Carnival Splendor 4/22 Review/Info (LONG w/ Pictures)

[CinAngel75]

Carnival Splendor 7 Day, Mexican Riviera – 4/22-4/29

Me (37) DH (43) – Balcony cabin 9279– Lido Deck

First, let me preface by saying; this is all strictly in my personal opinion. For any past cruisers out there that may disagree, you have every right to do so. This is just IMHO. I will only comment on the things I tried and/or experienced.

Being that this was our 1st cruise I will try to throw in some lessons we learned along the way as well! Please feel free to ask any questions and I will try to answer as best I can.

I will apologize now for the long windedness of my review…it’s more like a mini-series so I will do it in sections :D

v Preparation/Planning/Packing and other frivolous information

 

Ø My DH likes to call me OCD, I print out everything, I had a cruise binder started within days of booking. It came in very handy. (I also kept copies of all the FUN TIMES and menus etc, if I can get time, I will scan those in as well.

 

§ Printed all our check-in docs (w/extra copies) early to get it out of the way, it's a relief when cruise week arrives and that part is DONE!

 

§ Print any excursion documents, confirmations, menus etc. Make copies of passports, medical insurance and other docs.

 

§ Auto insurance card and DL if you will be driving for an excursion or renting a car (ours never asked for it but they all say they will!)

 

§ Laminated my luggage tags- whole punched and attached with zip ties. I don’t want to lose luggage because my tags fall off!

 

§ Onboard, you will only need your ID when going into port, no need to carry it around the ship. We locked everything in the safe. You will need your Sail & Sign and ID when you go into port.

 

§ Get change!! You will want lots of $1s and some $5s for tips.

 

§ Power strip –YES. One plug on the counter and one in the bathroom over head. Strip used for an i-home/alarm clock, laptop, camera batteries, hair dryer etc. I have heard if it isn’t a new or gently used one they may confiscate it – we bought a new one.

 

§ I took my hair dryer -yes, there is a hair dryer in room…it is TINY and in our cabin, oddly mounted in a drawer.

 

§ shower gel/shampoo provided, I took my own-I didn't care for what they had. Leave in conditioner was helpful after the beach.

 

§ Beach towels are provided in your cabin and can be taken for excursions (one less thing to pack)

 

§ Balcony Doors- if you want it open, you can take a bungee cord…one cruiser used a bathrobe tie LOL! At night we pushed the lock slide over and it kept the door open enough so we could hear the water, great white noise.

 

§ 7 day cruise =2 elegant nights Mon. & Fri. Some choose not to “dress up” and others go all out (Tux/evening gowns). The other nights some came into the MDR in slacks/dresses, others in t-shirts/ shorts. Personally I wasn’t comfortable in shorts/t-shirt in MDR. One night we did jeans-DH wore a polo and I wore a dressy top.

 

§ I was surprised by how dry the air is on board the ship, you are on the ocean, but it’s still AC inside the rooms…body lotion and saline spray!

 

§ Some mentioned space in the bathrooms for toiletries and recommended over the door organizers. Personally, we had no issues. There are 3 shelves on either side of the mirror in the bathroom for toothbrushes and such and I kept my make-up and hair dryer etc in one of the closet shelves

 

v Embarkation in Long Beach (we only live about 45 min away)

 

Ø We were dropped off around 11:30 - got zone 6. We forgot something at home and had to wait for my son to drop it off. We were still on board and had our first drink by 1:30. You also have the option to arrive at 2:30 or so and the lines are supposed to be short as well.

 

This process wasn't nearly as bad as I had expected. I had read some pretty bad reviews of the process on LB. All things considered it went pretty smoothly. That said their were the rude people that try to push right by you and through the lines..DH is a big guy, he doesn't let that happen quite as easily. When you go into The Dome and into the security lines it bottle necks some feel the need to try to get in as far and as fast as possible.:confused:

 

Ø Check in -much like the airport.

§ Porters at the curb take your bags (we tipped abt $1 per bag) -Go across to check in, in front of the Queen Mary, get in line, show your ID/boarding pass - get a deck plan, Sail & Sign Card(s) and Zone #.

 

§ Zone is called - go through Security (inside The Dome), photo to assign to your sail & sign card and on to the ship – guys be prepared to take your hats off for the S&S photos (DH had BAD hat hair LOL)

 

§There is an escalator, so you will have to deal with any carryon luggage. Some had larger bags and struggled with them They do have elevator(s) but they were pretty crowded. We had backpacks and 1 rolling small suitcase – no problems.

 

Ø Onboard

§ If you are opening you S&S account with cash you can go to Guest Services to do that- you walk right by it when you board.

 

§ We purchased a week spa pass - if you are interested, you should do that same day, we were told they don't usually do it much after that. it's $149 each. More details on the spa later. I will also try to scan in some of the spa flyers.

 

Ø You can go to the Lido deck and have lunch at the buffet, grill or pizza bar etc while you wait for room to be ready usually around 2pm

 

Ø Our luggage was delivered within 15 minutes of arriving in our room – by 3:00 I was totally unpacked.

 

Ø Around 4:00 there is a mandatory muster drill everyone takes the stairs down to the lifeboat area – your muster station is listed on you S&S card…they will tell you where to go-this seemed to confuse a lot of ppl (especially since many had already hit the bars LOL)

 

Don’t forget a sweater! At sail away so many people were freezing! Long Beach can get chilly at 5 pm + the wind when you start moving.

http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USCA0632 <--average temps in Long Beach

 

*******To be continued :cool:

[jmwg49]

Great start! Can't wait to read more! We sail her in September and love reading as much about the Splendor as I can!

[9frproductions]

Great review, how did you like the location of the room?

[DiverDownAZ]

great start, love all the info

[vivavegas]

Nice review! Can't wait to read more! :)

[CinAngel75]

Great review, how did you like the location of the room?

 

We loved it...we would definitely do Lido again and most definitely a balcony!!

[CinAngel75]

v On Board – The room, the ship etc (again I speak only for the rooms I saw)

Ø First, we LOVED the Lido deck room. It was great being so close to food, bars pools etc.

§

Noise was never an issue. At night they close the fire doors off the elevator lobby so you hear nothing from there at all. There are also automatic sliding doors that separate the elevator lobby from the main pool deck. It was very convenient to run out and grab a drink or a quick bite and take it back to the comfort of our room/balcony. We had neighbors that decided to slam doors all night Sat, but that could happen anywhere.

§

I am a bit claustrophobic…that’s one of the main reasons we did the balcony. I didn’t think I could handle a 7-day without it LOL! That said I didn’t realize just how much larger the room was than a standard inside stateroom. We went into the inside room of a couple we met and it was a big difference. It was definitely worth the money. It was nice to have the sofa (that can be used for additional sleeping space) for sitting to eat/when you were wet from the pool and just to throw things on. I kept DH’s scuba bag, backpacks etc there to keep them off the floor, it was great. Also had an oval table –great for room service trays.

§

I was very surprised by the closet space – 2 large(floor to ceiling) closets with more than enough space to hang our clothes for the 7 days (with several hangers included) and a 3rd with 3 shelves for shoes etc (I used one shelf for my hair dryer, make-up and all that fun stuff to keep it off the counters)

§

The counter had 3 larger”dresser” drawers + 1 with a hair dryer mounted inside. There is an additional desk drawer further over with an ottoman.

§

Plenty of lighting –Fluorescent lights all the way around the room w/ switches by the door or bed. Also, 2 individual soft light lamps by the bed and 1 by the sofa and lighting around the mirror at the desk.

§

The bed was comfy – soft pillows and duvet, everything is white, so it felt very clean. The bed is 2 twins pushed together, but I only noticed that once or twice.

§

Plenty of room under the bed for luggage. I was able to stash the dirty laundry bag in an open suit case under the bed – out of sight, which was nice

§

Bathroom is roomy enough; shower is a bit small and sort of triangular. The drain is in the corner, so if the ship is off center a bit, it doesn’t drain very fast and it can get slippery… shaving your legs is interesting.

§

Water pressure/volume was better than expected (DH is a plumber and that’s usually one of our 1st complaints LOL) and plenty of HOT water. It gets really hot, so that was great for me. Another cruiser wasn’t so lucky – he likened it to getting spit on. In P.V he bought a pair of pliers to fix it himself

J

§

You have a flat panel TV with network / few cable channels (Disc, A&E, CNN etc) you can also:

·

View your S&S acct, order room service, dining menus, order shore excursions and get messages. Another review said their menus were wrong and never changed on the TV; ours worked fine, as did our tablemates. You can EXIT the interactive menu and see the ship time

·

PPV movies @ $10.99 (abt 15 choices) adult movies @ $12.99 and 2 radio channels with variety music and pretty backgrounds

·

Another channels tells the temp, heading and ship speed (DH loved that one)

·

CH 6 is info night 7 it’s debarkation info – for first timers it’s helpful. It loops so you can’t miss it!

·

One channel is a Lido Deck pool camera – you can see the crowds and weather.

·

Each day 3 “Complimentary Movies” on Ch 21,22,23 that play every 3 hours (our week)

o

Day 1-Mr. Poppers Penguins / Planet of the Apes/Rio

o

Day 2-The Iron Lady/You Again/Just Go With It

o

Day 3-Lincoln Lawyer/Hugo/Alvin & The Chipmunks

o

Day 4-Water for Elephants/Tron: Legacy/Rango

o

Day 5-LOTR:Fellowship OTR/Harry PotterDeathly Hallows P1/We Bought a Zoo

o

Day 6-Harry Potter& Deathly Hallows P2/Gnomeo & Juliet/The Green Hornet

o

Day 7-Mr. Poppers Penguins/Contagion/Planet of the Apes

§

There is a small safe - not large enough for a laptop, Kindle Fire fit fine. My laptop sat on the counter the entire trip – I’m terrible with putting things away (jewelry etc). We had no issues, unfortunately I know I have read other’s reviews that weren’t so lucky.

 

§

There is a mini-bar/fridge you can ask to have it emptied if you want to use the fridge for waters/sodas

·

It s a MINI fridge- I don’t know if the shelf comes out, it not, you couldn’t put a bottle of wine etc in it. When we wanted to chill our bottle to take to the dining room, we ordered ice from room service. It comes in plastic bucket much larger than the room ice bucket. Perfect to chill a bottle of wine/champagne or several smaller bottles.

Ø Pool

§

We were on this cruise for our 20th anniversary and had every intention of finding the Serenity area (adults only) and staying there. We left our 3 sons (19, and twins 15) at home

J

. I had heard horror stories about chair hogs and how if you didn’t get out at 5am you couldn’t get a chair, so I dreaded even trying. On Monday, we went out to the Liner Lido Pool at the end of the Lido deck and found chairs right away. No kids, no noise. A pool, 2 hot tubs (warm tubs as DH called them). Same on other days..it was busy, but chairs opened up regularly. Maybe people don’t realize it’s there?? We were on the deck behind the hot tubs. Regular waiter services and great views…couldn’t beat it and it was a straight shot down the Lido Deck. That said, the Lido pool…I don’t think I saw an empty chair there anytime the sun was out for sure. We never even tried.

v At night they do movies on the Lido Deck at the Seaside Theatre (listed on 10 but seats are on 9). Usually by then, the chairs had started to clear out. They have blankets and popcorn–this was the schedule our week.

§

Day 1-Family Night 8:00 Lion King 10:00 Toy Story

§

Day 2-Best Picture Night 8:00 Lord of the Rings 11:15 The Sting

§

Day 3-Date Night 8:00 What Women Want 10:00 The Break Up

§

Day 4-Superhero Night 8:00 Superman 12:00 The Incredible Hulk

§

Day 5 – Mardi Gras party on Lido – no movies

§

Day 6-Sports Movies 8:00 Rudy 10:30 Field of Dreams

§

Day 7-Night In the Tropics 8:00 Golden Eye 10:30 Beneath the Blue

v You can’t walk straight down every deck. If you are going to the Gold Pearl Dining Room (Aft) and you are in the Spectacular (fwd) both of which enter on deck 3, you have to go Up and across then back DOWN to deck 3 to enter the Gold Pearl. If you are on the Lido….go past the buffet and take the elevators just before the deli/Liner pool down and you can access the El Mojito, El Morocco, Gold Pearl, Grand Piano Bar etc. Those elevators are always empty J This is a pretty neat interactive map: https://www.goccl.com/irman/bookccl/the_fleet/interactive_map/splendor/interactivemap.html

v Services/Open Times:

§

Laundry

§

I didn’t use the self service laundry but there are launderettes and Ironing rooms on decks 1,2,6,7,8 and 9

 

§

Valet – I had a pair of slacks cleaned, they were back next day even though I didn’t request it and I didn’t make the cut off time. Price list and bag in the closet..prices weren’t bad as I thought -$5 slacks/shirt/blouse, $2 Polo/T-shirt

 

§

Pools –open 8:00am -11:45pm

§

Fitness Center – open 6:00am-8:00pm – very clean, small not crowded. Deck 11 Fwd

 

§

Cloud 9 spa 8:00am-10:00pm – I will add more on this later with photos

 

§

Casino Slots open 7:00am til “Late” Deck 5….not open in port

 

§

Casino Tables open 10:00am til “Late” Deck 5….not open in port

 

§

The Fun Shops 9:00am-11:30pm Deck 5

§ This doesn’t really fit in this section, but these are some things that seemed to mess up a few people on our cruise:

·

Port days –

o

Cabo Day 1 - 9:30-6:00

means the ship

SAILS at 6:00

, the last tender back to the ship is

at 5:30.

o

Cabo Day 2 -7:00-4:00

ship sails at 4 – last tender back was

at 3:00

·

Cabo San Lucas is 1 hour ahead of ship time

·

Puerto Vallarta -9:00am-9:00pm

, back onboard by 8:30

ship sails at 9:00

· SHIP TIME MOVES FORWARD 1 HOUR on Wednesday night. PV is 2 hours ahead of Ship time, so they move ship time up 1 hour to make up a little of the difference. It was announced on the intercom, we didn’t hear it, but we had a private, not a Carnival sponsored excursion so it didn’t cause us any problems. We accounted for the 2 hour difference and went on PV time. Another couple had a Carnival excursion @ 9:15 (ship time) and missed it because they didn’t move their clocks forward. You can call guest services any time and check ship time or on the TV menu.

 

I apologize that the room photos are the room in a disaster; I thought DH took pics BEFORE I stared unpacking L and NOT with me bent over with clothes everywhere!!

 

The final photo is me as we were leaving LB...it had been a very long day! And you can now see whos is taking all your time :)

I will try to get to dining and more ship info next.

~~~~To Be Continued….

[CinAngel75]

Nice review! Can't wait to read more! :)

 

Hope you enjoy part 2 :)

[grnyel05]

Enjoying your review! Headed on Splendor in 2 weeks and although I have been on the ship before, it was one of the swine flu cruises up to Canada, so I am looking forward to a nice detailed review down to Mexico!

[boltnut55]

I went on this cruise April 8th, and I'm enjoying your review. :D I so wanted to write one, but I know what would happen; I'd write day 1 and then give up (I'm doing that on my blog already), plus I'm not that detail oriented, so it would just sound like a journal to everyone else.

 

We also had the Gold Pearl and the up and down the stairs was kind of a drag. By the last few days, we remembered, but it's just frustrating in the beginning when you're lost. I should have taken a photo of the hair dryer in the drawer; that was a little difficult, so I will try to remember to bring my own next time. I've always had issues with dryers. We opted for an inside room (again, against our better judgment), so we will remember not to do that again. It really is very crowded. Room service was our alarm clock.

[PortSideCruzan]

Hi Cin,

 

Terrific review so far!! Can't wait to read more as you add to it. Will be on the Splendor for a 16 day B2B voyage in 2013.

 

Question: I realize the issue in regard to the layout of deck 3, getting to the Golden Pearl aft dining room. I have read quite often of people having to go up & then down.

However, as I look at the deck plans, couldn't one stay on deck 3, & simply go outside to the exterior deck, anywhere near the main show lounge, the lobby area or Black Pearl dining room, and then walk aft to the Golden Pearl dining room without going up to deck 4 and back down to 3? Outside & then back inside, instead of up & down?

 

Very much looking forward to the rest of your review! Enjoying it very much!

[CinAngel75]

I went on this cruise April 8th, and I'm enjoying your review. :D I so wanted to write one, but I know what would happen; I'd write day 1 and then give up (I'm doing that on my blog already), plus I'm not that detail oriented, so it would just sound like a journal to everyone else.

 

We also had the Gold Pearl and the up and down the stairs was kind of a drag. By the last few days, we remembered, but it's just frustrating in the beginning when you're lost. I should have taken a photo of the hair dryer in the drawer; that was a little difficult, so I will try to remember to bring my own next time. I've always had issues with dryers. We opted for an inside room (again, against our better judgment), so we will remember not to do that again. It really is very crowded. Room service was our alarm clock.

 

Glad you're. Enjoying it:) I figure if I write it all down while its fresh I will do ok. And it helps having people tell you they look forward to more.

 

I should have taken a pic of the dryer..that was useless. I'm only 5'7 and standing

coulndn't do the top of my hair because the cord was too short.

 

My DH has a bad knee and bad back. All of the back and forth figuring out where you can

or can't go through was rough on him. We figured it out the last few days.

[Poorplaya]

Great so far, wife and I did the mexican riviera cruise with RCCL before they moved their ships out of the west coast. We had a blast.

[CinAngel75]

Hi Cin,

 

Terrific review so far!! Can't wait to read more as you add to it. Will be on the Splendor for a 16 day B2B voyage in 2013.

 

Question: I realize the issue in regard to the layout of deck 3, getting to the Golden Pearl aft dining room. I have read quite often of people having to go up & then down.

However, as I look at the deck plans, couldn't one stay on deck 3, & simply go outside to the exterior deck, anywhere near the main show lounge, the lobby area or Black Pearl dining room, and then walk aft to the Golden Pearl dining room without going up to deck 4 and back down to 3? Outside & then back inside, instead of up & down?

 

Very much looking forward to the rest of your review! Enjoying it very much!

 

 

A B2B sounds like fun...it would definitely give you tie to relax!! :cool:

 

From what we saw, even when the plans show an outside deck going all the way down, that doesnt mean they do and their aren't always enterances back into the ship. You could go through the Black Pearl, but you would literally be going right through the dining room. It sits in the middle. Those dining rooms are very crowded and you would have to walk through tables etc.

 

My DH has a very bad knee and back (having a knee replacement and mult. back surgeries in the next couple of months) so we tried to avoid extra walking.

 

We found it best to find the easiest route from our room to the farthest elevators...as well as ones on 5, so if we were coming from or going to a show @ El Morocco or Grand Piano, it was a straight shot.

 

I would say if you wanted to check out the deck idea, do it during the day when you have time. For us dinner was always a rush to get ready (totally my fault, It was usually because I was drying my hair LOL).

 

Also in the evenings, it can be very windy a depending on time of year and where very chilly on outisde decks, so that may be an uncomfortable walk. I wouldn't have wanted to do that on elegant night...the wind would have my hair all over the place and in a dress it could easily turn into a Marilyn Monroe/wardrobe malfunction moment!!:eek:

[PortSideCruzan]

Thank you Cin for taking the time to answer my question.:)

Now get back to your review girl, I'm lovin' the detailed info!

I already copied & pasted a bunch of info you listed into my own OCD-like notes, LOL!:D

[CinAngel75]

Thank you Cin for taking the time to answer my question.:)

Now get back to your review girl, I'm lovin' the detailed info!

I already copied & pasted a bunch of info you listed into my own OCD-like notes, LOL!:D

 

 

Glad I can help:) I feel like I got a lot of useful info and answer from here and just want to return the favor.

 

I am off to shop now to make Fried Chicken for a house full of people for my DH birthday dinner, but I will try to get part 3 up tomorrow. I have it almost ready :D

[reerun25]

Loving the review!!

[riclop]

Very good and detailed review, very enjoyable We enyoy the Splendor so much we have been on it 5 times. Do you remember who was playing in the attium during the week? It use to be a duo by the name of Summer Breeze but they said they were going on another ship. Thanks

[crazycath]

Do you know what night they had the Chef's table?

 

TIA

Cathy

[CinAngel75]

Very good and detailed review, very enjoyable We enyoy the Splendor so much we have been on it 5 times. Do you remember who was playing in the attium during the week? It use to be a duo by the name of Summer Breeze but they said they were going on another ship. Thanks

 

 

Thanks!

The lobby was "Dancing Music with Take Two" a male/female duo. Both sand and he played piano

[CinAngel75]

Do you know what night they had the Chef's table?

 

TIA

Cathy

 

The week we were on, it was on Thursday - I am not sure if that is always the case.

[CinAngel75]

Enjoying your review! Headed on Splendor in 2 weeks and although I have been on the ship before, it was one of the swine flu cruises up to Canada, so I am looking forward to a nice detailed review down to Mexico!

 

 

We enjoyed Mexico very much...can't wait to go back. I would like to spend more time in Puerto Vallarta. :)

[cvpends]

Great review so far, jam-packed with valuable informaiton!

[Kridder]

Nice review! Looking forward to reading more!

[crazycath]

The week we were on, it was on Thursday - I am not sure if that is always the case.

 

Hope not cuz I have excursions that day!!! Hope it is on a sea day!