We paid an extra $1,200 for a last minute upgrade to the owner's suite (it was a quick birthday weekend away). What an outrageously expensive mistake. It was a big room but horrible layout, dark, no privacy (we knew it overlooked the pool but the window blinds had to stay shut all day - people were just a foot or so from the windows. Useless wet bar that had no glassware, beverages or any amenities. Our Grand Suite was a much better deal & would have saved a lot of $. We knew about the partially obstructed view (lifeboats are in front of the tiny balcony) but we got ZERO VIP perks for this outrageous price. We got a 10am check-in only to wait almost 3 hours with herds of other people to check in. Totally disorganized - sent to the wrong door, etc. No photo as we boarded. There was supposed to be someone to meet us on board but we had to find our room ourselves. The only time we saw our room porter was when he barged into our room (with the privacy sign on the door) immediately after the 1st announcement for the safety drill (which was also a fiasco). One of our prepaid excursion tickets was missing but when we went to customer service the night before, we were told to look for a guy named Stephen on the dock the next day (there was no "Stephen"). We had to wait in a line of about 15 people whose excursions were unexpectedly cancelled. We would have missed ours if I hadn't interrupted the carnival rep's socializing to get our missing ticket.

The 2nd day we got 2 cups with Carnival ads on them - no explanation. Then the 3rd day we got a nasty looking plate with a bright red puddle of melted & hardened (chocolate?) with 2 sticks stuck in it & a couple of stale cookies. Bathroom smelled terrible. The drinks were SO watered down it was ridiculous. I am only an occasional drinker but had 2 large "rum" punches ($10 each) & was totally sober. The Gray Goose & Tonics we ordered at dinner tasted like flat water (like a drink that sat on a bar for a couple hours while the ice melted). I was not looking to get drunk but I knew the alcohol was diluted in all the drinks we had.

Food was average - typical cruise fare. Boat was dirty & very old. We were one of the first on the boat & when we sat on deck we saw a ton of cigarette butts and garbage that were just hosed into the deck gutters, left to clog the drains. Disgusting. Many deck chairs should have been retired - full of paint splatters or just completely faded and worn thin. The boat was incredibly unstable - even in totally calm water - either the boat had no stabilizers or they refused to use them (to save gas $). It was so rough the bathroom door constantly swung open and shut the entire cruise. Fortunately, we don't get seasick but I felt sorry for anyone who did - the movement was relentless. The staff on land at the checkin were not friendly at all nor were they helpful. Read more