When reading any cruise ship review you've got to keep an open mind about the benefits of the cruise in review. It's quite easy to get carried away with an excited author's version of their cruise experience because what works for one person may not work for another. Also, the review could be completely biased with the author having a vested interest.

In the final analysis, a cruise ship review worth any salt should provide both the good and the bad of the cruise experience from ship amenities to staff hospitality.

Carnival Glory

In a recent cruise to the eastern Caribbean on Carnival Glory, the experience was very satisfying from a relaxation point-of-view yet there were some areas which were a little concerning.

Yes, the 7 night 7 day cruise was a bargain at $950 for two people yet the cost of staying on board the ship left a little to be desired.

For example, purchasing those memory-filled photos proved an expensive exercise with the largest prints selling for almost $22. For a package of seven, the customer would have to fork out almost $150. There were smaller sizes available yet no discounts at all for the more popular larger versions was a little disappointing.

Another disappointing aspect was the cost of internet access on the ship. At 75 cents per minute, it turned most people off and while packages of 250 minutes for $100 were available, it still seemed excessively high.

The casino is a popular venue on a ship and the slot machines attract plenty of patronage. The one and two cent machines generally attract the most interest however, they were few in numbers and were outnumbered clearly by the 25 cent and higher machines. For someone looking to play them for a little fun and recreation, then it could become and expensive exercise.

Carnival Glory Hospitality

This cruise ship review isn't about highlighting the negatives. The hospitality was first class and the staff fantastic. That's what you would expect on a floating resort. It certainly made the experience worthwhile despite some of the points made above.

When assessing a cruise ship review make sure you get a cross section of reviews before making any decision to book a ship. While an overall price may seem appealing just be aware that there are costs associated with traveling on a cruise ship and if you're working on a tight budget, they can impact your hip pocket.