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Carnival Cruise Lines

Children's Programs

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Stacy of Jamaica NY (6/28/04):
I'm a frustrated ex-passenger of Carnival. I sailed with Carnival June 1 2002, and my cruise was ok. So I decided this year to book my entire family on the Carnival Legend. But when time for my booking I was told it's mandatory for me to pay third passenger rate for my 17-month-old daughter. I believe this is crazy and upsetting because my daughter will not have three-course meals pepared by the chefs on this line. Is there any way we can eliminate this cruise line or other cruise lines from charging for children under two years old?

Linda of Johnston RI (2/24/04):
We just returned from sailing on Carnival's Fantasy 2/19-2/23. My husband & I traveled with our 12 & 14 yr old children, along with another family with children of the same age. As a seasoned traveler & travel agent, I was extremely disappointed with Carnival Cruise Lines. We have sailed with Princess, NCL, & just last yr with Royal Caribbean on the Sovereign of the Seas.

This year we choose the Fantasy over its competition because it had a water slide for the children. On the 4 day trip, the slide is only open for a few hrs in 2 days. The pool, waterslide, and outer decks area had a terrible stench of raw sewerage! Although Carnival claims to have more staff than other cruise lines, they are too busy "hawking" & pushing alcoholic drinks than any other service. The pool area was constantly littered with empty beer cans, and the drink's fruit garnishes (orange slices, cheeries, lemons/limes, paper umbrellas, etc). To avoid slipping, I was constantly kicking them aside. I did bring it to the attention of the purser ... to no avail.

One day at sea, hundreds of children were waiting for the pool to open. Unfortunely, the pool doesn't open until 11:00am. I guess the staff was too busy selling drinks from 9:00am.

The restrooms were soiled with vomit and not cleaned. Ashtrays overflowed. Terrible food. Poor Camp Carnival program. Lots of nothing! My children were looking forward to one activity on Saturday - the basketball shoot-out. We boarded the ship on Thursday and on Sat they asked for a parental consent form for the children to play. Because my son has mild asthma & my daughter has diabetes, they were denied the opportunity to partake in these activities. (Ironically, they're both excellent atheletes & play on their school teams)

After I complained to the purser's office, the youth counselor called our cabin at 10:30pm on the last night of sailing to apologize and invite my children to the Farewell teen party at their Disco. Thanks, but no Thanks.

This ship was more of a Spring Break sailing with lots of drunks. I would highly DISCOURAGE anyone from sailing on this ship, especially with children.

Carol of Gainesville FL (2/2/04):
First off, this cruise for one week cost me $3,000 for me and my two girls. It was our first cruise and it was awful, bad food, old ship, "party ship", horrible entertainment, nothing for teenagers to do. Not only do I feel robbed of what should have been a wonderful experience, my children, along with our traveling companion's children, were confronted with marijuana and cocaine on board.

It has just come to light that my daughter, who is 14, was able to purchase alcohol at the Cozumel, Mexico port. I found that out because I just recently found her puking her guts up, incoherent, which lead to everyone spilling the beans on where it came from. I am so outraged. I know some 14 year olds look 20, but my daughter looks 10. There was no mistaking she was a minor!!!

It was just a horrible experience, others on board felt the same way. But endangering my children is unacceptable. I just can't get over the fact that drugs and alcohol got onboard without detection and that my kids were subjected to that.

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