First, let me say that we booked this cruise, and the one following this (9/3 and 9/13 sailings) for two reasons: price and itinerary. So just based on that, this cruise is a winner. The ports are fantastic. When reading other criticisms about the ship itself, I was skeptical ... but many are valid.

But I would like to start with the positives. I love, love, love the electronic, technical advances. Your photos are available to see on the Carnival Hub app almost as soon as they are snapped. The app also shows you what is happening when and where and has a ship's map. No more carrying around paper. There are lighted maps in front of the elevators with viewing from two sides. Great.

The ship is clean and for the most part the staff are friendly and helpful. The food in the Marketplace -- the buffet -- is on par with buffet food we have had on other ships the past few years. (That means, not quite as good as when we started cruising in 2001) There is an abundance of seating in this area as well. On other ships, you can spend quite a lot of time just finding a table. Seating in other areas of the ship is also abundant and nice with a variety of seating configurations. The comics in the comedy club have been good -- much, much, much better than those on the Transatlantic Princess cruise we took 4 years ago. Read more