Steve Warren

Age: 36 to 45
Number of Cruises: First Cruise
Ship: Holiday
Departure Date: February 26, 1999
Itinerary: Los Angeles - Ensenada - Los Angeles

Greetings to you all. I hope this review helps someone else who is considering this ship and itinerary for a vaction. My party consisted of four people - two cabins - all first time cruisers. This being our first cruise we opted to take a very short one in case the experience was less than worthy of an encore. We could not have been more pleased with the entire experience. From the initial booking to the return to our door the vacation proved to be a true respite from the ordinary.

We booked our vacation with a company that specializes in cruising and were able to take advantage of a nice upgrade - from lowest fare super savers to a level 7 outside - specifically Main Deck cabins 88 and 94. Having been lurking about in the newsgroups we decided to take every opportunity to make life simpler. Starting with our arrival we booked a limousine to take us directly to the front of the Los Angeles cruise terminal (smart idea) and arrived VERY early. Boarding was published as starting around 1:00 or 1:30pm but we were allowed to board at 12:20. We were met with no line at all and from limo to cabin took 15 minutes. We opted to carry our own baggage aboard with us so that we would not have to wait for it to arrive later. That smart decision allowed us to unpack and begin enjoying the available boarding luncheon services at once!

Our cabins were spacious enough at 185 square feet and all the features worked. Our cabin steward made an apearance for introduction and provided us with lockbox keys. The ship moved away from the dock precisely on time.

Now, as for particulars...

The SHIP: The Holiday seemed well maintained and was kept clean at all times. People were constantly bustling about wiping, washing and generally doing the upkeep thatyou would expect from a vessel that lives in salt air with more than a thousand parasites .. I mean passengers.. living aboard her. Although the decor was not what i would have chosen it definitely said "vacation" and "Carnival". The dining room was mercifully devoid of garish excess which is a nice break for dining. Other public rooms look exactly like the brochure! I'm always happy when a product is delivered as advertised.

Dining Services: The pizzeria was always available and the pizza was fresh and good. No exciting choices but very edible and the few times that lines were present they moved very quickly. The availability of the bistro dining options was great - food was always plentiful and not too bad at all. We did not have any expectations of 5-star dining in the alternative eateries and so we did not deal in any way with disappointment. Definitely better than Denny's though!!

We took our dinners in the Seven Seas dining room and were delighted with the meal options. The presentation was perfectly fine and portions appropriately small so that one could easily sample anything (or in my case everything) on the menu. The whole headwaiter concept seems a bit superfluous in this atmosphere and I saw no dsicernible reason for his employment. our waiter and busboy were always available, very friendly and competent and deserved (and received) more than the recommended tips. The dress-up night was very pleasant. We opted for dark suit versions rather than true black-tie and were not embarrassed. That seemed to be the way most people dressed. But the few tuxedos that were seen did not seem out of place for their scarcity. The soft-serve yogurt was almost always available and in use.

Entertainment: Absolutely top notch in the showroom. Frankly, the 60's/70's/80's review was better than the Caribbean if for no other reason than the dancers seemed to enjoy it more. Great fun and at least one show should be attended! The guitar player at the Bus Stop bar adjacent to the casino was not spectacular.. but really good and his presence was always welcome and other passengers seemed to enjoy him as much as did we. The piano player that I was looking forward to was really dismal and only visible once for five minutes. Oh well... nothing in life should be too perfect!!

Shore Tours/Excursions:

Ensenada... we opted for a combo of the quickie bus ($2.00) into town and then decided to take the Bufadora (blowhole) tour .. both for shoping and to see the splashy hole itself. Our tour guide made the visit enjoyable and the hole itself was interesting ... but if you want to shop and visit and have a beer.. skip ALL the excursions and just take the $2 bus into town and make your own fun.

Summary: Loved it... am already in the process of booking again ..i am now a confirmed cruiser and may never take another type of vacation. The lull of the ocean's movement .. the hum of the engines.. to me reassuring.. I slept like a baby and was consistently in a relaxed state. The service was beyond my expectations.

Recommendation: New to cruising and wat to try it? Absolutely a good way to "test the waters". Heard that Carnival is too loud and full of drunken louts? Don't believe it .... besides there are enough venues for personal entertainment and relaxation for you to always find your own kind of fun. For me? Two thumbs WAAAAY UP!

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