I've done several cruises on other lines, and even worked on cruise ships in the past. This was my first time on Carnival.

The overwhelming feeling I got from the experience, the thing that overshadows most everything else I experienced, is the impression that from dusk to dawn, I was being constantly solicited to spend more money. Whatever fun I was having at any given time was often interrupted by sales pitches and frenzied people trying to pawn everything from drinks to over-priced pictures to crappy artwork. After the cruise was over, I was mentally exhausted from having to run this gauntlet of never-ending salesmen. It really put a damper on the experience.

High points: The crew.. the ones that weren't trying to sell me stuff, were friendly and extremely accommodating and helpful. I felt that everyone from my steward to the waiter at dinner would do whatever they could to help me. The food in the dining room was generally good - though a few things were hit-and-miss, like one night we were served "fish jerky" that was supposed to be "broiled Mahi-Mahi". The ship was clean and well-maintained and despite my cabin being deep in the bowels of the ship and without a window, it was comfortable. The comedian, Chris Wiles was really good. The "Behind the Fun" tour was cool, although the captain of the boat was about as jolly as Mel from the TV show "Alice." The tour of the galley, entertainment, crew and even laundry areas of the ship produced much more animated presentations from the section leaders. Read more