If you are currently booked on this cruise, please do not panic by the reviews you have read. I know that I sure did! This was my 15th cruise, but my first time sailing with Carnival. I was sailing with my husband and two of our older children (ages 17 and 21). A cruise is always what you make of it and the staff could not have tried any harder.

Yep, we made the ten hour drive for this cruise and stayed at the Holiday Inn Express with their stay and cruise package. The hotel was great and our transportation was perfect. Mr. Hamilton arrived to the hotel at 10:30 am and picked us up. We arrived to the pier around 11am. It was a very easy drop off. Our luggage was taken right there and we never had to think about it again. You go through various security check points, so have your documentation ready.

We had Priority boarding because we were staying in a Grand Suite, but the lines weren't bad at all! Security and Carnival did everything to keep the lines moving and let you know what to expect next! As always, please read what you can and cannot board with. The only thing holding up the line was the people that wanted to bring their open containers on board, etc. Read more