Lisa  

Age: 32
Occupation: Administrative Assitant
Number of Cruises: First Cruise
Cruise Line: Carnival Cruise Lines
Ship: Jubilee
Sailing Date: June 30th, 2001
Itinerary: Tampa, Grand Cayman, Cozumel

This was our first and much anticipated cruise. After reading many online reviews of this ship and cruise line, I was expecting much worse. I realize that it is what you make it and many people can find the bad in anything, but we found that the good in this ship FAR outweighed any bad. Even the things that needed improvement paled in comparison to the good. We left the port in Tampa on a Saturday. The wait in line wasn't long at all for embarkation. After getting on the ship and finding our way around, we ate lunch on the lido deck. Our cabin was much bigger than we expected and we were very pleased with the size of it and the layout. We had an inner room on the main deck. The room was VERY quiet. We had heard horror stories of the noise, but we had NONE. Our room steward and all of the staff were very, very friendly. The activities that they had on board were all great. We enjoyed the shows and all of the activities. We have two daughters 8 and 11 and the 8 year old loved camp carnival for a day. While in Grand Cayman, we did the Island and Stingray City tour which was incredible. If you are going to this port, do not miss the stingray tour. We didn't have much time to shop after the tour before we had to be back on the ship, but there weren't a whole lot of shops anyway. We had a great time. While in Cozumel, we did the Island Adventure Snorkeling tour which was also incredible. We got ample time in the water and all of the help was great. On the way back, they gave us unlimited drinks. After the tour, we went back to the ship to change and then took a taxi into town. Be prepared to be highly pressured by the stores to come in and buy. I wish now that we had found a quiet beach to lay on in a hammock and forgot about shopping. I had read that, but didn't ask enough questions about where to go to a beach and thought they would be right by the ship and they weren't. But we still had a great time and it just gives us incentive to return again to sit on the beach all day. Our last day at sea was again incredible. The food was always great. We never had a bad meal. I would have to say that they only thing I don't agree with is tipping the head waiter and maitre ’d as they do nothing to help but stop by the table once and say hello. However, the help on the lido deck is great and they get no recommended tips. Our table waiter was just great and it was such a treat eating in the dining room. We bought the fountain cards that allow you to get unlimited soft drinks and that was a real money saver, otherwise you spend $2 a drink as opposed to $17.95 for the card. I was impressed that the waiters treated those with the cards with just as friendly as service as those paying full price. I just can't say enough good about this ship. I'm sure there are newer fancier ships, and I would like to go on them one day as well, but it would never change how much we enjoyed this one.