Review: Carnival Spirit (20-29 August 2014) 9 days

Review: Carnival Spirit (20-29 August 2014) 9 days

Port Stops: Isle of Pines, Lifou, Noumea and Mare

Boarding: Boarding is done by time slots. I had the 12 noon slot so got on the ship promptly. Cabins were not available until 1 pm, but it wasn’t a big issue as gave me plenty of time to explore the ship. My first impression of the ship is that the décor is very dark. There was no hard sell for packages for drinks etc. They don’t really seem to offer them except for a soft drink package. There is no future cruise consultant so you cannot book cruises on the ship like other lines offer.

Carnival Australia markets itself as the Fun Ship. The Cruise Director is called Giggles. And she lives up to her name and giggles a lot. I didn’t find her to be a great cruise director and my fellow cruisers by about day four had had enough of her and her lovely jubley day sayings. She didn’t seem to interact a lot with the passengers, not that I saw.

Cabin Stewards and Cabin: I loved my cabin. I had booked a 4K inside category cabin. Its actually has French doors that you can open and there is a ledge. The lifeboats are right in front of the doors. However, it gives you some natural light. I would easily book this cabin category again. Both the stewards who work in a team did a great job. The cabin was well looked after and towel animals done on most nights with little chocolates. Nice thick fluffy bathrooms. My cabin had a queen size bed (two beds pushed together), sofa and little table. TV and plenty of storage space. Bathroom was ample size.

Dinning: I was on the 5.30 fixed seating and had good tablemates. Our head waiter and his two assistants were very good, especially the head waiter. Tall Croatian guy who was always checking on everyone. I felt sorry for the drinks waiter who was rushed off her feet. The head waiter was apologising for her saying she has 25 tables to cover. The Maitre was a standout. She made an effort to go around to the tables to talk to people. On the last night big line of people thanking her for her effort. They had songs and theme nights for dinning. All adds to the fun ship concept.

Food: I’m a little bit fussy when it comes to the food. It was really more miss than hit. Disappointed that for the Elegant nights there was no special effort made by the chef for the menu. On the last formal night there was chow mein on the menu. Lobster is extra cost. Buffet area seems a little bit disjointed and not a huge selection. The coffee machines however are a hit.

Photographers were busy buzzy around doing their thing. They had some very fun props set up on any given time and where very busy selling the pictures. Which I think were like $18.95. I saw some really nice shots of people, especially the kids ones. They weren’t stand their and shoot. They made an effort.

Entertainment. I didn’t see a lot of the shows. But there seemed to be a variety on the program. They had a brass band near the piano bar on couple of nights. Bingo looked popular when I poked my head in, but I heard from other cruisers that the caller wasn't the greatest.

Casino – I didn’t use it as not a gambler. Some people were not happy about children being in the Casino. Not sure what the rules are, but nothing was really done about it.

Getting off the ship was smooth transition and well organised.

Would I cruise with Carnival again. Yes, if the price is right and it’s a good itinerary. Feel free to ask any questions. I tried to give an honest impression on how I saw it.

The weather wasn't the greatest and not really warm. Last night of the cruise were being hit by 50 knot winds coming into Sydney. There were a few green people. There seem to be a lot of people trying out Carnival for the first time. Not too many kids onboard.

We were having dinner at the Sydney Cove Oyster Bar the night you sailed from Sydney. It was fun watching the people moving around the decks of the ship, then watching the departure.

I wondered if there were any CC folk on board. :)

Good review. When you say you are a fussy easter, did you find those around you were not pleased with the food also? Bit sad they don't make an effort for the special nights. When you say it was not warm, was that over at the islands? You certainly got big winds coming back! That cabin sounds interesting.

Good review. When you say you are a fussy easter, did you find those around you were not pleased with the food also? Bit sad they don't make an effort for the special nights. When you say it was not warm, was that over at the islands? You certainly got big winds coming back! That cabin sounds interesting.

There was a general disappointment with the quality of the food. Like I had a pork dish one night. The pork was dry and it was accompained by an apple cut in four slightly stewed with the core still in it. It just looked terrible on the plate. I told the waiter I couldn't eat it. It was like the chef couldn't be bothered. Some commented that the food was better on PO Australia. :eek: I dunno, I never tried PO Australia yet. :D I prefer more finer dining and a little imagination with the dishes and presentation. Put it this way I hopped on the scales. And haven't put on any weight. I did do the stairs a lot though.

Dishes came out cool or cold most nights. I asked for my pasta to be returned because it was cold.

It was cold the whole trip. The sun hardly came out. I booked this cruise mainly to get some warmer weather. There was limited sun in the South Pacific.

Thanks for your review. Had you been to Mare before? What were your thoughts on this port?

That would be a bit unusual to not put on weight, and I would be a bit disappointed. I know food isn't everything but it is something we have enjoyed on cruises for sure with RCI.

I would totally have expected once you got away from Sydney that the weather would have been warmer at the islands. I was thinking a nice cruise at this time of year sounded like a real treat. We have only done south pacific once in Feb and I found it quite hot, and you tend to think it will be pretty warm in winter too. Interesting.

We were just talking the other day with friends that we felt maybe all the cruise lines were pretty good and possibly they weren't as different as people make out, but it sounds like we might be wrong there! As you say, for the right price it might be worth another trip with them.

Thanks for your review. Had you been to Mare before? What were your thoughts on this port?

No never been to Mare. I believe its a new port like only been around for about 10 months.

They had a group of islanders who played the whole day. I just went for a big walk. Lots of people caught the shuttle to the beach and spent the day there. The cruiseline didn't offer anything other than the shuttle. No excurisons.

Great review and my thoughts were similar the twice I have sailed on her. Unfortunately I love Princess but our kids and grandkids like Carnival so we do Carnival at times and still enjoy but it is different as marketed to families.

Aussie - Mare was pretty good and we got there on our last cruise - got the bus to the beach (although not a beach person), the natives put up little stalls to get drinks, food (a funny looking whole fruit but tasted great), massages and also hair braiding.

Didn't really enjoy the beach so much but was a great place to just sit and watch people. Then back at the area to tender they again had stalls to purchase souvenirs - prices seemed ok and took Aussie $, like Isle of Pines and Lifou. The locals liked to talk with people if they got the opportunity.

There was a general disappointment with the quality of the food. Like I had a pork dish one night. The pork was dry and it was accompained by an apple cut in four slightly stewed with the core still in it. It just looked terrible on the plate. I told the waiter I couldn't eat it. It was like the chef couldn't be bothered. Some commented that the food was better on PO Australia. :eek: I dunno, I never tried PO Australia yet. :D I prefer more finer dining and a little imagination with the dishes and presentation. Put it this way I hopped on the scales. And haven't put on any weight. I did do the stairs a lot though.

 

Dishes came out cool or cold most nights. I asked for my pasta to be returned because it was cold.

 

It was cold the whole trip. The sun hardly came out. I booked this cruise mainly to get some warmer weather. There was limited sun in the South Pacific.

That's such a shame about the food, I wonder if they have a new chef or team of chefs or perhaps a new menu as the food was great the last two times I went on the Spirit, a lot of the time I would have ranked it equivalent to RCI/Celebrity but just shy of Princess in my experience.

I guess food is one of those subjective things though and everyone has a different taste or chooses different meals each night. I might have got lucky and picked the better ones :rolleyes:

I do agree with you about the buffet, found the design poor and not much variety to it other than for breakfast. Had a couple of really nice things here but for the most part I didn't bother as nothing compelled me to think that it looked worth lining up for :p

Twice we have been to the South Pacific in winter expecting a nice warm holiday and twice it has been cold, windy and miserable. Twice we have been in summer and the weather has been spectacular. We have now learnt our lesson - go in Summer or don't go. It's a shame that the cruise lines really market this "escape the winter chills" stuff, it just seems deceiving (unless we have just been unlucky twice?)

The executive Chef from the Spirit has just recently moved to the Carnival Legend I guess to get it ready for the australian market.

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It's a shame that the cruise lines really market this "escape the winter chills" stuff, it just seems deceiving (unless we have just been unlucky twice?)

Not sure. But when I've been in Winter it's been pleasant. Maybe I was just lucky?!

Thank you for your interesting review.

Hi replying to the question about Mare. It is one of my favourite ports as it is new and still unspoilt not yet over commercialised.

We were on the 2nd ship to dock there back in April 2012 so just over 2 years. We returned this april and were very surprised at the changes that had been made just in general work roads, paths, toilets etc.

When you get off the tender there is a school right in front of you, the school has something like 39 or 49 students, I have forgotten now, the kids will all be hanging around the fence calling out if it is a school day. It is still a novelty to them to have ships call. If you have the space in your luggage to take some supplies to the school they would really appreciate them. Anything at all as they have so little. Pencils, erasers, sharpeners, paper, crayons, rulers anything that you can manage to take they will use. Spending $20 or $30 at the reject or $2 stores can buy a lot for these kids. That's the price of only a few drinks on the ship.

After leaving the school go left and there is a stone church, no windows, concrete walls and floor and a great photo opportunity to take a pic of the ship through the window ooops well really open space as no actual window. Walk a bit further and you come across a pig pen, pretty sad to see but that's all part of their life. Lovely trees, spots to sit and take it all in. On the way back to the ship on the left is a water hole where kids have a great time swinging into the water, also some brand spanking new toilets that were extremely clean. As someone has posted there is also shuttle buses to a beach that is lovely but we actually prefer to wander the wharf area. Also a few markets near the wharf but very little in the way of souveniers, more food, drink, fruit.

Great review Sarah. We were on the cruise before yours and our weather was very cool as well. We didn't get off the ship in Noumea and Lifou, but got off in Mare as we hadn't been there before.

Our Cruise Director was Stu, who we have had before and is OK. Giggles was introduced one night as one of the Cruise Staff I think, so she has obviously been promoted. Stu must be on holidays...he never said anything that we heard about having a break.

We have done P&O before and I would agree that the food was better on P&O.

Did you check out Music Manila?

. Giggles was introduced one night as one of the Cruise Staff I think, so she has obviously been promoted. Stu must be on holidays...he never said anything that we heard about having a break.

He may have also been rotated on to Legend.

He may have also been rotated on to Legend.

Unless something has changed recently, his name escapes me but a Kiwi cruise director who was on my May Spirit cruise covering for Stu is meant to be the CD for the Legend when it comes to Australia :) Of course the plans may have changed though.

I didn't really think much of him as a cruise director, he did the job but have had much better. Preferred Stu to him and Stu isn't nearly one of my favourites.

Stu isn't nearly one of my favourites.

Have to agree he was CD for past 2 Spirit cruises.

His name is Eli and he said he would be bringing the Legend to Australia.

I wouldn't rave about P&O food. We were on the Pacific Dawn in June this year and the food was beyond terrible. Out of all the meals I ate in the dining room not a single one came out with everything on the plate that was supposed to be there and some of the serving sizes would not have fed a 2 year old - miniscule and cold. It became like a lucky dip waiting to see if the food would resemble the description on the menu. A lot of the time we couldn't even get drink service in the dining room as there was hardly any staff. The queues into the buffet were way out onto the Lido deck and the food was mediocre and cold. Seems like P&O have cut way back on staff - we had trouble getting service in all the bars as well and most of the staff just gave the impression they couldn't have cared less, they didn't seem happy in their employment. We won't be sailing P&O again.

He may have also been rotated on to Legend.

Yes, that was my thought as well.

Great review. We were also on the cruise prior to this one and had some amazing waves and winds on the way back in to Sydney! Enjoyed the ship - wasn't so sure about the CD... definitely had more entertaining ones. I got the feeling Stu was a bit over it. So maybe he is having a holiday to revive! :)

We have a video and lots of pics on a review we just published: http://cometravellingwithus.blogspot.com.au/2014/09/carnival-spirit-cruise-august-2014.html

I'm going on Carnival again in November for Melbourne Cup - can't wait for that!

Hi, They mentioned theme nights, a Mexican and Caribbean night - did these happen?

What did you do in Noumea?

We are going to Isle of Pines, Mare, Noumea and Mystery Island.

Our first Carnival Cruise so will try not to compare with our others.

We have actually been on the Costa Atlantica which is the same layout and that ship was beautiful.

I worked on Fairstar many many moons ago and I remember how rough the Pacific Ocean can be, were their rough seas?

Did you take any sea sick medication?

Great review. We were also on the cruise prior to this one and had some amazing waves and winds on the way back in to Sydney! Enjoyed the ship - wasn't so sure about the CD... definitely had more entertaining ones. I got the feeling Stu was a bit over it. So maybe he is having a holiday to revive! :)

 

 

 

We have a video and lots of pics on a review we just published: http://cometravellingwithus.blogspot.com.au/2014/09/carnival-spirit-cruise-august-2014.html

 

 

 

I'm going on Carnival again in November for Melbourne Cup - can't wait for that!

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