We are experienced cruisers and have cruised with most of the popular cruise lines. We have cruised with Carnival on 4 previous cruises. The changes that Carnival has implemented to save costs, in my opinion, will be its downfall. The most obvious change is the introduction of its new menu entitled "American Table". We chose anytime dining this cruise because we were travelling as a couple and not part of a group. Although this new menu is marketed as contemporary dining it is evident that this is just a cost-saving measure. The tables are set with just one knife and one fork and you have to hang on to them for all courses of your meal. The food itself was satisfactory but the menus themselves are quite ordinary, what you would expect in a family-style restaurant, not the elegant dining that we have come to expect on a cruise. Additionally, the menus were repetitive and there was a surcharge for some items. The dining room was completely disorganized - the staff responsible for seating guests were arguing amongst themselves, the wait staff were unattentive, untrained & showed a lack of professionalism.

We ate breakfast at the buffet each day and everyday the food was the same. While I realize there is only so much you can do with breakfast fare, again the cost cutting was evident.

We had an inside spa cabin on deck 11. The cabin was on the small side but adequate for 2 people, I don't think the additonal charge for this cabin was worth it. Yes we were able to use robes & received a pair of slippers each and travel size containers of the spa shampoo etc which were replenshed by request only. But, I don't think the additonal $400 that we paid for this cabin was worth unlimited access to the steam room and indoor whirlpool. Another cost saving measure is that you have to sign out towels on the pool decks - where do they think we are going to go with them? Again this is to cut down on the number of towels that are used each day which I can understand, but there has to be a better way than having one station in the main pool area on a ship where there are over 4000 people onboard, Read more