When planning our family cruise to Alaska, Cruise Critic reviews were a great help in our initial planning, and I want to return the favor. Our group, comprised of adults spanning a 35-year age range, had a great time overall. The ship and its staff exceeded our expectations.
This was a northbound one-way trip, so we departed from Vancouver. Several of us met in Vancouver a couple of days beforehand, while seven of us flew in on embarkation day. With a flight arriving at noon, those seven bought the Carnival transfer to the ship and were glad they did. While they probably would have had plenty of time to get through customs and immigration and get to the ship by cab, the $16 charge was well spent for the peace of mind. The transfer was very easy and quick.
The ship itself is large, but because of the good use of space, doesn't generally feel jam-packed with people except in the "La Playa Grill" buffet area (but the buffet area is this way on pretty much any ship). The dEcor is sort of mall-ish, with colorfully patterned carpets and lots of fake ornamentation. I found it silly, but others of the group didn't mind it and got a kick out of some of the kitschy themes (Pharaoh's Palace, Roman Spa, Shanghai Bar, etc). The public rooms are generally well kept, with a few worn curtains or bits of upholstery.