I just got off of my first Carnival cruise this morning on the Carnival Imagination.  From day one, I subconsciously started comparing this cruise with every other cruise line that I've been on. For instance, I am used to very attentive stateroom attendants and wait staff. Not once did any of them introduce themselves to us or addressed us by name. The food in the dining room was not good at all. The steak was very gristley and fatty, and the lobsters were the size of large shrimps. Also, worst of all, I fell on the upper deck where the water slides were... TWICE! The deck was wet, and I couldn't even get a grip with my shoes that had tread on the bottom. There were two maintenance crew members just beside me on the edge of the ship painting new blue lines, and neither of them made any attempt to assist me. I spent the majority of my cruise with stiff legs and bruised knees. There were so many drunk, unruly people swearing all over the ship. That would never be put up with on other cruises. I will say that the entertainment and Fun Crew Staff were really great, especially Cruise Director Karl (with a K). I was upset because I was really looking forward to this, and I was let down. Anybody else have a similar story about the Imagination?

From my experiences, this is far from the norm. Only once have I had inattentive staff, and this was when I made the mistake of cruising during spring break, way too many people!

I am not sure if you knew you could order second, thirds, or even fourths if the lobster was not big enough for you. In general, the cuts of meat are good, but someone gets the less than perfect one, you could always get another.

As for you falling on the wet deck, that is really something that is your fault, gotta be more careful when walking on wet decks ;)

I usually cruise in December, and have found there are far fewer drunk and unruly people.

I've been on 5 carnival cruises, and they were always great...not to mention superior to the other lines we've sailed with.   I do remember the deck being slippery, but I also remember walking carefully to avoid falling. 

The crew members probablly are not allowed to touch a person who falls due to liability reasons.  I know it has always been that way at different places I've worked at, since an unreasonable or scamming person could very easily make up a story about a person touching them the wrong way or even injuring them worse.  Or, they really could be injured worse by having someone move them in some cases. 

On a cruise, or any vacation, you will encounter the same things and people you would in EVERY DAY LIFE.  Maybe there are a few drunk people, screaming kids or rude people who butt in line...but hey, let's face it- these people are a sample of people taken from the human population and these things happen everywhere.  

CARNIVAL SUX.  ALTHOUGH THE PORTS OF MEXICO ARE OPEN...THYE ARE STILL SENDING US TO CATALINA TO HANG OUT WITH LAME OLD PEOPLE,  THEY NEED TO GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY ARE BOND BY CONTRACTUALLY OR REFUND THEIR MONEY

Anonymous:

CARNIVAL SUX.  ALTHOUGH THE PORTS OF MEXICO ARE OPEN...THYE ARE STILL SENDING US TO CATALINA TO HANG OUT WITH LAME OLD PEOPLE,  THEY NEED TO GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY ARE BOND BY CONTRACTUALLY OR REFUND THEIR MONEY

You need to read the contract more carefully, they can cancel or substitute ports at any time without reimbursement, except for maybe fees paid specific to each port.

Maybe you are unaware that they are currently avoiding mexico due to the Swine Flu? This decision is one that was made soley for the health of passengers and crew aboard these ships.  I'd bet you'd be complaining if there were an outbreak of the Swine Flu on your ship.  Then, you'd really have a reason to blame Carnival if they put your lives at risk!  And I'd bet you'd be the first to sue.

I love how people book during hurricane season, then complain about being re-routed due to the hurricane.  Or book during spring break, and complain about drunks or kids. 

Do your research before you book and make an educated decision.  And be thankful that you have the luxury of cruising instead of complaining about silly things that Carnival has no control over.

On our last cruise on the Ecstasy there were over 700 children.  While an occasional teen was running on the decks, the majority were well behaved and I enjoyed them all.  I was always hesitant about cruising after school let out but after this cruise, we wouldn't hesitate to book another cruise in the summer.

Anonymous:

THEY ARE BOND BY CONTRACTUALLY

Ecstasy not up to mine either. Bad food, looks like a decor from the 70's disco/roller rink. Pools are a joke for 2050 passengers. Was my first cruise & will be my last due to bad experience. Got food posioning from hamburger uncooked. Ship lost engine on way back to port. 7 hrs late getting back. Stood in line for over an hour in hot sun for the burgetr that made me sick. ship had no planning for food since we were suppose to be off ship before lunch that day. Shows were so cheezy. Anything fun to do cost extra on your sail & sign card. Crew members at Ports Of Call were so rude felt like I was back in school & a ruler to be smacked on my hand any second. To the people who love to cruise good for you, glad ya like it. Me I have been to some really nice exotic resorts ALL inclusive for tghe money I spent on this, could have done that instead. If you love crusies try the resort route once, see which one you like better for the money. Most resorts all your excursions are included no extra for snorkel, etc. I tried this didn't like it. To each their own!

wow, so I agree with you, but I was on different ship. Funny how the same vetran cruisers post tacky things to you when you don't have a good time like them. Not everyone likes the cruise, & you don't know that till ya go!

Thanks for that. I needed to know I was not alone. There is alot more that happened on ship but it wont show up here, they wont let it through, its really bad, you guys only got to see half my post.

March 2008 I took my first cruise on Sensation (it was my wife's second). There were a few issues that were not good, but we did not let it ruin our cruise. The cabin steward came around as soon as we got there and said to let him know if we needed anything: we did not see him the rest of the week. Also there was blood in the bathroom, indicating that the bathroom was not thoroughly cleaned. We sent Carnival an email after the cruise and they were nice enough to give us each a $50.00 on board credit, which we are using next month on Imagination.

angiek72:

the drain in our shower was so slow that the bathroom floor would get wet every time we took a shower

It may have been a slow drain, in which case the issue lies with the guests who notice the slow drain and do not report it to housekeeping, but rather hold it in reserve to complain about it afterward. 

It may also have not been a slow drain.  Water will escape the [small] shower and get the bathroom floor wet for a number of reasons having nothing to do with the plumbing.

1. the shower curtain only barely reaches the lip of the shower stall and if there is any wrinkle or cling in the shower crutain at all there will be a gap that allows spray to escape
2. +++++++++++++  I forgot one ++++++++++++++  the shower curtain barely reaches the lip of the shower stall and quite frequently is outside the lip, thus causing shower spray to run down the curtain and directly to the floor outside
3. the lip of the shower stall is quite short, and -- believe it or don't -- the boat itself will not remain level.  This means that at any given point during a shower, there may be pools of water not running toward the drain that the showerer will step in and splash over the lip of the stall and onto the bathroom floor
4. basic condensation and dripping that occurs in all bathrooms during and after showers

the first couple shows look like a high school dance team at halftime of a basket ball game. (no offense to the high school dance team)

I will tell you what I tell others who make this criticism: the dancers are not Broadway-quality; if they were, they'd be on Broadway.  But as it is they are better than I am, and they are better than you are -- unless you are Ginger Rogers, of course.  As for the quality of their choreography being High Schoolish ... that may be.  But I'm not Busby Berkeley and you're not Isadora Duncan.  Decorum and grace, if you please.

It's a shame about your bag.  That happens -- far less often on cruises than on flights, by the way.  And if you don't mind me saying, it seems that you took your frustration over your bag and allowed it to color everything else so that you could rationalize the rest of your petty gripes and growls into a huge snit fit.

Please at least have the courtesy to include the entire quote from a post before trying to diminish what they say.

 Here's what you left off:

 "the drain in our shower was so slow that the bathroom floor would get wet every time we took a shower. Request to the attendant to have maintenance fix the drain went unanswered".

I understand the tendency of some to want to appear knowledgeable on every subject, but slicing and dicing someone else's words to try to make a point seems a bit odd and appears more like a "snit fit" than anything else.

Accept the fact that the drain didn't seem to work for them. Defending Carnival at each and every turn, on any issue, really dilutes any valid points/info you share.

Thanks!