Just back from the Holiday!!!

[bonniemari]

We just returned from our 4 day cruise on the Holiday and I can't say enough good things. We had given this cruise to our 2 children and their spouses as a Xmas gift. My DD has cruised before but for the other 3 it was there first cruise.

 

We arrived at the pier around 10:30 and were told by the officer at the entrance to go park across the street as they we not letting people come in until around 11. About 5 til 11 he motioned us to come over they were letting the new passengers board. We drove in, my DH dropped us and our luggage off. Although we had booked specific cabins I knew from the Carnival website we had been upgraded from 6A-6D so we didn't bother putting our luggage tags on-we got the correct ones when we got to the terminal. The guy there just wrote our last name and new cabin numbers on them and took them away. One of the perks of the Carnival Vacation CLub is complementary upgrades when available so I think this is why we were upgraded even though I had booked specific cabins. Our kids are not members of the Vacation Club but since I booked their cruise through the CVC they were also upgraded. Our luggage was in our cabin by 2:30.

 

Since I booked this cruise using my points from the CVC we were able to use the Skippers Club for check in. We were checked in and on board within 20 minutes. I spoke with a couple of people that got to the terminal around 12-1 and they said even though the regular line was getting long it moved fast and it took them about 30 minutes to get checked in. The terminal at Mobile is brand new and it is quite nice. The people working there was friendly getting on the ship as well as when we got off.

 

We dropped our carryon luggage in our cabin and went up to the lido deck to get lunch. It was kind of cool outside so we sat inside and ate out lunch. I was glad to see that the Holiday has a deli station like the larger Carnival ships. I justl love the rueben sandwiches so guess what I had?

 

The food on the ship was excellent. I am not a big fan of buffets but what I did have was great. The last day there was southern fried chicken and being from the south I was skeptical-but it was excellent. Now the southern cornbread was a different story-but I am picky about my cornbread. The food in the dining room was very good. My beef was cooked right everytime and the lobster was cooked just right. If you are a fan a orange-try the diet orange cake-it is really good and if you are like me you can save a few calories and still eat something good. That's not to say I counted calories on this cruise-far from it-just every little bit helps. I also reccomend the Baked Alaska. We usually don't eat lunch in the dining room but since it was cool the first sea day we did and it was as good as the dinners.

 

We also got a letter in our cabin saying that our presence was requested at the captains cocktail party and to call Roz at the pursers office. I called her and we were to meet her at main lobby the night of the cocktail party. She personally escorted us up to the party and introduced us all to the captain and his staff. Then she took up to a reserved table and couch where able to sit with captain and his staff. There was already a plate of different appetizers and there waiters there to take our drink orders. There wasn't much chatting with the captain as his english was about as good as my italian. But the other two senior staff members spoke excellent English and we were able to sit and talk with them. It was a nice surprise.

 

We spent the day at Paradise beach and thoroughly enjoyed it. The guacamole and salsa were really good and the drinks had just the right amount of alcohol. Since I have been to Cozumel several times we skipped the shopping. Two of the kids did the Beach Buggy and Snorkel and they had a blast-so much so they missed dinner that night-too much fun and sun.

They also bought an anniversary ring at Diamonds International-talked them down from $2200.00 to $1400.00. So it does pay to haggle with the shops in Cozumel.

 

Had pretty good luck in the casino-I am a three card poker player and did well. I won a $700.00 on $5.00 slot machine-but the $1 and $.25 just didn't pay off that well. The casino staff were some of the nicest I have ever had the pleasure of playing cards with.

 

Didn't see any of the shows because i had seen them on previous cruises but the kids said the comedians were pretty funny. And a lot of people said Shout was a good show. But I did watch the guest talent show on the Tv and there were some pretty good performers. A couple of them I had heard in the Karokee and they were great at karokee and where even better accomapnied by the orchestra. And I must say that the cruise director Greg was really funny but not in the corny was some of the CD's are. I'm sure he will be moved up to a biiger ship soon-he is that good.

 

Now the only negative part of the cruise and this is not Carnival's fault. I guess since it was a shorter cruise there seemed to be a lot more extremely drunk people onboard than on any cruise I have even been on and this was my 16th. On the second sea day there was some really disqusting behavior up on the lido deck-so much that 2 girls had to be literally picked up by security staff and taken to their cabins. From the little I saw-the expression get a room comes to mind. And I will let you use your imagination.

 

My DIL won the drawing from the comment card. We arrived back in Mobile around 7 this morning and we were off the ship by 8:45 and on our was home by 9.

 

I highly recommend the Holiday. I have been on her 3 times now and the food is excellent, the staff is nice and friendly and the ship is nice and clean. Plus you don't have to spend 1/2 your cruise trying to figure out how to get around the ship. My son who is not married couldn't get off work to go with us so I am going with him again on the Holiday in May. So I am looking forward to that since we had such a good time on this cruise.

[abbyndrewmom]

Thanks for the great review. After her recent problems it is nice to hear some good things about the Holiday. We will be on her in March with My Mom and Dad, Dhs Mom & Step Dad and my sister.

[Ryic]

Thanks for the review. I will be on Holiday this month.

Did the weather warm up for you on the first day out, or was it still cool. Trying to figure out what to pack.

[Cotton]

GREAT review, Bon, thx for posting it so more folks will KNOW the Holiday's still a great ship!:) (They must have added a deli since my last cruise on her?)

[bonniemari]

The deli is just a station (like the omlet station) in the Wharf Bar & Grill. It is located right in front of where they have the desserts and across from the salad bar.

 

The first sea day was kind of cool. Don't know the temp for sure but I would guess it to be in the 60's-but with the wind it seemer cooler. I would pack a warm set of clothes (jogging suit) to wear at least part of the first day and also later on in the afternoon the last sea day. The temp started to drop around 3 the last sea day. The kids were laying out in the sum but came in around 2 cause it got chilly outside.

 

You will have a wonderful time on the Holiday-she is still a GREAT ship.

[Robin9092]

Thank you for the great review of the Holiday! You got me more excited than I already was, believe it or not. I am going to be on the Holiday this May with my Mother and Sister, we are TOO excited. But to be honest started to get a little scared when reading some comments about this particular ship. The rueben sounds delicious, cannot wait to sit by the pool with a bahama mama and a rueben.

 

PS... I see that you will be on in May as well. We leave on the 19th!:D :D :D