A study of our Triumph voyage June 2-7

[KORTAM]

Just a few notes and thoughts about our journey. Sorry no pictures. 5 day out of Galveston. This ended up longer than I thought hope it doesn't bore you too bad.

 

Did Faster To The Fun and was on by 11:30 and of course enjoyed all the perks of having it EXCEPT we did not get our luggage until around 5:30. This caused some distress but after our second trip to service desk they put a search out for them and refunded the $$ for FTTF as they agreed we should have had them hours earlier. Didn't have to ask for refund they just did it. Come to find out the baggage guy did not mark them appropriately. So all was good in the end.

 

Guy's was awesome (grease and all). Had at least a little something from there each day. Burrito bar was good, enjoyed the Chopped Stick's and Pizza Pirate was good. Had the taste bar three nights and enjoyed it as well.

 

Tried the buffet once and it was nasty also walking in there during the busy times make me lose a little faith in man kind. Feeding trough is what comes to mind.

 

Room service and deli was good as far as food goes. As far as service, room service sucked for morning delivery out of five days they got it right once. One day was late, one was WAY early and two days they didn't even have our orders.

 

Our past couple cruises we have lost hope in eating in the dinning room. The food has been so so or worse and the service was really bad and VERY slow, but we tried the dinning room mid week and it was GREAT. Wonderful service and good food. I only had one dish that was just warm, everything else was hot. We ate there for dinner the rest of the week for dinner. Brunch is another thing. Tried it on last sea day; we ordered Eggs Benedict, and I ordered mine with the sauce on the side. Did it come that way? No, it was like two golf balls with dried browning yellow stuff on them. The wife said the Canadian bacon wasn't bad. Luckily I ordered Mac and cheese with steak also and it wasn't too bad. The biggest thing I missed as far as food goes was the steak house.

 

We did Cheers and Carnival won. We tried to get our money's worth but couldn't. Will go back to Bon Voyage booze. Glad we tried it to see. We figured it was a good time to try as it was a five day cruise and couldn't buy it until the first day after sailing because it left from Galveston.

 

The ship is showing its age in places like the state room but clean and really liked it. Didn't have the water park but the slide would get up and move. We did miss having the sports deck as we like the ropes course. All the staff was friendly. Did not do any production shows, but did both family friendly comedy shows on last day and one was really funny on was funny. Can't remember there names one man and one lady. No crowds for these don't; know about adult only as we where in bed by then.

 

The sound level on lido was overly loud as usual when the DJ was playing, but when the big screen was on or the solo guitar performer was playing it was load but bearable. The live music options that we saw all seemed to be pretty good. Not great but we enjoyed.

 

Carnivals customer service seems to be great. Of course we had the issue with bags, but also had a couple little things in room that needed attention and was taken care of ASAP. Also ran across some folks from home on ship and they had a couple issues and Carnival bent over backwards to help them. They even gave them a new room. We didn't have any ice in our room but just a quick request to or steward and had a full bucket the rest of the trip.

 

This was our first shorter cruise and it ended way to soon. Will stick with 7+ days unless a great deal comes along as in the case of this cruise. It was one of the "free letter" cruises.

 

Love to people watch, and the best I could tell there was not anymore drunks on the five day than a seven day cruise. Watched one group of younger girls and guys get wasted on the lido; grabbing each other in many sexual ways and walking around with one of the 101 once Red Frog tubes getting strangers to drink out of it. Love watching people get on the ship and pier runners. Had a couple runners (nothing bad) and watched a coupe people get carted on with a wheelchair from being wasted. Saw a couple guys wasted trying to smuggle something on in there shorts. The guy drops it onto the net under the gangway collects it up and best I could tell got on with it. And some of the outfits people wear should be outlawed. They must not have friends to tell them they look awful or mirrors to look in so they can see them selves. I can only imagine what people say about me.

 

I guess this was our first time to bring booze back from Galveston. Be warned the state of Texas will charge you taxes on each bottle you buy if your honest and stop when they ask if you bought any (which we did/are). Tobacco too.

 

We went to Progreso and Cozumel. Didn't do anything in Cozumel. Took the 4 mile bus ride into Progreso from pier. All I can say about this place is it will make you appreciate everything you have.

 

Debarkation was fast. Off and in car by 8:45. Did self debarkation.

 

This is all I can think of now. Will add more if I think of anything.

[mikaula]

Great review. Thank you!

[forwardcabin]

If you liked Triumph and you like 7+ day cruises and you have plenty of time in Oct-Nov, 2015, then you might like the 21-day total B2B Triumph is doing from Oct 24 to Nov 14, 2015. There is another such cruise in Jan, 2016 as well. This cruise leaves from Galveston and the first leg ends in San Juan Nov 4, 2014. Then the second leg is from San Juan back to Galveston ending Nov 14, 2015. In the 21-day B2B, it stops at 13 islands in the Southern and Eastern Caribbean.

Edited June 9, 2014 by forwardcabin

[KORTAM]

If you liked Triumph and you like 7+ day cruises and you have plenty of time in Oct-Nov, 2015, then you might like the 21-day total B2B Triumph is doing from Oct 24 to Nov 14, 2015. There is another such cruise in Jan, 2016 as well. This cruise leaves from Galveston and the first leg ends in San Juan Nov 4, 2014. Then the second leg is from San Juan back to Galveston ending Nov 14, 2015. In the 21-day B2B, it stops at 13 islands in the Southern and Eastern Caribbean.

 

Saw that. It would be cool but have a business to run. Someday!

[wstxn]

I enjoy the Triumph and my problem is the same as yours, the Triumph = only 4 or 5 days. I would like to do the 21 day back-to-back, but I don't have the time, either. I hope they continue to have occasional longer cruises out of Galveston, though. In a few years I will have more time.

[Leo's Rule]

Just a few notes and thoughts about our journey. Sorry no pictures. 5 day out of Galveston. This ended up longer than I thought hope it doesn't bore you too bad.

 

Did Faster To The Fun and was on by 11:30 and of course enjoyed all the perks of having it EXCEPT we did not get our luggage until around 5:30. This caused some distress but after our second trip to service desk they put a search out for them and refunded the $$ for FTTF as they agreed we should have had them hours earlier. Didn't have to ask for refund they just did it. Come to find out the baggage guy did not mark them appropriately. So all was good in the end.

 

Guy's was awesome (grease and all). Had at least a little something from there each day. Burrito bar was good, enjoyed the Chopped Stick's and Pizza Pirate was good. Had the taste bar three nights and enjoyed it as well.

 

Tried the buffet once and it was nasty also walking in there during the busy times make me lose a little faith in man kind. Feeding trough is what comes to mind.

 

Room service and deli was good as far as food goes. As far as service, room service sucked for morning delivery out of five days they got it right once. One day was late, one was WAY early and two days they didn't even have our orders.

 

Our past couple cruises we have lost hope in eating in the dinning room. The food has been so so or worse and the service was really bad and VERY slow, but we tried the dinning room mid week and it was GREAT. Wonderful service and good food. I only had one dish that was just warm, everything else was hot. We ate there for dinner the rest of the week for dinner. Brunch is another thing. Tried it on last sea day; we ordered Eggs Benedict, and I ordered mine with the sauce on the side. Did it come that way? No, it was like two golf balls with dried browning yellow stuff on them. The wife said the Canadian bacon wasn't bad. Luckily I ordered Mac and cheese with steak also and it wasn't too bad. The biggest thing I missed as far as food goes was the steak house.

 

We did Cheers and Carnival won. We tried to get our money's worth but couldn't. Will go back to Bon Voyage booze. Glad we tried it to see. We figured it was a good time to try as it was a five day cruise and couldn't buy it until the first day after sailing because it left from Galveston.

 

The ship is showing its age in places like the state room but clean and really liked it. Didn't have the water park but the slide would get up and move. We did miss having the sports deck as we like the ropes course. All the staff was friendly. Did not do any production shows, but did both family friendly comedy shows on last day and one was really funny on was funny. Can't remember there names one man and one lady. No crowds for these don't; know about adult only as we where in bed by then.

 

The sound level on lido was overly loud as usual when the DJ was playing, but when the big screen was on or the solo guitar performer was playing it was load but bearable. The live music options that we saw all seemed to be pretty good. Not great but we enjoyed.

 

Carnivals customer service seems to be great. Of course we had the issue with bags, but also had a couple little things in room that needed attention and was taken care of ASAP. Also ran across some folks from home on ship and they had a couple issues and Carnival bent over backwards to help them. They even gave them a new room. We didn't have any ice in our room but just a quick request to or steward and had a full bucket the rest of the trip.

 

This was our first shorter cruise and it ended way to soon. Will stick with 7+ days unless a great deal comes along as in the case of this cruise. It was one of the "free letter" cruises.

 

Love to people watch, and the best I could tell there was not anymore drunks on the five day than a seven day cruise. Watched one group of younger girls and guys get wasted on the lido; grabbing each other in many sexual ways and walking around with one of the 101 once Red Frog tubes getting strangers to drink out of it. Love watching people get on the ship and pier runners. Had a couple runners (nothing bad) and watched a coupe people get carted on with a wheelchair from being wasted. Saw a couple guys wasted trying to smuggle something on in there shorts. The guy drops it onto the net under the gangway collects it up and best I could tell got on with it. And some of the outfits people wear should be outlawed. They must not have friends to tell them they look awful or mirrors to look in so they can see them selves. I can only imagine what people say about me.

 

I guess this was our first time to bring booze back from Galveston. Be warned the state of Texas will charge you taxes on each bottle you buy if your honest and stop when they ask if you bought any (which we did/are). Tobacco too.

 

We went to Progreso and Cozumel. Didn't do anything in Cozumel. Took the 4 mile bus ride into Progreso from pier. All I can say about this place is it will make you appreciate everything you have.

 

Debarkation was fast. Off and in car by 8:45. Did self debarkation.

 

This is all I can think of now. Will add more if I think of anything.

 

Did you keep your FunTimes? If so, can you scan them? Thanks

[IPlayWithString]

The female comic you guys might have had (we were on the Triumph June 16-21) might have been Caroline Picard, the Cajun Queen of Comedy. She is HYSTERICAL. I don't remember the guy who was on ours as well with her because he just didn't seem like he was that funny.

 

Glad you enjoyed the trip. :)

[BallFour4]

We sailed the Triumph twice in June for 5 nighters. The volume level at the lido deck has become a problem. People with kids have moved to the aft pool, Carnival allows beer buckets and drinks in the pool and women were pole dancing on the chrome shower pole. People were standing on the benches by the pool grinding on each other.

The results were cannonballs by the kids in the hot tubs. Not a family environment.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[CoconutJD]

I guess this was our first time to bring booze back from Galveston. Be warned the state of Texas will charge you taxes on each bottle you buy if your honest and stop when they ask if you bought any (which we did/are). Tobacco too.

I was under the understanding that those taxes were only to be paid by Texas residents, and not by anyone residing outside of Texas, unless you were staying in Texas for longer than 48 hours post-cruise.

[TxChick]

We sailed the Triumph twice in June for 5 nighters. The volume level at the lido deck has become a problem. People with kids have moved to the aft pool, Carnival allows beer buckets and drinks in the pool and women were pole dancing on the chrome shower pole. People were standing on the benches by the pool grinding on each other.

The results were cannonballs by the kids in the hot tubs. Not a family environment.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

Yep, which is why we will stick to the aft pool this trip. Im all for a good time but even wasted I know how to conduct myself in public!

[erewhon]

Thanks for your review.

[KORTAM]

Did you keep your FunTimes? If so' date=' can you scan them? Thanks[/quote']

 

I don't, sorry

[KORTAM]

I was under the understanding that those taxes were only to be paid by Texas residents, and not by anyone residing outside of Texas, unless you were staying in Texas for longer than 48 hours post-cruise.

If that is the case it would have been nice if somebody would have clarified. Nobody asked or mentioned it.

[IPlayWithString]

When we were there last month, it didn't even really seem to me as if they were even enforcing the new law that strictly.

[KirkNC]

Thanks for the report!

[Leo's Rule]

I don't, sorry

 

Ok. Thanks.

 

Sent from my.Samsung Galaxy S5 using Forums mobile app

[tncap]

When we were there last month, it didn't even really seem to me as if they were even enforcing the new law that strictly.

 

Agreed. Everyone I saw walked right past them.