triumph review 8/26-9/2/06

[airlink diva]

One of the things that I like to do is read reviews. I hate that your cruise was not all you hope for and that some things went downhill for you (food issues, spa issues, kids and shore trips). But to compare the cruise to Wal-Mart wasn't fair.

I know that on any cruiseline (and I sailed on more than carnival) you will see the same complaints concerning the same issues. You have people who stated they will never sail HAL, RCCL, NCL, or Princess again.

On the food issue, with over 2,000 people average on a ship, I know everything is not going to be prepared as if it was only for 2 people. Now with your eggs, I can understand because I like my eggs over medium. I found the majority of the food on my recent Carnival cruise to be good, there were a few items that I didn't care for and left them alone.

As for the pools and kids, this is something that I put 98% of the blame on the parents with 2% on the cruiselines. Why? Because the parents should note if something states "adults only" and your child is where they have no business being, that parent needs to pull the child away. However you have parents that are on "vacation" all the time and the child runs the show. I only place a small blame on the cruiselines because if a staff member remove a child,you have some parents that raise holy stink (this happen on a cruise and when the parents attempted to get the staff member in hot water, there were quite a few that stuck around to make sure this didn't happen).

As for the shore trips, as someone else stated, one of your tours didnt state snokleing. As for the other with poor service, go right to the shore desk and complain. Also advise people on such boards as these. If enough people complain and avoid that tour and no money being made, it's dropped or vendor changed.

The bottom line is Carnival isn't for you, but there are so many other cruiselines.

I love HAL but have no problem sailing on Carnival. Just check out the other cruiselines with an open mind. But if you click on any of the lines, you are going to see the same complaints with each one of them

[suzy1212]

Also they are called manicurist, not fingernail ladies...again an example of the caliber of people on carnival.

Could be they used the term "fingernail lady" because they couldn't spell manicurist. I suppose someone who can't spell pier could call it a dock... :rolleyes:

[BND]

From everything I've read on other reviews, the OP will not be any happier anywhere else because there are the same complaints about almost every line. The Walmart line about Carnival is so ignorant. The funny thing for me is I personally don't like to shop at Walmart, but I loved our Carnival cruise. Perfect, no, but I also hadn't set my expectations so high that I would be miserable about everything. I have a sister who has sailed both CCL and RCL and she said there is no difference in the cruise itself and the food was consistent on both. Our TA is a personal friend and he and his wife take their family on a cruise every couple of years. They've cruised CCL, RCL and I think Princess several times. He says there is very little difference and the biggest is cost.

 

I also don't understand the egg issue. I ordered my scrambled eggs dry a few times and that's how they came out. No server ever argued with how we wanted anything cooked.

[Cruise-aholic]

I never had a cruise I did not like, perhaps they were not all perfect but then again nothing ever is....

[Grtcdnwolf]

Hmmm this explains a lot.

[Guest cvbart]

Just curious, how many other cruises have you taken and what cruise lines?

 

What does that have to do with it?

 

I don't have to stay in a hotel or resort 30 times to tell isif I like it or not.

[Guest cvbart]

Hmmm this explains a lot.

 

Tell us please what that explans?

[voyagerfl]

I do buy a few things at Walmart......it only makes sense...not clothes though...

Guess my life is pretty lame.....cause I sure feel like I'm living pretty well, when I'm on Carnival......Been on Triumph and had a great time:)

[Guest cvbart]

I think I need someone to explan what's wrong with shopping at Walmart.

 

Lot of people shop there.

[thomasale]

Absolutely nothing else....I guess a person can't write anything negative on here without getting attacked. I am looking forward to going on Princess next year.

 

That is the truth...I was on the Triumph 2 summers ago. 7 night cruise booked close to sailing. We paid 2000 for an inside cabin 7 night cruise. Not cheap but we had friends who were already bookied on this. I had never been on Carnival and wanted to try it. Let me say I had a great time. Problem was it was the "worst" cruise we have ever had. I just prefer other lines, but believe me, Carnival is a FUN time. The OP should realize that this is the CARNIVAL board and it is loaded with FANS. Your opinion is just that but don't expect FANS to keep their mouths shut...it's what makes them FANS

[nycruiser2006]

Thelemalove93:

I find it hard to believe that you had nothing positive to say about your cruise. Oh-woops: you did say the only good part of the entertainment was when they brought someone in "from the outside". Did you not meet anyone interesting? Did you have nice weather? Was it a nice relaxing break from the real world?

As I sit here and watch the anniversary of Sept 11th, I am blessed to have the ability to even be able to go on a cruise, and your post did nothing to deter my excitement from my upcooming Feb 2007 cruise on the Triumph.

[elaineb]

It seems that because of pricing many people are trying Carnival. But they are coming on with a "leery" attitude, and the first thing that goes wrong reinforces that feeling. I convinced my 2 brothers to try a Carnival cruise with us (our 3rd). We have been happy in the past with Carnival and we got some great pricing - friends and family of military. Before the cruise, my SIL would keep saying, "Am I going to like Carnival?" Well, I knew they weren't going to like it because they already had the attitude that they might not! They hated the decor and though RCCL had more activities. If I proved them wrong with our past Capers, it would do no good. They definitely have selective memory of our previous cruise together on RCCL. Were there some minor issues on our Carnival cruise? - yes, as well as on our RCCL cruise. But they seem to forget those issues. I'm sure they are telling their friends how much they disliked Carnival. They haven't said those words to me as I spent a trillion hours planning the cruise. But I have surmised it from the many little comments.

 

Bottom line - Carnival is not for everyone, and I guess we shouldn't try to convince others to try them. And if you don't like your Carnival cruise, please don't degrade those who do by calling them bargain basement cruisers, etc.

[hstrybuf]

The caliber of people who cruise on Carnival? Let me tell you, you see all kinds on Carnival. You see them on RCI and Princess too. Maybe you should try a much higher end line, like Regent. Maybe they'll have your "caliber" of people. :rolleyes:

[Oaktree]

Loved that old TV show the Loveship!

[rvrgirl]

I never had a cruise I did not like, perhaps they were not all perfect but then again nothing ever is....

 

Exactly! And anyone that says otherwise......well I wouldn't believe anyway...

After reading more of the OP's posts......I think she just would not be satisfied with any cruiseline. Again....NOTHING IS PERFECT!

[Cruising89143]

What does that have to do with it?

 

I don't have to stay in a hotel or resort 30 times to tell isif I like it or not.

 

Why hello Bart. I wanted to know if this was the persons first cruise and if not what other lines was she comparing this cruise to. Is that good enough for you?

[chadbt]

Wow! This thread is so much more entertaining than anything I've found on the NCL board! :D

 

And to think I almost booked my first cruise on Carnival. :p

[EngIceDave]

OP has yet to answer the questions

[Guest cvbart]

Why hello Bart. I wanted to know if this was the persons first cruise and if not what other lines was she comparing this cruise to. Is that good enough for you?

 

Any chance you could leave the personal comments over on the RCCL board.

 

Thanks:)

[Cruising89143]

Any chance you could leave the personal comments over on the RCCL board.

 

Thanks:)

 

As I said the other day before someone:rolleyes: pushed the triangle, both my and your posting history is here for everyone to read. That answers many questions.

[Rhondito]

I do have a posative outlook overall, it just was for how much I paid I guess I was expecting to be treated a little bit better by the staff. I said hi to all the staff that I saw and rarely did anyone say hi back. She just sat there with a blank look on her face. Also they are called manicurist, not fingernail ladies...again an example of the caliber of people on carnival. I don't want people to make the same mistake I did of booking a cruise through carnival, spending a ton of money and then having rude service, spoiled milk, and a lot of broken promises. Sorry if I am upset on here, but I went to sandals and nothing but posative things to say about them

 

FYI - it's positive, not posative - you know, as long as we're correcting people. :p

 

Rhonda

[NotAPirate]

Wow... just wow.

 

Many things strike an odd chord with me in this review, which several other replies have pointed out.

 

The main 3 are:

1- "changed agents 3 times"... Did you work with a PERSONAL VACATION PLANNER (PVP) or a CRUISE VACATION SPECIALIST (CVS)? There is a large difference between the two at Carnival. PVPs make outbound sales calls, they call you and book you. And they are notoriously hard to get a hold of, no matter how often you call them back after they book you. Also, they apparently have a high turnover rate (which would explain why you had been shifted around several times...). A CVS is an inbound call agent that you get when you 800-CARNIVAL, and they are there 24 hours a day (and I've never had problems contacting mine during his working hours...).

 

2 - "didn't know where the port was"... Just a personal bit of experience, but my CVS has always emailed any information I requested, and Carnival's website does have an FAQ link (bottom of the page) with information on "Cruise Terminal's - Directions & Parking." I'm sorry if your three agents weren't of any help or didn't offer to send you the information.

 

3 - "lied to about snorkeling"... Well, as had been pointed out by others, the excursion does not state it includes snorkeling. BUT, playing devil's advocate, perhaps your agent(s) did mention snorkeling, but not in the proper context? Not actually saying it's offered WITH the excursion, but you can snorkel at the excursion? Because you can rent snorkel equipment onboard (or bring your own) and snorkel at ANY of the beaches... ?

 

Those were the only niggling bits for me. Small things to me, but apparently the "tree for the forest" for the OP. I'm sorry to see she'll never cruise Carnival again, she's missing out on several great cruises (though 26 years of life experience makes for a lot, I'd guess... ;) ). Have to agree, the "Walmart" comment was uncalled for, and extremely tired. We have both Macy's, Nordstroms and Wallie's out here in Colorado (and most see us as "rustic" or "cowboys")... and all walks of life shop at them, from ranchers to the movie stars living up in Aspen. So that comparison falls very short, thank you.

 

Wish you luck on other cruises, OP. And remember, the glass is not half empty, it's half full... all a matter of perspective.

[Guest cvbart]

As I said the other day before someone:rolleyes: pushed the triangle, both my and your posting history is here for everyone to read. That answers many questions.

 

So I guess that's a no.

 

Explan the triangle thing, I don't get it.

[boowaaccaa]

I think that everybody has a right to their opinion and I love to read reviews--both good and bad! I have gone to resorts on the exact same weeks as other reviewers and yet all the reviews were different!

 

What I do not like is when someone doesn't tell the truth, stretches the story or bashes people who do like the things that they do not like.

 

NOW, my question to this poster....

 

How can you say,

 

"You pay for what you get, and what I got was bottom of the line service."

 

Then say:

 

"I don't want people to make the same mistake I did of booking a cruise through carnival, spending a ton of money and then having rude service, spoiled milk, and a lot of broken promises."

[rvrgirl]

FYI - it's positive, not posative - you know, as long as we're correcting people. :p

 

Rhonda

 

FYI.......against the rules to correct peoples spelling