This was our first cruise. We are 2 adults in the mid forties with 2 boys, one of 3 and one of 9 years of age, the oldest being extremely active and the young one being very attached to us, i.e. a difficult mixture to please everyone. Overall this was a good first experience though. Embarkation and Disembarkation: Very professional and fast. We were in our room at 1pm. Disembarkation was too early, i.e. on the note it said between 8.30 and 10.30 which is why I booked my independent transport for 9.00 am. Surprisingly, we were called at 7:15 and heat was already building up with 2 kids in the sun waiting for the shuttle to arrive...not too good. Staterooms were perfect with good luggage space. The Stewart Rodolfo was fantastic and the kids just loved him. I have never seen him without a smile and the room was always clean and neat. TV as well as the big screen on the deck could show some European sports while in Europe. Overall, great staterooms and good work from the stewart. Excursions were all taken with Carnival. Again, extremely well organized and good content. All of them. One slight criticism: We would would have loved to go to Ponte Vecchio but the guide did not let us for time reasons. We got however 45 minutes free time later on to stroll through a couple of streets and do some shopping in shops recommended by the guide, Italian commercialism on the back of my desire to see some culture. Ports of Call - all reasonable, very well organized by Carnival. Camp Carnival, mixed feelings as the staff did not come across very well, but maybe our boys did not come across well to them either due to their for the one's very independent character and for the seconds's very parent attached character and them not mastering the English language.In brief, they did not like it to be deposited there while we were visiting which is why we kept that to a minimum in the second half. Camp Carnival food was absolute junk and as we don't feed them Pizza, Burgers etc at home for health and weight reasons, this was enough of junk for the year. The Photoshop: extremely busy folks and very commercial. Not helpful at all, just there to make turnover. Unpleasant and pushy. One could do without this albeit I like the idea of havin photos shot at each port of call. Food, aaah the Chic Dining room. Very very good, and I wish to come back to a previous critic where the critic says that he wants to know what those people who did not like the food would eat everyday. I cannot more than agree. It is not a Michelin Star restaurant, but there are some great choices on the menu. We liked it. The chocolate cake was the best we ever had. The head waiter Virgilio was fantastic and extremely helpful, also with the kids. They could do without the daily showtime (Hoppa)in the restaurant, twice would be more than enough. The combination excursion/dinner was too stressful as 3 times, we came back late for dinner from the excursion and had to speed to be able to get the full meal. Other food from the different stalls - for lunch was very American, lot's of fast food but of reasonable quality but also other choices which were quite good. Nothing to moan about. The ship - very quiet, no noise during cruising hours. Fun days at sea - too hectic and loud for Europeans, but again, we knew this before. The swimming pools and areas around were very clean and well organized. Good idea to have minigolf on the ship as the boys loved it. The tour director John Heald - he was very very good and I hope to see him again should we decide to cruise again. People on board - mainly US citizens. Most were very gentle and polite with the exception that most enter the lift before those in the lift get a chance to get out - you don't see this in Europe. A funny one here as well, a lady loses her whisper phone through which the tour guide gives his information. She tells the guide that she has lost it, but that the guide should not worry as she does not need it anymore. This leads me to the end. I am presently thinking about doing the Baltics next year and the choice will probably be made between the Splendour and Costa.