Just back 10/18-10/25/09.  Loved the cruise.  Splendor - well maybe not so much.  Staff, food, entertainment, all GREAT.  Cabin was spacious, we were three and had plenty of room, lots of storage, no complaints at all.  BUT, decor was way over the top.  I understand that Carnival is the Fun Cruise line but the assalt on the eyes was not fun.  Clashing colors and patterns made one wonder what the decorator was "on" when he thought of this mess.  Getting around was very unfriendly.  We were on Deck 6 and could not get to our dining room and Deck 3 without going to Deck 5 walking the lenght of the ship and then going down two more decks.  Could not get to Deck 3 forward and Deck 4 without going up to 5 or down to 2.  Smoking options were horrible.  I understand that non-smokers have rights but so do smokers and I don't smoke.  Don't see how smoking on one side of the ship outside is going to infringe on anybody else.  Smokers were herded into some very small sections of the ship away from everyone and all the action.  If a party was sitting by the pool and one of them wanted to have a smoke, they have to walk to the back of the ship and upstairs from their party.  I agree, if they want a non-smoking ship, call it that.  Also, we were not encouraged to go out on deck anywhere but Decks 9, 10, and 11.  There were doors on some other decks but they were always closed and solid doors (no windows) with signs that read "Emergency Exit".  I realize that they were not ONLY emergency exits but it was a psychological way to "herd" everyone up to the upper decks.  Maybe they didn't want to have to clean the lower decks - don't know.  I will sail Carnival again because, for the money, there's no better way to travel, but will not do the Splendor again.

Good stop smoking and you would of enjoyed the cruise much more and your health would improve...

Omg, thank you! Amen ;) Well, he is not the smoker in this case, but the member(s) of his party rather.

Sad to hear about your experience.  My wife and I returned off the Splendor on 10/18, you were getting on while we were getting off.  I have to admit that my experience was nothing like yours.  I loved the Splendor.  In my research I had heard about the layout of the ship so we had no problems at all. 

As far as the areas to go out side there were quiet a few.  We spent most of our sea days outside on deck 3 underneath the life boats.  There are the big metal doors you have to go through but there was never a problem getting in and out and there were always others out there with us.

 As far as the smoking issue.  It must have been our week but there were smokers everywhere.  Any time we were out side except in the serenity area we could smell smoke.  My wife is very sensitive to the smoke.  I know there was an area in the back that we avoided but they didn't seem to find a problem smoking while we were on.  Which is fine but this is the second person I have heard complain about the smoking areas and my wife and I were actually wishing there were less smoking areas because we were always smelling smoke.  Nothing to complain about though.

As far as the color, it didn't bother me.  This was my first cruise so I have nothing to compare it with, however it was a wonderful experience for me and I will sail the splendor again in a heart beat.

This will be our 2nd cruise Nov.08 on Splendor,1st being on the Pride back in Aug. of 07.And I wish more people would quit smoking,mainly cause of the smell of it on my clotheing and No one in my family smokes.....I understand that smoke is the resedo from they're habit, but how would they feel if the resedo from my habit got on them........ I Drink beer and we all know what the resedo is......

                                           HAPPY CRUISING

We will have smokers in our group on a future cruise. Do you know if there are any problems smoking on the balconys?

Yetti:

We will have smokers in our group on a future cruise. Do you know if there are any problems smoking on the balconys?

                                                                    HAPPY CRUISING

While we haven't been on the Splendor yet, all you had to do was research the ship's layout before you cruised.  They also have little booklets on all the ships with their layout.  It really isn't difficult to maneuver any of the ships, if you are well versed by previous research.  The Conquest class is laid out the same way, but once you do it, you become familiar.

Joan

That's terrible and rude for someone to do that. I will pass the word and make sure that doesn't happen in our group.  

I've been reading everything that everyone has had to say about this ship, I even looked through the "Capers".  I did not see anything about that big elegant midnight buffet that we love to look at, is this not done anymore?

nope, no midnight buffet anymore.  They did away with them a while ago.  They found out that most people were just looking at it and didn't eat anything and it was a huge waste of food and resources.  I imagine it was one thing they cut to save some money. 

We were on the Splendor the week before you, this was our fisrt time on the Splendor and I agree the decor is hideous.  My 7 year old grand daughter thought the pink was great...

Putting the decor aside, the cruise was great, the food was very good, except one night they served filet Mignon which were very very tiny, along with pieces of the short ribs from the night before, leftovers????

Wish the Pride was still in Long Beach.

Ghanzi:

nope, no midnight buffet anymore.  They did away with them a while ago.  They found out that most people were just looking at it and didn't eat anything and it was a huge waste of food and resources.  I imagine it was one thing they cut to save some money. 

Yetti:

We will have smokers in our group on a future cruise. Do you know if there are any problems smoking on the balconys?

The only problem with smiking on a balcony is that inconsiderate people DO toss their butts overboard when they are told not to. During the muster drill they make the announcement (that no one listens to) explaining the dangers of fire on board. Butts blow back toward the ship and land on lower balconies.

Some guests leave clothes to dry on balconies, or prop their door open which could allow the butt to cause a fire.

If you use an ashtray for your ashes and butts - then there is no problem smoking on deck or in balconies.

DS -