Carnival Destiny Cruise Review

How B:

I tried the google 'group cruise' query with the appropriate ship and
date; however, except that I know there are group travel offerings, I
still don't know the size and any other characteristics of the group or
groups. Is there any way to further get an insight as to what may be in
store?

Aloha

How B:

Thanks for the lesson in group detective work. It might come in handy
some where down the road.

Aloha

Hi, I was thinking of sailing on Carnival Destiny to southern Caribbean.
Has it beeb refurbished? Has anyone sailed on her recently? If so how
did you like the ship? I would appreciate any who can help me. I wanted
to sail this May but thought I should get opinions. Thank You for your
help in advance. Barbara

I think the real issue is whether you like the Carnival type experience or
you don't. Personally it's not for me.

We were on Destiny a few years ago, based on the recommendations of a number
of people in this group. It was my first, and last, Carnival experience. I
found the ship rather hideously decorated on the inside. There is pink
copper colored corrugated sheet metal all over the inside of the ship as a
decorating statement. I found the booths in the dining room very cramped.
The waiter reaches across your food to serve the person next to you - and
the guy we had smelled pretty bad with his underarms by your face.

The food was pretty much the worst among the 30+ cruises I've been on.
People have said that Carnival has improved their food... and that maybe our
food being so bad was a result of ours being a 4/5 night sailing. Possible.
Or maybe I'm just a bit more fussy than others.

Our cabin steward was pretty lazy... he gave our daughter the key so we
could do our upper berth ourselves... he couldn't be bothered coming to our
cabin himself.

I didn't find the ship particularly clean. Stained carpets in the hallway.
Ciggy butts on the teak decking in the solarium pool area. Apple cores
laying around on the deck.

Destiny would be my last choice for the Southern Caribbean. Though if
you're a big fan of Carnival, maybe it would be a great fit for you.
Without you telling us a little more about yourself, it would be difficult
to tell if it would be a good fit for you.

For what it's worth... my travel agent at the time (Liberty Travel here in
NJ) made sure to warn me that it wouldn't be what I was used to (Celebrity,
Princess) and he was very clear that he didn't want me to hold him
responsible. I asked him to book it... it wasn't something he suggested to
me.

But if you like Carnival, it might be perfect for you.

--Tom



"barbara s" <wombat-9@> wrote in message
news:29063-43AF7E6B-953@storefull-3237.bay....
> Hi, I was thinking of sailing on Carnival Destiny to southern Caribbean.
> Has it beeb refurbished? Has anyone sailed on her recently? If so how
> did you like the ship? I would appreciate any who can help me. I wanted
> to sail this May but thought I should get opinions. Thank You for your
> help in advance. Barbara
>

"Tom K" <tkanitra@> wrote in message
news:qJZrf.6761$L75.1848@fe12.lga...
>I think the real issue is whether you like the Carnival type experience or
>you don't. Personally it's not for me.
>
> We were on Destiny a few years ago, based on the recommendations of a
> number of people in this group. It was my first, and last, Carnival
> experience. I found the ship rather hideously decorated on the inside.
> There is pink copper colored corrugated sheet metal all over the inside of
> the ship as a decorating statement. I found the booths in the dining room
> very cramped. The waiter reaches across your food to serve the person next
> to you - and the guy we had smelled pretty bad with his underarms by your
> face.
>
> The food was pretty much the worst among the 30+ cruises I've been on.
> People have said that Carnival has improved their food... and that maybe
> our food being so bad was a result of ours being a 4/5 night sailing.
> Possible. Or maybe I'm just a bit more fussy than others.
>
> Our cabin steward was pretty lazy... he gave our daughter the key so we
> could do our upper berth ourselves... he couldn't be bothered coming to
> our cabin himself.
>
> I didn't find the ship particularly clean. Stained carpets in the
> hallway. Ciggy butts on the teak decking in the solarium pool area. Apple
> cores laying around on the deck.
>
> Destiny would be my last choice for the Southern Caribbean. Though if
> you're a big fan of Carnival, maybe it would be a great fit for you.
> Without you telling us a little more about yourself, it would be difficult
> to tell if it would be a good fit for you.
>
> For what it's worth... my travel agent at the time (Liberty Travel here
> in NJ) made sure to warn me that it wouldn't be what I was used to
> (Celebrity, Princess) and he was very clear that he didn't want me to hold
> him responsible. I asked him to book it... it wasn't something he
> suggested to me.


Tom, would you please make a New Year's resolution to forgive Carnival and
forget your experience? <VBG>
'Cuz I could give a worse one experience about our cabin and stay on the
Celebrity Zenith, but I realize things change and one experience does not
make ALL sailings the same. I love cruising, period! And as you know, I've
tried all different lines during my 31 cruise experience..(with four more
booked this year) and am not a lover of ANY specific line..but Carnival has
the best food on the seas right now of all main stream lines..I've been on
Carnival when the food was not so hot in the 90's and I've been on Carnival
of the past few years and know that there is a humongous difference! This
you have also heard from many who have cruised on Carnival. Five of our
family members just got back from the Conquest sailing on Dec.11th and they
ALL raved about the food...in fact said they found it hard not to sample all
they saw because it was so good! They were very pleased with their service,
both room and food...And believe me, they are fussy!

Carnival ships have the loudest and gaudiest inside decor of any of the
lines, but if you don't let that get under your skin, you can have a
terrific time on Carnival...You are not renting an apartment to live in for
ages...you are just a 7 day guest...The cabins are really more
conservatively decorated than the rest of the ship and are some of the
largest cabins that you can have on a cruise ship...Of the ten Carnival
cruises that we have taken, we have never encountered poor service nor had
to sit at a booth...Nor did we have the soiled carpeting, bedspreads and
tattered sheets and bedspreads that we had on the Zenith..on any Carnival
sailing. So PLEASE give it a rest! I only mention our Zenith experience
when you start in on Carnival, as I know it is unfair to judge a cruise line
by just one short sailing! You will have all newbies thinking that Carnival
provides that type of experience on all its sailings... Not so!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

--Jean

PS. I would not take any ship from Puerto Rico for a Southern Caribbean
cruise...not just Carnival.

In article <5r%rf.38311$7h7.605@newssvr21.news.> , Jean
O'Boyle <j.oboyle@removefudged.> wrote:

> PS. I would not take any ship from Puerto Rico for a Southern Caribbean
> cruise...not just Carnival.

Please tell, why not? Some of the more interesting Caribbean ports are
on cruises out of San Juan.

--
Charles

In article <5r%rf.38311$7h7.605@newssvr21.news.> , Jean
O'Boyle <j.oboyle@removefudged.> wrote:

> Carnival ships have the loudest and gaudiest inside decor of any of the
> lines, but if you don't let that get under your skin, you can have a

I agree with you about the food being good on Carnival and I think Tom
is a bit fussy about food as he suggested, but that tacky decor got
under my skin on the Carnival ship I tried.

> nor had to sit at a booth...

I did even after asking to move to a table. Twice. I usually like
booths in restaurants and I probably wouldn't have minded it if I was
in a booth with friends. It felt somewhat awkward with total strangers.

--
Charles

"Charles" <fort@his.com.remove.invalid> wrote in message
news:261220051903324038%fort@his.com.remove.invali d...
> In article <5r%rf.38311$7h7.605@newssvr21.news.> , Jean
> O'Boyle <j.oboyle@removefudged.> wrote:
>
>> PS. I would not take any ship from Puerto Rico for a Southern Caribbean
>> cruise...not just Carnival.
>
> Please tell, why not? Some of the more interesting Caribbean ports are
> on cruises out of San Juan.


I think I mentioned this before, Charles..but the two times that we have
done it, the pax mix has been a very noisy one.
Standing by while people sing and carry on at the top of their lungs at 7am
outside of cabins that have *Do Not Disturb* signs on them, is not my cup of
tea...even though I was IN that long line waiting for disembarkation at a
port...It was bad enough listening to the shouting back and forth of groups
on the ship during the regular sea days...(the PR culture is a robust and
constantly lively one for my personality...I know from living there for
three years! ;-) ) It's hard to take for hours at a time! .I love visiting
and sailing away from San Juan...just do not like to have my cruise begin
from that port..

--Jean.

"Charles" <fort@his.com.remove.invalid> wrote in message
news:261220051916179956%fort@his.com.remove.invali d...
> In article <5r%rf.38311$7h7.605@newssvr21.news.> , Jean
> O'Boyle <j.oboyle@removefudged.> wrote:
>
>> Carnival ships have the loudest and gaudiest inside decor of any of the
>> lines, but if you don't let that get under your skin, you can have a
>
> I agree with you about the food being good on Carnival and I think Tom
> is a bit fussy about food as he suggested, but that tacky decor got
> under my skin on the Carnival ship I tried.


After being on just one 5 day Carnival cruise myself, (Celebration) I found
that they did not have the variety nor the freshness of fruits and
vegetables that they have on the longer Carnival cruises...Can't help but
wonder why...The buffets are not as varied and even the main dining room
menus were not as good..
I don't let the garish decor deter my having a good time...What little that
it does, it bothers me more in the dining room than anywhere else.

>> nor had to sit at a booth...
>
> I did even after asking to move to a table. Twice. I usually like
> booths in restaurants and I probably wouldn't have minded it if I was
> in a booth with friends. It felt somewhat awkward with total strangers.

I don't like sitting in a booth anywhere, Charles..it just is not a
comfortable position from which to eat. In a bar, it's fine..but not in a
restaurant, for me anyway.

--Jean

"Jean O'Boyle" <j.oboyle@removefudged.> wrote in message
news:5r%rf.38311$7h7.605@newssvr21.news.prodigy.co m...
>
> "Tom K" <tkanitra@> wrote in message
> news:qJZrf.6761$L75.1848@fe12.lga...
>>I think the real issue is whether you like the Carnival type experience or
>>you don't. Personally it's not for me.
>>
>> We were on Destiny a few years ago, based on the recommendations of a
>> number of people in this group. It was my first, and last, Carnival
>> experience. I found the ship rather hideously decorated on the inside.
>> There is pink copper colored corrugated sheet metal all over the inside
>> of the ship as a decorating statement. I found the booths in the dining
>> room very cramped. The waiter reaches across your food to serve the
>> person next to you - and the guy we had smelled pretty bad with his
>> underarms by your face.
>>
>> The food was pretty much the worst among the 30+ cruises I've been on.
>> People have said that Carnival has improved their food... and that maybe
>> our food being so bad was a result of ours being a 4/5 night sailing.
>> Possible. Or maybe I'm just a bit more fussy than others.
>>
>> Our cabin steward was pretty lazy... he gave our daughter the key so we
>> could do our upper berth ourselves... he couldn't be bothered coming to
>> our cabin himself.
>>
>> I didn't find the ship particularly clean. Stained carpets in the
>> hallway. Ciggy butts on the teak decking in the solarium pool area.
>> Apple cores laying around on the deck.
>>
>> Destiny would be my last choice for the Southern Caribbean. Though if
>> you're a big fan of Carnival, maybe it would be a great fit for you.
>> Without you telling us a little more about yourself, it would be
>> difficult to tell if it would be a good fit for you.
>>
>> For what it's worth... my travel agent at the time (Liberty Travel here
>> in NJ) made sure to warn me that it wouldn't be what I was used to
>> (Celebrity, Princess) and he was very clear that he didn't want me to
>> hold him responsible. I asked him to book it... it wasn't something he
>> suggested to me.
>
>
> Tom, would you please make a New Year's resolution to forgive Carnival and
> forget your experience? <VBG>

So... what if the person went on Carnival, and BECAUSE of your
recommendation, had a HORRIBLE time? How would that make you feel?

By allowing both sides of the coin to be painted, we let the person evaluate
all opinions. And if painting both sides of the coin helps just one family
avoing having a terrible time on Carnival... then to me it's worth it.

> <snip>
> PS. I would not take any ship from Puerto Rico for a Southern Caribbean
> cruise...not just Carnival.

I couldn't feel more the opposite. It's one of my very favorite
itineraries... just not on Destiny... or Carnival. I love Barbados, I love
Antigua.. I love St. Thomas. And this year we're going to Aruba and
Bonaire. IMO, the Southern is much better than the Western or the Eastern
Caribbean.

--Tom