This is our fourth cruise, the second with Carnival. Our group consisted on two adult women and our two teenage daughters, both 15. We had two outside cabins on the lowest level. I have never stayed on such a low level but found it very acceptable.
Our cabin steward, Victor, was the best. We let our daughters have a cabin to themselves, and it became the place to hang out doing all nighters for four nights in a row, with many kids in there. Victor was very gracious and picked up after all these kids every day, and we gave him a generous tip at the end for all he did.
I have always cruised the Caribbean, so this itinerary was very different for us. San Diego port was clean, much nicer than Carnival in Miami.