Rosemary H.
Carnival Encounter Brisbane to Cairns…
Carnival Encounter Brisbane to Cairns return. I'll start with the positives. The majority of the staff, the food mostly good and the rooms were great. The shower although small was powerful and the bed extremely comfortable. My issues were the smell of sewer first noticed two days into the cruise at the rear decks. People were going outside covering their noses. It was disgusting. Secondly I was unable to get my daughter a drink at the bar unless she came with me. She has a disability and also a very painful back so walking and carrying a drink back to her seat is difficult. She also had a child to supervise. She was insight of the bar to wave at bar staff when I ordered her drinks but I was refused her drink. There were more security staff than waiters so managing to find one to get her a drink despite pointing out where she was sitting and requesting assistance on getting her drinks fell on deaf ears. On barman was extremely rude when I didn't understand his English. He was so intimidating I refused to go to that bar again and set my partner. No issues with him getting me a drink though. Different bars charged different prices for the same drinks. On the last day at sea we woke to find much of the outdoor seating had been stored away. Lounging at the sunset bar at 3pm that day our longest were taken from around us and the bar closed at 3.15pm when the app stated it closed at 4pm. On the rainy days at sea (it can happen) there was no room in any of the indoor entertainment areas. The newly installed slides didnt work as they should. The green shoot would allow you to get to the bottom at a slow pace but the blue slide had you stuck on the way down the shoot in several places. This happened no matter what you were wearing or in what position you put yourself in. This lead to long queues on high spiral stairs which I felt unsafe do be kept waiting on. We purchased the drink package for my grandson but were extremely disappointed that all he could get at the bars were cans of pop (he's not allowed fizzy drinks). He wasn't even allowed a bottle of water on his package. This package is a con. Most of the staff have a long and tough job on the cruise but they are pleasant and extremely helpful . My other complaint is that I booked the cruise back in Sept 25 and paid a deposit. This was taken out of my bank and I received a confirmation email but nothing else. She I went to pay the balance in Jan 26 my booking reference wasn't recognised and no booking found. I emailed Carnival numerous times but received no reply. I booked again and paid in full to avoid the same issue. No one on the ship could help with my lost deposit. Having cruised from Brisbane in Dev 24 with Royal Caribbean I will always chose them in the future. Lots of waiting staff to help my daughter get her drinks and no overbearing smell of sewage.