This is our fifth cruise and third on Carnival - all in all, it was a 6 on a scale of 1-10 and here is why: The food was mediocre at best. Very much like a hospital cafeteria. You can get GREAT food but you have to pay for it at the "specialty restaurants such as sushi, steak houses, etc. The staff took very little pride in their jobs. Our stateroom housekeeper was fantastic but the main areas (decks, pool, hallways, eating areas) were cluttered with dishes, dirty glasses, rumpled towels all over the decks, etc. The pool area did have Guy's Burgers that were amazing (and included but seriously, how many burgers can one eat???) So I did a lot of my own busing because I didn't want dirty dishes around me.
The pool bathrooms were often ill equipped. The wait staff ranged from tired to rude. Since the bartenders and servers (although we did have one fantastic dinner waiter!) get an automatic 15% attached to every purchase, they had no need to engage or even offer up any friendly exchange. Most of my drinks by the pool were fixed by the bartender tapping the bar counter in front of me to get my attention, I order, he complies, takes my card and we never speak - not once (three bartenders, same way - they are busy, yep but maybe a "hello?").
Excursions: Most were okay - we did four. Because the port was nearly two hours to Rome and then Florence, having the guarantee of getting back to the ship and the air conditioned ride in was great but in Greece, we paid $340 for six people to have a coach to the beach, drink, sunbed and umbrella for five hours. The result? TWO hours at the beach due to such long lines and bad organization upon entering, ONE umbrella, warm bottles of soda or water and not enough sunbeds. I complained twice and had to wait two days for Carnival to respond and then only offered up 50%.
Cabin was a very nice balcony cabin. Not much to add here.
Great port, walk off ship and you are there.
Walked off ship and used a bus to get to the beach for 4 eu each. Don't use the taxis waiting outside, some quoted us 200!
Walked off ship and walked into town.