This was our sixth cruise and our second from the New York Cruise Terminal. We have learned that each ship and cruise line has certain strengths and weaknesses, and that while all cruises are fun, some are better than others. This cruise rates as a good but not a great one.

DEPARTURE: The New York Cruise Terminal really is easy to get into and out of, excepting the $120 per day parking fee we had to pay. The thrill of cruising down the Hudson River is worth the extra fifteen miles we had to drive past Bayonne, NJ (a former departure port of ours).

THE SHIP: The Carnival Triumph really is a very strange ship. The interior spaces are dark and take little advantage of natural light. The pools are small and it is very hard to find your way around. As the cruise line has tried to maximize the number of balcony rooms, there are few places to walk along the deck and getting around the ship is very hard. We noticed many passengers who were lost or even angry that they could not find the places they were looking for (like the dining room). The ship is starting to look old and dirty in places and very worn in some. It doesn't seem like it was built only six years ago and certainly seems smaller than its supposed 100,000 tons. There also seems to be a shortage of public spaces where you can just sit and relax. Read more