This was our second Carnival cruise and I think with Carnival, or any vacation, your expectations set the tone for the cruise. My wife and I are mid-30's and we took our 9 year old daughter. I don't think comparing Carnival to a more expensive cruise line is accurate -- they serve different target markets. If you spend the entire time looking for things to complain about -- food isn't 5-star gourmet, lines, having to abide by rules -- you'll have a miserable time. However, if you come on board looking to get decent meals and anticipating some hang-ups, you'll likely be satisfied.

We stayed at Harbor House and I strongly recommend doing so if you are driving down the night before. You can leave your car there during the cruise for an additional fee or take it to a shuttle parking lot for no additional cost. It was worth it to us to have the car within walking distance so we paid the extra money.

We left the hotel at 11am, dropped our bags at a porter, and were eating on the Lido deck at 11:30. Based on our past experience, we wanted to have the first day be pretty much sitting on the Lido deck so we boarded with swimsuits on and minimal baggage. Most people are wondering the ship, scoping everything out, so you can usually find a good set of chairs and start your vacation. Our daughter found a friend within an hour and spent the rest of the time going on the waterslide and pools. Read more