Carnival Destiny Review

Destiny Refurb

Review for the Eastern Caribbean Cruise on Carnival Destiny

Rating by category

Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
Public Rooms
Entertainment
Fitness & Recreation
Service
Cabin

Additional details

Sail Date: Oct 2008
Traveled with children

Overview This was our sixth cruise and we took 21 people with us. I have been on 4, 7, and 8 day cruises. All of my cruises have been on Carnival and I have been on 4 different ships. I have cruised the east, west and southern Caribbean. I have experienced luggage that was lost in 2003 and never found and even cruised through the middle of a hurricane. My motto is cruising is what you make of it. If you want to be miserable, you will. I realize that stuff happens and we continue to stay with Carnival. Our 7th cruise is in November for 8 days. This trip was just okay, nothing really to come home and talk about. Embarkation was okay. Don't show up early. My friend said they came last time and went right on board before noon. We showed up earlier this time and had to wait un til 12:30. Don't come early because they will not start boarding until then. We went and had lunch and went right to the pool. We were disciplined by staff for drinking a beer in the hot tub on deck out of a plastic bottle. The strange thing was they came by and asked us if we wanted the beer and delivered it to us in the hot tub. Then, a white shirt supervisor came by and told us to get out of the hot tub or throw the beer away. WOW! The ship left after dinner was over. It was a disappointment to leave three hours late but the Miami sky line was nice to see. The ship was alleged to have been just refurbished. I have heard and read reviews complaining of the refurb. If I were Carnival I would ask for my money back. There was rust all over the ship. When in port the Inspiration was docked beside the Destiny and the Destiny was yellowish in color. The carpet was stained, the ship was dirty, there was no hot tub in the spa, the food was just okay in the main dining room and below par in the "cafeteria." My one friend said they were painting in the elevators and shaft at night. His room was filled with paint odors that made him sick and Carnival had to get him an interior room to sleep in. I heard other people state the same complaint. I don't know, maybe they should paint when you are in port, not trying to sleep. They received a letter and some compensation. I am just curious as to what they did when the ship was in dry dock. Really, it's an old ship and looked and felt like it. I would say of my 6 cruises this was the worst. The one they lost my luggage on and the hurricane cruise were better. We had some first time cruisers with us and they had a good time. They did not have anything to compare it to. To be honest though, on a scale of 0 to 10 I would still give it a 6. The unfortunate thing is that this cruise was just okay...and what is worse is that Carnival is just fine with that! "Carnival...striving to be just okay." Dining The floors in the "cafeteria" area were slick enough to skate on. The tables were always dirty. I know this is not a great job but the staff looked like they had always just woken up. I will have to say that the food on this cruise was the worse of my six cruises. The formal dining room staff was great but the food was just okay this round. Nothing special. The lobsters were so small, two bites and gone. The menu was definitely below par. Seven and eight day cruises must have better food and selections. However, the four day Imagination cruise had better food. Cabins Now that was a surprise and I am not going to say what happened because the next thing you know everyone will be trying to get this deal, sorry! I thought we had an ocean view and ended up with a great balcony on a great deck. I booked the room and then upgraded through a website for a total of $100. If I could get that deal every time I would. The location, price, etc was great. Anyhow, on the other side, as this was an older ship we found when sitting on the toilet your feet were in the shower. The sink area was small. The area at the end of the bed to the wall was very tight. It also seemed like this was the storage room. Under my bed was a mattress and bed frame. I guess I should have called and had it removed. If this had been a longer cruise I would have. Entertainment The cruise director was incredible, the funniest I have ever seen. Comedians were excellent. Some of the singers in the clubs could have been better. The shows were typical Carnival and also very good. The first show had great music and costumes, European type, some of the group feel asleep and one couple left the theater. The second show was better but we had seen that same show on a previous cruise. Spa and Fitness The massages are great and if you have the money do one. The price is pretty much the same as any where else on land. This is an older ship and the locker room was not up to date. The gym is new and looked great. Did not see to many staff members in the gym. Big disappointment, the saunas were removed from the spa/fitness center during the rehab of the ship . One of the main reasons I cruise is the gym, the steam room and to soak in the hot tub, I have a bad back. I was very disappointed that they had removed the two hot tubs. The web site video shows them but the design layout does not. Again, big disappointment. Family and children We had a great time and were cruising with 20 plus people. At times, some stayed together while others ventured out on their own. We had preset places where we hung out and it was easy to find each other. My friends 10 year old loved the camp and spent a lot of time there. Carnival is definitely a family cruise ship. Fellow Passengers Having only traveled Carnival I have found this to be what has been called "the McDonalds" of the cruise line. There are a lot of people that should not be on the ship. Rude and arrogant seems to be the standard for the day, people talking down to staff and saying things in front of the crew that they should not. It's very obvious that some of these people could not afford the trip and their behavior takes away from those that wish to come and have a good time. All ages were well represented and there were 450 plus kids on the ship, seems like the kids are better behaved then some of the adults.

Dress Code This was a four day cruise and I would have thought that the shorter cruise would have been more casual. I was surprised that everyone was well dressed at dinner, during the shows and just walking around the ship. I have been on an 8 day where people were coming to dinner in jeans and a t-shirt. There was one formal night and Captains party. People were dressed in suits or a shirt and tie. I don't think I saw any one in a tux. Gratuity Carnival recommends $10 per person, per day, broken down to $5.50 to the headwaiter/waiter, $1 to the assistant waiter/cooks and $3.50 to the cabin steward; the amount is automatically added to your shipboard account but can be adjusted in either direction at the purser's desk. A 15 percent gratuity is automatically added to bar bills. An envelope is provided on the last night for those who want to extend thanks to the maitre d' the room service menu suggests tipping a buck or two as it's delivered. Take some $1 bills for room service and tipping your baggage guy at the port.

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