• Newsletter
  • Write a Review
  • Boards
  • Deals
  • Find a Cruise
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Cruise Tips

Carnival Splendor Review

WAY too overcrowded and chaotic - my worst cruise ever

Review for Australia & New Zealand Cruise on Carnival Splendor
tropicalhols
6-10 Cruises • Age 50s

Rating by category

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

Additional details

Sail Date: Apr 2023
Cabin:

We love cruising & trying new cruiselines but this 4 day Easter cruise to Moreton Island has turned me off Carnival Cruiselines. They say they have capacity of 3,012 but kept saying they had over 3,900 onboard - so I reported them & was told they are registered to take 3,948, which they do when filling every bunk and sofa! Problem is the ship is not really made to cater for about 4,000 passengers. There were horrific waits for restaurants, lack of tables, massive queues at the buffet and you couldn't then get a table, no room in the spas, etc. I tried to get an "igloo" at the Serenity adults area one da so went up around 6am - still too late, already all taken! We tried to book in a table for breakfast on the app one day and it said the wait time was THREE hours! I feel they put greed ahead of the passengers' enjoyment. 900 LESS people and it may have been bearable. Instead we couldn't wait to get off it. What a shame. Entertainment the first night was 2 guys trying to get a team up on the stage to do trivia and some skits. Thankfully finally on the 3rd & 4th nights we got proper entertainment. Our room had atrium noise in it so I couldn't even relax in there. Sewage smells wafting over the decks on day 3, someone told me a lot of rooms had backed up loos which was the cause. Goodness, please Carnival, stick to your 3,012 so the passengers can actually enjoy their cruise! (PS we didn't get to disembark at Moreton Isl due to weather, not their fault at all, but oh I was so disappointed as there was no escape from the chaos!) The staff we met were trying so hard, I cannot fault them, but the ship was understaffed for the numbers - so the fault is with management, not the staff onboard. Shame on you Carnival. I hate leaving such a negative review, I only leave negative reviews if it's very warranted, I feel it is in this case.

Cabin Review

We could hear all the noise from the Atrium in our room! Make sure your cabin is nowhere near the Atrium which goes right to the roof - as it acts as a noise funnel.

4 Helpful Votes
previous reviewnext review

Find a Carnival Splendor Cruise

Any Month
About UsCruise DestinationsFirst Time CruisersFind A Cruise

International Sites

© 1995—2023, The Independent Traveler, Inc.

  • Privacy and Cookies Statement

  • Terms of Use

  • Site Map