Carnival Spirit Review

4.5 / 5.0
1,075 reviews

Melbourne Cup Cruise 2015

Review for the South Pacific Cruise on Carnival Spirit
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5 star Cruiser
10+ Cruises • Age 80s

Rating by category

Cabin
Value for Money
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Additional details

Sail Date: Oct 2015
Cabin: Balcony

Our group of 5 couples (over 65 years) chose deck 7 balcony cabins for a trip to the 2015 Melbourne Cup. All are experienced cruisers (ourselves over 12 ocean and river cruises mainly in Europe and the Pacific). Embarkation was excellent. Baggage was collected at the roadside and delivered promptly to our cabin while we ate lunch in the buffet on deck 9. Cabin was excellent as was cabin service during the voyage. Sailed on schedule. Ship amenities and decor were revamped in August 2015 at a cost of A$44M. Unfortunately for us, it presents like a fun park! Gaudy, an eclectic mix of colour and design which simply defies description. It incorporates a casino with stacks of poker machines, a small shopping complex, a large theatre and dining room. If you enjoy playing bingo, trivia, karoke, every day, this is the ship for you. If you enjoy shows with a touch of talent, this is not your ship. If you like your Cruise Director to be on the ball with his/her presentations, the one we had was very disappointing. Food was served on Decks 9 & 10 buffet style, and on Decks 2 & 3 in the dining room. The food standard at all venues was average at best. The wines were boring and expensive. A Riesling (bottle) retailing for $ 30.00 in Sydney was billed at $70.00!!

Wait service was average at best. But the dining room Reception staff were excellent allocating tables to both large (10+) and small groups. The food was often just warm. The waiters at times cleared a table while a person was still eating that course, especially in the early sitting! The Nouvelle speciality restaurant (Add $ 40 per person) was disappointing. Ambiance was very ordinary with joggers walking/trotting past our table. Service was overpowering, too many trying too hard. Very noisy as well. Not worth the extra cost. Pre-Cup entertainment build up was virtually non-existent. Cup day transport was handled brilliantly and the Cup experience at the course was superb. Post Cup day it all fell away. The ship took every opportunity to rip money from the passengers even charging for bottled water in the cabins. Disembarkation was handled brilliantly. Hence if you like the FUN SHIP gaudy decor, and you want bingo, trivia and cheap entertainment, and you don't mind paying for the privilege, this is the ship for you. We chose the wrong ship.

Cabin Review

Balcony

Cabin 8A

excellent, even if a little small entry. shower was good. towel change excellent.

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