This was my first cruise, and my boyfriend's second one. We're a couple in our 20s who came from Canada and we both had a wonderful time on the Carnival Valor. Here are more details about our experience:

Embarkation/Disembarkation: Embarkation went smoothly. We arrived at port around 12 and found the lines and wait times to be reasonable. Without much of a wait, we obtained our cabin cards and were called to board the ship. With disembarkation however, there was a complication involving a fire alarm and the process took much longer.

The Ship: The ship met all of our expectations. There was usually always some sort of activity or entertainment in the lobby, the sun decks had plenty of chairs to relax in, plenty of elevators to get between decks. Between that and the casino, shops, and food-- there was always something to do on board. What we discovered near the end of our cruise that we recommend to any adult couples or group is the adults only section of the ship near the spa. There were luxurious hammocks, chairs, and whirlpools to enjoy in a secluded and quiet area. Read more