Carnival Triumph Review!!

[nolababe504]

This was our 3rd time traveling with Carnival and we elected to choose a 7 night aboard Carnival Triumph March 5 - 12, 2011 out of our home port of New Orleans, with ports of call being Key West Florida, Freeport and Nassau Bahamas! Which we dubbed our "The Escape From Mardi Gras Cruise"!

　

Embarkation: It gets pretty hectic during Mardi Gras, so with that being said, a trip to the cruise terminal usually takes us about 5-8 minutes tops to get to from our home depending on traffic. So we had a good idea to leave somewhat earlyish, around 10:00 which should have allowed us the nessasary time to circumvent the parades which were to begin at 12:00 noon. What slipped our minds was that due to some inclenent weather, some of the parades that had been scheduled to roll days prior, had in fact been cancelled. So they were being re-scheduled to roll that morning! The adventure begins! We got halfway to the port and realized we couldn't take our normal route, because the streets were blocked off! We turned around and started going back the way so we could get on the interstate and hop off on a exit that would allow us to get to our destination. We finally got to the port after a nice cop let us pass anyway. WOOHOO!! We finally got to the port around 12:15. I didn't take pictures on the way to the port because we were busy running our mouth and had the camera in my purse and just forgot!!

[Rockportgirl]

Oooh, can't wait! Triumph reviews seem few and far between.

[nolababe504]

We waited and waited then finally got through security. We got stopped and they wanted to see what was in one of my bags, I got kinda scared being as it was our first time smuggling alcohol with our carry-on, needless to say they just wanted to check a insulated cup that had a metal belt clip and that was making them question what was in it. Ahh...quiet a relief they didn't confiscate my alcohol:) I was like let me help you with that. I know that is what made the scanner go off was the metal clip. He wanted me to open it because he couldn't figure out how to unscrew the top:( So I helped him and then closed my bag back up real fast!!! I also made a bon voyage "gift basket" with sparkling italian water and the bottles were filled with vodka and malibu!! Didn't even question the gift basket at all!! We then proceded up to the area to get our sign and sail cards and were given a zone number. Went and got our photo taken and sat in the waiting area until our zone was called. A friend of ours was already on the ship and called to see if we finally made it here. So he told us just to hurry up and get on the ship so we just went up and started talking to these people that were already boarding. We ditched our zone number card in a chair we were sitting in. No one ever asked for a number or anything. We were on the ship around 1:15. Took us an HOUR:( So we just walked happily up the gangway to the ship!! First stop we had was a DOD:) Then we went outside on the Lobby Deck and took a few pictures and waited on our friend Randy that was already onboard. He came down and meet us outside on the deck.

 

ME!!

BF

[nolababe504]

Oooh, can't wait! Triumph reviews seem few and far between.

 

 

I know, thats why I wanted to do this one!! I know its kinda late being as we sailed in March but I guess late is better than none!! I have tons of pictures of the ship also. I am going on the Ecstasy in October and can't find that many reviews with pictures on that ship:(

[nolababe504]

We then decided to walk around the ship and proceeded to do the bean bag toss at World's Bar Deck 5, midship!! Of course you get a ship on a stick:) So we made our way up the lido deck to see what was going on up there and meet some of the people Randy was with. Hung out with them for a little bit and decided to go check if our rooms were ready!! Sure enough the rooms were ready:) We dropped our stuff in there and relaxed on our balcony for a little while. Then we were leaving the cabin to go to the lido and our luggage was waiting outside in the hall. We decided to stay in the room and unpack into our new home for the next 7 days!!

 

They had stopped boarding due to a severe storm we had:( Well it didn't bother me because we were already on the ship! Let our vacation begin!! I felt sorry for the others in the terminal but I was having a good time already!! Here are some photos from the balcony!!

 

 

 

[nolababe504]

 

 

 

[Cruiser from MS]

We were getting off the ship the day you got on.... We got caught in that horrible storm going home. I had never been to New Orleans and wanted to see a little bit of it, I especially wanted to see one of the parades but due to the storm we did not get to do that. I loved the Triumph and cruising down the Mississippi. I think that cruise is one of our favorite cruises.

[mdxter]

I am glad I stumbled into this thread. We are set to sail on RCL Voyager of the seas for Feb 18, 2012 (Saturday before mardi gras). Coming from Kenner, we will be taking Tchoupitoulas St. all the way to port and avoid the pontchartrain expy. Thanks for the heads up!!! enjoying your review.

[nolababe504]

I am glad I stumbled into this thread. We are set to sail on RCL Voyager of the seas for Feb 18, 2012 (Saturday before mardi gras). Coming from Kenner, we will be taking Tchoupitoulas St. all the way to port and avoid the pontchartrain expy. Thanks for the heads up!!! enjoying your review.

 

 

We are trying to debate what cruise we want to go on for next year. We are going to go on the conquest because it is close to home no traveling, but we really want to go on the Magic that will be Galveston!! I don't really want to drive or fly that far when we have a port right here. The price for the conquest and magic are basically the same except we will have travel expenses to go to Galveston. I think it is worth it!! Hopefully we can decided soon:) We love cruising during Mardi Gras because we get to escape all the tourists coming in!! The ship is mostly full of locals, this cruise they said it was only like 10% of people who were from out of the state!! Everyone we ran into were from around here!!

[nolababe504]

Boarding began to proceed. We get a call from my BF's boss and he and his family are now on the ship!! We went and meet them on the lido for a few DOD'S!! They decided to go to there cabin and put there things up. We then decided to go back to our cabin which was 10 cabins down!! Boarding was done by 4:00 and we were at the muster drill around 4:30. We went at the very end and stood in the first line for about 5 minutes!!! Can't stand being so crowded together in such a little place. We then got dismissed and get ready for our sailaway party. Needless to say we didn't have one because the storms started back up. We sat in port for a few more hours because of the weather. We finally ended up leaving NOLA around 8:30PM. It didn't bother me, other people were complaining about it. (I could be on the ship just sitting in port as long as all the activities, shopping, and casinos were open:) LOL.

 

Around 6:00 we all went to the MDR to eat dinner. I didn't take any photos of the food:( I don't remember exactly what we had each night of the cruise!! I know we did order about 2 of each item. Being as we go out to eat a lot at home and we all share the food. No we didn't each order 2 of each thing. LOL. The food was amazing and delicious like always!! I know for dessert I had Chocolate melting cake every night along with creme brulee!! (just some of my favorites)

 

After dinner we decided to split up from our group for a bit and go and do our own thing!! I went back to the cabin and took some pictures on the balcony of us leaving port. Around 8:30 we went to Club Rio and did some Karaoke. It was hilarious and always fun to go and see:) Our friend Randy sang all the time. (even brings his own Karaoke CD's!!) I eventually told him that is should be called Randy karaoke, LOL. After that we went into the casino and walked around the ship for a while. At 10:30 I went to the welcome aboard show, which was good as always!! We had a long day and decided to go to bed after that!! When we got to the cabin we found this little animal and filled out the room service for breakfast for the next morning. We stated that we wanted it to be delivered between 8:15 - 8:30.

 

 

 

UP ON THE LIDO DECK

[nolababe504]

Sorry about the line in the photos this is my backup camera. My other camera is awesome when it wants to work. It has a mind of its own. If it doesn't want to come on it will say battery is dead even if you change the batteries. I don't know whats wrong with that camera!! CRAZY!

 

 

MY TOWEL ANIMAL FOR THE NIGHT!! Ilove these!!

[flounder315]

Thanks for the review. You are doing good so far, can't wait to read more. I totally agree with you about not wanting to leave from another port when we have one right in the backyard. NO or you and Galveston for me. I'm booked on the 1st voyage on the Triumph out of Galveston Oct 6th and another one Dec 1st. I can't wait to explore the Triumph.

[nolababe504]

Thanks for the review. You are doing good so far, can't wait to read more. I totally agree with you about not wanting to leave from another port when we have one right in the backyard. NO or you and Galveston for me. I'm booked on the 1st voyage on the Triumph out of Galveston Oct 6th and another one Dec 1st. I can't wait to explore the Triumph.

 

 

Thanks so much!! This is the first review I wrote, Hope it aint to boring...

I am going to miss the Triumph so bad!! I just love that ship. We have been on her three times. We are planning to do a b2b cruise on the Triumph and then the Magic. I have to wait till I can take that long off work. I want to go back on her after they do the upgrades!! Dying to get on the Magic:) So I see that you have been on the Ecstasy, do you have any pictures of your trip?

[JRock59]

I know, thats why I wanted to do this one!! I know its kinda late being as we sailed in March but I guess late is better than none!! I have tons of pictures of the ship also. I am going on the Ecstasy in October and can't find that many reviews with pictures on that ship:(

 

 

Nolababe drop me an email I have 2 albums of the Ecstasy I can send you! You will LOVE her she's a wonderful ship!:)

[nolababe504]

Nolababe drop me an email I have 2 albums of the Ecstasy I can send you! You will LOVE her she's a wonderful ship!:)

 

 

 

I just emailed you. Thanks so much!!

[TX Cruise Girl]

Putting your alcohol in a gift basket was a great idea!

[nolababe504]

Putting your alcohol in a gift basket was a great idea!

 

 

I will post a picture of it in this review. I had a card with it that I made and put something like Bon Voyage, Have a wonderful Mardi Gras!! Love Grandma!! The workers never questioned it!!!

[JRock59]

I just emailed you. Thanks so much!!

 

 

Just emailed them to you! :)

[adamsfly]

Hello there neighbor, lol.....enjoying your review. Keep it coming.

[platinum.wannabe]

Lovin' this review! I'll be on her on October! :)

[nolababe504]

1ST SEA DAY!!

SUNDAY MARCH 6, 2011

We woke up around 8:00 to open the door for room service. They were 15 minutes early!! WOOHOO!! So we went out to the balcony and had toast and coffee! My favorite thing about having a balcony.... We then decided to get dressed and called the others and see if they wanted to go the MDR for breakfast. They were all asleep so we decided to go alone!! Had a nice light breakfast and went and lounged out by the lido deck for a while... we decided to go get in the hot tub around 11:00 and was having a really great time!! Had a few DOD'S by then!!

 

 

We got out and went to the cabin and changed. Decided to open my gift basket and make us a few drinks in the cabin. Then we went to do karaoke again at 2:00 at World's Bar. We did miss the hairy chest contest. I also missed the digital scavenger hunt (which I really hated, its so much fun). I was in the cabin getting ready.... I can always check it out again on the next cruise or on the t.v. that is always playing the video. Randy was always singing in Karaoke. He even made it to the Legends show..more about that later..

 

 

 

 

 

 

[nolababe504]

Just emailed them to you! :)

 

 

Thanks so much I am about to go look at them!!

[nolababe504]

Hello there neighbor, lol.....enjoying your review. Keep it coming.

 

 

Thanks neighbor! HAHA.

[jdminark]

Bout time we finally get to see the review!!! we were on there with you guys, we are gonna do the conquest on the 26th of Feb this time.

It took so long trying to get through the parades I thought we were gonna miss our cruise, we had plenty of time being late leaving anyway with that hella storm! Looking forward to the rest of your review, I took a ton of pics and planned to sit and write one but well I just have not taken the time to do it LOL! James

[dfmeeks]

I'm loving your review & pics! We'll be on her spring break 2012. I'm surprising my DH with a balcony aft wrap.

 

We were on the Conquest last November & had a blast. I'd go on her again in a second! But, I'd love to try Magic due to the cove balconeys. I love being close to the water!

 

Thank you for taking the time to write your review! I don't care that it's late. As they say, better late than never! Now, keep it coming!