My wife and I decided to have our 10th anniversary on a cruise with our 4 kids, we did this on our fifth and had a blast aboard the Carnival Elation. So here is how things went...
We booked in late december at the military rate for 2 rooms (adjoining and were for quad occupancy with a bed mounted to the wall which was much better than the couch beds)being they didn't get the documentation quick enough they later changed my rate (so if you get the military discount have you DD214 from the military, and it applies to all former military). Anyway the difference was a couple hundred dollars so I just went with it.
Prior to getting on the ship we booked our lodging at the Marriott Courtyard Airport and Cruiseport Hotel, our rooms were $189 a piece, while it was pricey it was well worth it, it included transportation to and from the airport as well as transportation to the cruise ship. They do a top notch job (and this is coming from a motel owner).
Cabin was well laid out, my kids loved to sit in the window ledge (lots of room). Nice closet space, only 2 plugs in the room so bring a power strip. Hair Dryer was good. Bathroom was OK, shower was kinda small. One thing, they brag about their beds, we really didn't like them, my wife made two comments about the beds, burn that bed and they are like this so they can sell more massages. Nice pillows though.