Carnival Spirit 10/8/22: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

[farjar]

On 10/17/2022 at 6:21 AM, beanie315 said:

We just got back on the 6th and did 16 days on the spirit . We loved this ship and never saw a bug . We were on deck 8 .

We were on the same cruise as you and on deck 8 midship in an extended balcony.  Agree, we loved the ship too and never saw a bug either except for a fly in the Lido on one of the port days.  Aside from the terribly loud music and the long debarkation lines it was a wonderful trip.

[Indiansbaseball]

Just off 8 Day Spirit Cruise. After reading this post before leaving…I was not looking forward to my cruise. Well…the ship was immaculate and my room was clean ! I dreaded my cruise for no reason at all !! 

[farjar]

43 minutes ago, Indiansbaseball said:

Just off 8 Day Spirit Cruise. After reading this post before leaving…I was not looking forward to my cruise. Well…the ship was immaculate and my room was clean ! I dreaded my cruise for no reason at all !! 

We did 16 days on the Spirit last month and I couldn't agree more.  Aside from the extremely loud music in some of the venues it couldn't have been better.

[natefish95]

4 hours ago, Indiansbaseball said:

Just off 8 Day Spirit Cruise. After reading this post before leaving…I was not looking forward to my cruise. Well…the ship was immaculate and my room was clean ! I dreaded my cruise for no reason at all !! 

Sorry I made you dread your cruise! I'm still thinking about how great my cruise was despite the issues. I would sail on the Spirit next week in a heartbeat! Glad you had a great time!

[d12j28]

On 10/16/2022 at 1:32 PM, natefish95 said:

What's up Cruise Critic family. I have a long wait at the Miami airport, so I figured I'd share some thoughts on my recent 8 day cruise on the Carnival Spirit from Miami to Puerto Plata, San Juan, St. Maarten, and St. Thomas. I'm not going to be super detailed because I have the attention span of a goldfish and with the exception of a few great posters, no one cares about that kind of detail. 

 

If you have any specific questions about things I didn't touch on, feel free to ask! I'm going to break down the onboard part into The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (and there will be an ugly bit, so stay tuned), and the four ports of call. 

 

For some background, I'm Nate and live in Arlington, Virginia and I've been traveling solo since the NCL Escape back in 2017. As you can see from my signature, I mostly do Carnival and NCL, with some Royal sprinkled in recently. My preferred line is NCL because they treat the solos well, but I still love Carnival and keep coming back. 

We were getting on when you got off. Sailed the 16th on the 6 day. We also had a great time. I would agree with you with the music on this ship. Was terrible. Had a balcony room (7192) and no bugs to report.

[larronry]

I'm getting on in 16 days and hope not to have those roaches.  I would totally freak out and probably wake everyone around me.  My worst bug experience on a cruise was bees.  We were in port are we were eating on the back of the lido and we watched a swarm of bees fly onto the ship and encase a hand rail on the hot tub.  We, and the others out there, brought our stuff inside and then went looking for someone with a phone to take get  the problem handled.  They didn't believe the seriousness until they were convinced to walk over an look. One of the most amazing sites I have ever seen.

 

[cruisinmeme]

OMG on the roach situation. 
 Just got off a NCL rouse and next cruise will be on carnival spirit so thought I would check it out.

brother you can bet the smashed dead roach would be brought down to guest services not flushed.  I do not do roaches!!!!

besides they can get in your stuff and you take them home with you.I can handle alit but NOT roaches. 
so now I can freak out thinking about this. 

[CajunOyster]

On 10/16/2022 at 1:49 PM, natefish95 said:

• Alchemy Bar-Seriously, this was a genius part on Carnival's end. Amazing drinks and amazing bartenders as always. I love craft cocktails, so this is my favorite place on board. Viktor, who just ended his contract today actually, has been on Spirit for almost NINE MONTHS, since before the initial startup in Jacksonville. He's coming to Miracle in a month, so make sure you seek him out. Katiya and Giovanni were the other alchemists and were also amazing. (Gio kept making me a strawberry vodka drink with raspberries that was incredible)

 

Couldn't agree more.  If Kat is still there, ask her to make a Key Lime Martini.

 

[Eli_6]

I feel your pain.  We had a similar experience this summer on the Pride with a terrible room steward.  Our sheets were obviously not changed between us and the last guest...as in they were visibly dirty and REAKED of smoke and body odor.  There was mascara and blood stains on them.  For THREE days he didn't change them despite multiple phone calls. When I politely asked him on the third day to just give me the sheets and I would change them myself (because I could NOT sleep on dirty sheets someone else had slept on for a 4th night because I was so grossed out that it was affecting my ability to relax and sleep), he screamed at me that he was busy.  We ended up going to guest services and the head of house keeping came and personally change the sheets.  Fortunately, this was the only time I have ever had an experience like that. I think the problem is that they have some new crew who aren't as trained/good and they have more rooms to clean. 

[pinklucky61]

On 10/16/2022 at 4:31 PM, ledges1 said:

Now we know why they are moving the Spirit to Mobile next October. The last stop before the Roach Motel checks out (Fantasy, Sensation, Ecstasy).

Don't forget the Holiday.

[CajunOyster]

1 hour ago, Eli_6 said:

I feel your pain.  We had a similar experience this summer on the Pride with a terrible room steward.  Our sheets were obviously not changed between us and the last guest...as in they were visibly dirty and REAKED of smoke and body odor.  There was mascara and blood stains on them.  For THREE days he didn't change them despite multiple phone calls. When I politely asked him on the third day to just give me the sheets and I would change them myself (because I could NOT sleep on dirty sheets someone else had slept on for a 4th night because I was so grossed out that it was affecting my ability to relax and sleep), he screamed at me that he was busy.  We ended up going to guest services and the head of house keeping came and personally change the sheets.  Fortunately, this was the only time I have ever had an experience like that. I think the problem is that they have some new crew who aren't as trained/good and they have more rooms to clean. 

I can't believe you slept on them for the first three nights

[knagl]

11 hours ago, cruisinmeme said:

so now I can freak out thinking about this.

 

For what it's worth, we did two weeks on Spirit in early December, and while Nate's experience was very much on my mind, we had a great cruise and did not see any signs of unwanted guests. I would sail on the ship again in a heartbeat.

 

As best as I can tell, Nate's cabin was essentially right under the spa hot tub. I'm almost wondering if perhaps the damp environment there is potentially conducive to the issue he had.

[natefish95]

On 1/17/2023 at 4:43 AM, knagl said:

 

For what it's worth, we did two weeks on Spirit in early December, and while Nate's experience was very much on my mind, we had a great cruise and did not see any signs of unwanted guests. I would sail on the ship again in a heartbeat.

 

As best as I can tell, Nate's cabin was essentially right under the spa hot tub. I'm almost wondering if perhaps the damp environment there is potentially conducive to the issue he had.

The Spirit was still my favorite cruise of 2022. I had an incredible time and did not let 1 issue dampen the entire trip. I might be going back on Spirit later this year actually. 

[jamscckmc]

Did you spend anytime in the casino? Wondering if there’s a nonsmoking area.

[CajunOyster]

35 minutes ago, jamscckmc said:

Did you spend anytime in the casino? Wondering if there’s a nonsmoking area.

The casino on Spirit is pretty small.

[natefish95]

1 hour ago, jamscckmc said:

Did you spend anytime in the casino? Wondering if there’s a nonsmoking area.

If I remember correctly, apparently half the casino was smoking and half was non-smoking. The whole casino still smelled like smoke, but one side was worse than the other. The casino is pretty small. 

 

(I just got off Celebrity and the entire casino was nonsmoking. It was lovely.)

[Underxdog]

Well now I just can’t wait to get on the spirit in 25 days! Sounds like this is gonna be one hell of an adventure lol

[natefish95]

1 hour ago, Underxdog said:

Well now I just can’t wait to get on the spirit in 25 days! Sounds like this is gonna be one hell of an adventure lol

You'll love it! I love the Spirit class of ships. I'm trying to find another cruise on Spirit that works with my schedule. 

[knagl]

On 1/23/2023 at 8:46 PM, jamscckmc said:

Wondering if there’s a nonsmoking area.

 

On 1/23/2023 at 10:05 PM, natefish95 said:

If I remember correctly, apparently half the casino was smoking and half was non-smoking. The whole casino still smelled like smoke, but one side was worse than the other. 

 

Nate is correct. The casino is divided by a main walkway, and the port side of the walkway is smoking permitted (left of the red line) while the starboard side of the walkway is non-smoking (right of the green line). All of the table games are in the smoking section, although a few had signs designating them as being non-smoking tables.

[Crusin Karen]

LOVE spirit class ships and LOVE the Spirit the most of them all!  Thanks for sharing your cruise.  Jamman and Patti are just back here in New Jersey after cruising on her and I'm looking forward to their review also!  Happy cruising!

[CaptG]

On 1/16/2023 at 9:05 PM, Eli_6 said:

I feel your pain.  We had a similar experience this summer on the Pride with a terrible room steward.  Our sheets were obviously not changed between us and the last guest...as in they were visibly dirty and REAKED of smoke and body odor.  There was mascara and blood stains on them.  For THREE days he didn't change them despite multiple phone calls. When I politely asked him on the third day to just give me the sheets and I would change them myself (because I could NOT sleep on dirty sheets someone else had slept on for a 4th night because I was so grossed out that it was affecting my ability to relax and sleep), he screamed at me that he was busy.  We ended up going to guest services and the head of house keeping came and personally change the sheets.  Fortunately, this was the only time I have ever had an experience like that. I think the problem is that they have some new crew who aren't as trained/good and they have more rooms to clean. 

That's a hard no from me! There's no way im sleeping on bloody, stinky, dirty stained sheets one night let alone 3. If the cabin steward refused to change them I'd be headed to guest services with those nasty sheets. Unbelievable... Sorry you had to experience such a mess.

[ARcruisin2]

On 1/16/2023 at 8:05 PM, Eli_6 said:

I feel your pain.  We had a similar experience this summer on the Pride with a terrible room steward.  Our sheets were obviously not changed between us and the last guest...as in they were visibly dirty and REAKED of smoke and body odor.  There was mascara and blood stains on them.  For THREE days he didn't change them despite multiple phone calls. When I politely asked him on the third day to just give me the sheets and I would change them myself (because I could NOT sleep on dirty sheets someone else had slept on for a 4th night because I was so grossed out that it was affecting my ability to relax and sleep), he screamed at me that he was busy.  We ended up going to guest services and the head of house keeping came and personally change the sheets.  Fortunately, this was the only time I have ever had an experience like that. I think the problem is that they have some new crew who aren't as trained/good and they have more rooms to clean. 

OH  *&^%$  NO!

Did you really sleep on those soiled sheets? 

 

No way I could do that!  If the steward didn't change them by the time I came back from supper day 1, I would have taken pics and gone to guest services.   That's completely unacceptable. 

I'd snitch linens off a steward's cart, do it myself and throw the old ones in the hall if I had too..

[Eli_6]

1 hour ago, ARcruisin2 said:

OH  *&^%$  NO!

Did you really sleep on those soiled sheets? 

 

No way I could do that!  If the steward didn't change them by the time I came back from supper day 1, I would have taken pics and gone to guest services.   That's completely unacceptable. 

I'd snitch linens off a steward's cart, do it myself and throw the old ones in the hall if I had too..

Trust me, I didn't sleep well!  I think I just slept on top of the little comforter thing.  And I was grossed out.  I would have snatched sheets from the linen cart, but I never saw one.  That's when I eventually just asked the room steward to GIVE me sheets and he screamed at me something to the effect that couldn't I see he was busy and he would get to it when he was free. He claimed the sheets had been changed.  No way. They smelled like smoke and there were stains on them.

 

I am nearly positive what happened is that everyone ended up debarking late because there was a huge traffic jam in Dover and the buses and taxis couldn't get to the ship (huge...like made international news) and we were in a suite so we were one of the first ones to get on the boat (and our hotel was within walking distance of the port) so they did a really fast flip and didn't take the time to change the sheets.

 

Also, the room steward was taking his break during that time and only his assistants were working in the rooms.  How do I know?  We had a Vista suite and so got in our room early and the door to the adjoining balcony next to us that we also had booked was locked...but the room was open....just not the door in between. We asked for them to unlock the door in between the rooms and the room stewards (who were still in the process of flipping other rooms) told us they didn't have the key.  Ther said the head steward was taking his break and couldn't be disturbed. To me, if you are head the head steward on the floor and not one of the helpers, you shouldn't be taking your break right when they are flipping the boat between cruises.  Especially when the cruises are 9-12 days each.  (As an aside: The unchanged linens were in the suite and not the other room. For some strange reason, that room actually did have clean linens...maybe because they didn't rush to get it done since it wasn't one of the ones with priority boarding. In general, the suite looked like it had not been cleaned well.) 

 

Honestly, that cruise was so bad that the sheets were the LEAST of the problems.  Truly.  We never had a working shower despite MANY calls to Carnival.  They came at random times and would walk in without knocking.  Never fixed it. We ended up using the other room's shower the entirety of the cruise.  It would at times take HOURS to get off the boat due to not enough boats. (All but two of the ports were where you had to ride the life boats to get to shore because we were in the upper Scottish Isles, Ireland, etc.) And there was another even worse incident that I don't even want to go into.

 

This is the only Carnival cruise I have ever been on that was truly terrible. So, long story short, this is why I know that sometimes when people complain, they aren't just being drama queens or Negative Nancies.  Sometimes they have legitimate reasons to complain. And people can be on the same cruise and have completely different experiences.  

 

Whew...sorry I went on so long about all of that. I got on my soap box. 

Edited January 25, 2023 by Eli_6

[pe4all]

I hope you followed up your complaints with either 1. a not-so-great survey, if you received one, and/or

2.  an email AND snail mail sent to CCL detailing all the issues you had.  You may just get back a generic "we are so sorry" reply, or you may actually get someone who cares and follows up on what happened on your cruise.  Guest Services logs in all visits, so they can even go back and look to see if they were legit.

[cmarie]

Nate, that was a very good, funny post!  I also have an attention span of a goldfish, but read your entire review of the Carnival Spirit and it had me belly laughing😆 We are going on the Carnival Spirit in July to Alaska.  Really looking forward to it!  Thank you again for your informative, funny post.  You should write a book sometime! Very entertaining & interesting!