Carnival Breeze.....thumbs down

[Woodawg]

I was on the Breeze for the 12/8 cruise, I enjoyed myself on that cruise.

My feeling is the cruise had some issuse but I didnt let the minor issues deter my vacation.

 

JMO..........................

[yogimax]

Your point of view, and many others is the reason I no longer have the Breeze booked for November 2013. The Celebrity Summit took it's place. I took a little hit in the pocket book but worth it to me. I'm pretty sure the chances of cruise success have increased dramatically.

 

 

Very smart choice!

 

We've been on Summit twice and will be back in January. You will find the difference between Celebrity and Carnival to be night and day. It is WELL worth the extra cost... and by all means enjoy the amazing T-Pool!

[yogimax]

Bottom Line... it isn't about towel folding - that indeed is the "small stuff."

 

The major concerns of the OP were food and entertainment and his comments are spot on.

 

We just got off the Paradise and I have already posted a food review. Bottom line... a major, major disappointment with a drastic decline in quality.

 

The same for the entertainment. The Production Shows remain good but the rest of the stuff was simply cost cutting. I have no desire to listen to fellow cruisers sing, nor do I think a dance class replaces a major show.

 

The OP raises legitimate concerns which many who have cruised other lines will immediately see.

[absolutely brilliant]

Bottom Line... it isn't about towel folding - that indeed is the "small stuff."

 

The major concerns of the OP were food and entertainment and his comments are spot on.

 

We just got off the Paradise and I have already posted a food review. Bottom line... a major, major disappointment with a drastic decline in quality.

 

The same for the entertainment. The Production Shows remain good but the rest of the stuff was simply cost cutting. I have no desire to listen to fellow cruisers sing, nor do I think a dance class replaces a major show.

 

The OP raises legitimate concerns which many who have cruised other lines will immediately see.

 

I totally agree. The main reasons we cruise is for entertainment & food. If I just want to chill out & relax I could stay home, watch tv..there are plenty of good shows to choose from, & order take out..also many choices.

 

We are booked on the Splendor in May & after reading so many negative reviews about Carnival I am starting to feel apprehensive about choosing this cruise. We have been on Disney & RCCL many times but had a good time on the Pride in 2010 & really like the convenience of driving to the port instead of flying. That said I certainly do not want to spend my vacation sitting on the deck reading a book or trying to find "something" to entertain myself other than watching fellow passngers baring their hairy legs in a drunken state. In the past there have been so many entertainment & dining options that it's been hard to choose which ones to skip but it sounds like it may be the opposite this time but I sure hope not!

[misguidedangel]

I wiuld never consider cancelling a cruise based on one persons opinion. Perhaps the reason the towel folding wasn't it the big lounge was the bg lounge was in use for rehersals or there is a group function in the lounge, hence the move to Ocean Plaza...

 

Everyone has to remember we all have our own perpectives on what is clean, what is a "cut back:", what is a crowd, and so on. I recall going on the Triumph and talking to an English couple in their 50's. The woman was going on and on and on about how filthy the ship was and how no one was cleaning. Well, I told her she must not have been up early or seen the cleaning staff. I get up early and noticed a lot of cleaning and never noticed that the ship was in need of cleaning, except for where people just casually left a plate, bowl, glass, and so on. Theredfore;, this couple's issues are their own and as we have seen in other posts, they are opposite to what others have said.

 

If you want crowds, I was on the first Western sailing of the Magic last November. There was over 4700 passengers on the ship and the first day is the only day when I noticed crowds and that was because it was chilly outside and no one wanted to walk on the outdoor promenade to get to the back dining room!

 

So please think twice before cancelling a cruise based on one bad review when there are dozens of positive reviews.

[DGP1111]

I don't get how you could not like the breeze just off last week and thought it was awesome.

 

Siskel and Ebert could see the exact same movie (sometimes in the exact same theatre), and have two very different reviews. Both were considered experts in their field.

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Not sure why that couldn't be the same thing on a vacation cruise.

 

But some people will defend/deny any harsh opinion of their favorite cruise line, or ship, as if those negative comments somehow diminish their own better experience.

 

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[LuckyZ]

My philosophy is that you'll never please 100% of the people all the time.

 

We're booked on the Breeze in June and we are very excited. And based on almost all reviews being very positive, I don't think we have anything to worry about.

 

We don't cruise for the shows and although we aren't blown away by the food, we think it's above average and always seem to find something we enjoy at every meal.

 

And seeing as the OP is a frequent cruiser on both Royal Carribean and Carnival, perhaps they had too high an expectation.

[flatman]

Ya know I've always said " a bad day on a cruise ship is better than a good day at work." Well now I know that's not always true.

 

We have always been able to make all of our cruises fun and enjoying. I think it's true most of the time, but here's my version of a bad cruise.. On the second day of a seven day cruise I fell getting out of the pool at Nachi Cocum in Cozumel breaking four ribs. I spent the next 5 cruise days sitting in my cabin on the edge of the bed unable to move or breathe hardly at all...Now that's a bad cruise. I would certainly have rather fight the crowds and put up with lousy entertainment than this.

[SMSACE6]

Koiman1, thanks for your post, and I look forward to reading your review. Please do post your review when you can.

 

I remember when the Dream first sailed, there were many people who brought up the crowding and crowd flow issue among other things. It seems as those troubles were addressed and fixed with that ship, so maybe it is because Breeze is a new ship, and your cruise may have been a particularly crowded one. I know they all sail full, ie staterooms all booked, but maybe there were more rooms with more than 2 or 3 per stateroom. I dont know, but I do appreciate that your experience was yours and yours alone, and while one person may have had an awesome time, you didnt.

 

So, once again please do post your review, and dont be offput by those who say "it just cant be!". Welcome home.

[ChefSusan]

We're also sailing on Breeze in two weeks, and are aware of the issues that have been reported. Looking forward to reading the OP's review!

[LizaMM]

I am looking forward to reading your review as well.

[mojitodiva]

Ditto with some of the things the OP stated.

 

For me Entertainment, music and dance will make or break a cruise. I want a ship that comes alive after dinner with great shows and different options for music and dance...Breeze I was bored in the evening.

 

I see on these boards a lot....don't sweat the "small stuff".... What is small stuff to one cruiser is big stuff to another and vice versa.

 

I do read reviews both good and bad of my upcoming cruises....When reading a bad review I decide if the bad points on the review would affect me and my cruise experience. One cruisers Bad is another cruisers Good.

 

Breeze has only a score of 59% liked it here on CC reviews not a good score.

 

Looking forward to reading the OP's review and what broke the cruise for him/her.

[Redsfan]

Ditto with some of the things the OP stated.

 

For me Entertainment, music and dance will make or break a cruise. I want a ship that comes alive after dinner with great shows and different options for music and dance...Breeze I was bored in the evening.

 

I see on these boards a lot....don't sweat the "small stuff".... What is small stuff to one cruiser is big stuff to another and vice versa.

 

I do read reviews both good and bad of my upcoming cruises....When reading a bad review I decide if the bad points on the review would affect me and my cruise experience. One cruisers Bad is another cruisers Good.

 

Breeze has only a score of 59% liked it here on CC reviews not a good score.

 

Looking forward to reading the OP's review and what broke the cruise for him/her.

 

 

59 percent based upon how many reviews on here? Very curious. Is there a review section you can vote yes or no to looking it, or is this based upon general comments?

[yogimax]

59 percent based upon how many reviews on here? Very curious. Is there a review section you can vote yes or no to looking it, or is this based upon general comments?

 

Check the "Reviews" section of Cruise Critic... Here is the result for Breeze compared with the previously mentioned Celebrity Summit...

 

CARNIVAL BREEZE - 59% LIKED IT BASED ON 122 REVIEWS

 

CELEBRITY SUMMIT - 80% LIKED IT BASED ON 867 REVIEWS

 

That is a MAJOR difference!

[Dave85]

I have a theory on the 'click' factor:

 

I used to wonder wow what a lil thing to complain about: But on my recent cruises I found myself getting annoyed with 'lil things.' What I think it is after you have some cruises under your belt and have built up a frame of reference if something doesn't meet past expectations this can put you off.

 

Definitely agree with this... This has been the case when we've sailed with friends who have been on fewer cruises. Our frames of reference are different and we perceive things accordingly.

 

Why? I assume every sailing on every ship there is someone that really really loved it,and someone who really really hated it, and everything in between.

 

This was exactly the case within the Meet & Mingle / Roll Call thread on my last cruise (Oasis). We had an excellent group who spoke regularly for months before the cruise, enjoyed some activities together on the cruise, and commiserated afterwards. A few people loved it (nothing but raves). The majority liked it (overall great experience with some minor quibbles here and there). A couple of people were very disappointed. We were all on the same cruise. I was in the middle group, and it was fascinating to see the divergent opinions.

 

I leave on Breeze one week from today and I look forward to reading OPs thoughts. I have certain expectations for the Breeze based on what I've experienced on many Carnival cruises, what I've read on here about the Breeze, and how my own personal likes and dislikes correlate with Breeze's offerings. We'll see how it is!

[PathfinderEss]

Sorry OP that your cruise did not go well, will wait for your review.

[Jemery]

I am leery when one or two folks complain about a given cruise; but every now and then, there's one that's for the books like the Breeze's Ocotber 25 cruise out of Barcelona. I haven't read a single positive review of that cruise, and having been on it, I know why, and if I ever get around to writing a review, there will be one more negative review. That being said, I would book a Caribbean cruise on her, since I have much lower expectations of Caribbean ceruises. I liked the ship a lot, but I've also noticed the negative reviews about her in the Caribbean.

[Redsfan]

Check the "Reviews" section of Cruise Critic... Here is the result for Breeze compared with the previously mentioned Celebrity Summit...

 

CARNIVAL BREEZE - 59% LIKED IT BASED ON 122 REVIEWS

 

CELEBRITY SUMMIT - 80% LIKED IT BASED ON 867 REVIEWS

 

That is a MAJOR difference!

 

Interesting......and shocked. A couple of these seem to have issues. Ours was not perfect but loved it. Still don't think I would base a booking upon reviews only. The boat is new and kinks will need to be worked out.

[Thebosn1]

I appreciate the folks who take the time and "put themselves ou there" to post a review on here. It's obvious that each person and each cruise are going to be different, but I look for patterns.

 

Most of the reviews for Breeze had stated the same negative issues but they are not ones that concern me, so I am not worried about my booking.

 

If I saw major issues being repeated that would make me reconsider. I have not seen a single person on here that has posted a review or an opinion that was not helpful, so thank you.

[bingomamma19]

We are on the Carnival Breeze waiting to get off. First the first time in my 12 cruises I am ready to get off of the ship. I really hate to say this but we have really been disappointed with Carnival this trip. I will do a full review when I can, to sum it up the MDR has real problems and the entertainment is really lacking on his ship. The waiters at our table put the blame on the kitchen.

As for the entertainment, for the first time I can say that the cutbacks Carnival has been doing are way obvious. I am a person who goes on a cruise to just relax and not look for the faults of the ship. I find myself in disbelief that I have been so disappointed in a ship. There are good items on the ship but not enough to over come what is lacking.

I will show pictures to help explain what I am saying. Before coming to this cruise I read reviews about the crowds on this ship, they are all true. Carnival does not know what to do with all of the people on this ship. For example, until I do my full review. Why would you schedule towel folding during lunch in a eating area. They did this in ocean plaza on a sea day, when people who are eating at the BBQ are looking for a place to sit and eat. The big joke for the trip became the saying " what were they thinking ". I do have a picture of this I will post during the review.

Time to get off our zone has now been called and my IPad is running out of juice. My review will most like be done after Christmas. When I get home I am going to cancel my next cruise which was also going to be on the Breeze.

 

Good luck to all who are getting on this ship I hope your cruise may be better than ours.

 

 

I will sailing on the Breeze jan 13th--I am sooo looking forward to it. I am pretty easy going and do not have a demanding type of personality. If the decks are too crowded, I will sit on my Cove Balcony. I am not a fan of the MDR--could take it or leave it-so if its not good, I will eat elsewhere.

 

I love all the games and activities they plan, I do go to the comedy and dance clubs and the casino. I see the production shows and watch the Karaoke. I stop in at the piano bar. And I just sit and people watch sometimes. I love to walk around the ship and just take it all in.

 

I was on the Dream in 2010-another one alot of people complained about-I loved it. And I also like the deck dj music. I think I am gonna love this ship!!

[Lady N Red]

I cruise because I love being at sea. I could sit on the balcony with a glass of wine and a good book for a week and be happy. So everything else takes second.. I would never change my plans due to someones views.. I am cruising on the Breeze 01/13/13 and 01/01/14 as long as it still sea worthy.

[bjd2]

I have been reading the reviews too and have seen many more negative ones for this ship than others. I am excited about our February cruise on her though and look forward to forming my own opinion. My husband doesn't ever look at reviews or anything else on CC for that matter so his opinions will be completely without any outside influence. I can be objective but of course will be now watching for some of the bad things that I've read.

 

I appreciate the OP's view and look forward to the full review as well.

 

It would really take a lot for me to not enjoy a cruise. We will see.

[sonicbuffalo]

I will post a review later of our December 8th cruise aboard the Breeze. I saw some things that looked like Carnival cheapening the experience, but overall....still a great value for the money. We enjoyed our aft extended balcony cabin...where I fell asleep several times listening to the wake.

 

The lines in the buffet were NOT bad, and plenty of places to sit. I will join in the chorus of complaining about the elevator traffic. We were on the 8th deck, and most of the time we would walk down to the 5th deck, or the 4th deck for dinner in the Blush dining room upper. Not too bad, but we did ride the elevators UP to get back to 8 most of the time.

 

Overall, we saw every show we wanted to see, and got there early. We skipped the 2nd elegant night since the menu sucked in the MDR. We had excellent table mates. We really enjoyed Kris and Allen's company. They had been on over 40 cruises and we learned a few things from them. One was just to go with the flow and enjoy the cruise. Only do what your comfortable doing.

 

The food overall was tolerable but not great. I liked Guys Burger Joint, but I always ordered mine plain with no cheese and then went to the topping bar. Unlike many complainers about the topping bar being so crowded, I never had any problem getting my toppings. I do recommend hi-jacking a bottle of ketchup from the lido buffet and bring it with you. They only have one pump for the ketchup and it was pitifully slow coming out, if at all.

 

That's all I've got for now, but it was a very enjoyable cruise! We'd do it again!

[Jemery]

I have been reading the reviews too and have seen many more negative ones for this ship than others..

 

Many of the negative ones are from the October 25 cruise in the Mediterranean, and they are more about Carnival corporate (inlcuding senior management on the ship) then about the ship itself. Carnival does the Caribbean prety well, so I would take another cruise on the Breeze, and with Carnival, but only in the Caribbean. Our experience on the Breeze was fairly good, except for the entertainment, for such a bad cruise.

[Redsfan]

our complaints were so minor that they never gave us a bad taste of our Cruise...we loved the Boat, loved the Islands and for the most part the service we loved. The Shows were okay at best, but they were not bad enough to form any negativity. The Shows are also not a fault of the Production but of Carnival not putting more into these in our opinion. The ship is awesome and has so many great features it outweighed any issues....having to pay for the 5D Theatre, Specialty Dining, etc, is a major complaint I outlined in my survey but that is a Carnival issue not the Breeze....anyone booked GO ENJOY THIS BOAT!