This is our 17th cruise, however, first and likely the last with Carnival. We were "warned" that this is the Wal-Mart of cruises and I have to grudgingly agree with the hearsay.

Day 1: Flew in from Vancouver BC, Canada, to Orlando, took the Meares shuttle from Orlando airport ($25 one way - 45 min.) to Port Canaveral to board the ship. Embarkation was smooth and we were having lunch on board by 12:30 p.m. First impression of the vessel was that it was beautiful, glamorous, glitzy, very Las Vegas and loved what we saw. Although the stateroom still needed tidying up when we entered the room, we felt it was on par with Princess and Royal Caribbean. We expected the cabin steward to pop in to introduce him(her)self but this did not happen.

As we familiarized ourselves with the ship, the "marketing" started. The teeth whitening service$, the spa service$, the $10 fitne$$ cla$$e$, the special dining @$25 per, the drink of the day special$, the photo special$, Diamonds International and the infamou$ Bingo, etc., etc. Read more