I had been on a number of cruises before but had never traveled with Carnival. I guess I still had their old "party-ship" reputation in my head. Still, wanting a balcony for my other half, I went with Carnival due to price. Any hesitations about the line were immediately dispelled.

Overall, the trip (Exotic 7-night Western Caribbean) was a great way to unwind and the locations were different enough to provide a variety of choices for excursions and yet all were relaxed and, with the exception of Roatan's Mahogany Beach, I never felt surrounded by a bunch of other cruise passengers.

Us: A gay couple in our 40s, interested in getting away from our small Oklahoma ranch for a memorable week of fun, sun and relaxation. Oh, and no chores. Read more