We flew into Barcelona a day early to enjoy the city. Our pre cruise accommodations were at the Tryp Apolo.Upon arrival, we found Carnival representatives outside the luggage area, but they were waiting for guests who were to cruise that day on another ship. They arranged for a cab to our hotel. The hotel was acceptable for one night but the beds were very hard and the air conditioning did not work. We could not use the in room safe because it looked as if someone could pick it up and walk out with it. I would recommend searching for a better hotel.Embarkation was very fast and efficient. We are platinum members and were on the ship at 11:30. The ship was very clean and the staff was efficient and extremely friendly and polite. The decor on this ship was more subdued than some of the other ship themes and looked very nice. Our balcony room was spacious with plenty of storage. We were issued onboard credits because the pool was not in operation and the waterworks did not work the first few days.The food was very good. There was something for everyone. My husband tried the new Carnival brand beer and he enjoyed it very much! We ate in the buffet, GiGi's Asian Cafe, Guy's Burger Bar, the mexican burrito bar, the dining room and the Steakhouse. The baked onion soup in the Steakhouse is the best I have ever tried! We also attended the Chef's table, which is an experience NOT TO BE MISSED if you love a 5 star gourmet experience and fine dining. It is $75 a person and worth every penny. The coffee shop has great desserts for a reasonable price and room service was usually 15 minutes early with our coffee.Because of long days of excursions, we did not get to enjoy all of the entertainment, but we did see a couple of comedians. The comedy shows will make you laugh so hard, that you cry!With the exception of one tour, the tours were excellent with guides that were like professors. I am amazed at the amount of knowledge they had.I would recommend this cruise for anyone who wants to experience a lot in a short amount of time. There is a lot of walking and the days are long but you will leave with history, enlightenment and awe. If you have any disabilities, you may prefer to enjoy what the ship has to offer. Several guests had minimal injuries (sprained ankles, broken ankles) from walking on all of the uneven cobblestone streets in the medieval villages. You must try: Limoncello, gelato, potato cakes and hot chocolate (you use a spoon, it is so thick), granita, and the Canoli (awesome).We had an early flight and disembarked about 6:30. We chose airport transportation through Carnival and our luggage was waiting on the curb at the airport when we arrived. It was a very smooth transition.This trip was wonderful, the food great, the staff excellent and I would recommend it to anyone. We have sailed Carnival many times in the past and will again in the future.