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Below is my Review of the Carnival Breeze Feb 1, 2014 8 Day from Miami.

Here is my review of my trip on the Carnival Breeze Feb 1.2014 with my good friend who is also a platinum member. A little back ground, I have cruised over many years (starting back in 1993, and sailed on many ships (all Carnival). I am a Platinum cruiser and have been since the late 90’s. This was my first cruise in 10 years, and my first under the new Carnival Rewards program. So now that you know a little about my back ground with cruising, here is my review.

First arrival at the port of Miami and check in.

Well let’s first say that this ship is big. The largest ship I have ever sailed on was the Carnival Victory, however I have toured the Carnival Destiny, when she first came into service in Boston, her first US port of call.

We arrived at the port around 1130, via private coach, We stayed at a local hotel in Miami and they brought us to the ship, 50 people going to Carnival ships alone, most of them to the Carnival Triumph however. The porters where right there to assist with our bags, and where very helpful. Check in, we were directed to a set of doors that everyone was entering, a person checking tickets said oh good morning, you need to go to that door over there , pointing to another door, we headed over there and another friendly person who looked at our tickets and said welcome Mr. Collins come right in. we were directed through a security check and then to another door where another friendly person welcomed us with a smile and by our names and took our paperwork and said please have a seat (showed us where) and our names would be called shortly. After about 10 minutes our names where called and we were lead to the counter and another friendly person (yes I am seeing a pattern here) who called us by our names got us checked in, took our picture, gave us our sail and sign card and welcomed us aboard. We were then directed to the escalator. After a short walk we encountered another person who checked our cards and directed us where to go. We then checked in at the security station (putting our sail and sign card in the machine like you do boarding and departing the ship). Total time from arriving at the port to being on the ship about 45 minutes. (The last time was over two hours, and we were there before 11 am.) Everyone we encountered from Carnival called us by our names, and was very friendly.

Our first stop once on board was the shore tours desk to book the two tours I wanted Behind the Scenes Fun tour and the Kon Tiki Raft party tour. Again we were meet with smiles and friendly people who gladly helped us with our purchase. More on those tours later. We then headed to our cabin to drop off our bags, remember I said this is a big ship? Well I felt it by the time I got to my cabin. We had an ocean view cabin, 2501. You cannot get any further to the back of the ship as we were. The room was great, the room steward and his helper where fantastic and always called us by our first names. (Which I prefer). The only thing I noticed about this cabin and the last Ocean view I had on the Carnival Victory was the bathroom was noticeably smaller. I am used to the bigger showers on the Fantasy Class ships. Other than that the room was great. There was very little noise (I expected more being at the back of the ship.)

We ate in the Blush dining room early diner. The food was as always great. My Team waiters where good and always remembered what we wanted to drink. The Marta D was really good. He likes to sing also and has a good voice. I want to mention a young lady, who was not on our waiter’s team, but she went above and beyond. Her Name is Denisa and she works in Blush dining room. I noticed her on the first night that the crew preformed for us during diner. She was a “Table Dancer” as they were called. There were 4 of them that danced in the Middle section of the dining room so everyone could see them. She really put on a show, and looked like she just loves to be there. Kind of like what it used to years ago before tips where automatic. (I think the dining room staff, some of them anyways, doesn’t put as much effort into the dancing as they used to, especially when the Bosses are not around.) I had a chance to meet her on the last day of the cruise, she was working the Lido deck Brunch serving Juice and coffee, I had the opportunity to tell her what we thought and it was nice to see her smile and know that her hard work was appreciated, I stopped at the desk on the way out from diner the last night to talk to the Head Marta D but he was not there for some reason. I spoke to the Hostess but really wanted to tell someone higher up, and it was the only night we did not see the Marta D at all. So I really wanted to point her out here.

Some of the others that did an outstanding job during my cruise where Lucia and Adi at the Piano bar and Mirko at the Serenity bar. All 3 made everyone feel at home and remember what we liked to drink and how we liked it made. They really made the time you spent there worth it, and kept you coming back for more.

While on the subject of the Serenity deck, while it was a great place to go, you really had to fight to get a chair. The staff unless really pushed never enforced the chair policy until the last the sea day. Only then did they do something after several people complained and some even moved others belongings because staff didn’t. I had one lady complain to me that she had come up at 5 am to claim a bunch of chairs, only to have the stuff removed because no one was there for hours at a time. She became very upset with us, not the crew for losing her chairs. She accused us of taking them. My friends only complained loudly to the staff and they (Staff) moved the chairs so we could use them. Something for someone to look into.

Getting back to the food, I think I tried just about everything for lunch except the Mongolian Wok, too hot for my taste. Guys was everything it’s been reported to be and then some, I did not eat at the red frog, not enough time, nor did I do the specialty dining rooms, (something we decided on before we went, we like the regular dining rooms). I did go the Italian restaurant for lunch one day. I have to say that that was the only time I was disappointed with a meal on board the ship. I went on the 2nd sea day.

To start the service was a little lacking, as tables were slow to be cleared, and people coming in had to wander the dining room looking for a clean table to sit at. I ordered the Bow Tie pasta, with the white sauce, broccoli and grilled chicken, and bread. The food was good, however again the service was lacking. While my order was taken right away, and a glass of water was delivered, that was the last time I saw the waiter for a while. I watched another pair of folks come in sit down (about 10 mins after I did) place their orders and they got their food 8 mins before I got mine. I know because I timed it. I tried to signal a waiter to say something, but I could not get their attention. Finally one noticed and took my number away and brought me bread, but I still waited a few more minutes for my meal to arrive. As I was leaving I stopped by the entrance to say something, but no one was around, and there were a lot of people waiting for takeout. I decided not to wait around to complain. The other thing I really noticed while sitting there was that it sounded like a herd of horses was bouncing on the roof. I guess the sports area is right above the restaurant.

This was the only bad dining area I found on the ship. Oh and one of your hidden gems is Fat Jimmies barbeque. Open only on sea days it was right up there with Guys.

Pete the Cruise director was as you said he was really good. I had a nice chat with him after the shore talk. He said he would be around to talk to anyone who had questions. It was really nice to talk to him. And some of his staff, well Classy Casey and Jarred where hoot. I had a chance to meet them during the super bowl game. They were down to earth and easy to talk to and we had fun while watching the game. I ran into them later in the cruise and they remember me and we joked some more. They are what Carnival is all about. And it is nice to see up and coming stars who love their job as much as they do.

Now for the Shows. Well the ones I did see anyways. I am not a fan of the 2.0 shows, I really like the ones with the band and live music and the stage props, the old shows so to speak. So I really did not stick around after seeing the British tribute. It was good, but not the same. As for Peter, The CD, he was great on stage and interacted well with the passengers. I enjoyed watching him.

The only bars I really spent any time in where the Piano bar with Brad, and club O2. The Piano bar was really great and Brad had a following from the first night, and I know he really didn’t like to come up and play between early and late seating dinners, but he attracted a large gathering, and I think Pete hit is off with the singles get together at the Piano bar during that time. Only wish it was publicized better. The wait staff as I said before where some of the best. And part of the reason I kept going back to the piano bar.it was too bad Brad got sick the last couple of days at the end of the cruise. The replacement where not as good and only 1 played the piano. The other was the guitar player and was not as good. Besides it was the piano bar not Guitar bar. As for Club O2, well I went in there after the piano bar closed a couple of times because it was the only place that still had music going, and I think the DJ’s need to pay a little more attention to who is in there as to what type of music to play. There were some nights that they would have had people in there if the music were a little different than the music they were playing. Just need to learn to read the crowd a little better. For the most part they did ok out on Lido deck during the day from what I listened to. The only other issue I had with Club O2 was the Smoke. I know it’s the only club on board that you can smoke in and that’s ok but there need to be more ventilation or something. Some nights the cloud of smoke was real heavy. (And I used to be a smoker).Not asking for it to be nonsmoking just asking for better ventilation for us nonsmokers who want to enjoy the club also.

The tours I went on. Well I only did 2 Carnival tours. 1 was the Kon TIKI Raft party. Let me start by saying that I have been on this so many times the old crew new me by name. It’s a totally new crew and owner since I was last on her. Remember it’s been over 11 years since I have been to St Thomas, Wow has this tour changed. It used to be the one, if you did not go on you waited at the dock for it to return to watch the people pour off the boat. The trip itself was still nice, but it is no longer the party boat it used to be. The Captain and crew have done a great job keeping her up and looking great for the time of year (busy season) but the, excitement and entertainment were just not there anymore. Maybe it’s because they don’t serve free rum punch anymore, or something else I am not sure. I know the crew did their best to make it a fun trip, it’s just not the same as before.

The Second tour I did was the Behind the scenes tour. Now that was well worth the time and money spent. The young lady who took us around was fabulous (can’t remember her name, she was the HR person if that helps). It was really great to go behind the scenes and see everything. Now I have done the Galley tours and the Bridge tours (way back when) but this was different, we got to see everything, and meet the people behind what was going on. And we got to see it while meals where being served. It was great to see where the crew lives as well as the environmental area and the laundry areas as well. It was nice of the captain to take time out to speak with us and have our pictures taken with him, however it would have been nice to have him explain a little about the bridge itself and some of what we were looking at. (Not that I did not already know I use a lot of this stuff already). He did answer some questions but that was it. I don’t think he was very comfortable with the passengers, I have been on other cruises were the captain has been funnier and joked with the passengers and felt like he was having fun. This Captain tried but…. Being able to go behind the scenes on stage was really great too, seeing the Dressing rooms and getting to meet the people who run everything. It would have been nice to have the CD there but I’m sure he was busy as it was a sea day.

Debarkation, well that was interesting also. It’s the first time I did self-debarkation. It worked really well and I would do it again next time I think. Note, we had to return early because of a medical issue with a passenger who need to be transferred right away. So we arrived in Miami at 0100 (1 AM). I know a few people were disappointed, because everything had to close earlier than normal, but everyone seem to understand and was concerned for the ill passenger.

Over all I would give the cruise 5 stars and a 10 out of 10 rating. Carnival did everything I expected and then some to make my vacation everything I wanted it to be. I will be back again on Carnival, and I can’t wait to make Diamond

USMM07

Thanks for putting it all straight. I will add one more thing VS the NAVY and Cruise Ship Captain, Just because you are a Captain in the Navy and Command A Navy ship does not mean they are Licensed Captains. They are not. They is no cross over of rank and licenses. once a captain of say an aircraft carrier retires, and decides he wants to go to work on a Merchant ship or cruise ship, he has to go to the Coast Guard, show them his Sea Time (time spent on vessels of the size that he or she wants to work on) oh and by the way Military time is only good for a certain percentage of your time, not all of it. so the retiring captain has to go back to working as a deck officer lowest officer rating, to build up the rest of his or her time to qualify to take the test for the type ship they want to work on. so you are looking at at least another 3 or 4 years working as a Jr officer before they can take the test. and then they have to work their way up the rest of the way back to captain. I don't know many people who want to do that after achieving such a high rank of captain in the navy.

Capt Bill <<< Licensed Mariner and retired from the Coast Guard Res.