This was my 6th cruise, 3rd on Carnival (other 3 were on Princess)! Our traveling party was my wife, sister and her husband (and two children) along with my parents.
Hotel prior to Embarkation
We booked through priceline and all received the Yankee Sheraton properties. For $89 it wasn't bad. The hotel is old and needs some work but you couldn't find another hotel for the Sheraton price so all in all it was fine.