I am a agent group leader who escorts groups from 20 to 200 on many ships and itineraries. Since my groups are generally comprised of well seasoned over travelers in the 50 to 85 age range, I was a little reluctant to sail Carnival that has developed a reputation over time as the young kids and "spring break cruise." I have sailed many lines over many years, and this is my first return to Carnival in 10 years.

My group was 33 passengers, mostly older seniors who had a lot of cruise experience to compare. We arrived on a charter bus around 12:30 p.m. Embarkation was a little crazy. We had all received flimsy paper baggage tags which were clearly a chap cut back on the part of the Cruise Line. We stapled and taped the tags on our bags very securely with packaging tape. But when we arrived the porters told us that Carnival had just changed the type of baggage tags and all of our passengers had to write their names and info on the NEW bag tags right in the middle of a bus parking lot with busses coming in and out and fumes. Not safe or healthy and an aggravation to say the least. Carnival should have provided proper bag tags in the first place.

Check in was long lines and moves at a moderate pace. Once checked in and provided with our cards, there was another long wait for actually boarding the ship. Thanks to a very congenial employee, we were allowed to board as a group. Read more