We chose this cruise because we just couldn't beat the price for a 5-night get away. It was much, much less than the Disney and Holland America cruise we had taken previously in the last year. This was only my third cruise ever and I had heard about how Carnival is the "budget" cruise line. I had read reviews of Carnival and of the Triumph ship so I was eager to see it all for myself.
We drove from our home in Georgia the day before and stayed at the Hampton Inn across from the New Orleans convention center. We were able to leave our car at the hotel and take a shuttle to the boat just a couple of blocks away.
Embarkation was fairly standard. It was well organized and we were on the ship by noon which is what we were expecting. Our luggage arrived by around 5pm. A little late but not a big deal.
Clean room, maybe a little worn but more than adequate for us. Bed was really nice. The linens were comfortable and the mattress was very good -- we all slept very well. Bathroom was a good size with a shower stall instead of a bathtub which few people actually use. More than enough storage for a family of 4. The balcony was nice.