Another Splendor - 01/10/10 Review

[stay_or_go]

Carnival Splendor Review January 10, 2010

 

 

Friday January 8:

 

 

We awoke to freezing temperatures on departure day and spent the day getting ready. Flying from Toronto, Ontario Canada to Los Angeles Friday night would give us almost a full day to recover from the late flight and to help get over the jet lag.

 

 

 

Glad to be escaping!

 

 

Four of us (Jeff, Jayne, Jonathan and Melanie) would be enjoying the cruise, our 4th overall and all of them have been on Carnival (Fascination, Glory, and Legend in that order). Four people - 4 bags - 4 separate packing operations!

 

 

 

All packed and ready to go!

 

 

Parking in Toronto at the airport on-site and off-site can be a little expensive and the kids had never ridden in a limo so we booked a limo for transport so the cars could stay in the driveway and we could leave the driving to someone else.

 

 

 

Get me out of here!

 

 

We arrived at the airport extra early, 4:00pm for an 8:00pm direct flight to LAX to ensure no problems with luggage and security. We had little trouble checking in and getting our boarding passes but after clearing U.S. Immigration and Customs, we went to security. They were pretty curious about the carry on as each of us had a bag with only one being a laptop bag. Since my carryon included a laptop, they really did not care what was in it nor how big it was. But my wife's bag with the travel documents and some books caused an issue even though it was much smaller than my laptop bag. The kids bags too caused an issue, but what are they supposed to do on the plane if they can't take their books, crafts, electronics, etc. After a little discussion with the security guard, the 4 carryon bags were allowed to proceed to the initial screening.

 

 

Following the initial screening, metal detectors and x-rays, we went to the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge for some dinner and some drinks before heading to the secondary security.

 

 

Secondary security required a full pat down search and a full search of all carryon bags. This added about 15 min to the time it took to walk from the lounge to the gate. I travel regularly for business (at least twice a month) and I am certainly not looking forward to this for each and every US Trip.

We arrived into LAX on-time and caught the Avis shuttle and picked up a Avis rental and drove around the block to the Embassy Suites and got to bed around midnight.

[stay_or_go]

Saturday January 9:

Awoke around 9:00am and headed down for breakfast. Breakfast was included at the Embassy Suites and was plentiful. Cooked to order omelettes, lots of pastries fruit, yogurt and a good selection of juices. The hotel itself is showing signs of wear and tear but that can be expected at an airport hotel, especially one as busy as LAX. We usually try to stay at the Embassy Suites as there is always lots of room and breakfast and happy hour are included.

 

 

Breakfast Area

 

 

Living area

 

Following breakfast, we headed out to do the Hollywood and the "THIS IS LA BABY" scene as Jayne and the kids had never been to the land of the stars and I had not been for 20 years or so. Here are a few of the shots from the morning.

 

 

Everyone can be a star!

 

 

The King!

 

 

Princess meets a princess!

 

 

On the way out of the Hollywood area, the GPS put us on La Brea avenue and Melanie the bookworm in the group remembered reading about the La Brea Tar Pits so we reprogrammed the GPS for a visit and went to see the tar pits and some of the discoveries.

 

 

Tar Pits

[stay_or_go]

After the tar pits, we headed west to find the ocean and wonder around the beach and the pier. No one had ever been to the pier before and we had a nice afternoon in the water and hanging out in the park.

End of the line!

 

The Pacific!

 

The Park

Following the pier, we headed out to dinner and then back to the Embassy Suites for happy hour, hot tubs and bed.

[stay_or_go]

Sunday January 10th : Embarkation Day

We ate the Embassy Suites breakfast, repacked and were ready to go on the Prime Time Shuttle for pickup at 11:00. We booked a private shuttle for $88.00 from the LAX Embassy Suites to the Pier which we felt was reasonable. The driver was friendly and the trip quick and easy. Dropping the rental car off at Avis at the airport was still cheaper than dropping it off at Longbeach even when the cost of the shuttle was included.

 

 

On the Way

 

We arrived at the Port at 11:30 or so and joined the line for registration. There was a lady in front of us who would not move forward and would not let us by as she was holding the position in line for her group of 25 people. I was going so say something, but felt I might be beaten about the head with a purse, so we just laughed it off. All week we would see this lady and her group and make jokes about it. Some people just don't get it.

 

It took about 10 min to get registered and we received our Zone 4 cards.

Walked around the dome area and took shots of the ship and shots of the Queen Mary.

 

 

Everyone has one of these shots, here is one of ours!

 

 

Local Wildlife

 

 

Finally On the ship!

 

 

Finally On the ship!

[tulsacubfan]

Need more! We were on her in May and I still love ready other people's reviews of her! Love the pictures too!

[imaboo]

Love the pictures with the narrative. More please!

 

We're not sailing on Splendor until September and I'm dyyyyying from impatience - lol.

[LBumb]

grrrreat start.

[logbook]

Love it! Can't wait to keep reading! Ewwwww! I don't like the local wildlife!!!! :eek::D

[Grayce]

I love picture reviews. Can't wait for more!

[buddylover]

Great review and pictures! We are going in 17 days....looking forward to more of your review!

[stay_or_go]

Sunday January 10th : Embarkation Day (continued)

Once on board, we started to look around and you can see the pink right away, but it is not as bad as everyone thinks. First stop was the glass elevators to take us to the Lido, a bit of a tradition on this our 4th cruise.

 

 

 

First trip in an elevator, has to be one of the glass ones!

 

The ship is in great shape and is nice and clean. Before we set sail, we saw many crew members out and about cleaning and performing minor maintenance and even adding a coat of paint where necessary.

 

 

 

 

We eventually found our way to the Lido deck for some food as we needed to start getting used to eating whenever we wanted! The Lido deck was well organized and we never had a problem getting a table inside or outside on the lido. All during the cruise, lines were never that much of an issue, at most 4 -8 people in front for the Mongolian grill and maybe 4- 6 people for omelettes (maximum). We ate at the Lido for breakfast and lunch every day and ate in the main dining room each night. The only time I saw a very large line was for the Chocolate Buffet and that one was very long indeed (I ate at the grill that day so avoided the line altogether) but my wife and son got in it early enough to avoid a long wait.

 

 

 

 

While we were eating lunch, the entertainment was great, these guys did all the good island songs and were quite entertaining whenever they played.

 

 

 

 

 

After the kids finished eating, they walked around and around the pool, next time we will pack swimsuits in the carryon bags (lesson learned parents)!

 

 

 

 

 

If the pool was open, there was usually someone in it. The pool was quite big and was heated on sea days! On the trip down to Puerto Vallarta, the calm seas made the pool relaxing, but from the time we turned to head back north from PV, the pool became a wave pool and was a lot more fun for the kids in it!

 

 

While we were waiting for the room and for our luggage, we walked about the ship getting used to the layout and taking photos. The luggage showed up prior to the muster drill and prior to sail away, but we did not get it fully unpacked until after dinner.

 

As has been mentioned, the muster drill did not require life jackets and we planned to get there after the crowd so we were at the front of the line and not the back squished against the walls. Get there a little after everone else and you wont be so squished.

 

Lots of pictures are about to come from the first day on the ship:

 

 

 

Thats it for now, thanks for the encouragement so far. Will finish the embarkation day later tonight.

[jimbo5544]

Nice review so far, enjoying the pics as well.

[airlink diva]

Great review so far stay_or_go!!!

I agree with you on the kids carry ons! When I fly with my nephew, there are few things that's a must have!! I need one or two cars or trucks,a coloring book,goldfish,etc. This is to keep all of us sane!!!

I love the pictures on all reviews and keep it coming!

[Darlipoo]

Loved the picture of the Santa Monica pier. That is my hometown . Many years ago the end of the pier fell off so it is shorter than when I was little. Can't wait for more of your pix as I will be on the ship this Sunday. Thanks a ton.

[5waldos]

The pool is heated on sea days? YEA! This is the first I have heard of this. Delightful review- looking forward to reading more.

[stay_or_go]

Sunday January 10th : Embarkation Day (continued)

 

 

From the upper decks, you can get a good view of the Dome and the Queen Mary. I thought there might have been some historical information on the Dome and its original contents, but I did not see anything anywhere. I may have missed the historical information though as we were only outside of the dome for a short while and saw nothing inside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The adults only pool looked to be used only by adults during the cruise and the hot tubs seemed to be full every time I was looking for one while my kids were out and about doing something else. The ones on the deck 10 above the lido usually had room for everyone. They were for both adults and kids and the kids that were in them were well behaved and polite when I was there.

 

In general children caused no issues on the ship during the week, they were well behaved and I don't think I ever heard any running the halls late at night. Only once all cruise did I find all the buttons pushed in an elevator and after my shore excursion in Mazatlan, I used the elevators quite a bit....

 

My daughter loved the kids splash pad and found the water tolerable on the sea days heading south when the sun was quite warm. The whole week, I don't think I saw too many children using it though. I am sure on cruises in July and August with very high temperatures it would be used often.

 

 

 

 

The water slide was cool, my son used it quite a bit and the Circle C gang seemed to enjoy it as well.

 

 

 

Speaking of Circle C and Camp Carnival, some Camp Carnival shots are up next.

[BKozaki]

Great pics!!! Been following it intently as we are going on the same trip in 18 days. As for the dome, it used to house Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose... The plane that was a boat... not sure what happened to it.

 

Brian

[stay_or_go]

Sunday January 10th : Embarkation Day (continued)

 

Melanie was in the older group of Camp Carnival and Jonathan was in the Circle C group. Usually my kids find Camp Carnival the best part of the cruise and Jonathan again had a great time in Circle C. Melanie did not enjoy Camp Carnival as well as other cruises as the CC staff did not seem to be in playfull moods for the cruise. The facilities were good though and I have the capers to post later on. For now, here are some of the shots of the CC area for younger (2-8) and older (8-11) kids. No matter what though, Melanie still made some friends and did have fun with one of the CC staff.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Splendor Lobby looking up from the bottom.

 

 

[deepnite10]

we were Zone 4 too..:)

 

[imaboo]

"Splendor looking up from the bottom"

 

That is one of the most unique atrium views I have ever seen. Well done.

[iggy's mom]

Thank you for your review. It is bringing back wonderful memories from our cruise last year on the Carnival Splendor!

[stay_or_go]

Sunday January 10th : Embarkation Day (continued)

 

Warning : Food Porn Alert (not for sensitive types)!

 

We ate in the dining room each night for dinner. Are waiters were Roni from Thailand and Joseph from The Philippines. They did a good job and made their recommendations for the dinners each night. They were friendly and used our names from the get go.

 

We have had better and more exciting waiters in the past and some that could do magic and special tricks for the kids, but those waiters are few and far between.

 

Roni and Joseph did a good job and we saw them most mornings on the Lido working breakfast as well.

 

 

I missed the starters the first night with the camera but got all other dishes from that point onwards.

 

First Up: Jayne's Sweet and Sour Shrimp

 

 

 

Jonathan's Ribs (which Melanie had as well) :

 

 

 

My Tilapia:

 

 

 

Jonathan's Banana Split (which anyone can order anytime from the kids menu)

 

 

 

My WCMC:

 

 

 

Jayne's Creme Brulee

 

 

And Melanie had lime sherbet topper with a raspberry.

 

[imaboo]

OMG - you're killing me. I think I need to log off now *giggle*

 

You're doing a great job btw. If you can't tell by the responses, let me chime in and say - More please!

[stay_or_go]

Sunday January 10th : Embarkation Day (final)

 

 

Here is the final dish that night and the towel animal that awaited us when we returned to the room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our room steward was Roy and he did an excellent job, exceeded our expectations all cruise. He just seemed to know when we were out and about and when we needed something. He did one heck of a job.

 

 

 

 

 

The cabins were great as usual, even with 2 adults, 1 teen and 1 youngster. The only problem we had is that the bathroom shower flooded the room quite a bit. You would almost need to turn off the water every few min so that the basin would drain a little or the room would be totally flooded.

 

After putting the kids to bed, we roamed the ship a little more but turned in pretty early, around 11 or so.

 

Next up, the first relaxing day at sea!

[Drew B]

The only problem we had is that the bathroom shower flooded the room quite a bit. You would almost need to turn off the water every few min so that the basin would drain a little or the room would be totally flooded.

 

I had that problem for the first few days of my cruise on Splendor, too. I finally called maintenance, and they came out to clear the drain, and things improved substantially.