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Awesome Cruise! by
Tonya C. from South Dakota Sailing date: Aug 2009Pros: The entire staff on this cruise was incredible! Cons: We had one "bouncy" day and night in the Gulf of Alaska but the crew and staff were so attentive and helpful. This ship had everything we could want! Ship QualityIncredibly clean and everything was easy to get to Dining/FoodIt was great to have a choice for fine dining or casual dining Stateroom QualityWonderfully comfortable! Ship Staff QualityFood staff was always very helpful and smiling and willing to help. Our stateroom staff was awesome! They always had a smile on their face and seemed to know when we were out so they could come in and tidy up for us! Entertainment & ActivitiesThe shows were incredible and we were very impressed with the band/orchestra. 1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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   Fabulous! Highly recommend!! by
Ginger C. from Honolulu, HI Sailing date: Jul 2009Pros: Ship and our room were really nice. Cons: Hot tubs were either too hot or too cold. The ship and crew were outstanding! Ports of call and excursions were well planned and catered to our every need! Ship Quality
Dining/FoodWe used the open eating area several times a day but usually tried for the dinner seatings. Food and selection were awesome!! Stateroom QualityWe had an ocean view room -- figured it was going to be cold/drizzly outside so we didn't need a balcony! Ship Staff Quality
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Juneau, AlaskaTake a taxi back to the fish hatchery, there's a dock just past it where you can fish -- bring a collapsible rod!
Don't Miss: Mindenhall glacier and McCauley fish hatchery. Ketchikan, AlaskaDon't Miss: We fly to an isolated lodge and ate the best dungeness crab and cheesecake ever!! Skagway, AlaskaDon't Miss: Horseback riding and dog sledding excursions were awesome! Sitka, AlaskaDon't Miss: Town tour, totems and Russian history; sea otter and humpback whale tour. 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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a great cruise by
Ann W from Ripon, WI Sailing date: Jul 2009Pros: treated like kings and queens. cruise director made every day something to look forward to. Cons: The ports are too touristy. Although, it was expected. We chose to sail on the carnival cruise lines because of the more casual atmosphere and younger crowd (from what I had been told by others). Our ship was the Spirit. It was fantastic. We got an inside stateroom on a summer Alaskan cruise - Room was dark when it was light outside late into the night. So many things to do on the ship we were up half the night almost every night. The days at sea were full of entertainment, food or quiet time if you wanted it. The ship is so large that you could find a nice quiet place to take your book and read and be alone! Ship QualityExceptionally clean. Get up from your table and it'll be cleaned before you return with seconds. Beautiful seating areas to just watch the ocean go by. The buffet's were on the 9th level which gave me an opportunity for some exercise taking the stairs because you can't help but eat too much. Conveniently located on the same level as the open deck which was nice to get your food and go sit outside. Dining/FoodThe food was fantasice no matter what or where you chose to eat. We ate in the dining room a couple nights and the service and food is unbeatable. The convenience of the buffets was another plus since they served a fairly wide time for each meal. Only occasionally was it so busy that you had to wait in line, and even that wasn't very long. Tried many different types of food that we don't have the opportunity to try normally. Always excellent quality - even the buffets - the food just never sat long so it was always like it was being freshly served. Stateroom QualityAbsolutely outstanding. We never heard a sound from neighboring rooms or the upstairs lounge, which we were directly below. Our room was on level 1 which seemed to have less motion when out to sea. That was important, especially the first couple days until you get used to being on a boat. Ship Staff QualityThe couldn't have been more accommodating or friendly. All the staff were helpful, friendly. When overindulgence caused a button to pop off a pair of pants, within 15 minutes we had a sewing needle and threat to fix it. Entertainment & ActivitiesThe schedule was well planned. Time spent in ports at small towns were shorter than larger cities. Good planning - cause there was nothing to do after a couple hours. Entertainment was fantastic, shows that we would not normally attend we went to just because it was free and something to do. But after the first night we realized that it was very enjoyable and excellent quality of entertainment. Great singers and dancers and a joy to watch. The ships cruise director and asst criuse director even participated in the entertainment, and were some of the most talented on the ship. I was impressed and looked forward to seeing anything that they were a part of.
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Juneau, AlaskaMendenhall glacier. Took a tour bus up to the glacier and spent an hour hiking around.
Don't Miss: Took the tram up the side of the mountain and hiked the trails. beautiful sites. good exercise. Ketchikan, Alaskavery crowded. Went on a zip line adventure - that was exciting.
Don't Miss: Creek street Skagway, AlaskaTook a train ride up the mountain. Very pretty, many waterfalls along the way.
Sitka, Alaskahiked through the park with the totem poles, very pretty. Wanted to see the chocolate factory that offered tours, but there was no way to get there. They should have a bus or something that takes people out there as it was too far to walk.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Family Anniversery Trip by
Shannon C. from Atlanta, Ga. Sailing date: Jun 2009Pros: Number of ports visited Cons: Having to enter Canada I am/we are experienced cruisers. We were pleasantly satisfied with the Carnival Spirit. Having been on Princess in Alaska twice before, I think I would recommend Carnival above them. The ship and crew were all excellent. Shows were good and food way above average for general cruise ship fare. I would go on this ship again tomorrow! Ship Quality
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Juneau, Alaska
Ketchikan, AlaskaOur favorite....always a lot to do there
Skagway, AlaskaHave some fish/chips and beer at the little resturant/bar right at the end of the pier. Great halibut!
Sitka, AlaskaFirst time in Sitka, Nice quiet port....you can tell that the cruise lines have yet to take it over. Lots of history there. Great stop
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
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Good time had by all by
Cody K. from SoCal Sailing date: Dec 2007Pros: Beautiful ship Cons: Snobby crew Was our 2nd cruise. We went in December so the ship was decorated for Christmas which was nice. Ship QualityClean. Big. Easy to navigate. Dining/FoodI did not like the room service menu. Only cold items are available. Food was better on Royal Caribbean. Stateroom QualityWe fit 3 full grown men with all of our baggage comfortably. Ship Staff QualityCrew was snobby. Only bad part of the trip. Entertainment & ActivitiesAlways something to do. 15 out of 16 people found this review helpful.
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Great Value for a Hawaiian Getaway by
Ben L. from Vancouver BC Sailing date: May 2008Pros: the 7 nights in Hawaii at 5 different ports Cons: the 5 days at sea back to Vancouver The ship is fairly nice. The standard Carnival style layout. Mini-golf on the top deck was neat. Ship QualityShip was smaller than the other one I was on (Carnival Liberty). This was good in the sense that it didnt take very long to walk from one end to the other. Bad in the sense that there is less to explore. Dining/FoodThe food was a hit and miss in the dining room and in the buffett. I found that either the food was really good or really bad. Although I thought all the desserts were delicious! Stateroom QualityWe had an interior stateroom at the front of the ship on the 4th level. Since the ship wasnt that big, it was fine to walk to the other end. This unit was right behind the docked tender/lifeboat ships so there was a window with an obstructed view even though it is a interior stateroom. However whenever the tender boats needed to be used, the lound grinding noise from the lowering gears would be heard bright and early in the morning, destroying any peaceful sleep. But, once the boat was lowered, the cabin had a nice view. Fortunately, the tender was used only a couple times and we had to wake up at that time anyways. The beds were hard and had sunken a bit in the middle. The pillows were fluffy but lumpy. Wasn't as comfortable as I remember from the Carnival Liberty. the bathroom had a funky smell from the toilet even tho it was relatively clean. Some air freshener would have been nice. The corner nightstand was really dusty and it looked like no one has ever cleaned underneath the bed. Ship Staff QualityThe ship staff was absolutely delightful. Very pleasant and polite. Dining room staff was the best. Entertainment & ActivitiesI personally found the activities and shows to be fairly dry (I'm 24). However the seniors, who were about a 90% majority on this trip absolutely loved the bingo, trivia, and flamboyant dancing shows. I can understand the need to cater to the majority.
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Honolulu, OahuGorgeous city. Vibrant and exciting. Perfect place to start a Hawaiian vacation. Busier than the other places on the trip though.
Don't Miss: Waikiki Beach Hilo, HawaiiRained hard in the morning. Volcano National Park was amazing. Mauna Loa Factory was a waste of time unless you're really into Macadamia Nuts. If I could do it again, I would cab it to the Volcano National Park and explore the hiking trails that go on the lavarock surface rather than book the excursion with the tour group that just looks from afar.
Don't Miss: Volcano National Park Kailua-Kona, HawaiiI rented a Kayak and paddled around the harbour which was pretty fun. Nothing really special about the shops along the street. Riding the free trolly around was a bit of a waste of time unless you have nothing better planned.
Don't Miss: Kona Coffee Lahaina, MauiMaui is my favorite of all. For thrill seekers, rent a car and drive the Hana Highway. The view is amazing and the drive is both adrenaline pumped and life threatening. Bad combination but was totally worth it. Makena beach is gorgeous. Powdery white sand and crystal clear water. Sea turtles and snorkelling open to the public. The Snorkel Adventure excursion would have been cool if it wasnt so windy and unable to go to the crater. Check the forecast before booking it.
Don't Miss: Hana Highway, Makena Beach, Wailea Area/Beach Nawiliwili, KauaiThe snorkel excursion we booked was fun but a ripoff. You could easily buy some snorkel gear and catch a cab out to a nice beach and have a longer, cheaper, and better time.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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A Good cruise by
Peter Y from San Diego Sailing date: Nov 2007Pros: State room with balcony with reasonnable price Cons: Bathroom sewer smell, Music is too loud in Phara's lounge, cause headache The overall experience is good with food, entertament, bar services. Dining room needs improvment a little bit.
Our room server take all our chocolete the night before we debarkation. which we had saved in draw.
The daily schedule are confuse, it is not easy to find all activeties. Ship QualityThe Lido's setup is wasting a lot spaces, it look q. but with over 2000 people on board it is sometimes hard to find a setting Dining/FoodThe Sushi service and oriental food is below normal standard. Stateroom QualityThe bathroom had sewer smell. Ship Staff Quality
Entertainment & ActivitiesThe music is too loud cause headache, Set the volume 10 db lower is more comfotable. 9 out of 10 people found this review helpful.
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Great Ports by
Dan H. from San Diego, CA Sailing date: Nov 2007Pros: Ports, and Excursions Cons: Food Just returned from Mexico and loved the ports. Acapulco was so-so but Zhewatienieo (SP) and Manzinello (SP) were great. They are still sleepy little fishing villages where security for yourself and family were not a problem. Great Excursion in Manzenillo (Turtle Experience) were we saw wildlife in natural settings... beautiful land and the people care about the animals as well as each other. The ship was good, especially the upgraded cabin. The Carnival line is known for partying and there were those on board who enjoyed themselve a little much. Nothing to annoying but some fun people. The food was abundant but mediocure at best... watered down and cafeteria style. Overall good cruise though since no one else go's to these ports. Ship QualityAlways clean and freindly crew. Dining/FoodPlenty of food and choices but poor quality... Have been on other lines with so much more style and elegance as far as food. Stateroom QualityUpgraded to a suite from a balcony...GREAT! Ship Staff QualityStaff over all were great... room steward was never seen and was there on a moments notice if needed... Only rates a good because the countless staff that are running around trying to sell things... i.e. water, photo's, coffee, etc... the ship trys to nickel and dime you to death and succeeds. Entertainment & ActivitiesLots of activitys... the good, but lousy shows (the bad). The shows were average at best and mostly young (20's) inexperienced singers/dancers who wouldn't compete on Idol.
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Acapulco, MexicoMust see cliff divers,,, (those guys are nuts) and you can walk there (no taxi needed) but walk in a group for safety. The rest was dirty and appeared dangerous. Homeless animals as well as people...
Don't Miss: Cliff Divers. Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa, MexicoSnorkeling off the catamaran and shopping in the sleepy little village... beautifull place. Safe and no one trying to gouge you for anything... Pets and people are looked after in this port.
Don't Miss: walking through the village- lots of deals. Manzanillo, MexicoWe took the Turtle Experience and loved every minute of it. Released baby turtles (endangered because of humans) into the sea. Also included is a boat trip through the inland lagoons. Animal lovers must see this. We saw every type of bird, snake, alligator (or croc), and fish there is to see in there natural setting. The port is just that a port but the little city to the side of the port was great.
Don't Miss: Turtle Experience. 6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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great, great cruise. I would go again. by
barbara b from omaha, ne Sailing date: Aug 2007Pros: state room with balcony was great, meals were excellent, most of crew were aok Cons: debarkation. the whole thing was terrible beautiful, clean, and freindly ship Ship Quality
Dining/Foodwaiters were very good & friendly Stateroom Qualitylove having a personal deck. service by cabin boy was outstanding Ship Staff Qualityall were great except for the pursers desk
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Juneau, Alaska
Ketchikan, Alaskaenjoyed shopping there except avoid the specturm jewelry store
Sitka, AlaskaDon't Miss: whale watching ablong with otters 5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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AN AWESOME CRUISE SHIP by
Joshua T. from Elberta, Alabama Sailing date: Jul 2007Pros: Everything Cons: Didnt last forever :D Staff was great and the maids kept the room nice 24/7. The food was excellent and so was the ship. Couldnt ask for more. Ship Quality
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3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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