We embarked on the Carnival Sunshine from Barcelona May 26th for a 12 day cruise. We arrived the day before and stayed at the Montecarlo right on La Rambla, very nice hotel (we highly recommend it). Just across the hotel was a small convenience store were we stocked up on water (24-500ml bottles) and two bottles of wine.
Our first port of visit was Marseilles (shuttle from Carnival to bring you downtown Marseilles 14E each two way (couldn't get a taxi at the port, they will only take you outside of Marseilles)very annoying taxi drivers (and I spoke French), absolutely loved visiting Aix en Provence, which we did by ourselves, using the metro from Vieux Port to Gare St-Charles and then the special shuttle bus between Marseilles and Aix en Provence for a total 10.50E for the RTM(metro, bus, tramway)including Marseilles/Aix en Provence.
Mext Livorno(Florence), we booked with Carnival Florence on Your Own. All I can say is that they drop you off way too far from the center of Florence. Loved Florence don't miss the Academia for the David (reserve on-line because of long lines).
Balcony cabin 9170. Loved being on Lido Deck, no elevators to take to get to Lido restaurants, either for breakfast or lunch. Very quiet but close to the elevators if we need to use them. Good showerhead, AC adequate. lots of storage.