Comments on: Life is a Dream on Carnival’s newest ship

By: Mona

Mona — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:32:06 +0000

The Dream’s moment of fame is already fleeting. Its 4600 passenger capacity is now dwarfed by Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas which holds 6000 and has a Central Park-size park with hundreds of real trees and a hand-carved carousel; it has a golf course (not just mini-golf or a virtual golf game), an ice rink and a huge rock-climbing wall, a water show including synchronized swimmers as well as sea animals, a zip line, several swimming pools (7, I think), multiple dining options, etc., etc., etc. Of course, if you’ve read my posts before, you know that I am no longer a fan of Carnival, so I am not too sad to know that its newest member of the family is already passe compared to other new ships on the seas.

By: Anita Dunham-Potter

Anita Dunham-Potter — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:45:01 +0000

Hello barbara,
All the reviews are here on Consumer Traveler – you can do a search of them or go to the columnist area and look for all my columns.

You clearly did not read my Fantasia article, I did not jump off the ship early, I was onboard for the two-day christening event in Naples. I went through with the entire event; however, I opted to be one of the first ones off the ship because there were so many smokers onboard – it was a miserable experience. It’s too bad because the ship is lovely.

As for the “dead issue” comment you made – you knew exactly what you were writing because you put (pardon the pun) afterwards.

As for you comment on my reporting skills – well that’s subjective. If you don’t like my columns simply don’t read them.

Anita

By: barbara

barbara — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:37:44 +0000

Anita, I would enjoy reading your cruise articles. If you have a chance would you please email me the sites where I can read them. Many families in the states including myself have lost a loved one due to smoking.What I mean by dead issue is no one can dispute that smoking isnot a very healthy habit;and in general most areas in the States including other countries such as India and even Kenya have banned it in public place. Iknowthe ship you reviewed was the Fantasia,and I know that I posted and you never replied. The Fantasia is now clamping down on smoking violations. However when I read seventeen Cruise Critic mostly the negative ones, the worst did not even mention smoking. They did state the food was excellent. What Iam really trying to say is you edtoralize to much instead of being subjective. You tend to use hyperboles,or exaggerate as in the latest review everything was mostly glowing. You jumped ship after 2 days because of the smoking. Of course if you are not paying big deal . Sorry if I am incorrect about that. Also your critism of me was quite personnel. You are not a subjective reporter in my opinion.

By: Anita Dunham-Potter

Anita Dunham-Potter — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:02:05 +0000

barbara,
Clearly you don’t read my columns or a lot of the others on here for that matter. In all of your comments you are quick to jump to conclusions even before finishing the articles.

I suggest you finish an article before commenting on it. That way you’ll know the name of the ship I was on, how long I was on the ship, and what my thoughts are on that ship.

Lastly, the smoking “dead issue” comment was in extremely poor taste and tacky. But many of us on here are not surprised.

Anita

By: barbara

barbara — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:54:30 +0000

Had you not jumped ship perhaps you could have done a better review.But then again were you a paying passengeror a feebie.

By: barbara

barbara — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:50:03 +0000

Anita i did read some of the reviews on FANTASIA on Cruise Critic.I focused on the most negative one first-the maiden voyage. Smoking was not even listed. The review stated that the food was excellent. After reading more of the negative review although smoking was sometimes listed it was not the number one complaint.I am taking the Cruise Critic with a grain of salt. You cannot be a cruise critic and get overly emotional. It is not fair to the consumer or the company. Please either be more subjective or consider another field in the travel industry to write about.Smoking is a dead issue. Excuse the pun.

By: barbara

barbara — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:29:19 +0000

Anita your experience is very common.However perhaps when you did the review you could have stated that it was not advisable for people who have serious issues with smoking. You could have stated that it was a ship in which a majority of the passengers are European. Also was there any acceptable food. It was a very biased review soley on your issue with smoking. There was a cruise ship like that at one time. I believe it was a flop. Also you going to have to come to terms with the fact that many Chinese will be cruising as their economy is very strong. They are heavy smokers.along with Russians who are traveling more and more. Israelis also tend to smoke heavily. You have a very provincial attitude-not good for a cruise critic.

By: Anita Dunham-Potter

Anita Dunham-Potter — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:34:49 +0000

barbara,
I’ve never been on the Costa Fortuna. I am assuming you mean the MSC Fantasia – as that is the only ship I’ve had an issue with smokers onboard. Personally, I think smoking is a horrible addiction and I think non-smokers should not be subjected to second-hand smoke. I admit I am biased, but I have good reason. My mother, a huge chain smoker, died of emphysema at the age of 62 some 12 years ago.

Best,
Anita

By: barbara

barbara — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:42:00 +0000

Bodega, if you read my comment on her review of Fortuna you will see my drift.

By: Anita Dunham-Potter

Anita Dunham-Potter — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:05:01 +0000

Hello Barbara & Paul,
I think you should re-read the story — it’s far from glowing. You’ll realize that I spelled out the truth from my two-day sailing on Carnival Dream that the staterooms and noise issue and the long lines at the buffet were a problem. The story is basically a “hardware” overview of the ship . It’s virtually impossible to write an in-depth review of a cruise ship in two days. I am currently on Oasis of the Seas — another quick sailing to check out the new ‘hardware’.

Regards,
Anita