Embarkation: Boarding at Fort Lauderdale was easy because we used the VIP line. It was quick and we were on the ship lightening fast. The embarkation photo had nothing to do with the ship; background looked more like a forest or something. Not being big on pictures, no big deal but I do like embarkation pictures but we didn't even bother. First impressions do mean a lot. We entered the ship preparing to be WOWED, instead it was UGH!!! I know, I read the ship was pink, but it was PINK, and not a very pretty shade of pink-everywhere, even the wood railings. Little pink circles with zebra stripes, everywhere!!! It was so pink it looked cheap and tacky. We went straight to Lido for lunch and waited for the cabin to be ready. We were so excited we had booked a spa balcony cabin. Able to get into the cabin around 1:30, we found a tiny balcony cabin, much smaller than on other Carnival ships. On the counter, we found our two yellow (no, not pink) wrist bands that you couldn't take on and off for our spa privileges, and we were supposed to wear these all week. (Please rethink this, I don't want tan lines and a yellow wrist band would look great with a formal!) Nobody wore them; we carried ours in case we needed them but never did. Our two twin beds barely had room to walk between. The layout of the cabin was not what we were used to. It had a sofa but not in a functional place because the coffee table just didn't fit the room. There did not seem to be as much hanging nor drawer space. In the middle of the mirror was this awful pink and orange light fixture that blocked using the mirror for much more than the light fixture. With a tiny bathroom, where do you dry your hair, get dressed, and do makeup? The beds were the least comfortable I have had on a ship, very disappointing. Paying extra for the Spa Cabin I did not expect the noise level from the kids running up and down the hall. Running kids were bad and seemed to get worse outside our cabin as the week went on.

Dining: Lunches were fine, buffet has plenty to offer. The Asian grill was very bland. The rotisserie was excellent. Burgers were great. Lunch was satisfactory because there was plenty to choose from. Has Carnival trimmed their dinner menu? We were on Carnival Legend in July but the menu in Black Pearl seemed so much smaller and not nearly the selection from just a few months ago. Food was okay, but not great. Desserts were slim picking. Our waiter learned our names the first night and used them each night. I do appreciate waiters getting to know names. The Black Pearl dining room was hideous. The ceiling was decorated with what looked like fried eggs with black yolks-everywhere. More than me mentioned this. I overheard one person say they felt like burnt fried eggs were staring at them. UGLY!!! I know they are supposed to be black pearls, but -. Room service menu was very limited, only a few sandwiches to choose from. We ordered a couple of times late night, and my BLT was always overdone. DRINKS were a royal rip off. I don't cruise to get drunk, but the daily specials had NO liquor. I stopped buying them and this was the lowest on board bill I have ever had. I don't know why, but half of everything was always closed, lunch buffet, the second bar on deck was closed even on New Year's Eve. The ship was sold out supposedly.

Shopping: There were two small shops. Don't they realize people go to spend money? Read more