We were first time cruisers who had heard both positives and negatives about cruises and Carnival and did not know quite what to expect. Embarkation was smooth and we were quickly directed to lunch. Our cabin was clean and luggage arrived not long after we settled. Staff was very friendly and as much as possible called us by name. The ship was a bit older, but seemed clean and well-maintained considering its regular usage. The mandatory safety drill took too long and seemed a little disorganized for as often as they must do it.

Our cabin was immaculate throughout the voyage, and our steward seemed one of the more talented at folding towel creatures. The chocolate left each night was very good. Dining was pleasant, and dining room staff not only served us well, but anticipated our needs. The food in the dining room was above average, and considering what we had paid for the cruise, exceeded our expectations. The food at the buffet lines was average buffet fare at both breakfast and lunch. Some of the desserts at the dessert bar were very good. Entertainment was average with two "Vegas style" shows. I thought the band playing in the Leonardo Lounge (Blood Power or something like that) did a good job with classic rock covers. The comedy shows were okay. The DJs were pretty good in their music mix and in getting people to dance.

The excursion desk was helpful as we planned two shore excursions. I found the staff to be very pleasant in every area of the ship. We were in a later disembarkation group so had a relaxing breakfast. We easily found our luggage but there seemed to be some people having difficulty finding theirs in the terminal. Signage could have been better. We certainly will consider cruising and Carnival as future vacation options.