Just off of the Horizon, mixed feelings

[AmBear]

Great feelings and review Just another reason to stop with the Factory ships .. CCL time to build a modern smaller ship

Vista has the old style elevators.

[mdaviswv]

I’m actually just on the Horizon and am already irritated at a few things. Minor, of course, but they may accumulate. [emoji848]

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[Silent Penguin]

Really, a chair thrown? Some people are just trash.

 

 

True, some people have no impulse control (or choose not to use it), but she did say that she heard it happened, so who knows if it really did. Not saying it couldn't happen or didn't. Sometimes, I want to throw something or someone, but I do have impulse control (and choose to use it), so I never have.

[Silent Penguin]

We stayed in a Havana Cabana (same as last year on the Vista). We did have trouble finding a chairs on two of the sea days. The Vista Havana deck was not as crowded as Horizon. I ordered a mudslide and got some other frozen drink. No big deal, I just say “whoops, sorry I requested a mudslide”. Bartender told me “that is a mudslide.” I said “I thought they were white with chocolate syrup (I’ve ordered them many times). She said “that’s a mudslide “. The drink was yellow with chunks of pineapple visible and no chocolate! Bartender then said, “I’ll add chocolate syrup it you want”. I said, “no I want a mudslide”. I tasted it and it was pineapple something. She would not waver in giving me a mudslide! First time for me.

 

I was wondering about whether the chair situation on Horizon's Havana deck was any different than that of the Vista. I guess I can't assume it's always that way (Horizon more crowded than Vista), but it's good to have this feedback from someone whose been on both.

 

That's crazy about the Mudslide. It's my favorite drink, and in 30 years of drinking them, I've never heard of any kind of fruit it in it. And to insist on something that is so blatantly untrue is weird. I wander if she's in cahoots with the room steward who insisted there were no extra pillows.

[SNJCruisers]

Mudslides consist of Irish cream, Kahlua, vodka, ice cream mix, ice, blended together and put in a chocolate laced glass with optional whipped cream on top. If any bartender gave me something that had fruit in it, I would politely ask to have a discussion with their boss and if there was push back, I would get her name and go to guest services and ask to speak to the head of bar services. Situations like that is what makes the auto gratuity frustrating.

[BananaAnna]

Deleted post

[tap_out]

Really disappointing to hear about the crowding of the Havana area on Horizon. There was a lot of speculation that this would be the case with the added cabins. Hopefully its not to bad when we sail in August

[Pellaz]

I was not aware that Vista had modified their elevators.

 

They did, right before our cruise on Vista last October. I posted photos of the call panel and the wall display in my Cruise Critic review.

 

Then, within a week or two afterward, the new system was replaced with the old one, presumably because people were confused by it...at least on embark day.

 

Note: this was for one elevator bank only: the forward elevator bank. This was a sensible choice because there are several decks that are only served by one or two elevator cars in that bank. Serenity Deck, for example, was only serviced by Car X.

[dchoney]

We just got off the Horizon this morning as well. I agree that the service was hit or miss. Our cabin steward was fabulous! Our first night at Any Time Dining we were seated at 6:30 (after waiting 20 minutes on Deck 5 to get our table assignment). We didn’t leave the dining room until almost 9:30. Three hour dinner was not acceptable. The next day we decided to go right when it opened at 5:30 and we were seated in a different section. Excellent service the second night. So we just requested Jose in that section every evening for the rest of the cruise and were beyond happy with our main dining experience.

 

We stayed in a Havana Cabana (same as last year on the Vista). We did have trouble finding a chairs on two of the sea days. The Vista Havana deck was not as crowded as Horizon. I ordered a mudslide and got some other frozen drink. No big deal, I just say “whoops, sorry I requested a mudslide”. Bartender told me “that is a mudslide.” I said “I thought they were white with chocolate syrup (I’ve ordered them many times). She said “that’s a mudslide “. The drink was yellow with chunks of pineapple visible and no chocolate! Bartender then said, “I’ll add chocolate syrup it you want”. I said, “no I want a mudslide”. I tasted it and it was pineapple something. She would not waver in giving me a mudslide! First time for me.

 

We loved the new elevator system. So nice not having it stop on every floor. I agree it took a little longer while waiting. Bet never over crowded and only stops at one or two different floors. (Vista definitely did not have these new elevators last June).

 

Food was great and we loved the choices for lunch. But the lines were terrible! Never got a deli sandwich the whole 8 days due to very long line. Same with pizza, especially later at night. One man a talked to waiting 1 1/2 hours for a slice of pizza! Their pizza is not that good! Pig and Anchor was very good! Teppanyaki was the best hibachi we’ve ever had, outstanding!

 

Missed Grand Turk to to someone with a medical emergency. I believe they passed away and we had to go towards shore so a helicopter could fly out to get the body. We were still close enough to Florida.

 

Comedy was pretty good!

 

With that said, we will definitely book this ship again.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

 

 

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard medevaced a cruise ship passenger approximately 100 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, Thursday morning.

 

Watchstanders at the 5th District command center in Portsmouth received notification at approximately 7:15 p.m. Wednesday from the cruise ship Carnival Horizon’s crew that a 33-year-old woman was suffering appendicitis-like symptoms and needed a medevac.

 

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, responded. Upon arrival, the helicopter crew hoisted the passenger and medevaced her to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Norfolk.

 

“The Carnival Horizon diverted their course towards shore, which expedited our response time,” said Lt. j.g. Daniel J. Dunn, command duty officer at the 5th District command center. “The success of this case was a result of exceptional coordination between the cruise ship, the command center and Air Station Elizabeth City.”

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[tchakra0124]

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard medevaced a cruise ship passenger approximately 100 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, Thursday morning.

 

Watchstanders at the 5th District command center in Portsmouth received notification at approximately 7:15 p.m. Wednesday from the cruise ship Carnival Horizon’s crew that a 33-year-old woman was suffering appendicitis-like symptoms and needed a medevac.

 

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, responded. Upon arrival, the helicopter crew hoisted the passenger and medevaced her to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Norfolk.

 

“The Carnival Horizon diverted their course towards shore, which expedited our response time,” said Lt. j.g. Daniel J. Dunn, command duty officer at the 5th District command center. “The success of this case was a result of exceptional coordination between the cruise ship, the command center and Air Station Elizabeth City.”

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

People think appendicitis isn't major because it's pretty common. But I worked in a children's hospital & a 10 year old died from it

 

Sent from my SM-G930P using Forums mobile app

[April42749]

We just got off the Horizon this morning as well. I agree that the service was hit or miss. Our cabin steward was fabulous! Our first night at Any Time Dining we were seated at 6:30 (after waiting 20 minutes on Deck 5 to get our table assignment). We didn’t leave the dining room until almost 9:30. Three hour dinner was not acceptable. The next day we decided to go right when it opened at 5:30 and we were seated in a different section. Excellent service the second night. So we just requested Jose in that section every evening for the rest of the cruise and were beyond happy with our main dining experience.

 

We stayed in a Havana Cabana (same as last year on the Vista). We did have trouble finding a chairs on two of the sea days. The Vista Havana deck was not as crowded as Horizon. I ordered a mudslide and got some other frozen drink. No big deal, I just say “whoops, sorry I requested a mudslide”. Bartender told me “that is a mudslide.” I said “I thought they were white with chocolate syrup (I’ve ordered them many times). She said “that’s a mudslide “. The drink was yellow with chunks of pineapple visible and no chocolate! Bartender then said, “I’ll add chocolate syrup it you want”. I said, “no I want a mudslide”. I tasted it and it was pineapple something. She would not waver in giving me a mudslide! First time for me.

 

We loved the new elevator system. So nice not having it stop on every floor. I agree it took a little longer while waiting. Bet never over crowded and only stops at one or two different floors. (Vista definitely did not have these new elevators last June).

 

Food was great and we loved the choices for lunch. But the lines were terrible! Never got a deli sandwich the whole 8 days due to very long line. Same with pizza, especially later at night. One man a talked to waiting 1 1/2 hours for a slice of pizza! Their pizza is not that good! Pig and Anchor was very good! Teppanyaki was the best hibachi we’ve ever had, outstanding!

 

Missed Grand Turk to to someone with a medical emergency. I believe they passed away and we had to go towards shore so a helicopter could fly out to get the body. We were still close enough to Florida.

 

Comedy was pretty good!

 

With that said, we will definitely book this ship again.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

For the record, when someone dies on board a ship they bring the body to the last port since there's nothing that can be done. They have "storage facilities" for that. It's much cheaper and a lot less red tape than flying it home, especially from a foreign port. And they wouldn't use the resources of the coast guard unless it was a bona fide emergency.

[iahawkize]

Yes, formal nights were the second and 7th nights.

 

The elevator programming is good in theory, but the execution isn't there. I'm not sure what the issue is, it seems like they assign everyone going in the same direction to the same elevator (and the other 3-5 never get assigned, even if 10 people walk up and selected the same destination), and when it finally comes, it stops on every floor and nobody gets on or off. I guess people give up on waiting?

 

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

 

I heard if you press the button for the floor you want and there are 4 of you going to that floor that you have to press the button 4 times or the elevator thinks there's only 1 going to that floor and will stop for others on other floors going to yours.

[txmom11]

Mudslides consist of Irish cream, Kahlua, vodka, ice cream mix, ice, blended together and put in a chocolate laced glass with optional whipped cream on top. If any bartender gave me something that had fruit in it, I would politely ask to have a discussion with their boss and if there was push back, I would get her name and go to guest services and ask to speak to the head of bar services. Situations like that is what makes the auto gratuity frustrating.

 

I agree with going to the bartender's supervisor--I want what I order when getting a drink. I was a waitress and bartender for a long time when I was younger (much much younger), and I tip great, but do not tolerate bad service.

[pearl71490]

Thank you for sharing the Fun Times..but it is making me stressed that I have late seating for dinner at 8:15...and will have to miss the music trivia in the atrium and other activities that go on at this time..seems early seating not an issue

[pearl71490]

Does anyone know how long it takes to eat in the diningroom for dinner time wise? Thanks

[maddea20]

Thanks for your review. I’m so excited to be getting on the Horizon in 32 days. :D

 

All the complaints I’m reading about this ship seem to be the same complaints I read about before I get on any ship (with the exception of these new elevators) and me and my family are always sad to leave after each cruise.

 

So basically I can read about these complaints and take them with a grain of salt since I always seem to enjoy myself on each cruise I go on. :cool:

 

P.S. The Children’s Hospital here in DC has those same elevators and they seem to be easy to use once someone shows you how, like in my case. The first time I tried it out I had no idea what was going on but when someone showed me how to use it, it wasn’t a problem.

 

Can’t wait!

[SNJCruisers]

Does anyone know how long it takes to eat in the diningroom for dinner time wise? Thanks

As usual, it would all depend if you had early, late or anytime and how experienced your servers are. As a general rule of thumb, you can also get out quicker depending upon the size of your party. An hour and a half could be the norm, but YMMV.

[Sizzlechest]

Thank you for sharing the Fun Times..but it is making me stressed that I have late seating for dinner at 8:15...and will have to miss the music trivia in the atrium and other activities that go on at this time..seems early seating not an issue

 

That's true of every cruise on every cruise line ever. If you don't want to miss anything, eat as early as possible.

[pearl71490]

I always do late dinner seating..on Royal and Princess..and last Carnival cruise 8 years ago..never had an issue

[ksmcdonald]

Mudslides consist of Irish cream, Kahlua, vodka, ice cream mix, ice, blended together and put in a chocolate laced glass with optional whipped cream on top. If any bartender gave me something that had fruit in it, I would politely ask to have a discussion with their boss and if there was push back, I would get her name and go to guest services and ask to speak to the head of bar services. Situations like that is what makes the auto gratuity frustrating.

 

 

You are correct, I should of pushed it. Looking back, I definitely should of ask to talk to someone else. I had the Cheers so I just thought I would order another mudslide somewhere else. But the more I think about it, I should not of thrown in the towel and given up so fast. I'm normally not a confrontational person.

[ksmcdonald]

Really disappointing to hear about the crowding of the Havana area on Horizon. There was a lot of speculation that this would be the case with the added cabins. Hopefully its not to bad when we sail in August

 

It was only on sea days, but that is when we really just wanted to hang out in the Havana area. I know the Horizon did add more cabins to the Havana area than the Vista had. I believe the Vista now added the additional cabins as well. It was mostly the "chair hog" scenario, most of the comfortable big circular loungers just had towels and books on them with no people. And with this area so small, it is very easy to tell if the people are just in the pool. Pool was empty, hot tubs were empty but chairs were all taken with towels. We never had this problem last year on the Vista, always somewhere to sit. This trip we did sit on our private patio more due to the chair situation.

[ksmcdonald]

For the record, when someone dies on board a ship they bring the body to the last port since there's nothing that can be done. They have "storage facilities" for that. It's much cheaper and a lot less red tape than flying it home, especially from a foreign port. And they wouldn't use the resources of the coast guard unless it was a bona fide emergency.

 

That is just what people were telling us why we had to turn around. A post above has indicated it was a medical emergency. I know a 93 year old did have a stroke and pass away in her sleep. She fell in the casino, people came and helped her up. She sat in a chair for a bit and then her family took her back to her room. She passed away in her sleep during the night. It was assumed she had a stroke. This happened the same night they announced we had to turn around and head back towards Florida. I thought it was strange that they would fly a body out with a helicopter (at that point it is not an emergency). We were not aware of the 33 year old having appendicitis the same day. Regardless, the turning around caused us to miss our Grand Turk port.

[ksmcdonald]

As usual, it would all depend if you had early, late or anytime and how experienced your servers are. As a general rule of thumb, you can also get out quicker depending upon the size of your party. An hour and a half could be the norm, but YMMV.

 

 

 

Very true - party size plays a big part.

[ksmcdonald]

Does anyone know how long it takes to eat in the diningroom for dinner time wise? Thanks

 

We just cruised on Horizon June 5.

The first night it was almost three hours in the dining room. The waiter we had that night was doing everything himself, taking orders, serving drinks, bringing rolls, bringing the entree, doing everything himself.

 

The next day we got another section and had a serving team of three people that worked together. That dinner only took 1 - 1 1/2 hours. Obviously, with three people, things got done quicker. I did feel sorry for the waiter the first night that was all by himself. Every night there after we got in and out in a timely fashion, but we made sure we requested the same section.

[Keys2Heaven]

One of your comments really highlights I think what many experienced cruisers are feeling now with Carnival. That is the increasing number of 1st time cruisers. While I understand this is a necessity and really ought not be a bad thing, I think new cruisers of today are vastly different than new cruisers say 10, 15 or 20 years ago.

 

In my opinion, the pervasiveness of entitlement in today's society is very evident amongst a lot of new cruisers. They seem to be very demanding, rude, and manners are almost non existent. And with staff who are part of that generation, a lot of the "classiness" of cruising seems to be missing.

Edited June 19, 2018 by Keys2Heaven