Just Off the Fantasy~~Will Never Sail Carnival Again

[cruzn buckeye]

I agree with you (but not everyone else will).

The Fantasy was my least favorite cruise but I still had a good time, no doubt about it.

 

Halos,

the issue with the odors does concern me because I am taking 2 first time cruisers with myself and my daughter on the Bloggers cruise in Feb. I posted a question in Johns blog and although it wasn't answered on the blog, John did send an email through Stephanie stating that he had contacted someone on the Fantasy ( I believe it was the captain) and he assured John that the odor issue had been taken care of. I am even more concerned with the bad tasting water??

[Tapi]

I'm going to post my review of the Fantasy and I will be brutally honest. I am not posting to offend anyone or discourage anyone from sailing on this ship, this is just my experience, the good the bad, and the ugly.

 

Thanks for your review! Since the Fantasy is coming to Mobile (closest port to our home in Atlanta), we like to read everything about her.

 

I too would've been very upset had we found the embarkation process and service that you encountered, especially after selecting a suite. We had a similar negative experience on Royal Caribbean in 2004 when we booked a JS for our honeymoon cruise. It's taking us years to re-consider sailing on them again so I completely understand where you're coming from.

 

Back to your review, once again I appreciate your comments, many which I would've been mortified with, but at the same time, I'm curious if you were aware of:

- The ship's size and age

- The cabin size and ammenities

- Suite perks (or lack thereof on Carnival)

- Entertainment on board.

 

All of this information is available in advance and I think that had you prepared yourself mentally and objectively for this cruise with more realistic expectations, you would've had a more satisfying experience.

 

When I sailed on the Holiday last year, I completely prepared myself for the worst. What I found was one of the most amazing cruise experiences I've ever had! But I didn't go thinking "Ritz Carlton" when I had paid "Holiday Inn" prices...!

 

Finally, don't compare apples and oranges. Just like you wouldn't sail on the Monarch or Majesty of the Seas on and then compare it to the Carnival Liberty, don't compare the Carnival Fantasy to the Voyager of the Seas. After you return from your next cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's newest ship, book yourself on Carnival's newest ship. That will be a much better comparison! :)

[halos]

Don't encourage them to stay, let them go back to their snobish cruise line. They can get VIP perks to make them feel important and better then everyone else. I wonder if the wait staff was less than attentive because of the attitude? I say don't let the door hit you on the way out!

 

:rolleyes: FTLOG!

[halos]

Halos,

the issue with the odors does concern me because I am taking 2 first time cruisers with myself and my daughter on the Bloggers cruise in Feb. I posted a question in Johns blog and although it wasn't answered on the blog, John did send an email through Stephanie stating that he had contacted someone on the Fantasy ( I believe it was the captain) and he assured John that the odor issue had been taken care of. I am even more concerned with the bad tasting water??

 

the issue isn't taken care of (as you can see by incoming reports) and the water 'tastes' like the ship 'smells'. (this made for an extra high sign and sail at the end of the cruise LOL!!)

[cruizinonup]

For me if the ship does'nt sink it's a good cruise.:D I don't care if I get on the ship first as long as I get on. If there is a smell in a certain area don't go there.:rolleyes: If the food is not up to your expectations you have 2 choices eat it anyway or starve. Nothing and no one is perfect. Life is too short to worry about all that. Be greatful you have the means to be able to take vacations.

 

I agree- any cruise is better than no cruise:D But, I do enjoy the Holiday more than the Fantasy. Maybe she will change our minds in Jan. when we try her again!

[Mark]

Aqua,

 

Let me respond to your email but first tell your that I have 25 or so cruises so far with 5 on Carnival, 7 on Norwegian and the balance on Royal Caribbean...so I know about cruise and several different cruise lines.

 

1. I have started to book Category 11 suites on Carnival and love the cabins as well as the VIP treatment to get on the ship and off the ship. However, I do only sail Carnival out of Miami and Ft Lauderdale and their VIP treatment is fantastic.

 

2. Ships - I would never sail one of the older Carnival ships...they do not have the facilities of the new ships and are not in the same shape as they were when new. I sailed on Fascination the first year she came over from Europe as well as the second year and loved her...but I would not sail on any of those class ships Fascination, Elation etc today! Royal Caribbean spends a lot of money to upgrade and maintain their older ships and does a pretty good job of it...Carnival does not.

 

Book you Category 11 or 12 suites on the newer Carnival ships and sail out of Miami or Ft Lauderdale and you will have a great time!

 

I have always enjoyed my Carnival cruises for the crew, the ships and the service...but I always tell people that there are two things that Carnival does not do very well...embarkation and disaembarkation...that is why when I sail Carnival today, I spend the extra money for a category 11 or 12 and qualify for VIP treatment getting on and OFF the ship.

 

Mark

[matj2000]

You should have tried one of the nicer ships. The Fantasy is the Crappiest ship in the Carnival fleet. Why do you think it's in New Orleans??

[Mark]

I agree Mat....you are absolutley correct.

 

Sail on Carnival out of a port like New Orleans, Mobile, Jacksonville, Houston etc...you are going to be on a second class ship with second class service....don't get me wrong...these cities are all fine cities and deserve better...but...the best Carnival Ships and best crews and best service will be on those newer ships sailing out of Miami and Ft Lauderdale...on a personal note I love Mobile and have spend much time there...but I would not take a cruise out of Mobile...SORRY!

[kelz66]

I'm going to post my review of the Fantasy and I will be brutally honest. I am not posting to offend anyone or discourage anyone from sailing on this ship, this is just my experience, the good the bad, and the ugly.

 

I will also start by saying I am an experienced cruiser, as you can see from my signature. I prefer to sail in suites where being a V.I.P. has certain perks. If you have never cruised before, you may enjoy this ship, but it was just not for me. Anyway onto the review.

 

Embarkation

 

We arrived at the port at about 1:30 pm and were welcomed to mass confusion. We were booked in a penthouse suite, and had V.I.P. luggage tags. As we entered the port one of the carnival ladies had to put us on the side and figure out where to put the V.I.P.s. After we waited for almost a half and hour we were escorted upstairs to V.I.P. check in.

 

More mass confusion as we went into a special lounge where all V.I.P.s had to wait with no organization. This process took longer than people who were doing regular check-in. V.I.P. means nothing to carnival. After about two hours we finally made it to the ship.

 

Cabin

 

Considering this was the best room on the ship it left a lot to be desired. The room is very small and the new flat screen t.v. was very very small. The bathroom was very small and crowded with only one sink. The bed was a nice size and our balcony was decent. The cabin was very clean and did not smell bad. It was nicely decorated and the sofa was pretty comfy. It was just the size that I was not happy with. No perks.

 

Steward

 

We only saw him one time, on the first day. He kept our room clean and organized the entire time. No complaints here.

 

The Ship in General

 

In my opinion the ship looks old and small. I cannot even imagine what it looked like prior to being re-done. The areas that were renovated look good, the serenity deck, the lido deck, and the cabins. The areas that were not done, need to be........dining rooms, hallways, elevators, etc.

 

The showroom was nicely set up, very nice to have tables for your drinks while you are watching a show. Wear and tear was evident in the carpets and the furniture.

 

The sewer smell everyone talks about is true and it is horrible. We did not notice it too much until yesturday and it lasted throughout today. It was horrible in the elevators and no one seemed to be working on the problem. The smell of urine was horrible in any of the ladies bathrooms in the common areas. Every single one of them.

 

Rust was evident on many of the railings where they tried to cover it up with white paint, even on the new serenity deck area and our balcony.

 

The Food

 

Every place we went to eat, except for the dining room we had to wait. The lines were very very long as the ship seemed over crowded. The buffet on the lido deck always had a line of at least 50 people at a time. The one time we did wait, the food was just o.k.

 

In the dining room the food was also just o.k. The wait staff rushed us through dinner every night. Forgot peoples wine and coffee requests and we had to ask for drink refills quite often. They were not on top of things to say the least. The lobster was very good.

 

Windows by the sea was o.k. again, prepare to wait. The sandwiches were pretty good, but the pizza was not. I love pizza and it was not good at all.

 

I will finish my review shortly...........

 

wow...sorry to hear that...I have been on her twice and actually like the smaller class ship. (but that is me) ;)

[kelz66]

I agree Mat....you are absolutley correct.

 

Sail on Carnival out of a port like New Orleans, Mobile, Jacksonville, Houston etc...you are going to be on a second class ship with second class service....don't get me wrong...these cities are all fine cities and deserve better...but...the best Carnival Ships and best crews and best service will be on those newer ships sailing out of Miami and Ft Lauderdale...on a personal note I love Mobile and have spend much time there...but I would not take a cruise out of Mobile...SORRY!

 

The Ecstasy out of Galveston has won the CCL award for best ship and best service in the fleet on a couple occasions. Far from second class. :D

 

A Carnival Press Release:

 

04/20/2007 MIAMI (April 20, 2007) – Carnival Cruise Lines’ 2,052-passenger Ecstasy, which underwent an extensive refurbishment last year under the first phase of the line’s $250 million "Evolutions of Fun" initiative, has earned the company’s coveted "Crystal Eagle" award for superior guest service.

 

The award is presented annually by Carnival to the shipboard team that receives the highest ratings from the line’s comprehensive guest comment card system, in which guests are asked to rate their "Fun Ship" cruise experience in a wide range of categories, including crew service and friendliness, on-board cuisine and entertainment, and children’s programming.

 

"While Carnival endeavors to provide fun, quality and affordable vacations aboard all 22 of its ‘Fun Ships,’ the Ecstasy received particularly high marks not only in the all-important area of guest service but also for the many guest-pleasing facilities and features incorporated during its recent renovation. Congratulations to the Ecstasy team for embodying our company’s commitment to creating lasting vacation memories for our guests," said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president and CEO.

 

To mark the occasion, a shipboard reception was held aboard the Ecstasy during which Dickinson presented Captain Salvatore Messina with a custom-designed award that resembles an eagle. The criteria for "Crystal Eagle" award is best described by its acronym for "eagle" which is as follows: Exceeding Expectations; Anticipating Needs; Going the Extra Mile; Lasting Memories; Excellence in Every Aspect.

[BrendaB1]

You should have tried one of the nicer ships. The Fantasy is the Crappiest ship in the Carnival fleet. Why do you think it's in New Orleans??

 

What is that supposed to mean? :confused: New Orleans is my favorite port to cruise from even though Galveston is closer.

 

Nola is a great City with lots to see & do for all ages. Always lots of good food, drinks, music & friendly people.

[CruiserVette]

My wife and I were on the Fantasy last week (11/29-12/4). This was our seventh cruise: two NCL, one RCL, four CCL...third time on the Fantasy. This was one of the best cruises we have taken! We arrived in NO about 11:00 AM and were on the Lido deck having lunch at noon. There were lines, DUH! Did you not expect lines with 2000 pax? The crew was one of the best we've ever had. Always smiling and attentive. As for the sewer smell: My wife can smell a gnat's fart from 100 yards away. She was never bothered by any unusual odors. Perhaps her nose wasn't stuck quite as high up as yours! Yes, we were lowly Riviera Deck residers. Maybe because we didn't invest as much time and money in our cabin as you did, our expectations were not as high? Best bang for the buck? Carnival! Best Carnival cruise we've had? The Fantasy. Last week! It's funny, isn't it, how attitude and outlook determine the difference between poor and excellent. I'm sure glad our's is not that of the OP!

[selucrey]

What is that supposed to mean? :confused: New Orleans is my favorite port to cruise from even though Galveston is closer.

 

Nola is a great City with lots to see & do for all ages. Always lots of good food, drinks, music & friendly people.

 

Don't get upset B, he's comparing NOLA to Houston. You know yourself how lovely Houston is.:)< ray of sunshine

[jetskier]

The smell problem is fixed but on occasion there is a bit of off-gassing that gets into the front elevator shaft. The majority of the cruiselines automatically charge the tips to your S&S cards now.

 

You mentioned that the halls and dining rooms needed to be fixed. Both of those areas were totally redone in the last drydock so I am not sure what you were seeing. The hallways are much brighter now with a better look.

 

Basically it is no secret that suites on Carnival are not treated any better than those who book an IS or OV cabin other than you get VIP check-in. For some reason in NOLA, it is like the folks directing people in the lines woke up forgetting how they did it the last sailing. For us the folks in the VIP room have always been quick and efficient.

 

The solution to your porter problem is to grab one BEFORE you go to get your luggage. Grab one as you enter the luggage area. To get one after you have retrieved your luggage is very difficult as everyone else has already grabbed one.

 

Dave

[kelz66]

You should have tried one of the nicer ships. The Fantasy is the Crappiest ship in the Carnival fleet. Why do you think it's in New Orleans??

 

You mean the new ships that use the port of Miami?

 

yeah...big difference....LOL :p

[Tapi]

I agree Mat....you are absolutley correct.

 

Sail on Carnival out of a port like New Orleans, Mobile, Jacksonville, Houston etc...you are going to be on a second class ship with second class service....don't get me wrong...these cities are all fine cities and deserve better...but...the best Carnival Ships and best crews and best service will be on those newer ships sailing out of Miami and Ft Lauderdale...on a personal note I love Mobile and have spend much time there...but I would not take a cruise out of Mobile...SORRY!

 

Second class ships, yes. But second class service?? I strongly disagree with you.

 

I've had a chance to sail from most Florida ports, New York, San Juan, Los Angeles, and Mobile. To this day, and without a doubt, Mobile has THE BEST customer service, employees, flow of passengers, and efficient embarkation and disembarkation!

 

The cruise terminal in Mobile is efficient and modern which makes for a great beginning and end to any cruise.It might not be as grand as Carnival's new state of the art terminal in Miami, but Mobile has something that Miami doesn't have: Consistently friendly, smiling, and professional terminal employees! From the parking attendants, embarkation personnel, to the ship crew, Mobile is absolutely a pleasure to sail from!

 

I do have to confess that before I sailed from Mobile last year, I had visualized this port as a second rate experience with old ships, and poorly trained employees. After experiencing it, I realized how wrong I had been!

 

Mobile quickly moved up to the top of my list! Actually, ports like Miami and Ft. Lauderdale could learn A LOT from Mobile about how to treat passengers and truly make them feel welcome!

[matj2000]

I am not dogging NO, but they put the "least desireable" ships along the gulf coast: Galveston, NO, Mobile, ect. The favorites, Splendor, Freedom, Liberty, Miracle, Legend, ect are all out of FL. Even the other cruiselines do the same. RC, NCL.

[Mark]

The people in Moblie are great people...always loved the people and the city...however, Mobile will always be a second class port with old ships for one reason...they do not have a first class airport with easy access of flights from around the country. I happen to live in the NYC area and can tell you flying into Miami and Ft Lauderdale is much easier than flying to Mobile...many direct non-stop flights on numerous airlines and competive relatively cheap fares especially with Jet Blue in the game. But, this is nothing new...I can remember always having to change planes in Atlanta to get to Mobile and the fares were high! My guess is that Mobile is an ideal cruise port for folks in the Alabama, Mississippi and Florida areas who can easily drive there...but as far as flying in from places like the northeast and the west coast...not so good!

[gtalum]

In this case you get what you pay for. The price premium of suites over regular cabins on Carnival is small compared to the same premium on other lines, so similarly the VIP perks are going to be less. It's simple economics. If you want a larger stateroom and faster embarkation and debarkation (though it sounds like they messed up on VIP embarkation that day) then Carnival suites are a good deal. If you want real VIP perks, you have to sail elsewhere.

[Tapi]

...however, Mobile will always be a second class port with old ships for one reason...they do not have a first class airport with easy access of flights from around the country. My guess is that Mobile is an ideal cruise port for folks in the Alabama, Mississippi and Florida areas who can easily drive there...but as far as flying in from places like the northeast and the west coast...not so good!

 

Thanks for explaining your point! The way that you had written your previous post sounded more like the "sub-standard service" meant employees, cruise terminal, service etc, all which far exceed that at many other ports I've sailed from.

 

But what you wrote about Mobile is very true (limited airline service). The target audience for Mobile is mostly people who live within driving distance from the port. In our case, we live in Atlanta, 4.5 hours away so Mobile is ideal. When we sailed from there last year, pretty much everybody we met was from neighboring states.

 

About the biggest, newest ships sailing from Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, your points are true as well. In addition to the amount of flights to south Florida, there's something else that Mobile doesn't have: COMPETITION AMONG CRUISE LINES. I'm sure that if there was ever a day when another major cruise line brought to Mobile something larger or newer than the Fantasy, Carnival would upgrade the service as well.

[pcvtmom]

Interesting thread to read...I am Carnival Platinum, having taken 11 cruises and currently booked for two more. This includes a cruise on the Fantasy in January. I'm looking forward to it, in SPITE of the often negative comments made. I've found that a cruise is what you make it. I can honestly say that my family has never had a bad cruise. As V.I.P. on the last couple of cruises, we've felt appreciated. There are nice perks, such as free laundry service, canape tray, gifts, and we LOVE the boarding and disembarking privileges. Now, we may find something entirely different in NOLA, but having had such great Carnival experiences, we will likely "roll with the punches". For the price, it's a vacation that can't be beat. Maybe my expectations are not quite as high as the OP. Maybe I'll find the Fantasy lacking, as well! But I can promise that I will make the best of it and have a great time!

[leedixie]

Just got off the Fantasy (12/4 sailing). We did not have VIP boading and it literally took us less than 10 minutes to get registered. Walked straight up to the counter. As for the cruise/ship in general - I did my research on CC and got no surprises. It was just what I expected. I did note the smell a couple of times, but it was never in the cabin and I rarely gave it a thought. I felt for $319 I had a great cruise - but then I wasn't expecting the Ritz. Submitted a review that should show up under reviews in the next couple of days.:)

[kelz66]

I am not dogging NO, but they put the "least desireable" ships along the gulf coast: Galveston, NO, Mobile, ect. The favorites, Splendor, Freedom, Liberty, Miracle, Legend, ect are all out of FL. Even the other cruiselines do the same. RC, NCL.

 

So why are they moving the Splendor from Florida?

 

Is it no longer a "desirable" ship?

 

:rolleyes:

[Kurbanfan]

So why are they moving the Splendor from Florida?

 

Is it no longer a "desirable" ship?

 

:rolleyes:

 

No... it's because So Cal rocks!:D

[tada]

To the OP. are you going to only sail Royal Caribbean? I think they will have the same problems with lines and so forth, especially on the newer bigger ships. Maybe their VIP treatments is better.