First, I've heard negative reviews about Carnival, that the crowd is "too young" the food is mediocre, etc. I did not have great expectations for this trip.
The food, with the exception of some overcooked linguine at our first dinner, the food was quite good. The Emerald Steakhouse was well worth the $30 upcharge. It was so fabulous we dined there twice. The waitstaff at the Emerald was good, but the sommelier, a dark haired young woman whose name I can't recall was WONDERFUL.
Get the surf and turf, it's delicious, beautifully presented and perfectly prepared. My husband raved about the cheese plate he had for dessert. Cheese cake was just OK. Caesar salads are done table side. Lovely!
We had a balcony room in the 8340's and the room was nice, a bit tight with four people but manageable. The balcony was TINY and there is no bathtub. This is the third cruise I've taken in a balcony room and the first with no tub!