In June 2010, I decided to take a week-long cruise. The four I'd done previously were all on Disney Cruise Lines (Bahamas and Mexican Riviera), but my budgetary restrictions this time around demanded that I take a closer look at a cheaper vacation. Booking through Expedia.com scarcely two weeks prior to sailing, I opted for the least expensive option: a Carnival cruise to the Mexican Riviera embarking from Southern California, where I currently live.

Much of what was offered or available on the Splendor mirrored my very positive Disney Mexican Riviera experience of May 2008: fun shore excursions, poolside relaxation, bingo games, trivia challenges, shopping opportunities—and, of course, mountains of food. Anybody reading this already knows that these cruises are veritable gorge-fests, and Carnival is no different. However, I was delighted to discover that while Disney is tops at creating fun dining environments, the actual food on Carnival is appreciably better, or at least appealed to me a lot more. Both lines offer lowbrow, midrange and upscale eating establishments, and while nothing beats Disney's Palo (fine Italian) restaurant, I was massively impressed by the menu, cuisine and service at Carnival's Pinnacle steakhouse.

Generally speaking, I was also very impressed by the service and friendliness of the crew onboard the Splendor. Waiters, housekeepers and maintenance staffers were a great blend of people from the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia (largely Bali), with a smaller percentage from India, Serbia, Croatia, etc. I greatly enjoyed the opportunity of interacting with staff members and hearing their stories of their many cruises. Cleanliness and upkeep was truly outstanding. Read more