maddea20

This is why I’m booking my cruise for next summer so I can wait to see how cruising goes this year and next. 

Sorry I was at work.

We found the staff had attitudes mainly in the casino. We also encountered the attitudes while eating in the dining room. We had Your Time Dining. Our stateroom steward however was excellent in the Cloud 9 spa area where we had a balcony.

If I speak a bit on the dining room experience, we missed how they would come around with the bread and ask which one you want. We didn’t get that service at all in the dining room. Also no one ever put the napkin in our laps like they used too. But I assumed maybe this was the new thing with Your Time dining? I don’t know. We also were seated a few times for lunch and dinner with no table settings, like napkins and forks for example (things my mother didn’t like, I can get over stuff like that.) I won’t really get into the food as much just that we didn’t care for Guy’s Pig and Anchor but loved Guy’s burgers and the omelettes on the Lido deck. The rest of the food was your typical cruise food which too me has always just been ok. That goes for all cruises I’ve been on though.

My mother did not like the workers attitudes mainly but I did not like the layout of the ship especially with it being a new ship. I felt for a new ship I expected a lot more. I did not like that the night club and comedy club were in the same venue and the shops on the ship seemed smaller. I’m just comparing this ship to the Sunshine we were on last year and the splendor which we were on in previous years where I had no problems with the layout of those ships. So for those reasons I’m just glad the ship won’t be leaving from NYC next year when we go on our next 4 day cruise. I like how the Carnival Splendor and Sunshine ships looked so was disappointed that the Horizon was not doing it for me. We definitely had fun since we have fun on cruises anyway but we both felt this ship wasn’t all that.

Wow 😮. This is my opinion only. In my opinion, some negative reviews I’ve read about the Horizon were right. Me and my mother were very disappointed with this cruise. I’m so glad the Horizon will not be sailing from NYC in a few weeks as we did not like the ship. We mostly had problems with the attitudes of the staff members. We were not sure why many had such attitudes. I’ve never encountered rudeness from staff on a cruise before. But I know I did not like it. Not on my vacation. But for me I personally did not like the layout of the ship at all so I will not be cruising on this ship ever again.

We are planning to take another cruise on Carnival next year per usual from NYC and I see it’s on another ship so that’s good. :)

PS. We were ok with the elevators. I kind of like the new system. It wasn’t a huge big deal to me but I can understand why some people don’t like it.

I got an upgrade email for playing in the casino. I took the deal. ;)

Going on Horizon out of NYC this Thursday. Is this new card system at the NY port?

I'm in a spa cabin too and glad I read this thread. Now I won't waste my time. I can't stand sales pitches. Thanks.

Going on Horizon this week so let me start reading. :D

It has been a while since we have sailed (almost a year to the day) and as long since doing a review. While there is at least one other review in process, join me as I relive our Horizon cruise.

 

 

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I just would never suggest someone to not have a stroller. A stroller is a God-send. I would defn take it on a cruise. No question.

Why do you need to hold a 2 year old the whole time? They walk, don’t they? As I said - I had an umbrella stroller for ports but never took it out on the crowded ship - he walked holding my hand. No big deal. And at 2 he had zero issue enjoying an hour family dinner. He was a joy to travel with.

 

Of course not all children have an easy going disposition nor are all parents disciplined enough to keep the routines of home which make traveling with a young child possible.

I appreciate those that recognize that either they or their child are not ready or of a disposition to cruise at an early age and agree that it makes for a much better vacation when mom and dad are relaxed, even if that means the little one has a staycation with grandma.

 

 

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I didnt even know there was a change and we did take a Carnival cruise last year :confused:. We always have twice a day. I defn don’t want once a day.

I personally avoided bringing my now 4 year old son on any cruises since he’s been born, because I want to have a stress free vacation. I do take him on other road trips. I’ll wait to take him on cruises when he’s maybe 5 or older.

Anyways if I did, I would defn bring an umbrella stroller (ignore anyone telling you not too, you can’t hold a 2 yr old the whole time yeah right) and many many snacks and my iPad. These things would defn help us get through any trip.

Oh thank you I forgot all about the block feature. So tired of seeing “It’s” comments. They’re so dumb.

This poster is famous for chiming in with highly optioned but ultimately useless comments like this one that add nothing to the discussion. You asked for suggestions - and were instead told don’t travel with your kids. It’s really non responsive to your question.

 

“It” is blocked on my settings for this reason.

 

 

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I think the best thing for people to do is call their specific cell phone company and see what they say. I've been there and done that when it comes to getting off the ship and having a large phone bill when I didn't even use the phone the whole time.

These days there are so many different cell phone providers that following any one person's general advice on how to avoid charges may not be the way to go.

Call your cell phone company.

I know reading comprehension can be difficult sometimes. People are going too far as in needlessly cutting themselves off from communications in order to avoid charges. If cutting off all communications from off the ship is your goal then airplane mode is a good choice. If being reachable while avoiding unnecessary charges is your goal them simply turning off data roaming is the change you should make. It can be done at any point so there is nothing to do when getting on the ship.

You are so correct. Once the ship was sailing from NYC last year, my mother all of a sudden wanted to dload the Hub app though she kept saying she was scared to before the ship left, and she was not able to during the entire cruise.

So yes dload the app before the ship sets sail or at least before you are out of range and put on airplane mode on your phone.

Remember to download the carnival hub app before boarding the ship. Once you board' date=' and turn off data, I don't think there is a way to download the app to your phone.[/quote']

Just turn Airplane mode on. You do not need to go thru all the stuff this person wrote below. And if you need, turn your Wifi back on if airplane mode turned it off. Now that's more simple.

Most of you are going too far in trying to avoid charges. You can avoid charges and stay connected by doing a couple of simple things, The first is to make sure your data roaming is turned off in your settings. You can do that now and it will let you avoid any data charges while not on your main cellular network. You can keep you cellular service on during the cruise and receive texts and calls. Most cellular companies will not charge you for received texts. If you have an iPhone you will most likely need to turn off iMessage if you don't get the internet plan. You can also choose to not answer any of your phone calls, but you know at least who called and if it might be important. Unanswered calls are usually not charged by your carrier except if you have AT&T. They do seem to have some charges even if calls are not answered. As always check with your specific carrier. I always take this approach when cruising and have not run into any unexpected bills but its helpful knowing family or excursion vendors can reach me, if needed,

Thanks for answering. :cool:

To answer the OP's question:

 

Yes, I have done it. I will move a towel out of the way, but I won't touch people's personal property. Chairs are there for people to use, and are not assigned or saved. I don't understand why people have such a hard time with this. If the person comes back while I am using the chair, I will offer to move if confronted. To date, out of 13 cruises, I have never had to move once. Typically, the person just goes and finds another chair. I am also very nice about it. I just don't see why people make such a big deal about it.

We leave next Thursday and I plan to pack this weekend. I can't pack weeks in advance for anything. :D

I don't understand what is the purpose to leave your chair empty for hours? If I know I'm hardly going to be using it I wouldn't feel I need to leave my towel in it and then leave for hours. Makes zero sense. IJS. lol

Oh there’s a time limit on how long chairs can be empty? Didn’t know that.

I see so many people talking about chair hogging on cruises on this site. I usually, on past cruises, have just kept walking by if I didn’t see an available lounger. But is it frowned upon to just move that darn towel and plop your booty into that chair? Have any of you done that on a cruise before?

I’ve been tempted to but never have. ;)

Thanks for your review. We’re sailing on the Horizon on July 31 and can’t wait!

 

That was really nice what you were able to do for your neighbours. I’m sure they were delighted. As a family of 4 with two teens (18 & 15) we always look for connecting cabins. When searching deck plans for available cabins when booking, I always find it curious (and frustrating) when I see one cabin of two connecting already booked. If I was booking a single cabin, these would be the last ones I would consider. I don’t understand why someone would choose one half of connecting cabins when many others are available. If the ship is full and options are limited, I get it. But that’s not usually the case. Maybe I’m missing something.

 

Glad you had a great cruise. Looking forward to another great one.

 

 

 

 

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It’s funny you say that you wonder why people would choose a connecting cabin. Before I changed my cabin for the 3rd time for my upcoming cruise I did book a cabin with a connecting door and I realized it months later when I was upgrading to a balcony cabin the second time around. I’ve been in a connecting cabin once on a cruise and we did not like it at all. So I’m wondering if sometimes people are just choosing cabins without always looking more carefully at what they’re choosing like I did. I just did not mean to choose a cabin like that so I was surprised to find out I did. Idk. :)

Agreed.

I keep reading reviews about the Horizon and it seems most people writing the reviews who went on the ship in the past several weeks have nothing but negative things to say. I'm like :rolleyes:.

Anyways, I've never had to come on a website to write such negative reviews about any cruise I've been on so I read these reviews with a grain of salt. Some of these people probably complain about any and everything in their daily lives anyway.

Before sailing on the new Carnival Horizon I was reading posts and reviews on both the Vista and the Horizon to get ready for our family trip. I was seeing so many negative things I decided to stop reading them.

 

This was my 11th cruise. I have cruised on Disney (6 times), Royal Caribbean (3) and Carnival (1). My parents were also on this vacation and they have done even more cruising including these ships, Princess, Holland America, Norwegian and 3 Viking River Cruises.

 

We all had a great week on the Horizon. There we many, many things that we loved and there were also a few things that we didn't. However, instead of spending the vacation comparing it to past trips, or lamenting things it didn't offer or that we thought should be different, we just enjoyed what that ship and what it had to offer.

 

I'm not suggesting that some people don't on occasion have really bad experiences on their cruises but I have definitely decided that your personal approach has a big impact on your experience and enjoyment.

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!

I didn't even think of that. :o You might be right. Thanks.

Can't help much in when to book but I would suggest you do the actual facial later in the cruise as your skin will be super sensitive after and you don't want to be miserable from a lot of sun, sweat and salt water- just a thought since you said this would be your first facial

Ok thanks. This sounds good. I’ll book now then. :cool:

Book it now since you want it the first sea day. That is prime time!

 

Your spa room discounts will be for port days only...10% off your first treatment, 20% off your second, and 30% off your third.

 

Embarkation specials are usually for embarkation day, port days, or for specific packages which you may not want.

I would wait, especially since you are in a spa cabin. The embarkation spa specials are usually good.

I wonder if I should go with what your saying as someone above says there are better discounts now.