I Tried a Carnival Cruise and It Wasn't What I Expected

Every year 2 and a half million people take a Carnival cruise and for years I’ve wanted to try it for myself.
My cabin review video is live! Watch this next: • I Booked The CHEAPEST ... 😀
Most of the news about Carnival cruises sounds like something like: ‘Carnival cruise fight’ ‘Carnival cruise brawl’ ‘Violent outbreak’ but we all know how one sided the news can be I’ve heard lots of good experiences about Carnival cruises too. I knew it was a gamble, but I hoped that it would pay off.
Carnival describe themselves as being the ‘fun ships’ and I like fun and when I saw a very cheap cruise sailing out of New York City, I knew that I had to give it a go. The cruise that I booked was 7 nights long and visited Canada, I booked the cheapest cabin on the entire ship.
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[@EmmaCruises]

My cabin review video is live! >> kzbin.info/www/bejne/fl7Nlmh5otyUpLc 😀

[@riggermortisfpv526]

A Carnival cruise is the last place Id expect to find British people truth be told.

[@ucflover2935]

Id prefer royal Caribbean over carnival, carnival is too… sketchy. Plus royals private islands and resorts are GREAT

[@John_Smith_86]

Wth. $8 a day for soda!!! That is so ex!!!

[@rehan2118]

Hi Emma, are you allowed to go round taking photos/videos with your own dslr camera on ship?

[@EmmaCruises]

@@rehan2118 Yesss no problem, obviously don't stick it in peoples faces but as long as you're polite to others totally fine :)

[@kethryverisk4224]

If you cruise Carnival again, you can contact the Special Needs department before the cruise to let them know you are vegetarian. Then on the cruise, you would meet with your headwaiter or your dining room host and they'd go over the menu with you in advance to plan your dining room meals. They can make some changes in preparations and ingredients, so you'd have more options than the usual one or two vegetarian options on the standard menus.

[@joannemcmillan9201]

Thank you for explaining that. I’ve taken one cruise since going vegetarian and was disappointed by the Dining room offerings. Due to cruise again soon and will try your suggestions.

[@seleana3929]

I agree we did this for my sister in law who could not have any gluten and they made special things for her the whole trip that she loved.

[@emman6941]

@@EmmaCruises I agree, it seems very backward to me

[@jpistella]

So glad you liked it. Going on this itinerary next year with the family and gf wants to see the reversing River. Maybe not now. Lol Thanks for the review and can’t wait to check out your other videos on this trip.

[@NZKiwi87]

@@patricktaylor5981 that’s the spirit Patrick! 🙄

[@Christina_Paz]

As a Photographer, friends have always suggested that I apply to be a cruise Photographer for a summer but this confirms my reservations about it. I HATE making people feeling uncomfortable or put upon, so I would not only hate my job but probably make nothing lol

[@willgaukler8979]

... just do what you can do very well ... the money will find you ...

[@everkief8650]

Cruise ships do not hire people for only a "summer" job. They require a much longer commitment: in some cases up to a year long contract. Also "photogs" work very long hours and make very little money. I have often head bartenders on land say how much they would like to work on a cruise ship "for a while," not having any idea that the hours compared to land will triple and their pay will be half, at least. Best wishes!

[@jimroscovius]

​@everkief8650 Yes, pay is less, but room and board are paid for.

[@johnruff1969]

I took my 90yr old grandma for her birthday on a 7-day western Caribbean cruise from Ft. Lauderdale. It was fantastic!!! She LOVED it. It was a 2yr old ship, big, beautiful, modern, just amazing!!! Omg, I would totally recommend it. Oh! We weren't harassed on board to buy junk.

[@tireballastserviceofflorid7771]

I lived on St. Thomas for 11 years and for 2 years I was involved in tours directly from the ships. What became incredibly obvious was there are types of people who take certain cruises. For example celebrity lines were the worst by far. Those were people who wanted to be rich but were not. More often than not a 35 to 50 person tour with 5 to 6 guids involved would get $0 tip. Norwegian lines had people that were wealthy so they were crazy demanding and rarely tipped. Then there is carnival lines.... They are the nicest most gracious and great tippers. You could tell generally carnival cruisers didn't seem to be wealthy compared to others but the quality of people was vastly better. Our single day record at the time was 258 people on tour. Personally I would take a cruise. More fun flying in to a place and getting to know it.

[@fluffytail6355]

@Life with Rob maybe this person doesn’t have direct personal experience with RC cruisers so didn’t comment for that reason. Unlike you who seems to be looking for a fight.

[@stj971]

I love St Thomas altho haven't been in years. I worked on cruise ship back in the day.

[@tireballastserviceofflorid7771]

@stj971 I met a lot of great people from the ships. The shore excursion directors are always fun. New some jewelry sales people who lived on STT. It's an interesting place for sure.

[@overcommunikate]

Does that speak to Carnival being almost all Americans on board?

[@tireballastserviceofflorid7771]

@overcommunikate Well the general consensus among us guids was that they were not rich nor wanted to be rich. A lot of the wealthy guessed had been all over the world on cruises or flights. So what we were doing was not always interesting to a well traveled person. But a poor person like myself my never get a vacation in their life. So many times it was the first time out of their home state or off the mainland US. So they were excited and didn't come with all these expectations. Just show up and enjoy the day and soak up the sun. One big guy had the same job for 46 years. He retired and his company gave him the cruise as a gift. He had only left Ohio 1 time for work in his whole 60 years. To this day him and his wife were my absolute favorite guest ever.

[@markpennington7945]

I have sailed Carnival 13 times, and then actually worked on board for them for 6 years. Loved it as a guest, and as an employee, they were the best employer I have ever worked for. I can't say enought good things about them from both perspectives.

[@twiggyleaff]

What job did you do on board, and which ships? I’ve been considering working for Carnival, it will be my first time working on a cruise.

[@bayousbambino427]

Nope. Carnival is still awful; the tackiest ships at sea.

[@chrispekel5709]

​@@bayousbambino427 isn't that the idea? You sound old

[@Renee5]

@@bayousbambino427 sounds like you’re just projecting what you are so you think that’s what carnival is.

[@bayousbambino427]

@@Renee5 Sounds like you don't know what "projecting" means.

[@jshepard152]

I've sailed Carnival, Holland, Royal, and Princess, in that order. I find cruises to be more similar than different, and I can cruise a lot more when the cruise costs $400 for base fare instead of $1299. But to each their own.

[@bobk7428]

My wife and I were on this cruise last month and it sounds like it may have been the week after your journey. You made a brief mention about the Cruise Director Ryan Rose. I've never seen a CD like him; he was involved in literally EVERY event and was so fun and engaging. I gave him huge props on the after-cruise survey.

[@michaeljohnson1057]

That is pretty typical of CD's @ Carnival. By about 1/4 of the way through our cruise to Mexico with Carnival I could pick out our CD's voice and image like an old friend.

[@charleswinters1827]

My first ever CD was Ryan Rose on Victory in 2018. He was everywhere.

[@shadowreaper401]

Ryan is so fun

[@gjjakobsen]

Ryan was a blast and really added fun to an already fun experience. My wife and I are in our 50's and absolutely love the party feel we see on board Carnival ships. Of the cruises we've been on, Ryan was number one as CD.

[@garybelew7813]

I have been on three carnival cruises in the last year, seven over all.. The CD job has become a lot more involved lately, they are everywhere, all the time.. I don't know when they sleep.

[@bjarnemcdonald6333]

Lowest promenade deck can be closed because of funerals or "celebration of life" It's really beautiful family gathers with a representative for the captain and other staff, to lower the ashes of grandma into the ocean. I know it's not totally party and fun. But Gramms is cruising forever, and the family have a good time cruising and remembering all the fun of Grandma.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

I think people forget that you can just book a cruise from New York instead of having to go down to Florida for one. I've never been on a Carnival cruise, but I've done Royal Caribbean out of Cape Liberty across the harbor in Bayonne, NJ for a Bermuda cruise on the Anthem of the Seas and it was great. I loved sailing out of NY because of the amazing views of the skyline on both sides of the river, the Statue of Liberty, and going under the Verrazano Bridge. Also yeah, NYC is a loud city. I'm autistic and while we are known for our sensitivity, I on the other hand have no problem in that regard because of all my trips to the city to the point that I'm just used to it. Trust me, we don't care how loud it is, New Yorkers have places to be.

[@THEKING-ix6rw]

Colder in ny

[@Desperado3248]

Cape liberty is a dump .RCCL is a classless company. Booked a suite on Anthem , they nearly ruined my life. Tried getting an attorney to litigate on contingency, still waiting . Had cruised for over 20 years on most lines. Just retired as a physician , they made me want to never cruise again. Just now 3 yrs later , starting to think about it.

[@robertewalt7789]

Emma, I’m glad you enjoyed NY harbor. I used to sail a sailboat from Jersey, among the Staten Island ferry, the NJ ferries, and yes cruise ships.

[@justmeeagainn]

You’re not autistic.

[@alyssarasmussen1723]

i have autism too but i was born in nyc and lived there for 10 years.. altho we moved cuz of a fire :(

[@MarriedWithBackpacks]

The sanitizing bit spoke to me. We were on a Celebrity cruise in August, and I have never experienced less hand sanitizing as on that cruise. On Royal they would just squirt in into your hands before entering the main dining room, and that was before the pandemic. So this made zero sense why it wasn't mandatory now.

[@EmmaCruises]

Yess! I’m on MSC now and they always are there with the bottle. 😅

[@jessigirlrae1688]

Just got off royal. They now have sinks in the buffet and you have to wash your hands before entering. We didn't eat in the MDR so not sure

[@Drknnja]

​​@@jessigirlrae1688 sinks have been in the Windjammer for 10years. And systematic added to older ships.

[@Cloxxki]

To each their own. I wash my hands after bathroom visits even when alone at home, but if a host is going to watch me sanitize before allowing me is, I'll just skip the meal. To me, it's severely insulting and scientificly bogus. If we sanitize enough and live in a clean laboratory...we'll be sicker than when living a bit. Kids (ages 0 to 110) who play outside in the mud just don't get sick as much, or as badly. Immune system is a real thing, but out of style. To me, there is nothing more sacred than the immune system. Doesn't mean I want people shouting over my plate, that's another thing of course.

[@willgaukler8979]

... you have to washie washie every time remember your health IS your responsibility ....NCL had a guy ...

[@justjon_6844]

I’ve been on Carnival 3 times and I loved it every time. They even let us take our own soda on board so we didn’t buy the soda package. I’m glad you highlighted that for the price, it’s impossible to do all of what the boat offers for the same price on land. I’ve never had any problems with guests on Carnival and there are tons of quiet places too. That being said, interestingly, the best party I’ve ever been to was the 4th of July party on the top deck. Crazy how I had more fun there than some college frat parties I love how the cruise directors really try to entertain and put on a show

[@billgee02]

I've taken 2 Carnival cruises - one from Tampa and one from Miami - both to Mexico - had a wonderful time on each - - one inside cabin and one with a balcony - if you're up for fun and enjoyment - you'll love Carnival - very reasonable fares too - I cant wait till i book my next adventure

[@sashamulligan2993]

I’ve been on 4 and loved them all.

[@kostathomas8732]

Was on a carnival cruise over new years and it was by far the best new years party of my life and for the majority of the people on that boat, everyone was super into it and carnival did a great job running the party. It also helped they were giving everyone several glasses of champagne for free

[@willgaukler8979]

... think of the ship ( and all there is to do ) as your destination ... not every port ... well OK 2 ports...

[@mcsvls]

We have over 350 days aboard everything from Crystal to Carnival and the type of atmosphere on a ship is more related to the destination and most importantly the length of the cruise. A lot of first time cruisers make the mistake of choosing a 3,4,5 day cruise because they don't want to commit to a longer period without knowing if they are going to like it. This length of cruise is going to be attractive to the party crowd, weekend warriors and families. They more often than not will be crazy and packed. If you want to lose most of the kids or have a more relaxing experience with the kids onboard ship, 10+ days is the key, the ship will attract more experienced cruisers and the energy onboard will be more relaxed with less lines and no fighting for that deck chair. We cruised a few years ago on Carnival Breeze after having not been on Carnival for years, we really enjoyed it, but on a 14 day Circle Caribbean. Remember, Carnival just about invented modern day cruising and owns over 100 ships across their brands. They know what they are doing as far as the cruise experience.

[@cruiselifeeric]

In my experience if you cruise during the time of year when kids are in school, you won't see many kids on your cruise. And that includes four day carnival cruises I've taken. But I agree taking LONG cruises is also good way to weed out the kids.

[@mcsvls]

@@cruiselifeeric I agree, also there is nothing wrong with kids aboard, it's just the ratio/concentration, I am a parent to grown kid. Carnival has some great new ships, people just need to choose wisely.

[@fluffytail6355]

@@mcsvls usually, one can avoid kids if one chooses to cruise while kids are in school. Can’t stand kids but the parents are worse!

[@jimroscovius]

We've only taken 7-day cruises. We have to fly to the port, so no way are we taking a shorter cruise. They aren't worth it.

[@fidelraul3192]

I have taken over 25 cruises with Carnival. It is for me my preferred cruise line. Your description of your cruise was very accurate. Carnival is by far "The Fun Ship". in a few weeks, my wife and I will be in your country taking a 14 days cruise with the newest ship Celebration sailing from Southampton back to Miami. Thank you for your video. It was "Fun" to watch.

[@christopherhatchell8440]

I will be on that cruise also!! My birthday is 11/05 so it only made since to set it off on an inaugural cruise

[@fidelraul3192]

@@christopherhatchell8440 Look for me. I'm in a wheelchair with a very cool electric attachment that convert my wheelchair into a very nice scooter.

[@Justicia007]

@@fidelraul3192 We need an update! Lol... Did you manage to meet up? Hope you both enjoyed the cruise.

[@fidelraul3192]

@@Justicia007 The cruise was fantastic and no we never met. there were 5,000 passagers.

[@renesagahon4477]

Emma has such a lovely way of describing cruises and the illustrations are excellent. The on spot commentary and her smile are a great bonus. A wonderful way of learning about cruises if your contemplating one I haven’t been on a cruise in over 30 years. Now I’m thinking it’s time for one again!

[@Reaperman4711]

The only cruise I've ever taken was a Carnival cruise, ~15 years ago. Every time I consider taking another cruise, I just think back to that one, and book a resort. Not sure why youtube decided to start recommending your videos, but I'm enjoying them more than cruises.👍

[@BobbiGail]

Totally agree! I enjoy her videos more than being scrunched in a coffee can with too many people. I did try twice and... cruises are not for me. Maybe if I had a huge cabin or one w a balcony to retreat to? Maybe. 🎉

[@robertcold4669]

Carnival Cruise Line … Dollar General of the Seas.

[@angiepatterson6338]

@@robertcold4669More like Compton/Harlem of the Seas.

[@Bronxgirl_lo]

@@angiepatterson6338how would you know, you been to Compton or Harlem?

[@Bronxgirl_lo]

@@robertcold4669 you look like you belong in dollar general.

[@floridan3127]

Thanks for your even-handed, trustworthy assessment. I don't understand Carnival's bad reputation, but we've never had a bad experience on a Carnival ship. Granted, we generally sail when kids are in school so I imagine we experience a different crowd than summer/spring break. Carnival's not our top choice, but for the price, and the fun, it's hard to beat!

[@nated4237]

Ive been on quite a few too and have never understood the bad rep, but from what i understand most of the issues people have is with frequency of ship issues and things of the sort

[@lizzsszzy7800]

I think having "boring" Canada as the destination also played a big role :)

[@randymcgill7981]

Recently took my first Carnival cruise on the Mardi Gras. I was worried how it would go based on all the negative videos and comments on social media. Happy to say the cruise far exceeded my expectations. The sail away party was so much fun, the food in the MDR was very good, certainly on par with Princess MDR food, the cabin was laid out better than most cruise lines, and the service was outstanding,. I thought the production shows were a grade above a high school musical and the buffet was eh. But during dinner you knew what time it was.......showtime!! I had a great time on my Carnival cruise

[@dinoboy2574]

Who was the cruise director because I just got off the Mardi Gras about 7 hours ago and our director was Kyndall Fire,that was her name

[@randymcgill7981]

@@dinoboy2574 My cruise director on the Mardi Gras in Sept was the Flying Scotsman

[@sandranoyd9576]

DD and I were dissatisfied with the Mardi Gras. It was loud in all public areas. Also the elevators were too small bases on the occupants. Most people were rude getting on the elevators rushing from the hallways to in front of those waiting. The food options were not very good (we did not make Emeril’s). We found the best food in the MDR. All were prepared well and at the right temperature. The service was impeccable! The Casino was surprisingly empty. I had fun at the craps table and everyone was kind, not rude. Wish I had gone there earlier. The crew there were very helpful.

[@onjekaji5832]

@@sandranoyd9576 it’s true, Carnival is more for “Party People”, try NCL or RC if u want something more quiet

[@danielmoore7739]

Hey Emma, not sure if you read the comments but I wanted to say thank you for sharing these vlogs as well as your families journeys. I'm not even sure how I found your channel but the last few days have been wonderful going through your experiences. I'm close to the end of my time. Not being able to do anything except lie down has given me time to experience this. Never having the chance like going on a cruise has been something I found myself thinking about. You brought me that in the best way you could and I'm grateful to you for that. Your friendly, modest, and a joy to watch as well as listen too. The food on these cruises look so so amazing, especially those burgers you like to show lol. Take care, Emma and I wish you the best!

[@EmmaCruises]

Hey Daniel. thanks so much for this lovely comment I really appreciate it. Thanks for watching and taking the time to let me know.

[@danielmoore7739]

@@EmmaCruises You're welcome, Emma. Be safe and have fun out there.

[@dankelly5150]

@@EmmaCruises At least they didn't cancel this one on you !! 😜

[@ziggyaranda]

So nice to hear. I absolutely love Carnival, it’s such a fun atmosphere and they always make you feel like life is a party ❤️

[@DixieChiweenie88]

We are platinum cruisers on Carnaval, which means we have more than 10 cruises with that line. The food on Carnival is always top notch, the dancing waiters are so much fun, and there is always some to do on the ship. We decided to try Royal Caribbean this year, and we were not impressed with the food, but the ship was spectacular. It seemed a little subdued compared to Carnival. Both lines have their plus and minus. Also, the toilet paper is so thin because of the type of sewer system on the ship.

[@xVayzi]

I sailed the Carnival Breeze from 26 September to 1 October in the Caribbean, and Ian absolutely had an effect on the water. The staff was even saying it was some of the roughest water they'd ever dealt with. They even struggled to balance at times. But, even with that, it was an amazing first cruise, and the combination of entertainment, food, and ambiance, are all factors in why I already booked another with Carnival.

[@davidwelday3276]

Love the Breeze, been on her twice and the Dream once.

[@Tbpker22]

Wife and I have been on 12 Carnival cruises, and we absolutely love them. Have also cruised on other lines, but we always want to return to Carnival!

[@plcanadahk1]

Hi Emma, I am pleased that you find us Canadians just the best and wanted to let you know that you are the kind of people we Canadians find the best as well! Please visit us more often not during a hurricane! Cheers!

[@ryansautner]

Ryan the cruise director was AMAZING!! I went in the Magic in July. One of the most kind hearted guys out there who truly made sure guests feel like family.

[@Paul_Wetor]

I was stunned to see my own comment at 1:58 right in the middle of the screen. Thanks Emma! It's also the first time I heard my name pronounced like "pole" so that was a bonus British-ism treat for me.

[@EmmaCruises]

Hahah, my dads names Paul so used to saying that one!! Loved your comment :')

[@Paul_Wetor]

You made my day. We Pauls rarely get any mention, except that Paul McCartney guy.

[@EmmaCruises]

@@Paul_Wetor Ha ha. :')

[@jesusxfreak2]

I sail Carnival a lot and it's very rare anything happens usually and the odd things I've seen happen have not been the big brawls you hear about. Media definitely over sells how bad the brawling can be. Also now Carnival is implementing a few new fees for people that get into brawls on the cruise ship so hopefully that can deter people from that kind of behavior.

[@user-hj4lv1jf9p]

Only been on a couple of Carnival cruises but always impressed by the presentation, taste and vairety of foods available!

[@ColleenBee]

Emma, I booked a cruise yesterday... my husband asked "where did you get this idea anyhow?" When I couldn't say for sure, we looked at my internet history. First thing I had done that morning was watch your video!! I had looked at a bunch of different cruise lines but ended up with the best deal on Carnival (7 days Mexican Riveria departing from LA). When I re-watched your video this afternoon, I was shocked - didn't think I was so susceptible to the power of suggestion! Thanks! I've got a vacay to look forward to!! I've been watching a bunch of your other videos to get ready - I'm a first-time cruiser and super excited!!

[@TheMeloettaful]

I'm excited for you! My first cruise was on Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas. But my first time with Carnival was on their Dream ship back in Oct 2019 with my mom and younger brother. It was a great time until I got seasick on the last day (it was a rocky sea day) lol 😅. I'd recommend taking something for motion sickness before getting on the ship just in case if you're prone to it. And next day without to see how your body copes with the motions of the sea 🙂. Anyway I hope you and your husband have an awesome time & adventure on your first cruise 😁!

[@olgaharris1103]

Hi Ms. Bee 🐝👋🏼. My name is Olga. I see you are going on your first Carnival cruise. You are in for a treat! I would love to share some packing tips and other things you may find helpful. Just let me know if you’re interested. I know you will have a ball! 🤗

[@lukeschneider1861]

Great video as always, Emma! Thanks for sharing. I've been on a good number of carnival cruises, and while they are not without their faults I've always had a great time. One thing I do find funny about carnival is how different their newer ships are from their older ships in design and quality. If you ever have a chance - I suggest checking out the Mardi Gras or upcoming Celebration ships. Carnival really went in a lot of new directions with these.

[@Pantherjonvideos]

So glad you finally went on a Carnival cruise and had such a smashing good time! :)

[@jdane2277]

Sounds like fun, never thought I'd be attracted to a Carnival cruise but I actually now want to do this one. Thanks--great review.

[@angieemm]

I've only been on RC cruises but I'm looking to do something new and have been shopping around. I'm so glad you mentioned the deck parties and nightly dancing. That may be some people's thing, but it's certainly not mine. Thank you for helping me avoid a decision that would've annoyed me the entire week.

[@Doc1985]

Emma, I have just watched several of your videos for the first time. You do an absolutely outstanding job of presenting interesting facts and anecdotes about the cruises and cruise lines! Your comments are well-presented, informative, entertaining, and very useful! Thank you for taking the time to do this!

[@EmmaCruises]

Thanks so much, appreciate it :)

[@TripReviews]

Just hitting platinum on Carnival. Never an issue but then we don’t walk around with our noses stuck up in the air either. Considered briefly Holland America but almost had a stroke at the price to go to much the same ports of call. One time at Amber Cove we were tied up next to a Holland America ship and instantly named it the ship from Walkerville as that’s all what was coming down the gangway well that and wheelchairs. I’m old, legally blind but not tied down to that level yet! Looking forward to our 4 weeks on Carnival Sunrise and the new Celebration this winter. Glad to hear you liked Carnival, they have made quite a few changes and cutbacks over the years such as no table cloths in the dining room except for formal nights, no chocolate on your bed at night or little gifts in the bathroom on embarkation. But that’s ok as long as it helps to keep the price down. Btw, try the Indian vegetarian choice in the mdr as it’s pretty good. Cruise to Canada? Not likely for me, when you live here you want to get away from the weather and get to somewhere warm! Cheers🍻

[@EmmaCruises]

That seems fun to me! Totally understand that :") Cheers!

[@colleenjonesmcleod3511]

Emma, my husband and I live in Saint John New Brunswick. Your Carnival ship parked in front of our apartment building....lol If I had known you were in our lovely city, I would have tried to seek you out for an autograph. We love your videos. We have cruised with Carnival since 2011, we have NEVER seen a fight or anything we felt that was inappropriate. We ALWAYS include our tips with the payment of the cruise. We only tip cash at the end of the cruise for exceptional service from our favorite cruise crew. Our least favorite cruise was a Costa Cruise in the Mediterranean. We were relieved to have heard that Carnival had purchased Carnival. We wish we knew you were in town, because we would have told you to see the REVERSING FALLS at a different location than where you were. The Reversing Falls bridge and the proper lookout is the best place . ps....We have never experienced THIN TOILETTE PAPER on any Carnival Cruise ever before. We had a good laugh when you said that. Cheers from Atlantic Canada

[@NauticalNurseNancy]

Fantastic summary of your cruise, Emma! We definitely appreciate the value and FUN we get through Carnival. Thank you for the honest review here. Your voice is so nice to listen to, and I just LOVE your accent. Much love from "the other side of the pond", Nancy

[@EmmaCruises]

Ha ha, thanks so much Nancy. By the end of the edit my own voice drives me NUTS, so I'm glad you like it!! :') Thanks for watching 😀👏🏼

[@princesskatebabe]

(American) Whenever I've cruised always with Carnival my family always tips our waiter cash money on the last day! As well as some other staff like the crew that clean our rooms & bartenders that would regularly serve us, cruise director and helpers, etc! We have the automatic gratuities on as well! I feel like it's an American thing because a lot of people who work above and beyond often don't get paid much so we always tip extremely well! That just carried over into the our cruises! Plus I think that that's how Americans show gratitude and thanks for always taking care of them! (I should say we are always polite & say thank you 24/7 at least for my family)

[@jojaysta]

My wife and I do the same! As we continue to cruise, it becomes easier and easier to see which staff members deserve a small token of appreciation for being beautiful people inside and out. Having worked in service before, I hope to never forget the feeling of an unexpected tip (no matter the $) and a simple thank you ☺️

[@kostathomas8732]

Canadian here, been on 3 so far and we do this as well. Those those stand work their asses off and always show an amazing attitude they honestly deserve more

[@elouise5593]

I love it when the waiters dance during dinner! So fun! I and many others get up and dance also, right along with them!

[@rvstewart4211]

I always appreciate your reviews! So thorough. Thank you so much for all you do and for this carnival review. I might even try one now

[@mewette]

I love the carnival magic. I’ve sailed with her twice, most recently in December of 21. It was my first cruise since the pandemic, and it was wonderful. I think the ship is just the right size!

[@paulgreene1277]

The reversing rapids was pretty cool to see in the afternoon when high tide came it. The rapids rushed just as furious the other way, up stream. Canada is beautiful. Loved our time in Nova Scotia especially.

[@Wes_Express]

Emma, I'm so glad that you chose to sail with Carnival! They are our favorite! I hope you're doing well my friend! Cheers!

[@jhors7777]

Fabulous thorough review. Thank you.

[@jonathandalecki7048]

Excellent video. I've never cruised with Carnival and this was a really great look at what one of their cruises is all about. I really love how you manage to be entertaining and yet still so informative. I'm still not sure whether they're the type of cruise I'd enjoy, but I definitely feel a lot more informed and knowledgeable now than I was before watching this!

[@EmmaCruises]

Thanks so much Jonathan, appreciate it! PS, love how you typed this before it's live. Enjoying those Patreon perks haha. Thanks for watching 😀👏🏼

[@jettabanker]

Longer cruises that are six days or more have a different crowd. Short cruises are the ones college students and families with kids usually take. I like Carnival but I'm taking a 7 day on a new ship

[@willgaukler8979]

@@EmmaCruises ... your the best Emma ... smoothie sailing always ...

[@sachaput]

I'm a Platinum member on Carnival. My wife and I would generally take at least one cruise a year and most were on Carnival. We always enjoyed ourselves and often took cruises with family and friends. Having them sail out of nearby Long Beach (I live in Orange County) makes it convenient. Their 3-4 night cruises are a great way to relax.

[@EmmaCruises]

That sounds great! Yah. Thanks for watching 😀👏🏼

[@TyTyproductions]

Panorama?

[@BrydenVale]

You need to keep making videos, not for people who have seen them before, but for the people that will end up sailing themselves. You aren't the only cruise channel out there, but you are one of the most informative

[@EmmaCruises]

Haha, will do. Thank you! 😁❤️

[@imagewire]

Excellent report. Thank you so much.

[@bobbobbers7486]

i will probably never take a cruise but i love watching your videos for some reason. youre awesome

[@lambiottea1]

I’ve mostly cruised on Carnival, twice on the Magic. I love the excitement and especially the cruise fares. The line isn’t for everyone and thank goodness there are a lot of choices.

[@anthrobug]

I really enjoy your perspective and videos/photography of the cruises. These are really comprehensive reviews that cover topics usually ignored, and are really enjoyable to watch!

[@EmmaCruises]

Thanks so much for watching and your kind words! I appreciate it 😀❤️

[@timyak3079]

Thank you for the reminders of the wonderful memorial cruise that Carnival provided for my family . We had a good experience also. ❤

[@emilym3981]

Very fair review. Glad you gave Carnival a try, others that hate Carnival have never sailed on them, which I think is very funny, I have been on 80 plus cruises from mass market to luxury and for some reason I always go back to Carnival. I think it comes down to the people, both the crew and the other guests onboard. Friendly, fun, eager to meet/interact with others and no judgements. I took my niece on Windstar over the summer to Greece/Italy, fabulous cruise, great service of course. At 1 point my niece said to me, that although the crew was great, they were not as friendly as the crew on Carnival, and I have always thought that as well. My next cruise is on the Horizon in a little over 2 weeks and I am taking my 83 year old mom for her birthday. This will be the largest ship she has been on, but I am sure she will be fine and have a wonderful time. Enjoy your next cruise!

[@penelopepitstop762]

Loved your comment. We love Carnival too. I would like to try another line sometime, but I’m always afraid it wouldn’t be worth it.

[@emilym3981]

@@penelopepitstop762 It is good to try other lines as well. I have been on Royal and NCL as well. I do like RC not a fan of NCL though. I just don't like their customer service TBH. Not going to support them if I don't like how they treat their guests. But that is my opinion on them obviously. Enjoy!

[@penelopepitstop762]

@@emilym3981 how was the food on RCL and NCL? We are hoping to cruise to Alaska on the Princess Discovery in the next year or two.

[@jonathanlee2794]

OMG! I was also on the Carnival Magic Cruise from (9/24/22-9/30/22) to Bermuda leaving from NYC. I had the same thought you had going to Carnival Magic and had low expectations. But it turned out, I had a blast and loved Carnival Magic! I was dancing and partying away and eating so much food. Hope you still got to enjoy the food there. Yes, I agree that Ryan Rose is the best cruise director ever! He bought so much energy to the crowed and I loved his energy! He is my favorite cruise director!

[@StephanLeming]

Very honest flipping review! Thank you so much!

[@adrianna5378]

Going on my first cruise with Carnival Panorama in summer 2023! I’m so excited! Thanks for the review!

[@TVHouseHistorian]

I’m still new(ish) to cruising, and so I’ve spent *lots* of time watching KZbin reviews on different lines and ships. I love that you give a more realistic POV of Carnival, because it helps me understand it better. Every cruise line has its own niche, and Carnival definitely has its own. Honestly, even with such a positive and realistic look at what a Carnival cruise is in terms of product, I’m more inclined to steer toward other cruise lines. It’s just a personal preference thing. I don’t have a problem with Carnival at all. Being “the fun ship” it’s most likely not going to “float my boat” in terms of cruising experience. That doesn’t mean I won’t try it out someday. It’s just that I want to focus on what I know works for me. So far, RCL, Princess, and NCL seem to hit the right note for me, so I stick with them. Cruise food is a really big deal for me, and it looks like I would have been very satisfied with the fare shown in this video. Thanks so much for sharing this with us, Emma!

[@EmmaCruises]

Yes! That’s exactly what I like to read. It isn’t for everybody for sure. Thanks for watching 😀👏🏼

[@dm75thRanger]

Love your videos. You give such realistic reviews. The best thing about inside cabins are the noon naps because the room are so dark with the lights off.

[@EmmaCruises]

Oh yes! Could nap for days ha ha 😂

[@terrimcmahon5132]

Love this - subscribed as I enjoyed your overview. The Magic is my favorite ship and you hit the nail on the head about Carnival. Fun and cheap and FAMILY!!!

[@EmmaCruises]

Thank you! 😁❤️

[@limeyosu2000]

Always cruises carnival so I can’t compare other lines till I cruise them. Your review was spot on I have actually sailed on magic before! She was the last ship on that class to have all the disco style interior! He sister the breeze came out couple years later with a much toned down interior!

[@tonyperotti9212]

My wife and I have done that Canada cruise twice. Both St John and Halifax are wonderful places to visit. I'm not surprised that you had a great time. We certainly did! Carnival isn't my favorite line but they're not bad. There's plenty of room and plenty of activities to pick from and plenty of space to just hang out if none of the activities are to your liking. I've also never seen any fights or other such behavior on Carnival. Thanks for the vid!

[@djtblizzle]

I cruised both RCCL and Carnival, and my vote is for RCCL. I’m really not into the “party” atmosphere, and it was pretty tough to find places outside to relax. Too many kids, rude people, and arguments and fights. Cruises cost way too much money to deal with that nonsense.

[@junkiexl86]

Thats a large reason why we mainly sail Viking and Princess now.

[@izzyrov5814]

​​@@junkiexl86There are nice relaxing cruise lines that don't break the bank like Celebrity.

[@psell8628]

Thanks for the review. Very helpful.

[@EmmaCruises]

Thanks for watching 😀👏🏼

[@cruiselifeeric]

YAY!! So glad you finally tried Carnival, and that you had a good time. I'll be on the Magic in February, although sailing out of Florida to the Caribbean. Red Frog Rum bar was just about my favorite bar when I was on the Breeze (a sister ship to the Magic). And you have discovered the awesome melting cake. If you ever make it back on a carnival ship in warmer weather, be sure to try the aft lido deck pool and bar area. Much less crowded than the midship lido area.

[@DaveBrandysExcursionsTravel]

Loved your review on your first Carnival cruise! We have only sailed on Carnival (all 20 of our cruises) and actually sailed on the Magic out of NYC in July. We are glad you did a honest review and that you did enjoy yourself! I do agree about the vegetarian options, I'm not one but they should have more options (and put it on the menu if they have it..) We absolutely loved Ryan Rose the Cruise Director! So down to earth and fun. If you do happen to do another Carnival cruise, consider the newer ships (Mardi Gras or the upcoming Celebration). The Mardi Gras was amazing! Thanks for sharing!

[@penelopepitstop762]

We loved the Mardi Gras and thought Lee was a great cruise director! Cruising on the Jubilee in 2024! 🎉

[@TheAckeePlant]

I love Carnival and I always love hearing how other's experience it, especially since it was your first time! Great vid as always :D

[@EmmaCruises]

Thanks lots! :)

[@larrymason757]

Very complete review video. Thanks

[@EmmaCruises]

Thank you! 😁❤️

[@SippiBloo]

Love your review. I haven’t had any issues with Carnival so far, but I would love to try other lines. Your dad is awesome!!!!💃🏽

[@alanwignall3016]

This review sounds so much different than the reality of the 6 Carnival cruises I have done in the last year. But interesting to see the perspective of someone from a different culture!

[@whatever5922]

The waiters dancing is so bizarre 😂 I don’t know if I would love it

[@elouise5593]

It's a lot of fun!

[@alleycat-oy5kv]

It would make me feel extremely awkward. Just from that, I can tell this isn't the cruise line for me

[@rachelanderson200]

Thank you so much for taking the time to share this!!! I have never been on a cruise and have been told many times to stay away from Carnival as a ton of kids, cheap people that hog the food and a lot of fights. I will check it out. Thanks again!

[@kelvington4182]

Really fun video, I've been curious about taking a Carnival Cruise.

[@wenken24]

What a great video we love Carnival & I find the newer ships have more out door space where you can go and read your book. So happy you loved Canada🇨🇦

[@jordankimba1997]

I went on a Carnival cruise called the Carnival Conquest once when I was ten and I enjoyed it. One of our stops was Jamaica, but my parents didn’t like it. One downside was that the ship’s golf course was always closed.

[@craigdereksmith]

So glad you enjoyed yourself, I loved my brief time at Carnival! It’s a shame the main theatre shows were concert style, from my experience this is usually when the weather is bad etc so assume something was wrong because the shows are very much full on productions similar to those on Marella. Personally I think Carnival have really nailed the entertainment product but it is very American, designed as you say for maximum interaction. They’re certainly a very different vibe to British lines but definitely bring the fun!

[@morganschiller2288]

So basically Carnival sounds like a Motel 8 on the water, and the food sounds like a Golden Corral every day. I was lucky enough to take a lot of RC cruises in the 90’s and 00’s. I’d never go on Costa or Carnival. They seem like absolute cheap trash. If your going to put money on a cruise, splurge on quality. Its worth it. This is a beautiful vid. She’s a British Samantha Brown and that is a hell of a compliment

[@joeyweaver7421]

Great review, very detailed!!

[@EmmaCruises]

Thank you! 😁❤️

[@MikeBaxterABC]

I love the sound of Emma's voice, it's nice to hear! :)

[@EmmaCruises]

I'm glad you think so. I edited this for about 3 days and by the end I hated my voice. Haha. Thank you! 😁❤

[@MikeBaxterABC]

@@EmmaCruises How you hear your voice, is not how others hear it :)

[@tedwalford7615]

I've done Carnival twice, pre-pandemic. Alway dinnered in main dining room, and they made something nice veg for me without any pre-arrangement. But maybe things have changed. - And, yes, hard to avoid the casino (and photographers). Good for you, taking your winnings and walking!

[@cruiserella2899]

I live near the Tampa cruise port (about $20 cab ride away) so we’ve gone on the Carnival Paradise a couple times with another scheduled next month. It’s a very different animal in that I call it the chill ship. Yea, there’s socializing and lots to do, but it’s also easy to do sit, read, drink coffee. Lots of sitting space on the paradise blvd. On our most recent cruise the food had improved so much over the previous cruise. We were very impressed! And we loved the app that tells you when to head toward your table. Bingo was HUGE on the ship. They had some really good cocktail lounge musicians as well as the MainStage performances. Small ship so not crowded and there are excellent deals.

[@lesliemosier4120]

Your videos make me so happy.

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

When it comes to cruise ships, we have the 만경봉 (Mangyeongbong) 92. Built in 1992 (hence 92) using funds from the Chongryon (Koreans affiliated with the DPRK in Japan), it was once used to transport cargo as well as the Chongryon themselves between Japan and the DPRK. But after it was banned from Japanese waters in 2006, it became a cruise ship for Chinese tourists from Rason to Mount Kumgang. It was last used in 2018 to carry a 140-person strong orchestra to Mukho in the south for the 2018 Winter Olympics

[@ballisticbananadadude]

Thank you for the knowledge all-glorious leader.

[@whoa220]

The cruise was truly the pinnacle of cruising alive.

[@opo3628]

😑

[@Tiffany.132]

As someone from Saint John, can confirm locals don't understand why tourists flock to the Reversing Rapids. I will say it is cool to see as the tides are changing, but it's hard to time it well. Unfortunately, most of southern New Brunswick tourist attractions are very dependent on the tides (Reversing Rapids, Hopewell Rocks, Ministers Island, Campobello lighthouse, Sea Caves, etc)

[@barube001]

Emma, fantastic and thorough reviews. Your interests and views closely mirror my own so I’m an immediate subscriber. Well done!

[@EmmaCruises]

Thank you! 😁❤️

[@rottenapplemania]

Very excited to see you talk about the chocolate cake. That is the one food item I most remember loving from my last Carnival cruise

[@runningislife87]

I am so happy you finally tried carnival. I know it is not what you are used to, but i am happy you enjoyed it and it was not what you expected. Yes that ship has the older decor, but i still enjoyed it. I love the newer decor on the newer ships, it was much more modern. It is the fun ship and its just fun to enjoy sometimes watching the people and events. I have been on 100 days with them and I still enjoy. Yes the price is nice most of the time and makes it so much easier to get to vacation. Still so happy you tried it out!!!

[@EmmaCruises]

Thanks Jesse!! I'm happy you're happy I tried it. Haha :)

[@danielryan4050]

I'm so glad you mentioned that you weren't sure about the ship and how busy it felt when you came on. We did a carnival cruise several years back and found the same thing. We were used to a more sedate interior and while the ship was still beautiful it just jarred a little because there was so much "bling" if that makes any sense. The constant events and activities also started to impinge a little if you just wanted to do something quiet. In the end we just resorted to returning to our cabin to reset. With the tipping, we noticed the same thing and it's probably an American thing because they were doing the same thing on ours, which was a repositioning run out of Hawaii, but it was primarily those with an American accent doing it. We do the automatic gratuities but still tend to give out an envelope at the end of the cruise to individual crew member that we deal with directly, mainly the wait staff in the main restaurant and our room steward. We've tried the anytime dining ourselves and while it was good to eat whenever we wanted, we now go with a fixed booking. The reason for this is it allowed us to bond with the staff for our area. By the time our last cruise finished we'd shared our various life stories with our waiters and had seen photo's of their kids and even done a shore excursion with them. Just let us make some great friends on the ship. Can't praise the crew enough on these ships. With your drinks. Have you ever considered bringing on a carton of your soft drink on boarding or after a shore day? We usually bring on a 24 pack and throw a couple in the fridge to drink instead of buying them on board. Though we're not doing it on the next one as we qualified for a free drinks package. The shows you had was a surprise, the ones we got on Carnival were quite involved productions. +1 for aisle seats! A bit off put by the buffet report with the sanatisers. Might be worth throwing in a packet of hand wipes to take along if you're that worried, we will be. Still waiting for you to come down under to experience the south pacific runs.

[@sunnyscott4876]

4500 of your newest best friends!! Yay. Can't wait for the fun to start!!

[@carljohnson6434]

Loved the Magic!

[@TheLp640fan]

im so glad you finally got to review a Carnival cruise! I grew up going on Carnival's Mexican Riviera cruise as we live in Long Beach and i've always have had an amazing time, we tried to switch it up one year to NCL and it honestly was extremely disappointing as everything was closed by 9 and it wasn't much of a "fun" atmosphere. im desperately trying to find extra cash for another carnival cruise for hopefully my honeymoon

[@ProducerJayce]

I'm about to go on my first cruise tomorrow morning. We will be on the Carnival Liberty. So, I've watched a lot of videos about cruises. This video was amazing and gave a lot of information I've been wondering about. Thank you so much!

[@jeffthibodeau650]

I am from Saint John NB! It was cool to see that you took some footage in my town. I hope you enjoyed it here!

[@alanfisher1949]

cheers mate, loved this vid

[@mustkeepcruisin]

You need to try the Mardi Gras you will be amazed at how different it is from Magic! I absolutely love Carnival and I’m 52 yrs old and sail with a wheelchair.

[@SuperGoatTV]

YAYYY!!! You liked your Carnival cruise! And more than you expected, my favorite part was when you said how nice everyone was and that you actually only witnessed bad behavior on multiple other lines you've been on and how you would happily bring your family on a Carnival cruise! They get such an unfair reputation and most of the time from people who have never sailed on Carnival before but now you have and you're very well known in the cruise fan universe so thank you for helping to brake the negative perception of Carnival. And I was honored my little short comment made it to your video opening lol 🤗 I hope you do more cruises on Carnival in the future, I recommend the Horizon and the Mardi Gras or their sister ships for you to try next. 😁

[@EmmaCruises]

Oh yes I’d love that! Hopefully one day. Thanks lots 🎉❤

[@mariaespiritu9512]

Yes, everyone on the cruise is just so sweet.

[@niuhuskieguy]

I believe the rowdier crowds are generally on the shorter "booze cruises" and not the longer 6-7 day+ ones

[@SuperGoatTV]

@@niuhuskieguy I believe so as well, I think the reason Carnival appears as the worst offender is because they offer the most 2-4 day cruises than all of the other lines and they are very inexpensive, if that was true of Royal Caribbean then they would have the most incidents. Math is the reason why, simply a ton more of the "cheap crowd" goes on those sailings on the cruise line that has the most options... If the Carnival haters actually tried a 6+ night cruise on Carnival like Emma did they would be as pleasantly surprised as she was.

[@RaisedtoRoam]

Just Subscribed. Great information 🦋🌻

[@EmmaCruises]

Thank you! 😁❤️

[@Bubby869]

Canadians really are the best. Love ‘em😊

[@kellywilson9889]

Emma Another great review with respect for the Carnival culture. Having cruised on the Magic a couple of times we really like the fact that they have a 2nd non smoking Casino on deck 4. One time while in port, we spotted the photographers enjoying time off the ship. I approached them and ask if they wanted pictures taken. They all laughed and then politely posed for a group picture. Cheerio

[@EmmaCruises]

🤣🤣🤣

[@mattrost2574]

I really liked this video since I'm an avid cruiser and took ONE Carnival Cruise with similar conclusions. The worst part for me was the smoking area poolside. I'm a smoker (I know) and was resigned to spend some time in that area. It was not cleaned or maintained, the bar area did not offer table service, and the line for drinks was always long. It was near a buffet so the tables were always stacked with other peoples' dirty dishes with uneaten food and nasty napkins. The rare times I saw staff in the area was to distinguish fires (just smoke, really) in the overflowing ashtrays. The music in that area was too loud for conversation, and I was surrounded by "The People of Walmart". The public areas were decorated like casinos in Vegas. The ship felt over-crowded and under-staffed. It was a really, really bad experience. I recommend spending a few dollars more for a cruise line that'll leave you with good memories.

[@robmcguckin7605]

Finally a comment that accurately reflects Carnival and this particular cruise. I took my family on this exact cruise about 5-6 years ago and it was so bad, I tried to rent a car once we arrived to St. John and drive back to NJ but no cars available so we had to stay on the boat until the end. I/we felt we were on a floating Walmart. One pool was empty and the other had bandaids floating in it. I've never seen so many gluttons in one place at the same time. Never again!!!

[@cgoinsmajor]

My sister and I were on the Magic right after you from Oct 1-6 and loved it!!!