Carnival Fantasy Review

Low expectations of Carnival - They were met

Review for the Western Caribbean Cruise on Carnival Fantasy
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dennphill
10+ Cruises • Age 70s

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Cabin
Value for Money
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Additional details

Sail Date: Feb 2018
Cabin: Grand Suite

Cabin (U89) was fine - large - and steward was very good. Bed combortable, Tub (for showering) tight and a high step. Food in dining room - early seating in Jubilee Dining Room (we were with another couple) - was pretty poor, as was service. Staff was friendly - first names generally used - but service was poorly coordinated. Wine service was unimpressive. Two of the party were gluten-free and ordered meals the day prior. Delivery of appetizers and entrees was NOT well coordinated - generally one or two of the servings was delayed - and food often under-heated or cold. Cold soup, on a couple of occasions, was the last appetizer to arrive (others already served with entrees!). Staff in dining room need to need to be taught - not to dance - but to serve properly: over right shoulder from the rear, or from the side of guests on a bench, and NOT be handing food plates over other guests and across the table! I don't even expect that kind of service from Cracker Barrel at breakfast! Breakfast and lunches at Windows on the Sea Bar and Grill was OK. In and out of the Mobile Cruise Terminal was quick and painless...the only issue is the Interstate system! Getting off I-10 West when you see the cruise ship and port just to your left side on the Mobile River was drill of going past, turning off, and going under the Interstate to get to River Street then going back past the cruise terminal to do a U-turn to get on the correct side of the road to turn off to parking! Yikes! Getting form the parking garage after debarkation and getting on I-10 East was about the same - going back an forth a couple of times, hooking under the Interstate just to get to the entrance ramp! Not the Cruise Terminal's fault, not Carnival's, but what a driving drill! And did I mention that we departed a noon on the first day of Mardi Gras (5 Feb) just before the first parade? Traffic was only bit of a problem. All-in-all the port was fine and expeditious with em-and-de-barkations. Cruise was relaxing. Enjoyed $75 (long - 1-3/4 hr each way) bus trip from Progresso (through Merida) to Mayan Ruins at Uxmal. Pretty cool. Last two times at Cozumel we just stayed on the ship as we had already seen Cozumel city a few times, but on this cruise we took a $85 (3-1/2 hour small bus) trip to the (modest) Mayan Ruins at San Gervasio, and a nice drive along Cozumel's east coast - nice beaches and waves). Relaxing cruise overall, marred by poor table service and marginal food.

Cabin Review

Grand Suite

Cabin GS

Cabin was OK. Value was fine - paid for Jr. Suite and received Grand Suite with promo from tour agent, so pretty good deal. Very good steward. Cabin was OK (large and comfortable) buts cabin and whole ship was a 'little long in the tooth' in my opinion. No cabin failures. Common areas fine, just a bit 'tired'.

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