Embarkation from Los Angeles went smoothly and quickly. Had lunch on the Lido deck while waiting for luggage to be delivered to room. I think that in the future we will opt to carry on our luggage even though it might take a little more time to screen through security.

We chose early dining 6:00 in the Carnival Dining Room but you do have option of not attending and going to open seating in the Mardis Gras dining room if you want to eat a bit later or you can go to the Lido deck for choices of buffet, pizza, deli, or hots and burgers. I like to have a reserved seat for dining and prefer having the same wait staff as they cater to you and are much more efficient. Talking with others that tried the open seating said they prefer the reserved seating also after trying the other. Our waitstaff were attentive and fun and greeted us enthusiastically each night (we were group of 8). Food selections were good and we did not have a entree we didnt like. Lobster and grilled shrimp excellent,as was the prime rib and the veal parmesean. The chocolate melting cake was so good I had chocolate overload as ordered it three nights...oh boy! Tried the deli for lunch one day...grilled rueben sandwich very good, husband had pizza which he said was not bad at all for cruise ship. Went to lido buffet one morning for breakfast, good selections but dig deep to get the hotter eggs etc. After that went to sit down breakfast in Mardi Gras dining room which service was a bit slower then at dinner because of few waitstaff but food hotter and fresher. If you are in hurry, stick to lido buffet or get limited room service breakfast.

Day of sailing signed up for a wine package for 3 bottles of wine at $63.00 plus gratuity and was given tear off card to present in dining room at dinner (selections of wine available on back of tear off). Tried three different ones and all good. Presented card to waiter and the bottles were served with our dinner. Room steward introduced himself and was very attentive during our stay. Booked with a group and chose ROS so ended up with inside cabin on lowest deck. Would not have been our first choice but price was right and thats the cabins we got with our group. Couldnt upgrade as ship sailed full. Room was very adequate however and bathroom and shower good size - happy with that. Shampoo and body wash in shower dispenser. Small toothpaste, small body lotion also. No hair dryer - had brought my own traveling one. Two closets which good for short cruise but for longer, ask for more hangers. Safe in closet. No mini-fridge. If longer cruise I would have liked and outside cabin but being an inside cabin didnt bother us at all though room seemed smaller then outside cabins. Read more