Just off the Triumph..10th cruise and I loved it!

[TxStacey]

I just got off the Triumph yesterday and to my surprise, I loved it!

 

I had booked this cruise 2 weeks ahead of time, as a last minute surprise for my husband's 50th Birthday. I had talked my friend and her husband into joining us. This was cruise #10 for me, #9 for my husband and #8 for our friends. Most of the time we book our cruises at least 9 months to a year in advance, so this was very new to us. We got a great rate on OV cabins on deck 1 since it was so last minute. We are not big partiers at all, but we love to have fun and maybe dance a little. We are in our late 40's and early 50's.

 

My friend and I had been on a 4 day "girl's cruise" a few years back and we thought we knew what to expect. That cruise was on the Elation, which we had been on several years earlier and she was really showing her wear and tear. We were not impressed..especially since we had paid twice as much as this Triumph cruise was costing us. We were very pleasantly surprised...we LOVED the Triumph!

 

Yes, there was a party atmosphere, but we knew that going in. If you are going to take a 4 day cruise to Cozumel, which is CHEAP...you are going to have a party atmosphere! It was FUN from the minute we got on the ship! Remember..our expectations were low..this was not a "dream" vacation for us. It was last minute and cheap. The Triumph exceeded our expectations.

 

Here are my observations:

 

The ship: LOVED it! I have been on Celebration, Elation, Ecstasy, Conquest, and Glory..so I had not been on this class of ship previously. It is just the right size and I liked the layout better than the Conquest.

 

The Food: It was just OK...not great, but not bad either. We ate in the dining room every night and never left hungy..so it was fine. The LIDO had to normal fare it always has..we loved the pizza and ice cream as usual. We never got room service so I can't comment on that. Breakfast was just the usual also.

 

The Staff: Never saw "Sparkles" the cruise director except on the TV replays. The other staff that ran the games, etc. were fine.

 

The Shows: We did not go to any of the production shows. We did go to Kareoke, which is always entertaining. We also went to the comedian one night and he was Ok..We loved the band that plays on deck 5 in front of the casino.

 

The Pool: We made sure we were "in position" at 8:00 every morning so that we could get the chairs that we wanted. The first morning the pool area didn't start filling up until around 9:00. On the last sea day, the chair hogs were out in full force earlier than 8:00. We still got where we wanted to, but had we gotten there any earlier, we wouldn't have.

I guess we are in the minority, because we liked the DJ..although we were very sick of the "cupid shuffle" and "the wobble" by the 2nd day. They did play both country and rock and some top 40..so we liked it. The dancing was very entertaining! Pool activites usually started around 11:30.

 

The Fellow Passengers: There really was a cross section of people on this cruise...there were very few children, but it was September. I saw people of all ages and backgrounds. There was a LARGE group of about 115 women who called themselves the "Divas". They all wore crowns and matching t-shirts each day. They did take over the cruise, but not in a bad way. They were having fun.

We also noticed that the majority of the passengers were first time cruisers. We knew this by the color of their sail and sign cards. We got many questions on the elevators etc..since we had gold cards around our necks. If this had been my first cruise, I would have been sold immediately!

 

We heard there were 3 fights on board, but didn't know the details as we weren't present for any of them. I am going to go out on a limb and say that this is probably common for this type of cruise.:rolleyes:

 

Cozumel: We went to Nochi Cokum..this was my 3rd trip there and it was wonderful as usual. It did rain off and on that day, but we loved just sitting there and eating the wonderful food and the "all you can drink" drinks.

 

Overall, this cruise was just what we needed..a cheap getaway that was fun. I would recommend it to anyone..just know that it is most likely going to be FUN..and probably have some partiers on it. If you don't like that type of atmosphere, it might not be a good cruise for you!:)

[sjn911]

Thanks soo for your review, i am so glad it was good..what a great 5oth B-day present..Sarah

[flounder315]

8 days till I get to get back onboard the Triumph. Can't wait, but I didn't get a balcony this time... :( I tried and tried but the prices just kept going up up & up.

[stewpapa]

Were on the Triumph earlier this month and had a similar experience. Also went to Nachi Cocum for the 5th time. Love it too. Will be back on the Triumph for the 3rd time in Feb. Can't wait. Like you, it will be my wife's 10th Carnival and my 9th so we (she) will be Platinum in Feb. Love the Triumph. Thanks for the review.

[TxStacey]

8 days till I get to get back onboard the Triumph. Can't wait, but I didn't get a balcony this time... :( I tried and tried but the prices just kept going up up & up.

 

You will be OK..we have become balcony snobs too..but we were hardly in the room this time, so it was ok. When I told my husband about the cruise he was sooo excited, until I told him we didn't have a balcony. He survived it though..it is true..once you go with a balcony, you dont ever want to go back. Have a great trip! I am jealous!

[TxStacey]

Were on the Triumph earlier this month and had a similar experience. Also went to Nachi Cocum for the 5th time. Love it too. Will be back on the Triumph for the 3rd time in Feb. Can't wait. Like you, it will be my wife's 10th Carnival and my 9th so we (she) will be Platinum in Feb. Love the Triumph. Thanks for the review.

 

I see that the Triumph was your first cruise. Has she changed much since then? I also see that you have been on the Ecstasy a few times. I have been on Elation and Ecstasy and I will give Triumph a huge thumbs up compared to those two ships. I am so glad that Carnival has put a nicer ship on the 4 and 5 day runs now..it gives us a much better product here in Texas.

My first was the Celebration and Im pretty sure I wouldn't like her has much now that I have been on bigger, newer ships. I still have a very soft place in my heart for her though.

[jandjtexas]

We were on the same cruise! Had a great time also. Went to Paradise Beach for the first time and loved it. Hardly anyone there. Even tried parasailing. Scared me but I still loved it. The Triumph is a great ship, only one I've been on so far. May try the Magic next time. Ready to go back!

[TxStacey]

We were on the same cruise! Had a great time also. Went to Paradise Beach for the first time and loved it. Hardly anyone there. Even tried parasailing. Scared me but I still loved it. The Triumph is a great ship, only one I've been on so far. May try the Magic next time. Ready to go back!

 

If you loved the Triumph, you will love a longer cruise on the Magic! I have not been on the Magic (hopefully this summer), but 4 days is just not long enough. Once you get a handle on the ship layout and relax a little, it is time to get off..:(

[sjn911]

If you loved the Triumph, you will love a longer cruise on the Magic! I have not been on the Magic (hopefully this summer), but 4 days is just not long enough. Once you get a handle on the ship layout and relax a little, it is time to get off..:(

 

Agreed about cruise time..so want to go 7 day next time..even if you add in port time..not the same and if a few things extra to release in your head..that is what half of the poorly thought out complaints are on here I think..folks need longer to debrief..hard to pull off sometimes..but we all do...sarah

[Kakboy]

Glad you had a good time and thanks for the review! We'll be on the Triumph at the end of October and cant wait!

[Texarribean Chick]

I was on this cruise as well and definitely a PARTY atmosphere that was tons of fun.

One thing I did notice from my last sailing on the Triumph this past January is that they have upgraded the in cabin tv's to flat screens - that was new!

[TxStacey]

I was on this cruise as well and definitely a PARTY atmosphere that was tons of fun.

One thing I did notice from my last sailing on the Triumph this past January is that they have upgraded the in cabin tv's to flat screens - that was new!

 

We were on deck 1, Riviera, in an outside room and our TV had not been upgraded. Im guessing they are in the process of changing out the TV's.

We did love the big screen out by the pool! It would have been even better if they could have gotten the Cowboy game on..I went in before the Houston game came on, but I am assuming that they did get it on out there.

[vivavegas]

Welcome back! Glad you had a good cruise! Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences with us!:)

[CruiseAdict218]

Glad to see you enjoyed your time on the Triumph.

[oldmedic]

can you tell us about the muster drill? especially about anyone with disabilities doing stairs?? thanks!!!

[jhale]

We were also on this cruise, the divas were quite a group!

 

We found the best food was in the Paris dining room for breakfast and lunch, we had YTD for dinner and our waitstaff seemed VERY overworked, they really need to work on this program.

 

The fights, I only knew of 2. The first night at the casino bar a girl smashed a glass in another girl's face because she was flirting with her husband. The guys had a little shoving match prior to this. Then on the last day, there was talk of a guy getting his teeth knocked out on the lido.

 

I have to say that this was one of the biggest party cruises we've been on in a long time, we still really enjoyed ourselves. We never saw Sparkles either out on the decks, the captain was thanking everyone when we got off, thought that was a nice touch.

 

We were in 7230 (an OS) and while we loved the room, our a/c seemed to cut in and out.

 

I sure wish I was on board right now. This making my own breakfast is old already, and it's only been 1 day, lol.

[stewpapa]

I see that the Triumph was your first cruise. Has she changed much since then? I also see that you have been on the Ecstasy a few times. I have been on Elation and Ecstasy and I will give Triumph a huge thumbs up compared to those two ships. I am so glad that Carnival has put a nicer ship on the 4 and 5 day runs now..it gives us a much better product here in Texas.

My first was the Celebration and Im pretty sure I wouldn't like her has much now that I have been on bigger, newer ships. I still have a very soft place in my heart for her though.

 

Yes, Triumph was our first and Honeymoon! We had to fly to Florida to cruise then. Didn't know what to expect, but were hooked. Honestly, I can't remember much about the ship back then, but that we loved it. Carnival as a whole has changed some overall, but we still love everything about it. We loved the Ecstasy and were sad to see it go, but now that we've been on the Triumph again, we are ok. It was great. Going again asap!

[LaShea]

I am so glad to hear this about the Triumph. We are taking our girls on their first cruise at the end of November on the Triumph. We have already been on the Ecstasy, Conquest and Magic so, this will be a new ship to me and my DH.:D I can't wait.

[okiegirl07]

I am so glad to hear this about the Triumph. We are taking our girls on their first cruise at the end of November on the Triumph. We have already been on the Ecstasy, Conquest and Magic so, this will be a new ship to me and my DH.:D I can't wait.

 

We took our two kids on the Triumph in January they absolutely LOVED it! When we were planning our "big" vacation for next year we asked them if they wanted to go to Disney World or on another cruise and they (mainly my son) picked a cruise! So we booked the Mgic this January. We are pretty excited. How did you guys like it compared to your other cruises?

[TxStacey]

We were also on this cruise, the divas were quite a group!

 

We found the best food was in the Paris dining room for breakfast and lunch, we had YTD for dinner and our waitstaff seemed VERY overworked, they really need to work on this program.

 

The fights, I only knew of 2. The first night at the casino bar a girl smashed a glass in another girl's face because she was flirting with her husband. The guys had a little shoving match prior to this. Then on the last day, there was talk of a guy getting his teeth knocked out on the lido.

 

I have to say that this was one of the biggest party cruises we've been on in a long time, we still really enjoyed ourselves. We never saw Sparkles either out on the decks, the captain was thanking everyone when we got off, thought that was a nice touch.

 

We were in 7230 (an OS) and while we loved the room, our a/c seemed to cut in and out.

 

I sure wish I was on board right now. This making my own breakfast is old already, and it's only been 1 day, lol.

 

 

I didn't know about the teeth getting knocked out..my husband is a dentist and maybe could have helped..:rolleyes: I think I know who it was though.

 

I heard the casino fight was Diva on non-diva..hmmm

 

Does anyone know what happens to these people that get into fights? The casino fight was the night before Cozumel, so I wonder if they put them off there? The pool fight was the last sea day. I heard they had to go to the jail cell on the crew deck, but I don't know if that is true.

 

I too wish I were still on board..it was FUN, FUN, FUN!

[Upandadam]

Nice that you had a great time, especially last minute like that.

 

We also love the Triumph. Have a real soft spot for her since she was our first cruise and the first ship we repeated.