My wife, 8 y.o. daughter and I sailed on July 4th with some friends of ours. We were attracted by the ports of call, dates of travel (using the paid holiday for time off), and the price. Second cruise for 3/5 of our group, first for the other 2.

Our previous cruise was a 7-day Mexican Riviera trip on the Sapphire Princess, so that set the standard by which I am reviewing this cruise.

The Good: Port of Tampa was easy to get in & out of, Dollar car rental ran a free shuttle from the airport. Our 'guy' cleaned the room twice a day, remembered our names from day 1 and was always a joy to see in the halls. Carlos, our head waiter, and his staff were great, keeping our daughter entertained and making sure we had what we needed. The beds were very comfortable. Golden Fleece steakhouse was worth every penny ($30pp), would have eaten there more often had we found it sooner. Carnival Kids Club kept our daughter entertained for hours on end, with activities and parties all week long. Definitely one of the highlights of this cruise. Read more