Never been on a Carnival cruise... interested in DESTINY, but reviews are bad...help!

[lovelights]

We are planning a cruise for November 2009, and were looking at cruising on Destiny. She's now sailing out of Miami, and I thought that maybe with her new reburbishing, that this would be an ideal ship to take as our first Carnival cruise. We thought our 8 yr old granddaughter would enjoy the slides, and children's activities. I took pictures of Destiny a few weeks ago when she was coming into port in the early morning hours while we were docked on Norwegian Sky, waiting for disembarkation. She's truly a beautiful ship, but a person can't choose a ship by beauty alone. ;)

 

 

(even though she is very pretty) ;)

 

However, I've been watching the reviews (and even though CC has not posted any new ones recently), Destiny's ratings are not coming back very well.

 

Has anyone here ever cruised on Destiny since she has moved over here to Miami? We're just wondering if we should just watch the reviews for a few more months, or maybe consider another Carnival ship, or go back to a cruise line we've already been on. We love all the cruise lines we've tried so far, so we're wondering if we should just stay with one of the ones that we've been on, or if we should open the door to a new cruise line that we haven't tried yet.

 

Any suggestions or information would be greatly appreciated.

[falkcor]

i was similarly nervous about the reviews for destiny prior to my september / october cruise last year.

 

i have found, however, that since the dry dock renovations, new crew / home port / itinerary that the majority of reviews have been relatively positive.

 

anyhow, having been on the ship myself, i wouldn't let the reviews worry you too much - she's a fine ship and i'm sure you'd have a great time.

 

i have my pretty lengthy (though not actually completed) review with pics, capers, etc. linked in my signature - take a look.

 

that's a great pic, btw.

[HHIslandGirl]

Hi!

Well, I don't know what to tell you about those reviews...I read some of them and wondered if they were actually on the same ship we were! We sailed her in October and had a WONDERFUL time. I had an ear infection and spent a large portion of the week dizzy and not feeling well...and still managed to gain weight because of the wonderful food! We had a great time-in fact, I've suggested to my husband more than once that we should re-do that cruise!

My advice is, if you think you'll enjoy the itinerary, then go for it!

By the way...I LOVE the photo you took of her all lit up!

[mysh442olds]

hey for get it

she is a great ship we keep thinking of doing a back to back now that it is in miami

we were on it 2 times from puerto rico and loved it

ENJOY

[yogimax]

Don't take reviews at face value. Many, many give honest opinions, but others post simply to complain unfairly or be negative. Enjoy your cruise!

[Stircrzy]

Captain Pier Paolo Scala is set to take command of the Destiny in April.

 

He is excellent and his passengers and crew love him!

 

He'll be there when you are...unless he's on vacation!

[lucy12]

We were on Destiny in January and loved it- It was only my third cruise, but by far the best- we enjoyed the food, the pools, the casino, everything- the passengers and the crew were unbelievably friendly- We may go again next January and just do the opposite itinerary-

[cruisetobeaches]

We were on the Destiny in December. Great cruise, ship, and crew. My only complaint was the amount of money I lost in the casino..........:rolleyes:

[TheVegasMan]

People are about 10 times more likely to post a negative review than a positive one.

[rlkubi]

As you can see we were on the Destiny a couple of years ago. We had a blast and really liked the ship. I agree with the other poster -- people more often post bad reviews. When we were on the ship it was doing the Southern Caribbean and had a great time!

[Kurbanfan]

Just do your homework......and that includes reviews.......

Go with your gut feeling........there are many ships that sail out of Miami to choose from........

[grammylaurie]

I just posted a positive review, I loved the ship, had a great time and loved going out of Miami. Any specific questions I will try to answer.

[Cruzaholic41]

When I sailed Destiny, it was out of PR. It was one of the worst cruises I have taken, mostly due to the very poor service and horrible upkeep of the ship. Hopefully before moving it to Miami, they did an overhaul on it. Reviews seem to have gotten a little better lately.

[m-of-connor]

I would go for it. The ship was in good shape. We were on it in November. I thought the putt putt was one of the best we have seen. The food was better on this ship then the last couple of ships that we have been on. Your Grandaughter will have a blast on any of the ships that you choose.

[David148]

I also have been discouraged a little about some reviews of this ship. But you really cant please every single person, and lots of people who write these reviews are out to be as negative as they can be. So i am now really looking forward to my cruise on the Destiny in SEPT. Can't Wait! :D That is an outstanding picture that you took BTW!

 

-David.

[scubagolfer]

My beef was never with the Destiny......I hate Miami as a embarkation city, and the Folks who man the terminal....they have very little patience, with anything, the same goes for Puerto Rico and we are 10 cruise veterans and I'm pretty sure we have a handle on this whole cruise thing!

[Lady_831]

I'm going on the Destiny on March 5 and did a lot of research before booking. It seems like the reviews that were written after the ship came out of dry dock late last year were a lot more favorable and convinced me to book.

[lovelights]

I crawled out of bed around 6:30am to get that picture. lol I got up and walked out on the balcony and she was right at the side of our ship at that time. Half asleep, I wondered why we were docked in Miami next to another ship, or where in the heck we were. After finally getting my eyeballs open, I realized that she was coming back into port and we were sitting still. I ran in and picked up my camera and shot a pic of her. I love taking photos of ships that we haven't been on yet.

[Socref124]

We were on the Destiny in Oct, just after she was in dry dock. We had a great time and the food and staff were real friendly. The only negative we had was a fould odor toward the aft of the ship and the carpet in the hallway on the Riviera Deck was always wet. The had a fan in the hallway the whole week to try to keep the carpet dry. Also our room safe didn't work but they allowed us to use a safe in the pursers office. We would sail on her again if given the opportunity. You are the ones that make or break your cruise, so keep a positive open mind and have a great time.:)

[lovelights]

i was similarly nervous about the reviews for destiny prior to my september / october cruise last year.

 

i have found, however, that since the dry dock renovations, new crew / home port / itinerary that the majority of reviews have been relatively positive.

 

anyhow, having been on the ship myself, i wouldn't let the reviews worry you too much - she's a fine ship and i'm sure you'd have a great time.

 

i have my pretty lengthy (though not actually completed) review with pics, capers, etc. linked in my signature - take a look.

 

that's a great pic, btw.

 

 

I checked out your review. It's absolutely amazing. I'm only to the point of reading where you just got back onboard after leaving Ocho Rios, however, it's like reading a good book, and I did have to take a lunch break (lol), however, I'm so looking forward to reading the remainder of your cruise this evening. You could actually be an author to making a book about cruise reviews in my opinion. Makes me feel like I was actually on the cruise with you.

 

Have you done other reviews that I can read about other ships?

[lovelights]

We were on the Destiny in Oct, just after she was in dry dock. We had a great time and the food and staff were real friendly. The only negative we had was a fould odor toward the aft of the ship and the carpet in the hallway on the Riviera Deck was always wet. The had a fan in the hallway the whole week to try to keep the carpet dry. Also our room safe didn't work but they allowed us to use a safe in the pursers office. We would sail on her again if given the opportunity. You are the ones that make or break your cruise, so keep a positive open mind and have a great time.:)

 

There was a foul odor on Norwegian Sky in the aft portion of the ship the first time we sailed on her as well (near the staircase from the 9th to 11th floors). It didn't stop us from sailing on her again the 2nd time. In which, on the 2nd time, the foul odor, we noticed, was replace with a chemical odor instead.

[Casino Player]

First, I've never been on the Destiny, however, I have sailed many times with Carnival. I've gone on more cruises with Carnival than I have with any other cruise line. That in itself should say something. If others didn't have a good time on the Destiny for whatever reason does that mean that you won't have a good time?

I've been on five different cruise lines. NCL included. Carnival has the best food of the lines I've been on. Carnival has the second best service of the lines I've been on. You get a bigger bang for your buck with Carnival. My wife and I really enjoy our Carnival cruises. Carnival has 24-hour pizza. The coffee machines and hot water are available on the Lido Deck 24-hours a day to guests. The soft serve ice cream are available unless the machines are being cleaned. On NCL the buffett area wasn't open 24-hours a day providing access to coffee, hot water, iced tea and other drinks. What other cruise line short of a luxury line offers Cappiccino without a service charge in the dining room? Not NCL, not RCCL, not Regal. I think you will have a good time on Carnival. Go, have a good time. When you come back let us know.

[gaylensgigi]

Cruised on Destiny this past November,The ship ,crew and food were great.I think it is actually my favorite cruise to date,but that could have a lot to do with the company I had. The only negative I can think of was the porters in Miami at debarkation,pushy,rude and dishonest

[lt]

I have found that the majority of reviews are from people with negative remarks. I have never been on a bad Carnival cruise or a bad ship and I cruised one of the Celebration's last trips. It's like any vacation, what you make of it. You can find something wrong with anything if you think about it long enough and look hard enough. Some of the stuff I have read people complain about is ridiculous anyway.

[shawnie]

Destiny is a great ship...Don't let any of the neg reviews sway you from booking a cruise on her.