Never cruised before. Can't tell you how I even ended up on this ship. However the experience I must say was generally positive. There were a lot of things to do, eat and see. The ship was buzzing with activities. If one wanted to find and meet people or stay busy getting entertained this was the place. I really got use to the idea of not having to fly,rent a car, then get somewhere everyday on vacation. Rather sleeping while traveling port to port upon the high seas is amazing to me. I like that. Was the ship perfect? Hey no. Is anything? I did not even go to most of the activities. I am a hermit by nature...a proverbial recluse. I made my own vacation out of it and the ship was the place for it. I only got slightly offended by some of the crew when it came to dining. I am by myself for dinner. They stuck me in the middle of the room full of people at a table in an isle like a dang flamingo on display! I was very uncomfortable. The next morning I went to the dining room again this time they shuffled me to a "shared table" I really hated this! I did not understand what the wait staff were babbling at me until I was seated. Never-the-less I did meet some nice people from Alabama where my mother is from. Still this is NOT how I roll! There would not be a third time! I went to guest services and asked if there was some problem for me to dine alone as I always do. They were very accommodating and told me of course not. (By the way way..I did not scream at them as some are in the habit of doing). They suggested that when I check in that I should simply request a private table of my choosing. Guess what? Problem solved.

Well, I don't fault these crew because they do not speak perfect English. Fact is most Americans speak poorly as well. Me too! The crew are delightful people on the surface. The girl who said I should not eat alone was not robbing me of my civil rights( I did not think I had any being in international waters any who) she was merely looking out for me in her wonderful European custom. It was most polite albeit not suitable to me. I thought her sweet and not the subject of some frivolous suit. Some of these kids were from the region of my ancestry so I got them. Onward. I finally grew tired of the stiff formal dining room anyway. Then I ventured to the really great eateries on other floors. As I grew to know the ship I went further and further. I like the deck design fact that I had to work a little to get places. I used the stairs as an excuse to eat more. If I was going to have dessert at every dinner then I was gonna work for it! I ate in most of the places some for a small up charge which I gladly paid. Then I discovered this Marketplace where you could just get in line and gorge. Sure it was buffet but it was kept pretty fresh and had some great eats. I could get coffee 24-7. The lines for Guy's and the Taco place were busy but these suckers could turn production baby! I ended up meeting some old friend/coworkers on the ship. I was all over the ship and only saw them a few times. So the hermit side was not offended at all. I actually may have come out a little of my shell.

I could write a terrible review but why. All of my needs were met. Not met was my fantasy of if I were a king and off with their heads! Which by the way my first name is William. I do not go by that but some of the crew called me "Sir William" so I went with that. I signed my name to every ticket as "Sir William". I like that! LOL! I am so tired of people blaming others for their own contrived bad experiences. Like the woman who did not buy cancellation insurance then left her dying grandfather behind as she went on the cruise. Shame on her. I never even knew my grandparents. The worst part for me was on an excursion in Freeport. Which by the way those people who live there were so nice to me. I am blessed to have not gone through what they have. TIP them BIG! A fellow tourist yelled in my face because she and her party were first in line at the bus. By the way she was sitting on the bench and her bus was right in front of her. She was so stupid or drunk she did not even know it was her bus until I got in line and pointed it out. She was such a word I do not wish to use. I went and hired a private cab for me and 4 complete strangers who had been on a boat with me. We were driven by the most delightful old man who had lived on that island since the beginning of time. What stories he told! I only wish I had a picture if that mean woman's face when she saw us drive off! She had to sit there for 20 more minutes. All in all I would say life is what you make it and Carnival helped this old curmudgeon to have the time of his life!