Carnival Cruises joined forces with Virgin to take eight agents to Orlando for a four-night voyage. Sailing aboard Carnival’s Fantasy from Cape Canaveral, the group visited the Bahamas with stops at Freeport and Nassau. We asked three agents for their impressions before and after the trip.
Before: I have never been on a cruise but wasn’t really inspired by the idea of Carnival’s fun ship approach. I thought it would be like a Butlins on water, with lots of children, hi-de-hi and knobbly knee contests. I also imagined that the cabins would be small and the food would be all beans and chips.
After: The cabins are a good size and you feel as if you are staying in a five-star hotel. The food is breathtaking – lobster and Chateaubriand but some of the decor is a bit dated. On deck they had hairy chest competitions but the ship is three-and-a-half times the size of Wembley stadium so you can easily escape that. I am selling Fantasy as a floating luxury hotel. People think cruising is for the toffy-nosed or older people but if you present it as a top-quality hotel with shows, you can persuade them otherwise.
Kerry Hodge, Manager, Travel Choice, Leigh on Sea, Essex, Age: 28
Before: We sell quite a number of Carnival cruises because one of my colleagues has been on one and is a big fan. I had gathered from her they are fairly relaxed and informal which allays some clients’ fears that cruises are too upmarket and intimidating for them. They don’t want to dress up formally every night. I know the approach to cruising is changing but I still wasn’t sure who they would really appeal to.
After: A Carnival cruise is brilliant and I have already booked to go again, on Sensation this time, for my own holiday. The size of the cabins is impressive -much bigger than you would imagine – and there is a great choice of food and activities. You can eat in the a la carte restaurant, at a buffet restaurant or in your room and the food is excellent. The entertainment ranges from karaoke to a sophisticated piano bar and the casino and shows are top quality. The cruise attracts a real mixture of people but not the older people you usually associate with cruising. It is a great way to combine lying around doing nothing with visiting new destinations.
Lisa Smith, Manager, Intatravel, Southend, Essex, Age: 34
Before: The main idea I had about cruising was that it was for older people. But I didn’t think it would be too stuffy or formal. I had been on a Carnival ship once when it came into Southampton so I knew Fantasy would look good and be pretty comfortable. Our clients rarely ask for cruises – most going to Florida just want to visit the theme parks.
After: The passengers are not nearly as old as you imagine and the atmosphere on board is really relaxed and not at all formal. The staff are very friendly which helps make the cruise very easy going. The food on board is impressive – excellent quality and more than enough of it. I have already recommended a cruise to clients, friends and relatives and one couple who combined time at Disney with a Carnival cruise were pleased they had done it. I think some of the cruise excursions could be better organised but there is so much to do on board you don’t really need them. At first, people think it is expensive but when they see what is included they realise it is excellent value.
Karen Duggin, Manager, Bakers Dolphin, Knole, Bristol, Age: 28