Just off the Splendor -4th April 2011 Sailing.

[Beckyv]

Hi

 

I've just got off the Splendor and thought while I have a few spare minuites I would give u a short breakdown of my expirience.

 

Travelling was myself and my husband 28. My brother and his g/f 23 and 21. My mum and dad, 53 and 51 all from the uk.

 

We all loved Splendor as a ship. This was our 6th cruise with carnival. 2 on liberty, 1 on glory, 1 miracle and 1 sensation. We loved the size of the ship and it's layout. We also loved the decor. I think we prefer bigger ships as we also loved the Liberty.

 

Embarkation

 

This was awful. We got there late due to medical reasons, about 12ish. The Queue was massive and moving very slow. To be honest we spent the next 3 hours in some sort of queue and finally got on about 3.15. It was not organised at all, I would definitely get there earlier next time!!

 

Food

 

As always was great. We especially enjoyed the tandoori which they have on this ship. The beef rogan Josh and the naans were amazing. My husband had lunch here every sea day! I also really liked the rotisserie and the Mac and cheese was lovely.

 

We had Anytime dining and never had a wait when we dined as a 4 or a 6. We ate about 7.30-8. Favourites were prime rib, st Louis ribs, fried mozzarella. Dessert wise bitter n blanc and grand marnier soufflé.

 

Our wait staff were great especially Seksan 'sexy' our head waiter.

 

Ports

 

We didn't book anything with Carnival we just wanted a relaxed time.

 

In Cabo we went to Medano Beach and spent the day at Baja Cantina. We got a taxi from the port for $15 for 6 people.

 

Baja Cantina was so nice we went back the next day. Great soft loungers, nice drinks and not bad food.

 

In PV we went to Dreams to get a day pass. Be warned as I read on here the day pass price was $45 and apparently that was last years price and is now $75. and is good until 6pm as that is when the swop to dinner. Also be warned that the guy at the gate tried to charge us $112 first off. We were not really impressed with this resort and would not go back.

 

 

We didn't go to any shows or the comedy club. We spent quite a bit of time in the casino which was fun. Came out evens.

 

This ship has the free drink card for over 1500 points. My parents had them in there room as soon as they arrived. These were a really good perk which my parents were happy with. Although they did get hounded a lot by the waiters!

 

Spa

 

I tried the the pick and mix of 4 treatments on the last day. I had the back massage, facial, hand and arm massage and foot and ankle. Apart from the hard sell at the end the massage was amazing. I would definitely do this again, next trip 100%.

 

The boys paid for the spa pass and loved the T------- pool thingy who's name u can't remember!!!

 

We had room 7369 which was fine. My parents had 7335 which is a suite right by the elevator. 2 floors up in an elevator and your right at the front of the buffet.

 

Can't think of much more right now and I'm running out if time! sorry that it is a bit rushed.

 

If I think of any more I will post it later, feel free to ask any questions!

[DZNYROX]

Hi there Becky!! We were at the port of Long beach today while your group was disembarking.(we live close to the dock so we wanted to check it out for our cruise in oct);) I saw that you were from the U.K. were you all visiting from there or do you live in U.S.? Glad to see you guys had a good time!! Thanks for the quick review. I asked about where you live cause i had a question about parking in the structure or having someone drop us off. If you guys flew in then no biggie but maybe someone else can answer:D

[Beckyv]

Hi there Becky!! We were at the port of Long beach today while your group was disembarking.(we live close to the dock so we wanted to check it out for our cruise in oct);) I saw that you were from the U.K. were you all visiting from there or do you live in U.S.? Glad to see you guys had a good time!! Thanks for the quick review. I asked about where you live cause i had a question about parking in the structure or having someone drop us off. If you guys flew in then no biggie but maybe someone else can answer:D

 

Hi

 

No sorry we flew in and got dropped off by supershuttle as we spent a few nights in Hollywood.

[floodcasso2]

Glad to hear you had a great time! My wife and I loved the Splendor as well :) Happy Cruising!

[HavasuMom]

Becky, thanks for the great review. Can't wait until May 22 to see the Splender. You said in your review you paid $15 for 6 for the taxi to Medano. Was this a van or 2 taxis? Did you get it at Marina? Was the food and drinks reasonable at Baja Cantina? Was it fun there for the younger people in your group or more relaxing? Sorry for so many questions:confused:

[Beckyv]

Becky, thanks for the great review. Can't wait until May 22 to see the Splender. You said in your review you paid $15 for 6 for the taxi to Medano. Was this a van or 2 taxis? Did you get it at Marina? Was the food and drinks reasonable at Baja Cantina? Was it fun there for the younger people in your group or more relaxing? Sorry for so many questions:confused:

 

Hi. No probs.

 

It was a van for 6. We picked it up at the marina. After you depart the ship you walk straight through the centre of the shops, past a drug store on your right and then just past this are some vans up ahead. Ask a price before you get in. We had a few different prices on the way there and back 2 times but we got them down to $15.

 

Food and drinks were reasonable but not cheap. I had a coconut shrimp dish with rice and it was about $23 us. The shrimp were Huge though. Nachos with guacamole, salsa and beans roughly $9 us. Don't know about the drinks I did not pay for those!

 

We all had fun but I think it was more relaxing than some other places down the beach. I heard a lot of noise and partying coming from down the beach so maybe you could set up camp at Baja and the members of your party who want to relax can stay there and the others can maybe visit the party places?

 

Have a great cruise.

[nmyorkiemom]

Becky, thanks for the great review. Can't wait until May 22 to see the Splender. You said in your review you paid $15 for 6 for the taxi to Medano. Was this a van or 2 taxis? Did you get it at Marina? Was the food and drinks reasonable at Baja Cantina? Was it fun there for the younger people in your group or more relaxing? Sorry for so many questions:confused:

 

I was about to ask that same question! And we are on the same cruise!!

 

Need also to ask about where you check in for boarding as we are in 7430,28 and 24.

 

thanks!

[Beckyv]

I was about to ask that same question! And we are on the same cruise!!

 

Need also to ask about where you check in for boarding as we are in 7430,28 and 24.

 

thanks!

 

Hi.

 

We started off queuing in a big queue outside that stretched all the way to the queen Mary and around the corner. Then half way down the queue about 45 mins they separated us. 7&8 queued and checked in outside and everyone else queued outside and checked in inside.

 

Make sure u fill in all the information online before u go. I did, my brother and his g/f didn't and got someone who didn't know what they were doing and it took 30 mins for them to check in.

 

Also make sure u print out luggage tags, we don't usually as they have them at the port. They didn't at this port and the guy said he would tag them up and half our luggage ended up without tags down in the lobby.

[HavasuMom]

Becky thanks for the info, Im sure it will come in handy.

[Topo Gigio]

Pls explain about the free drink card for 1500 points.

[Nanaimobound]

Thanks Becky!

 

It sounds like a good time is headed our way with the exception of embarkation.:confused:

We have 4 young children with us, the youngest nearly 3.

I am wondering if after 1:00 would be a good time for us to arrive?

We usually are among the first at like 9:00 am, but the last poster said they waited nearly 4 hours, and with small kids thats just a bit much.

I know when i used to work check-in in SF the later you could hold off arriving, the smoother the embarkation went. I know most people show up between 11 and 1 so its a hard call to make if things are truly disorganized.

Anyway thanks for the feedback!

[Beckyv]

Drinks card - if you collect 1500 points on your casino/sail&sign card while gambling they give you a little card to keep with your sail and sign. My parents were attached to the bungee clip thing the casino gives out.

 

I also assume that if you are a high gambler and they know you are coming, my mum emailed them and her card was waiting in the cabin, they will give you the card when u arrive. My dad didn't get his until he arrived in the casino and started using his sail and sign.

 

The waiters would come over and ask them if they wanted a drink and when they saw the card they started coming over all the time. My parents ordered spirits, cocktails and beer and they were all free. They signed for them and they came up on the folio as $0.00. So no gratuity or anything, but my parents did tip the waiters directly.

 

Embarkation - between 12-2.30 while I was still outside it was hectic. I would say arriving later would probably be a good idea with young children especially as another poster said she arrived at 9.30am and didn't get on till 1pm.

 

Also we stood in queues for about another 45mins inside. Behind us inside the queues seemed to be getting smaller.

 

However I don't know if the embarkation is always like this??

Anyone else know?

 

Hope this helps.

[Cavners5]

Becky, we will be arriving at port at about 10:30, is that to early? Also we are on Deck 1 (Riviera). Where do we go...as to not get into the wrong lines!!!! This is our first cruise...and I do not want to start off on the wrong foot! We also have 3 kids, our youngest is 6.

[Beckyv]

Cavners. I have only cruised from this port once and from my experience 10.30 will be fine if you don't mind waiting as u should be in one of the first groups on but you might have to wait to get on as my parents were VIP and were one of the first on at 1pm. When we disembarked at about 9.30 the port was really quiet.

 

There were loads of staff around as I was wondering around lost, so I'm sure they will be able to tell u on the day. I think they didn't really know until things were happening on the day it would seem so I would think things change weekly?

[LBumb]

thanks for posting

[RedRover96]

I keep going back & forth on what time to board. This is the only embarkation port I have paid attention too on the forum. However, it seems to be more miss then hit on 3-4 hour time it takes to board. It seems that CCL always has the same punch line, “it’s always the Fed’s fault”. CCL does this every week out of LB, mostly 3 times a week, I find it horrendous that CCL can’t get this right and starts a lot of peoples cruises off with a sour attitude. The sad part as John H calls the “Beards” are not the ones having to deal with a customer having waited in line 3-4 hours, it’s the ship board employees trying to get the customer back in the “Fun Time” mood. Maybe if the “Beards” were there, greeting each customer after they finally get to walk the “Gang Plank” to the ship they would get more hits and a heck of a lot less misses!

I still can’t decide what time to board, I would love the time to wonder & explore Splendor before the rooms are ready, by arriving early. However, I can see the point of being the last to board, probably no lines.

RedRover96

[waitn2cruz]

I keep going back & forth on what time to board. This is the only embarkation port I have paid attention too on the forum. However, it seems to be more miss then hit on 3-4 hour time it takes to board. It seems that CCL always has the same punch line, “it’s always the Fed’s fault”. CCL does this every week out of LB, mostly 3 times a week, I find it horrendous that CCL can’t get this right and starts a lot of peoples cruises off with a sour attitude. The sad part as John H calls the “Beards” are not the ones having to deal with a customer having waited in line 3-4 hours, it’s the ship board employees trying to get the customer back in the “Fun Time” mood. Maybe if the “Beards” were there, greeting each customer after they finally get to walk the “Gang Plank” to the ship they would get more hits and a heck of a lot less misses!

 

I still can’t decide what time to board, I would love the time to wonder & explore Splendor before the rooms are ready, by arriving early. However, I can see the point of being the last to board, probably no lines.

 

RedRover96

 

I'm not going to let that bother me. I know once I get on board I'm on vacation. It could be worse, I could be at work!:)

[RedRover96]

I totally agree that once on the cruise, it’s all about vacation. I know CCL has to deal with about 6000 passengers in about 8 hours. However, I think the “Beards” could do a much better job of having better organization then what I read from what I have read repeatedly as complete chaos to organized chaos. Yes, there are weather issues, medical emergencies delaying arrival and I will even buy an occasional extra good job by the Fed’s on both passengers and/or crew. However, it seems almost every, even very positive, review starts “after disorganized embarkation”. Does this happen at every port or does Long Beach seem to the oddball?

[big_duck]

I keep going back & forth on what time to board. This is the only embarkation port I have paid attention too on the forum. However, it seems to be more miss then hit on 3-4 hour time it takes to board. It seems that CCL always has the same punch line, “it’s always the Fed’s fault”. CCL does this every week out of LB, mostly 3 times a week, I find it horrendous that CCL can’t get this right and starts a lot of peoples cruises off with a sour attitude. The sad part as John H calls the “Beards” are not the ones having to deal with a customer having waited in line 3-4 hours, it’s the ship board employees trying to get the customer back in the “Fun Time” mood. Maybe if the “Beards” were there, greeting each customer after they finally get to walk the “Gang Plank” to the ship they would get more hits and a heck of a lot less misses!

I still can’t decide what time to board, I would love the time to wonder & explore Splendor before the rooms are ready, by arriving early. However, I can see the point of being the last to board, probably no lines.

RedRover96

 

Carnival can't let people off the ship any faster then Immigration officials process them. I've been through LB twice now and the officials there are more methodical and thorough then I've experienced at any other port.

 

Of course slow debarkation means it takes much longer to prep the common areas used for waiting for the new arrivals. The whole thing just snowballs.

 

Arriving earlier doesn't help because the immigration people and support staff won't even be at the pier.

 

My advise for LB would be don't be in a hurry to board/debark or book a suite.

[waitn2cruz]

Also anyone cruising the 17th. This is the day of the Long Beach Grand Prix.

[jfroot]

My wife, 1yr old daughter and I were also on this cruise. This was our very first cruise so we had no idea what to expect. Here are my good and bad from our cruise:

 

Good

 

- VIP Boarding was quick and friendly. We boarded right away no waiting.

 

- Breakfast and Lunch buffets were great for us and our daughter. The burrito bar and Mongolian were quite delicious.

 

- Room was spacious and included a bath tub we could use for our daughter. There was enough room for us and her crib ro fit comfortably. We were on deck 7.

 

- Camp carnival let us go in between 8am and 10am with our 1yr old to play. Only one parent can go in though.

 

- Behind the FUN tour was excellent and getting to see the engine room, galley and bridge was amazing.

 

Bad

 

- No pool for our daughter to go in. They must be potty trained to go in the pool.

 

- Dinner buffet was quite disappointing with limited selections.

 

- Drinks seemed overpriced and many bartenders only knew how to make the 7 "fancy" drinks on their menu.

 

- There were packs of tween kids running the halls until 4am every night knocking on all the doors. They even threw ice cream and cake on some performers from a high balcony. Security was unwilling to curtail this behavior.

 

- Disembarkation personnel did not tell us that we could skip the lineup on the gangway if we were non US citizens.

 

Overall I would say we had fun, but it was not terribly relaxing. I envisioned the buffets to be larger and more complete. I think in the future we would not go on a cruise until our daughter is a little older.

 

Just my $.02

 

--

Jay

[big_duck]

- There were packs of tween kids running the halls until 4am every night knocking on all the doors. They even threw ice cream and cake on some performers from a high balcony. Security was unwilling to curtail this behavior.

 

It's not up to security, it's up to the parents. Please remember this a dozen years from now.

[Tremaine509]

It's not up to security, it's up to the parents. Please remember this a dozen years from now.

 

Oh, I think if the parents don't curtail that behavior, it is not only appropriate, but necessary, for security to take care of business.

[MissDiva1]

,

In PV we went to Dreams to get a day pass. Be warned as I read on here the day pass price was $45 and apparently that was last years price and is now $75. and is good until 6pm as that is when the swop to dinner. Also be warned that the guy at the gate tried to charge us $112 first off. We were not really impressed with this resort and would not go back.

 

 

 

Wow I am really surprised. In Dec we only paid $45 p/p. Gave our confirmation to the guy at the gate and he let us thru. Went right up to the concierge desk and paid and signed and were treated like kings and queens the whole day. The food was awesome and the drinks were flowing. We will be returning......

 

Mango Deck on Medano beach is the party place.

[MissDiva1]

It's not up to security, it's up to the parents. Please remember this a dozen years from now.

 

It is up to security of any establishment to take care of problems that interfere with paying customers.........