Triumph 9/12-9/17 Review

[elililly]

We just got back from a great cruise! I got a lot of info from reading here and thought I would pass along what I experienced.

 

About us:

We are married in our forties. I have been on 6 cruises all w carnival and this was dh first.

 

We drove to New Orleans from Memphis on Saturday. We stayed at whyndam French quarter and it was nice. Did the stay and cruise where parking was free for the cruise while paying 167 for the room. Took cab to cruise and back.

 

We enjoyed Mardi Gras world,street car through garden district and walking French quarter during the day.

 

The port

I choose the earliest time 10-10:30. Thanks to yall when I received the email I knew what it was since it was confusing.

We were going to leave at 10 from the hotel but that morning our street was packed w cars and the day before when touring I saw people in lines outside waiting to board the dream. It was hot! And I wod rather wait in a chair inside so we left at 930 in a cab.

The cab driver went on and on about we were too early But when let out I saw the podium and went past all these people just hanging around. It was not marked so look hard for a worker.

I went w my paperwork and after her turning away the 4 people in front of us she looked at our time and waved us in. It was 945. She also yelled out she was taking folks w times through 11.

There were very few checking in. No lines. My last name was spelled wrong but the nice man checked the manifest and colored my name green and went kept going. Went through security w no line and to the table for drinks w no lines. My 12 pack was in rolling suitcase and she tore the middle where the handle is but didn't take it out.

Went through big big room all w seats to check in w no line. Got our sail cards and asked if we wanted to donate to Baton Rouge flooding of $5 and we said yes. Thought that was nice. Wound our way to our seats and our paperwork was stamped zone 2 no placards. We were seated at the front where everyone comes in the room so I just observed what people were wearing! It was great entertainment.

In this room was bathrooms and a concession stand. It was a little after 10. We started boarding at 1130 ish. By that time, all the chairs were taken like hundreds and the line was past were I was seating to check in probably another hundred in line. I felt we did the right thing getting the early check in cause we never stood in line but just sat in a comfy chair. You could tell many people were struggling w their luggage and 12 packs. Oh we also took a fan in the box in carry on and it went right on. I kept the box cause yall said so so thanks again.

 

I'll come back to go over ship, food, cabin, and our trip

To medical.

[Macklovin38]

Thank you for writing this review. I leave on her in 8 days.

Happy to hear you had a great cruise.

 

 

Carnival Elation 2012

Carnival Fascination 2012 and 2013

Carnival Dream 2014

Carnival Sunshine 2015

Carnival Triumph 2016

[ChargersFam08]

So looking forward to reading about your experience, as we'll be sailing next week! Thank you!

[elililly]

Cabin:

 

We were in 1047 balcony. We loved the location and now my husband will not be sailing with out one! We had coffee delivered every morning and he enjoyed Looking out the windows.

We did see someone smoking on their balcony once but that was all.

Our Stewart came driest day and filled out the card for us. I said I wanted night service. A few times by 830 or 9 pm we had not gotten cleaned which next time I would ask for morning. He did leave beach towels while we were using them so we ended up w 4. We just left the extras in the cabin.

The cabin was cool enough for us but I turned the thermostat as high as it would go! And we had the fan at night.

I asked for robes and got them but they were so scratchy- dh said he missed our snuggle we use at home!

 

 

Ask any questions and I will try and answer

 

 

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[nwo4life]

We were on this sailing, I hope you had as much fun as we did.

 

 

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[elililly]

Any time dining:

 

So this was my first at this. My husband s not a dress up person and I really could not decide which time (early or late) would work.

 

We arrived at 545 or 6 ish and sat right away. We were seated within inches of another couple. The man degraded his lady the whole meal which I didn't like! The waiter introduced himself gave out menus and then disappeared for about 15 min.

 

He waited until almost all his tables had been seated to get all of ours orders at once. Now if I had never been on a cruise I probably would not have noticed but I was hungry and did not want to fill up on the bread. Thankfully I ordered more than one of apps and entrees so there was notmuch lag time but for others there was a lot.

Everything was good. I had the shrimp and fish . Hubby had roasted chicken and veggies.

Had coffee which is free, along w tiramisu and cheese plate. Hubby had melting cake.

 

Elegant night

 

Again arrived at 545 and asked for a window seat. We were within a couple of inches from a different couple who never spoke a word to each other or anyone.

Had 3 app. Mushrooms, shrimp cocktail and scallops. Scallops were so small and 3 that you had to look for them! Had crab Ravoli and shrimp something. Which were both good. Hubby had prime rib which he liked. We decided to leave them and grab dessert on lido.

 

We never went again to dinning room for different reasons but we found plenty at lido buffet. We looked at menu each day and dinning room just didn't have much.

 

 

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[maldenmusic]

Glad you enjoyed your cruise. Triumph isn't my favorite ship but I have been on her twice, the last time July 2016.

[elililly]

We had a wonderful time and Carnival again went above and beyond.

We relaxed in the pools and Hot tubs and chillin at a table in the shade.

 

My husband never before had cruised and I needed to get him hooked! Which I did. He said we could go every year around our anniversary which was early September! He thought carnival knew what they were doing. He hates crowds and lines but never complained as the lines were small and moved fast.

 

Dress attire:

 

The first night in the dinning room anything went. The only thing I don't like is wife beaters and I don't think I saw any. Flip flops and hats were abundant. Never was bothered.

 

Eloquent night:

 

I did see a man in walking shorts but he was dressed nice. Most women were in dresses. Hubby wore black pants and button down. Saw one tux but not many jackets.

 

We had our picture taken a lot and actually bought 3 poses! First time I liked them. Hubby wanted more but I said no.

 

Drinks:

 

We had bottomless bubbles and never had a problem getting drinks. I also got pinapple juice which was not an issue. Would get Shirley temple too with no issue. The aft bar we used for lunch and dinner. We used the lobby bar to get a drink to go to dinner for ATD.

 

I used the free drink for golds the last night with no issue either. Went to aft bar and ordered a virgin strawberry dag. Scared I would hAve to get a real drink to use the coupon but no problem.

 

 

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[elililly]

I had been on this ship one time before and enjoyed her. A little wear and tear but every morning the entire lifo deck was cleaned, windexed, and mopped. All over the ship it was clean and the bath room by Guys had an attendant in both men and women's

 

 

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[dfmeeks]

Thank you for writing a review. My DH & I will be cruising on the Triumph on December 5th for our 2nd time. Our cabin is a balcony 9279. You mentioned bringing a fan. I hate to feel hot! What kind of fan did you bring & where did you buy it?

 

Thanks for the info & the great review!

 

Dorothy

[elililly]

We got a 9 in fan at Walmart this spring when we forgot our on vacation. I kept the box because I had read that some were taken due to fire hazard. I also cleaned it before packing so it would look "new".

 

 

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[elililly]

Ports:

 

Cozumel

It was Paradise!

 

We took a cab to paradise beach. Our cruise had the extended time so we arrived a little before 9 when they open. We picked our lounges and walked the beach. Until noon there was less than 50 people there. Price is $3 a person and they ask you to buy $10 in food.

 

I had volcano nachos which was $12 and a can if ginger ale $2.75. Hubby had French fries and seven up. They had Pepsi products. Total was $27 and we tipped him $5.

 

Look at trip advisor for more info. This place was perfect since we don't drink.

 

The life guards were very watchful of those on the floats which was nice to see. Wear water shoes as its rocky at the shore.

 

We left about one ish and it was getting busy at the pool. Bathrooms were very clean too.

 

Cabs were waiting to take us back. At the cruise port was lots of traffic which slowed is down getting back which eod have scared me if we were cutting it close.

 

Progresso:

 

Hubby did not want to get off but we did to look at shops by the ship. We did not ride the bus into town.

 

We got off and with in 5 min I felt like I was in hell it was so hot! You walk the leg nth of the ship in the sun . People were lined up in the sun waiting on excursion where the shops begin.

 

The shops had little to no Ac! We walked to the end of the shops and turned around. By the time I got back to the ship I was wringing wet. I wanted to stop everyone walking w a cane or walker and warn them.

 

After getting back we went to the dolphin pool. It seemed half the people had stayed on the ship.

 

Make sure to read the excursion carefully! 2 hours in a bus is a long time.

 

I had been asking hubby when he was going on the wAterslide the whole cruise. I went first day and always go on them every ship.

 

We went on it and I went first. As I was getting out my hubby hit me taking out my legs and I fell hitting my head on the bottom of wAterslide!

 

I quickly get out so I am not hit again and realize I have a bad headache across my forehead.

 

We get to our seats and hubby said the guy didn't tell him to wait or anything at the top of waterslide and since he had never been he didn't know how long to wait.

 

I get a diet coke since that solves most of my problems and look around the pool to find things to read to see if I could. I could but knew something was not right.

 

Sent hubby to room for pain meds and felt my head and found a huge bump above my ear. I went up to a crew member and told him what happened . He said they could get a wheelchair but I said there was no need. He then me to go w him to medical but I wanted to wait for hubby. He was a leader and took out his phone and called our cabin .

 

After hubby showed up we did get escorted to the medical center. The nurse explained nurse consult was $60 and Dr was 125. I went with dr.

 

I had bought carnival ins and have a claim in now.

 

Filled out brief med history and she

Brought ice for my head. Waited about 5 min and the dr came in.

 

He asked me questions like phone #s to see how my memory was and then felt all over my head. By this time front of head had stopped hurting. He said I had a hematoma which was big and asked if I wanted to go into Progresso for MRI. I said no and he explained my body would absorb it in 5-7 days.

 

We were so relieved ! My husband was in a panic thinking he had caused this. We were given an info sheet and if I started showing these symptoms to come back and gave us meds.

 

We took it easy the rest of the day. I did take a zip lock bag to lido and got the small pellet ice since the big ice hurt too bad.

 

The next day the area above my ear felt like when you have a too tight Barrett in your hair and I cant sleep on that side yet. Also I am still hurting in my shoulder and hip so I think I hit that too but we are so thankful it was not much worse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[elililly]

Pools:

 

We went in every pool and almost all hot tubs. They were all nice and the pools were cool not cold and the hot tubs were hot.

 

First sea day it was raining in the morning. The aft pool had the cover down so we enjoyed the hot tub. While there about 5 children were in the pool and I knew one was not big enough to be potty trained.

 

Sure enough 3 crew members start looking in the pool and ask a couple sitting with their legs in to get out. Of course the children scram. I got out of the hot tub and looked and knew it was poop! They closed the pool and started draining it.

 

Now since it was raining there was no pool to use.

 

A few people later went off on the poor crew members waiting for it to drain about the pool being closed and it was raining. The crew member said he understood but I would have told them it was the fellow cruisers who caused the pool to close!

 

Thankfully the pool was open about 2 hours later so either this crew is fast or

They have gotten the sanitizing down pat cause I had read on another review that the pool was closed the entire day due to this.

 

The last sea day we were at the dolphin pool and had gotten out when I saw

2 children who were not d enough to be potty trained. I kept looking around for a crew member and the same leader that helped me when I was hurt came up to one parent and told them the child had to get out!

 

She told him the girl was wearing a diaper and he said no she had to get out. The family got out then the parents and another older child got back in with the baby walking around the pool.

 

Then the mother got out took the diaper off the child rolled it up and took the baby back in!!! Thankfully the child did not being in the water. We left then.

 

The pools opened at 8 am and we were there right after. We usually had them to ourselves until about 10.

 

At night we would go back to pools and except for the dolphin pool we had them to ourselves. The lights at night are cool! I am red headed so I can't take much sun so this was heaven.

 

We never saw chair hogs! Afternoon though it was very crowded on deck but we would go back to the cabin and relax.

 

 

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[elililly]

Mini golf:

 

We played one afternoon and it was nice!

 

Movies

 

The movies were

Creed

Jungle book

The intern

Zootopia

Independence Day

 

They were well attended

 

Shows

 

We only saw the big easy which was very good

 

Cherry on top

 

We bought our st Jude shirts here the day before. When the event began on deck the line was very long so I was glad we bought them ahead of time.

 

Also, 2 $5 charged appeared on our account from cherry on top which we knew weren't from us. A few days later I realize it's the donation to the flood victims !

 

Cruise director

 

Becca she was and I think she's

From England. Anytime she went over head I cod not understand a word she said. Also if you were in the cabin it would not come overhead.

 

We did not attend any event except the one show so I can't say how she was.

 

We did like watching the lido camera in our room as it indicated how busy it was on deck!

 

TV

 

The TV had major channels out of Miami.

Cnn was the news channel

2 cartoon channels

Discovery channel which one time showed shark doc which I thought was funny!

 

Hub app

 

I loved it! Took me a few attempts to get it working but once I got it it was easy to work.

 

Wifi

 

We did not buy any plan. At paradise beach they have free wifi so I sent pics and texted back home

 

 

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[riclop]

Thanks for the review.

[elililly]

Food:

 

Every cruise I think the food will be bad because of what I have read but it's always good to me!

 

Guys

 

Great! Hubby ate it everyday. Line was a little long at times. The line on the left is shorter most of the time.

 

Blue iguana cantina

 

Great! I went there for tacos and burritos. Love Mexican food so I was right at home

 

Pizza pirate

 

Great! I'm a early riser so I would get up 530 and eat pizza at 6 am. After the first time they were waiting on me.

 

This is when the crew were cleaning all around the lido.

 

Room service

 

Great! Delivered coffee every morning at 7 for hubby. The first morning they called the room about an hour after delivery to ask if everything was fine

 

Also had it one afternoon.

 

Ordered blt and ice for my head. Ice comes in ziplock bag which was nice

 

Sea day brunch

 

Great!

We went the first sea day since it was raining. I had

Eggs Benedict

Mac and cheese

Steak w no eggs

 

It wAs all good and steak I could have had every night

 

Hubby had pancakes and fruit plate. Said it was good

 

 

Lido Buffett

 

Great! We went 3 nights and breakfast and lunch

 

Breakfast

 

I had salmon eggs Benedict

Bacon

Toast

French toast

 

Dinner

 

We had

Salad

Steak

Prime rib

Crusted chicken

Salmon

Cheese

 

I would ask a crew member for crackers and they would get them for me

 

Hubby is chocoalic so he got that everytime and I got other things. Mostly good.

I would also get the syrup they offered like Carmel or butterscotch in a bowl then get the ice cream and pour it over.

Yummy!

 

 

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[BSUMom2015!]

Enjoying your review. We will be sailing on the Triumph in October.

 

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[elililly]

Last thoughts

 

We enjoyed this cruise so much!

While we did not participate in many planned ship activities we were busy while also relaxing.

 

We enjoyed not having to be anywhere at a certain time

 

With the more relaxed dress I can take less clothes and still enjoy everything

 

If you can pick the early arrival as the lines got very long. No fttf for us but did not see a need as no tender ports.

 

I had read the ship was freezing but that was not me. I got cold on my legs in the dining room when I wore my dress but in the show room I was fine in capris.

 

We put the fan on the shelf above the TV. The TV plugged into an extension cord with an empty plug that we used. We had to look for it behind the TV! If no plug there is one on the desk but that's it

 

My bed side table I was missing. It was under the desk. I moved it by the bed but hubby did not have one.

 

If shower is too small in your room they are bigger in the gym. Didn't use this trip but have in the past

 

Hubby said hot water stopped 5 min after in his shower. He said they have timer! Never did that with me and I just smiled with his reasoning. It was first sea day

 

Used the towel hut daily. We would switch our wet towels for dry before

Going back to room so we would not have to hang them up.

 

The crew was happy and cheerful as usual! Greeted everyone and I bet the lido deck got mopped a hundred times a day

 

Yes people were drinking but saw no one drunk, get sick, start a fight, or any other crazy carnival behavior you hear all the time

 

We did see small children in one pool and parents in a lounge at another one paying no attention

 

Never had a problem getting a drink with the bottomless bubbles. Though I would not show my card until acknowledged

 

We had 2 packs of water waiting for us in cabin. Bought them online before boarding. Hubby on land only drinks water but surprise wanted the coke card! He drank 1.5 of the 2 packs. He would drink lido water and thought it was fine

He took one bottle to paradise beach and we brought rest home. If it was hot everyday I think he would have drank more.

 

I did drink my 12 pack of diet coke. The bars don't open until 8 so I would take one for my pizza at 6. Then at night I might have one before bed.

 

Very pleased with my care in the medical clinic. Head injury is not something I play around with and I was so thankful I had the insurance so I did not ponder on going. At home we never go to the dr due to our deductible .

 

We took dr amine since I did not know if hubby would get sea sick. We both took them at night starting day before cruise. Hubby took them every night but I stopped taking night before Cozumel since we would be docked. We never felt sick at all. Saw lots of patches on others.

 

 

It had been 4 yrs since my last cruise so cruise critic helped keep me up to date!

 

Trip advisor helped with the ports and New Orleans

 

Beds were still comfortable and hubby said he slept well every night

 

Carnival still gives me a great cruise at a great price. I don't know how I cod be pampered more! No dishes to clean, bed to be made, bathroom to clean, meal to cook, or job to go to.

 

Hope this helps with anyone going on the Triumph

 

Ask any questions as I may have forgotten some things

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[easyboy]

Thanks for the review.

[mykindaparty]

We were on the triumph the week before you and had a good time. The only complaint was in the Mdr the last two nights it was as if the wait staff just didn't care if you had a drink or when your order was being served. It took us over two hours and we were just on appetizers. The first couple nights were as usual, timely manner and everyone was friendly, but not those last two. We did notice a lady walking around the last two nights, and when she was close by the staff was just dead, it was as if she sucked all the life out of them. This was in the London dining room for your time dining. Glad you are ok, and had a good cruise.

 

 

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[Clarea]

Very detailed review, thanks!

[Jana60]

Partial quote:

Drinks:

We had bottomless bubbles and never had a problem getting drinks. I also got pinapple juice which was not an issue. Would get Shirley temple too with no issue. The aft bar we used for lunch and dinner. We used the lobby bar to get a drink to go to dinner for ATD.

 

I used the free drink for golds the last night with no issue either. Went to aft bar and ordered a virgin strawberry dag. Scared I would hAve to get a real drink to use the coupon but no problem.

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I'm curious..... why did you bother to use the free drink coupon when you already had the cheers package? I could understand if you used it to get an alcohol beverage since you're limited to 15 of those on Cheers but you used it for a virgin drink and I believe you can get unlimited numbers of those on the package???

 

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[elililly]

We had the bottomless bubbles which is unlimited soft drinks but no alcohol. I was planning on getting my free drink with alcohol but after my head injury I was told not to drink.

 

I wanted others to know if they don't drink alcohol they could still use the free drink coupon on virgin drinks.

 

 

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[dfmeeks]

Thank you for the info on the fan!

 

I hope you feel better soon!

[elililly]

Thanks! I'm feeling really good.

 

I was so worried about the fan since hubby uses it every night for white noise. I also took ear plugs but we. Never needed them.

 

If he did not like cruising I was going to be crushed.

He said Triumph was great and he wanted to go back on the same ship. At. First he did not want to go too far from the ship so he wouldn't be left but Paradise beach fit the bill. He never felt

Afraid of his surroundings or was hounded to buy things.

 

It was refreshing to see a cruise again through Virgin eyes!

 

My mom said, I'm 43, that after forty I needed to stop riding the waterslide. Never!

 

 

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