Splendor 10-30-16 Review

[NCTribeFan]

Carnival Splendor 10-30-16

 

This will not be a blow-by-blow account this time. That just takes up so much time and energy that I just don’t have right now. So, here are the highlights and lowlights.

 

This was Carnival #26 for me. I sailed Splendor the past two years; first was the repositioning from San Juan to Miami on 11/1/14 and then again last year on the 1-time Norfolk to Bermuda sailing on 10/23/15. On those two sailings, I had a travel companion. This time, I went solo.

 

I’ve found that when I sail solo, I have much more time to observe since I’m not spending my time chatting with others. I see and hear things that I wouldn’t notice when I’m with others. I enjoy that, for the most part.

 

I’d recently read a review where someone thought the ship didn’t have a good “feel” to her and that the crew and staff seemed unhappy. I don’t think I necessarily agree with that but I did think things were different, and not in a good way. I’m not sure what it was. I do believe each ship has it’s own vibe and that changes depending on the captain and the upper management staff on board (including the CD).

 

Here are all the things I did NOT do and cannot comment on: trivia, Dr Seuss, art auctions, bingo, jewelry or other shopping, deck parties, piano bar, dive-in movies, MDR for meals other than dinner, YTD, pizza, Tandoor, Mongolian Wok, general buffet servings, chocolate buffet, VIFP party, spa.

 

Here’s what I did: casino, one show (Studio VIP), one sea-day brunch, omelette every morning, burrito bar, deli, late MDR dinner, Serenity deck, shore excursions.

 

I flew down on 10/29 to Fort Lauderdale on Southwest and stayed at the Courtyard Marriott Airport & Cruise Port. Nice hotel and room and I would stay there again. I most definitely did NOT like that they gave my room to a couple checking in later who only could not enter because I happened to be in the room with the deadbolt on! I plan to write to them about that!

 

Next morning, I took the shuttle back to the airport and picked up the shuttle to the Miami port using QLS. I’d used them on both my 1-way sailings that ended in Miami. $15 each way. We had rain on and off all day.

 

First experience with staggered check-in. I had picked 10:30-11:00 and did arrive during that window. Had my boarding pass and passport looked at outside and pointed to a line that went into the terminal. Had them checked again, and my luggage scanned. I took just a tote bag and a 21” carry-on so just carried those on the ship. Then into the room with the main check-in counters. When I got to the counter, the woman said “I don’t know why you’re here, you’re already checked in!” Well, I was there because that’s where I was told to go! Anyway, off to the Priority waiting room (I’m Platinum). Sat around for a while. Heard no announcement at all but saw that everyone in the room was up and stampeding out. I’m pretty sure that room had all the Priority people including the Premier Casino and FTTF. No calling of Diamond/Platinum first. Then we had to stand at the bottom of the escalator for a while since the upper level was packed with I HAVE TO BE FIRST ON THE SHIP BECAUSE I PAID FOR IT AND I WANT TO START OVEREATING AND DRINKING NOW!!! types. And because we didn’t have our S&S cards, we had to have our boarding passes manually scanned. It was not the smoothest, most efficient check-in ever but nothing to get too bent out of shape about.

 

Anyway, on the ship shortly after noon and to my cabin, #1083, a 1A just forward of the big tv over the Lido pool. Nice cabin. S&S card was in a sealed envelope in the mailbox. Didn’t hear a single complaint from anyone about the cards. HC-modified cabin. The cabinet where the fridge should have been located was empty. Not an issue or me as I rarely use them. In the cabin was my Premier bag but it had only my lanyard, drinks card and a cup. No listing of the weeks casino activities like I’d had before (this was my 4th Premier sailing in just under 2 years).

 

 

 

 

[NCTribeFan]

Burrito bar for lunch, back to cabin to unpack, to lobby bar for my traditional Thirsty Frog boarding beer, noticed lots and lots of blue cards boarding the ship. Met the cabin steward (Abdullah); no mention of choosing only once a day service. I did request a bathrobe which arrived the next day. Saw some folks with Casino lanyards on and asked where & when their cocktail party was to take place (aft lounge, deck 5 @ 5); to Library for muster drill since my back issues don’t like me to stand out there on the deck for 30 minutes. Stopped at Liner Bar after and met up with some roll call folks, then to cocktail party.

 

I had requested to dine alone since I’ve found I can get in and out much more quickly, which I like to do when solo. When traveling with others, I prefer a more leisurely dinner. Had table 601 on Deck 4 of the Black Pearl. There were 3 2-tops when you first enter the MDR on the left walking in (starboard side). Was seated next to a couple from Manchester, England. My ex is English and I really enjoyed chatting with them. On their other side were a couple of women who, I think, were from Liberia. One was an MD. I didn’t really get to talk to them much. A couple of nights into the cruise, one of their friends showed up and sat across from me.

 

I had the American Table on Vista and wasn’t terribly impressed. I was hoping the food would be better this time, and thought it was. I’m still not crazy about the offerings, though. At least I still get my chilled fruit soups as appetizers. I definitely did not go hungry and usually did not have room for dessert (but I’m not much for sweets anyway).

 

I really did not do well in the casino. I couldn’t even win anything on the penny slots but there were lots of jackpot winners. Not me, though. Didn’t even get a Hot Seat or any of the other games this time. No luck at the Roulette wheels, either. Finally walked away from the table with some chips on Thursday night and managed to NOT give it all back on Friday. Even won a little on the slots during that last sea day but I definitely was not a winner.

 

And for the first time, there were times when I couldn’t get a drink in the casino. Yes, the servers are incredibly busy, but I usually find one server who I rely on. Not this time. One night, I ordered a drink and waited and waited. I finally saw the server with my drink on the tray and he headed the other direction, circled the entire casino, and never came back to me. I sat at the same slot machine, watching him, waiting, and trying to get his attention. I finally got up because someone wanted to play and I was just waiting for my drink. He emerged with another full tray and I had to chase him down. He insisted he had come back TWICE. Uh no. You did not and don’t you dare lie to me! He did not get a tip and I did not order from him again.

[NCTribeFan]

Some random photos from embarkation day...

 

 

 

 

 

 

[A&Jfamily]

Can you explain the new just use your boarding pass and get your sign and sail at your room? How are they doing those without taking the picture? Is this just a Splendor thing?

[NCTribeFan]

Another first, I went to the service desk with a complaint. I’d been a little concerned that I would hear noise from the Lido deck, but that wasn’t a problem at all. You go through a door from pool area, then turn right through another door. My cabin was the first on the left. BUT, the very first morning, I was awakened by heavy thumping sounds. I’d doze back off and then it would happen again. I couldn’t tell where it was coming from. Sometimes it sounded like something being wheeled, then dumped. I never woke up enough to try to figure out what it was, but it kept waking me over and over and over.

 

It turns out that the art is stored in a room directly behind the big TV on Deck 10. When I got up and headed out for breakfast, that hallway was full of big artwork in their huge, heavy frames, all leaning against the walls. OK, I let it go but thought, “this better not happen every morning.” It didn’t. I was in the cabin one afternoon and it started so since I was awake, I opened that hallway door and said to the guys, “oh! That’s what that thumping is! I’m in the cabin on the other side of the wall and couldn’t figure out where the noise was coming from.” I hoped they would get the idea that it was not OK to be banging against someone’s cabin.

 

Well, early on Friday morning, before 6 am, it started again. I couldn’t wake enough to put on the bathrobe and go say something to them, so it was a repeat of the first morning. Doze back off, wake up again with loud thumping, doze back off, repeat. So I went to the desk and complained. Told the person I simply wanted them to be aware that the headboard in that cabin is against that wall and they need to be mindful of that. I realize they’re up early and working. But I’m on vacation. While I typically am up before 6 am at home, when I’m cruising, I stay up later so would like to sleep a little later. I was very calm and polite. I wasn’t asking for anything; just wanted them to be aware that the art guys need to be more aware. I did have a voicemail message later that my concerns had been relayed to the art folks and I was being given a small OBC, which was nice. I hadn’t complained hoping to get something.

 

One of my general complaints about Carnival for the past several years has been the overall noise level everywhere. I don’t need nor want blaring pop music in the buffet when I’m having breakfast. Or the acoustic guitar guy in the lobby on deck 3 being turned up to 10 so you hear every word in the sports bar or casino on deck 5. Or there being someone playing live music at the casino bar yet they don’t turn off the piped-in crap. There is even piped in horrible stuff up on Serenity!

 

Yes, I’m old. And cranky. But couldn’t there just be a couple of places where one can go to sit and read in relative peace? I shouldn’t have to go to my cabin. I should be able to sit in the sun and read without being distracted by bad music. Or worse, the crowd who showed up on Friday and brought their own speaker and parked themselves in the seating area in front of the Serenity bar.

 

And once again, I’ll complain about the fact that people sitting 2 feet from each other have to bellow at ear shattering levels. Good grief. Turn it down, people. And when you’re on a tour bus and the guide is talking, show a little courtesy! You may not care what’s being said, but the rest of us paid for the tour and may actually want to hear what the guide has to say! Stop being so rude!

 

 

 

 

 

[cruise47]

Thanks for sharing your review with photos. Solo cruising sounds like it could be fun.

[NCTribeFan]

Halloween happened to be on the first sea day so it coincided with the first elegant night. Yes, there were some people in the MDR in costume. Elegant attire was not prominent; more club attire than elegant. Hardly even any men in suits and very few women in long dresses. When I came out from the MDR, there was a lively costume party happening in the lobby. There were several really impressive couples’ costumes. The past two years, we boarded 11/1 so missed any party, and then last year, Halloween was on the last night. Since I was in the casino, if there was a party, I didn’t notice. I believe the Halloween decorations came down the next day while we were in port.

 

 

I have a couple of short videos on my Flickr page but don't know how to paste them here.

[NCTribeFan]

Tours: for the first time in years, I actually booked ship tours every day. I hadn’t been back to Jamaica since my 2nd cruise (on RCI in 2003). We had been scheduled to dock in Ocho Rios but went to MoBay instead and they didn’t offer a tour to Dunn’s River Falls. Since we were also docked in MoBay this time, I wasn’t going to try to find an independent excursion. The distance was too far for me to be comfortable doing on my own. I didn’t climb the falls because I didn’t want to risk slipping and aggravating my back. I did wade in near the upper area. It’s beautiful. And then it poured on us going through the gauntlet of vendors back to the bus. Had a nice lunch at a hotel in Ocho Rios before returning to the ship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NCTribeFan]

More Jamaica...

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NCTribeFan]

I also had not been back to Grand Cayman since that 2nd cruise and knew I wanted to go back to Stingray City. I love the stingrays and have done many stingray excursions over the years. When we met on shore, one of the tour guys said it was a bit rough and we needed to sign the back of the ticket stating we understood this. Well, “a bit rough” ended up being waves breaking over our heads. Now, I’m a non-swimmer, so even with a vest on, this was a bit unsettling for me. I ended up asking to get back to the boat early, which entailed swimming, and had one of the guys help me (and my being scraped along the anchor line, so I have a nice rope burn and purple bruise along my left thigh). There were only 3 boats out there (2 of which were Carnival excursions). If you’ve been there, you know that there are usually a dozen boats with huge mobs of people. That should tell you that it was too rough and we really shouldn’t have gone out. I did complain about this, too, and was told that I had been informed that it was going to be rough and I’d signed that I understood. Yeah, but I had not been told that water that normally would be about waist deep for me (I’m 5’10”) was going to be waves breaking over my head!

 

 

 

 

 

[NCTribeFan]

I had originally wanted to see some ruins in Cozumel, but didn’t want to go to the mainland, so I signed up for the Mayan ballgame excursion. It was cancelled. So I opted for an island tour that went to a cocoa factory, then a shopping stop/tequila tasting, and ride along a portion of the east coast. I enjoyed the tour. The east coast is beautiful. I’m not crazy about the forced shopping stops, but I also don’t begrudge the locals wanting to make money off the tourists. Even the less-well-off of us is probably wealthy by comparison. We invade their island paradises and should support the locals when we can. I’d much, much rather give them my money than spend my time sitting in a chain bar/restaurant that pretends to be authentic!

 

 

 

 

 

[NCTribeFan]

Disembarkation was painless. Had my breakfast, went back to the cabin, finished packing up, wheeled my bag off, went straight through customs and outside. As I approached the shuttle pick-up area, I saw the driver for QLS. He was picking up the 8 am folks. I told him I was scheduled for the 9 am shuttle but he had space for one more, so I went early.

 

Overall, it was just OK. I enjoyed the ports (except for the fear of drowning), which is the main reason I booked this sailing. The food was pretty good but not outstanding. The casino was so loud, smokey, and not generous that it wasn’t as much fun as usual.

 

I did meet some really nice folks. Besides those at dinner, the fellow Cleveland Indians fans and their friends, there were some young people on the bus in Jamaica sitting behind me (with a young German guy), and the people I sat with at lunch, and the other British couple on my bus in Coz who are living in Malta (which was one of my favorite ports on the Vista sailing), and the woman I sat with on the bus in Coz, and the people who showed up at the Roulette wheel every night.

 

But I need a change. To be honest, I’m a bit bored with Carnival. Even with the American Table, it feels the same. The same games, shows, parties, shopping, announcements on every sailing. It’s time for something a little different.

 

I had booked the 13-night Pride Journeys repo on 1/2/17 and was going to use my 25% Milestone credit but I received an offer from HAL for a similar sailing at much less so I cancelled Pride and book Zuiderdam on 1/4/17. I sailed HAL once (14 nights to Hawaii) and loved it. They’ve sent me offers ever since, which I’ve never taken as they’re really out of my price range. But this offer was a casino offer. None of the perks of a Carnival Premier sailing, but the cabin fare was 25% of the normal price! Even as a solo, it was considerably less than the Pride sailing (even after applying the Milestone credit). So, we’ll see what I think about HAL again. Roll call is practically non-existent, which makes it difficult to find independent excursions. But on HAL, you get loyalty points for your onboard spending, so if I have to do ship excursions, I’ll at least get some additional benefit. I hope the food is as good as it was 6 years ago. And they had chilled fruit soups for appetizers, too!

[SMSACE6]

Thanks so much for your informative review! I will say that I agree with you on many things re the Splendor, this cruise itin. I was on the Sept 4 sailing, same itin. I did quite like the ship, but there were a few issues that added up to a moderate discomfort, one to do with the room, another to do with the casino smoke, and very poor internet service priced at 72.00 for 6 days. I still enjoyed my cruise though, but as you say in your last segment, I am also to the point where I feel a need for change. I have had some casino offers since this cruise, and a premier offer but they are not really that great. I am bound and determined though to try something different after 8 Carnival cruises. Still like Carnival, and will some day no doubt be back, but must try something different first. Thanks again for your review. Your photos and review are very good.

 

edit to add; I did go to guest services re the internet service and inability to use it many places on board, like my room, and many indoor areas, which meant I had to carry a larger bag with my ipad around during the day. I need to stay in touch with home due to elderly parents and their health issues and being at home alone etc. the rep at guest services was polite, but offered little, actually nothing but apology which is fine. I did however contact post cruise customer service, and they refunded me 50pc of my 72.00 cost, which I thought was quite adequate and more than I expected. just wanted to add, that Carnival customer service post cruise can sometimes make amends.

Edited November 6, 2016 by SMSACE6

[Clarea]

Enjoyed the review, very nice photos, thanks!

[easyboy]

Thanks for the review. I am glad you enjoyed the ports.

[riclop]

Thanks for the review. At what time they they start debarkation? I also use QLS and i have a 1100 am flight out of FLL.

[NCTribeFan]

S&S Cards: if you don't have early access to your cabin, you simply use your boarding pass for any purchases. There were at least a couple of threads when this first came up with lots of teeth-gnashing and hand-wringing with exclamations about how THIS WILL NEVER WORK!!!! Reality is, it seem to work just fine.

 

Internet: I purchased the social plan ($30) and didn't have any problems staying connected. Don't remember whether we had it last year to Bermuda or not.

 

Disembarkation: Not sure when they started. I had planned to head off at 8, just in case there were already lines through customs. Since I was carrying off everything, I didn't pay too much attention. I got up at 7, went up and had my omelette, back to the cabin to brush my teeth and finish packing. They had called about 4 decks for self-disembark and had already called Deck 10. They called another deck or two as I was heading down, so I got caught up in a little rush, but it wasn't bad. Since I didn't have to find any bags on the carousels, I walked straight to customs/immigrations and waiting for one couple ahead of me. Then out the door, across the street, and ran into the QLS guy right at 8 am. I'd asked a friend to check me in for my flights, so had my boarding pass on my phone; did the self-serve bag tag, and was off to the gate. I was probably at the gate by 9 or just after (SW is in terminal 1, so first stop). For some reason, I seem to always get TSA pre-check with SW, so that helps speed things up, too.

 

Now, I'm really going to be daring for my HAL cruise. We sail RT from Port Everglades, which is minutes from the airport. So I booked the 10:25 flight! Yes, it's very risky, but if I can get early disembarkation, I should make it. If the planets align and absolutely nothing goes wrong. ;)

[Shake-n-Bake]

Thanks for the review. I was on the Splendor in September with the same itinerary for my birthday cruise. Looks like we had the same Cozumel excursion. Thanks for explaining the S&S Cards situation this wasn't around yet on my last cruise. Amazing that I did the same thing with QLS but I had to call them because I was off the ship at 7:20 and didn't want to wait around for my scheduled 9:00. The CD called our deck 10 self assist really early that cruise. Also wanted to say about your HAL 10:25am flight from FLL, I did the same thing in April on my RC cruise with my flight leaving at 10:30am. Looking back at my notes of that cruise I was in the first group off the ship around 7:00am and made it through airport security a little after 7:30am. I admit everything aligned right for me but I would do it again. Did you listen to the band Funkology and what did you think of Chloe the CD?

[riclop]

S&S Cards: if you don't have early access to your cabin, you simply use your boarding pass for any purchases. There were at least a couple of threads when this first came up with lots of teeth-gnashing and hand-wringing with exclamations about how THIS WILL NEVER WORK!!!! Reality is, it seem to work just fine.

 

Internet: I purchased the social plan ($30) and didn't have any problems staying connected. Don't remember whether we had it last year to Bermuda or not.

 

Disembarkation: Not sure when they started. I had planned to head off at 8, just in case there were already lines through customs. Since I was carrying off everything, I didn't pay too much attention. I got up at 7, went up and had my omelette, back to the cabin to brush my teeth and finish packing. They had called about 4 decks for self-disembark and had already called Deck 10. They called another deck or two as I was heading down, so I got caught up in a little rush, but it wasn't bad. Since I didn't have to find any bags on the carousels, I walked straight to customs/immigrations and waiting for one couple ahead of me. Then out the door, across the street, and ran into the QLS guy right at 8 am. I'd asked a friend to check me in for my flights, so had my boarding pass on my phone; did the self-serve bag tag, and was off to the gate. I was probably at the gate by 9 or just after (SW is in terminal 1, so first stop). For some reason, I seem to always get TSA pre-check with SW, so that helps speed things up, too.

 

Now, I'm really going to be daring for my HAL cruise. We sail RT from Port Everglades, which is minutes from the airport. So I booked the 10:25 flight! Yes, it's very risky, but if I can get early disembarkation, I should make it. If the planets align and absolutely nothing goes wrong. ;)

 

Thanks for the reply.

[NCTribeFan]

Thanks for the review. I was on the Splendor in September with the same itinerary for my birthday cruise. Looks like we had the same Cozumel excursion. Thanks for explaining the S&S Cards situation this wasn't around yet on my last cruise. Amazing that I did the same thing with QLS but I had to call them because I was off the ship at 7:20 and didn't want to wait around for my scheduled 9:00. The CD called our deck 10 self assist really early that cruise. Also wanted to say about your HAL 10:25am flight from FLL, I did the same thing in April on my RC cruise with my flight leaving at 10:30am. Looking back at my notes of that cruise I was in the first group off the ship around 7:00am and made it through airport security a little after 7:30am. I admit everything aligned right for me but I would do it again. Did you listen to the band Funkology and what did you think of Chloe the CD?

 

Hi there! I did listen to the band a bit. I thought they were good, but not great. I'm just not really a fan of the boy/girl singing duos they now have on all the ships. I really liked the Filipino cover bands more. And I love the Latin trios except they hide them out of the way and I rarely hear them.

 

I don't do many activities where the CD even appears. She seemed to be OK, I guess. I tend to only really notice the CD when I need to talk to them or when their announcements seem really intrusive. Since she didn't make all that much of an impression, I'd say she was probably pretty good. :p

 

I know that DD & I did the VIP self-assist on our 2nd Miracle cruise from Port Everglades, which meant a really early disembarkation (like being in the lounge waiting at 6:30) and we ended up being at the airport hours early. DD didn't much appreciate that. :o

 

I know I'm taking a big risk with such an early flight and realize that I could easily miss it. I'm willing to take the risk since it's a nonstop and was much, much cheaper than the later flights.

[funinthesun1964]

Hi again, Joan!

 

You really have some nice pictures here! It seems like you had a really nice time at your port stops!

 

I had to laugh when I read the part about you were sent to another line and someone said "I don't know why you're here". Because, the same thing happened to us! There was a young lady who directed us there, and our friends were sent somewhere else, and we both had linked our credit card to our S&S beforehand, we couldn't figure out why! So our friends called out an employee and sent them over to us....he looked at our boarding passes, asked us a few questions and said "there's no reason for your to be here, go with them". ??!!??!!

 

I just think the whole embarkation process was a mess, totally disorganized, and lack of communications between everyone. I don't think it had anything to do with the sign and sail cards, but rather that so many priority people had arrived early and things just got clogged up early in the day. To be honest, I don't think I have ever seen a cruise terminal with that many people in it at once. It made me uncomfortable!!

 

I sure did breathe a sigh of relief when I made it on the ship!

[NCTribeFan]

Embarkation has been a mess on most of my more recent sailings. You should've seen it at Port Canaveral last fall for the Sunshine Journeys that was also a Premier cruise! So many Plat/Diamonds on the Journey sailings plus the FTTF plus the Premier. There, they also simply put up "Priority Boarding" on the overhead monitors and there were hundreds stampeding to board.

 

I'm slowly approaching Diamond (I'm at 171 days) but really doubt that I'll go out of my way to get there. Priority boarding was one of the few things I actually appreciated having as a perk. I don't use the free laundry. There are so few tender ports that getting an early tender isn't much of a benefit. I asked them to not deliver the chocolates but they did anyway.

 

Yes, I did enjoy the ports (except for that fear of drowning thing!).

 

And now I'm sick. I used to get sick at the end of every cruise but hadn't in quite a long time. Got sick while on Vista (which really was unfortunate but many, many people did and we all seemed to stay sick for weeks; it was a very nasty virus). At least I've gotten my land legs back under me! :D

 

Heading over to look through your photos now.

[SMSACE6]

I got sick half way through my Splendor cruise. At first I blamed it on the smoke in the casino, but it more likely was some kind of virus, since it lasted over a month. Upper respiratory one, and nasty.

[NCTribeFan]

I used to always get sick by the time I got home, then that stopped happening (thankfully!). Hadn't gotten sick on or after a cruise for a while but, boy, was I sick on Vista.

 

I do believe that the smoke in the casino irritates my sinuses so much that it leaves them open for any virus floating around to make themselves at home. And, I usually don't get as much sleep and drink more, which may lower my resistance.

 

Seriously, after we returned from Vista, there were people on our Roll Call that were also sick for weeks and weeks. I ended up on an antibiotic for a sinus infection and prednisone, which I hate to take, and I was still sick for weeks. Others had to do multiple courses of various antibiotics due to respratory infections.

 

I'm still at the sneezing and running nose with a sore throat stage, but am starting to feel feverish. Last thing I want is to use more of my PTO. Hey, I have an 11-night cruise booked for the beginning of the year. I need my PTO time for vacations, not actually being sick! ;)

[SMSACE6]

Wishing you a speedy recovery. And be well in time for the next cruise!

Edited November 8, 2016 by SMSACE6