Just off the Carnival Breeze...my thoughts!

[JerseyshoreBruce]

Just back from the 8/31/2013 sailing of the Breeze. Here are my thoughts on Carnival and the ship! Stayed at the Hyatt Airport Doral West.....good hotel with shuttle from airport and to the ship. We booked The Miami Cab Company for transportation though so we would make sure getting to the ship early as we had FTTF. We were emailed not to showup till after 1:00pm but that wasn't happening. Got to port by 10:45 and were on the ship by 11:00...FTTF worked great the whole cruise! The ship is so much nicer decor than any other Carnival ship we have been on.....the colors flow from one area to another and this ship should stay in the carribean due to the decor! Muster drill was flawless and quick....our station was on the lower floor of the Ovation Theater....still boring though....lol. First the cabins....we booked a inside on the lido deck (10) as we had balconies the last few cruises and for the most part feel they are a waste of money unless you smoke or spend lots of time in the room which we don't. With that said the cabin size was smaller than any inside we had previously! Room service was great (Sergio) from Costa Rica took awesome care of us....ice bucket was always full and room imaculate. He made towel animals we never had before too and this was our 7th cruise with Carnival and leaving on another one in 2 weeks! Not much stuff for free in the bathroom anymore....but shower had full shampoo and shower gel all week. Now the food....room service was always on time with the food and it was good....Guys Burgers were very good...my personal favorite was The Ringer! Fries were awesome! Pizza (Pizza Pirate) 24 hours was the best pizza i have had on Carnival.....Pizzas are all made to order and no more ready made frozen ones...Thank you Carnival for that! The only lines i encountered all week was at Jimmys Seaside BBQ which i avoided as it was so hot outside. Plus i heard they were just ok and nothing to rave about. The Indian Food opposite side of the aft deck as the pizza was also awesome...we all loved it! Mongolian Wok was good.....Most stuff i had on the buffet was average to good......Butterfly Fried Shrimp were awesome but they didn't have cocktail sauce to scoop with it....alot of us wondered about that though you could have mixed ketchup and horseradish and made it yourself. The Italian Resaurant was booked solid till the last night so we went then....great food....great people....and so much i couldn't finish it and thats a first for me. 555 Farenheit the Steak House was good but very small.....you need reservations early for that too. Sushi was great....really loved it and for a great price. The crew on the whole ship was so friendly. Iguana Cantina was really good.....great choice of salsa's and so on. Taking a break and will be right back....any questions ask away.

[poptart]

sounds like a wonderful cruise so far!! :D

[cruising mickey]

Just back from the 8/31/2013 sailing of the Breeze. Here are my thoughts on Carnival and the ship! Stayed at the Hyatt Airport Doral West.....good hotel with shuttle from airport and to the ship. We booked The Miami Cab Company for transportation though so we would make sure getting to the ship early as we had FTTF. We were emailed not to showup till after 1:00pm but that wasn't happening. Got to port by 10:45 and were on the ship by 11:00...FTTF worked great the whole cruise! The ship is so much nicer decor than any other Carnival ship we have been on.....the colors flow from one area to another and this ship should stay in the carribean due to the decor! Muster drill was flawless and quick....our station was on the lower floor of the Ovation Theater....still boring though....lol. First the cabins....we booked a inside on the lido deck (10) as we had balconies the last few cruises and for the most part feel they are a waste of money unless you smoke or spend lots of time in the room which we don't. With that said the cabin size was smaller than any inside we had previously! Room service was great (Sergio) from Costa Rica took awesome care of us....ice bucket was always full and room imaculate. He made towel animals we never had before too and this was our 7th cruise with Carnival and leaving on another one in 2 weeks! Not much stuff for free in the bathroom anymore....but shower had full shampoo and shower gel all week. Now the food....room service was always on time with the food and it was good....Guys Burgers were very good...my personal favorite was The Ringer! Fries were awesome! Pizza (Pizza Pirate) 24 hours was the best pizza i have had on Carnival.....Pizzas are all made to order and no more ready made frozen ones...Thank you Carnival for that! The only lines i encountered all week was at Jimmys Seaside BBQ which i avoided as it was so hot outside. Plus i heard they were just ok and nothing to rave about. The Indian Food opposite side of the aft deck as the pizza was also awesome...we all loved it! Mongolian Wok was good.....Most stuff i had on the buffet was average to good......Butterfly Fried Shrimp were awesome but they didn't have cocktail sauce to scoop with it....alot of us wondered about that though you could have mixed ketchup and horseradish and made it yourself. The Italian Resaurant was booked solid till the last night so we went then....great food....great people....and so much i couldn't finish it and thats a first for me. 555 Farenheit the Steak House was good but very small.....you need reservations early for that too. Sushi was great....really loved it and for a great price. The crew on the whole ship was so friendly. Iguana Cantina was really good.....great choice of salsa's and so on. Taking a break and will be right back....any questions ask away.

 

Can't wait til our cruise on the Breeze on May 4, 2014; especially after reading your experience - great insight. Thanks

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Just back from the 8/31/2013 sailing of the Breeze. Here are my thoughts on Carnival and the ship! Stayed at the Hyatt Airport Doral West.....good hotel with shuttle from airport and to the ship. We booked The Miami Cab Company for transportation though so we would make sure getting to the ship early as we had FTTF. We were emailed not to showup till after 1:00pm but that wasn't happening. Got to port by 10:45 and were on the ship by 11:00...FTTF worked great the whole cruise! The ship is so much nicer decor than any other Carnival ship we have been on.....the colors flow from one area to another and this ship should stay in the carribean due to the decor! Muster drill was flawless and quick....our station was on the lower floor of the Ovation Theater....still boring though....lol. First the cabins....we booked a inside on the lido deck (10) as we had balconies the last few cruises and for the most part feel they are a waste of money unless you smoke or spend lots of time in the room which we don't. With that said the cabin size was smaller than any inside we had previously! Room service was great (Sergio) from Costa Rica took awesome care of us....ice bucket was always full and room imaculate. He made towel animals we never had before too and this was our 7th cruise with Carnival and leaving on another one in 2 weeks! Not much stuff for free in the bathroom anymore....but shower had full shampoo and shower gel all week. Now the food....room service was always on time with the food and it was good....Guys Burgers were very good...my personal favorite was The Ringer! Fries were awesome! Pizza (Pizza Pirate) 24 hours was the best pizza i have had on Carnival.....Pizzas are all made to order and no more ready made frozen ones...Thank you Carnival for that! The only lines i encountered all week was at Jimmys Seaside BBQ which i avoided as it was so hot outside. Plus i heard they were just ok and nothing to rave about. The Indian Food opposite side of the aft deck as the pizza was also awesome...we all loved it! Mongolian Wok was good.....Most stuff i had on the buffet was average to good......Butterfly Fried Shrimp were awesome but they didn't have cocktail sauce to scoop with it....alot of us wondered about that though you could have mixed ketchup and horseradish and made it yourself. The Italian Resaurant was booked solid till the last night so we went then....great food....great people....and so much i couldn't finish it and thats a first for me. 555 Farenheit the Steak House was good but very small.....you need reservations early for that too. Sushi was great....really loved it and for a great price. The crew on the whole ship was so friendly. Iguana Cantina was really good.....great choice of salsa's and so on. Taking a break and will be right back....any questions ask away.

 

Sounds like a good time was had by all.:)

 

So they made the insides smaller than 185 sq ft on the Breeze?

 

Was there any free sushi?

 

Bill

[JerseyshoreBruce]

My favorite drinking/food place was the Red Frog Pub on deck 5. Best addition to the ship in my opinion. Thirsty Frog Red is great beer....very filling and strong. The appetizers in the pub were really good and worth the 3.33 each...Conch Fritters were my favorite with the wings a close second. The outside area at the pub is really nice with a hot tub just 15 to 20 feet away.....nice peaceful hot tub. For Your Time Dining i think Carnival finally has it figured out as it went flawless...never waited for a table....waiter service was great...and food was always hot or at least warm....never cold. So out of all the food venues the only lines were at Jimmy's Seaside BBQ or the buffet after Grand Turk i believe. Biggest lines i had at Guys...Pizza or buffet were 6 people in front of me! Casino was nice and between my wife and i we won over a thousand with her the big winner on the Goldfish slots! Only went to one show cause i heard they were bad.....Beatles show was good....Hasbro the Game Show was fun. I was disappointed as i wanted to do the 4D Thrill Theatre but never got there :( Waterslides were the first i ever made it down with Carnival without pushing all the way....i flew in them with Twister being my favorite.....Water Works is alot of fun. Now for my only complaints for the whole cruise....#1 Matresses are hard and horrible so don't tell me they are still using the same ones John Heald. #2 Ship still has sewage odor on aft decks outside at the very least.....did it ruin it for me ...no i just avoided it. #3 or maybe this should be #1.....they play alot of crappy club music instead of Carribean type music...We are on a ship not in downtown Cuban section of Miami......please go back to nice carribean music.....example...Jimmy Buffet....Zac Brown....Kenny Chesney...Bob Marley! They seem to be trying to attract 16 to 21 year olds :( With the FTTF i was off the ship by 7:30

[JerseyshoreBruce]

Sounds like a good time was had by all.:)

 

So they made the insides smaller than 185 sq ft on the Breeze?

 

Was there any free sushi?

 

Bill

 

I believe they only had free sushi at the Taste Bar....i think they were 179 sq ft

[SkyMaster]

We'll be boarding next Saturday. Thanks for the insight.

Sorry to hear about the crappy club music. That's been my complaint about every Carnival cruise I've taken lately. They seem to think that they need to play music for the 18 to 25 crowd, when the majority of the passengers are closer to being the 40 to 60 crowd! :D I'm with you. Give me some good old "Island Music" or at the very lease mix things up a bit. :rolleyes:

 

"SKY"

[daisy7113]

We were on this sailing as well. I will post my thoughts within the coming days. All in all, it was a great trip. A few minor complaints. My biggest complaint I will add right now was the amount of people we saw walking around barefoot in the eating establishments. Putting their feet all over the furniture, picking their feet while sitting at tables. I even took a pic of 3 women sitting in the lobby level 3 sitting areas, all barefoot with their feet on the tables where you would sit a drink. Just very offputting. :eek:

[JerseyshoreBruce]

We were on this sailing as well. I will post my thoughts within the coming days. All in all, it was a great trip. A few minor complaints. My biggest complaint I will add right now was the amount of people we saw walking around barefoot in the eating establishments. Putting their feet all over the furniture, picking their feet while sitting at tables. I even took a pic of 3 women sitting in the lobby level 3 sitting areas, all barefoot with their feet on the tables where you would sit a drink. Just very offputting. :eek:

 

We did notice alot of cubans onboard and while not bashing cubans they did seem a bit rude at times......when elevator doors open i wait till all that were on it to exit....not most of the cubans .......they pushed right on :(I always had on a shirt and flip flops in the buffet

[JerseyshoreBruce]

I have alot of Honey do stuff to do for a few days...after that i will post some pictures......What did burn me up and i went right in her face and took her picture is a woman who on the morning when they did every lido deck poolside deck chair with towel animals....well she moved one towel animal front and dead center and plopped her butt down......nobody else even thought to do that.....ruined everyones picture. I will post that too in the coming days!

[Rottenapple]

thanks for the review......we on the Breeze for NYE....

[JerseyshoreBruce]

thanks for the review......we on the Breeze for NYE....

 

Enjoy! Its a beautiful ship.....Guys Burgers were very good and my friends at the Red Frog Pub were awesome. Use the 4 hot tubs on the sides of deck 5.....never crowded and the one is close to the Pub......they waited on us right in the hot tub!

[Rottenapple]

Enjoy! Its a beautiful ship.....Guys Burgers were very good and my friends at the Red Frog Pub were awesome. Use the 4 hot tubs on the sides of deck 5.....never crowded and the one is close to the Pub......they waited on us right in the hot tub!

 

 

I sure will.....thanks for the heads up for hotel too.....

[Georgiagolfer]

Thanks for the start of the review. Looking forward to the rest, especially the pictures.

[JerseyshoreBruce]

Forgot to also mention the VIFP Past Guest Party for Gold Members and higher is full size strong drinks now....no more tiny sweet drinks.....and they keep them and the food coming for the whole 45 minutes or more!

[lbfluffy]

Forgot to also mention the VIFP Past Guest Party for Gold Members and higher is full size strong drinks now....no more tiny sweet drinks.....and they keep them and the food coming for the whole 45 minutes or more!

 

Ooh I like that. When do you become Gold? We are Gold but our friends did not have Gold last cruise. They have been on a few Carnival cruises I think.

[san4u2]

Thanks for the review I will be on the Breeze Saturday can hardly wait.

[Mr305]

We did notice alot of cubans onboard and while not bashing cubans they did seem a bit rude at times......when elevator doors open i wait till all that were on it to exit....not most of the cubans .......they pushed right on :(I always had on a shirt and flip flops in the buffet

 

 

Just curious, how did you know they were Cubans?

[beachbaby2]

You missed out on great BBQ at Jimmy's. there is always a long line but it goes very fast. Wonderful food. Next time you sail on the breeze you must try it.

[Noel182002]

Forgot to also mention the VIFP Past Guest Party for Gold Members and higher is full size strong drinks now....no more tiny sweet drinks.....and they keep them and the food coming for the whole 45 minutes or more!

 

When was the party?? Love your insight!!! I'm glad you had a good time!!!

[PA Beachlovers]

I noticed you said the Italian Restaurant was booked every night until the last night. Is it possible to book it before you cruise or do you have to wait until you are on board to make a reservation.

[mephistoles]

We did the August 11th sailing of the Breeze and had a blast! I loved it. However, there was one main thing that irked me....and that was the group of young teens (pre-teens) that decided to run up and down the hall making lots of noise....so much so that I yelled at them to shut the ....well, it was annoying. I felt bad about losing my temper but they were old enough to know better. There were quite a few children on our cruise and for the most part, it wasn't bad...kids will be kids...but there were a few that I wondered if their parents just decided to dump them and let them be or something. 'twas interesting to say the least.

I also got a whiff of that "smell"...I couldn't remember exactly where we were when it occurred but it was definitely there. Not awful but it was just there.

Loved your review!

[Ms Belvedere]

Great review, thanks for the hints and tips, the good and bad. That's what I look for in a review. :)

[MIZZ_K]

Can't wait for my cruise on her in November.

[JerseyshoreBruce]

You missed out on great BBQ at Jimmy's. there is always a long line but it goes very fast. Wonderful food. Next time you sail on the breeze you must try it.

Trust me the line was really long and slow moving.....i know cause i was eating at the Sushi restaurant watching the line from the airconditioned ship :) Also my friends from Florida who eat southern all the time said it was sub par to what they normally eat!