Carnival Glory Review
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Just returned home today after the 27th September Eastern Caribbean sailing. Two things stood out for this cruise. First, while the dining rooms and large show lounge are nonsmoking, the casino, disco, piano bar, karaoke, sports bar, and other public entertainment venues are very smokey. If you are a smoker, you will be in heaven; if not, you will be in...well...the other place. Really curtailed our enjoyment of the cruise. We've been on 25 cruises and other lines do a better job of circulating the air and improving conditions for non-smokers without limiting the smoker's options.
Second, lots and lots of norovirus on this cruise. By day 4, the ship was considered as having an "outbreak" of norovirus. The waiters began to serve portions in the buffet lines rather than allow the passengers to help themselves (and that's a great idea), and the galley tour was canceled (another good idea with the number of people sick). This was the first cruise on which I became sick with this vicious bug. Then, as soon as my stomach settled down and I was OK to eat and go out and about, I developed laryngitis! I will say that Carnival was very nice to those who became ill. They offered free in-cabin movies (although they posted to your on board account and then you had to "discuss" this with the pursers to get the charges removed), and gave free soda to those who were ill (I didn't drink any as I could barely keep water down).
As for the cruise itself, the staff was really wonderful. Everyone (before the illness and after) was pleasant, efficient, helpful, and approachable. I had expected, at best, average food, and was very pleased to find the food quite good. Even the buffet on the Lido deck (casual dining) offered good choices and solid quality. The chinese food was excellent and quite authentic (not your local Chinese fast food restaurant stuff, but the real, authentic oriental cooking). So, while I would not call the food gourmet, I would say it was 4 star plus. Try the salmon on the everyday menu; a beautiful piece of tender, juicy fish.