18/04/2023
Here is my review of this beautiful ship:
Carnival Panorama-
1450= Crew Members
We set sail on April 8, 2023. 8 days and 7 nights! 21 Adults and 2 pre-teens.
Getting to the port was easy breezy, a little traffic as we neared the Long Beach Cruise Terminal. We flew in LAX a few chose Long Beach Airport and we organized transportation to the port @ $30pp. We had an afternoon check in, the process was smooth and easy. The Port Terminal is huge so wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Dropping off luggage and the check-in and was about 30 minutes from start to finish and the cruise was sold out.
The ship is beautiful and clean. There were a few people with masks on but not very many, as this is an option now. Vaccines are not mandatory to set sail with Carnival Cruise Line.
We ate in the MDR for breakfast every morning and it was good no complaints. Didn't eat at the buffet during the day so no comment for that. I did pig out on the chocolate chip cookies and the strawberry yogurt with vanilla ice cream and a cone..
Guy's Burgers, BlueIguana Cantina and Guy's Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que is what I ate during the day and it was fresh and good. The lines were not long. Pig & Anchor is a sit down restaurant and we always had a seat. We dined there twice for dinner.
MDR for dinner a few nights, we skipped maybe 3, but our servers were great!
We had an Ocean View Deluxe Cabin which allowed us to have two bathrooms, one did not have a toilet... But both had showers, sinks, towels etc. It saved us time getting dressed and ready for the day or night. I do recommend but not necessary. Strictly an option...
The entertainment was good, but for a professional cruiser I was so surprised in the order in which they happened and felt like it should have been more... More what??? More shows, more activities during the day... Why??? This was a "Cold" itinerary. I have never been to the West Coast nor the Pacific Ocean. I have always sailed to the Caribbean....But, I was fore warned by a cruiser last year that sailed in May and informed how cold this would be. So, we packed jackets no swim wear, socks, jeans... Yes socks, jeans and NO SWIM WEAR!!
So I was prepared but hoping I was going to regret bringing socks and jackets on a cruise.. Never, ever have I packed such a thing.
Silent Disco Party = Everyone wears headphone with 3 different stations and go from there, it lasted about 90 minutes and it was fun.
80's Rock & Glow= Everyone wears 80's attire and rock and glow clothes.
White Party Night= Everyone wears white attire and party.
Love & Marriage Show= Married contestants are selected and are challenged with questions about the opposite spouse.
Carnival Quest= Adult Contest..... Adult's and Not Easy to offend type of game
Groove for St. Jude
Military Appreciation
Punch Line Comedy was good, we had a total of 4 comedians, 2 started with us and then two new comedians were added more to the end.
Throughout the day there are various activities but I'm so spoiled by cruising and I do it enough to know that I was missing some extra goodness.
The shows were lacking in quantity but the quality of the one and only show I was told was great! I did not personally see the show myself. But the guests that did gave a rave review.
I don't buy a drink package, because it's too expensive and I don't drink enough of anything to pay $120 per cabin/ per day for a total of 30 drinks per cabin. It's not for us... but for those that do drink coffee, sodas, shakes, alcohol, beer etc. do the math and see if it works for you. Keep in mind when you are in port you can't use in on the islands unless it's a private island owned by that Cruise Line.
I was very happy that they offered a Laundry room... No washing, but yes I did do some light ironing... That's a plus, as some of the newer ships are moving away from that. It is being replaced with a service on the ship that will provide, wash, fold and press for a charge.
So happy that Carnival has returned the complimentary movies to watch in your cabin, which I'm hardly in the cabin long enough to take advantage, but!!! It was so cold I didn't want to roam the ship like I would normally. So, I took full advantage and watched some movies twice....for "FREE"
The Night Club was good..... The Karaoke was great...for the first time I experienced a Karaoke contest....As many times as I have cruised I have yet to take the stage solo.... I'm scared of the tomatoes...
The Sports bar was cute and small... The Casino was always busy, but seemed a little small... Not a gambler but passing through I took notice....
Coming to an end..... Disembarking was painless and organized, as we were able to eat breakfast, catch up and reflect. We had a late afternoon flight and utilized Carnival's transportation back to LAX @ $35 pp.
Please stay tuned for our next Cruise Vacation... Leaving out of Brooklyn, NY. We set sail on the MSC Meraviglia April 29-May 7, 2023.
