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Carnival Encounter: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly! Carnival Australia review, tips and odd facts

TravelCruiseFeast
TravelCruiseFeast
🎫Tourist
👁️ 5K views📅 7 months ago⏱️ 7:02
What This Creator Said
Creator Had Mixed FeelingsFull Ship Review🎫Tourist Creator

Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.

Creator's Key Takeaways

Every cruise ship has its highs and lows, but the Carnival Encounter, well, this ship has the good, the bad, and even the ugly.

The staff overall do a great job and the production shows are a real highlight.

The ship's plumbing issues and occasional bad smells are hard to ignore.

Would I sail it again? Sure, but with managed expectations.

Creator's Tips & Advice

Book a show in the main auditorium and sit on level six, fifth row middle for the best seats.
Manage expectations if you sail on the Carnival Encounter due to its age and flaws.

Questions This Creator Answers

QWhat are the good, bad, and ugly aspects of the Carnival Encounter?
QWould the creator sail on the Carnival Encounter again?

Topics Covered

Entertainment Shows3 Happy BaconLoyalty Program1 Sad BaconDining Main2 Happy BaconDining Buffet1½ Sad BaconPool Deck2½ Sad BaconWater Park2½ Happy BaconKids Family2 Sad BaconSpa Fitness1½ Happy Bacon

Port Highlights

Ely Beach Marina2½ Happy Bacon
Kairens2½ Happy Bacon
How to read the Trip Bacon Score
Happy Bacon — creators loved this aspect
Sad Bacon — creators took issue with this
Meh — no strong opinion either way

Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = “meh”, 5 = “bacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.

About our Bacon Score methodology
YouTube Video Description

Welcome back to Travel Cruise Feast! Today we're giving you a honest **cruise review** of the Carnival Encounter, sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly. Get ready for some **cruise advice** as we explore the ship, talk **carnival cruise food**, and offer **cruise tips** for your next **carnival cruise**. #CarnivalEncounter #CarnivalCruise #CruiseFood #CruiseTips #CruiseVlog #TravelCruiseFeast🍽️ Carnival Encounter Review: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly Every cruise ship has its highs and lows… but the Carnival Encounter is truly unique. Once the Star Princess (built in 2002), this Grand Class ship now sails under the Carnival flag and carries around 2,600–3,000 guests. In this video, I break down everything you need to know: what works, what doesn’t, and what might just make you think twice before booking. ✨ The Good: Classic Princess-style décor, three main dining rooms, excellent production shows, Oasis lounge area, a solid gym, ropes course, waterslides, and even fresh Masala Dosa for breakfast. ⚠️ The Bad: No late-night pizza, no free soft-serve, no repeat wait staff, weak buffet, and specialty dining that doesn’t feel “special.” 😬 The Ugly: Plumbing issues, rust, noisy kids in adult areas, cold hot tubs, and some very questionable public restrooms. 💡 Since Rebranding (April 2025): Light updates and higher prices—but a full dry dock is coming February 2026 in Singapore. 🎭 Bonus tips: Best seats in the Marquee theatre, quirky ship facts, and must-know hacks before sailing. If you’re considering the Carnival Encounter, this honest review covers the good, the bad, and the ugly so you can sail with realistic expectations. 👍 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share your experience in the comments—was your Encounter more good, more bad… or a little too ugly? #CarnivalEncounter #CruiseReview #CarnivalCruise #CruiseTips #CruiseVlog #TravelCruiseFeast