Dean Kaiser

Age: 47
Occupation: Environmental Engineer
Number of Cruises: 1
Cruise Line: Carnival
Ship: Destiny
Sailing Date: July 18th, 2004
Itinerary: Southern Caribbean

I would like to hit on the high points of our cruise on the Carnival Destiny, because Mindy does a decent job with the cruise overview in her review.

My wife and I traveled with two girls, 11 and 13 years old. I want to say above all that the crew on the Destiny was fantastic.

We didn’t get our requested late dinner seating because there was a very large group on board, but Yusuf the maitre d’ took care of it, and I am sure it was not easy to do. The cabin steward was very friendly and informative, and he made a new towel origami every evening, which delighted the kids. Our waitress (Angela) was personable and very efficient. We never spoke directly with Josh the cruise director, but he did a great job of keeping the crowds pleased (if you ever go, ask him about boarding the ship in windy Aruba!)

We rented a balcony suite for the four of us, and I was actually pleased with the space available. It was a quiet getaway from the cruise ship crowds, although there were also quiet sitting areas in the ship that would have served the same purpose. The deck is pretty much always a party atmosphere.

One of the best features of the suite was that with teh first-class "Skipper's Club" embarkation we bypassed a 3-hour check-in line through customs and security. Our new cruise “buddies” who flew from Charlotte to San Juan with us did indeed wait 3.5 hours to get on the ship at 6:00 – we were on a 2:30. I might not have been quite as happy with that wait.

St. Thomas was OK I suppose – it was geared towards shopping and tourists. We spent a half-day there and then enjoyed the ship.

At first we were disappointed that this cruise no longer docked in Martinique. Dominica was the new location, and someone at Carnival knew what they were doing when they sent a line there. The small island is very undeveloped. Mindy is correct to say that it is a poor island, but that is by American standards. I suspect that many of the islanders would disagree with her. I hesitate to offer any more publicity to this undiscovered area, but this is a must-see destination for people like me. That means: not much shopping, limited beaches, no big hotels, and likely rain… beautiful people, immediate immersion in true local culture, incredible rainforests, 365 rivers and even more waterfalls, and the only real original indigenous settlement in this part of the Caribbean. Do NOT stay in Roseau – get out of town!

Barbados was great – although we spent our day on a catamaran and did not see too much of the island. I would like to go back there to explore some more.

Aruba is the quintessential snorkeling and sunbathing island. We went to De Palms Island and languished in an aura of contentment and rum punch. My older daughter and wife went horseback riding on the beach in the afternoon – my daughter is an accomplished rider, and was pretty much in heaven galloping on the beach. No broken bones – not that time anyway.

How many times do you hear a reviewer say that everything went better than anticipated – including the airfare and transfers? I am saying it now. This was one of the most enjoyable, if not THE most enjoyable and relaxing vacations I have ever had. None of the negative reviews about Carnival applied to my experience. I would go again in a heartbeat.
 

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