When I boarded the Carnival Jubilee on May 31, 2025, I was buzzing with excitement for a week of relaxation and adventure. The ship, gleaming and massive, promised a luxurious escape. But by the time I disembarked on June 7, I was exhausted, not from fun, but from navigating a series of maddening inconveniences that overshadowed the cruise’s highlights. Why? Hot and slow elevators on the Carnival Jubilee.
The elevators were the bane of my existence. They barely worked. On the rare occasion one arrived, the wait felt eternal—sometimes 10 or 15 minutes just to move a few decks. When you finally squeezed in, the air was stifling. No air conditioning ran in those cramped boxes, leaving us sweating and claustrophobic. To make matters worse, kids—left unchecked by their parents—treated the elevator call buttons like a game, mashing them repeatedly, which only worsened the delays. I saw frustrated parents and elderly cruisers shaking their heads as the chaos unfolded.
Week Aboard the Carnival Jubilee: A Cruiser’s Tale of Frustration
By a Weary Sailor, May 31–June 7, 2025
Faced with endless waits, I often had no choice but to tackle the stairs. Climbing 17 flights to reach my cabin or the dining areas was no joke, especially after a day of shore excursions. My calves ached, and I wasn’t alone—grumbling passengers filled the stairwells, some panting, others cursing the situation. The ship felt like a floating obstacle course.
The messiness didn’t help. Pizza slices were smashed into the carpets, leaving greasy stains that lingered for days. Cruisers left plates of half-eaten food outside their cabin doors, and these sat for hours, attracting flies and adding to the ship’s disheveled vibe. It was disheartening to see such a beautiful vessel treated so carelessly.
Then there were the door signs. Each cabin had a decorative sign, often personalized, but by mid-cruise, many were missing or swapped. Teenagers, I suspect, thought it was hilarious to steal and rearrange them, leaving confused passengers wandering the halls, double-checking their room numbers. It was a small prank, but it added to the sense that things were spiraling out of control.
Despite these gripes, the cruise wasn’t all bad. The food, when I could get to it, was delicious, and the entertainment was top-notch. The crew worked hard, though they seemed as frazzled as we were by the elevator fiasco. Being on the Jubilee was like living in a mall.
But these bright spots couldn’t fully redeem the experience. The Carnival Jubilee has potential, but until they fix the elevators, clean up the messes, and enforce some basic decorum, I’d think twice before booking again. My week at sea felt less like a vacation and more like a test of patience.