if it ain't broke don't fix it kinda person, but once in awhile you like to try something else, so next time we get a hankerin for something different we will try another line we have yet to sail with.

 

I don't want anyone to feel they need to get super defensive about liking Carnival, it's a great value for the money, ain't nothin wrong with that. We so enjoyed our time, we just rather try a variety of lines :).

[Vitamin_Sea]

On Carnival Magic the drill was held in a lounge. On Princess the drill was held in the theater. Outside in the sun or cold must suck :rolleyes: . I am adding the rolleyes because you used it but not sure why.

 

Yes indeed, As I stated earlier- the Muster is done in different areas of the ship depending on class/age as directed by the USCG.

[Blk_Amish]

Is there an option for jealous. Not for the pink elephant but getting a trip paid for, I assume. My uncle never gave me didly.

 

 

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Forums mobile app

[lovelearnteach]

I have heard that some other lines hold the Muster inside. Hhhmm

 

 

 

Hopefully it is a quick and painless muster! :rolleyes:

All of our Princess ones have been inside comfortably seated, I was told that all Carnival ships muster drills are outside. I didn't read anything saying any different than what we were used to on Princess so I just assumed it would be the same.

 

Ha, bundle up and hunker down, it's pretty brutal :(.

[lovelearnteach]

I have read that the Muster drill gets performed in different areas of the ship "depending on the class and age of the vessel". As approved/directed by the USCG.

 

So, that is why its outside!!

 

That means we cannot blame CCL on this one!!

I don't know maybe that's why a lot of lines don't sail out of NYC. All of our Princess cruises were inside comfortably seated. Whoever's fault it sucked, but the way we were treated during, was Carnival's responsibility.

[Blk_Amish]

Well technically this is not my 1st Carnival cruise :p:D. Actually I loved my 1st Carnival cruise but that was a different cruising era, and I was a different cruiser then, cruising for different reasons.

 

Hey different strokes for different folks :).

 

I tend to be a if it ain't broke don't fix it kinda person, but once in awhile you like to try something else, so next time we get a hankerin for something different we will try another line we have yet to sail with.

 

I don't want anyone to feel they need to get super defensive about liking Carnival, it's a great value for the money, ain't nothin wrong with that. We so enjoyed our time, we just rather try a variety of lines :).

Truly different strokes for different folks. When I leave my home I want it to be special, so I avoid doing the same line or even vacation over and over. I don't pack my bags because I am miserable at home and don't want to work or do chores. This story might be different if I was freezing my butt off in the winter or didn't truly love my home and job.

 

 

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Forums mobile app

[Vitamin_Sea]

All of our Princess ones have been inside comfortably seated, I was told that all Carnival ships muster drills are outside. I didn't read anything saying any different than what we were used to on Princess so I just assumed it would be the same.

 

Ha, bundle up and hunker down, it's pretty brutal :(.

 

Yes I understand.

 

CCL along with the other lines must follow the USCG rules.

 

We will be wearing layers and be fine.

 

thanks

[PortSideCruzan]

 

Hi Lovelearnteach :)

 

Thank you for taking the time to put together a review. Happy

Birthday also! So far I think your review is a breath of fresh

air because it's different, along with interesting. I'm far too

hesitant to write a review for fear of my every word being

picked apart to death & the comments getting far off topic.

 

In regards to the muster drill, as I mentioned in a previous

reply, my last two Princess voyages the muster was held in

the theater, the casino and in a club.

 

On the Splendor it was held outside on deck four, the lifeboat

deck. That being said, in my humble opinion I believe all

muster drills should be held directly at the lifeboat stations

(outside) so people really know exactly where to go if a true

emergency were to occur.

 

Enjoying your review, looking forward to reading more. We

had a terrific voyage aboard the Splendor, however my wife

and I traveled on her May/June with very different itinerary's.

 

:)

[lovelearnteach]

I understand the review because there are many factors that make a vacation complete other than the food than enters the mouth, lands in the stomach, and settles on the behind. There is more to a cruise than being on boat being fed. I consider this ship (west coast) but didn't book this ship because of the decor. To me is like saying I don't care how the food looks on the plate as long as it taste good, yuck. There is something about presentation/decor that is pleasing to the eyes. I know, not everyone cares about how they present themselves, or how things around them are presented. To each their, eye candy exists for a sweet reason.

You have to eat everyday, I want to treat my taste buds not disappoint them day after day, so if I make them happy I can make the rest happy :D:).

 

I agree I also want to be visually pleased as well, for some reason the Splendor does not photograph well. From photographs I judged the decor to be hideous and just knew I was going to hate it. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the Splendor. Just a few changes in my opinion and she would have been perfect. I liked the ship, your not going to hear me knock it :).

[OCruisers]

I had planed not to comment on this review until it was said and done.

After reading a few comments , I'll put in my fifty cent worth ;).

I enjoy reviews like the OP's ,if you read here long enough you will notice that people writing reviews will get ripped into for their opinions long before the actual review begins.

I can tell you after reading here for years most people that start reviews read the comments and never finish their reviews, I cant blame them. Look how many reviews I have done, not to many :D. To me it's not worth writing a review if others attack the OP or the review before it actually comes to life.

 

I hope the OP will finish this review ,we really do learn things from another's point of view.

 

Enjoying your review OP .

 

Sadly, people who take their time to do a review are often flamed rather than thanked. :o

 

LuLu

~~~~~

[The4Cruisers]

On the Splendor it was held outside on deck four, the lifeboat deck. That being said, in my humble opinion I believe all muster drills should be held directly at the lifeboat stations (outside) so people really know exactly where to go if a true

emergency were to occur.

 

Outdoor muster in the cold may not be a bad thing. You might think the pax would line up, shut up, and let the staff do their thing so everyone can get back inside! :D

[lovelearnteach]

Me too, cannot wait two weeks woot woot!

Happy cruising :).

[lovelearnteach]

Yes... During my last two voyages on Princess (Caribbean Princess) the

muster drill was held in the theater, the casino and in a club...

 

On the Splendor, deck four, lifeboat deck, outside..

 

:)

Is it a line thing, a NYC thing, a legal thing what determines it?

[lovelearnteach]

On Carnival Magic the drill was held in a lounge. On Princess the drill was held in the theater. Outside in the sun or cold must suck :rolleyes: . I am adding the rolleyes because you used it but not sure why.

So I guess it's not a fleet wide thing on Carnival, well things that make you go hhhmmmm :confused:.

Edited December 30, 2013 by lovelearnteach

[TravelE]

I am loving your review. Thank you so much for posting.

[lovelearnteach]

man you gotta laugh. the poll states. AFTER you read the review to do it. I was curious and looked at results and yep. there were some done already.

Well I did give a basic sum up in my 1st posting for those that wanted a quick response and want to move on, so they can certainly vote on just the 1st posting only. For those that plan to stay with it, it would make more sense to wait until the end :).