Thomas Frew

Age: 51
Occupation: Retired
Number of Cruises: 1
Cruise Line: Carnival
Ship: Holiday
Sailing Date: January 31st, 2004
Itinerary: New Orleans- Calica-Cozumel-New Orleans

The Cruise was a washout from the begining. The trip down the Mississippi river was one of constant rocking from side to side as we went down the river. The Captian never warned us that there was a gale force storm waiting out in the gulf of Mexico, so when we hit it about 11:00 pm it was a surprise. 50mph winds and 16ft. seas pitched the ship about a lot. The ventilation system blew the smell of raw sewage back into our room, and the guests in the lowest outside rooms were awaked at 2am to have their windows boarded up as a precaution. The second day was a bust because everybody was recovering from the night before.

On the third day, we docked at the beautiful port of Calica. IT'S A GRAVEL PIT. I'M NOT KIDDING. The pier is a raw materials loading pier. the mound of rock and gravel are hundreds of feet high, and you have to take a taxi or bus to go anywhere. Cancun and Playa del Carmen are miles away.

The shore excursions were great, the Mayan ruins were fantastic (Carnival can't ruin them) and Xel Ha was nice. but I would have liked to have visited more of the area but we had to be back on board early to leave and cruise around offshore all night before docking at Cozumel the next day.

Again the shore excursions were great, and shopping was nice. the town is touristy, but the people were nice, and the town clean. Again I would have liked to stay longer, but the ship had to leave in the afternoon.

The next day we were at sea, and the ship rocked and rolled slightly. I was on a gargo ship in the gulf that was more stable. I always thought cruise ships didn't rock and roll, well this one did.

The last night we ran into more weather, and again we got no warning. Then there was the rocking trip back up the river.

I haven't been on other Carnival cruises, but I wouldn't recommend this one. I've heard that they plan to move the Holiday to Florida, but I wouldn't recommend the ship either.

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