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I was on board the Carnival Destiny headed for Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay and Nassau March 5, 2012. First, don't listen to people who complain about the ship being outdated. There is nothing wrong with the decor, it is a little like being in Vegas. I didn't notice any wear and tear in any part of the ship and our stateroom was clean, comfortable and very pleasant.
We had several 'bumps' in our trip. On day one we were 3-4 hours late leaving Miami due to a generator problem but maintenance took care of it and we were soon on our way. My only regret here is that my boyfriend (who was a first timer) did not get to see leaving Miami as we were at dinner. On days 2 & 3 we had high winds and rough seas which cancelled our docking at Grand Turk and then Half Moon Cay. This caused quite an uproar among guests who got huffy, created a nightmare line at Guest Services and all demanded compensation. We did recieve a refund on our port taxes for Grand Turk and a $40 per person credit for not being able to dock at Half Moon Cay. One thing you should know and remember when cruising; your ports of call are subject to change or cancellation due to the weather. People on board our ship even blamed the Captain and crew for the high cases of sea sickness because he was "going too fast in choppy waters". Seriously people?
The crew aboard Destiny made our extra days on board flawless with lots of activities and fun things to occupy our time with. And if all else fails, lay by the pool and drink, it is a cruise after all!
I enjoyed the dining experience as well. You can try anything you like, as much as you like virtually anytime you like. I always had two appetizers, something from the main menu and the didja ever suggestion. This trip we tried escargot (not bad at all!) and alligator fritters (fabulous!). There is a reason why thier signature desert is the Chocolate Melting Cake, it is superb! My second favorite was the Bitter and Blanc. Room service is ok, allow 45 minutes from the time you order to receive. The buffets are generally good also. The lines aren't too long and there is quite a variety. Especially noteworthy is their potato salad and limoncello cake. The pizza is wonderful, hotdogs are ok, caesar salads are good and breakfast is yum! Try the omlette station (he gives more than 2 pieces of bacon too!), the danishes are awesome and even though the croissants aren't soft, they are still great!
There does seem to be a sewage type smell on the Riviera and Main Decks Aft, but it is not bad by any means unless you plan on getting a deck chair and camping there for the day, then it might get annoying.
All in all I enjoyed the Destiny and would absolutely sail on her again! James (our activities director) was AMAZING and well as employee of the month Bonez. I highly recommend this ship!
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