I know one of the hottest topics on cruising forums is the price of liquor on board, and possibilities of bringing your own booze.
I live in Long Island, so I found the bar prices comparable to any bar I would frequent. 15% gratuity is added to everything (even a can of soda), so you end up with charges like $3.98 for a domestic beer.
Everyday there are drink specials, a tropical concoction for $2.95. If you like to drink, you won’t find anything cheaper, so stick to these. I would recommend getting them from the Casino though, as they’re much stronger there. (Gee, I wonder why)
We did in fact smuggle our own liquor. We brought a 5L box of Merlot, and a Water Bottle filled with Vodka. We placed these in our checked luggage, and had no problem. Even with these to save money, we still had about a $500 bar bill, so if you like to drink, bring money or bring your own.
The Wine Lists are pretty decent at dinner, but if you know wine like I do, it may grate on you to spend $25 for a $7 bottle of wine.
In Bermuda, we also bought some Rum and walked it on board in my pocket with no problems.
ENTERTAINMENT
On the first day, it seems like you’ll never be able to do everything. By the fifth day, we were bored stiff.
There were three shows after dinner, and only one of them was very good. The others were average.
The casino is decent sized, and even has five cent slot machines. If you like to gamble, I’m sure you’ll spend time here.
There are five or six different bars on board, each with varying décor and style. I recommend Satchmo’s if you like Rock and Roll Music.
Beyond that, there is bingo every day $10 a card, one game only. There are trivia games (with infantile questions) and there are also AA meetings every day on board.
For the most part, I thought that the entertainment was lacking sorely. Carnival needs more things to do during the day, and more things to do in case of inclement weather.
PORTS OF CALL
Bermuda – We took a bus to Horseshoe Bay the first day, and it is everything a tropical beach should be. The sand is glorious and soft and the water a crystal emerald color. On the second day we went shopping on Front Street in Hamilton. All the locals are very friendly and the town itself is clean and felt safe to walk around in. Try “The Beach” for $1.50 beers, and try the “Pickled Onion” for great lunch food.
Newport, RI – We paid $25 a person for the “Cliff Walk” along the coast without knowing that we could have walked it ourselves for free. The guide that came a long knew a lot about the mansions, so I guess that’s worth it if you wanted a guided tour.
DISEMBARKATION
We chose to carry our own bags off. We got on a very large line at 8:15am, left the ship at about 9:15, waited 45 minutes for a taxi, and walked back into our home at 12:00 noon. Disorganized, but I think it’s better to carry your own bags. Have somebody pick you up or pay for a car if you can.
SUMMARY
Carnival tends to nickel and dime you to death whenever possible. There are things for free, but everything else is for a nominal fee. I was shocked at the Legends Café when they were selling cheesecake for three dollars a slice. This should all be included. What about a decent salad bar for a healthy snack? Nope, not on this boat.
We had a good time, but I would never recommend Carnival to anyone, nor use them again myself. The food favors presentation over taste. The entertainment is style instead of substance. The boat is so huge that walking down the hallway will aggravate you after a while, and the four hot tubs on board are constantly overflowing.
In short: Pay extra for another cruise line, you’ll have a better time.
By: Bill
