After taking a Carnival Cruise, we swore we would never cruise again. However, now that we have a toddler we reconsidered and decided to try RC. Glad we did as it was excellent!
PROS: The food was a higher quality than we expect from our previous cruise and it was always available. Didn't eat the midnight buffet, but saw it and it was beautiful. Embarking and Disembarking was well organized and quick. We had an excellent waiter, Metin, and all of the staff were cheery despite missing their families. Our cabin was a great size and they provided a pack and play.
CONS: There wasn't much for our toddler to do. He couldn't participate in any of the kids programs and he couldn't even run around in the kids facility with us there. Instead, he had to expend all his energy in the Vortex nightclub which reeked of cigarette smoke. He couldn't swim in the pool-even with a swim diaper and rubber pant and then a swimsuit over that. When we went to the poop on the at sea day, we saw it was FULL of only babies 6-2 years, so we decided to join in the swim protest. Talked to other moms who felt the same. We went to the Fisher Price program they have, but he was the only child there and it seemed like an opportunity for the toy company to market their toys.